I’m having a sale through the month of May (starting today 4/22) on my website http://www.cherylsbeadjewelry.com featuring my Pandora Style Mother’s Bracelets and my regular Pandora Style Bracelets at 15% off the regular price. Stop by and select a gift for Mom or yourself.
In my ArtFire Studio http://www.cherylsjewelryexpressions.artfire.com I am featuring all the bracelets listed there at 15% off. See the coupon below to take advantage of this sale!
Earring recycled into ring.
Stretch rings are a fun fashion trend. I love the look of the big flashy rings worn on the index or middle fingers to match your outfit or jewelry ensemble. I’ve seen them worn on TV and in magazines by celebrities, in magazine ads and department store displays. What I have recently learned is how to create and make stretch rings myself.
After doing a little research and locating the components that I needed to create the rings, I started to make some of my own. You can use vintage jewelry pieces and other found objects to create stretch rings. I used a pendant, an old broach, and other filligree pieces as the foundations for my rings. After smoothing any rough edges from removing bails or pins, I glued the base pieces in place and after they dried strung the double eye links with elastic floss to make the ring band. Adjust the size you want for the finished ring by the number of double eye links you use. Since they stretch they will fit everyone.
Side view showing the stretch band.
Here is a side view showing the double eye links strung on elastic floss to create the stretch band.
Filigree component with flat back crystals.
I also added flat back crystals to filigree components to create rings:
Round filigree component - flat back crystals in multi sizes and colors.
Back View
A pendant recycled into a ring.
Filigree components are showing up as pendants, earrings, chain links and belt links too. I have always loved the look of metal filigree components and decided to see what I could make with them.
I first decided to try making pendants for vintage look necklaces. I found that gluing the flat back crystals takes a little practice and lots of patience. You need to use either an epoxy glue or I use the G-S Hypo Cement since it dries clear and is a tough permanent bond. On this pendant I used a 34x34mm flower filigree component with blue zircon, aquamarine and clear flat back crystals.
Every one of the pendants is a one of a kind, unique piece due to color choices for the flat back crystals and shape and size of the filigree components. These make great gifts for Mother’s Day, graduation and birthdays for someone special to you.
My photo doesn’t show the pendant at its best since the large crystal in the center reflected the camers back to me.
I used a scalloped edge oval filigree component for this pendant and added an oval red marble cabachon in the center surrounded by clear flat back crystals and smaller flat back crystals on the scalloped edges. The necklace is finished with pink glass pearls, pink glass beads and clear faceted glass beads with ab finish.
I used the same scalloped edge filigree component for this pendant and added a gemstone cabachon with peridot green and yellow colors. I added peridot flat back crystals around the cabachon and clear flat back crystals on the scalloped edges. The necklace has peridod green glass pearls, crystals and clear faceted beads with ab finish.
To leave you with a little teaser for my next article, I am including pictures of a pair of earrings and a ring I created using the metal filigree components and flat back crystals.
Thanks for looking at my newest designs. You can find them on my website http://www.cherylsbeadjewelry.com and my ArtFire studio http://www.cherylsjewelryexpressions.artfire.com
Colors for this Spring are bright, bold and vibrant in shades of tangerine, aqua, magenta, yellow, and greens. This new color forecast has inspired me to create some new colorful pendant necklaces in jewel tones and crystals. Check out these new necklaces.
This pendant necklace is antique silver pewter with an amethyst color abstract flower. Amethyst faceted glass beads and vibrant jewel tone glass beads complete this 24 inch necklace. To see the full description click here.
The peridot green pendant has abstract circles and is antique silver pewter. Peridot faceted crystal rounds mix with the jewel tone glass beads for vibrant color. The length is 24 inches. To see the full description click here.
This pendant is fun and funky. The pink background and plum spots in this animal print pendant with the added black faceted drops = funky! The rest of the necklace has a mix of amethyst shades in bicone glass beads, gunmetal chain and hemitite beads. The three strands measure 20″, 22″, 23″ length. To see the full description click here.
Check my website Cheryl’s Jewelry Expressions and my Artfire Studio for new additions since I am adding lots of new Spring jewelry designs.
I am very happy to say that my work is part of the curated collection “All Blues for the Jewelry Artists-Designers” on ArtFire and I wanted to share this collection with everyone.
Thanks for looking!
I have set up a new venue for selling and showing my handcrafted jewelry on ArtFire.com. To celebrate and promote my newest site I am offering a coupon code for 20% off your total order when you shop and buy in my ArtFire Studio. Click the graphic link below to go directly to my ArtFire Studio and enter the code: FACEBOOK-CJE during checkout to save 20% off your total purchase in my studio.
Charms and Beads with Metal Hook Bookmark
As the snow continues to melt away, I’m ready for SPRING! I am so ready to see new budding trees, flowers coming up, and life adding color to our gray weather palate. Spring brings many opportunities for
personalized gifts that say “I’m thinking of you” and “I chose this gift” just for you. Valentine’s Day, Easter, Mother’s Day, and Graduation are holidays for Spring and early Summer gifts as well as birthdays and “just because” days too.
One gift that is one size fits all is a beaded bookmark. I have added several new bookmarks featuring the metal hook that fits inside your book with the beads and charms dangling from the hook outside your book’s back spine. This is the perfect gift for avid readers, teachers
and students.
Here is a preview of some of my newest beaded bookmarks.
Blue Beads and Flip Flop Charm Bookmark
**Note: This is a rewrite of an article originally posted February 19, 2010 (Original post lost when database could not be recovered.)
