Crystal Waterfall Drops

Bright spring sparkles!

It's a daintier look, inspired by my Candy Shoppe Amulet necklaces. I am digging the looped wire links thing. These earrings are dripping with crystals, just like a waterfall.

I've collected a bunch of Cousin brand crystals, which I love for their uniformity and versatility. Cousin Jewelry Basics crystals I would recommend to anyone, especially because they are a LOT cheaper than paying for Swarovski. They come in a rainbow of colors and sizes. You can find them at all craft stores!

I've paired those crystals (in various shapes: rondelles, rounds, bicones) with Cousin rhinestone pave beads and rose gold fishhook findings from Cousin's Elegance Metals line. The Elegance Metals collection is great because you get that fine jewelry quality without paying full price! You can get Platinum, Stainless Steel, Gold, Rose Gold and other fine metal plated pieces that add a higher-end feel to any piece. Plus, they are great for people who may be sensitive to metals.

I've used a complimentary color scheme here; pinks and teals make each other pop, and the champagne metallic thread adds that luxe touch.

You can get these Cousin materials at Primabead.com, Michaels, JoAnn, Walmart and AC Moore stores.

Let's get started!

Step 1: Gather materials. Needed are:

-Roundnose pliers and wire cutters

-Gold gauge 24 wire (mine from Cousin)

-Fishhook earrings (I used Cousin elegance metals)

-Various size crystals. I used Cousin Jewelry Basics 8mm crystals,  smaller bacons, 6mm rounds, and rondelles. Pick crystals that suite your tastes!

-Rhinestone beads, 8mm or 6mm. Mine are from Cousin again.

-Metallic embroidery floss

Get out your collection of beads, and start picking your favorites…

Put yours into a 3-stranded arrangement that you like. You can see my arrangement in the top picture. 

Start by making links, much like in my Candy Shoppe Amulet Necklaces out of all the beads EXCEPT  the top bead in each strand. To connect the top bead, first start by linking one end of your wire in the hole on the fishhook. Add your bead, and connect the other side to the second bead in that strand, to connect the two pieces.

Your strands should be coming together. Keep working until all the beads are used and the strands are filled in.

To make the tassel, simply wind the floss around your fingers about 6 times. Carefully tie a small piece of thread at the top, and wrap with wire, cut the ends. Add a jumpring at top.

Attach this jumpring to the last loop of the middle strand. Finish by adding small crystals to the other two strands. 

Make these in any color you want! I went with a more vintage-inspired color palette and mixed metals with rose gold, champagne and regular gold.

These are a bit long if you prefer short earrings, so make as many or as little links as you want to play with the length. 

All images and instructions copyright Allison Beth Cooling. DO NOT post or use these images or text without linking back to me.

Grinning Geisha Bracelet

What a doll!

For this tutorial, I took inspiration from this little Geisha bead from Beadmixer.

The clean whites but pops of contrasting red/pinks and greens.

I decided to mix materials by weaving cotton and a mix of glass and porcelain beads through flat silver cable chain from Cousin.

How perfect are these porcelain flower print beads, also by Beadmixer?

I am in love with Beadmixer's selection of porcelain beads. They are all a little different and in all different colors and shapes. I knew I wanted to feature them in this design!

I love the fun, "lightness" to the design, while still using a chunky chain and larger beads. Taking hues of pink and red directly from the geisha charm, as well as the floral element makes for a perfect combo.

Usually pinks and reds are not paired together. I say why not?? Last year, fashion runways showed color blocking in a new way, with similar hues like orange/red, pink/red and a mix of blues/purples paired with each other. I am still lovin' the trend a year later. 

If you make your own, find a color combination that works for you! 

Be sure to check out the Beadmixer site, ESPECIALLY if you love to use vintage rhinestones.

You can also connect with Beadmixer through their:

Blog

Facebook Page

Pinterest 

Subscribe to their Newsletter

Are we ready? Let's get started!

Step 1: Gather materials. Needed are:

-6mm or 8mm glass beads (I used pink)

-Embroidery floss

-Large link flat chain- mine from Cousin-you can buy from the link or at AC Moore stores 

-Porcelain flower print beads. I used Beadmixer beads

-A large porcelain charm. Mine was a geisha charm from Beadmixer

You will also need a clasp and some jump rings, as well as pliers and headpins.

Step 2: Cut two 1.5 foot pieces of embroidery floss. 

Starting somewhere in the middle of the length of chain (you could also start at the end), thread the floss up through a link. Make sure there is about 4" of thread to the left of where you started threading, you will need to knot this later. Add on a porcelain bead, then thread down through the fourth link next to it. add on a bead, and thread up the fourth link from that chain. They should lay next to another.

Repeat this process unit you have enough porcelain beads threaded on to make your bracelet long enough for your wrist.

Take off the extra links on either side of your porcelain beads to secure the length of the bracelet. If you started at the end, only take off the long excess on the other side of your beads.

Step 3: Then, thread through the end link. Add a glass bead, and thread down two links over. Thread up through the next link. Thread on another bead, and thread down two links over. Thread up through the next link.

Keep repeating this process. It helps to lay the bracelet on your knee instead of a table because it will curve and be easier to weave with. I kept going until the pink beads reached the end of my chain.

