Rings & Things Jewelry Blog

Make your own custom charms, pendants, connectors, tags and more! Metal stamping is not only the latest craze — it's also a lot of fun and gives you design freedom. Plus, handcrafted metal components give your designs a personal touch, both in look and meaning. They can also add to the value of your finished jewelry.Outfitting Your Toolbox:It's true that metal stamping requires a bit of hardware. But, once you've acquired the necessary tools, they'll work hard for years! Here are the basics you' …

Leather continues to be a powerhouse material in jewelry fashions --especially bracelet design! Learn about various types of leather (from straps to cord to finished cuffs), and find tutorials and projects to make your own leather bracelets, handmade leather jewelry, and crafts. You can also shop our leather cord, leather straps, & leather bracelet blanks.Table of ContentsWorking with Strips of LeatherWorking with Leather Cuffs & WrapsWorking with Leather CordLeather Strips (a.k.a. Leath …

Learn popular methods for finishing necklaces and other handmade jewelry with crimps and cord ends, jump rings, split rings, knots and jewelry clasps. This page is a brief overview with links to more information. If the instructions aren't on the category page, please click into a product's details for more information. We've been in business since 1972, and making jewelry for most of those years... but every beader and stringer develops personal favorites. For more opinions and examples, you ma …

Etching is a method of using chemicals to cut a design or pattern into a metal surface. Etching your own designs into metal is easier than it may sound, and it can be a fun and rewarding way to make your own jewelry! Learn the basics of how to choose your metals, choose your etchants, create or transfer your images with resists, and complete the etching process. Discover how to make a float boat for suspending your designs in etchant — plus find basic etching safety precautions, design consider …

Using crimp beads to finish a necklace or bracelet: 1. String a crimp bead onto the beading cord or wire cable, then string the clasp. 2. Bend the cable back through the crimp bead. 3. Tighten the loop (but not too tight!). Use crimping pliers to crimp the bead into a small round crimp, or use flat-nose pliers to simply flatten the crimp. 4. Trim the excess cord/cable. 5. Use crimping pliers to close a crimp cover over the crimp bead. For all crimping, apply pressure similar to a firm handshake, …

Glosario español-inglés de términos relacionados a la joyería-bisuteríaSpanish-English    |    English-Spanish Many of us sell to, or buy from, Spanish-speaking countries and people. It can be hard to track down the specialized words for beads, findings and other jewelry-related terms, so we thought we'd share this glossary with you. Additions and questions are always welcome! Hay muchos de nosotros que venden a los países y a la gente de habla hispana, o que compran de ello …

Awareness Colors from Rings & Things: Find links to beads, charms, metal stamping tools and other jewelry supplies to help you create custom jewelry, key rings and other accessories to increase awareness, raise funds for, and support the causes you care about. Common Cause-Ribbon Colors Listed below are colors commonly used for special causes with links to beads in similar colors. Rings & Things also stocks several cause ribbon charms, beads, blanks and metal stamps to help you build awa …

Emma is a cheerful sight, bright & early every day. She's a beloved Service dog at Rings & Things, and you might see her if you visit our Showroom, especially if you end up roaming the halls in our warehouse. Emma is a trained seizure dog, dedicated to alerting her owner when she detects the signs of an oncoming epileptic seizure, plus she knows what to do during and after one occurs, if her alert to him is not enough to prevent it.She eagerly looks forward to a nice long walk every day …

Created by: Mollie Valente Make your Enamel DiskUse the dapping set to dome the copper blank. (See Rings & Things blog post: How to Dap and Dome Metal Jewelry.)Fire the concave (back side) of the copper blank with orchid enamel (counter enamel). Or you can use the enamel colors of your choice. (Follow firing and safety instructions from the Thompson Enamel Workbook or Rings & Things blog post: Torch Fired Enamels.)Clean the domed copper blank with Penny Brite.Fire the convex (front …

Created by: Mollie ValenteDesigner TipsThis project has step-by-step illustrated instructions in our blog: How To Make Chainmaille-Style EarringsSuggested Supplies1 ounce (use 8 pieces) #37-178-1 White Plated Jump Ring, Round, 10mm1 ounce (use 2 pieces) #37-136-1 White Plated Jump Ring, Round, 5mm1 100-pack(use 8 beads) #26-114-0 Gold Plated Brass 5x5mm Barrel Beads, Large Hole1 pair #34-563-20-SF TierraCast Silver-Filled Earring Hook Findings, Plain2 each #06-433-11-01) Swarovski 6433 Pear Cut …