Guest blog - Imperial Palace necklace

This is Quiet Lion Creations’ “Imperial Palace necklace”. A very colourful design by Allison Cooling. The necklace was made using jade beads, rhinestones and other materials from the Beadmixer. The tutorial contains lots of detailed pictures.

Used supplies from our shop:

Connector setting antique gold for chaton rhinestone 8 mm Z064B

Jade beads round light green 8 mm JD-R005A

Rhinestone glass large pear ruby red 25x18 mm PNS-P011G

Rhinestone glass pear red 14x10 mm PNS-P012G

Brass setting with 1 loop for pear rhinestone 25x18 mm KLZ-P007A

Brass setting with 1 loop for pear rhinestone 14x10 mm KLZ-P006A

Simili chaton rhinestone crystal 8 mm PNS-R008D

Coral Twigs Aqua Blue 9 mm KR-T007

Faux coral drop bead with floral decoration red 36x13 mm KSK-DR003

Prong setting with 1 loop for pear rhinestone brass 10x6 mm KLZ-P002A

Simili chaton rhinestone aquamarine blue 8 mm PNS-R008H

Spring garden necklace

This week a very elaborate tutorial in which I will demonstrate how to make these colorful Spring Garden necklaces. The design of the necklace is based on flower beads fitted into small settings. I have made two different varieties, so you see it's easy to give the necklace your own personal twist.

What do you need for one necklace?

• 13 flower beads. We have two different series of flower beads which are flat at the back and which can be fitted into small 12 mm settings. These are the flower beads (the code of this series always starts with KSK-BL086) and these are the rose beads (the code of this series always starts with KSK-BL088). Both types of beads are available in a wide array of colors.
• 13 round lace edge settings size 12 mm.
• Jump rings in a golden color, size 6 mm. You will need 16 rings in total for this necklace.
• Rolo chain in gold tone. You will need 25 cm at most, perhaps less, depending on the length you want your necklace to be.
• A clasp in a golden color.
• E6000 glue.

How do you proceed?
1. Fold down two eyelets of each of the 13 lace edge settings. Make sure there are three eyelets in between the ones that are folded down to get the best result.

2. Connect the 13 lace edge settings to each other by using the jump rings. Make sure you close up the rings properly. Now you have the basis for your Spring Garden necklace.

3. Cut off two pieces of the rolo chain. I have used two sections of 12 cm, but perhaps you want to make the necklace a bit shorter, in which case 10 cm will suffice. Connect the sections of chain to both sides of the necklace and attach the clasp.

4. Select the colors of the flowers!

5. Apply a dollop of glue in each setting. Also apply a bit of extra glue onto the back of the bead, and place the beads into the settings one by one.
You will notice that it will appear as if the beads are situated too close to each other, but I assure you this won't be the case once the necklace is finished and you are wearing it.

6. Gently apply a bit of pressure onto the beads to make sure they are indeed firmly attached to the settings. Allow the necklace to dry for a couple of hours before wearing it.

7. Your Spring Garden necklace is finished. Have fun with this design!

These flower beads were used: KSK-BL088E, KSK-BL088C, KSK-BL088F, KSK-BL088B, KSK-BL088G

These flower beads were used: KSK-BL086H, KSK-BL086M, KSK-BL086L, KSK-BL086K, KSK-BL086A, KSK-BL086C, KSK-BL086E

Combinaties

Hook clasp antique gold 24x11 mm SL010C

Jump rings gold 6 mm OR-G005

Acrylic bead rose peach orange 19 mm KSK-BL088B

Acrylic flower bead ocre yellow 20 mm KSK-BL086A

Chain gold link of 3,5 mm K015

Lace edge setting raw brass round for cabochon 12 mm Z043

Drop earrings with golden bowties

I've wanted to work with these goldstone drops for quite a while. The combination of the goldstone with the different colours of the beads really is a beautiful sight. The crystal rhinestones bring out the colours of the drops, and the cute little bowtie is the cherry on top!

What do you need for one pair of earrings?

• Novelty faux gemstone beads, two pieces. These beads can be purchased in four different colours: ruby red, malachite green, lapis blue, and a mix of these colours.
• Octagon rhinestones, 14x10 mm, two pieces.
• Prong settings with two eyelets for 14x10 mm octagons, two pieces.
• Beadcaps for the drop beads.
• Headpins gold tone, 50 mm.
• Bowties in gold tone.
• Earhooks.

How do you proceed?
The earrings consist of three parts: the pendant with the drop, the connector with the rhinestone, and the earhook.

Use a pair of nose pliers to place the octagon rhinestone into the prong setting. Put your thumb on the rhinestone to keep it in place, and fold the prongs down to secure the stone in the setting. To prevent the stone from slipping, it might help to begin by folding down the clasps that are situated opposite one another.

You won't need any glue to keep the stone in its place once you have folded down all the prongs.

Place the drop onto the headpin and add a beadcap on top. You can bend the cap to make it fit more neatly if necessary. Cut off the headpin, but make sure you leave enough material to fashion an eyelet. Do not completely close up the eyelet.

Attach the eyelet of the drop to the prong setting and close up the eyelet.

Fold down the eyelet of the earhook. Make sure you attach the prong setting before adding the bowtie; the bowtie needs to be in front of the rhinestone. Now close up the eyelet of the earhook.
Your earrings are finished!

Combinaties

Brass setting with 2 eyes for octagon rhinestone 14x10 mm KLZ-OC005B

Metal pendants bowties gold 15x10 mm MH-ST002P

Headpin gold 50 mm NS-G003

Earring hooks brass OH009

Novelty faux gemstone drop goldstone lapis blue 30x10 mm FES-DR003D

Novelty faux gemstone drop goldstone malachite green 30x10 mm FES-DR003C

Novelty faux gemstone drop goldstone ruby pink 30x10 mm FES-DR003B

Beadcaps raw brass 6x5 mm KK035