Turquoise Beaded Necklace

Hi there!  I have been super busy doing some fun crafts, and for some reason I just didn’t get anything posted last week.  Oops!  Sorry about that.  Today I did a giant photo shoot and am writing a whole bunch of posts today to schedule out for the next couple weeks.  So I should be around at least this week.

And as weird as it sounds, this necklace that Cinderella wear is the inspiration for this necklace. 

I

got these beads for my birthday back in June, but with the move, I never used them.  So here I am, in January using my birthday present.  I made a simple necklace with small spacer beads between each turquoise bead.  Because I didn’t have enough beads to fill the whole necklace, I placed them all into the center and secured each end with crimp beads so the beads wouldn’t slide to the back of the necklace.

Here’s a picture of me wearing it, and I don’t normally wear it in this color combo, but I didn’t want to change my outfit just for a blog picture.  Keepin’ it real.  And maybe I’ll wear it like this sometime because I kind of like the contrast! :)
That’s all I’ve got for you today! 
Thanks for reading.
~Lynette~

Quick Crafting Fix

Hi there!  School's not quite finished, but I've been needing quick crafting fixes every now and then.  Here's a couple of the things I've made and wear a lot.  They're becoming my new favorites!

Tutorial for this type of necklace found here at My Blonde Ambitions.  It calls for a clasp for your neck, but I simply tied it at a length that I could fit over my head.  Saving clasps for another necklace!

I changed this $7.99 TJ Maxx shirt...

into this springy Ruffly Shirt!

Tutorial found here at Ruffles and Stuff

I'm working on a few things in my spare time for mother's day and will be posting them soon!

TUTORIAL: "Knot" Your Average Necklace

Hello there!  Since I made the Washer Necklace, I've had more inspiration of necklaces with ribbon.  Here's a ribbon necklace with wooden beads, with knots to add color.  I had wanted a pink and brown necklace for a couple years, and finally found the perfect combination.

To make your own, you'll need:

Beads (They can be whatever you want, I used left over wooden ones from this project)

Scissors

Wire (I used 24 gauge from Lowe's)

60 inches Ribbon (give or take a few inches is fabulous!)

lighter

OPTIONAL:  Bead Design Board

 First, take the ends of your ribbon and cut it to taper from skinny to fat, as shown.  Use a lighter to seal the edges so they don't fray on you.

Now we need to make a needle big enough for your ribbon to fit through.  Cut a piece of wire (I didn't even measure it, but I'm guessing about 5-6 inches long).  Take one end to make a loop large enough to fit your ribbon through.  Twist the ends so the loop is attached to the long piece. (See picture to minimize confusion).

Thread your ribbon through your "needle."

 Arrange your beads however you'd like.  

(I used a bead design board to show how on the tutorial, but RARELY use it.  The nice thing about them is that they help you know how long your necklace is before you start stringing.)  

 Now you'll start stringing, starting with the bead(s) in the very MIDDLE.  Make sure you get the middle of the necklace at the middle of your ribbon. (I didn't do this, and had to make a few minor adjustments at the end).

When you'd like, tie a knot to keep the beads from sliding.  I mainly did this for a splash of pink, but it serves many purposes.  You can do it wherever you'd like!  I did one in some places, and three in other places.

Keep stringing and tying knots until you reach the end of one side.  Then thread your ribbon on the other side and follow your pattern on the finished side.

Once your finished, try it on and see how you like it.  I ended up taking several beads off because I wanted more ribbon showing.  Just play with it and get it to be the way you'd like!

There ya have it, your own knotted ribbon necklace!

Let me know if you have any questions, and for sure send me a link if you try it yourself!

I'm linking up with

somedaycrafts.blogspot.com

http://www.bluecricketdesign.net/

Hardware Stores...and Necklaces?!?

On Saturday, I was really bored.  I was blog hopping, and found this idea.  I thought...hmm..."Super cute, and cheap!"  I was off to the hardware store instantly!

My finished project looks like this:

 

Now I have some more ideas up my sleeve involving ribbon!  

I can't wait to have time to make something new!

Here's a tutorial for the necklaces from Blue Cricket Design.  The directions were a bit confusing.  I had to think really hard and ask my husband for help before I figured out the technique.  Once you get it though, you fly through it!  It took me a very short time to finish once I got going.  I may find the time to make up my own tutorial.  Let me know if anybody's interested.

Necklace Bliss!

Last fall, I decided that I wanted to learn how to make beaded necklaces because I was not in school OR working due to us moving every couple of months.  So I learned to do some cool things!  This is the first necklace I made.  

(I'm sorry if the pictures aren't the best.  I'm not a photographer by any means, and you should have seen how high the nail was that these babies were hanging on compared to how short I am!)

  TADA! (yes, I agree it's kind of random)

I kept trying new ideas, and looking at different books and websites and stores for inspiration, and got the hang of it.  My favorite type is to make a necklace out of 3 or more wires, and then braid the wire place a bead on 2 wires while one is left out.  Here's a few that I've made.

 

The necklace below is one of my most recent creations and my current favorite.  (I change favorites nearly weekly). :)

At one point I was entertaining the idea of selling some of these, but I ended up falling in love with so many that I wanted to keep them all  it didn't really work out. :)  If you have any questions on how to make your own stuff, feel free to ask!