Jewelry Making

DIY Jewelry, Beads And Patterns

Necklace giveaway

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necklace from Charm Bracelet DivaKathleen Ashton is having a giveaway at her blog Charm Bracelet Diva. Kathleen says, “The necklace is a mash-up of different “charms” ~ a vintage rosary connector, vintage cross charm with green inlaid stones, vintage antique brass bead connectors, rhinestone balls, faceted glass beads, antique brass feather charm and a smashed penny (run over by a train on the railroad tracks near my house!)” Kathleen describes her style as somewhat eclectic; it is completely fabulous. The giveaway will end at midnight CST, October 22. Get to Charm Bracelet Diva for your chance to win!

You can see more of Kathleen’s creations in her Etsy shop Love You More Designs.

Comments

  1. m just getting back into jewelry making & not sure where good sources of neat items are available anymore ( other thasn beads)
    Thanks

  2. Hi Ellen, Rio Grande, Vintage Natural Brass Co., and Fire Mountain Gems are three I can think of off the top of my head. All of them have tons of stuff. If you do a Google search for jewelry making supplies or jewelry findings, I’m sure you will find a lot of suppliers listed. Etsy also sometimes lists supplies. Best regards!
    Stacie

Have you read?

Beaded Halloween Skeleton Craft – A Spooky-Cute Bead Project For Halloween Decorating

If you like your Halloween crafts with a little bit of spooky charm and a whole lot of handmade personality, this Beaded Halloween Skeleton from CraftBits is a fun little project to add to your October crafting list.

This project uses simple supplies — white seed beads, black seed beads, 24-gauge wire or beading thread, scissors, and wire cutters — to create a small beaded skeleton that can be used for Halloween decorations, charms, party favors, or even spooky handmade jewelry. The original tutorial walks you through building the skeleton row by row, starting with a black bead at the top and working through the skull, body, arms, hands, legs, and feet.

What I like about this project is that it has that lovely “old-school craft book” feel. It is not overly complicated, but it does ask you to slow down and follow the bead pattern carefully. This is the sort of Halloween bead craft that is perfect for a quiet afternoon when you want something seasonal but not messy. No glue gun strings across the table, no glitter stuck to the dog, just beads, wire, and a little bit of patience.

The finished skeleton would be cute added to a Halloween keyring, made into a zipper pull, tied onto a treat bag, or hung from a mini Halloween tree. You could also make a batch of them for party decorations or classroom craft swaps. If you enjoy tiny seasonal makes, you might also like browsing the Halloween Crafts section on CraftBits for more spooky little projects to pair with it.

This is a good project for confident beginners who have used seed beads before. Younger crafters may need help with the wire ends and keeping the rows tight, but older kids, teens, and adults who enjoy bead crafts should find it very satisfying. I would suggest using a bead mat or a shallow tray, because seed beads have a special talent for rolling into the one place you cannot reach. Ask me how I know.

For supplies, small packs of black and white seed beads are easy to find, and Amazon is handy for basic beading wire, bead mats, and small jewelry pliers if you are building up a Halloween craft kit. If you prefer more unusual beads or want tiny skull charms to add alongside your skeleton, Etsy can also be a fun place to look for Halloween beading supplies.

This little skeleton is proof that Halloween crafting does not need to be huge or expensive to be fun. Sometimes the best seasonal projects are the small ones you can make in multiples, tuck into gift bags, or hang around the house for a bit of handmade Halloween mischief.

Best for: Halloween bead crafts, spooky handmade charms, beginner-friendly wire bead projects, Halloween party favors, and small seasonal decorations.