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The Zen of Spring - Growth

by: Dwyn Tomlinson

For this year, at Tucson, we were very pleased to be one of the sponsors for the Swarovski Sparkling Make and Take - a fund-raiser for the local YWCA.

This entailed designing a project featuring Swarovski crystals (such a hardship!), - something that could be made by a complete novice in under an hour - rather more of a challenge - getting the ok from Swarovski, purchasing all the components (ok - seriously - why is it every single time I design a kit - a key element has been discontinued???? Hmmmm?), assembling said kits, and shipping them ahead.

I think there was some criteria about a price limit too - but as we were donating everything (along with John Bead - our co-sponsor) - we just ignored that.

The end result was this series of Crystal Explosion pendants. We got a tonne of great feedback about these - everyone seemed to adore them - so we are publishing them here for you. We actually do expect to get some kits put together again, but here is the component list, and the instructions.

And seriously - you can make it in under an hour. You need to review the "rapid loops" technique - which I pretty much had to invent in order to make all the samples to be shipped to Swarovski the next day. Necessity is the mother of invention all right.

To make.

Divide your headpins into two equal piles of 25.

Take half of the headpins, and thread 2 beads on each.

Then do the same to the other pile of headpins, except make those with 3 beads.

Left over beads can be added so that you have some headpins with 4 beads. And you should shorten a couple to just 1 bead.

Now do the Rapid Loops for all them - giving you 50 dangles of varying lengths. Trim the wire ends.

Use the Artistic Wire to create a wrapped loop for the Lotus Pendant.

Thread the Lotus Pendant onto the Softflex, and then string the dangles on both sides, in random order. (The photo that illustrates this shows the Berry Surprise project - but the idea is the same.)

When they are all strung on, tie the two ends of the Softflex together, so you are knotting the strand into a big circle. Add the Link and knot again inside the link. So you have a circle of the Softflex, with all the beads on it, with the Lotus Pendant on the bottom, and opposite that, there is a knot, and the link, and then the knot inside the link.

Then, using the link, hang on a chain, necklace, silk rattail, what have you. We used the silk rattail.

That's it! Crystal Explosion!

          
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Components
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74701012-11 Craft Wire - 24ga - Brass (Tarnish Resistant) (Artistic Wire)

(4 inches)

Price: $ 9.45
per
In Stock
Qty: 50 22601032 Headpins - 2in / 24ga Flat Head - Goldplated (100)Price: $ 6.95
per
In Stock
Qty: 1 22801429 Link - 21x41mm Closed Oval - Matte GoldPrice: $ 1.65
per
Sorry - this item
is unavailable.
25001002 Softflex (tm) Beading Wire - 30ft .019 (Medium) - Silver Grey (Spool)

(6 inches)

Price: $ 28.30
per
In Stock
Qty: 36 27753011409228 Swarovski Bead - 4mm Faceted Bicone (5301/5328) - Olivine AB (36)Price: $ 5.68
per
Sorry - this item
is unavailable.
Qty: 36 27753011503228 Swarovski Bead - 4mm Faceted Bicone (5301/5328) - Olivine AB2 (36)Price: $ 6.48
per
Sorry - this item
is unavailable.
Qty: 25 27750001703226 Swarovski Bead - 6mm Faceted Round (5000) - Light TopazPrice: $ 0.77
per
Sorry - this item
is unavailable.
Qty: 20 27750001747385 Swarovski Bead - 6mm Faceted Round (5000) - LimePrice: $ 0.77
per
Sorry - this item
is unavailable.
Qty: 20 27750001835385 Swarovski Bead - 6mm Faceted Round (5000) - Lime ABPrice: $ 0.79
per
Sorry - this item
is unavailable.
Qty: 1 34769081010228 Swarovski Pendant - 30mm Lotus Pendant (6908) - OlivinePrice: $ 22.95
per
Sorry - this item
is unavailable.

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