Diamond Jubilee

Who knew forgotten earrings and mismatched buttons could make such a glamorous opera necklace?

YOU'LL NEED

Flea Market Finds

Pearls, 8 mm, 21.

Vintage rhinestone and crystal clip-on earrings, 18.

Gold and silver metal shank buttons, 18.

Materials

Silver-plated filigree findings, round, 15 mm, 9.

Silver-plated filigree findings, round, 22 mm, 9.

Silver-plated wire, 24 gauge, 84".

Clear crystal bicone beads, 4 mm, 42.

Crystazzi crystal floral clasp, silver, 12 mm, 1.

Tools & Supplies

Wire cutters.

Round-nosed pliers.

Chain-nosed pliers or wire straightener.

Beacon Adhesives Quick Grip glue.

WHAT TO DO

1. If your filigree findings have a curved surface, flatten them with the wire straightener or chain-nosed pliers. Using the wire cutters, snip the shanks and clips off the backs of the buttons and earrings.

2. Cut a 4" piece of silver-plated wire and feed it through one end of the clasp. Secure with a wrapped loop. Slide one crystal bicone, a pearl, and another crystal bicone onto the wire. Feed the end of the wire through a hole in a small filigree finding and secure with a wrapped loop.

3. Use the same technique to make a bicone and pearl component to connect the small filigree finding to a large one. Continue in this fashion alternating between large and small filigree findings until you have 9 large and 9 small connected by bicone and pearl components.

4. After the last filigree finding, use a bicone and pearl component to connect the necklace to the other end of the clasp.

5. Cover your work surface with newspaper and stretch the necklace out on the paper. Before you start gluing, lay out the earrings and buttons in the order you want them on your necklace. Keep in mind you will use two for each finding, one for the front and one for the back. Use the larger findings for the larger earrings and buttons.

6. Glue the earrings and buttons to the findings using Quick Grip. It is helpful to glue both sides of the filigree finding at the same time, sandwiching the finding between an earring and a button. Let dry. Now put on your little black dress and take your glitzy revamp out for a night on the town!

Bijou Bonanza: Look for grab bags of broken jewelry at the flea market. For just a few dollars you can get all the earrings for this project and some inspiration for your next!

Fashionista Flip-Flops

Wanna hit the beach in high style? Then gather the girls together for a night of sparkling Swarovskis and trendy flip-flops!

YOU'LL NEED
Flip-flops, turquoise.
Swarovski Flat Back rhinestones, Hyacinth Orange, 2.6mm, 86.
Swarovski Flat Back rhinestones, Light Topaz, 2.6mm, 96.
Beacon Adhesives Flip-Flop glue.
Sticky putty or clay, pea-sized ball.
Toothpick.

WHAT TO DO
1. Stick a pea-sized ball of putty on the end of the toothpick to create a tool for picking up the rhinestones.

2. Using the pick-up tool, tap the glitzy side of a Hyacinth Orange rhinestone and pick it up. Place a drop of flip-flop glue on the back of the rhinestone, then center the rhinestone on the point of the flip-flop thong. Surround the orange rhinestone with 6 Light Topaz rhinestones to create a flower.

3. Repeat the process to create a flower on each side of the first one, but use the Light Topaz for the center and the Hyacinth Orange for the petals.

4. Continue on, alternating the colors of the flowers, until you have 6 flowers on each strap.

5. Repeat steps 2-4 to embellish the second flip-flop.

Beachy Brights: Flip-flops come in dozens of colors, so try these crystal combos for a little bit of fun.

• Orange flip-flops: blue & lime rhinestones
• Yellow flip-flops: fuchsia & orange rhinestones
• Fuchsia flip-flops: lime & yellow rhinestones
• Red flip-flops: blue & yellow rhinestones
• Lime flip-flops: fuchsia & red rhinestones

Ephemeral Beauty Brooch

Flea market treasures, like a tiny elephant charm, make this brooch unforgettable.

YOU'LL NEED

Materials

Wooden craft circle, 1" to 2" diameter.

Silver-plated wire, 20 gauge.

Silver-plated jump ring.

Swarovski flatback rhinestones.

Pin back.

From The Flea Market

Old maps.

Watch faces.

Postage stamps.

Pages from a book.

Buttons.

Snaps.

Small springs.

Broken rhinestone necklaces.

Flat charms.

Plastic animal charms.

Tools & Supplies

Wire cutters.

Round-nose pliers.

Chain-nose pliers.

Jeweler's bench block.

