Cameo statement earrings

The moment I saw these resin pendants I knew what I wanted to make with them.

DIY cabochons vintage birds

These colourful earrings were made using transparent glas cabochons and a vintage bird collage sheet.

Vintage cameo necklace

This vintage cameo necklace will take about an hour to assemble.
I have used a true vintage cameo and combined it with a contemporary peony and a wee bowknot. The natural Dalmation jasper beads give it that lovely Shabby Chic appeal.
This is an asymmetrical design, placing the cameos on the side. The jasper beads are linked to the cameos. The last bead is placed at the same height as the white bowknot, creating a sense of balance in the design. The bowknot will be placed somewhere around your collar-bone.

What do you need for one necklace?

• Vintage cameo size 25x18 mm.
• Round cameo with peony size 18 mm.
• Lace edge settings, one oval and one round.
• Bowknot connector.
• Dalmation jasper beads, 10 pieces, round, size 10 mm.
• Eyepins size 30 mm.
• Chain bronze colour.
• 4 mm jumprings. I would have preferred to have used bronze jumprings, but I didn't have them at the moment. So I chose antique copper instead. You'll hardly notice the difference in colour with a jumpring this size.
• Glue I used regular Hasulith jewelry glue for the cameos.

How do you proceed?
1. Start by linking the jasper beads with the eyepins. These 3 steps will help you get the best result for equally sized links:
1.1 Place the jasper bead on the eyepin. Place an 8 mm bead on top of this, on the photo above it's a black glass pearl.
1.2 Cut the eyepin above the glass pearl. Remove the glass pearl. Now you have a section of exactly 8 mm with which to form a loop. This way, you will always have the same length for each and every link.
1.3 Form a loop with a round nosed plier.
If you prefer somewhat larger loops, use a 9 or 10 mm bead.

2. Connect the jasper beads one by one. Don't close up the loop until you have attached the previous bead. Try to align the loops, the result will be a smooth chain.

3. Now take the two lace edge settings. Open up a section of the edge at the top and bottom. Connect the settings with a jumpring. Do not glue in the camoes just yet!

4. Attach the white bowknot above the round setting using a jumpring. Connect the strand of jasper beads beneath the oval setting using a jumpring.

5. Cut off two equally long pieces of necklace chain. I have used two sections of 15 cm (about 6 inches) but perhaps you will require a different length. Place one section above the white bowknot, and connect the other section to the Dalmation jasper beads.

6. Attach a clasp to the two sections of chain material. I myself being right-handed, prefer to place the bar of the clasp on the right side, above the cameo.

7. All that's left now is to glue in the cameos. Leave to dry for an hour or so and enjoy you necklace!

Combinaties

Hasulith Glue 31 ml L001

Jump rings copper 4 mm OR-K001

Chain Bronze Luxurious Link 6,5x2,5 mm K005

Eyepin bronze 50 mm KS-B003

Bowtie metal pendant connector white 12x8 mm MH-ST003K

Lace edge setting bronze oval for cabochon 25x18 mm Z041

Setting lace edge antique bronze for cabochon round 18 mm Z055

Round pink cameo with ivory peony 18 mm CABR109E

Vintage Cameo Girl with Ponytail 25x18 mm CAMV057

Toggle clasp bronze 15 mm SL008C

Japanese rose earrings

These shabby chic earrings are the result of a surprising mix of materials. The vintage Japanese cabochon with a colourful bouquet of roses is this piece's eye catcher. Although these cabochons are quite old, the colours are still surprisingly bright; reminiscent of a vintage set of china. The cabochons are fastened onto a gold-coloured pendant and embellished with small, blue pearl cabochons. Finally, the icing on the cake is provided by vintage pink Chech navette rhinestones which are added to the earrings.
What do you need

• 2 Vintage Japanese glass cabochons
• 2 Round filigree pendants
• Blue pearl cabochons, 3mm
• 6 Vintage pink navette rhinestones, 15x4 mm
• 6 Prong settings for navette rhinestone, 15x4 mm
• E6000 glue for the Japanese cabochon and rhinestone glue for the small pearl cabochons
• 6 Gold-coloured open rings, 4 mm
• A pair of gold-coloured earring hooks

How do you proceed?
Step 1 Place the vintage rose cabochon in the center of the pendant. Use E6000 or Hasulith glue to glue the cabochon onto the pendant. I have used E6000 glue rather than rhinestone glue because I don't think the rhinestone glue will be strong enough to keep the cabochon secured. Wait a while to allow the glue to dry.

Step 2 Place the navette rhinestones into the prong settings.

Step 3 Apply the rhinestone glue around the cabochon so you can place the small blue cabochons around it. In this case I have opted for the rhinestone glue because it is more liquid than the E6000 or Hasulith glue, and because it has a very handy applicator. Neatly, glue the small pearl cabochons around the rose cabochon. If necessary you can use a headpin or an eyepin to push the small cabochons into position.

Step 4 Once the glue has had some time to dry, attach the ear hooks to the top of the pendant and the settings to the bottom.

Combinaties

Vintage rhinestone navette Rose 15x4 mm PNS-NV015

Prong setting with 1 loop for navette rhinestone brass 15x4 mm KLZ-NV002A

Rhinestone glue 20 ml L003

Jump ring gold 4 mm OR-G001

Round filigree pendant gold 24x21 mm MH-R004

Vintage glass cabochon roses Japan 13,5 mm CAB132

Earring hooks flat model gold colour OH018C

Making earrings with vintage rhinestones

Recently we introduced a new line of materials for jewelry making: vintage rhinestones and brass prong settings. These rhinestones differ from cameos and cabochons in that they don't have a flat back for gluing, but they can be set in the matching prong settings. These settings have four metal points that can be folded over the rhinestones with a pair of flat nose pliers. Many of these rhinestones were made a long time ago in former Czechoslovakia. If you are familiar with Czech glass beads, you will know how radiant the colours are and that it is high quality glass. You can find rhinestones with and without foil on the back. The foil is used in the transparent stones to reflect light through the stone, making them sparkle even more. To give you some inspiration, here is a tutorial for some earrings made with vintage rhinestone

Materials for making vintage rhinestone earrings.

What do you need?

• Rhinestones
• Prong settings
• Earrings
• Jump rings for connecting the pieces
• A pair of flat nose pliers

Put the rhinestone in the prong setting and fold the metal points over the stone.

Tips on assembling the earrings

• The first time you try to close a prong setting might feel a bit clumsy.
• The easiest way is to put the stone in the open setting and hold them between the thumb and index finger of your left hand (if you are right handed). Holding a pair of flat nose pliers in your right hand, push/squeeze the metal prongs over the stones one by one.
• The earrings that were used here have an opening in their eyelet. You can fold this open so you don't need an extra ring to hang the setting from.

Attach the prong setting to the eyelet on the earring.

Combinaties

Gold earwire with fuchsia pink rhinestone OH013B

Jump ring gold 4 mm OR-G001

Vintage rhinestone ruby emerald green pear 10x6 mm PNS-P008

Vintage rhinestone navette opaque turquoise 15x7 mm PNS-NV008

Prong setting with 2 loops for pear rhinestone brass 8x5 mm KLZ-P001B

Prong setting with 1 loop for navette rhinestone brass 15x4 mm KLZ-NV002A

Prong setting with 2 loops for navette rhinestone brass 15x7 mm KLZ-NV001B

Gold earwire with cobalt blue rhinestone OH013C