Famous Jewelry Collections: December 2012

Monday, December 31, 2012

THE BEADING GEM'S JOURNAL

Posted: 31 Dec 2012 05:00 AM PST

Mod Podge, the well known decoupage medium, is an all-in-one glue, sealer and finish for all sorts of craft projects. It's also useful in some jewelry designs as these tutorials suggest.

The above beautiful bird bracelet by Kristin over at the Retro Cafe Art Gallery shows how well designs can look using good old Mod Podge. The decoupage work is done on masonite ovals.

Note there are different types of Mod Podge. The dimensional type used by Amy at Mod Podge Rocks for the ring (shown below) tutorial is rather like using resin or something like Diamond Glaze. It's a great use for micro-beads. I like how she adds other bead accents to make the designs pop.

These wood based earrings by Debbie Saenz shows the dimensional look clearly - note there are tiny rhinestones in the middle!

Also using Mod Podge Dimensional Magic is Tamara over at Etcetorize. She used it to create DIY paper jewelry! This is such a great idea - you could try different paper punches! It'll work for light earrings but it might need some weight for pendants so you could decoupage onto washers or round discs.

Or decoupage onto card stock like this pretty musically inspired necklace by Creative Passage. Via

If you want a firmer base and use the regular Mod Podge then attach paper to a glass pendant just like the tutorial by Simple Crafter. As she says you can use scrapbook paper, origami paper, old book pages or even photos. I'm thinking about old maps too!

Another option is to use regular Mod Podge mixed with fine glitter as shown by Alicia over at the Discount Creative blog for a quick design. It's so sparkly which is why she called it a druzy design. (A druse or druzy is a sparkly crystal coating on some rocks). You can use a ring blank rather than the metal hoop and disc combination she did.

Cupcakecult over at Craftster used mod podge to funky images onto polymer clay pendants.

You can also use Mod Podge just as a sealer to protect images and add other dimensional glazes on top. See Irene Helms pendant tutorial.

Go have fun like Amy of Mod Podge Rocks and create some funky art bangles with the technique and the Mod Podge!

Heather of Dollar Store Crafts has a really interesting combination going with her washi tape and mod podge statement necklace tutorial. She used Dimensional Magic.

Via

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Jewelry Making Tips - Jewelry Business Tips

Sunday, December 30, 2012

THE BEADING GEM'S JOURNAL

USB Medical Info Locket by Emily Rothschild

Posted: 30 Dec 2012 04:00 AM PST

Many people wear medical alert bracelets to indicate their individual health condition to medical staff should they be rendered unconscious. Well, this useful type of jewelry has been updated to suit our technological world.

The USB medical alert tag is a much better alternative as they can contain more information than the traditional bracelet. Medical alert bracelets have very little space for engraving whereas the USB flash drive can contain a list of current medications, existing conditions, doctors and emergency contacts.

Something as practical as a medical alert device does not have to be ugly either. Emily Rothschild designed this medical alert locket to hold the USB. The USB itself as well as the front of the locket clearly indicate that it is a medical alert tag.

Via

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Original Post by THE BEADING GEM
Jewelry Making Tips - Jewelry Business Tips

Saturday, December 29, 2012

THE BEADING GEM'S JOURNAL

Easy Braided Seed Bead Bracelet Tutorials

Posted: 29 Dec 2012 05:00 AM PST

I've covered braiding before for jewelry designs. But here is one more sweet tutorial. The tutorial by Allis on her blog, Simply Allis will be useful to beginners. It was inspired by the original tutorial by ECab which was for a necklace and one I featured before.

The basic design is good practice for using clam shell findings which is another reason for featuring this tutorial. It is also great for using up odd beads. There is no need to stay with a single color scheme either!

Another braided seed bead bracelet tutorial I liked is the one by Erica over at Honestly..WTF. I love how she modeled several of them for a stacked look! Small round crystals will look fabulous too!

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Original Post by THE BEADING GEM
Jewelry Making Tips - Jewelry Business Tips