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I think I’ve featured a similar style before, though not with these stones. I think it’s important to show (show off!) a necklace design idea that looks great, can be adapted to any color combination you prefer, and doesn’t take a lot of time or money to accomplish!
Take this basic idea – two beautiful gems or beads in complementary colors – and run with it! Look at the stones and beads you have available (or of course, go shopping at my shop (hey, I have to put in a plug, right?) Pick the colors that match the outfit you love – or the one you want to make for your bff. Use different shapes – use *what works for your style and eye for beauty*.
Make it your own. You’ll love it!
I love this set of clear glass “gemstones”. I put quotes around the word “gemstones” because of course these stones are not precious. But they are lovely – and work beautifully for a pendant and coordinating earring jewels. You could use this octagon pendant all alone, “as is” – it makes a lovely pendant. Add the two diamond-shaped glass gems to make a more elaborate necklace. Use the smaller stones in one-ring settings for coordinating earrings, or add other beads and jewels. You can imagine the possibilities!
Part of what I want to focus on here, is that “just” clear glass – (nicely faceted and clear of flaws, well mostly) can make fabulous jewelry. You don’t need to have Bright Flashy Stones, or spend a fortune.
And of course, these go with pretty much everything. Talk about a win!
The round glass jewels in the pic below are a few of the rivoli faceted gems I have available in my shop right now. These 10mm round stones (that’s approximately 3/8″) are great for small pendants, earring jewels, and of course connectors that link design elements.
I’ll post a few pics showing these jewels being used for necklaces and earrings, over the next days. But you know you’ll think of lots of ways to use them – with your own style. That’s the way DIY jewelry is meant to be!
I’m showing off two more sizes of the crystal AB pears (teardrops) I have in my shop right now. The “crystal AB” (which stands for aurora borealis) is an absolute favorite color/finish with my customers. It’s just beautiful, it sort of glows in the light, and it doesn’t need a whole lot of fussiness to make beautiful jewelry!
You see what I mean! The stones are lovely, and while it’s really true that no two are exactly alike (it depends on reflection and the light they’re in!) they are lovely with many colors, especially pink, lilac, purple, blue, and green. And of course crystal (clear). And pretty terrific with black, too.
So go take a peek. These stones make wonderful earrings and pendants, and are great for gifts. Try them, you’ll see what I mean!
The glass stones I’m showing here (okay, showing off!) are “crystal AB” which is a commonly used abbreviation for “Aurora Borealis”. It’s the finish applied to crystal clear glass gems – and it really does reflect many colors of the rainbow!
In a way it’s almost hard to get good pictures of these stones – because they have so much reflection, so many colors depending on the angle and the light. They are always beautiful. Sometimes they seem to have more pink highlights. Sometimes blue, or purple, or gold. Did did I say they are always beautiful? Truly.
They make wonderful jewelry with very little extra embellishment needed. Slip the pendant on a chain. Add earwires to the smaller teardrops (in my shop) or the cushion cut octagons shown. Combine them with other stones or use them “as is”. You’ll love them!
Sometimes we need neutral jewelry – not bright colors or pretty pastels, but strong neutrals. These glass jewels are a great example!
The jet black faceted pears are a great combination with the (off)white glass round cabochons. These would look great all year round – but somehow Fall approaching makes us think of black and white.
You’ll adapt this idea to your own stones and jewels of course – any strong contrasting colors or neutrals would be great. Make the idea your own! (And share pics, I love to see them!)
P.S. If you want to make gifts (yes, Christmas is coming!) but you don’t know the fave colors to match – she can always use neutrals. We all wear black sometimes, yknow?
Another example of how wonderful these vitrail glass gems are when paired with contrasting beads, stones, or charms. The golden brass flowers in this earring design work beautifully with the faceted rainbow vitrail glass diamonds.
Really I wanted to show another example, another style, showing how pretty (and fun!) these multi colored glass gems can be. They have variations in tone, some with more pink, or purple, or green, so if you have some charms or glass gems you want to coordinate with these stones, just let me know. We’ll find a great pair for you!
I just got in these adorable rainbow vitrail glass connectors. Small, useful, and so pretty! I show them here paired with vitrail glass pears (teardrops) – I think the shapes and sizes are so complementary.
I think these small – gorgeous! – glass gems are going to be about the most useful stones I’ve got. They’re quite rich in color, and while in my experience, absolutely no two vitrail stones are exactly the same – this is a wonderful batch, rich in color and it’s been quite easy to find coordinating (“matching” – for vitrail!) pairs. And the delicate size works with so many shapes. I’ll probably post another pair or two, just to show the possibilities – and to show them off!
A friend of mine recently asked for some ideas for golden topaz glass earrings – and she knows I usually have several jewel styles and shapes in my shop. I showed her these (plus a few others in that section):
Seriously she had trouble making up her mind! She surprised me – she went for the small(ish) round gems shown in the upper right pic, a little more conservative than I expected from her. But she said they were perfect: they had enough color and presence to really show, without being large or heavy.
I’m going to surprise her next week with another pair or two, just to show her some variety. I’ll post some here. But you know that’s the great thing about DIY jewelry – you get to make what you want!
I recently made a pair of earrings as a gift for a friend of mine, using the sheer garnet teardrops shown here in the lower right of the pic below. They were very simple (and of course easy to make) – with no embellishment except for the golden brass prong settings. She loves the earrings!
Now I was prompted to make this particular pair after I saw a new dress she’d bought. But we all have our own spark – something that makes us think hmm, I would love to find (buy)(make) something in this-or-that color. It might be a gift you want to make, it might be something for you.
That’s what’s so great about DIY jewelry – you don’t have to spend a lot of time or money. And you can make great jewelry!
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Jewelry and Accessories
Vintage, Recycled, Upcycled!
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