Tag Archive | crystal

DIY Seashore Themed Tutorial #1 ~ Crystal “Starfish” for Summer Weddings and Other Celebrations

This easy-to-build beaded starfish design is the perfect DIY decoration, gift, party favor, or memento for seashore-themed special occasions and celebrations.

Materials: (1) Wildfire beading string (about 8″), (2) 4 mm bicone Swarovski crystal beads in different colors (as pictured, 5 pacific opal, 5 aquamarine satin, and 10 light azore) x 20 total beads, (3) seed beads (Pictured here, Delica brand aquamarine glass seed beads).

Start stringing the inner circle of the starfish, alternating one seed bead and one crystal bicone bead.

To create the 5-point star design in this tutorial, stop after you have added 5 total bicones, alternated with 5 total seed beads. To make a six-pointed star, add pone more of each type of bead to your inner circle. This section should be completed in one color, to achieve the desired effect.

Pass the end of the string a second time through all of the beads to form a loop that you will tighten into a circle.

Pull gently on both ends of the string to close the circle, and pull the design into a continuous ring. This beaded ring becomes the base you will use to build the “arms” of your starfish.

Starting with one of the loose ends, add on three more crystals, alternating colors to give the “arms” of the starfish contrast.

Loop the end of the string back into the seed bead below, creating an outer extension of your design, as pictured.

Pull the loop on either side to tighten. This is the first “arm” or “point” of the star design.

Continue the design, by repeating the previous step a second time to create another “arm”.

After you finish the design, it should look like this! Use ribbon, string, or fishing line to create beautiful ornaments for centerpieces and wedding decor. Also ideal for jewelry!

Chain Reactions Interchangeable Jewelry Concept: Video Tutorial

Feb13

Featured Design: JULIE is a Star!

Oct20

This design was created for Julie, the 100th person to like Lace Exoskeleton on Facebook! As someone who has inspired me throughout my artistic career, Julie has given me far more than I can express in words…

This set includes custom charms. The first charm – not in this image is a hand-embrodered crystal star. The second is our signature skeleton key to symbolize opening doors, expanding horizons. The third is a silver heart with crystal droplet in lagoon blue to symbolize the connections of love and friendship.

This exclusive, one-of-a-kind insert is designed as an “illusion” style invisible strand. It includes teal blue fishing line and crystals. We may produce this strand in the furture, although it has an unfortunate tendency to kink permanently when worn often. Our other designs do not have this issue.

This set included three clasps – a crystal beaded hook-up clasp in lagoon, and two heart tab hook-up clasps. This variety of clasps ensures the length of each strand is adjustable.

The center piece of this set – available upon request for custom orders – is a hand-embroidered star pendant.

Julie selected the lagoon color palette to compliment her fair skin tone. This is one of the best colors for people whop like green, but find that it brings out too much red in their skin tone. Shown here against a pale blue background, it shimmers with subtle green accents (Swarovski crystal luminous green).

Against a white background, the darker blue tones in the lagoon theme stand out. Each color palette in the Chain Reactions collection will assume a unique appearence depending upon your personal skin tone and coloration.

This necklace includes a custom insert strand. Longer and shorter strands are available for all of our designs upon request to ensure that your piece fits as both a necklace and a bracelet.

With love and best wishes, we at Lace Exoskeleton proudly proclaim that JULIE IS A STAR!

Exponential Fashion Potential

Oct15

This image illustrates some of the main differences between bold and delicate strands.

The foundation of each base set is a 10″ chain base strand like this one. The base strand is used to build necklaces and display pendant or charms. It also doubles as an anklet.

Each base set creates at least 3 different jewelry combinations. Our deluxe set – with two insert strand – creates all of these combinations. The number of combinations grows exponentially as more strands are added.

Somewhere Over the Rainbow…

Oct15

Color is more than an aesthetic decision! As the physical evidence of light wavelengths, color has the power to influence moods, perception, and mental states. And, it is also an effective vehicle for personal expression!

Color trends will never again leave you stranded with an obsolete, outdated piece! With our interchangeable strands in 28 different colors (not including our seasonal and special edition palettes), you can adapt your color choices to correspond with any trend or color fad. And an extra bonus: You can match every stubborn magenta bridesmaid dress – without investing in a whole new set of jewelry pieces… How does this work? Well, because the chain base strand and charms are detachable, you only need one full set to create necklaces, bracelets and anklets. Thus, the more strands you buy, the more color options you have – and your look can never go out of style again!

Summer Morning Dutch Baby Pancakes – A Necklace & A Recipe

Sep3

Tasha’s recipe for mixed summer berry compote: Gently simmer 1 pint fresh blueberries and 1/2 cup fresh strawberries in a mixture of lemon zest, pomegranate juice, 1 vanilla bean, and lemon juice; add juice until berries are submerged; cook until berries burst and release juices; add raw honey and a pinch of salt for flavor balance.

Before mixing pancake batter, preheat oven to 450 degrees F, and warm a 10″ skillet for 5-10 minutes in the oven (this step ensures that your pancake will rise up, as pictured).

Roger’s recipe for Dutch baby pancakes: While skillet is preheating, combine 2 eggs, 1/2 cup milk, 1/2 cup sifted flour, lemon zest, a pinch of salt and 1 tsp vanilla extract. Remove preheated skillet from oven, and turn down heat to 425 degrees F. Melt 2 tablespoons of butter onto the skillet, and then puour your pancake batter into skillet. Remove when golden brown, as pictured.

Batter will rise above sides of your skillet – cut into slices and top with powdered sugar, whipped cream and compote.

Enjoy with your favorite toppings and spices added into the mixture… Why is baking so fabulous??? Because it is MODULAR – you can adapt it to fit your personal tastes and preferences!

The Dutch baby pancake necklace!!!!

Use a 10″ enamelled brass base strand (pictured in black) to combine 1 each of the following beaded insert strands: (1) 8″ bold pomegranate strand, and (2) 8″ bold honeycomb strand. These colors mimic the combination of vivid summer fruit and golden pancake dough in our Dutch baby pancakes.