Bracelets

I love stars. It doesn’t matter whether they’re stars in the nighttime sky, or sea stars scattered along the beach, either way, I’m in love with the shape. When I opened the box and found the little silver stars I let out a little happy squeak. This is just such a lovely palette, and the stars are perfect with the companion beads. I don’t keep much of the jewelry I make, but this bracelet, along with the earrings I made from this box, have gone into my personal jewelry wardrobe. Here’s how to make your own Star Quality Bracelet:

Supplies From Your Box:

Silver Star Beads (5)

Small Turquoise Beads (10)

Rust-Colored Stone Beads (2)

Large Pewter-Colored Drop Bead

Additional Tools And Supplies:

Silver-Plated Rolo Chain: 7” (Sun and Moon Craft Kits on Etsy)

Silver-Plated Wire: 24 gauge

Silver-Plated Jump Rings: smooth, 4mm (11)

Silver-Plated Ball-End Head pins(6)

Silver-Plated Clasp: lobster claw style

Twisted Antique Silver Jump Rings: 10mm (4) and 6mm (1)(Yadana Beads on Etsy)

Twisted Seashell Charm (Maya Honey on Etsy)

Small Silver Spacer Bead

Small Goldstone Beads (3)

Flush Cutter Tool

One-Step Looper Tool

Pliers: Chain-Nose and Round Nose

Technique:

Assemble the star strand as follows: Use looper tool to put a loop at the end of (3) stars. Use looper to make a chain with 4 turquoise beads, one rust bead, 4 more turquoise beads and one more rust bead. Put a smooth jump ring at the end of the rust bead. Attach stars together with 2 more jump rings, and finally use one jump ring to attach star segment to bead segment. (fig 1)

Your finished strand should measure approximately 7”. (You can adjust the final size of the bracelet by adding or removing beads at this point.) Cut a matching length of silver-plated chain, making it a hair smaller so you can attach a jump ring to each end. (fig 2)

Make the following dangles, using head pins and a looping tool: For one end of the bracelet, make one star, one turquoise dangle, and one goldstone dangle, with a smooth jump ring attached to each one. (fig 3)

Attach these charms to the starry end of the bracelet with a 10mm twisted jump ring. For the other end, make one turquoise dangle and one goldstone dangle (each with a smooth jump ring) and then add 10mm twisted jump rings to one star and the shell charm. Assemble the longest dangle by threading the following onto a head pin: the large pewter drop, the silver spacer bead, and one goldstone bead. Finish with a loop at the top, and then attach a 6mm twisted jump ring.

Attach all of these dangles and the lobster claw clasp to the other end of the bracelet, using a 10mm jump ring. That’s all there is to it!

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Giddy-Up Bracelet

Bracelets, Cowboy Country

Giddy-Up Bracelet

Bracelets, Cowboy Country

First, gather your supplies:

Blueberry Cove Bead Box supplies:
the supplies listed make a bracelet that’s 6 ¾ inches long
strand of orange beads
strand of 4mm turquoise beads
strand of turquoise chip beads
packet of olivine glass 8mm beads
packet of 6mm silver round beads
packet of silver star beads

Additional supplies:
size 11 glass seed beads bronze color – 3 grams
(6) 11 inch strands brown or olive waxed linen cord
(2) bell shaped bead cones
(2) 8mm oval closed jump rings
(3 or 6) 5mm jump rings
Silver plated toggle clasp
(2) pairs of chain nose pliers

1. One at a time, tie the 11 inch strands of waxed linen cord to one of the oval jump rings. Make a square knot and tie once more. If you like you can add a dot of glue to each of the knots. Trim the short part of excess cord to about 3mm.

2. Insert the oval jump ring into the bead cone. Open the 5mm jump ring. Attach it to the part of exposed jump ring at the small end of the bead cone. Also add the toggle clasp loop. Close the jump ring. If you like you can add another 5mm jump ring for added security.

3. Add 2 size 11 seed beads to each of the (6) strands of waxed linen cord.

4. String beads onto the strands of waxed linen cord. *I used 14 of the 6mm round silver beads with 2 size 11 seed beads in between to make the bracelet 6 ¾ inches long.

5. When each of the bead strands are completed, add 2 or 3 size 11 seed beads to each strand.

6. Tie each strand, one at a time, to the 2nd oval jump ring. Do not make a square not yet. You may have to remove the strands to make adjustments.

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7. Put a 2 to 3 inch scrap of linen cord or string through the oval jump ring. Insert the cord into the bead cone and pull it up so that part of the oval jump ring is exposed.

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8. Holding the linen cord, pull gently so the bead cone is snug against the strands. Note if you need to make any adjustments. If needed add more seed beads so the strands lay nicely on the bracelet.

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9. When you have the bracelet strands adjusted, tie a square knot with each strand and tie one more time. If you like you can add a dot of glue to each of the knots for added security. Trim the excess cord to about 3mm.

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10. Slide the bead cone onto the linen cord that you’ve strung through the oval jump ring. Open a 5mm jump ring. Attach it to the exposed oval jump ring. Close the jump ring. Open another 5mm jump ring. Attach it to the other part of the toggle clasp and to the jump ring already attached to the oval jump ring. Close the 5mm jump ring. If you like you can double the 5mm jump rings for added security.

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You’re done!!

Enjoy your New Giddy-Up Bracelet!

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Polished Heart Bracelet

Bracelets, Monochrome

Polished Heart Bracelet

Bracelets, Monochrome

Make this striking monochrome bracelet (which an optional splash of colour) using the contents of your Monochrome bead box.

