by Mark Montano
2 Using E-6000 on a toothpick, start adding pearls, making sure not to add any in the center area where your large crystal will be set.
3 Set a crystal in the center of each triangle with a generous amount of E-6000 and let dry.
4 Flip your piece over and glue the clip-on earring blanks toward the top of the clip, with the opening of the earring clips facing toward the toe. Make sure to glue on the wavy side, not the flat disk side, as shown in photo d.
INNER TUBE TRIO
When I designed this trio, I thought of the beautiful summer jewelry that magazine stylists use in swimsuit photo shoots. I think these would look amazing worn when you’re walking down the street on your summer vacation with a terrific cover-up against your sun-kissed skin. Well, that’s how I picture it.
YOU’LL NEED
(FOR EACH NECKLACE)
1/4 yard of solid knit fabric
Scissors
3 to 4 inches of 1/2-inch-diameter clear plastic tubing
14 inches of medium chain
E-6000 glue
Hot glue gun and glue sticks
HERE’S HOW
1 Cut three 1-inch strips along the entire width of your fabric—that is, side to side, not lengthwise. (Most fabrics are 45 inches or 60 inches wide.)
2 Carefully braid the strips from top to bottom.
3 Cut the plastic tubing in 3-inch and 4-inch lengths.
4 Glue the chain around the plastic tubing with dabs of E-6000 glue, making sure to be neat and tidy, and let dry.
5 Slip the chain-wrapped tubing over the knit braid.
6 Glue together the ends of the braid with hot glue. I really like the way hot glue works with fabric. It makes a terrific bond.
7 Slip the tube over the hot-glued ends.
Hint:
If the tube slips, add a dab of hot glue inside the end of the tube to keep it in place.
LAUNDRY BAG
If you’re wondering why I call this the Laundry Bag, I’ll tell you. The decorative rope is laundry line and I got it at the dollar store. You can find it all over the place in different colors, and I thought it was just too good to pass up. The best part about it is that it’s nylon and it won’t lose its color. When I was growing up, my parents brought back a yarn tapestry from Mexico and the technique I used here is reminiscent of that very tapestry. (I wonder what happened to it?)
YOU’LL NEED
1 sturdy handbag in need of a makeover
Scissors
3 different colors of laundry rope (you could also use twine or heavy yarn)
Hot glue gun and glue sticks
40 medium and large flat-back acrylic gems
E-6000 glue
2 clothespins
HERE’S HOW
1 Cut the handles off the bag, leaving about 3 inches of each handle. You will need those pieces later to fold over and create a loop for your new handles.
2 Figure out a swirly design that you like. Or you could just go for it, like I did, and see what happens. Either way, it will look terrific.
3 Using your hot glue gun, start with a dot of glue in the center and work your way outward, gluing the laundry line into a spiral. Be careful with the glue, making sure to get it only under your swirls.
4 Figure out how big you want your adjoining swirl to be and start to glue that down with the hot glue, this time working your way to the center of the swirl.
5 Cut the end and tuck it into the center of the swirl.
6 Cover the centers of your swirls with gems.
7 Continue making swirls until the entire bag is covered, front and back.
8 For the handle, cut a piece of laundry line 18 inches long.
9 Fold the ends in evenly to create a 9-inch handle and glue the ends together as shown in photo e.
10 Take a long piece of laundry line and glue it to the end of the handle, leaving a 1-inch loop hanging out.
11 Hot-glue the rope around and around the folded piece of laundry line until you get to the end. Leave a 3-inch piece hanging. You will tuck that through the handbag loops later and secure it with E-6000.
12 Put the cut-off ends of your handbag straps through the loops on the ends of the new handles. Add a gob of E-6000, clamp with clothespins, and let dry.
13 Tuck the extra piece of laundry line inside the folded-over part of your handbag strap and secure with more E-6000.
Suggestion:
You can also use twine, yarn, or any type of rope for this project. Heck, try using all three!
