10 minute Hoop Earring DIY

Sometimes I get a hankerin’ (yes, I said hankerin’) to do a quick craft that’s fun and easy, but doesn’t require me to break out all my supplies.  That’s when I break out my little bead box and tools and go to town!  You can knock out 6-8 pairs of these earrings in an hour and for me, it’s such a huge accomplishment!  I love that I can have so many polished and professional pairs I can give as gifts or sell in no time at all.  Also, these are really pretty earrings almost everyone loves and the hoops aren’t super large, so they appeal to most tastes!

All you need to make these stunners is a handful of seed beads, some medium-sized middle accent beads, round earwires you can pick up in the finding section at the craft store, and some earwires. Oh, and a set of roundnose jewelry pliers.

Simply slide on the beads in your favorite patterns or colors. I personally like an accent bead in the middle.

Now bend the end of the earwire into a hook and feed it through the loop at the end.

Tightly secure the hook around the loop.

Now open the loop of the earwire and feed through the hoop loop and fasten.

That’s it! So easy peasy and fun and they look great on!

Here’s a few more colorations and designs I made last night!  This is a great girls night activity or new project for beginning jewelry artists or older kids.  Just make sure to get beads that will easily go on the loops.  Larger-sized beads may not fit around the hoop!

Ok, off to make some more!  Not really, this gal needs her sleep!

Until next time Swellions!

Alexa

Pin It

Make your own Photo Cuff Bracelets

photo cuff bracelets

Looking for a quick, personal craft this holiday season to make that is also really super cool? Create a one-of-a-kind photo bracelet for that special someone using photos of images they love or of photos of people they love! The above photo was taken by my friend Chris. He actually came over last year and we crafted up a few for him to wear. I think he dug making them and it only took an hour or two! Also, check out this bevy of bracelets my Flickr friend Paul made last year inspired by my idea!

Here’s us wearing our finished creation (man, my hands are starting to look old, aww man!):

wearing the photo cuff bracelets

Here’s how you make ’em!

Supplies:

– Felt in desired color
– Images (have a theme or use random images)
– Fuseable iron-on inkjet transfer
– Iron
– Wax paper
– Computer with imaging software (I used Photoshop)
– Inkjet printer
– Sewing machine
– Button or fastener of choice (you can also use velcro or sew on snaps)
– Needle and thread
– Scissors or fabric rotary cutting tool
– Cutting mat with measurements

Instructions:

1. Cut out a piece of felt fabric approximately 9″ long by 1.75 tall. 9″ is the average width of most wrists, but may need to be sized differently depending on wrist size.

2. In your imaging program, open up several images that you want to make your photo collage. In mine, I chose to use neon signage. Create a document that is 8″ long by 1.25″ tall. Copy and paste your images into this new document sizing them down to be 1.25″ tall and arrange next to each other. Move images around until you are satisfied with colors and placement of each.

Optional idea: Use Big Huge Labs mosaic maker like my friend Chris did. You may have to scale or enlarge it to fit in Photoshop.

3. Using printing specifications, print out onto fusable iron-on inkjet material (you may actually want to create several bracelets up on a sheet so that you get more bang for your buck). Cut out carefully around image.

4. Heat iron on low setting. On ironing board or hard surface, lay inkjet transfer iron-on (image side facing up) onto felt. Lay wax paper over both materials and fuse iron-on onto felt. It should only take a few seconds.

5. For my design, I went around the actual image using a special stitch on my sewing machine, but this is optional. I just thought it gave it a more finished look. Also, if you want and have the know how and are doing a button closure, create a button hole slightly smaller than your button that you have chosen for a closure.

6. Position cuff around wrist and hand sew on button (make sure to wrap cuff around beforehand so that you know where button should be positioned so that it is most comfortable on your arm). Make sure to tightly loop thread around button several times when sewing to hold securely in place.

Here’s a detail of one I did featuring various neon sign photos I took:
photo cuff bracelet

If you end up making this project, please shoot over a picture to me. I’d love to see what you create!

Until next time Swellions!

Super easy polka dot treat cups

Favorable

Halloween décor and party favors shouldn’t break the bank! I’m always scoping out ways to create quick easy crafts on the cheap and I did just that with this project. These would be perfect for party favors or handing out candy to kids at school or trick or treaters. Also, this is an idea you can take into other seasons as well! Choose red silo cups for Christmas or yellow ones for little Easter favor baskets! Fun and simple!

Super Easy polka dot treat cups

Supplies:
– Silo cups
– Americana Acrylic paint in color of choice
– hole punch
– pipe cleaners in colors of your choice
– tulle in color of choice
– pouncer brush
– paint palette or paper plate

Instructions:
1. Load pouncer brush with paint and dab off excess onto plate or paper towel. Pounce dots all over cups randomly. Let dry.
2. Pounce two holes on opposite sides with hole punch. Insert pipe cleaner through holes and twist to for a secure handle.
3. Wrap small strip of tulle in a bow or knot at top of pipe cleaner.
4. Fill with candy or treats and delight your ghouls and goblins!

Check back tomorrow for the final Terrorific Tuesday roundup! I hope you’ve enjoyed all these little roundups. It’s been a lot of work, but very fun and everyone who has participated seems to have really enjoyed doing it!

Have a happy Monday!

Alexa