Category: Inspiration Projects

InspirationFX Get your creative juices flowing Good Things in Small Packages by: Lee Metsalo Why should the big Swarovski beads get all the attention?  The tiniest ones can also make pretty pieces!  This bracelet was made using two strands, two needles.  As shown, this bracelet is 19cm (7.75 in) long. Measure two strands of Fireline, about 75cm long.  You won’t use all of this, but it makes it easier to handle, and to do your knots for the closures.  Thread your needles.  Put some sort of a stopper on the Fireline about 10cm away from the opposite end of the …

InspirationFX Get your creative juices flowing Rings of Saturn by: Lee Metsalo This quick and easy stringing project was inspired by the colours and lines in the donut.  Link the two jump rings to the donut.  One piece of leather goes through two beads, under a ring, through a bead, under a ring, and through two beads.  The other piece goes through two beads, over a ring, through a bead, over a ring, and through two beads.  (See photo with arrows.) Adjust length to suit (as shown leather pieces are 70cm long) , trim the ends to match, glue the …

InspirationFX Get your creative juices flowing From the Sourceby: Lee Metsalo You really can find inspiration anywhere!  The inspiration from these came from an ad for waterfall speakers from the Source (Radio Shack).   Assembly is easy – string the beads onto the appropriate headpin or eyepin, form your loop at the top, and link it all together. Tools used:  roundnose pliers, flatnose pliers, cutters   Components Go to our components list for this project and to buy what you need! Need some help with some of the techniques? Check our tips page.

InspirationFX Get your creative juices flowing Sweetheart Stampede by: Bonnie Cottingham This is a necklace with a clasp, jumprings, or other fiddly bits. I wanted to make something very organic – using stone and leather. The light leather colour and the softness of the Rose Quartz goes together very nicely. Cut the leather in half, and fold the two pieces in half. Secure the Gogo donut with a Lark’s Head knot (push the folded end through the hole, and pop the tails through the loop and pull tight.) Pass the ends through the hole in the donut to make the …

InspirationFX Get your creative juices flowing Braided Charmby: Pam Kearns I like to use materials in unusual combinations and find uses other than what they were intended for. I was looking at the Paracord buckles and wondered what else they could connect to. I then thought of the new Lycra strips and knew they would work and could be braided. The result is this bracelet that is fun to wear with lots of movement in a fun colour. It also keeps in style with the Boho look that is popular right now. I’ve used antique copper accents and Swarovski rounds, …

InspirationFX Get your creative juices flowing Fear of Commitment by: Dwyn Tomlinson Here’s a fear – the fear of commitment. The fear of using that beautiful object that you have only one of – and then not having it anymore to use in another piece. Sadly – I usually buy multiples of the things I really like, and now I have drawers and drawers of stuff, and can’t find the thing I’m looking for – so it’s all a wash. This new jewelry system – called, variously, depending on the manufacturer, “In a Snap,” “Noosa” or “Klik” is the first …

InspirationFX Get your creative juices flowing Play Dress Upby: Rochelle Kilmer To dress up, or dress down – this piece can work both ways – ready for the office or a night on the town. Use the 2-ton epoxy to glue your rivoli into it’s bezel Put each Swarovski round on a headpin and make wrapped loops. Attach the headpins to a jumpring and a link on the rivoli Use a jumpring and attach the other end of the rivoli link to the beaded crown with loop as a bail. You will need two jumprings to hang straight (one below …

InspirationFX Get your creative juices flowing Chain Gangby: Rochelle Kilmer Working on the chain gang, about to get down … Coloured chain is a novelty, so how to use it? Well – why not just let it speak for itself? Mix different lengths of coloured chain into one multi-strand piece! Attach the ends with jumprings, add a clasp, and you are good to go!   Components Go to our components list for this project and to buy what you need! Need some help with some of the techniques? Check our tips page.

InspirationFX Get your creative juices flowing Summer and Spiceby: Malliga Nathan … and everything nice! And everything in this two-strand necklace is nice, but together, they are one yummy whole piece with a spicy flair. First strand: Approx. 16.5 inches String on 7 brass rounds 1 Mahogany Window Bead, 3 brass rounds(do this 5 MORE times) 3 Mahogany Window Beads, 1 CornerlessCube Bead (Do this 9 MORE times) Then string on 3 Mahogany Window Beads,3 brass rounds. 1 Mahogany Window Bead, 3 brass rounds(do this 4 MORE times) 1 Mahogany Window Bead, 7 brass rounds. Finish off both ends with …

InspirationFX Get your creative juices flowing Just Around the Curveby: Lee Metsalo Curved noodle beads are meant to go around your wrist, but what do you put with them?  In this case, carnelian, which lends an ethnic look to the piece.  Switch the carnelian to turquoise, then it looks like something Arizona/Texas/Mexican.  Lava beads, Icelandic.  This bracelet can look masculine or feminine depending on the beads chosen.   The beauty of these noodles is that they lend themselves to making a bracelet for your larger-wristed friends – the piece shown measures just over 8-1/4 inches.  To make it even larger, …