ROPES AND CHAINS
These are two of the very first projects I made for this book, and I immediately fell in love with them. Something about using unexpected materials to create something beautiful just turns me on. There are all kinds of variations possible for this design, and I hope that if you make a different version, you’ll share it with me. I also hope you’ll love this project as much as I do.
YOU’LL NEED
FOR THE RED AND BLUE CUFF
Aluminum flashing
Tin shears or heavy-duty scissors with serrated blades
Scrap wood
Hot glue gun and glue sticks
E-6000 glue
2 feet of red laundry line, thick twine, or rope
6 inches of blue laundry line, thick twine, or rope
2 feet of silver-tone ball chain
Toothpicks
2-inch-wide flat, silver-tone metal cuff
Large silver-tone beads
FOR THE ORANGE AND GOLD CUFF
2-inch-wide flat, gold-tone metal cuff
2 feet of orange laundry line, rope, or thick twine
2 feet of gold-tone ball chain
HERE’S HOW
FOR THE RED AND BLUE CUFF
1 With tin shears or heavy-duty serrated scissors, cut a piece of aluminum flashing 3 inches by 3 inches. Draw a 21/2-inch-diameter circle on the piece of flashing and cut that out.
2 Alternating dabs of hot glue and E-6000, glue down an end of the blue laundry line in the center of the circle and wrap it in a spiral shape until you’ve created a circle with a 1-inch diameter.
3 Glue red laundry line around the blue, leaving about 1/4 inch of flashing around the edge of the circle.
4 With dabs of E-6000 on a toothpick, spread glue around the edge and carefully wrap your ball chain around the circle until you’ve reached the end of the flashing.
5 On each side of the cuff, glue and wrap the red laundry line in circles with the tail of the laundry line trailing toward the center of the cuff, but not all the way. You will need a flat surface in the center to glue your circle.
6 With dabs of E-6000 on a toothpick, spread glue around the edge of the red circles and surround them with more silver ball chain.
7 Glue your circle on top with E-6000 and let dry.
8 Glue silver balls in the center of the red side circles and the blue and red circle and let dry.
FOR THE ORANGE AND GOLD CUFF
1 Carefully glue three spiral circles onto your cuff using the orange rope. Make sure to tuck the ends under the wrapping so it looks neat. Use alternate dabs of hot glue and E-6000 to keep the rope in place.
2 Spread E-6000 around the edges of your orange circles with a toothpick, surround them with the gold tone ball chain twice, and let dry.
LITE-BRITES
Wow, I remember my Lite-Brite from when I was growing up. Okay, actually, I still have it and play with it from time to time, so you could argue that I haven’t officially grown up YET. Oh well. I digress . . . There is something rewarding about putting bright little objects in specific holes to create cool patterns. Though the colors in this bangle are random, I still got the same thrill I get when I play with my Lite-Brite. I think you will, too.
YOU’LL NEED
Plastic gutter guard
Scissors
E-6000 glue
Toothpicks
Plastic pony beads (createforless.com has an amazing selection, from iridescent to fluorescent)
2 large c
lothespins
HERE’S HOW
1 Measure and cut a piece of gutter guard 21/2 inches wide and as long as the circumference of your bangle, plus 11/2 inches. For example, if your bangles will be 8 inches around, cut the gutter guard 91/2 inches long.
2 Starting on one end of your gutter guard, use E-6000 on a toothpick, spread some glue in a row of holes, and fill with pony beads.
3 Continue until you have filled the grid, but make sure to leave 11/2 inches on one end of your gutter guard without beads. This will be your overlap and part of the bangle closure.
4 When the beads are in place and dry, add more E-6000 to the end of the gutter guard without beads and use clothespins to clamp the ends together until they dry. One end will fit into the other like a puzzle.
Note:
This bracelet is flexible because E-6000 is flexible.