Hammer.

Hole punch pliers.

Amazing Goop contact adhesive.

WHAT TO DO

1. To make a background for your brooch, find an interesting section of a map and cut out a circle using the wooden craft circle as a template. Glue the map piece to the wooden craft circle with Amazing Goop.

2. Use the wire cutters to snip off any metal pegs from the back of a large watch face. Glue a postage stamp to the watch face so it sits slightly off-center.

3. Glue a button to the large watch face. If your button has a shank on the back, snip it off with the wire cutters. Center a flat charm on top of the button and glue it into place.

4. Use the wire cutters to cut off any metal pegs from the back of a small watch face and glue it on the large watch face. Glue a rhinestone in the center of the small watch face.

5. Using the hole punch pliers, punch a hole at the bottom of the large watch face (ours already had one there). Take a snap apart and flatten the socket side of the snap using a hammer and a jeweler's bench block. Glue it over the hole you just made in the large watch face.

6. Create a wrapped-loop link with the silver-plated wire by forming a simple loop with the round-nose pliers ½" from the end. Wrap the tail twice around the base of the loop. Trim the end with the wire cutters. Feed the straight end of the wire through the hole in the snap and large watch face. Then finish the link with a second wrapped loop.

7. Open a jump ring with the chain-nose pliers, and use it to attach an animal charm to the bottom loop of the wrapped-loop link.

8. Glue a small spring just below the snap on the large watch face. Scan a book page for a three-word phrase you like and cut it out, leaving 1" above and below the phrase. Roll the top and bottom edges of the clipping back like a scroll with the phrase facing out, then slide it into the spring. 

9. Glue the embellished watch face to the bottom center of the wooden craft circle.

10. Wrap a broken rhinestone necklace around the edge of the brooch with the rhinestones facing up. Use the wire cutters to snip the necklace to fit, then glue it into place.

11. Glue the pin back to the reverse side of the brooch a little above the center.

Hammer Time: Don't have a jeweler's bench block? You can hammer on a brick instead.

Magic Touch: To give your brooch a glossy finish, coat it with Lisa Pavelka's Magic-Glos. It's a pour-on resin that cures in the sunlight in just five minutes! (Remove the paper scroll from the spring first, so it doesn't get wet.)

Bedazzled Jean Jacket

Turn a blue jean jacket into a mighty-fine one-of-a-kind with rubber stamps, acrylic paint, and rhinestones galore!

YOU'LL NEED:
Blue jean jacket
Rubberstamp alphabet
Heart stamps in 3 sizes
Acrylic paints: red, lime, and yellow
Red rhinestones, 8mm, approximately 150
Gold rhinestones, 8mm, approximately 45
Gold rhinestones, 6mm, approximately 60
Blue rhinestones, 6mm, 20
Clear rhinestones, 6mm, 18
Tacky craft glue
Paper plates
Cardboard
Cups
Foam brushes
Tarp

WHAT TO DO:
Step One
Lay out your blue jean jacket on a tarp with the back facing up. Place a piece of cardboard underneath the jacket in case the paint bleeds through.

Step Two
Squeeze the lime acrylic paint onto a paper plate, dampen a foam brush, and carefully dab the paint onto the largest heart rubberstamp. Stamp the heart in the center of the jacket and let dry. Use the same technique to stamp the medium-sized heart in yellow and the smallest heart in red. Be sure to let the paint dry completely before stamping the next image.

Step Three
Dab the red paint onto the letter "A" and stamp it above the center of the heart. Then dab and stamp the rest of the letters on either side of the "A" to spell out H-E-A-R-T. Repeat to stamp the word B-R-E-A-K-E-R underneath the heart.

Step Four
When all the paint is dry, apply the red rhinestones to the letters with little dabs of tacky craft glue. (The glue will dry clear.) Then embellish the concentric hearts by outlining the lime heart with the 8mm gold rhinestones, the yellow heart with the 6mm gold rhinestones, and the red heart with the rest of the red rhinestones. For extra bling, outline the outside edge of the lime heart with the blue rhinestones, and finish it off with a scattering of clear rhinestones.

Sharp Shooter: It's no fun watching paint dry, so use a blow dryer to speed up the drying process.

Barefoot Sandals

Check out our cute "Barefoot Sandals" in this week's Woman's World Magazine!

Shelltastic Beach Tote

Glam up a canvas tote with shell stamps and rhinestones and hit the sand in style!

