SNake Bracelet

This was a gift a friend made. She makes all sort of jewelry designs from wire. (The snake was one of my favorites, without question.)

"Golden" Bracelet

Props and costumes in theater often have to be done on the cheap, and when I say cheap I mean really, REALLY cheap. And often that cheap means for as little as possible. For a production of "The King and I" there were a number of actors portraying wives and royal children all needing to be well dressed this included gold bands for both children and adults The costume designer (which I helped) was able to create a number of gold bands by cutting thick cardboard tubes from rugs into bands Each band was then deorated with glue to give a textural design then sprayed with gold spray paint and let dry. Viola!

 

Beaded Jewelry Collection

What can you get from an inexpensive bead ring kit that severely lacks directions? With a little creativity, imagination, and a desire to try some new things... a whole collection of beaded jewelry. One kit for $1 (at local Dollar Store) + a few things I already had on hand (equaling only an added few pennies here and there) = a new collection of beaded jewelry. (9 Pieces to be more exact.)


 Three beaded rings. (A Flower, a peace sign, & a cloud burst.)

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One 'Marie Antoinette *after* the guillotine' inspired choker.

 

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Two Beaded Slave Bracelets. (Water and Fire inspired.)

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Bottled Amulet on Beaded Necklace

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Beaded Rainbow Bracelet

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Beaded Twist Ring

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And with the wire all used up there are still beads to spare.

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So, to recap - nine pieces of jewelry (with beads leftover) from one box of wire and seeds beads.

Keep your eyes open, you never know what you might find. (Guess what kids, I still have another box that I haven't opened yet.)

Beaded Bracelet

With the last bit of wire and beads, I made this rainbow themed wire bracelet. A little color is good for the soul.

"Unlucky" Charm Bracelet - Hapy Friday the 13th!

Friday the 13th is full of a lot of superstitious elements. It's easy to do an internet search to find out about traditions and superstitions on sites like HowStuffWorks and Wikipedia. In honor of this Friday the 13th, a day that sends dread down some, I made special Friday the 13th charm bracelet. (If you lose your sense of humor you lose everything.)

I had a theme in mind, wanting to create a number of charms for a bracelet that would celebrate things that many people see as unlucky; a black cat, a raven, a full moon, a broken mirror, a bat, an open umbrella (as in the kind opened indoors), a voodoo doll, the number 13, and an owl. To achieve this set of charms I used recycled #6 plastic (from a cookie container) to make shrinkies. You can buy shrinky dink plastic or you can just use #6 plastic often used in deli containers.

Start with # 6 plastic.

Cut shapes. ( I chose uniform circles.)

Decorate. Magic Markers work great. Also don;t be afraid to use a template to trace designs.

I stuck with three colors; black, red, and silver.

I used 'unlucky' symbols such as the number 13, an open umbrella, an own, a raven, a bat, a broken mirror, a black cat, a full moon, and a voodoo doll. Punch holes BEFORE going in oven.

In preheated 350-400 degrees oven place for a few seconds. Watch. They will crinkle, curl up, shrink and then lay out as they are done.

Prep bracelet with chain & latch of desired size.

They will shrink more than half, so be prepared. Here is an example of a shrunken piece in the cut it they came from.

Attach charms with jump rings, Enjoy. Wear.

Fire & Water Beaded Slave Bracelets

Water

More projects from that box of beads and wire I got = Fire & Water beaded slave bracelets. (For those who don't know what a slave bracelet is, it's combination bracelet/ring attached by a chain or combination of some other type of decoration.)

I started with one piece of wire about 20-24 inches long, in this case making the entire piece of jewelry out of one piece of wire. I measured approximately by wrapping it lightly around a finger, up my hand (doubling the as I used for this design), and around my wrist, leaving extra length for working on the twists and attaching the closures at the end. (Always make sure you have enough to work with, you can always trim off excess.)

Loosely fold in half. The halfway point will be approximately under your finger.

Start stringing seed beads to create a ring shape at the central point of the wire. (For the water colored one, I used a combination of blues and greens. For the fire colored one, I used a combination of yellow, red, and orange.) Measure around your finger as you go to make sure it isn't too small to go over your finger(s). A little big is better than too snug. When a ring shape was created I gave it a few tight twists (a pair of needle nose pliers to help get it tight). Then I used a slightly larger seed bead down over the twist, wrapping the wire up through the bottom, 'locking' the ring shape in place and making it easier to create the strand down the hand. Check again to make sure it fits your finger before going on. If it doesn't fit right, it's better to have to undo your work here, than later.

Now create a design of equal design down the two wires that will run the length of the hand. (I went for a twisted design, intertwining the bead colors and giving it twice the strength for attaching the bracelet and the ring.) Double check against your hand as you go to make sure it's the right length. (You can use a sharpie marker to mark length as you go. It will be covered by beads and not show in the final project.) Lock the end of each strand with a bead like from the ring shape to keep the beads from falling off the end while you are working.

