Jewelry Making

DIY Jewelry, Beads And Patterns

Your opinion please!

by

engagement ring with garnet settingWeddings and rings are bound together in our culture. With my own wedding coming up quickly, I’ve given a lot of thought to jewelry and its value lately. Some jewelry is precious simply because of the sentimental attachment we have to it. From macaroni necklaces presented proudly by your three-year old niece to antique pieces made of cheap metal and glass “stones,” these pieces are precious for the thought put into making them or because they were once owned and worn often by your grandma.

Fine jewelry that has inherent value from its component materials such as precious metals and precious stones obviously has more monetary value. The rarity of these resources make them precious and somehow more desirable. I think engagement rings are the perfect example of jewelry that is precious both sentimentally and monetarily.

Do you think the monetary value of a piece makes it more precious or simply more desirable as a status symbol? For my own engagement ring, I selected a garnet as the central stone. Garnets are my birthstone and I love the color red. For both these reasons, a garnet had more sentimental value to me than a diamond. Diamonds are beautiful but are they truly worth all the mystique we attribute to them? My intended is from South Africa, one of the world’s largest producers of exquisite diamonds; I am from Arkansas, the Diamond state. It seems to me the value of diamonds and their dominance as THE stone for engagement rings is rather arbitrary. What is your opinion on the value of jewelry and diamonds? Does a more expensive price automatically mean a more precious piece? Do you believe a diamond is forever as the ad says and think it the best symbol of love? What do you think?

Comments

  1. I played no part in picking out my engagement ring. My husband did it completely on his own (I didn’t even know he was planning to ask me to marry him.) It was always more important to me for him to find something that he liked and felt that I would love too. I wouldn’t have it any other way. :0) Oh, and congratulations!

  4. I agree, except for insurance purposes, the “value” is all in the sentiment. Thank you for the well wishes. I like the way you think, Lori Ann! Our furry friends need all the love and support they can get 🙂

  6. I agree. Feeling the band around my finger reminds me of feeling safe in his arms and I envision beautiful brown eyes asking me to be his always. The beautiful ring is just icing on the cake.

  8. I’m very practical, too. I think you’ve made a very good choice in husbands! I love that he got a good deal on a beautiful ring you love and I also like that your ring is eco-friendly.

  9. The eternal ring symbolizing love, faith in the commitment from another person and the promise to keep the bond alive every day has always been my measure of worth in a gift beyond a price tag.
    Your care and guarding of your ring will make it more precious as each act of love and kindness adds to the glow you captured in the photo. You captured the essence in the photo sought after by so many photographers.
    I have jewels, baubles and odd whimsical creations I can’t keep up with but the most valuable ones shine brightest when they smile.

  10. I wanted to use an amethyst and diamond ring that my grandmother gave me for my wedding ring because it has a lot of sentimental value to me. I don’t wear much jewelry because I tend to lose it, so to me the meaning behind a ring or gemstone is what matters. They’re all just rocks {albeit beautiful ones!} when it comes down to it, so any monetary value assigned to them is somewhat arbitrary. I say where what makes you happy!

  11. I don’t think something has to be expensive to be precious or valuable.
    My birthstone is diamond and I’ve always wanted a diamond wedding ring with smaller sapphire stones on either side of the diamond.
    Or maybe emerald…
    lol I’d never be able to decide.
    Very pretty ring, btw!

Have you read?

10 DIY Halloween Jewellery Ideas That Are Cute, Not Creepy

There is a very fine line between Halloween jewellery that feels fun and festive, and Halloween jewellery that looks like you raided the costume aisle five minutes before leaving the house. I say this with love, because we have all been there. A pair of plastic spider earrings, a glow-in-the-dark necklace from the bottom of the party box, and suddenly we are less “autumnal handmade goddess” and more “school disco chaperone who tried very hard.”

But cute Halloween jewellery? Now that is where the magic happens.

These DIY Halloween jewellery ideas are for those of us who want to enjoy the season without going full haunted house. Think sweet little ghosts, pumpkins, bats, sugar skulls, sparkly beads, handmade pendants and playful pieces you can actually wear to school pickup, work, craft group, lunch with friends, or while handing out lollies at the door.

I love Halloween crafting because it gives us permission to be a little silly with our supplies. You can pull out the orange beads, the black wire, the googly eyes, the air-dry clay, the glittery bits you bought three years ago and absolutely swore you would use. And jewellery is such a lovely way to join in without decorating the entire house or committing to a full costume.

These cute DIY Halloween jewellery tutorials are perfect for beginners, tweens, teens, craft groups, handmade gifts, market makes, and anyone who loves a seasonal accessory with a bit of personality. Nothing too creepy, nothing too gory, just sweet handmade Halloween jewellery with charm.

