Shine Online May 2017

Shine Online Issue 37 | May 2017

PANTONE'S PRIMROSE Celebrate the start of Spring with a splash of this sunny tone

FREE GIFT Grab your selection of glorious glass beads in pretty Spring styles

Page 22

GORGEOUS GEMSTONES Create personalised jewellery with meaningful gemstone beads and precious pendants

GET THE BRAND NEW SWAROVSKI CERALUN CLAY Try your hand at working with resin clay and embellishing with swarovski crystal

Shine Online Contents

4 AMAZING AGATE

NEW

Browse our latest range of semi-precious agate beads, charms and pendants

6 Glorious Gemstones Explore more ways to add a personal touch with high quality gemstone beads

STYLE 8 GLAM GOLDSTONE Get to grips with wire and sparkling goldstone beads to make a stunning necklace

10 STERLING STYLE Get creative with the latest, trending silver jewellery to make yourself this Spring

MAKE

13 DARLING DREAMCATCHERS Make your own pair of delicate dreamcatcher style earrings using seed beads and Swarovski

14 PANTONE'S PRIMROSE Prepare to be bright and bold this Summer with this wonderful sunny tone

TREND 18 PATCHWORK WIRE BANGLES Get creative with Preciosa beads and wire to make your set of super sparkly bangles

22 MAY'S FREE GIFT Don't miss your chance to grab a brilliant selection of bright lampwork glass beads

Editor - Holly Baxter Get in touch! Drop me a message to holly@beadsdirect.co.uk

We can't believe its May already! Our favourite florals are beginning to emerge from the back of the wardrobe and your jewellery designs are looking brighter each week.

This month we're showcasing some of our favourite jewellery designs using bright, sunny hues and giving you the chance to make and wear them too. We're still exploring our favourite Pantone choices for Spring 2017 and in this months issue you can find a special feature on the bold, bright primrose yellow!

Make sure to visit Vicki on our 'Lets Be Social' pages as she takes a look at the latest and greatest designer posts from our ever-growing facebook group! Each month there'll be one lucky designer from our group who'll be picked to win a fabulous beady bundle full of Preciosa glass, Toho seed beads, findings, cord and a few sparkly Swarovski goodies as well! What a treat! If you're not a member already, you can find us on Facebook and post your pictures along with 950 fellow beaders.

Remember to look out for this months beautiful free gift and find out how you can get your hands on a lovely selection of colourful lampwork beads, perfect for making into statement summer earrings or a stack of cute bracelets!

We hope you enjoy this month's issue!

The Beads Direct Team xx

Amazing Agate Agate is part of the quartz family and usually features bands of light and dark tones throughout. There are lots of styles of agate to choose from when you're making your own gemstone jewellery, from slice pendants to sparkling druzy beads and metallic plated charms. There are hundreds of variations and colours to mix and match on your bead board! Take a look at some of our favourite natural and dyed agate materials and start planning some fab, gemstone accessories!

These bright connector charms are fast becoming one of our favourite accessories! They are faceted and have an amazing shine making them perfect for attaching to gold earrings with a matching agate bead attached underneath.

These cute matching bracelets feature three tones which compliment each other perfectly.

Rich gold plated findings are perfect for framing bright blue and turquoise components. Learn how to make your bracelet collection using an agate connector, white howlite beads and faceted fire polished beads for some added sparkle!

Make your collection

SEE ALL SEMI PRECIOUS CHARMS

Make your bracelet

TRENDING COPPER TONES

Make a gorgeous multi-strand bracelet just like this one with just a few seed beads and some matching gems in your favourite tone. This cute design features rose gold, gold and copper tones, making it the perfect accessory for your beach outfits!

These shining agate charms have a loop on each side so they can be attached at the centre of a chain or combined with more findings and beads. While these colourful charms may be a little heavy to wear as earrings, plenty of other connector charms can be positioned with their loops at the top and bottom with an earwire and some matching beads added on either side.

Make your necklace

SHOP ALL AGATE CONNECTORS Druzy is the top formation of tiny glittering crystals over the top of the agate stones.

Choose from silver, gold and rainbow druzy beads in large and small pack sizes depending on the designs you'll be using them in.

SHOP ALL DRUZY AGATE BEADS

Match wiĂž blue or gold cord and beads

Make your collection

ROYAL AMETHYST Add some glamorous purple tones to your jewellery with amethyst beads in round or hex cut styles. This cute stack of bracelets is a perfect example of how you can combine the rich amethyst tone with brighter gems to get a look that's ideal for your Spring and Summer outfits. This combination, compared to the rich rose gold bracelet below, is much more airy due to the light beads and bright silver findings.