TUBULAR SENSATION
This is perhaps the most glamorous of all my hardware creations, and I hope it sparks your creativity in many different ways. Plastic tubing is usually sold by the foot, and it can be made into all kinds of different things. I happen to like wrapping it, but you could even paint it and cut it into smaller beads. Just enjoy the sensation!
YOU’LL NEED
13 inches of 1/2-inch clear plastic tubing
Scissors
E-6000 glue
11/2 yards of crystal chain
70 inches of medium silver-tone chain
Needle-nose pliers (and wirecutters if the pliers don’t have them)
Lobster claw closure
3 silver-tone jump rings
HERE’S HOW
1 Cut your plastic tubing into three 3-inch sections and two 2-inch sections.
2 Dab E-6000 around the tubes. Wrap each of your 3-inch tubes with 1 foot of crystal chain, and wrap the 2-inch tubes with 10 inches of crystal chain. You can use less or more, depending on your style. Let dry.
3 Create a choker about 16 inches long by adding jump rings and a lobster claw at the ends for the closure.
4 String the two 2-inch crystal tubes onto the chain.
5 Between the 2-inch crystal tubes, add a jump ring with three pieces of 18-inch chain attached to it.
6 Add a 3-inch tube to each of the chains. Tie the ends of each chain in a knot. Keep knotting until the tube cannot slip over the knot and is held in place. Do this at three different levels.
TU-BE OR NOT TU-BE
This has a distinct rock ’n’ roll feel. Maybe even a little punk rock, don’t you think? I particularly like the weight of this project, and the fact that you can use either silver- or gold-tone chain. Because the plastic tubing is transparent, these chokers will match ANY outfit or piercing!
YOU’LL NEED
FOR THE SHORTER CHOKER
34 inches of medium silver- or gold-tone chain
Needle-nose pliers (and wirecutters if the pliers don’t have them)
2 jump rings, silver or gold to match chain
1 lobster claw closure, silver or gold to match chain
4 inches of 1/2-inch-diameter clear plastic tubing
Scissors
E-6000 glue
FOR THE LONGER CHOKER
32 inches of medium silver- or gold-tone chain
Needle-nose pliers (and wirecutters if the pliers don’t have them)
2 jump rings, silver or gold to match chain
1 lobster claw closure, silver or gold to match chain
8 inches of 1/2-inch-diameter plastic tubing
Scissors
E-6000 glue
28 inches of a different medium chain to wrap the 1/2-inch tubes
HERE’S HOW
FOR THE SHORTER CHOKER
1 Cut a 16-inch piece of chain and add a jump ring on both ends and the lobster claw on one side to create your choker.
2 Dab E-6000 along the 4-inch tube, wrap the chain around it, and let dry.
3 Slip the chain through the tube, and you’re ready to go.
FOR THE LONGER CHOKER
1 Cut two 16-inch pieces of chain and add a jump ring on the ends plus the lobster claw on one side to create a double-strand choker.
2 Cut three 2-inch pieces of tubing and four 1/2-inch pieces.
3 Cut 3 pieces, 9 inches each from your second type of chain. Dab E-6000 along the two 1/2-inch tubes, wrap 9 inches of the second chain around each, and let dry.
4 Slip your tubes onto your chain and it’s ready to wear.
PEARL AND DIAMOND CHOKER AND EARRINGS
While making this set I was brought back to the ’80s for some reason. Maybe it was the geometric shapes? Maybe it was because I thought these would look supercool on a Patrick Nagel model? I don’t know. Some people are carried back to a certain moment in time by a scent. I shoot back in time when I’m creating something. Weird, I know.
