Amuse the Muse and the 6th Day of Christmas - with Rebecca of Songbead

Hi folks! It's a bumper edition of Art Bead Scene today - you get your usual Monday 'Amuse the Muse' but also the 6th Day of Christmas' free project from me. I've vaguely stuck with my ATM theme for this project by using petite ceramic and polymer charms from Grubbi and Beady Eyed Bunny.

To be honest, these cute charms are such that you could simply pop a couple of jump rings/ear wires on and you'd have super-cute, dainty earrings all ready to go! The perfect holiday gift - earrings or ornaments. But I don't know about you - I almost feel like it's cheating myself out of half the fun to just add findings and then go. I like to add at least a little of myself into even the smallest of projects! And so I came up with this simple wirework project to add a touch of something extra to these small, rustic charms. 

Ingredients:

* Pair of handmade charms (polymer, ceramic, metal - whatever material you like!) - see links above for similar charms to those which I have used.

* 60cm of 0.6mm (22g) antique copper wire

* Three 8 x 6mm pressed glass rondelles (totally crushing on these new faux mercury coated ones over in The Curious Bead Shop!)

* Handmade oxidised sterling silver earwires

1. Cut a 30cm piece of 0.6mm/22g antiqued copper wire. Turn a wrapped loop at one end, attaching it to one of your handmade charms. Don't make the wraps too bulky as you'll be going back over them later!

2. Slide on three 8x6mm glass rondelles onto the wire, and turn another wrapped loop, one mm or so above the top bead. Again, don't make your wraps too bulky.

3. Guide your wire around the top rondelle to the right, and wrap beneath twice, in the same coiling direction that you have been working in already.

4. Repeat this process with the 2nd rondelle...

5. ...and the third and lowest rondelle. Wrap your wire *over* the coils you made in step 1, and guide the wire up the left hand side of the lowest rondelle. Coil the wire above this rondelle and over the wraps you made previously.

6. Repeat this process with the second and first rondelle, so that each one has a snug little wire 'window' around it. Repeat in full for second earring, and attach handmade earwires to complete.

And - ta-dah! - you have a sweet, quick-to-make earrings that are perfect for that last minute gift for a friend - or just for yourself! 

And now for your 'tiny bead' instalment of 'Amuse the Muse' for this week.

Green Girl Studios

Anneli Beads

Barbies Best

Genea

E. Dooley

And now for the BeadBlogger Links. Have a restful week, if that's possible! 

Recycled Greeting Cards
Ever wondered what to do with all those beautiful greeting card you get? Personally I hate throwing them away, so I upcycle them into cards I can give. Sometimes I even make my own envelopes. Hey! Maybe I should do a DIY video on that!

Snow Glittered Cone Trees 
Snow glittered cone trees that don't snow glitter all over. Here's a way to create glittered white snow drifts that stay put with heat set embossing powder.

Felt Ornament
Whip up some super easy felt holiday ornaments with this quick how-to video.

Candy Cane Pattern
A sweet treat for the holiday season that will be perfect for a card, gift tag or ornament. 

Beading Arts
Cyndi has a round-up of all her book reviews from 2015, and of her top picks in every media for holiday gift giving!

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Jean reviews a super beading book concerning a brand new technique: Albion Stitch, 20 Jewelry Projects, by Heather Kingman-Smith. This is a wonderful, energizing book for all the beaders on your gift list!

Rebecca is a Scottish jewellery designer; currently living in the capital city of Edinburgh. You can read more about her and her work at her blog, songbeads.blogspot.com and see more of her jewellery at songbead.etsy.com. She also has a supplies shop at thecuriousbeadshop.etsy.com.