YOU'LL NEED
Loew-Cornell "Totally You" small canvas tote, 11"x9".
Plaid "Simply" large foam stamp, Clamshell.
Plaid "Simply" double-sided foam mini stamp set, Sea Adventure: clamshell, starfish, seahorse.
Plaid "Simply" double-sided foam stamps, Fancy Alphabet.
Rubberstamp, scroll, 3½".
Jacquard Textile Color fabric paint, Turquoise.
Jacquard Lumiere fabric paint, Pearl Turquoise.
Swarovski Flat Back rhinestones, Crystal, 5mm, 5.
G-S Hypo cement.
Light aqua 2" satin ribbon, 12" length.
Sponge paintbrush.


WHAT TO DO
1. Slide a piece of cardboard inside the canvas bag so you have a nice flat surface to stamp on. Using the sponge paintbrush, dab the Turquoise fabric paint onto the clamshell stamp. Stamp the shell in the center of the canvas bag.


2. Using the same technique and color, stamp a scroll on either side of the clamshell. Then stamp a seahorse and a starfish on the right side of the clamshell. Repeat for the left side, turning the seahorse upside-down.


3. Use the Pearl Turquoise fabric paint to re-stamp the clamshell creating a pearly sheen. To make the design washable, let the paint dry, turn the tote inside out, and iron on the cotton setting for 30 seconds.


4. Attach the Crystal rhinestones along the bottom edge of the clamshell using the G-S Hypo cement.


5. Using the Turquoise paint, stamp the first initial of the kit recipient onto the end of the aqua ribbon. Let dry.


6. Tie the ribbon onto one of the handles with the monogram facing out.

Glitzy Lovebird Purse

Give a simple box a birdacious makeover with fancy stamps, copper leaf, and a whole lotta bling.

YOU'LL NEED
Materials
Unfinished wood box with hinged lid and clasp, 7½"x4¼"x4".
Brass handle clamps, 1¼", 2.
Brass D-rings, 5/8", 2.
Prickley Pear Flourished bird stamp (AddictedToRubberStamps.com).
Simply Stamps Garden Leaf foam stamp, 4"x4" (Plaid).
Simply Stamps double-sided foam alphabet stamps, Classic Alphabet (Plaid).
Folk Art acrylic paint, 2 fl. oz. each: Yellow Ochre, Apple Orchard, Cayman Blue.
Gold leaf liquid adhesive, 2 oz.
Copper leaf, 5½"x5½", 1 sheet.
Wooden doll head knobs, ¾", 4.
Oval rhinestones, turquoise and green mixed, 7.
Round rhinestones, copper, 38.
Round rhinestone, pink, 1.
Scrapbook paper, 8½"x11", magenta, 1.
Scrapbook paper, 8½"x11", purple, 1.
Mod Podge Gloss-Lustre, 4 oz.
Lime satin ribbon, 1¼" wide, 20" length.

Tools & Supplies
Foam paintbrush.
Small craft paintbrush.
Paper plate.
GOOP adhesive.
Fine sandpaper.
Mini screwdriver.

WHAT TO DO
1. Sand the edges and surfaces of the unfinished wooden box until smooth to the touch. Wipe clean. Squeeze a nickel-sized dollop of Yellow Ochre acrylic paint onto the paper plate. Thin the paint with about 2 tablespoons of water to create a wash. Apply the Yellow Ochre wash to all the outside surfaces of the wooden purse with the foam paintbrush. Let dry.

2. Dab the Apple Orchard green paint onto the leaf stamp using the foam paintbrush. Stamp the leaf image onto the purple paper and let dry. Cut out the leaf image leaving a 1/8" border of purple paper showing around the green leaves.

3. Dab the Cayman Blue paint onto the bird stamp using the foam paintbrush. Be careful not to get paint into the grooves. Stamp the bird image onto the magenta paper and let dry. Cut out the bird image leaving a 1/8" border of magenta paper showing around the bird.

4. To create the copper leafed letters that spell out L-O-V-E, dab the gold leaf adhesive onto each letter stamp, then stamp onto the magenta paper. Let dry for 15 minutes. Apply the sheet of copper leaf onto the stamped letters, then brush away the excess leaf with a dry craft paintbrush. Cut out each letter leaving no border.

5. To copper leaf the feet for the purse, set each doll head knob flat side down and use the foam paintbrush to paint the rounded surface with the gold leaf adhesive. Let dry for 15 minutes. Apply the copper leaf to the knobs, then brush away the excess leaf with a dry craft paintbrush.

