Tutorials - How to Open Jump Rings

The trick to opening jump ringsis to open the ring sideways, this is easier if you have two pairs of pliers and can grip the ring either side of the opening.



Gently pull one side towards you whilst holding the other side still. Remember not to open the jump ring more than you need, as you don't want to distort the shape.

Tutorials - Simple Dropper Earrings

Materials
2 Headpins
2 Earwires
6 Coloured Beads
8 Seed Beads

Tools

Wire Cutters
Round nose pliers
Needle Files (optional)

Instructions

• Thread the beads onto a headpin in the following order; seed bead, coloured bead, seed bead, coloured bead and then another seed bead.

• Hold the beads in place with your thumb and forefinger, and bend the headpin 90 degrees at the top of the beads.

• Leave 8mm of wire after the beads and then cut off the excess using the wire cutters.

• You can carefully file the rough edge of the wire using a needle file if you have one.

• Position the round nose pliers at the end of the wire and then, holding the beads in place between your thumb and forefinger, roll the wire away from you to form a loop.

• Use the round nose pliers to ensure that the loop is even and that the end of the wire is neatly tucked in against the top of the bead, so that there are no rough edges exposed.

• Use the round nose pliers to open the loop on the earwire.  Always open the loop sideways in order to retain the shape.

• Thread the dropper you have just created on to the loop of the earwire and then close the loop.

• Repeat the steps above to make the other earring.

Jewellery Repair Service

Since I started painting my tiny clay figure skates I decided it was worth investing in a lamp with magnifying glass to try and prevent me from needing to literally hunch over the table to see where to paint the tiny laces.

My new Daylight Table Top Lamp has been brillant so far for this task

However today I really put it to the test. 

I've recently started advertising that I undertake costume jewellery repairs, I'd been a bit hestiant about offering this service, as I love the design part of jewellery making, so thought I might find carrying out repairs on someone elses jewellery a bit boring.  However, I'm actually rather enjoying it.  The repairs I get asked to carryout are often so varied, and it means I work with completely different styles of jewellery to my own creations.  It can be quite challenging sometimes to come up with a solution for repairing something.

My latest repair request was to fix a very fine chain that had snapped.  The links were so tiny it ment reverting to my trusty magnifying lamp to see the joins.

Have a Handcrafted Christmas & Free UK Shipping

CharacterCrafts offers a range of elegant sterling silver jewellery, featuring sparkling
crystals and beautiful beads.

However, with Christmas just around the corner I think it's time for something a little
more festive and fun, and that's exactly what you'll find with my range of handcrafted clay Christmas charm earrings.

Fun and quirky Santa's, Snowmen and Christmas Puddings to name just a few.  They make lovely Christmas gifts, or a great treat for yourself to wear to your Christmas party!

And now it's even better with free UK shipping available until midnight on 17/12/12.  Just enter discount code FreeShip at the checkout.