On the 2nd Day of Christmas: Sparkle and Glow - Holiday Candle Tutorial

Ceramics from www.gaea.cc

Polymer from www.humblebeads.com

Glass by Janet McDonald

Metal from www.greengirlstudios.com

Candles from Target

Never leave lit candle unattended.

On the 7th Day of Christmas: Holiday Pendant Project

Holly Pendant

Supplies:
Ceramic Holly Pendant
4 assorted red and green accent beads
2 brass 2 inch headpins
1 10mm brass jump ring
1 brass chain necklace

Instructions:
1. String a red and a green bead onto a headpin. Just above the bead make a simple wire loop, trim excess wire and set aside.
2. Repeat step one to make a second beaded dangle.
3. Open up the jump ring and string the pendant, the two beaded dangles, and the chain on. Close the jump ring.

On the 6th Day of Christmas: Season's Greetings Card Display

One of my favorite memories of the holidays was visiting my grandparents in Northern California. My grandma and grandpa moved around quite a bit in their time and had gathered many friends, far and wide. As the family and their circle of friends grew so did the season's greetings they would receive each year. Grandma Betty would hang a wide silk ribbon on each doorway and pin each card up as it arrived. This Season's Greetings Card Garland is in remembrance of those lovely times together. All of the beads used were gathered from around the studio, which makes it great for orphans beads and left overs! This project can be as simple or elaborate as you like!

Supplies:
4 feet heavy stringing wire. (you could also use 22 gauge copper wire in a pinch!)
several hundred loose beads.
1 gingerbread ceramic snowflake
8 to 10 hanging clips (available at Michael's. OH! And checkout the fantastic Michael's coupon app for your smart phone! Coupons with out the clipping!)
15 to 20 art beads
crimp beads

Tools:
Round nose  pliers
Wire cutters

1. Layout your beads in a pattern with the snowflake pendant in the middle.

2. Loop one end and close with a crimp bead.

3. String beads and add hanging clips at 5 to 6 inch lengths. Make sure to pinch closed the clips hanging ring.
4. Loop end and crimp.
5. Run to the mail box!
6. Hang and enjoy!

Book shelf.

 Table edge.

On the 3rd Day of Christmas: Art Bead Bookmark

Books, books, books! Who doesn't love books? No one around here, that's for sure. This beaded and braided bookmark is my holiday gift for family and friends this year. What a perfect time to share my project with you! 

Handmade bookmarks make quick and easy gifts for just about any reason or season. I made this one in less than 30 minutes. They look great holding your place in your favorite novel OR even better, your favorite beading book!

Materials:

1 daisy ceramic lentil bead

1 blue/green “mermaid” ceramic bead

120 yellow transparent size 8 seed beads

11’ of orange 4-ply Irish waxed linen cord

Tools:

Scissors

Ruler

Macramé board and T-pin

Tip: Pin your work to a Macramé board to keep even tension on the cords as you braid.

Directions:

1: Cut the linen cord into six 22” pieces.
2: Form an overhand knot at the end of 1 cord. String 20 seed beads. Repeat step for the remaining 5 cords.

3: Bring all six cords together and form an overhand knot after the seed beads. Use all six cords to string the daisy lentil bead; form an overhand knot after the bead.

4: Pin the last knot to the top of the macramé board with the T-pin. Separate the cords on the board so that you have 2 cords on the left, 2 cords in the middle and 2 cords on the right. Braid the cords for about 11" and remove from the board.

5: Use all six cords to form an overhand knot. Use all six cords to string the mermaid ceramic bead and form an overhand knot. Trim ends to ½” and fray.

Resources:

Daisy lentil: Golem Studio. Mermaid bead: Gaea. Linen cord: Ornamentea. Seed beads: LBS.

On the 2nd Day of Christmas: Holiday Tree Garland

Materials Needed:
1.5cm-2cm felt balls in assorted colors
1.5cm-2cm wood beads in assorted colors
Size 6 seed beads in assorted colors
Upholstery thread
Needle
12" 18 gauge craft wire

Instructions:
1. Cut the craft wire in to two 6 inch pieces.  Make two wire scrolls with a pair of needle nose pliers.These     will be the hooks to attach the garland to the tree. Once made, set them aside.
2. Leaving your thread on the spool, thread the needle and pull about 12" of excess thread through the hole.
3. Begin by stringing a felt ball onto the thread. Next string approximately 7 inches of seed beads.
4. Continue by string a wood bead, follow with another seven inches of seed beads, and then a felt ball.
5. As the thread fills up with beads, unroll a little more thread and slide the beads further down the thread. Follow the previous pattern to string as long of a garland as you would like.
6. Tie the needle end of the thread to the end of a wire scroll. Slide the strung beads up so they are snug against the wire. Tie the remaining end of the garland to the second scroll. Trim any lose threads.

Enjoy!
Jennifer Jangles

Free Project- Believe Necklace

Supplies Needed:
1 Believe Ceramic Link
3 assorted Holiday Charms
2 red 6mm faceted Czech beads
1 yard red organza ribbon
1 yard lime organza ribbon
2 foldover crimps
2 head pins
3 silver 4mm jump rings

Instructions:
1. Begin by connecting a charm to each of the three bottom loops on the link with a jump ring.
2. Thread one ribbon through a top loop on the link. Tie a simple knot to secure the ribbon. Repeat with remaining ribbon on the opposite side.
3. Trim the ribbon ends to the desired length. Remember you will be tie a bow so be sure to leave extra for that.
4. String a Czech bead onto a headpin. Make a simple wire loop. Before closing it slide it onto the loop of the fold over crimp. Repeat this step for the second crimp.
5. Place the ribbon in the center of the crimp. With your chain(flat) nose pliers fold one side of the crimp over to secure the ribbon. Fold over the second side and pinch tightly. Repeat on other side.

 

 This project was written by Jennifer Heynen a.k.a. Jennifer Jangles

Free Project- Zipper Pulls

 

Get a jump start on your holiday gifts with these fun zipper pulls - they are perfect for gift exchanges, teacher's gifts, secret Santa surprises or tucked away in stockings.

Supplies Needed for Flower Pull:
1 flower bead
4 assorted accent beads
2 silver inch silver headpin
10mm silver spring ring
1 lobster claw clasp

Instructions:
1. String a small bead onto the headpin followed by the flower bead.
2. Just above the flower make a simple wire loop. Trim any excess wire.
3. String the remaining accent beads in desired order and make a simple wire loop at the top. Trim excess wire.
4. Slide both loops of the charms you just made onto the spring ring. Note* If you use jump rings when you pull the zipper, it will most likely open, spring rings will stay closed.
5. Slide the clasp onto the jump ring as well.
6. Clip the clasp onto your zipper and enjoy!

Project Written By: Jennifer Heynen a.k.a. Jennifer Jangles

Holiday Gift Ideas - Eight Free Jewelry Projects

With the chill in the air and October looming only days away I realized it's time to start thinking about the holidays.  I love making jewelry this time of year for both my gift list and for shows.  

Here are eight free projects to give you a jump start on your gift-making ideas!

Willow Fields Necklace

Summer Solstice Necklace

Memory Wire Cuff Bracelets

Wire Nest Bail Pendant

Rossetti Necklace

Favorite Things Pendant

O-Ring Bracelet

Raven Necklace