My "Anastasia Cuff"- Jewelry design

To take a break from the hustle and bustle, I have included this inspiration post. I made my "Anastasia Cuff" from entirely Cousin materials, all of which are available at Walmart stores (as well as Michaels, JoAnn fabrics and AC Moore stores).

The original design features deep amethyst and ruby colored beads and crystals. 

Made entirely out of a right-angle weave beading technique, I've added topstitching detail for dimension.

Rows of ruby glass beads and amethyst crystal rounds add more sparkle and shine!

I used monofilament instead of beading thread to make this cuff, because I feel it is strong and also the translucency complimented the glass beads and crystals.

The toggle clasps act as a focal point, instead of being just a finishing element.

Wearing with the clasps in the front makes for a cool, unique statement!

It's flexible yet sturdy, and not too heavy. A focal piece for any party or evening look.

All images copyright Allison Beth Cooling.

Till Death Skull Necklace: Men's Jewelry Tutorial

My first men's jewelry tutorial!

This necklace by We Are All Smith features two gold skull beads on a ball chain. I thought it would be a great and easy introductory tutorial, and it comes together really fast. Plus, it's customizable to fit everyone's tastes, whether guy or girl!

I opted for a wood bead instead of two skull beads for contrast and to give it a summery feel. Also, I used antique bronze chain instead of black. As I said, it's very customizable.

This is a great tutorial for all guys, and anyone would love to have this necklace. It's lightweight and simple, great for everyday! 

Let's get started!

Step 1: Gather materials. Needed are pliers, a paintbrush, gold acrylic paint or nailpolish, ball chain, a large-hole skull bead, ball chain ends and a clasp (or you can just use a ball chain connector if you have one!). I used antique bronze ball chain. You can use whatever color you want, but I would avoid silver because it wouldn't look as good with your beads.

The original necklace has two skull beads, but I decided to use a skull then wood bead for contrast. If you have two skull beads you want to use, that's fine!

Step 2: Paint your skull bead gold, it took me two coats of paint. Take your ball chain and cut to the length you want your necklace to be. Take your ball chain end, and crimp shut over the last ball on the chain. If you have a connector, don't worry about adding these ends or a clasp. 

Step 3: Add your skull bead, and then your wood bead. Add your ball chain end to the other side of the chain now, just like you did in your last step.

Step 4: Finish by attaching your clasp and jumpring to either side of the chain!

Finished!

The most important thing here is to get large-holed beads that will fit through your ball chain! For girls, maybe add a large-holed crystal or pearl bead along with the skull. Experiment painting the skull different colors, or even add glitter for a girl's necklace!

Do not use my photos without crediting me, and if using this tutorial please link back!

Beginner Tutorial: Easy Drop Earrings

The next installment in my "beginner tutorials" phase...

earrings! These are so simple and don't require any complicated wireworking skills to create.

Feel free to use any kind of beads, just make sure you have a statement bead and a smaller crystal or pearl to keep the look elegant.

These beads are just made with a headpin, bent to form a drop earring shape.

Let's get started!

Step 1: Gather materials. Needed are pliers, two larger beads, two long headpins (about 3") with a ball end (you can find them at craft stores), and smaller crystals or pearls. If you can't find the ball-end ones, you can use regular headpins but the look won't be as elegant.

Step 2: Take your headpins, and mark about 1cm from the end with a sharpie. This is where you will bend it. If you have longer/larger earlobes feel free to mark at 1.5cm.

Step 3: Thread on your bead and then crystal. Position your pliers right below the mark you made. Take the end, and gently bend it back to create a notch in the headpin.

You have just created the first earring!

To get the Sharpie mark off, dip your finger into water and just rub it off. 

Repeat the last step for your second earring. If you see, the beads will not come off the headpin if you make the notch bent enough. To wear, you might want to use clear fishhook stoppers so that the earrings don't come out of your ear.

See, I told you that was easy!

Shown worn. Don't use any super-heavy beads as these will throw the earrings off-balance. 

Make these in different bead combinations for every outfit!

All images and text copyright Allison Beth Cooling. Do not use my photos without crediting me, and if using this tutorial please link back!

Beginner Pendant Necklace Tutorial

This is a super-easy tutorial for any beginning jewelry maker.

Pros can also follow this one as well, as the necklace comes together really quick and can be customized to make tons of different kinds of necklaces!