6. Before you decorate the front of the purse, be sure to orient the box so the clasp will wind up on top and the hinges on the bottom. Paint the front of the box with a layer of Mod Podge. While the Mod Podge is still wet, press the leaf cutout onto the box. Add a layer of Mod Podge onto the top of the cutout and smooth down with your finger. Use the same technique to apply the L-O-V-E letters onto the front of the box. Then apply the cutout bird image and let dry.

7. Using the Goop adhesive, glue the four copper-leafed knob feet to the bottom four corners of the box. Let dry.

8. Open the box and coat the entire outside surface including the knob feet with a layer of Mod Podge. Be sure to leave the box open until it dries completely so it doesn't stick together. When dry, give it a second coat.

9. Glue the oval rhinestones onto the center of each leaf using the Goop adhesive. Glue the copper rhinestones onto the L-O-V-E letters. Then glue the pink rhinestone onto the bird's face to give him a sparkly eye.

1o. To create a handle for the box, slide the D-rings onto the handle clamps, then screw the clamps onto the top of the purse. Be sure to center the clamps front to back. Tie the ends of the lime satin ribbon to the D-rings and trim the ends.

Get Personal: Make this a personalized gift by stamping the recipient's name instead of the word LOVE.

Finishing School: For a fancy finishing touch, line the inside of the purse with adhesive felt. Simply cut pieces to fit, peel off the backing, and press into place.

Sew A Sweet Purse For Spring

Here's a fun little pocketbook to make for spring. It appeared in Crafts 'n Things.

Pretty Petite Purse

Make a mini cocktail purse perfect for a night out on the town.

YOU'LL NEED

Fabrics & Embellishments
Cotton fabric: floral, ¼ yd.
Cotton fabric: polka dot, ¼ yd.
Pellon Fusible Interfacing, ¼ yd.
Patterned red ribbon, 7/8", 60".
Gold rings, 1¼", two.
Ornate button, gold with shank, 1½".
Sew-on snap, ½" size.

Tools & Supplies
Iron & ironing board.
Pressing cloth.
Sewing needle.
Sewing machine & matching threads.

What to Do
Step 1
Place the rough side of the fusible interfacing to the wrong side of the floral fabric, cover with a damp pressing cloth, and steam the pieces together for 15 seconds.

Step 2
Cut two 7½" x 7¾" rectangles from the floral fabric and two from the polka dot fabric. Cut the 7½" sides of each rectangle so they angle inward and the top of the rectangle measures 6" and the bottom measures 7¾".

Step 3
Cut a curve into the top edge (6" side) of each piece of fabric so the center of the arc is 1" below the top. (Cut one to use as a pattern so all the curves match.)

Step 4
Place a floral and a polka dot piece together, good sides facing in. Machine sew just the curved edge using a straight stitch with a ¼" seam allowance. Repeat for the other pieces of fabric.

Step 5
Open the two pieces of fabric and place together, good sides facing in, making sure the floral fabric faces the floral fabric and the polka dot faces the polka dot. Pin all the way around the edges. Machine stitch the pieces together using a straight stitch with a ¼" seam allowance. Leave a 2" opening in the side of the polka dot fabric.

Step 6
Create "boxed corners" by pulling the fabric at one corner apart and creating a triangle with the seam line down the center. Measure 1" from the point of the triangle along the seam line and mark a straight line perpendicular to the seam. Machine stitch along this straight line. Repeat for all 4 corners.

Step 7
Turn the piece right side out. Hand sew the opening closed. Stuff the polka dot end inside the floral end to form the purse lining.

Step 8
Cut the red ribbon into two 23" lengths and machine sew together with the good sides facing out. Then cut and sew two 11" lengths of ribbon together in the same way. Center the longer ribbon on the bottom of the purse and pin it to the bottom and sides. Hand sew the ribbon into place being careful not to sew into the lining.

Step 9
Fold the end of the ribbon over 1/8" and feed it through one of the gold rings toward the inside of the purse. Pin the folded end of the ribbon to itself below the ring. Machine stitch to secure. Repeat for the other side. Attach the 11" ribbon handle to the gold rings in the same way.

Step 10
Sew the snap to the inside of the purse ½" from the top edge, being careful not to sew through to the outside fabric. Sew the glitzy button to the outside front of the purse over the snap.

Hit The Beach!

It's summer time and the living is easy. Easy as a no-sew towel tote! Check out our cute canvas beach bag in this week's issue of Woman's World magazine. On newsstands now!