SHOP ALL AMETHYST

Make these bracelets

Faceted beads have an amazing sparkle Add some texture and a unique touch to your designs with unusual shapes and finishes. These stunning hex cut amethyst beads catch the light as they move and look absolutely stunning combined with the rose gold materials.

The addition of a Swarovski crystal charm on the rose gold tube bead gives the bracelet a focal point. This is an example of the perfect place to add a personalised element such as an initial charm for the first letter of your name or a birthstone bead.

SHOP ALL ROSE GOLD

Make your bracelet

Make your earrings

Make your bracelet

There are so many ways to show off your favourite gemstone beads as earrings.

These cute loops can be made into lots of different sizes using the smallest 4mm beads to larger choices for a bigger loop. We've chosen to pair the delicate amethyst beads with some shiny glass pearls for a classic look that is perfect for daytime or evening wear!

If you're making your jewellery to sell or gift, you'll want it to last while keeping it's quality and shine. The highest quality gemstone beads will have a strong colour and an even surface making them look and feel like the professional choice. We've combined our choice of gemstone beads with sterling silver snowflake beads and sterling silver seamless rounds inbetween. The snowflake beads fit together to form a long tube with an amazing sparkle and a soft feel against the skin.

FIND EARRING PROJECTS

When you're making an elastic bracelet with high quality beads like in the design above, you should consider how you are going to secure them in place. Some knots and glues might not hold you bracelet together forever and can come apart when pulled a little too hard. Try using a strong thread like 'Fireline' and attach a clasp to open and close instead of a stretch bracelet for a more secure design.

SHOP FIRELINE THREAD

US O CI E !

-PR IGN I S M SE DE

ZIG ZAG WIRE NECKLACE DESIGN BY SARAH MILLSOP

MATERIALS CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR MATERIALS

TOOLS • Wire cutters • Round nose pliers • Chain nose pliers • Wire jig

Before you begin…

A wire jig has been used to create the curvy section but you could use a broad pen to mould the wire around. It doesn’t matter what size of jig you have as you can start at one end and work your way along by moving the pegs. TOP TIP - When you're finishing your necklace, thread the item (in this instance the clasp on a jump ring) onto the cord first then add a small amount of glue to the end 1cm of the suede then fold over and stick into place to form a loop. Wait until the glued seam is completely dry before adding any decorative wire wrap.

Step 1 For clarity, extras pegs have been used to demonstrate the shape you’ll need to form. Set up as much of the design as your jig will allow, starting either on the left hand or right hand end.

Step 2 Take the thick wire and leaving a starting tail of 10cm, weave around the shape starting with the top peg. You’ll need to use your thumb and fingers of your non-dominant hand to hold the pegs in place because the wire will be relatively firm to work with. Once you’ve run out of pegs move the first small and first large one along and repeat.

Step 3 Cut 50cm of fine wire and leaving a 7cm tail, wind it firmly around the first large (bottom) loop. You should count the number of windings so that you can replicate it for the next bottom loop. This will house the 8mm beads. To stop the short tail flapping around press it against the framework with the thumb and finger of your non-dominant hand. Don’t rush the winding as you need it to be as neat as possible - wire is quite soft so you’ll be able to snug up any gaps by easing it with your nail.

Step 4 When you have sufficient windings pass one wire through an 8mm bead and check to see that the ends of the windings sit level with both holes of the bead. Pass one wire through the bead and allow it to settle against the winding then pass the other wire though in the opposite direction. Pull at the tip of the wire so there’s no chance that you’ll snap the wire too low down.

Step 5 Wrap the tails twice around the frame keeping the wraps right down against those already in place. Trim off the excess close to the frame.

Flatten the cut ends down onto the frame.

Step 6 Repeat the process to add a 6mm bead within the top loop. Again, count the number of windings so you can do the same with the other 6mm beads. You’ll need to adjust the frame a little to accommodate the bead.

Once you’ve got a few beads into place, trim back the tail of the thick wire to leave 4cm then curl into a spiral with round nose pliers leaving a hole in the centre of the spiral.

Step 7 To complete your necklace you can add a jump ring and chain or as shown here use some suede cord. The length you choose will depend on how long a necklace you require. Pass the cord through the centre of the spiral and fold the ends over and add a dab of glue. The glue will be strong enough to hold the suede but for a little decoration wrap some of the fine wire around the suede close to the spiral. Attach your clasp in the same way by forming little loops at the end of the suede, or simply leave a length of cord and tie a knot to secure.

Sterling Style Silver is the most popular choice when it comes to making your own jewellery with professional materials.

