Cousin asked the Creative Circle Ambassadors to come up with a project inspired by Valentine's Day. This is what they asked us to do:
"We would like
everyone to come up with their own interpretation of Valentine’s Day in a
project that you will be submitting. What colors, materials
and symbols remind you of romance, love and affection? Some classic
examples are hearts, arrows, keys and doves/birds. This does not have to
be a standard jewelry item, and may be used as a craft in a
non-traditional way if you like. Of course we always appreciate
that you use all Cousin product if/when possible. We would really love
to see a new take on something traditional to add some variety to our
current offerings. Anything goes with this project and it will be fun
and interesting to see what everyone comes up
with."
Hmm........Not too bad of a project to do except the fact that I don't usually create heart jewelry or even think about the traditional colors when it comes to Valentine's Day. When I think of romance, I think more on a time period in history when romance and love were innocent, a time in which lace and pearls were the height of the fashion world. The Victorian and Edwardian eras were to me the most romantic periods. Images of Downton Abby dance through my head (even though that is set Post-Edwardian). Lace, pearls, and hints of crystals pop instantly cross my mind. The only problem is that isn't what is being asked for.
So, with that in mind.....I tried something that turned out better than I had hoped. Below is a project for more of the advanced jewelry maker. With that said, I believe a beginner can also pull this off with a little effort.
Skill Level: Intermediate to Advances
Crafting Time: 1 to 2 hours depending on skill
Tools Needed:
Flat or Chain Nose Pliers
Side or Flush Cutters
Round Nose Pliers
Two different sized mandrels or cylindrical objects such as marker barrels
Ruler
8oz. Ball Peen Hammer
Steel Bench Block
Materials:
34722027 -
51pc 8-10mm Pearl-Crystal Mix Pink-Bronze (Prima Bead)
34718092 -
100in Small Silver Curb Chain (Prima Bead)
34719059 - 134pc Starter Pack- Silver (Prima Bead)
20 Gauge Jewelry Wire (I used Beadalon's German Style Wire - Available at most craft stores)
Instructions:
Create the following by threading beads onto an eye pin and
forming a loop:
Three 10mm bronze pearl connectors
Two 12mm bronze pearl connectors
Two 6mm pink crystal connectors
Two 10mm pearl/crystal/8mm pearl connectors
Create the following by threading beads onto a head pin and
forming a loop:
Three 6mm crystal dangles
One 8mm pearl/crystal/10mm pearl dangle
Measure and
cut two 5 inch sections of curb chain. Using a
jump ring, attach the clasp to the end of one piece.
Cut a 3 inch section extender chain from Starter Pack and attach to one end of the other 5 inch section of curb chain. At the end of the extender chain, attach one of the pink crystal dangles. Set aside.
Measure, cut and straighten two 6 inch sections of wire and one 8 inch section.
Using your round nose pliers, find the
center point of each piece of wire, form a loop by crossing the wire
over itself around the barrel of the pliers. Bow the ends inward.
Using your smaller mandrel (1/2 inch
diameter) curl one end of the wire loosely around crossing over the
other end of the wire.
NOTE: I used a steel graduated ring mandrel to make my curls. I
placed the wire at size 1 for the smaller hearts and size 4 for the
larger one.
Lace the loose end of the wire into the loop
and pull towards the loop.
Place back on the mandrel and push
against it to make a smooth loop. Remove from mandrel. Tug the
loops slightly apart to loosen. Push the bottoms of the loops up
until a heart shape forms.
Wrap the ends of the wire around the
bottom edge of the loop to secure the shape. Trim excess wire.
Repeat for the other two pieces of 6 inch wire. Following the same
steps use the larger mandrel for the 8 inch piece.
Place heart shape on a bench block and
hammer the top of the loops and the very bottom loop of the heart
taking care not to hammer where wire crosses wire.
Attach a small heart on each side of
the large heart using 6mm jump rings. Attach the crystal dangles to
the smaller hearts. Add a 10mm pearl connector to the bottom loop of
the larger heart. Attach a 4mm
jump ring to the bottom loop of the
connector. Attach the last heart to the jump ring with two 6mm jump
rings. The
jump rings should be placed through the top loops of the
heart.
Attach the 8mm pearl/crystal/10mm pearl
dangle to the bottom loop of the small heart.
Attach a pearl/crystal/pearl connector
to each side of the hearts. Attach a 12 mm pearl connector using a
jump ring on each side, followed by a crystal connector and a 10 mm
pearl connector.
Attach the chain using
jump rings to
the last connectors.
 |
| Finished piece |
 |
| Close up of hearts |
If you find that some of the silver plating has come off when hammering, you can touch it up with a Krylon Silver Leafing Pen available at most craft stores.
I love shopping for supplies at Prima Bead because it's easy. Having small children and very little time to go supply shopping, it is very convenient for me to shop online. I love the fact that they offer FREE priority shipping on EVERY order. Prima Bead also packs all orders by hand with care. They also offer volume discounts from 10% to 25%. They have FREE project ideas to get your creativity flowing, a how-to section to show you jewelry making techniques step by step, even videos. Now, Prima Bead offers a very nice selection of Beadalon products too.
