Fimo, Pearls & Noodles.. what more could a beady girl need?

The very long awaited mini fimo bead mix is now back in stock - one of my official favorites!

I'm off to a Christening on Sunday and I was lucky enough to have a little spare time this afternoon, so I made myself the little bracelet pictured above and a very blingy pearl & fimo lariat necklace here:

The dress I'm planning on wearing is really plain - so I think I'll get away with wearing both!

If you'd like to give them a try, here's the instructions:

Noodle Bracelet:

Materials

Fireline Jewellery Thread (or any other stringing material - I just really like Fireline!)
Fimo Mini Beads

2 Jumbo noodle beads

1 Bali Clasp

9 Mini Daisy Spacer Beads

2 4mm jumprings

2 silver calottes

4 2mm crimps

You'll also ideally need chain nose & flat nose pliers, or 2 pairs chain nose - and a pair of scissors

Method

Cut a length of Fireline to fit your wrist, plus 1" just in case :-)

Thread on 1 calotte & 2 crimp beads close to one end of the Frieline.

Squash the crimps flat with your flat nose pliers and then carefully close the calotte over the crimps. Ease the calotte loop over the calotte shell to secure.

Open a 4mm jump ring and thread it through the calotte loop. Attach one half of the Bali Clasp to the jump ring.

Thread on one daisy spacer, one noodle bead and another daisy spacer.

Thread on one fimo bead and one daisy spacer. Repeat this another 5 times.

Thread on one noodle bead and another daisy spacer.

Check for fit. (If you need to make the bracelet longer then remove the daisy spacer and noodle and add one more fimo bead and a daisy spacer.)

Thread on one calotte and 2 crimp beads. Double check the tension of the piece - it needs to move, but not have big gaps when worn

When you're happy, squash the 2 crimps flat and close up the calotte. Ease the calotte loop over the shell to secure, then add a 4mm jump ring, and the other half of the clasp.

Pearly Lariat Necklace

A long time ago, someone told me that ladies wore pearls because they flattered the skin. Being 20 something and immortal(!) I dismissed this very silly idea... but 20 years later, I find that it's true. The lustre of pearls, glass ones, or otherwise, does seem to bounce light away from the funny wobbly bit that has mysteriously appeared under my jawline... I'm not one for the classic 'knotted pearls' though - so this lariat necklace uses the flattering pearls with some fun Tibetan silver and more funky fimo.

You can make this any length you like, but longer is better as the end that threads through the donut loop hangs nicely if it is a bit longer - mines 30" in total. Just experiment as you string up!

Materials

Fireline, calottes, jump rings, crimps mini fimo mix and daisy spacers as above - if you've made the bracelet, there are plenty of beads rings & calottes left over for this project too!

2 packs Floral bead caps (you need 28)

1 2" eye pin

1 28mm donut connector

28 12mm Jolie Vache pearls

1 daisy charm

This lariat needs you to make one wrapped loop, so you will need chain nose pliers. Flat nose pliers would also be helpful.

Method


Cut a long piece of Fireline - around 34"

Attach the calotte using the method described above, threading the eyepin onto the calotte loop before easing it over the calotte shell

Using the donut as a guide, make a right angle bend in the eyepin about 10mm from the eye pin loop. Put the donut into position and bend the pin around the donut.
Between the eyepin loop and the donut, wrap the wire around twice to fill the gap and secure the donut. Snip the end tightly and make sure that it's tucked away and not sharp.

Thread one floral beadcap, one pearl, one daisy spacer, one pearl and one beadcap. Next thread one fimo bead, one daisy spacer one fimo bead, one daisy spacer and one fimo bead. Repeat the pattern to the length required and check that you're happy.

Secure the calotte using the method described above. Attach one 4mm jump ring and finish with the daisy charm.

Wear and enjoy!

Have a lovely weekend! :-)

More Quick Makes for the Impatient

Welcome to July. The rain is raining a LOT in Long Newnton today. It must be the Summer..

In between making sure the stock control 'thing' for the madcowbeads website was behaving itself today, I whipped up some really quick projects. Same rules as last time - no specialist tools, only cheap things, less than 5 components, all under £1.

Anyhow - hope you like the bead project ideas. I did think that they might be nice for teacher presents, or end of school keepsakes. :-)

Bookmark - perfect bead project for newbies, kids & the impatient!

What you need:

Squiggle Bookmark Blank

Beads & Charms (I used lilac fimo, and a daisy) - these look better with a couple of beads rather than loads. Choose any beads you like, but remember the hole needs to be about 1.2mm

1mm wax cord

Scissors (you probably have some in your kitchen drawer)

Superglue, or clear nail varnish

Method

Cut about 25cm of wax cord and thread it through the loop on the bookmark. Level up the ends a bit and then tie both cords together in a knot. Aim for about 1cm under the loop.

Tie a knot in one cord about 7 cm away from the first knot and thread on your bead. Tie another knot in the end and pull as tight as you can. Snip off end.

Trim the other cord to the length required and tie on the charm with a reef knot (square knot)

Make sure this knot is pulled as tight as you can. Hold it tight and dot a little clear nail varnish or glue onto the knot. Leave to dry. When dry, snip off the end neatly. Voila! One cute book mark that costs less than 70p (and that's if you don't have odd beads and charms to use)

Keyring - again really quick and easy with minimum hassle, great for beginners or kids crafts

What you need:

Keyring clip

20mm split ring

foldover end

Black wax cord

A few beads - your choice. I used a green lentil bead, 2 floral bead caps and a cute haircomb charm

Scissors.

If you can possibly find some flat nose pliers (even electrical ones!) then the foldover clasp part is made a lot easier. If you don't have any, then use something solid to press in the clasp - I have been known to use the edge of a marble chopping board(!)

Method:

Cut about 15 - 20cm of wax cord. Thread on your charm.
Push the charm to approximately half way along the cord and then tie both cords together.
Thread on your beads, knotting tightly between each one.
Cut the cord to length and attach your foldover end. Press down on each side in turn, making sure the end is as tight and flat as possible
Thread clip and foldover onto the 2omm ring. Alternatively, thread a split ring onto the foldover and attach to the 20mm ring. (more flexible and will last longer)

I hope these quickies give you lots of project ideas!
Have a lovely weekend
Best wishes
Georgie