Whether you choose to use silver plated components or go for the softer sterling silver pieces, our love of it's timeless style means it will never go out of fashion.

SEE ALL STERLING SILVER CHARMS These cute sterling charms are ideal for attaching to a small jump ring or a bail and threading onto a thin snake chain. If you love swapping your charms every day, try choosing a thin chain that you can hook your charms on and off each morning to match your mood!

MAKE JEWELLERY THAT LASTS Working with sterling silver 925 findings, bases and chain can be tricky when you've never used it before, but is well worth the patience and precision.

You'll find your headpins, jump rings and other findings will feel softer than regular plated styles, so be careful when using your pliers. We prefer to use a pair of smooth flat or nylon coated pliers without serrations so that we don't damage our detailed silver work.

GET YOUR PAIR OF NYLON PLIERS

Make your bracelet Nylon coated pliers are also great for working with plated metals which have a different colour underneath. Some wires such as copper craft wire are plated and have a rich copper tone underneath your chosen plating.

Give your charms more shine wiĂž a sterling polishing cloĂž

Choose your charms and personalise wiĂž your birthstone colour

Make your bracelet

Make your ring These cute charms arrive ready to attach to your chosen design. Simply open the jump ring and securely close it when you've threaded on your findings. Make thoughtful and long lasting jewellery, perfect as a last minute gift and created in just a few

Mandala symbols are believed to hold different meanings and are said to promote health and wellbeing. They can be paired with your chosen healing gemstones for a beautifully meaningful design.

These sterling silver earrings are ready to embellish with little charms or beads! Why not try adding a cute heart charm to the loop on your heart earwire for the perfect valentines gift?

SHOP ALL STERLING SILVER FINDINGS

POLISHED TO PERFECTION

If you suffer with different metals irritating your skin, then sterling silver chains and findings are a great way to wear stylish jewellery and make sure you are looking after yourself.

There's no nickle in sterling silver jewellery meaning its non-reactive when its being worn.

Keep your jewellery looking shiny and new This useful polishing cloth is an essential tool if you're making jewellery to sell! The cloth is multi-purpose and you can even use it on glass pieces, Swarovski crystal and other accessories such as your glasses and sunglasses! It’s the perfect size for travellers or those that make and sell jewellery on the go at craft events.

Make your necklace

SEE ALL STERLING SILVER This gorgeous sterling necklace features two delicate moon style charms and only take a few minutes to make! Simply add a jumpring onto each end of your cubic zirconia moon charm, attach your small moon charm and thread it onto your silver chain!

MATERIALS CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR MATERIALS

TOOLS • Scissors • 2 x size 12 needles • Flat nose pliers • Chain nose pliers

Dreamcatcher Earrings Step 1. Cut a length of thread measuring 30cm. Thread a needle onto each end, this makes your securing process easier than taking your needle on and off of your thread.

Step 2. Thread on seed beads, your bicones and silver rounds in the following order for your centre strand. 2 x silver seeds, 1 x bicone, 2 x silver seeds, 2 x blue seeds, 1 x silver round bead, 2 x blue seeds, 2 x silver seeds, 1 x bicone, 2 x silver seeds, 2 x blue seeds. Add your droplet charm and pass your thread back up through the seed beads. Pass your threads through one of the petal holes in your daisy mandala charm.

Step 3. Pass the threads back down 2 seed beads. Knot your threads around the centre cord.

Continue to thread down the seed beads with both threads, one after the other. Knot again and pass down to the bottom of the row. Your knots should be hidden inside the beads.

Trim off the tail threads here. You can add a small drop of glue to the areas you knotted to secure them further. Don't add glue next to your sterling silver beads or swarovski bicones as it may cloud the surface.

Step 4. Cut a new length of thread measuring 30cm. Thread a needle onto each end.

Thread on seed beads, your bicones and silver rounds in the following order.

3 x Blue seed beads, 1 x silver seed bead, 1 x silver round bead, 1 x bicone, 1 x silver round bead, 1 x silver seed bead, 3 x blue seed beads, 1 x bicone. Pass your thread back up through the seed beads - your bicone at the bottom will be threaded sideways.

Step 5. Thread both cords through the petal shape on the left or right of the one you have already added.

Step 6. Repeat the process of securing your thread inside the beaded section. Add a drop of glue to the area you knotted and trim off the tail threads at the bottom.

Step 7. Repeat the previous seed bead pattern for the last strand on your dreamcatcher earring and secure this to the other side of your central cord with the droplet charm.

Step 8. Finally open the loop on the base of your earwire. Attach this to the topmost hole on your dreamcatcher charm.

