Jewelry Making

DIY Jewelry, Beads And Patterns

Review and Giveaway – Leather Jewelry: 30 Contemporary Projects

by

Lark Books publishes a wide variety of excellent Jewelry Books from the instructional (such as the book reviewed here) to the informative (such as 1000 Rings).

Today I have the pleasure to review Leather Jewelry: 30 Contemporary Projects by Nathalie Mornu.

This is a very impressive and fun book.  It includes not only step-by step instructions for a variety of projects ranging from stunning to funky and fun, but also a lengthly section on leather itself, the different types of finishes and textures, how to choose leather for projects, what tools you will need and even where to source it (including thrift stores, used samples from furniture stores, etc.).  Mornu also includes excellent illustrations of techniques that will be needed to complete the projects and many many photographs to give visual example to what she is describing.

Other than the excellent projects for you to try, Mornu has included miriad of examples of leather jewelry made by contemporary jewelers.  The works included will inspire and even amaze you. You will want to get working on these projects so that you can have them to wear and so that you can learn the skills that it takes to create imaginitive pieces of your very own.

If you are excited about this book, here is your chance!  Leave a comment below to be entered for a chance to win the review copy.  Leave a second, third, etc. comment letting me know that you have posted a link to this review on Twitter, Facebook, etc. – for additional chances to win.  The double bonus though is that Nathalie has included with the book, a variety of colors and textures of leather to get you going on the projects.  So the winner of this giveaway will be off to a roaring start.  Also, don’t forget, if this book inspires you to create, post photos on our Crafty Review Pool on Flickr so we can all see what you have made.

Enjoy and Good Luck!

(A winner will be chosen at random on May 2nd. US mailing addresses only please. )

Comments

  3. I’m extremely excited about this book! I have lots offcuts from a leather maker. This book would be so helpful! I will comment on twitter and FB!

  4. Looks like a fabulous book! I’ve been so taken with leather jewelry lately 🙂

  6. Wow! This is totally cool… I would love to win this book and try out a new craft. Thank you!

  7. This craft would be awesome to try… I love leather. Thanks for the chance! Crossing my fingers and toes……

  11. i would looooove to win this!
    in the past a started up making jewelry and then i went back to stitching again and moved on to sewing
    plus i have some lether that i would love to use for jewelry.
    so i would so so want to win this book
    thanks!

  14. I would love to have this book! I did some leather-working about 25 years ago or so – just small things – and would love to get back into it. Thanks for the opportunity!

  16. What a great giveaway! I have always wanted to get into leather crafting but just didn’t know where to begin. This would be an awsome win for anyone! Thanks for sharing.

  17. This is a great giveaway!!!!! I have always wanted to try leather and would love to win. Thanks for letting us in our a great book.

  23. I’ve beaded and done some leather crafting for 25 years…but other than an occasional earring or pin with leather fringe, never thought of combining the 2 mediums. Thanks for a SUPER idea.
    (PS. I’d love to win your book!)

  24. What a fabulous giveaway! I love leather and would love the opportunity to further my knowledge/skills with this book and samples. Thanks SO much

  25. This looks so neat! I have a bunch of small leather scraps, but no idea how to use them.

Have you read?

10 DIY Christmas Earrings To Make For The Holiday Season

These DIY Christmas earrings are festive, giftable, and fun to make, with tutorials using beads, polymer clay, wire, resin, faux leather, paper beads, and jingle bells.

Christmas earrings are one of those tiny holiday crafts that manage to do a lot of heavy lifting. They use up little bits from the craft stash, they make sweet handmade gifts, and they add just enough festive cheer without requiring you to wear a full tinsel jumper to the school concert, office lunch, or Christmas market. Though, let’s be honest, I do admire anyone brave enough to go full tinsel.

I have always loved handmade Christmas jewelry because it feels personal without becoming a giant project. You can sit down with a cup of tea, a small tray of beads or clay, and make a pair of earrings in an afternoon. They are also brilliant for last-minute gifts, stocking stuffers, teacher presents, market stall makes, or those “oh no, I need something festive for tomorrow” moments we all pretend not to have.

This roundup brings together 10 DIY Christmas earring tutorials using different jewelry-making techniques, including polymer clay earrings, beaded Christmas earrings, wire-wrapped earrings, resin studs, faux leather earrings, paper bead earrings, and jingle bell earrings. Some are playful and cute, some are more elegant, and a few are perfect for beginners who are still getting comfortable with jump rings and ear wires.

For basic earring construction, the simple bead-and-eye-pin style in this Elegant Easy Earrings tutorial from CraftBits is a handy refresher before you start adding Christmas trees, bells, snowflakes, and candy canes.

