Pretty & Simple Earrings

Last time I posted about my new adventures in jewelry making and while I posted one pair of earrings I had actually made two.  I have since worn these blue ombre earrings a few times and received comments on how nice they look.  They were so easy to make I've actually considered making another pair that look a little more finished.  While I love these, there is always room for improvement!

Stringing beads and adding a loop

Adding the jump rings and hooks

Finished Blue Ombre Earrings

These dangle about 2.5 inches and make the perfect color pop under my short hair.  Funny how these earrings with their blue ocean colors, match a majority of my wardrobe.  I suppose that comes with the territory of being a ginger...

Since they were such a hit, I decided to make another pair similar to my first. I’ve also been open to wearing Gold again.  Yes, I know that it looks great on me because of my hair and my skin tone but sometimes I just like to go against the grain and only wear silver, for 15 years.  I like the reintroduction of gold into my wardrobe.  It makes me feel fancy. 

Amber Ombre Earrings

These ended up almost exactly two inches in length

Make sure to check back in the next few weeks when I travel 8,000+ miles across the world for work, to train our India team.  I’ll be taking lots of pictures and blogging when possible to share my adventure with all of you.  Until then, any international travel advice is welcome!

Creatively yours,

Melissa

Saturday Afternoon Jewelry Making

I’m a creative and crafty person.  Always have been, always will be.  Somehow I missed Etsy completely until a few months ago (I’m pretty sure I was living under a rock.)  Finding Etsy made my heart whole and immediately inspired more creativity.  After spending nearly as much time on Etsy as I had on Pinterest, I decided to start creating to let others enjoy as well.

After scouring websites and my local Michael’s I’ve finally ended up with enough tools to give me a rough start into my jewelry making adventure.  I begged Tony to go to Ikea with me last night so I could buy (and he could put together) all the items for my new workspace.  I am very pleased with my purchases.  And a special thanks to Mom & Dad for the holiday cash so I could purchase my new workspace! 

I’m starting with some hand stamping unfortunately all the metal blanks I’ve purchased aren’t quite the quality I want to sell.  Nonetheless it’s fun to get the experience of stamping; how many strikes it takes to get the right depth, how to not get tool marks on everything I use, etc.

Centering the letters on the stamping disk. 

Stamped "famliy" and Tree. 

Use a sharpie to darken the stamped area. 

Wipe clean with a soft cloth.  Viva paper towels worked really well.  

Punch a hole in the top to attach a jump ring for a necklace. 

After stamping and running my pets out of the room with all the hammering (sorry, Stella & Chloe) I decided to start wire wrapping some pretty beads I found at Michael’s.  I was rather pleased with the results.

Put those metal stamps away and get out the tiny beads and tools and hope nothing rolls onto the berber carpet. 

This lighting doesn't show all the colors.  I was surprised how easy this was. 

Two is better than one, right!?!

Add some pre-made kidney hooks and ta-da!

Sparkly, wire wrapped earrings. 

Can you tell I’m practicing my camera work for my pending Etsy shop?  (More on the pending shop in upcoming posts.)  Come back soon to see what else I’m creating. 

Creatively yours,

Melissa (yes, I'm a Ginger)