Originally posted as How to Make Sari Silk Jewelry-Beaded Silk Bracelet Making by Sandy. I was given a beading loom a while back, a tool I had never considered exploring. But, wow, once I did start playing and experimenting, I realized the possibilities were endless! In this video I share one of my favorite options for a beading loom, using silk fibers as the long warp threads. You’ll learn how to make a beaded silk wrap bracelet and create recycled sari silk jewelry. Silk bracelet making on a loom with beads is easier than you think. Tools & Materials: Silk ribbon such as: Sari silk r ..read more

Originally posted as How To Use Bead Cones To Make Amazing Necklace Designs! by Sandy. There are so many beautiful bead cone designs, let’s not hide them around the back of a necklace, but bring them front and center, to highlight and accent the pendants in statement necklace designs. In this video: How to choose pieces that work together with pleasing proportions Four different ways to use bead cones in your necklace Tips for recreating a purchased pendant How to assemble your statement jewelry design Copper Heart Necklace: Bead cones: 2 Antique Copper-Plated Meandering Cones with Loop 2 ..read more

Originally posted as Make Quick and Easy HARDWARE STORE Jewelry by Sandy. One of my favorite ways to find unique creative supplies is to wander a hardware store, Home Depot, or a place like Harbor Freight. As I walk the aisles, I look at things not for what they ARE, but what they could possibly BE. If you like the idea of creating with unexpected materials, you’re going to love transforming copper washers into jewelry. Tools and Materials: Copper washer set Bench block Leather sandbag Rubber bench block Texture hammer  Chasing hammer Riveting hammer  Nylon/brass hammer Metal file ..read more

Originally posted as Easy Metal Clay Jewelry-Sculpt FINE SILVER Flowers by Sandy. This is my second attempt with Precious Metal Clay (PMC3) and this time I used almost an entire package to make a floral pendant. It was just as much fun as the first try! It may look complex, but if you can cut out shapes and do simple sculpting in polymer clay, you can make this pendant. Well, you also need to be able to handle a torch. <g> But that’s not hard, it just requires care and attention to detail. About Precious Metal Clay PMC3 comes in 5, 15, 25 and 50 gram packages 15 grams ($50 i ..read more

Originally posted as Bead Crochet Success on Your First Try by Sandy. Crocheted ropes of beads may look complicated, but it’s actually very easy to create this earthy boho look. You only need to know a single basic crochet stitch! Watch the video to learn: Simple steps for crocheting with beads Tips for choosing the right thread Which beads you should never use in bead crochet projects Ideas for jewelry you can make using your crocheted pieces Tools & Materials: Crochet cotton, S-lon or other cord of appropriate weight for your beads Beads with a large enough hole for your cord to pass ..read more

Originally posted as Create Gorgeous ART Effects Easily with EF Color Powders by Sandy. Many of you have shared that sometimes you buy cool new art supplies, but then are afraid to use them. If you have EF Color enamel powders sitting on a shelf, no worries! I finally opened mine (it ONLY took a year and a half) and am going to show you all of my experiments and exploration so far. These powders are super easy to use, just sprinkle them on! After a brief time melting at 300 F. they have the appearance of glass enamel and are quite durable. I’m primarily using them on polymer clay, but you ca ..read more

Originally posted as Cute Beaded Wire Heart Charms by Sandy. One thing I love about wire working is that you can make a beautiful piece with just a few inches of wire. If you love sparkle, it’s easy to wire on beads and crystals. In this video: How to choose the right wire for your project Steps for shaping graceful curves and loops for your heart charm Hammering techniques to harden and add dimension to your piece How to wire on beads, crystals or pearl accents Two different ways to finish the bottom of your heart A way to wire wrap small dangles at the bottom of your heart How to form spira ..read more

Originally posted as How To Bead Weave With WIRE On A Loom by Sandy. If you’ve ever admired loom-woven beading but thought it looked intimidating, you’re in for a treat! It’s super easy to do, and you don’t even need a special loom. This kind of bead weaving is often done with thread, but what’s even more cool is that you can weave beads on a loom with wire! This is a perfect hybrid between beading and wire weaving. In this class I show two options for your bracelet: Steps for finishing with a simple twisted wire hook and loop clasp Or, create a bangle style bracelet with complex free form w ..read more

Originally posted as Enhance Your BEADS with Freeform Wire Weaving, Wrapping and Coiling by Sandy. Have you ever come across a bead that needed just a little something more? Maybe it was a bead you created yourself, in clay, ceramic, glass or the like. That’s what started me on this project, while learning how to lampwork I made some beads that were on the verge of being nice, they just needed a little help. These techniques can be used to enhance any beads, turning “meh” into something special! Tools & Materials: Bail making pliers Round nose pliers Flat nose pliers Chain nose pliers Be ..read more

Originally posted as Embellish a Peyote Loop + 12 Amazing Ways To Use It by Sandy. I am not a plain vanilla kind of girl. Nor can I abide the thought of a plain cheese pizza. Why leave it plain when there are so many opportunities to embellish? Which is why when I saw the very nice, but plain peyote toggle clasp in a recent Potomac Bead Box kit, I HAD to jazz it up… just a little. Then I kept going and came up with a dozen different ways to use a simple tubular peyote loop. Hope it sparks your creativity! Tools and Materials: Completed toggle loop Potomac Beads’ version uses 15/0 and 11/0 ..read more