Summer is over and Fall is officially here, vacations have been taken and the kids are back in school. Did you visit a beach this Summer and bring back a few shells as souvenirs? And, do those souvenirs usually just end up in a box?

Now you can take those lovely shells from a favorite beach and wear them to remind you of the wonderful memories you made there. Katrinshine has created this lovely and easy to make pair of seashell earrings that you will pull out to wear over and over this Fall and Winter.

Seashell Earrings and Photo by
katrinshine

Shells, a tiny bit of chain, some earwires and a few tools (that you should already have in your beady toolbox) are all you need to create your own pair.

Simply lovely - don't you think?

Click HERE to get the instructions.

Now go bead something.

Chunky Color Chain Bracelets

It's no secret I really like minimal designs, but sometimes nothing but blingy or chunky will do and I love these simple to make funky, chunky, colorful chain bracelets by Nest of Posies.

DIY Color Chain Bracelets and Photo by
Nest of Posies

All you need is some chain and some Krylon Spray Paint.

The best thing is you can recycle an old chain bracelet (or necklace for that matter) or find one on your next trip to the thrift store.

To go add some color to your wardrobe in a flash, click HERE.

Now go bead something.

DIY Hardware Store Bracelets

How many times have you been in your local hardware store, found an item and thought it would make some pretty cool jewelry?

Well, I know that Erin, the blogger at Thanks, I Made It! has. Check out this cool bracelet she made using some jewelry components, 1/4" compression sleeves and rope from the hardware store.

DIY Hardware Store Bracelet and photo
by Thanks, I  Made It!

These are so hip and industrial - I love them! If you love them too, then click HERE to find out how to make some of your own.

Now go bead something.

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.