Gilded Briolette Drop Earrings

See the sparkle, see the shine!



My newest tutorial will have you looking totally luxe in no time at all.



Classy, chic and always stylish, briolettes are something I don't work with often. But, for this tutorial, they stand front and center as the focal point of these earrings.



These amethyst faceted stones seemed a little "plain" to me, so I gilded them with some gold flake (I'll show you how to later). This gave added detail and shine, and make them look like they've been dipped in gold!



Attach those to a sleek cable chain, add an ear wire, and you're set to go. These are great earrings for work, as they aren't too long and are definitely dressy but not fussy.



If amethyst isn't your fav gemstone, feel free to pick other colors. I also have citrine, rose quartz and peridot briolettes and are sure they'd look great. One thing - if you choose silver flake and metals, it will evoke a more contemporary look. Gold is more traditional. Experiment with combos and see what turns out!



Step 1: Gather materials. You will need round nose pliers, wire cutters, top-drilled briolettes (I used 6mm X 8mm amethyst ones, you can find similar ones here), Cousin Elegance Metals 14k gold plated fishhooks, Cousin Elegance Metals 14k gold cable chain, ball-end gold headpins, and 24g gold wire (mine by Cousin Jewelry Basics). You can find all these Cousin brand materials at craft stores like Michaels and JoAnn Fabrics.

 To get the gold gilded look on your briolettes, I simply adhered gold flake with clear gloss glaze. You can look on my Instagram account for the mini tutorial!



Step 2: First start by cutting a 3" piece of your wire. Create a wrapped loop at one end, catching in a 3" piece of your gold cable chain.



Step 3: Thread the wire through the briolette. Create a wrapped loop at the other end, catching in the other end of the chain.



Step 4: Get your ball-end headpin ready by bending it at a 90 degree angle, right after the ball. Thread the headpin through the middle chain link, and create a wrapped loop at top. Your chain link should be caught between the ball and wrapped loop.



Step 5: You should have something looking like this. I squeezed the ball closer to the top loop with flat nose pliers to prevent movement and tighten. Finally, add a fishhook to that top wrapped loop.



This is an alternative way of finishing, instead of just catching the middle chain link in the fishhook. Adding a bit more detail, this creates a dressier vibe!

A high-quality drop earring that's super versatile - plus, with the added bonus of being handmade - will be your next go-to accessory, trust me. Pair with a blouse and cropped slim pants for work, or mix with a bohemian printed maxi dress and sandals for a beachy look.

   
You can also play around with chain lengths, to create a shorter or longer drop earring. It might even be cool to add more than one briolette to the wire, to create a fan-like drop. I'll leave you with some inspo pics to finish. If you follow this tutorial, post your creation to Instagram and tag me @quietlioncreations - I'll repost you!
      
     

All photos copyright Allison Beth Cooling for Quiet Lion Creations. Do NOT post or reuse without crediting me and linking to me!

crystal mandala headpiece

 

The perfect accessory for all my gypsies, this crystal beaded headband is so intensely sparkly, yet so quick to make. The key?! Beaded chain. Saves you seriously hours of connecting beads 'cuz it's premade. Like who doesn't like that?!

Anyway, most of the materials I'm using here are all jewelry making supplies by Pandahall. You can find their whole array of beads and more on Pandahall.com. I love the bright red of the crystals (which definitely look like Swarovskis to me - they were sparklier than I expected!) and the contrast between silver and that cherry red. It's an unusual color for me, but I loved it! It especially looks great with brown hair, like on my wonderful model Olivia. If you had blonde hair, I'd go with a lighter color crystal like a pale blue or even clear. If you've got black hair, any color is game. Redheads - olive green or even black would be super cool.

I'll also show you how to apply a metallic tattoo to this mother of pearl focal bead. That mandala pattern totally makes the design. Metallic tattoos are so on trend - why not use them for jewelry making too?!
Let's start!



Step 1: Gather materials. Needed are pliers (you should really use flat nose, but I'm being lazy), clear gloss glaze, E6000 glue, a small metallic tattoo, 4mm silver jump rings (mine by Cousin), a mother of pearl shell pendant, crystal flatback cabochons from Pandahall (specifically these 2.7mm Crystal Nail Art Flatbacks), Pandahall beaded chain (specifically this Red Glass Crystal Bead Chain).



Step 2: To apply the metallic tattoo to the mother of pearl, simply cut out your tattoo from the sheet. Place face down in the middle of the pendant, and press firmly. Dab water on top of the paper backing, let sit for about 30 seconds, then gently peel it off. Wait until dry, then coat with clear gloss glaze. Let that dry. Then, glue on crystals with the E6000 glue.



Step 3: Take the beaded chain, and cut a piece the same circumference as your head. Attach a 4mm jumpring to the pendant, then attach one side of the beaded chain to this ring. Attach the other end to the other side of the pendant.

With about a 3" piece of beaded chain, attach it to the jump rings again to form an arc. This will hang below the pendant (on your forehead).



Step 4: With about a 6" piece of chain, attach one end to the jumpring again. Attach the other end about 4" down from the pendant. Repeat with the other side. This will add two arcs to the headpiece.

You can keep going here, as I did, and add more arcs if you'd like. I added one more on each side, which I felt filled out my piece. Try out different combos and see what your favorite look is!



The key here is getting the lengths correct - it should fit just around the top of your head, snugly, without being too tight or too loose that it pulls down. It's lightweight enough that it won't drag down.