Primrose Yellow

This beautiful bright tone is one of Pantone's 10 choices in their Spring colour report for 2017. We'd love to help you add a hint of this fabulous, sunny colour to your Summer style!

Take a look at some of our favourite beads, charms and cords or explore the full range of yellow and amber tones in our colour range.

SHOP ALL YELLOW BEADS

Try combining your bright beads with grey, black or white cords to really make your colours pop! This works well the opposite way around with bright shiny cords and black or white beads. Try knotting or braiding with these brilliant S-Lon cords and thread seed beads along your design.

Kumihimo braiding or macrame knotting are both great places to start if you're looking to design your own handmade bracelets and cord necklaces.

Make your earrings

These crystal earrings are so easy to make! Choose from 14 swarovski square fancy stones and securely glue them into the fitted settings. The settings are perfect for using as pendants, earring charms or bracelet charms. You could even make one into a phone or bag charm with the addition of some cord or a split ring!

Make your bracelet

SHOP ALL SWAROVSKI FANCY STONES If you're stuck for ideas, a sparkly glass bead mix is a great place to start. Separate out your chosen colours or mix and match for a fun, bright design with lots of shine. This lovely topaz mix is perfect for combining with gold findings and chain and will match your bright summer outfits all the way to your warmer autumn tones. Try threading your favourite beads onto headpins and making a pair of beaded droplet earrings! With your left over beads, you could make a simple stretch bracelet or make your beads go further by spacing them out with seed beads or metal rounds.

SHOP ALL SEED BEADS

Make your bracelet

Let's Be Social with Vicki!

Show us your designs! We love to see your jewellery designs and hear what you have been up to. Drop me an email to shine@beadsdirect.co.uk or post your images on our Facebook group and you could win a Beads Direct bead bundle!

If you see a star on your design, you've won an fabulous beady bundle! Drop us a message to the email above to claim your prize!

Another swarovski skull pendant and matching bracelet.

I made this one to demonstrate how I get the shine on the clay. Cake decorating techniques help with the clay!

- Joy Wignall These Swarovski studded pieces are amazing Joy! The skull crystal looks really striking against the black clay! x

I received the Tilas and twins I ordered yesterday (fab service from the Beads Direct team) so left the housework and made this instead.

Happy days :) - Christine Hastie Beautiful work Christine! What a lovely colour combination! x

Join over 950 fellow beaders online now!

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I'm on a roll with the wooden indian beads, this is a gift. Gift bag from beads direct, beautiful soft bags. - Sheena McGinty A really pretty, simple necklace Sheena. I love the additional droplet on the extension chain too! x

Summer on the mat :) Miyuki delica beads, blue soutache cord, dagger bead and some fire polished beads :) Of course would not be possible to achieve do this look without order from beads direct x - Kasia Rajca What a lovely pendant Kasia! The beaded bail at the top looks really neat, and I love the bright colour choices! x I just love these Amethyst coins - so lightweight yet eye catching. I graduated the colours and contrasted each bead with sterling silver spacers with a lovely focal amethyst nugget in the middle with some diamond cut beads either side. I'm really pleased with how it came out. I hope you like it. - Vic Wilkshire I love the graduated effect on your bracelet Vic, and by separating the amethyst beads with silver spacers, you've made each one stand out even more! x

This weekends make, Peyote weave rings formed a bracelet and earrings. - Alexandra J Pinhorn Amazing work! We love the combination of different sized seed beads and the pretty matching earrings! x

ER V O C T RE N U O T FR FEA

PATCHWORK WIRE BANGLES DESIGN BY LINDA JONES

MATERIALS CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR MATERIALS

TOOLS • Round nose pliers • Chain nose pliers • Flat nose pliers • Wire cutters

Step 1. Cut approximately 18” of 0.6mm wire. Place your round nosed pliers at the centre of the length and bring the wires around to form a circular link. Twist the link 360 degrees to secure.

Step 2. Cut 9” of 0.6mm wire and using your round nosed pliers, create a centred loop (like an eye-pin) at one end. Attach this loop into the link in Step 1.

Step 3. Using the tips of your chain nosed pliers, bend the wires on each side of the loop (in Step 1) 90 degrees, so that you now have 3 parallel wires running down from your central end link.

Step 4. Thread 2 x 4mm round beads on one of the outer wires and one on the other, leaving the central wire empty.

Step 5. Thread the tila bead on the wire with one bead as well as the central wire.

Step 6. Thread another tila bead on the wire with the 2 x 4mm round beads, plus the central wire …

Step 7. Thread one 4mm round bead on the wire (that begins with one bead) and push it up the wire, so that it sits above the tila bead.

