Plaited Heart Bracelet

I was inspired to make this bracelet after seeing a wire heart bracelet tutorial on pinterest so I decided to put my own twist on it by making the heart a clasp and literally adding a twisted braid.

So without further adieu, this is how you make it!

What you need:

1. To start off I made the braid, this is really easy to do, just crimp together three threads of cord and and attach a calotte and close it, then thread one colour on to all three threads. Then thread on a calotte followed by a crimp and close. Do this three times so that you have three different colours.

3.Then attach all of the callottes at one end onto a jumpring and plait it joining the other end onto a jump ring.

4. To make the heart clasp all you need to do its get some thick wire and bend it into a heart shape using pliers. Cut it down to a suitable size and wrap one end around the other. With the other end bend it into a circle so that you can attach it to the plait. Then make the hook end by folding about a 20cm piece of wire in half like this:

Then fold it over again like this:

Twist the short end around the other end and then make a circle for the braid like this:

5. Then you just need to attach the circles on the jump rings on the end of the plait and that’s it! Simples.

Mosaic Twist Necklace

So whilst I am stuck to the television watching the Olympics, I decided to use my inherent feminine skill of multitasking to make a new necklace. I have been wearing quite a bit of white recently so I love the boldness of the blues and blacks. 

Its pretty simple to make and didn’t take me too long (I paused a few times to scream ‘COME ON TEAM GB!!’ a few times so it probably took me longer than normal!) All you need is shown in the photo, except I forgot to include a end finding. I bought the big mosaic beads from http://www.the-beadshop.co.uk/.

I started by threading a crimp bead onto the cord and then thread on a calotte and closing it round the crimp. I then thread on the mosaic and other beads in a sequence and then thread on a calotte again followed by the crimp bead and crushed the crimp and closed the calotte over the top.  This makes the main part of the necklace

To make the braided twist you need three pieces of cord (As long as you want the necklace). Crimp them all together at one end and thread on a calotte and close it. Then thread on three different kinds of beads on each of the three threads, then plait it. Close it by attaching a calotte and a crimp and close off. Repeat this for the other side.

Then attach a jump ring from the calottes on the main moasic bead part and the callots on the end of the braids. Then attach a clasp on the calottes on the other end of the twists and you are done!

My Pretty Seed Bead Necklace

Soo I said earlier I would add some necklace tutorials of some necklaces and so I have! These Necklaces look quite complicated and a lot of work but they are actually really simple! You can do them in any colour and with any shape beads but I like the delicate look of the seed beads.

What you will need:
Seed beads (6-12 different colours in preferred colour scheme) 
2 bell Cap style Findings
1 clasp
2 jump rings
2 eye pins 
Thread 
Jewellery making needle 
Pliers 

1. Pick several different colours of seed beeds. I like using different shades of one colour or complimentary colours. The amount of colours depends on how thick you want the necklace. I have used 12 different colours and have used a couple of them twice to make 14 strands in total.

2. Cut 14 strands of thread (thick) each 70cm in length. For each of the strands tie a double knot at one end, leaving about 5cm thread to use later.

3. Using a very fine needle (you can find fine needles at most jewellery-making suppliers and craft shops, they are better than normal needles as the smallest bead can fit over them) thread on the seed beads until you reach desired length (mine was 65cm including extra 5cm that was left on the end). Tie a knot on the other end so that the beads cannot escape anywhere. Again leaving some thread on the end.

4. Repeat this until all the strands are full of the different coloured beads. Once you have your strands of beads, bunch them all together so that the ends are even with each other. With the thread ends tie them into a big knot so that they are all joined together (keep the knot as close to the beads as possible). Do this with the other end aswell. - It’s ok if some are a bit longer in length than the others, this just adds a bit of variety to the necklace.

5. Once you have done this you need to get an eyepin (shown in picture below) and open up the hole and hook it around the knot. Close the eyepin hole so that it is attached to the knot.

6. Then thread on one of the bell caps so that it covers the hole, you will have some thread poking out of the bottom but that is OK as it will be cut off. 

7. With the end of the eye pin, poking out of the bell cap, using pliers bend it round to make a circle and before closing off the circle, attach one end of the claps and then close off the circle. Do this to the other end.

8. Cut off the excess thread poking out and it’s done!! 

Sorry I don’t have many pictures attached (I am a visual learner so I know how helpful they can be!)

Purple Frosted Necklace

I have been making necklaces since I was a wee girl. My inspiration came from my Auntie Nona, whose jewellery is always beautiful and impressive! She has given me plenty of patterns across the years and so I have her to thank for my many creations! Most of my jewellery is made for my fabulous mother who always wears them with style! But I also make them as presents for lots of friends and family. This one is my latest made for my Mum at Christmas and its very easy!

I bought the beads from a cute bead shop in Manchester. I chose frosted seed beads as I love how it looks! The clasp is from ebay which has soo many good bead shops for cheap prices!

Its so easy to make with any beads and in any colour. Just cut four (or double it to make it stronger) pieces of thread. Cut them to the desirable length and leave lots of extra length for the clasp. Divide the thread into four strands and put small beads onto each for about 10cm and then put the big beads in your chosen sequence on to all the thread and again divide the thread by four and put on the small beads until it matches up with the other side. Then tie up the ends leaving enough room to tie onto the clasp.