DIY: Crystal Bridal Necklace

Are you or someone you know getting married?  Do you love the look of expensive bridal jewelry?  Then this tutorial is for you!

Here is a super sparkly bridal necklace that looks expensive but is easy and cost-effective to make.  The gorgeous crystals are Crystazzi® brand from Cousin Corporation of America and are available now at A.C. Moore Craft Stores.  They have a brilliant fire to them that is just stunning.  Make it for your bride-to-be friends or make and keep for yourself just in case.  :)  Happy beading!

Materials:
1 pkg Crystazzi® Crystal AB Pear (36756227)
1 pkg Crystazzi® Crystal Rosaline AB Bicone (36756402)
1 pkg Crystazzi® Crystal AB Cushion/Saucer (36756466)
silver plated link chain
15 silver plated head pins
5 silver plated eye pins
4 silver plated 4mm jump rings
1 silver plated 6mm jump ring
1 silver plated lobster claw clasp

Tools:
Chain Nose/Flat Nose Pliers
Round Nose Pliers
Flush Cutters
Ruler

Skill Level: Intermediate Level Beginner

Craft Time: About an hour

Techniques to know:
Forming Loops
Cutting Chains
Jump Rings

Instructions:

1. Make the following: 1 large pear dangle, 4 small pear dangles, and 10 bicone dangles by threading a bead onto a head pin and forming a loop.

2. Make five cushion crystal connectors by threading a crystal onto an eye pin and forming a loop.

3. Measure and cut the following two lengths of chain: 18 inches and 4 inches.

4. Find the center link of both chains. To help you do this, thread an eye pin through the end links of each chain. Hold the chain up. Look for a link in the center part of the droop of the chain and slide a head pin through that link.  Set shorter chain aside.

5. Attach one of the cushion connectors to the center link of the long chain.  Attach a bicone dangle to the 4th link from the center link. Attach another cushion connector in the fourth link over from the bicone. Attach one more bicone and one more cushion in the same manner.  Repeat for the opposite side of the center link.

6. Using a 4mm jump ring, attach the center link of the short chain to the center cushion connector.  Attach another 4mm jump ring to the 10th link over from the center of the short chain to the bottom of the next cushion connector. Attach the end link of the short chain to the next cushion connector. Repeat for opposite side.

7. Attach the large pear dangle to the center link of the short chain. Attach a bicone connector five links over from the center link of the short chain. Attach a small pear dangle to the same link of the small chain as the second cushion connector. Five links over, attach another bicone dangle. Attach a small pear dangle to the last link of the short chain. Repeat for the opposite side.

8. Using the 4mm and 6mm jump rings, attach the clasp to end of the long chain.



 9. Wear your shiny new bridal beauty.

Choosing the Right Earrings for Your Face Shape

With all of these wild and crazy ear dressings showing up on the catwalks these days, it's hard to find the perfect earrings to suit your face and personal style.

Let's look at the different facial shapes and explain them a bit so you can figure out which category you fall in.

Round: has its widest part across the cheekbones with some narrowing along the forehead and chin area.  Celebrities with round faces include Jennifer Hudson, Cameron Diáz, Anne Hathaway, and Ginnifer Goodwin.

Oval: has its widest part across the cheekbones with the forehead being the same width as the cheekbones. This facial shape also narrows from the cheeks to the chin creating a nice oval shape.  Celebrities with oval faces include Zoey Deschanel, Jennifer Aniston, Mariah Carey, and Uma Thurman.

Square: little to no narrowing from the forehead to cheekbones nor from the cheekbones to the chin. The chin can be rather sharp and jawbone angular. Celebrities with a square face include Angelina Jolie, Olivia Wilde, Kiera Knightly, and Natalie Portman.

Narrow/Oblong: same general shape as square but more elongated.  This facial shape has a very strong jawline to contrast the smooth upper structure of the face.  Celebrities with a narrow/oblong facial shape include Hillary Swank, Gweneth Paltrow, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Elle Macpherson.

Heart: features a forehead that is wider than the cheekbones and a sharp, keen chin. Celebrities with heart faces include Jennifer Garner, Michelle Pfeiffer, Reese Witherspoon, Lisa Kudrow, and Naomi Campbell.

do not narrow much from the cheekbone to the forehead, nor from the cheekbone to the jaw line. - See more at: http://www.wixonjewelers.com/2013/11/how-to-choose-the-best-earrings-for-you/#sthash.2Nb4CXuV.dpuf

do not narrow much from the cheekbone to the forehead, nor from the cheekbone to the jaw line. - See more at: http://www.wixonjewelers.com/2013/11/how-to-choose-the-best-earrings-for-you/#sthash.2Nb4CXuV.dpuf

Now that you have a somewhat clearer idea of what facial shape you fall into, let's look at what earrings would best suit your face.

For round-faced individuals, you need to gravitate to the elongated angular styles of earrings.  Also, you can choose from dangles and teardrop shapes.  Try a pair of earrings with a graduated design, meaning earrings that start off small at the top and become larger at the bottom. Suggestions based on this style would be Red Drop Earrings, Coin Pearl and Copper Earrings, and Blue Crystal Earrings.

For oval-faced individuals, you are the blessed ones!  You can wear pretty much any shape of earrings you desire. To add a bit of striking glamor, try wearing oval shaped dangle earrings.
Suggestions based on this facial shape would include Amethyst Dangle Earrings, Crystal Dangle Earrings, and Golden Drops Earrings.

For square-faced individuals, you will need to lean more towards the hoops style of earrings. Hoops soften the jaw area and cheekbones.  Try an oversized hoop style that brushes just at the jawline will add some uhmph to your look.  Suggestions based on this facial shape would include Art Deco Hoop Earrings, Mixed Metal Earrings, and Filigree Hoop Earrings.

For narrow/oblong-faced individuals, you need to go with long dangles and earring styles with very elongated shapes to soften the face and accentuate your lovely cheekbones.  Suggestions based on this facial shape would include Mixed Metal Shoulder Dusters, Swarovski Crystal Earrings, and Morrocan Style Dangle Earrings.

For heart-faced individuals, you will need to follow suit with your narrow-faced sisters.  Reach fore more elongated shapes that will lengthen the face. Suggestions based on this facial shape would include Long Seashell Earrings, Morrocan Style Dangle Earrings, and Golden Drops Earrings.

Something Sparkly This Way Comes

Cousin Corporation of America has just added Crystazzi® Crystals to their offerings available at A.C. Moore Craft Stores.

Cousin Crystazzi® brings you the finest polished lead crystals in the most popular shapes and colors. Turn the ordinary into extraordinary and add a little sparkle to your life with fabulous Crystazzi® Crystals!  These precision hand cut crystals come in a variety of styles including bicone, saucer, barrel, pear, diamond, cushion, saucer, round, and rondelle.  I can tell you from experience that these crystals they are top quality. When I was teaching jewelry making classes, I would always direct my students to the Crystazzi® Crystals due to their brilliance and durability as well as their price.  Their shine and cut rival that of the higher end crystals without the sticker shock.  The holes through the crystals are always consistent and smooth.  The holes are large enough for 16 gauge wire to pass through with ease making these crystals extremely versatile.

Recently, I received a gorgeous helping of these new beauties from Cousin Corporation of America to play with.

 

I can't tell you how beautiful these babies are.  You will just have to see them for yourself.  Stop by your local A.C. Moore Craft Stores today and see them for yourself.

Be on the lookout tomorrow for a sparkly good, bridal necklace tutorial using these gorgeous crystals.