Swing Dance Earrings by Marcia DeCoster

If you're a Marcia DeCoster fan, then you're going to love this free project posted by Lark Crafts from her newest book, Marcia DeCoster's Beads in Motion, called "Swing Dance Earrings."

Swing Dance Earrings by Marcia DeCoster
Photo by Lark Crafts

I love long jewelry that moves and this is the focus of Marcia's new book. This pair of sparkly earrings has a cascade of chains that slide freely within the band connecting them to the ring above, so you can make them asymmetrical if you want. And, although Marcia's color combinations are always lovely, you can, of course, switch it up with another color.

Want to know how? Click HERE to get the instructions.

By the way, Marcia's book is now available from the Houston Bead Society library. 

Now go bead something.

DIY Necklace Holder

Check out this lovely DIY Necklace Holder by Visibly Moved.

DIY Necklace Holder and Photo
by Visibly Moved

Doesn't it look a like piece of art?

If you live or have a place by the sea or a lake or know someone who does, have them pick up a piece of driftwood for you to create this necklace holder. Add some mismatched knobs and Voila! a piece of functional art of your very own.

Click HERE to get the instructions.

Now go bead something.

4 in 1 Diamond Chain Maille Pendant

I've heard that diamonds are a girl's best friend; but, not everyone can afford diamonds.

No matter, you can now create your own "diamond" in a mere evening using a few tools and some jump rings.

Photo and project by
beadalon.com

I think the the two tone silver/black color gives it an edgy look, though you can change it up since there is a myriad of colors of jump rings now available.

And, although it's classified as an "intermediate" project, I think anyone can create it as long as you know how to properly open and close a jump ring and can use pliers. There are lots of videos on opening/closing jump rings that you can watch if you don't know how, but click HERE to get a quick tutorial on how to do so.

Christmas will be here before we know it and I think this pendant would make a great gift. So, click HERE to get all the how tos.

No go bead something.

Fool's Gold Necklace by Kathryn Designs

I dare you to guess what the focal beads in this necklace are made of! Glass? Nope. Copper? Brass? Wrong again.

(No Time for) Fool's Gold Necklace
by Kathryn Designs

In fact, if you guessed any type of metal or glass you are wrong.

Can you  believe these faceted beads are made of... polymer clay? Fooled me too.

A small brick of polymer clay can be found on sale almost every week at any of your local craft stores for around $1.00 and think of all the beads you could create for less than the price of a cup of coffee.

Anyway, Kathryn at Kathryn Designs has a graphic tutorial on how to create these beads. You probably should have a beginner's knowledge of working with polymer clay. But, no worries if you don't - there is plenty of information on the web and YouTube videos to help you out.

Click HERE to find out how to create your own Fool's Gold Beads.

Now go bead something.

Swirly Bracelet

You are not going to believe this! But, check out this bracelet.

Swirly Paperclip Bracelet by Strange Ducks
for instructables.com

I was going to make you guess what it was made of, but the picture gives it away. Yep - it's made out of the common paperclip!

I really like the somewhat irregular, organic look of the spirals and the use of 3 jump rings to connect them all just gives it a little more oomph.

You do have to straighten out the paperclips (as best you can), so a little hand strength is needed. I would recommend using these nylon jaw pliers. I use them in some of my wirework and they work great. They can even straighten out a thin gauge coil of wire!

So, go rummage around in your desk drawer for some paperclips to create swirls and then put them together in a bracelet.

Click HERE to the the instructions.

Now go bead something.

StencilGirl Marrakech Express - Bead Embroidery

Marrakech Express Bead Embroider
photo and project by Janet Joehlin for
StencilGirl Talk

I am a stencil fiend, I admit it. I use them a lot - lately, a lot in my glass work. But, who knew to use stencils to create patterns for bead embroidery - Janet Joehlin - that's who! Janet is part of the Design Team for StencilGirl Talk. StencilGirl makes a huge variety of stencil in a huge number of motifs and I love them! 

Anyway, Janet used the Marrakech Mixed Stencil L 177 to create these lovely motifs that she later bead embroidered.

Janet has a detailed step by step at the StencilGirl Talk blog with close up photos. If you have never bead embroidered before, this is a really great tutorial to learn how - all the while creating some really lovely motifs you can use for jewelry, fiber arts or even mixed media.

Click HERE to get her easy, detailed instructions and look for Marrakech Express. 

Now go bead something.

Leather Wrap Bracelets

So, this project has no beads - but, still cute - no? And, of course, you can always add beads to it by simply sewingthem  through the fabric.

All you need is some fabric scraps, a strip of leather (suede would work too), a sewing machine and Voila! a hip and cute bracelet.

Click HERE to get the instructions.

Now go bead something.

Photo and Project by gen X quilters