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

Exchangeable, Interchangeable Button Necklaces

Today I went to the doctor's with a sore wrist and came out with a splint and strict instructions to rest it... luckily I made some things last night!

Summer necklaces made of giant buttons and 16mm jumprings are quirky and fun! They're also satisfying to make - quick but wiggly(!) (you need to wiggle the jump rings about so that the buttons hang nicely)

By attaching a lobster clasp to each end of a leather thong, you can make different 'centres' and match your mood :-)

Here's the project instructions:

To make the top necklace you need:

•  3 large flower buttons
• 1 leather thong
• 8 16mm jump rings
• 2 7mm jump rings
• 2 10mm lobster clasps

Tools:

Chain Nose Pliers & Flat Nose Pliers

Method:

• Open 6 16mm jump rings and thread two rings onto each flower button
• With the right sides facing, join the 3 buttons together by interlinking the jump rings
• Hold up and adjust if necessary - you may find that putting the jumprings above, or below a petal will help it sit nicely
• Add a 16mm jump ring at each end, and then a 7mm jump ring
• Remove the lobster clasp from the leather thong (too big!)  and attach a 10mm lobster to each end of the spring
• Attach the middle part and wear :-D