Twist the two beaded strands together, giving a couple tights twists to combine them together at the end of the beads. Attach one or two of the larger seed beads down over the two pieces of wire and over the twists attaching the two strands. 'Lock' in place like with the other 'joints' to secure beads, shape, and to make it easier to work the next step.

Bead each individual wire from here to create the sides of the bracelet, using desired pattern. You want each of the sides to be about the same size so the latch is located on the central bottom part of the wrist when worn. Measure as you go. Counting and/or marking with a Sharpie to help. Always check, double check, and triple check as you go.

'Lock' the final bead like with the other transitions. (This strengthens the piece for wearing and makes things much easier to work with.) Attach the clasps to the wire, twisting securely with a pair of needle nose pliers, making sure to be mindful of sharp ends of the wire. You can use a short piece of chain on the end of one if desired to make the size adaptable or to give some extra length. (I used a short piece of chain for one and a small ring for the other.)

You can use any selection of colors of your choosing to create whatever design moves you. I love the contrast of water/air with fire. It's hard to say what they will get worn with, but I'm sure I will find something. (I always do!) I do know I love the look of this style and should have no problem finding ways to show them off.

Fire

Camp Crafts - 4

As part of an interview at the first camp I worked at, I took examples and pictures of things I could make, had made, and ideas I had to grow on. The picture here was one of those including a paper box, a small God's Eye, Worry Dolls, and a couple friendship bracelets (also popular worn as anklets). I even took an apron dress I had made without use of a pattern and then tie dyed in a rainbow pattern.

The God's Eye is something I learned years and years ago in Girl Scouts usually involving yarn and two sticks. This one was a small example I made using a couple pieces of broken wooden skewers and embroidery floss I had one hand. It hangs in my craft/sewing room now.

Worry Dolls, the directions included in a previous post.

Friendship bracelets, using various knots and macrame techniques were favorites among campers, counselors, and staff. There are tons of techniques and styles out there, the ones pictures using a half knot and a mix of colors of floss and embroidery floss. Camper would often start the knotted jewelry in the Craft Hall, then take them with them to finish during quiet time in bunks or other downtime through the night and evening. They would attach the end loops to toes, nails, pinned on jeans or shoe, or anything else available, including their friends.

The paper box is great for storing worry dolls or gift giving of friendship bracelets.

The instructions for a Paper Plate Drum was made while working with camping families with small children. I don't know that anyone ever used it, even thought we made a few of them.

The Gift Of Jewelry

Peace Sign Necklace from C.

I not only give handmade gifts, but sometimes I receive them from friends and family as well. Jewelry has been a part of it.

A friend dabbled in jewelry making and made me a bead and wire necklace with a peace sign (somehow it made her think of me) and a few feathers.

The ring is braided wire soldered together. I don't remember exactly where it came from, but I think it found it's way into my collection while at one of my camps.

The Heart Jewelry set was bride's maid gift from my cousin's wedding, complete with a silver wire heart pendent on the necklace & earrings and a matching blue and silver bracelet. The Bride designed the jewelry with a jewelry making friend from her church and we were given them the morning of the wedding. Our dresses were an ice blue and we wore the jewelry for the wedding. (The mothers of the bride and groom where also given bracelets.) The clasps are magnetized (making it a bracelet I can can actually clasp on my own).

Wire Ring

Heart Jewelry Set

Camp Crafts - Part 2

Basket

In this the second installment of Camp Crafts I have a few more things to share from my camp days. Camp Crafts were a great way for me to be a positive influence in a lot of k, kids' lives and to show them the process is just as important, if not more sometimes, than just the finished project. You don't have to be an artist to make your own art.

I always wanted to kids to have lots of examples. I found that if you have only have one example then most of the kids will make their finished project look as close to that one as they can. So wanted them to see there was no ONE way. I wanted them to make it their own way with their own vision.

At a camp ground I was living and working as a Craft Hall Supervisor I was able to offer basket making. It was great for adults and teens. I even got a family with a mom, her grown daughter, and her daughter's boyfriend, who ended up being the surprise with a very nice heart shaped basket.

Paper Bag Journal

Paper bag journals were something I altered and adapted to make usable for groups and camp settings. At one camp that catered to families and various groups, they were a big hit with tweens, teens, and a few very creative Girl Scout troops. We used two colored paper bags for each, a variety of colored construction paper, markers, construction paper crayons (which are more awesome than many people might realize), yarn, and fun bits of feathers, gems, and foamies. I made ones for part of the staff at the end of the summer as a good bye present (the pockets were great for tucking in feathers, magnets, and other bits from the summer).

I've made paper bag journals with my 'Ladies Who Craft" at the nursing home, as well as for personal things. (I usually use regular brown paper bags and lunch sacks.) I made one for Christmas present for my mom as a memory book after my grandpa's death. The pockets were great for tucking in extra pictures, poetry, and a copy of his obituary. A great way to utilize scrap booking techniques for little bits.