DIY Christmas Earrings To Make, Wear, And Gift

1. Santa And Candy Cane Christmas Earrings

These faux leather Christmas earrings are a lovely one for Cricut crafters, especially if you like earrings that are lightweight but still big enough to make a festive statement. The tutorial includes Santa and candy cane designs, so you can make a matching pair or create a little batch for gifts. I like this one for teenagers, teachers, and anyone who loves a bold Christmas accessory without the weight of chunky beads.

2. Polymer Clay Candy Cane Earrings

These polymer clay candy cane earrings are cheerful, colourful, and very beginner-friendly. The classic red and white version is perfect for Christmas, but the tutorial also shows how easy it is to play with non-traditional colours if you fancy something a bit brighter. These would be a cute project for older kids or teens to make as handmade Christmas gifts.

3. Whimsical Wire Candy Cane Earrings

If you enjoy wirework, these candy cane earrings are a clever little holiday project. The tutorial uses wrapped wire to create a striped candy cane effect, and the result looks much more polished than the supply list suggests. This is a good one for using up coloured craft wire and making earrings that are festive without being overly bulky.

4. Christmas Tree Earrings Using A Triangle Bead

These stylised Christmas tree earrings are a lovely option if you want something a little more elegant than novelty earrings. The design uses a triangle bead, bicones, chain, eye pins, and a star bead to create a tree shape that still feels jewelry-like. I can see these being beautiful in emerald green and gold, or even icy silver and clear crystal for a winter party look.

5. Wire Wrapped Christmas Tree Earrings

These wire-wrapped Christmas tree earrings have that handmade artisan look without being too intimidating. The tutorial uses wire, beads, headpins, ear wires, and basic jewelry pliers, making it a good next-step project for anyone who has already made simple dangle earrings. They would be lovely with gemstone beads, glass beads, or even sparkly crystal cubes.

6. Paper Bead Christmas Tree Earrings

Paper bead earrings are such a sweet stash-busting idea, and these Christmas tree earrings are a clever way to turn holiday paper into wearable jewelry. You only need scrapbook paper, glue, glaze, head pins, decorative beads, and ear wires, so it is inexpensive and very accessible. This is a lovely one for crafters who enjoy recycled or low-cost Christmas projects.

7. Christmas Glitter Resin Stud Earrings

These glitter resin stud earrings are perfect if you prefer small festive earrings rather than big dangling ones. The tutorial uses resin and glitter to create a polished, giftable finish, and it also includes pendant ideas if you want to make matching pieces. These would make pretty handmade gifts for co-workers, sisters, nieces, or anyone who loves a bit of Christmas sparkle.

8. Jingle Bell Cluster Earrings

Nothing says Christmas quite like jingle bells, and these cluster earrings are quick, cheerful, and beginner-friendly. They only need a few basic jewelry supplies and are ideal if you want something festive you can make in multiples. These are fun for Christmas parties, market stalls, or those days when your earrings need to announce your holiday mood before you even speak.

9. Jingle Bell Jewelry Set Tutorial

This tutorial includes jingle bell earrings as part of a matching jewelry set, which makes it especially handy if you like coordinated handmade accessories. The earrings use chain, jump rings, bells, and ear wires, so it is a simple construction project with a big festive payoff. I like this one for handmade Christmas party jewelry because it has movement, sparkle, and sound.

10. Snow In The Forest Christmas Tree Earrings

These snow-in-the-forest earrings are a pretty beaded Christmas tree design using green crystal beads, snowflake charms, ear wires, and sterling silver wire. They feel more winter woodland than novelty Christmas, which makes them easy to wear throughout December and even into January. This tutorial was also featured on CraftGossip’s Jewelry Making section as a lovely handmade gift idea.

More Christmas Jewelry Making Ideas

Once you start making Christmas earrings, it is very easy to fall into the “just one more pair” trap. One pair for Christmas lunch, one pair for gifting, one pair for the neighbour, one pair because the red beads were already on the table… and suddenly you have a full festive jewelry collection sitting next to your coffee mug.

If you are new to jewelry making, start with the jingle bell earrings or simple candy cane bead earrings. If you already enjoy wirework, try the wire-wrapped Christmas trees or the wrapped wire candy canes. And if your craft room has a little bit of everything, this is a wonderful excuse to pull out the polymer clay, resin, faux leather, paper scraps, beads, and findings.

Handmade Christmas earrings are small, useful, and full of personality, which is exactly the sort of Christmas crafting I love most. They do not take over the dining table for three weeks, they do not require a storage tub of supplies, and they make people smile the moment they are worn.