You will just need three "ingredients", and you can make this in less than 15 minutes!

I used pearls from Prima Bead for the second necklace, which contrast nicely against the crystals.

These look really dainty and fancy and are perfect for any occasion.

Let's get started!

Step 1: Gather materials. Needed is a necklace chain with a clasp, roundnose pliers, wire (about 22 gauge), and beads; you can use crystals, pearls, anything.

Step 2: Make the loop; start with a length of wire that is about 5 inches or so. About three quarters of an inch from the end, make a sharp 90 degree bend in the wire with the pliers. Place your roundnose right where the bend starts, and loop it around in the opposite direction, creating a nice, even, neat loop. When the wire has looped and met the place where it starts, wind it around the long piece of the wire to close. Don't wind it around more than twice otherwise you will get a big ugly bunch of wire. Cut the wire right flush to finish.

Step 3: It should look like this. Add your beads, and make another loop at the end to close. Look at the pictures if you need help.

It might help, if you have extra wire, to cut the wire shorter first before winding as it can be a little hard to cut the wire flush if it's right up against the beads.

Step 4: Now, measure the middle of your necklace chain: open the middle loop of chain and detach it from the rest of the chain. Add one of the end loops of your bead panel to this loop, and close the loop.

Repeat with the other side of your bead panel, using the other side of your necklace chain to complete and finish off the necklace.

There you have it! Simple.

Layer these for a cool look, and make them in different colors and metals to match all outfits.

All images and text copyright Allison Beth Cooling. Do not use my photos without crediting me, and if using this tutorial please link back!

Nessa- Ayzee Kay Rubber Bracelets Tutorial

Am I the only one who has a bunch of these rubber bracelets lying around? I literally have a drawer full of them. When I saw these bracelets, I was stoked. 

I was kind of tired of wearing them in that looped knot that was popular a couple of years ago. I think it was supposed to mean something if you wore certain colors together (probably not good things!), but I just always wear two black ones because they match everything I wear.

Now, this clever idea of the Nessa bracelets' connector had me thinking; what a good way to spice up these boring plastic rings?!

So, with my love of sparkle, I used up some random Swarovskis I had lying around to make a connector (the Nessa ones are 14K gold, and the bracelet ensemble costs $196). Do not fret my friends, because you can make yours for nothing, using up stuff you probably have lying around.

Use wire scraps, bead odds and ends, and just some headpins for a cool cluster connector. I think these are even better than the Nessa ones, because they have movement and sparkle. 

A definite way to upgrade these boring plastic bracelets to something chic!

Use a combo of pearls and crystals for an ultra-femine look. Use african trade beads for more of a boho style, or just use the bead soup you have lying around.

Make them in any color you want; you can even use a combo of plastic bracelet colors within a connector for a tie-dye look. The possibilities are endless here people.

Step 1: Gather materials. Needed are rubber plastic bracelets (I used 5 per connector), pliers, wire (gauge is not totally important, just make sure it isn't thin and bendy), beads, and headpins. Simple enough. You will also need a jump ring (not pictured)

Step 2: Cut about 6" of your wire. Make a small loop at one end. Now, twist your wire around a pen or nail polish brush top a couple of times. Pull off so you have a spiral like in the last pic.

Step 3: Pull on either end of the spiral to loosen it a bit. Place your group of bracelets inside the last notch, and gently twist wire around to thread the bracelets through the entire spiral. Gently push the spiral together again, without losing its shape. The bracelets should be held inside the connector now. The right end (cut off in pic) should be just straight, extra wire.

Cut this extra wire on the side and loop the end to look like the first pic. Now, gently bend the one loop over to meet the other one, as seen in the pic. 

Get all your beads on headpins. I used one 5mm crystal and 5 3mm crystals (the 6th one shown was too much so I took it off).

Step 4: Thread a jump ring through both loops and shut the ring. Attach all your beads to this jump ring in the order you like!

That's all it takes folks. Look, you're $196 richer than the others. And you've got a more stylish bracelet.

Wear one at a time, or a cluster of them! This would be a great accessory for a party with friends; I'm sure they would all want one! 

Grade school bracelets go glam!

All photos and instructions copyright Allison Cooling for Quiet Lion Creations.

If you share/use/post this tutorial, please link back to me. It is much appreciated!