Starfish Pendant Free Tutorial

Here is a fun and easy example of a pendant that would be perfect for our Handcrafted Pendant Swap.  Pair up an art bead pendant, like the starfish here, with a cluster of crystal accents and a cute charm. 

To create the wire-wrapped bail:

1. Cut a 5" length of 20 gauge wire and insert it into the pendant.

2. Leave a 2" tail on the back and create a loop, wrap the wire around the loop 2 times, trim excess wire and use flat nose pliers to tuck the end of the wire into the wrap. 

3. With the other end of the wire continue wrapping under the loop, moving the wire up and down as your wrap it to create a random texture.

4. Attach the starfish and the pendant to a 15mm jump ring. 

5. Attach a 10mm etched jump ring with a 7.5mm jump ring.

6. To create the dangles use a 3" headpin and create a wrapped loop, continue wrapping the wire under the loop using the rest of the wire.  I used 6 dangles for this project. Use small jump rings to attach the dangles to the 7.5mm jump ring.  

7. Add a 10mm etched jump ring for the ribbon.

Starfish beads can be found here.

Faux Patina Pendant Tutorial

Last year on the Bead Cruise I did a make-and-take using Vintaj altered blanks to create faux patina pendants.  Here are the directions.

Supplies:

Vintaj blanks

Rubber stamps

StazOn Ink Pad

Adirondack Acrylic Paint Dabbers (Stream, Juniper, Lettuce and Pebble)

Renaissance Wax

1. Dab on the paint lightly, wipe the excess with a tissue.  You can wait for this coat to dry or dab on another one for a mixed paint effect.

2. Stamp with StazOn ink pad and rubber stamp.

3. After the pendant is completely dry, use a tissue to wipe on a thin coat of wax.  Let dry completely.  If you don't have wax you could use Matte Spray.

This example was domed first with a dapping block and punch.  Use an unmounted rubber stamp for domed pieces.

You can use domed pieces turned over as a bezel cup for trinkets and resin. 
1. Paint.  2. Stamp. 3. Add resin, 1/2 way.  Cure.  4. Add trinkets and more resin.  Cure again.


Part 1. Here is the link, in case you can't see the video.


Part 2. And the link.

Pendant Project: Woodland Pendant

On the 2011 Bead Cruise we are hosting a Handmade Pendant Exchange.  I'm looking forward to seeing the pendants our group creates!  Until the cruise I will share a different pendant project each week to help inspire our participants. 

An eclectic charm pendant that features a hammered brass ring and art beads is a fun way to use one-of-kind beads from your stash.  This one features a ceramic leaf from Every Heart Crafts, a disk bead from Humblebeads and a silver hummingbird charm from Hint.  Brass components are from Vintaj.

To view the step by step instructions click here.