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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!
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!
Yesterday’s post shows some of the faceted glass 10mm x 8mm octagons I have available right now (and on sale!) I thought it would be helpful to show you the scale of these small glass gems. The mannequin head in this pic is close to life size – so you can see that these octagons, while small, definitely work as earring jewels!
Of course they work wonderfully when you combine them with more glass gems, charms, and other elements. But on their own they are terrific. These small-but-pretty earrings would look good day or night, with jeans or cocktail dress.
And remember, through August 13, 2023, they’re on BOGO sale!
I just wanted to show a totally classic earring design – “classic” meaning it uses faceted clear glass (rhinestone) gems in two simple, classic shapes. Combine ovals and diamonds as shown in this example, and you have a lovely pair of DIY earrings!
Actually the same gems would make a striking necklace, too (or add another shape or two to make a long, dangling pendant. Gorgeous!) Really I just wanted to illustrate that by combining simmple gem shapes using this design idea – or adapting it to your own creative ideas – you’ll have some fabulous jewelry for a low cost.
P.S. And talk about wonderful bridal and wedding jewelry. Just saying!
This oval crystal necklace is a classic. It’s a simple design – find a beautiful faceted oval glass gem, add a sturdy jump ring to the loop at the top of the setting, and slide the oval pendant on a chain.
And that’s it! Of course you need to use a beautiful pendant – you want something that will be a star on its own, without needing a lot of embellishment. The chain helps too – in this case, I used simple plated cable chain but I used two strands. It adds something extra without a lot of work.
Really I wanted to illustrate that good design – and beautiful jewelry – doesn’t have to be time consuming, or fussy. Simple and classic works.
Think how beautiful this necklace would be on a bride! (And you know, whether it’s a gift to the bride, or she makes her own jewelry, she isn’t going to mind saving some money!)
Really it would be more accurate to say a “new version” of the cluster necklace design I featured a few days ago. This time I used crystal clear glass stones in three sizes – a 26x13mm teardrop, 10mm round glass gems, and 8mm rounds as well. The gems are handset in silver plated brass settings, and I added sturdy silver plated jump rings to slide the jewels over the chain. They’re free to move around, tumble a bit, and create a new cluster every time you move. It makes the necklace design a bit more organic!
Of course this version, with all crystal clear stones, would be perfect for a bride! But also for prom, for New Year’s, for any special occasion where you want sparkle. Actually this design is versatile enough that you could use it with a formal gown – or a scoop neck longsleeve tee. As always, style it to work for * you*.
Sparkle with affordable jewelry components – take this design idea, adapt it to your own special creative ideas. I think you’ll love it!
You know that jewelry is a lovely Christmas gift, for your mom, your bestie, your sisters. And of course, if you make your own jewelry, you give a very personal gift – and you save money!
And it’s always fun when you use “traditional” Christmas colors for your DIY jewelry.
Red and green glass jewels are always appropriate for Christmas – and when you use faceted crystal alone or combined with colors, you get year-round sparkle!
Great DIY jewelry – great prices – this is super for do it yourself jewelry!
You’ve probably seen me use multiple chains before in a necklace design – I think it’s a great way to add texture, acomplexity and movement to a necklace design.
Partly I wanted to illustrate that even a transparent jewel – the teardrop pendant – can add sparkle and presence. The chains just add a bit of “more”, when it’s not just a single chain. And you may have noticed the loop of chain that anchors the pendant. That loop – and pendant – is removable. So you have a multi strand chain necklace with no pendant at all. Two necklaces in one!
As always, I’m hoping this idea will spark your own creative juices. That’s what DIY is – or should be – all about. Do it yourself – the way you want it!
The glass gems called “black diamond” are grey glass jewels – in colors ranging from light gray to deep charcoal. They’re neutral, strong, and great to use for year round DIY jewelry.
I just got in some new black diamond glass gems – the 10x10mm (3/8″) diamond shapes shown above. And to celebrate, I’m offering all my black diamond gems on sale.
So from today through midnight on Sunday, May 16, 2021, you get a free pair of black diamond glass jewels with every pair you buy. Buy any pair – and let me know what shape you want for your freebie!
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Jewelry and Accessories
Vintage, Recycled, Upcycled!
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