I like to create practical jewelry that is useful in everyday life and adds sparkle and shine to my day. I have just completed several new practical jewelry items for spring and summer accessories.
Purse Bag Charm Keychain
Have you shopped for a new handbag lately? Most of the designer handbags now have logo key chains with dangling beads, logo charms and trigger clasps to change or remove the keychain. My ”beaded purse bag charms” can be added to any handbag handle ring or outside zipper tab. They add a little bling to your handbag and serve a practical purpose too.
Another practical jewelry item I am seeing is the beaded zipper pull charms. My versions can be added to any zipper tab on book bags, purses, cosmetic bags, sweaters, sweatshirts, etc. They look pretty and serve a useful function making opening your zipper easier and more fun.
Purse Bag Charm Zipper Pull
Beaded key rings are very popular right now too. I have added some with the larger crystal look acrylic beads that are lightweight and durable for heavy key ring use. Here is a preview of some of my newest purse/bag charms, zipper pulls, and key rings.
Turquoise Teardrop Cabachon Wrapped in Sterling Silver
I am often asked how to care for my handcrafted jewelry and if it requires different care from other jewelry types. I recommend that you handle and care for your handcrafted beaded jewelry items like you would good costume jewelry and/or fine jewelry items.
Most of my beaded jewelry will need only an occasional wipe or polish with a dry soft cloth to remove finger prints, smudges and body oils. I recommend that you buy a polishing cloth made specifically for jewelry cleaning. This type of polishing cloth usually has two different color cloths joined together as one. One color is recommended for general polishing and the other (usually white or gray) is recommended for removing tarnish and polishing silver jewelry.
If the dry polishing cloth doesn’t clean your jewelry easily, I recommend that you dip the jewelry in clean warm water and then add a couple of drops of gentle liquid hand soap to your fingers and slide the jewelry through the soap letting your fingers gently rub the jewelry where it needs cleaning. Dip the jewelry in the warm water again rinsing the soap off and lay the jewelry on a soft towel or cloth to drain the water and blot dry. Finish drying the jewelry with the jewelry polishing cloth gently rubbing the beads and metal components to return the luster and shine.
HINT: Store your sterling silver jewelry in a closed plastic zip-lock bag to prevent or slow down tarnish. Your precious metal silver jewelry will tarnish over time when exposed to air.
You can also buy non-tarnish strips or squares you place in your jewelry box or inside plastic bags with your jewelry to prevent and retard tarnish growth. For heavily tarnished jewelry items I recommend that you purchase disposable silver polishing cloths. You can buy these in jewelry departments and/or where cleaning/polishing materials for fine silver and silverware are found. These cloths come packaged as dry cloths or premoistened wipes for single use or until dirty. Be sure to read the directions to decide if the cloth or the jewelry should be moistened before use. The ones I use require that you dip the jewelry in water first and then polish with the disposable cloth and then dip again to rinse and dry with a soft cloth. The benefit of using this type of polishing cloth is it leaves a non-tarnish coating on the jewelry that lasts a long time.
You can use the same cleaning and polishing methods recommended above for your gold or copper handcrafted jewelry. If you use the disposable cloths be sure to read any specific precautions listed for gold, copper or plated jewelry to see if it is safe to use on your jewelry item. Be careful when using disposable cloths on “plated” finish metal jewelry. If you rub too hard, you might remove the “plated” finish to the base metal below.
I do not recommend using any of the commercially ready liquid jewelry cleaners to clean your handcrafted jewelry unless you know exactly what type of beads and metals are used in your handmade jewelry items. Some of the liquid jewelry cleaners are too harsh for use on pearls, gemstones, and some metal components. The liquid cleaners could harm or remove surface finishes like AB coatings, antique markings and dyes.
HINT: Do not spray perfume or cologne directly on your jewelry. Most manufacturers recommend putting your jewelry on last to avoid contact with hairspray, makeup and perfumes that can harm your jewelry.
Visit Cheryl’s Jewelry Expressions today!
Copper Tree of Life Pendant
At the end of each year I have to take inventory of what beads, findings and miscellaneous I have left over so I know what I have available to
start my new designs for the upcoming seasons. I start my research on trends, styles and colors for the coming seasons and figure out what I have that will compliment, match or maybe work before I order new stock.
When I go back through my design ideas for the year, I usually have a few pieces that give me a chuckle or two. Where did that color combination come from? Did I actually think someone would buy that? What was I thinking when I made that? Oh, my gosh. . .really? I think all artists, no matter what medium they create in have a few “what was I thinking” ideas in their closets.
As I continue my search through numerous containers and boxes of “bead stuff” I find my “I forgot I started this” box with its half-finished or nearly finished jewelry designs. As I sort through this box’s contents I try to remember why I never finished a particular design. Why didn’t I take it apart and recycle the beads? Apparently, the design didn’t work for me at the time and I couldn’t “see” another design for the beads then.
I usually “see” in my mind an idea or design using the color or shape of beads when I buy them. This vision is where my design ideas come from and sometimes its just that. . .a design idea. . .an idea that didn’t work as a finished design. I move on to new beads and “see” the next design idea.
As a jewelry artist, I try to learn new techniques and styles all the time. I strive to have my work show that I am growing in my experience and my workmanship improves with practice. After all, there’s an endless supply of beads out there to feel and hold.
Beads make me happy!
**Note: This is a reprint of an article originally written February 9, 2010 (Original post lost when database could not be recovered.)
