A few months ago, while I was perusing the jewelry supply area at my local Joann Fabric and Craft Store, I came across the most beautiful pack of stone beads I had ever seen. (Click here to see a similar style pack.)
The pack I found had one large round green/blue/black stone. This main stone bead is very heavy and hard to work with. Included In the pack was other stone beads that coordinated with the main stone. There were also brass looking pieces, but I did not like them at all. The green stones are what caught my attention, so I purchased it for around $5.
These stones are beautiful but hard to work with because of the color schemes and the weight.
So, six months later, and about eight attempted projects later, the stones have finally found a home in my new earrings and matching necklace.
Here are the supplies you will need to make the earring and matching necklace:
- 1 bag of stone beads. This must have one large stone bead and at least two identical ones to make the set. Take a look at the large stone and make sure it has a hole large enough for the cord to go through.
- 2 Fish Hook earrings. Match your stone beads to either the silver or gold versions of these fish hook earrings. I prefer silver for mine.
- 2 small heart charms. (Click here for examples)
- 2 Silver or Gold Eye Pins
- Jewelry Pliers
- Antique Wheel Spacers
- Satin necklace cord- black 2mm, 36″ in length
- Scissors
- Plastic yarn needle (one you can throw away when done) **optional.
- Black thread and a sewing needle **optional
Earrings-My dear friend Robin helped me design these beautiful earrings.
Take one of the smaller stone beads and stick an eye pin through it. About one inch from the end of the stone, use the pliers to gently bend the pin towards the stone, making a loop. Make sure the small ‘eye’ at this end matches the other end. When the circle is almost complete, cut off the excess length of the pin. You will need to eyeball it as to not cut off too much. (If you do, then start over with a new pin. It takes practice.) Do not close the loop yet.
Next, take the heart charm and place the top ring of the charm into the open loop of the eye pin. Using the pliers, gently close the loop. It takes some practice, so you might want to try it a few times with the extra eye pins before trying this craft. You want the loop you made to match in size and roundness to the original on the eye pin.
Finally, take your fishhook earring and using the pliers to gently open the bottom loop. Place the loop at the top of the bead into the newly opened earring loop, and gently squeeze it shut.
Note: Take a look at the way the earring hangs. Make sure that the heart charm faces forward. If it doesn’t you many need to gently twist the eye pin a bit. It takes practice.
Necklace
The stone necklace is very simple to make. Take your black satin cord and string it through your yarn needle. Make sure that the needle eye will fit through the hole in the large stone. If not, then you will need to thread the cord through on your own. To do this, fold the cord in the middle and gently guide it into the stone hole and push it through with a flat head tooth pick or a cotton swab. (Remove the cotton on the end of the swab and stuff the stick into the stone hole to force the cord through.)
If you used the plastic needle, then you will need to snip the eye of the needle, with scissors, to get it off of the cord. Once it is through, take one of the antique spacers and push the cord loop through. (Take a look at the bottom of the stone to see how it should look.) There should be about 1″ of loop at the bottom of the stone. (The cord is thick enough to hold the spacer and stone in place and not have it fall off the end. If yours is too loose, then you can take some black thread and carefully ‘sew’ the spacer on to the cord. You will only need a few stitches from the cord around the bottom spacer to hold it in place. Try to keep the thread between the nubs of the spacer so they stay hidden.)
Next, take two more spacers and put both top ends of the cord through them and push them all the way down to the stone.
Lastly, tie a knot at the ends of the cord and try it on. Change the length to fit your style or needs.
There you are: a new pair of earrings and a stone pendant to match. This craft makes a great birthday or Mother’s Day present.
For ideas on free printable Mother’s Day cards to go with this project, try this link:
Free Printable Mother’s Day Card
Sources:
My friend Robin
Personal Experience
Joanne Fabric and Craft Store and Joann.com