Shrinkie Charm Bracelet

At the 4-H camp we did a lot with shrinkies (you've heard of shrinkie drinks, right?) and various knotted and braided bracelets and anklets made with colored thread. The kids loved them, both the nine-year-olds, and the teens. I tried to find ways for them to use the shrinkies they made (#6 plastic, decorated with markers or colored pencils, then heated down) other than just little melted pieces of plastic. I made a shrinkie charm bracelet with a bunch of fruit and vegetable charms and bits (I'm a vegetarian) with green and white colored thread.

Once all the shrinkies where made (decorated with holes punches) and shrunk, I set them out in the order I preferred and started to work on the bracelet itself. I used a square knot like one used in macrame with thin colored thread (think embroidery thread or something similar). The combination of colors gave a nice variance.

If the bracelet in the picture looks a bit beat up, because it is. I wore it a lot at camp and used it as an example (always with the examples).

Worry Dolls

Worry dolls made from twisty ties and embroidery floss was something I came up with. I have a few sets that I had picked up from other places, but wanted to find a way to make them myself. I was inspired by the collection of twisty ties that I could force myself to throw away, my selection of colored embroidery floss, and scraps of fabric. One of my campers even made a house for them out of a Velveeta Cheese box. It kind of resembled a mini mobile home. See More!

Macrame Butterfly

Macrame and macrame techniques were a big part of the stuff I did the kids. It seemed the more retro something was the more popular it was. Bracelets, belts, and even little macrame butterflies, like the one pictured. It was nice to experiment with different types of cord and string. The Macrame Butterfly was made from actual macrame cord that was donated (like the kind you see used in planters.)

Maybe some of these will inspire you or bring back sweet memories of summer camps gone by.

Misc. Jewelry Creations

Double Row Hemp Choker

Some of these pieces of jewelry were camp related projects and some where not. I don't claim to be an expert on jewelry making and some skill sets are new to me.

The Double Row Hemp Choker was my own take on the macrame knots I have been doing for years. I taught basic macrame using square and half knots at camp, mostly used for bracelets, necklaces, and chokers. This was a design I played with on my own inter-knotting two rows of square knots. One week half the camp ended up using thick macrame chord (donated and probably from someone's 70's or 80s stash) to make macrame belts. Retro definitely has never gone away with hemp chord and macrame chord. Check out more on the Double Row Hemp Sq. Knot Choker

Dream Catcher Earrings

The Dream Catcher Earrings were the result of working at a camp located in an area where American Indian Culture was celebrated and Pow Wow was held annually. I was playing with making my own out of what I had on hand. (There were some necklaces and stuff made too that were given away.) These were made from a couple of key rings, brown embroidery thread, a few small wooden beads, a couple small orange feathers, and two earring hooks. Check out more on my Dream Catcher Earrings

Charm Bracelet with homemade charms

When I was younger my mom had a charm bracelet that I was fascinated with, complete with charms that all had meaning to her. This charm bracelet was made with chain and hook from the jewelry section of the craft store with re-purposed old earrings and homemade charms that all were significant to me. A heart, a mermaid (I kind of have a things for mermaids), a flower, a tree of life, a peace sign (of course), a couple small butterflies, and a few tiny bead strands. The homemade charms were created from discarded twisty ties, stripped of the plastic or paper coverings, then twisted and altered into various shapes (needle nose pliers helped here). Most of the shapes took a lot more twisties than one might have originally planned.

It didn't me long to get aggravated with stripped on the plastic or paper coverings on the twisty ties, so I resorted to using a controlled bit of flame to burn the covering off. Of course, making sure they were cool before munipulating them into shapes. The tiny bits of wire, were not the easiest things to form, but it was a challenge I was glad I took on. (Look ma, no injuries.) The end result was a new bracelet and a great learning experience. More on my Twisty Tie Charm Bracelet

The Seashell Jewelry (necklace and earrings) got easily inspired by a large collection of shiny tiny glass beads in all sorts of blues, greens, ambers, and browns with a nice assortment of seashells mixed with my thing for mermaids. (It just keeps finding a way to reappear, so you might as well get used to it.) I used a jewelry make wire, catch (for the necklace), and earring hooks that I had one hand (plus of working at a camp) to string the beads and attach the shells.

Seashell Jewelry

My original intend when starting these ocean inspired pieces was to use them as part of a mermaid costume that I have been playing with sketches and construction ideas. The costume hasn't been built yet, but I haven't given up on it. (I'm still playing with some ideas.) Have no worries though, the jewelry was used this past year when I helped a couple friend with Halloween Costumes and one of them went as the Ocean. The seashells and beads were a nice touch with the creation of flowing blues and greens with various sea creatures thrown in for fun. These have proven to be a great addition to my costume collection (and yes, I have one, one that takes up it's own closet, but that is another story for another day). Check out more on the Seashell Jewelry

Celebrate the art of being who you want to be and wearing the things that mean something to you.