Then, take both ends of the floss and tie in knots, incorporate the red floss from the porcelain beads. Make sure the are woven in opposite directions on the end link of chain so that the knot stays put.

Add your extender chain with jump rings to the end of the chain, and add your charms here with looped headpins. That's all there is to it!

Try out all different bead and color combos! Gold chain would look sweet with bright blue and white for a Grecian look, while copper chain would pair with turquoise and silver. 

As for the geisha charm, Beadmixer has all different colors and styles, and even has little russian doll charms and owls! They are totally unique and quirky which I love.

Hope you enjoyed the tutorial! If you make this bracelet, be sure to post on Instagram and tag @quietlioncreations!! I'll repost it!

All photos and text copyright Allison Beth Cooling. Do not post/use tutorial without linking back to me.

Color Monday: Petal Play Palette

Inspired by tropical flowers, this palette has contrasting greens and red/pink hues, set off by black. Very sophisticated yet feminine! Feel free to use this palette in any of your art projects.

Color Monday: Agua Fresca Palette

A super-girly blend of hot and pastel pinks meets it's match contrasted by black!

Color Monday; Humble Palette

A rosy palette made of deep mauves, bordeaux, oranges and pinks.

Humble yet beautiful.

H&M-Inspired Colorblock Nails

So I got the new H&M catalogue and just now got to reading it. I loved the beachy photos and bright colors. One outfit caught my eye...

Super sleek and chic. Great for a manicure!

Sort of a chevron-meets-colorblock idea. Plus neons. Perfect and on-trend for summer. 

Plus, easy!

Step 1: Gather materials. Needed are nail polishes (white, black and two neon colors, use pink and yellow to stay true to the H&M outfit!), tape, scissors and top coat.

Step 2: Paint the nails white. Cut two thin strips of our tape, set up in a "V" pattern on nail as seen above.

Step 3: Paint the inside of the "V" pink, the outsides yellow. Peel off tape as fast as you can so the polish doesn't dry then pull and rip as it sometimes does. Make sure these coats aren't really gloomy, keep them thin so the paint doesn't drool into the white "V". Let dry.

Step 4: Take your paintbrush and paint the outline of the yellow "V" to finish the pattern and add some contrast! Let dry, apply top coat.

Hi-five!

Very eye-catching!

See how easy this was?

And Mary's "What's the Story, Winston?" Necklace

The Real Winston

As soon as I saw this necklace online, I KNEW I had to do a tutorial. Swedish designer And Mary's What's the Story Winston? on ModCloth is just so awesome and totally DIY-worthy. Plus, this tutorial literally takes minutes and involves only minimal "ingredients", so there is no excuse for you guys not making one yourself!! 
Here is my "Winston"....

DIY Winston. 

I used a small plastic dog (like for dollhouses, or even maybe a kid's toy) and a scrap of ribbon I had laying around. The real necklace is porcelain; so if you drop it, you are kind of out of luck! My plastic version solves that. Also, on the necklace's website, many people had complaints about the bow unraveling, thus ruining their necklace. For my version, I used both superglue and hot glue (which seems to literally melt the plastic underneath and form a super-tough hold) to prevent this problem. Also, I sealed the ribbon with clear nail polish. No unraveling!

Winston's glamour shot

Let's get started.

Step 1: Gather materials. Needed are pliers, scissors, hot glue and superglue, clear nail polish, gold chain and a jumrping, thin satin ribbon (I used pink to match the real, but you can substitute colors), and a plastic dog figurine (mine was about 1" long and .75" high). The figurine needs to have a good clear neck spot to attach the ribbon to. If you don't have a dog, you can use another animal. Cats, giraffes, horses, what the heck. Just make sure you pick one with a clear neck spot. You can find a lot of these figurines on Amazon: puppies here, cute monkeys here, cute little random animals here, and I am OBSESSED with these little DOMO charms!!!

Step 2: Make the small bow. tie a bow in the center of your ribbon scrap. If you need help making a perfect bow, follow my tutorial here. Once done, drench the back of the knot with superglue, making sure to get around all sides to prevent unraveling. Paint the ends of the ribbon with clear nail polish to prevent fraying as well.

Step 3: Attach the "collar". With another piece of ribbon, take a dab of hot glue and squeeze it onto the back of your dog's neck. Immediately press one end of your ribbon on the glue, and press down to embed in the glue. Take your jumrping and thread it on the ribbon from the free end. Wrap the free end of ribbon around the front of the dog's neck VERY SNUGLY, so that the jumrping stands up and doesn't wobble, and so that the ribbon lays flat and tight against the neck. Wrap till it meets the back of the neck; dab some hot glue on this seam and press again firmly to embed the other end of the ribbon into the glue. Once dry, cut the ribbon as close to the glue as possible. Then, drench this seam with superglue, extending a little to the plastic as well, to really hold this in place. 

Step 4: Your dog should look like pic. 2. Then, take your bow from Step 1. Dab hot glue on the ribbon collar where you want your bow to lay, and press the bow (superglue side in) on the collar, embedding it in the glue. If you want to add superglue to the sides of this as well, you can. I added a very little amount behind the bow but where it meets the collar to keep the front clean but still give extra hold.

Then, attach your chain to this jumpring and wear!

Wasn't that worth it?!

Winston worn.

Winston likes cookies....

Close-up of Winston's behind

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