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!

Barcelona Earrings

I'ts time for some Chainmaille.

I never, EVER usually do anything associated with Chainmaille. Reason 1: I never have any jump rings. Reason 2: I never really knew how to do all that complicated hooking and threading and twisting and what have you. 

Well, there is a first time for everything.

This is an easy Chainmaille pattern I've created for beginners and advanced 'maillers to try. I've added the addition of faceted gemstone drop beads to give a more bohemian look to an otherwise very industrial look. To prevent tarnishing, I've only used Cousin brand Elegance Metals jump rings; these are either gold or sterling plated so that you won't worry about them losing their shine. I recommend these for use in any Chainmaille pattern.  

These are great everyday earrings that aren't super heavy, but are great quality because you've used great metals. These agate faceted drops and small garnet drop add pops of color. I've used mixed metals here because I'm going for a hippie-chic look. If that's not your thing, use just one metal color. I call these Barcelona earrings because of the eclectic mix of colors, and the fan pattern that forms when you link the jump rings!

Let's get going!

Step 1: Gather materials. Needed are:

4mm Faceted Gemstone rounds (purple mix here, gemstone mix here, Swarovski here)

Garnet 3mm Rounds from Happy Mango Beads (optional)

Cousin Elegance Metals 6mm Jumprings (Gold, Rose Gold and Sterling Plated)

Cousin Elegance Metals Gold Headpin (or other gold headpins)

Cousin Elegance 14k Fishhooks

Flatnose Pliers and Wire Trimmers

To start the chainmaille pattern, open each of your jump rings packages and separate into like colors. Then, halve those groups so that you will have separated piles for each earring. 

1. Starting with the silver, open and attach a rose and gold. Close silver ring.

2. Open another silver and thread through the rose and gold. Don't close.

3.  Add a silver, rose and gold ring to the open silver. Close.

4. Open a rose. Thread through the rose, gold and silver. Don't close.

5. Add 7 rings, in alternating pattern (rose, gold, silver) to the open rose ring. Close rose ring.

6. Open a silver ring. With the leftmost rose and gold ring, thread silver through these rings and close. There should be 5 empty rings still hanging.

7. Open a gold ring. Thread through the gold of last step and the silver to the right of it, making sure to thread over the last ring (so the new ring lays on top of last). Close ring.

8. Continue this pattern; with a rose ring, thread through the silver of last round and then the rose next to it. Keep repeating, threading through two jump rings only each time, one being the rightmost ring of the last step. You should use 6 rings to finish.

You should have a "fan" of sorts, each jumpring laying beneath the other. MAKE SURE TO ALWAYS ADD EACH JUMP RING IN FRONT OF THE LAST ONE YOU ADDED, to keep that clean fan pattern. 

Simply add gemstone wrapped-loop charms to each of the 6 empty jump rings at bottom. If feelin' groovy, add a small garnet charm to the top jumpring, and finish by adding a fishhook to this ring as well.

The gemstones lay next to each other, creating a cool fan-like pattern.

These would also look great in all silver metal, with turquoise rounds for a southwestern look. Or, try all gold metal with pearl drops for a totally traditional vibe.

Maybe I'll try Chainmaille again in the future. It has served me well up to this point. What do you think?

All images copyright Allison Beth Cooling. DO NOT post images/tutorial without crediting and linking back!