YOU’LL NEED
FOR THE CHOKER
Plastic gutter guard
Scissors
E-6000 glue
Toothpicks
11 gold-tone jump rings
2 pieces of black chain, each 6 inches long
Needle-nose pliers (and wirecutters if the pliers don’t have them)
1 large gold-tone lobster claw closure
93 pearls
FOR THE EARRINGS
Plastic gutter guard
E-6000 glue
Toothpicks
68 pearls
2 clip-on earring blanks
HERE’S HOW
FOR THE CHOKER
1 Cut three 4 by 4 squares and five 3 by 3 squares from the gutter guard
2 With dabs of E-6000 on a toothpick, starting at one end of a gutter guard piece, spread some glue in a row of holes, and fill each hole with a pearl. Continue until you have filled up the holes, and let dry.
3 Add jump rings in between the squares to create your choker.
4 Cut two 6-inch pieces of chain and attach a chain to the choker on each side with jump rings, and finish the ends with jump rings and a lobster claw for the closure.
FOR THE EARRINGS
1 Cut two 4 by 4 squares of gutter guard. Cut four 3 by 3 squares.
2 Using E-6000 on a toothpick, carefully glue a pearl into each gutter guard space and let dry.
3 Add jump rings between the squares and join at the corners to create dangle earrings.
4 Using a generous amount of E-6000, add clip-on earring blanks to the top squares and let dry.
TWINE AND TWINE AGAIN
Strolling down the aisle of my local hardware store, I found amazing twines and ropes in very beautiful colors. Though this project could be completed with lots of different materials, from yarns to thin pieces of fabric, something about the sheen and intensity of the colors of the mason twine got my attention. A few minutes later I ran into some no. 6 plastic chain in a different aisle, and soon this project was born. Can’t you just see this piece walking down the runway with a neon one-piece bathing suit and a huge hat? I sure can.
YOU’LL NEED
FOR THE NECKLACE
Mason twine in three different colors
11/2 yards white plastic chain (no. 6 or smaller)
Dritz Fray Check
Scissors
Needle-nose pliers (and wirecutters if the pliers don’t have them)
YOU’LL NEED
FOR THE BRACELET
Mason twine in three different colors
27 inches of white plastic chain (no. 6 or smaller)
Dritz Fray Check
8 large silver-tone jump rings
1 silver-tone lobster claw closure
Scissors
Needle-nose pliers (and wirecutters if the pliers don’t have them
HERE’S HOW
FOR THE NECKLACE
1 Cut three pieces of chain, 16 inches, 17 inches, and 18 inches long.
2 Cut about 30 pieces of twine 6 inches long in each color (90 pieces altogether).
3 Using one color per length of chain, tie the 6-inch pieces on each link from one end to the other.
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br /> 4 Secure each knot with a drop of Dritz Fray Check and let dry. This will keep it in place without discoloring the twine.
5 Add more ties if you feel your masterpiece isn’t full enough.
6 Cut two 14-inch strands of twine in each color and knot the corresponding colors at the end of the length of chain. Finish ends with Dritz Fray Check.
7 Repeat step 6 on the other side.
8 Knot all the strands together as shown in photo c and secure with more Fray Check.
9 Tie the knotted strands in a bow at the back for a closure.
FOR THE BRACELET
1 Cut two pieces of chain: 7 inches and 8 inches long.
2 Cut about 20 pieces of twine 6 inches long in each color (at least 60 pieces altogether).
3 Using one color on one length of chain and two colors on another, tie the 6-inch pieces on each link from one end to the other.
4 Secure each knot with a drop of the Fray Check and let dry. This will keep it in place without discoloring the twine.
5 Add more ties if you feel your masterpiece isn’t full enough.
6 Place a jump ring at each end of the three lengths of chain.
7 Attach the jump rings together with one more jump ring on one end and a jump ring and lobster claw on the other end.
TWINE NOT? EARRINGS
I’ve noticed lately that anything goes these days when it comes to personal style, and I couldn’t be happier. Why do we have to follow rules when it comes to dress? As long as you’re happy with how you look, that’s all that matters! These superfunky earrings are made with ordinary items I found at the hardware store. I’m sure you can come up with versions that will reflect exactly who you are.