This design works best with straightened or slightly wavy hair, so that it lays flat. Style it with a simple black top or tee, jeans and flats (or even wedges) for a chic, beachy vibe.

All photos copyright Allison Beth Cooling. Do not post or reuse without crediting me!
Model credit: Olivia Czupta

Angélique ombre bracelets

Simple elegance.

These dainty, lightweight stacking bracelets feature ombre Swarovski bicones and luxe metal cable chain. And the best part? I'm gonna tell you exactly how to make your own. Perfect for beginners, this easy tutorial is gonna have you hooked on making these. Trust me.



The Swarovski crystals I used can be found at any craft store. To achieve the ombre effect, you'll need 7 different shades of the same color, so keep this in mind when buying. I'm using Cousin brand Elegance metals chain (14k gold plated and sterling silver) which can also be found at Michaels or any major craft store.

You can make multiple bracelets out of one packet of this chain (about two per pack). Make sure to grab the Elegance Metals clasps and jump rings as well, to match the metal quality.

These would be great grown-up friendship bracelets. You could even do birthstone color schemes for your friends, to totally customize them.

They can totally be worn everyday too - the metal won't tarnish, and they are delicate enough too.



I've chosen to go with a silver/blue and gold/brown combo here. I love neutrals (the brown scheme) and think the cool blues and silver look ultra-modern. I wouldn't necessarily wear these both together, but made them to go with separate outfits.



The total crafting time is about 10 minutes per bracelet. Less if you're more experienced. I think they are totally worth it, don't you agree? Let's begin!



Step 1: Gather materials. Needed are pliers (roundnose and wire cutters), Cousin brand 24 gauge gold wire, Cousin brand Elegance Metals 14k gold plated cable chain, Cousin Elegance Metals 4mm gold jump rings, a gold spring clasp, Swarovski 4mm bicones (you can find these at any craft stores - pick 7 colors of the same hue. These come in packets sometimes with like colors).



Step 2: Lay out your ombre arrangement of your seven colors. I chose a brown scheme here to go with the gold metal. They are specifically: Topaz, Light Smoked Topaz, Smoked Topaz, Mocca, Smoky Quartz, Sand Opal, Greige.

(To make a 7" bracelet) - Cut about a 3" piece of your cable chain. Repeat. Cut a 4" piece or so of your wire. Create a wrapped loop at one end, catching in your cable chain.



Step 3: String on all your crystals in order. Create a wrapped loop at your other end, catching the end of the other 3" piece of chain in that loop. Attach a jump ring and clasp to the open ends of the chain. To make a larger bracelet, use longer amounts of chain.

Simple enough, right? If you guys follow this tutorial to make some bracelets of your own, post a picture of the finished product on Instagram and tag me @quietlioncreations. I'll repost your creations!

I'll leave you with some more inspo photos to finish. Craft on!

All photos copyright Allison Beth Cooling. Do not repost or reuse without crediting me and linking back to my blog!

jewel globe pendants

These trinket necklaces remind me of something you'd find in Alice in Wonderland - little curiosities filled with sparkly whatnots, dangling from silvery chains and delightfully whimsical-looking. Crystal chatons, silver and gold flake, pearls, marquise gems and more complete my Jewel Globe necklaces, creating a multidimensional yet still dainty piece.



I like the "fragile" look of these globes (I mean, they are glass, so be careful!) and the fact that they can be totally customized- fill with your fav color materials and combinations of supplies.



I'll show you below exactly where to find all the materials I used in this tutorial, including those glass globe pendants of course. The majority of the beads and jewelry making supplies I used were from supply company Pandahall.
     

They are great for beginners, as no complex beading skills are required - simply fill your pendant, glue the topper on, and add to chain!

I would totally layer these necklaces with others (even mixing metal colors) for a totally luxe look. That pretty gold teddy bear (Tous look-alike) is a new favorite. Find a similar piece here: Gold Teddy Bear Tous Bracelet

Are we ready to get started?!



Step 1: Gather materials. I used imitation metallic craft flake, Pandahall Rhinestone Brass Chain (specifically their 3mm Silver Tone Rhinestone cup chain), Pandahall Glass chatons (specifically their 4mm Glass Chaton Rhinestones), Pandahall colored chatons (specifically their 4X2mm Cubic Zirconia Pointed Back Cabochons), silver chain, and Round Glass Globe Pendants (similar globes here on Amazon).  You will also need jump rings, a clasp, E6000 glue and pliers.



Step 2: Fill your glass globe with rhinestones. I used a mix of both shapes and added just enough to cover the bottom of the globe.



Step 3: With your pendant filled, gently add in some silver flake (using pliers - this flake is surprisingly "sticky" in a way, meaning it will stick to fingers! It's a little hard to work with). I added maybe 4 flakes or so. I wanted to keep the look dainty. Glue the globe stopper to the top with E6000 glue.



Step 4: To create the rhinestone trim, measure around your globe first and cut the right amount of chain - in my example, 6 rhinestones. Again, use a bead of E6000 glue around the globe top to adhere the chain. To finish the necklace, thread the globe topper through a thin chain and attach a clasp at the ends. I kept my chain long to balance out the larger pendant.



That's all there is to it! The look of luxe but in super simple steps. Create a bunch, all in different color schemes. Experiment with color palettes and mixes of crystals. That's what it's all about!



If you follow this tutorial and create a necklace of your own, post it to Instagram and tag me @quietlioncreations. I'll repost your project!

All photography copyright Allison Beth Cooling. Do not post or reuse without crediting me and linking to me!