Rings & Things Jewelry Blog

Created by: Veronica Greenwood Designer TipsCut a piece of wire and make a wrapped loop on one end. Attach your loop to your ear thread. Add one purple (amethyst) bead to the wire and finish your loop.New to jewelry-making? See Basic Jewelry-Making Technique Sheet (PDF) for step-by-step instructions on making wire-wrapped loops.Repeat linking 5 more times with colors dark blue, light blue, green, yellow and orange.For the end, use a red bead and head pin, and do a wrapped loop to attach to the l …

Created by: Veronica Greenwood Designer TipsSimply slide the charm onto the chain, cut chain to desired length, and pop the clasp onto both ends.This ball chain is sold by the foot. Order 2 feet for a 24" necklace, and cut shorter if desired. (18" is a popular length.)Suggested Supplies1 each  #49-958-49-AS  Antiqued Silver Paw Print Charm2 feet #40-080-01-21-1  2.1mm White Plated Ball Chain1 each   #40-801-1-EA  White Plated Ball Chain Clasp  ToolsWire Cu …

Created by: Rita HutchinsonThis might be the easiest pair of earrings you ever make!Designer TipsPlace the CZs face down on the rubber block. Center the post prongs over the stone. Push down straight until you hear a click.Really -- that's it!If you have sensitive fingers or weak hands, you could hold the post in a ring vise or flat-nose pliers.Suggested Supplies1 pair #32-621-04 1/20, 14kt Gold-Filled Snap-in Post Earring Setting1 dozen (use 2 pieces) #33-614 Gold-Filled Earring Backs, Butterfl …

Created by: Mollie Valente Designer TipsTwist a jump ring to open it extra wide.Loop the jump ring around a single pearl in the pearl ball bead.Attach the loop of an ear thread to the jump ring.Twist the jump ring closed.Repeat to make the second earring.The long 5" ear threads also allow you to wear the earrings in an asymmetrical fashion, with the pearl balls suspended at different lengths.If you have double pierced ears, the long-chain tail can be swagged back through a second piercing.You ca …

With its ghostly glow, this feldspar stone almost seems magical. High-quality rainbow moonstone is usually chatoyant and sometimes displays a strong cat's eye. The floating-light phenomenon and sheen of moonstone are called adularescence or schiller. The light is scattered by alternating layers of two kinds of feldspar and produces a misty luster of white, dull yellow, yellow-gray or greenish-gray. The stone's main color also comes in shades of peach and gray. Incipient cleavage cracks often are …

Created by: Summer MelaasDesigner TipsPunch a hole in the top corners of your copper blank. File any sharp bits.Clean your blank very well with warm water and Penny Brite.Cut your 22 ga bare copper wire, and shape the wire pieces into a paw print. Make sure they are flat so that no enamel can run under the wire.Set wire pieces off to the side.Sift your 3 background colors of enamel separately (one color at a time) onto the blank in your desired pattern.Carefully move your blank onto the torching …

Created by: Summer MelaasDesigner TipsLay out 10 sunstone beads in an ombre pattern (lightest to darkest).Cut two feet of the 26g wire.Wrap a few tight wraps at the top of the wire part of the ear thread, and thread one bead on the wire. Holding the bead tight in place, wrap the wire twice around the ear thread.Repeat until you have wrapped all the beads down to the loop at the bottom of the ear thread. Cut off excess wire. Using your chain nose plier, pinch the ends of the wrapped wire to tight …

Created by: Summer Melaas Designer TipsOpen a jump ring.New to jewelry-making? See Basic Jewelry-Making Technique Sheet (PDF) for most secure way to open and close jump rings.Add an opal charm to the jump ring, and connect to the loop on the ear thread, using two chain nose pliers.Repeat for other earring.Suggested Supplies1 pair #53-001-5 Vermeil Ear Thread, 5", 2.5mm Closed Jump Ring2 each #21-343-01-999 6mm 14kt Gold-Filled Bello Opal Drop Charm - Blue Opal1 10pack (use 2 pieces) #37-391-240 …

Created by: Mollie ValenteDesigner TipsFor step-by-step illustrated instructions to make the Sundance Bolo Tie Necklace, see our blog post: How to Make a Silk Ribbon and Cameo Bolo Tie NecklaceHelpful tips for secure, professional glue bonds: Gluing Metal Findings 101.Suggested Supplies1 each #27-960-24-901 Cameo, Horse, 18x25mm 1 each #61-479-36 Hand Dyed Silk Ribbon, 32-36", Soft Rock Blend 1 dozen (use 1 piece) #36-714-1 Bolo Slide Blank, 16mm Disk - White Plated 1 strand (use 2 beads) #26-81 …

Created by: Mollie ValenteDesigner TipsString the 4.5mm round corrugated bead onto the head pin.String two rubber earring backs onto the head pin, the first one positioned against the 4.5mm round corrugated bead with the second one positioned about 11mm apart. The earring backs serve as bead adjusters for the large-hole mirage bead.String the Mirage bead onto the head pin and slide it over the rubber earring backs. The earring backs should be hidden just inside the Mirage bead (adjust their posi …