DIY 2 Strand Bracelet with Swarovski Crystals

Happy New Year! I decided to start 2014 as I mean to continue, using up my crafting supplies and not buying any more for a while!

This year is going to be a hard one financially. I chose not to go back to work after I had Big E but it means I have not been working for 8 years now and that, along with renovating our house, means that our savings are taking a beating! This year I plan to make as many birthday presents using stash crafty things as possible as I have a craft room full of stuff that I have got as birthday and Christmas pressies, or for free, for the last 8 years and I need to use it up!

I had the urge to make something last night (anyone else get those urges?!) so I pulled out my jewellery making stuff and got to work.

 

Using a cracker bracelet for the findings, a glass hearts bracelet that my in-laws brought back from Italy ages ago (and the gold beads between the hearts were cheap and loosing their gold covering) and some left over Swarovski crystals and pearls, I strung 2 new bracelets. I then used the toggle closure and jump rings from the cracker bracelet and put it all together.

I was going to use the chain from the cracker with ribbon threaded through but it looked rubbish when I put it together so scrapped that idea. Also, I used nylon beading thread because that is what I have but it would have been better with beading wire, the bracelets look like they are magically attached to the jump rings with the thread!

I don't wear bracelets often so this may end up as a gift, I am tempted to keep it though!

Linking to some of these fab linky parties!

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DIY Simple Swarovski Earrings

These are possibly the simplest earrings you can make, once you have mastered the art of making the loop at the top you can make them in seconds!

I used Rebecca's tutorial at My Girlish Whims to learn how to do the loop at the top, it is a great tutorial and there are many more, I highly recommend having a look! There are also loads of tutorials on you tube if you prefer seeing it being done!

Anyway, here is how you make them.

You will need,

any Swarovski* elements that you want to use (I use bicone crystals and pearls for most of the jewellery),

Now,

Now you have a new pair of earrings in next to no time! I am slightly addicted to making these, the possibilities are endless!

* I always use genuine Swarovski elements as they are ethically made in Austria. The equivalents from China are almost certainly made in less than ideal situations (given that the minimum wage in certain areas is as low as $0.30 per hour). Unfortunately I have not found a place to get ethical non sterling silver findings so for all the jewellery I make and sell I only use Sterling Silver, made in the UK, findings which increases costs but is better for the conscience!!

Linking to some of these fab linky parties!

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Popular posts of 2012

2012 has been a crazy busy year,lots of DIY and gardening and not nearly as much crafting as I would have liked, hopefully next year will be less house renovation and more crafty fun!

Here is a roundup of my 10 most popular posts of 2012...

1.  DIY Dip Dyed / Ombre Skirt

 2. DIY Swarovski Earrings

3. DIY Swarovski Bracelet

4. Woodland Wonderland Tree Stump Wedding Cake

5. Wooden Bead Necklace

6. Star Wars ATAT Cake

7. Skirt from Scraps

 8. DIY: old jeans to new skirt

9. Pintrest Inspired Foot Art

 10. Rapunzel/Tangled Dress Up Costume

 

Looks like jewelery and refashioning posts are most popular, more of that next year then!

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DIY Swarovski Earrings

Have you ever visited Rebecca at My Girlish Whims? If not you should, it is a fab blog with a brilliant linky every Wednesday. Rebecca is doing a series of jewellery lessons at the moment and I decided to have a go!

Using her latest tutorial I made these!

I reused the Swarovski crystals from some very simple earrings I made to wear as a bridesmaid for my sister,

You can kind of see them, not going to make the pic too big though or all you see is my double chin :)

so all I had to buy was the chain and some more headpins, bargain for some gorgeous new earrings!

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Another simple jewellery make!

I made these for my old school friend who turns 30 later this month, she is a very pink sparkly girl so hope she likes them!

I have made these type of bracelets before and the only hard thing about them is tying the elastic in a knot which I think you need about 4 hands for (anyone got any tips on this please let me know)!

Supplies, elastic thread and Swarovski crystals (buy genuine ones for amazing sparkle!):

All you need to do is thread the crystals on to the elastic thread and when it is the desired length tie the elastic in a knot.

Keep the ends of the elastic long (10cm) so you have a decent length to tie knots with. I always tie a double knot then give it a stretch so I can check the knots will not slip or burst then I do another knot for luck. I give it another wee stretch then snip the ends close (maybe 2mm) to the knot.

My only warning it to check the knot in the elastic over a container so if the bracelet bursts the (rather expensive) crystals don't go everywhere.....I learnt the hard way!!

Gosh my wedding ring needs a polish, it looks like stainless steel!!

This is so simple but the crystals are expensive (each bracelet works out at about £4) so if you are making these for a little girl I would buy cheaper crystals so it won't matter if it gets lost! 

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