Carey Burns

Happy Maker's Monday! Today’s project is a pair of sterling silver and Swarovski crystal earrings with a simple loop cold connection. If you don’t want to use sterling or Swarovski crystals, you may make substitutions. I've linked supplies to where I have purchased them but you may buy them elsewhere. Supplies: 2 fishhook ear wires 2 8mm round Swarovski crystals in Indian Pink 2 sterling silver headpins 4 3mm (4mm works too) round sterling silver beads Tools: Jeweler's pliers (one or two pairs, depending on your preference) Flush cutters Instructions: 1.  Slide the beads in the following order onto your headpins:   sterling silver – Swarovski – sterling silver 2.  Take the very tips of the pliers and clamp them around the headpin, just above the last bead.   Hold the pliers tight and push the end of the headpin away from you so that it makes a 90-degree bend in the headpin.   Pull the pliers out of the bend. Repeat for the sec...

Today starts another new blog feature: WIP Wednesday! WIP (Work in Progress) Wednesday will give you a little peek at what new project I'm working on. I'll share the creation journey of the different art, craft, and jewelry projects I have and hopefully give you a little inspiration to start (or finish) your own! This week, I present to you "By the Light of the Moon," a fun little werewolf assemblage I've been working on for a while. Still a ways to go with this piece! This piece started out as an IKEA RIBBA picture frame. I took the easel out and covered it in Mod Podge ® and tissue paper, letting the crinkles fall where they may. Once it was dry, I used Tim Holtz ® Distress Stains in Walnut and Forest Moss and blended in the colors to get a very watery effect.  Next, I applied Golden Matte Medium on all sides of the frame with a plastic painter's knife. Once I had a thick layer, I pressed the flat side of the knife against the medium and lif...