Jul 21, 2013 | DIY
Back when I worked on the May campaign with Martha Stewart Jewelry, I actually made a couple of pieces while playing around with the treasure trove of supplies I was sent. (Only my DIY Enamel Spring Flower Bib Necklace made it to the blog for the campaign post.) But I also made these earrings, and though I don’t have a shot of me wearing them yet (Hub has been working odd hours ever since we got back from Japan), I still wanted to share the how-to with all of you.
I’ve always been drawn to the intricate nature of filigree pieces and love its versatility (I even used it for the backing of the bib necklace above!). It reminds me of ancient scrolling and iron work – perhaps more suited to Guinevere’s or Cleopatra’s time than the modern minimalism of today. Of course these jewelry findings are not true filigree (which is made of soldered wire that is curved and bent to form patterns), but instead is created with dies cutting the pattern into metal. Incorporating them into your jewelry will add a sophisticated touch with a vintage feel, and adding crystal components and a wash of color from the Martha Stewart Jewelry line is a great way to truly customize your pieces. And you only need to be able to link jumprings and wield a paintbrush! Here’s how: (more…)
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Feb 12, 2013 | DIY
Lately double-ended spike bangles are trending all over Pinterest and street-style photos: stacked with DIY friendship bracelets, pretty watches, stretchy beaded bracelets, and other metal bangles. You could spend hundreds of dollars on even just one at Sarah Chloe or CC Skye
, for example. But they’re super-easy to DIY, and the results are amazing! Try your hand at making your own with 3 different versions in these tutorials: (more…)
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Jan 8, 2013 | DIY
I’m a sucker for big, sparkly things – and those Prada rose cabochon earrings from S/S 2012 caught my eye immediately. (And if you were the same and thought of DIY’ing the trend, you’ve probably already seen tutorials by Honestly…WTF, Gloriously Chic, and P.S. I Made This.)
But for my version I wanted to make large, oversized retro-style studs, with a homemade cabochon in the center. Itching to make your own non-dangly version too? Here’s how:
You Need: (more…)
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Jun 2, 2012 | DIY
Lately neon’s been the IT color of the season…and I’m particularly drawn to bright yellow. DIY tassel earrings have been making the rounds for some time on the blogosphere (see …love, Maegan’s version or Studs n Pearls’ version), so I decided to spice up my version with a bit of elegant rhinestone chain around the tops of the tassels. The great thing about using neon embroidery thread for this project? For some reason the quality of the thread is such that it unravels in a heartbeat…particularly annoying for friendship bracelet projects…but perfect for DIY tassels!! Here’s how to make them:
Materials: (more…)
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Sep 27, 2011 | By Carly J. Cais, DIY
I finally finished a pair of earrings this weekend that I’ve been working on for so long…I had attempted making them numerous times before but just couldn’t seem to get them exactly right.
I’ve always been drawn to the rough imperfections in natural stones and crystals, far more so than anything ever cut or polished by humans. Geodes are the perfect example of this: the jagged, rough crystals inside that are at once both perfectly symmetrical and so perfectly without order.
I surrounded two halves of a split geode crystal (technically a thunderegg, I guess) with black epoxy resin; then hand-set hematite-colored Swarovski crystals around the perimeters. Pewter French hooks finish off the earrings.
Given their sparkliness, contours, and depth I found they were incredibly hard to photograph late in the day and on my own, in the mirror. I’ll have to try when it’s nice and bright outside!
I’m also going to experiment with another pair, this time with Silver Shade Swarovskis around the geodes. I just couldn’t decide whether the dark hematite gray or crystal-like Silver would look better! There’s something I like about the smoky gray color glinting against the black resin, though.
Hope you guys had a great weekend!
xoxox
Carly
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