First, gather your supplies (the supplies listed make a 6 inch bracelet):

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Blueberry Cove Bead Box supplies:
1 black lava stone heart bead
7 black glass cylinder beads
3 black rose flower beads
8 howlite 6mm beads

Additional supplies:
black beading thread or polyester thread
sewing needle that easily fits through
the hole in the rose flower beads
12 inch strand black waxed linen cord
toggle clasp
adhesive such as Super New Glue

Optional: 2 red coral heishi beads 3x8mm

1. I wanted the black lava stone heart to be shiny so I varnished it! I did this the day before stringing it onto the linen cord. Varnish one side and let it dry for at least 8 hours before you varnish the other side. Allow varnished heart to dry overnight.

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2. Cut a 12 inch piece of black beading thread or polyester sewing thread. Thread the sewing needle. You may want to use a bead stopper to keep the beads from falling off the end of the thread. String the 3 rose flower beads onto the thread. Leave 4 to 5 inches of thread on the end – tail thread. Sew through the 3 rose flower beads again several times. Tie a square knot with the working thread and the tail thread when they meet. Sew the threads through the rose flower beads several times to tuck them in. Put a dot of glue on the knot to secure it.

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3. If you like, you can attach a bead stopper to the end of your waxed linen cord to stop the beads from sliding off. String the beads onto the linen cord in the sequence shown in the photo.

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4. On one end of the linen cord tie on one part of the toggle clasp. Make a secure square knot. Put a dot of glue on the knot to secure it. Tie the other part of the toggle clasp onto the other end of the cord and secure the knot with glue.

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5. Trim the excess cord.

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You’re done!!
Enjoy your new bracelet!

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Welcome to India anklet

Bracelets, India

Welcome to India anklet

Bracelets, India

This is a wonderful anklet because not only is it colorful and lovely, but it also makes a little jingle with every step, evoking both the sights and sounds of India! Although the pattern looks complicated, this is a very easy technique and the basic bracelet can be finished in a few hours. The design can also easily be made smaller and worn as a bracelet.

Most anklets in this style measure 10 inches in total length. Before you begin I suggest putting a 10-inch string around your ankle to see where it will fall. You can then adjust the length of your own anklet, depending on the size of your ankle and your preference regarding where the bead dangles will end up.

Supplies From The Box:
(34) frosted pink beads
(9) Bi-color orange glass crackle beads
(17) Faux pearls
(34) Small blue crystal beads
(11) Bells
(2) Filigree strand reducers/connector pieces
(3) green faceted beads

Other Supplies:
String (for measuring your ankle)
Hook-style clasp (Simpson Studios on Etsy)
(40) 3mm brass jump rings
(2) 6mm twisted antique brass jump rings (Yadana Beads on Etsy)
(4) 8mm green stone beads
(1) vintage green glass piece with gold cap
(3) square gold filigree pieces
(7) antique brass, ball-end head pins (Yadana Beads on Etsy)
(3) 3mm bright gold plated round metal beads
(6) 4mm filigree bead caps
20” piece of rolo chain (Sun and Moon Craft Kits on Etsy)
(12) 8mm gold rice-shaped (football, marquise or horse eye) beads

Tools:
Pliers: round-nose, chain-nose (2 pairs)
One-step looper tool (not necessary, but it makes things so much easier)
Flush cutter tool
Measuring tape or ruler

Instructions:
Attach 3mm jump rings to the ends of the filigree connector pieces. Attach two more jump rings to each of the center sections (there are two center sections in each end piece – see fig. 1.) Attach each end of the hook-style clasp to the jump rings at the end, using twisted 6mm jump rings.

For the next step, set a ruler or measuring tape down on a flat surface, and put the ends of the hook-style clasp at each end of the total length of your anklet. Cut 4 pieces of rolo chain exactly as long as the gap between the two end pieces (see fig. 2.)

Attach the chain segments to one end of the bracelet with jump rings (see fig. 3.)

Put a small blue crystal bead onto a headpin, followed by a bi-color orange crackle glass bead. Put the end of the headpin through the chain, in the third link from the end piece. Add a frosted pink bead. Put the end of the headpin through the 5th link in the next chain. (There will be a little more slack in the two center sections than there is in the two end sections. See fig. 4.) Add a pearl next, and put the end of the headpin through the 5th link in the next chain. Add a pink frosted bead, and put the end of the headpin through the 3rd link in the next chain. Finish by adding a small blue crystal. Use a one-step looper tool to finish the end of the headpin in a small loop (if you don’t have this tool you can create a loop using round nose pliers).

For the next headpin, the beads will be exactly the same, with one exception: the bi-color orange bead will be replaced with a rice-shaped gold bead. These two beads will alternate throughout the pattern. For the rest of the bracelet, the head pins will go through the 4th link from the last head pin (see fig. 5.) When you get to the end of the chain sections, trim any excess or uneven links and attach the chains to the second end piece so it looks just like the other end (as seen in fig. 8.

Use jump rings to attach bells: one onto each end, and one onto every other bottom loop (see fig. 6.)

To make the cone and bead dangles, put a headpin through a small round gold bead. Follow with an 8mm green stone bead, a rice-shaped bead, a cone-shaped bead cap and a second round bead. Finish with a loop at the top. (See fig. 7.) Make 4.

Attach these cone and bead dangles to the bracelet, alternating them with filigree pieces. Where the 5th dangle would be, attach a green glass piece (see fig. 8.)

Attach filigree pieces. Make dangles using green glass faceted beads, filigree bead caps, and headpins (see fig. 9.)

Attach green beads to filigree pieces (fig. 10.)

Congratulations, your anklet is finished!

Melinda Barnett is a frequent contributor to several Stampington publications, including Belle Armoire Jewelry and Jewelry Affaire magazines. More of her work can be seen at BeesOnPie.blogspot.com.

Blueberry Cove Beads

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