Flotsam & Flim Flam - Free jewellery making projects!

Hiya

I've been putting together Flotsam necklaces. They're excellent for using up any 'orphan' beads and charms you have - they also work wonderfully with buttons

They're a perfect jewellery making project for impatient makers, or if you make jewellery to sell, these are light on labour and components - and high on impact!

To make the necklaces you will need some basic tools:

• Flat nose pliers
• Scissors or snippers
• Chain nose pliers

Materials for the project:

Materials are really flexible - I've suggested some alternatives that will work well too - just use whatever you fancy!

• 2mm satin rat tail - a double necklace length (approx 36"- 40" for an adult) alternatively you could use wax cord or even a sturdy ribbon
• 1 clasp of your choice - lobster, t bar, magnetic - bigger ones are less fiddly for necklaces!
• 2 foldover clasps - or end of your choice - spring crimps work well too
• 5mm jump rings
• Hanger beads
• Eyepins (if using buttons or other hanging items that need a bail made)
• Headpins for beads
• Buttons or beads and charms

Method:

• Cut the stringing material in 2 and attach the foldover clasps. 
• For the button version, insert an eyepin through one button hole. Keeping the eye visible over the button rim, bend the pin round and make a wrapped loop just under the eye to make a bail. Do this on 3 buttons, or as many as you want. (These look great loaded with buttons)
• Attach the buttons to the hanger beads with a jump ring
• Thread the hanger beads onto the rat tail 
• Attach the clasp with jump rings
• You could tie a knot either side of the hanger beads for a different look - allow a bit of extra length before cutting the rat tail though!
• For the bead and charm version, put the large bead on a head pin, make a loop and attach to the hanger bead with a jump ring. For charms, again attach to the hanger bead with a jump ring

I called these Flotsam necklaces because they work really well with those 'forgotten friends' at the bottom of your craft stash!

Enjoy making your free bead project :-)

Back soon!

Georgie

Release your Inner Witch this Halloween...

I hope you like my latest creation - I've been playing with some giant hibiscus flowers and Jolie Vache pearls to make a funky Halloween hair slide - perfect for a party, or maybe a bit of 'trick or treating'

If you're more 'Hula Girl' than 'Witch' -there's another colour scheme idea below.

Easy to make, and no tools, so give it a whirl tonight. Suitable for beginners, and takes less than 30 minutes.

Supplies:

• 3 28mm Lucite Hibiscus Flowers 
• 3 6mm Jolie Vache Pearls (I used black with the orange hibiscus and royal purple with the pink Hibiscus)
• 1 14 loop metal haircomb (I used gold with the pink, and silver with the orange)
• Fine nylon monofilament thread, or fishing line. You could also use fine craft wire

Method:

Cut a manageable amount of nylon - about 18"
Thread it through the first loop on the haircomb and tie it to itself in a square (reef) knot, leaving about 2" on the tied end
Thread on a hibiscus and then a pearl.
Thread back through the hibiscus and pull tight against the haircomb
Wind the nylon around the haircomb and then over the petals if needed to secure the hibiscus in place.
Repeat with the other 2 hibiscus
Weave the nylon thread in and out of the haircomb teeth as near the top as you can manage, working back to where you started
Tie the end to the 2" length you left at the beginning. Tie a reef knot and pull really tight.
Secure with a dot of clear nail varnish or a dab of glue.
Snip the ends very closely once the varnish or glue is totally dry
Wear :-) Enjoy admiration!

Have a great weekend!
Georgie