Cute Ghost Earrings For Halloween

These little ghost earrings are a lovely place to start if you want something recognisably Halloween without being over the top. They are light-hearted, playful and would be sweet for tweens, teens, or anyone who likes a bit of seasonal fun without the fright factor. They would also make cute non-candy Halloween gifts for friends or grandkids.

Project link: Halloween Ghost Earring Tutorial

Tiny Ghost Stud Earrings

If dangling earrings are not your thing, these ghost stud earrings are a softer and more everyday-friendly version of Halloween jewellery. They are affordable, lightweight and cute enough to wear all through October without feeling like you are dressed for a costume party. I love this style for anyone who wants a subtle handmade Halloween accessory.

Project link: DIY Ghosts Halloween Stud Earrings

Pumpkin Wire Earrings

Pumpkin jewellery is my favourite “cute, not creepy” Halloween option because it works for autumn, harvest season and Halloween all at once. These CraftBits pumpkin wire earrings use simple jewellery supplies, including wire, small green beads, jump rings and earring hooks, and the tutorial notes they take about 15 minutes to make. They are cheerful, wearable and a great stash-busting project.

Project link: Jewelry Making – Pumpkin Wire Earrings

Easy Bat Pendant

A bat pendant can go very spooky very quickly, but this one keeps things simple and crafty. It uses cardstock, glue, nail polish, jump rings and a chain, which makes it a clever low-cost Halloween jewellery idea if you do not want to buy special supplies. I would wear this over a plain black top and call that my Halloween outfit sorted.

Project link: Make An Easy Bat Pendant

Googly Eyed Necklace

This googly eyed necklace is wonderfully ridiculous in the best possible way. It is not elegant, and it is not trying to be, which is exactly why it works. This is the sort of Halloween jewellery project that gets comments, makes kids laugh, and gives you a chance to use those googly eyes hiding in the craft drawer.

Project link: Googly Eyed Necklace

Sugar Skull Necklaces From Air Dry Clay

Sugar skull designs bring colour and detail to Halloween jewellery without leaning into anything too scary. This air-dry clay necklace idea is a lovely one for crafters who enjoy painting, decorating and adding their own little flourishes. It would also be a nice family craft if you want everyone to decorate their own pendant in different colours.

Project link: Sugar Skull Necklaces From Air Dry Clay

Hand Drawn Halloween Pendant

If you enjoy doodling, painting or mixed media crafts, this hand drawn Halloween pendant is a sweet way to turn tiny artwork into jewellery. The original project uses vintage paper, wooden shapes and waterproof ink, so it has that handmade storybook feeling rather than a plastic costume-shop look. You could make pumpkins, moons, black cats, stars, candy corn or little haunted houses and keep the colours as soft or bold as you like.

Project link: Hand Drawn Halloween Pendant Tutorial

Sparkly Halloween Crystal Necklace

For a prettier take on Halloween jewellery, this sparkly crystal necklace is a good reminder that seasonal pieces do not have to be novelty-only. A bit of black, orange, purple or smoky crystal can feel festive and still look grown-up. This would be lovely for someone who wants Halloween jewellery that works with a nice blouse rather than a costume cape.

Project link: Sparkly Halloween Necklace

Crochet Ghost Pin

This little crochet ghost pin is adorable, especially if you prefer yarn crafts over beads and wire. The CraftBits pattern uses small amounts of white worsted weight yarn, wiggle eyes, a pin backing and glue, making it a sweet scrap-yarn Halloween project. Pin it to a cardigan, tote bag, scarf or denim jacket for a soft handmade touch.

Project link: Crochet Ghost Pin

A Few Tips For Making Halloween Jewellery Look Cute, Not Creepy

The easiest way to keep DIY Halloween jewellery wearable is to soften the colour palette a little. Instead of only using harsh orange and black, try adding cream, soft gold, lilac, blush pink, pearl, smoky grey, mint green or copper. It still feels seasonal, but it looks more handmade and less party-store.

Scale also makes a big difference. Tiny ghosts, small pumpkins and dainty bats feel charming, while oversized skulls and dripping designs can become costume-heavy very quickly. Of course, if dramatic is your thing, go for it. But for everyday Halloween jewellery, smaller motifs are usually easier to wear.

You can also turn almost any Halloween craft into jewellery by thinking smaller. A tiny crochet ghost becomes a brooch. A mini clay pumpkin becomes a pendant. A painted wooden charm becomes earrings. That is the joy of jewellery making — you only need a small amount of supplies to make something with personality.

And honestly, handmade Halloween jewellery is one of those projects that feels extra satisfying because you can finish it quickly and wear it straight away. No waiting for a big quilt to be bound, no half-finished basket of shame glaring at you from the corner. Just a cute little pair of earrings or a pendant, ready for October.