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I just got a new supply of olivine green glass pears in both 18mm x 13mm, and 14mm x 10mm size. These olivine gems are a bit brighter than my previous supply – a gorgeous fun color that’s just a bit unusual and, hmm, tangy!
Have fun making DIY earrings with these glass gems – I’m going to try combining the different shapes. The 8mm rounds with the 13x7mm pears… and maybe the larger pears as well. Long dangling earrings are just fun sometimes!
Or make a matching pendant and earrings in striking olivine green, as gifts for your buds, or your mom, or for yourself! The best kind of do it yourself jewelry – doesn’t cost a ton and you add your own creative touch. That’s what DIY is all about 🙂
The bright red glass octagons shown in this pic are fabulous for earrings and a matching pendant. The pendant jewel shown here isn’t huge – it’s 14mm x 10mm, about 5/8″ high. Perfect for a delicate, feminine jewel on a delicate chain.
The smaller bright red octagon stones are terrific when you use two-ring (or loop) settings, and add charms or other stones. But you know, they’re also terrific “as is”. They’re 10mm x 8mm, about 3/8″ high. Large enough to make classic earrings – that aren’t heavy. Comfy *and* pretty earrings 🙂
Don’t you love it when you can make gorgeous jewelry, that’s simple to create – and doesn’t cost a lot? That’s the best of both worlds. You can make the jewelry *you* want, for gifts, for customers, or for yourself. And you don’t have to spend a lot of time or money!
A new, personalized earring design idea – I wanted to show off one way to use the heart-shaped, brass stamping tags. It’s such a wonderful – and easy – way to personalize your jewelry!
Stamping tags are pretty great. It’s not hard to find the steel letters to make the stamped impressions (let me know if you need help finding some). And with two heart tags, you can add initials to any jewelry item. Or use several and spell out your child’s name, or your favorite word, or the name of a team you love, or… well just anything you think would be fun to wear and share with the world!
The glass jewels I use here are 12x12mm “cushion cut” octagons (a classic square octagon shape with rounded corners). Of course you could use whatever jewels you love the most. Add the tags with jump rings, slip on some earwires, and you’re good to go! Personalized jewelry – that’s easy to make and doesn’t cost a lot. The best kind of DIY!
This jewelry design idea features golden brass filigree flower connectors, and amethyst (amethyst glass, I mean) pear shape jewels. It’s a feminine, gorgeous combination – and these are easy to make. The deep purple amethyst stones are 14mm x 10mm, not too large for comfy earrings but absolutely big enough to make a DIY pendant as well.
And I have to say, “easy to make” and “gorgeous” pretty much sums up my favorite jewelry designs. It doesn’t have to be hard to make pretty jewelry! Yes, intricate designs can be beautiful but you know, sometimes there just isn’t time.
Of course you can use this idea to generate your own special design. Use your favorite colors and your favorite connectors. You’ll love the combo!
I just wanted to show off a few of the vivid, bright glass jewels I’ve got in my jewelry supplies shop right now. Vivid sapphire blue, golden topaz, emerald green, and ruby red – these are the classic primary colors that are so hot right now!
These are new glass gems, vintage style (classic faceted cuts) but not vintage. The bright colors are great year round – and have enough presence to use “as is” for earrings and pendants, with no need to add fussy details. They’re great for earrings, pendants, and of course glass connectors since each is available in two-ring connector styles as well as classic one-loop prong settings.
Of course if you want to fuss, that’s good too! Add the details to make your DIY jewelry special and individual and your design. You’ll love it!
I love earrings that combine gems, glass jewels, or other sparkling beads, with chain. The chain adds movement and even more sparkle, without adding a lot of weight. And it’s pretty!
The earring design shown in this pic is super simple. Slip a glass jewel onto your earwire. Then place several lengths of chain onto an open jump ring. Put on the jump ring onto the bottom loop of the jewel setting, close the jump ring, and you’re all set!
Of course this design is totally customizeable – use jewels you have (or purchase some from my shop!) Use your favorite colors, and any chain you have – it doesn’t even have to match. For that matter you could use different color jewels in each earring. I love designs like that – I think a lot of people do. Make the design yours!
It’s always useful to know what the birthstones (and birthstone colors!) are for the upcoming months. I’ve put together a few examples of birthstone color glass jewels that I have availble right now!
You’ll notice I didn’t even pick the showiest, largest stones. Those are wonderful of course – but sometimes you want small(er), less in-your-face jewelry. Or you want to combine glass jewels with other elements in your designs.
The thing is, this totally works. Use what you have, combine your elements with birthstone colors, and DIY some special custom jewelry for yourself and your friends!
If you visit my Etsy jewelry supplies shop you’ll see that the vitrail gems featured below, are my shop avatar! I love them and I think you will too. (And vitrail is one of the best selling jewel “colors” in my shop!)
The most important highlight of this pic is that it shows you the scale of the gems – my mannequin is close to life size so you don’t have to rely on printed measurements. You can see how these work as earrings! And since you pick the color of the tiny round stone at the top of the setting, you can customize these. Just a small added bonus!
The white and white opal glass stones shown here are some of the favorites in my shop – and I’ve been able to resupply recently! Given that these glass gems are true vintage (not just “vintage style”), that can be tricky!
I was going to say that, especially with summer almost here, white stones and gems are particularly appropriate. But really that’s not relevant. White glass gems are always beautiful and useful, year-round. Think of combining them with black for strong neutrals – or with any pretty pastels. With do it yourself jewelry supplies, you are the true designer – and you choose what elements you love most!
But having said all that – white glass gems are great in summer jewelry!
These silver (silver color, that is) leaf and glass jewel earrings have a couple extra things going for them. Well first they’re pretty earrings, which is the most important thing of course 🙂
Also – this is one of the best things about do it yourself jewelry! The components are very inexpensive. So you can make these wonderful earrings, using the jewels shown or whichever color is your favorite – and you don’t have to spend a lot of money.
Inexpensive, easy to make, and pretty – this is what jewelry ought to be!
P.S. I should clarify: the “silver” leaves are not sterling. They’re plated over steel. They don’t tarnish easily in my experience, and they’re way cheaper. Your choice of course!
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Jewelry and Accessories
Vintage, Recycled, Upcycled!
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