Swing Necklace

Hey, Hey,

I made a new necklace. I am loving it an wearing it right now.

It was super simple, and here's what you need:

3 Jangles ceramic pearls
2 brightly colored cane glass rings5 assorted size and colored coconut shell discs
or
one of my new bead sets on Etsy

6" 18 gauge gunmetal wire
18 inches 2mm x 4mm gunmetal chain
2 4mm gunmetal jump rings
1 6mm gunmetal spring clasp

Tools:
Needle Nose PliersChain Nose Pliers
Wire Cutters

Instructions:
1. Take the end of the wire in your needle nose pliers. Turn the wire around the pliers several times to make a loop.

2. String your beads on in any order you would like.

3.Trim the excess wire to an inch in length. Grab that end in the pliers and twist a loop to match the first loop.
4. Open up a jump ring and attach one end of the necklace to one end of chain. Do the same on the second side.

5. Attach the spring clasp to the back of the necklace.

That was super easy, eh? So I have put several sets of these beads in my Etsy shop. I also put some longer sets that would make super cool bracelets, some pairs for earrings, and pendants.

Have a great day,
Jennifer

New Colors and Etsy

I spent all last night adding new work to the Etsy shop. I really wanted to keep these bead sets. I realize that wouldn't be good for business so I decided I should offer them to you.

I have some new bead colors and mixed with the shells and glass they are to die for, if I do say so myself.

Let me know what you think...

Bugs!

Good Morning,

I cannot believe how many things I found in my garden today. This cute little caterpillar was on my Celiosia. So was the bee, these flowers smell like honey so I guess that explains why he was there.


Then I took about twenty pictures to get this one of the butterfly. I had to though, it was so pretty.
This guy is about four inches long and I almost ran into him. I am so happy I saw the web at the last minute. He was guarding my blackberries. Yikes!

I then had a fun surprise. I thought I had this gigantic vine that is seriously 30 feet long and growing along my fence of cucumbers. I completely forgot that I had panted birdhouse gourds. I have a hundred or so of these little starts on the vine. I found a couple of big ones too. I am much more excited to see gourds, I don't like cucumbers enough to have that many. Not that I know what to do with that many gourds. Got any suggestions? I would love to hear them.

Happy Saturday!

A sign, A sign

Hey, Hey,

I made this sign the other day for my best friends new baby. Baby Leo! Who by the way is cute as ever.

This is the quick tutorial...

I painted the board red, and then green, and then I painted on a bit of yellow and blue.

I took some sandpaper and went over the edges to make it look worn, and then ran a black ink pad over the edges to make it look even more worn.

After all those layers dried it was time to add more. I punched out old newspaper into dots and then cut Leo's name from scrapbook paper. I decoupaged it all onto the sign. I like to use the matte Modge Podge because it seems to go with the old and worn look better.

Whew! okay what was next? Oh yes, it was time to outline the letters in red paint to make them stand out a bit more.

I nailed these super cool coconut shell disc beads onto the board. (I have another project with these beads coming soon, stay tuned.) I strung up some wood beads that I had added a bit of paint to and a big ol' ceramic star. I put a nail int the top on each side to hold the wire handle and voila my sign was finished.

I love mixed media! I need another play day to make things. Which reminds me, at the end of the month I am headed up to Chicago for the CREATE conference being held by Cloth, Paper, Scissors. I am going with my mom and we are going to play! I am not teaching, just going to have fun. There is a vendor night, I will give you more info on it later, that I will be selling my beads, buttons, etc at. If you're in the Chicago area, please come by and see me.

Have a great day,

Featured Designer-Kim Roberts

While I was searching through my Jangles Jewelry Group, I found another couple of super cool necklaces. These were made by Kim Roberts. Kim's business name is Bahama Dawn, go check out her sight, you won't believe all of the things she makes. I'm not sure if Kim ever sleeps.

Have a great day,

Featured Designer-Elizabeth Del Monte

It's been awhile since I posted a design from my Flickr group. Elizabeth just added this one and a few other recently. I am in love with this necklace. That's my bezel that she filled with the Eiffel tower photo and resin. This is why I love my Jangles Flickr group. I have my bright and funky style and I would never think of making something so eclectic and monotone as this necklace. It's beautiful and I hop it inspires you as much as it has inspired me. If you want to see more of Elizabeth Del Monte's work you can find it at here Etsy shop. By the way, when I checked it out there was a crazy sale going on so get over there quick!

Have a good one,