Step 8. Repeat this pattern using a tila bead and round bead … until you have beaded approximately 7” (or, the length required for your wrist measurement, allowing an extra 1” for the clasp).

Step 9. Bring the side wires together and wrap to secure around the central one.

Step 10. Trim these wrapped wires, creating small spirals with the ends, bringing them inwards and flattening over the central wire.

Step 11. Leaving about 1” projecting on the central wire, fold the end and double the wire, by squeezing together with your flat nosed pliers.

Step 12. Secure the wire projecting from the doubled end around its base, near the spirals. Trim and create another spiral.

Step 13. Use your round nosed pliers to form a hook shape in the doubled wire end, and lift the tip of the doubled end to create the lip of your clasp.

Step 14. Find a jar, or small bottle to shape your beaded bangle around (it should be much smaller than the overall bangle size as it will spring open) and spend a little time adjusting the clasp and loop on the opposite side, until you’re satisfied with the fit.

Swarovski Ceralun Swarovski ceralun is made up of two parts, an epoxy resin clay and a hardener that are mixed together by hand to form a malleable clay. The clay has been specially developed to work perfectly with foiled or unfoiled Swarovski crystals. Designs can take up to 72 hours to set completely depending on the thickness of the finished clay design. Your chosen clay can be used in bezels, settings, ring bases and more and can be used with Swarovski round stones, fancy stones and non hotfix flatbacks.

SEE ALL SWAROVSKI CERALUN CLAY

MAKE YOUR NECKLACE

Find Ăže perfect setting Once you have mixed your clay, why not set it into for your clay one of the Nunn Design shapes? A little goes a long way, so try fitting your clay into different shapes and make multiple pieces from just one pack! The vintage look to the Nunn Design components adds a timeless feel to the designs making them perfect for combining with all the varied Ceralun colours on offer.

SEE ALL NUNN DESIGN BASES

This shimmering pendant has been created using a geometric setting and a gorgeous mixture of swarovski chaton crystals. Click the image to watch a how-to video on how we made it!

MAKE YOUR NECKLACE

SEE ALL CRYSTAL CHATON MIXES

Swarovski ceralun is available in 8 essential tones and can be used to create stunning crystal embellished jewellery! The epoxy resin clay can be moulded and set into different shapes to create handmade beads, colourful charms and pretty pendants. Start your ceralun designing with a simple pendant setting and choose the crystals you'd like to set into it. Each swarovski ceralun pack comes with detailed instructions on how to get the best results from the different techniques you can try!

SEE ALL CERALUN PROJECTS For this design, we combined some of our current favourites - Ceralun and Macrame! The gold clay was set into a matching gold connector and monochrome crystals were carefully added. We then turned it into a wearable bracelet by using the traditional macrame knotting technique.

These beautiful designs are perfect for wearing to special occassions!

MAKE YOUR BRACELET

This month we're exploring MacramĂŠ knotting! Through the rest of May, we'll be showcasing some essential knotting techniques and helping you to master the basics.

Start your macramĂŠ journey with our first basic square knot tutorial video below. Join Katrina and learn how to make two delicate knotted bracelets with adjustable clasps - perfect for giving as gifts!

You can find all of our exclusive MacraMay kits as they're released throughout the month (including the design featured in the video) in our kit category!

GET YOUR MACRAME BRACELET KITS > Look out for more knotty techniques, projects and designs to master throughout May! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to be the first to know about the latest macrame kits throughout May, brand new arrivals and offers to inspire you to make stunning jewellery at home.

Follow us for the latest news!

FREE GIFT IN ORDERS £10+

BEAUTIFUL LAMPWORK BEADS Create colourful jewellery with these cute glass lampwork beads!

This month, claim your glass bead mix in orders over £10!

Simply place your order online and enter the code below at the checkout, or give us a call on 01509 218028 to place your order over the phone.

WORTH £4.99!

Show us what you make with your free gift!

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ENTER THE CODE AT THE CHECKOUT TO CLAIM YOUR FREE GIFT!

MAYGIFT Free gift can be claimed on all orders over £10 excluding postage costs. One use per customer.

Enter code MAYGIFT at the checkout. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer.

Available whilst stock lasts. Bead mixes will vary. Offer expires midnight 31st May 2017.

Coming next month...

• Sewing with Swarovski

• Pantone's Kale & Greenery

• Working with wire

• Beach and Boho

Beads Direct May 2017 calendar kit ‘Lilac Vine Necklace’ - by Bridge Parle

ORDER YOUR KIT HERE >>

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