Carey Burns

I must admit, I love how this pair of earrings turned out. Too bad I don't have much blue in my wardrobe. Supplies: 2 sterling silver ear wires 2 sterling silver components (these, sadly, seem to be discontinued) 8 sterling silver headpins (2 inch) 8 Round Swarovski crystals in Montana (4 mm) Tools: Jeweler's pliers (one or two pairs, depending on your preference) Flush cutters Instructions: 1.  Slide a Swarovski onto a headpin. 2.  With the tips of your pliers, make a 90 degree bend in the headpin just above the bead. Repeat for the other seven headpins. 3.  Trim a headpin so that it is just under 1/2 an inch long. 4.   Use your "scrap" piece of headpin as a quick-and-dirty way to trim your other headpins. Line it up with an untrimmed headpin and cut so they are the same length. Repeat for the rest of the headpins. 5.  Now you'll make your loops. Line the very end of a headpin up with th...

Some might say I'm becoming obsessed with the Vintaj line. All of their findings and charms just work so well together, I just can't help myself! This week is no exception. I present to you, a charming Butterfly Necklace. Supplies: 1 Leaf Sprig charm 1 Fluttering Wings Butterfly charm 2 Squared Bead Caps (7 mm) 1 large brass hoop (Confession: this is Vintaj but I don't know where I bought it!) 1 brass-toned headpin 1 round Swarovski in Peridot (8 mm) 1 length of brass-toned chain (28 inches long) 3 brass-toned jump rings (7.25 mm, 16 gauge)  1 brass-toned lobster clasp 2 small brass-toned jump rings   Tools: Jeweler's pliers (one or two pairs, depending on your preference) Flush cutters Instructions: 1.  Open one of the larger jump rings by clasping it in the pliers with one hand and holding it firmly between your thumb and index finger of your other hand (or another pair of pliers). Gently twist the pliers away from you and the jump ring sh...

I was looking through my findings, wondering what to make next when I saw a neglected zipper bag of sterling silver crimp tubes. These tubes looked fine on the outside, but when I'd try to crimp them shut, they would break along the fold in the metal. They've been in a sort of limbo where I didn't want to throw them away, but I could use them. Today, I found a use for them: as beads for a pendant! I've added links to where I've purchased items. My source for the small Swarovskis in Dark Red Coral seems to have dried up. Supplies: 3 sterling silver headpins (2 inches long) 1 sterling silver split jump ring (8 mm) 1 sterling silver filigree scalloped component 9 sterling silver crimp tubes (2 mm) 3 round Swarovski crystals in Dark Red Coral (4 mm) Tools: Jeweler's pliers (one or two pairs, depending on your preference) Flush cutters Instructions: 1.  Slide a Swarovski onto a headpin and follow it with three crimp tubes. Repeat for t...

 Another Maker's Monday, another pair of earrings! I'm using gold-filled findings this time and some lovely Swarovski rondelle crystals in Denim Blue. Variations on this basic jewelry project are endless! I linked to where I purchased my supplies but you can buy them elsewhere.  A dainty pair of earrings A note about gold findings: When I first started making jewelry, I didn't want to use gold because it was expensive and the findings I could get locally were gold-plated and just looked cheap. Gold-filled findings have more gold in them as compared to gold-plated so they should wear longer, be less prone to tarnishing, and the gold won't "flake off." A brief explanation can be found in this Artbeads.com article.  Supplies: 2 gold-filled headpins (2 inches long) 2 8x6 mm Swarovski rondelle crystals in Denim Blue 4 gold-filled saucer beads 2 gold-filled ear wires Add caption Tools: Jeweler's pliers (one or two pairs, depending on y...

Well, it's Maker's Monday once again! I was on vacation all last week so today's project was thrown together at the very last minute. I've linked supplies to where I have purchased them but you may buy them elsewhere. Supplies: 2 natural brass headpins (2 inches long) 3 4mm Swarovski crystals in Light Turquoise 1 natural brass connector/pendant 28 inches of brass-toned chain 3 brass-toned open jump rings (3mm) 1 brass-toned lobster clasp (not in photo) Tools: Jeweler's pliers (one or two pairs, depending on your preference) Flush cutters Instructions: 1.  Slide a crystal onto a headpin. With the tips of your pliers, make a 90 degree bend in the headpin just above the bead. 2.  Cut the excess tail from your headpin so that it measures just under 1/2 an inch long.  3.  Here's a quick tip for cutting headpins so they are all the same size: when you have trimmed your headpin to the desired size, take your scrap end and line it up...