Saturday, September 25, 2010

Merry Meet and Practical Magic

Welcome! Come in and sit a spell.
It’s time for the Practical Magic Blog Party. I’ve chosen a theme from the movie, which is a visual delight. I would love to have a couple of eccentric aunts who eat brownies for breakfast and can work magic from a book of shadows!

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Now I do know two sisters who love to cook up magic in their cauldron in the woods.

But spell books can be dangerous so I’ll share a simple craft and for inspiration -
Aunt Frances
Frances Owens and her fabulous outfits!

Black and Orange
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A necklace and earrings set that’s easy to make. You can use different colours – anything you like.

You will need:
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  • pre-made black chain necklace (from Michaels)

  • 3   8 mm fire polish glass beads - orange

  • 4   6 mm fire polish glass beads – orange

  • 2   4 mm fire polish glass beads – orange

  • jump rings – gunmetal or black

  • head pins – gunmetal or black

  • 3  8 mm bead caps, gold, painted black

  • 3  6 mm bead caps, gold, painted black

  • filigrees for the earrings, gold, painted black

  • lever back ear wires - gunmetal
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Findings

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Fire polish beads


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Flat black spray paint, wire cutters, flat nose pliers – I use two, only one is pictured and round nose pliers. Lotus is optional.

Tape a piece of masking tape to a scrap of cardboard and stick the gold filigrees and bead caps down, spray with black paint, allow to dry thoroughly, remove from tape. Put a fresh piece of tape on the cardboard and put the filigrees and bead caps painted side down, spray with black paint and allow to dry thoroughly, remove from tape.

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From the chain necklace: remove two of the black crystals to shorten one of the rosary chains, set aside for the earrings. Remove all but three of the small chains. You will have two rosary chains and three small chains on the necklace. Set aside.

Prepare the beads
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On a head pin put a large (8 mm) bead cap and 8 mm bead, form a loop at the top.

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Bend the head pin over, cut the wire and roll the end on the round pliers.

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A loop -
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Do this for all the beads using 8 mm bead caps for the 8 mm beads, 6 mm bead caps for the 6 mm beads and no bead caps for the 4 mm beads.
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Now back to the chain necklace
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Fold one of the small chains in half and mark the center link with a pin.

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Attach the loop of an 8 mm bead in the link

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I found it easier to remove the chains from the necklace – attach the two remaining 8 mm beads to the same chain, halfway between the first bead and the end, one on each side of the center.
Attach the 6 mm beads to a different small chain, spaced between the large beads. The spacing is by eyeball – it doesn’t need to be perfect. Attach the chain unit to the necklace.

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Attach a 4 mm bead to the jump ring that connects the small chains to the large ring.

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For the earrings:
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Attach two links of the small chain – removed from the necklace – to a 4 mm bead, use a jump ring to attach to the filigree. Use jump rings to attach three beads to the bottom of the filigree. Use one rosary link - removed from the chain necklace – to attach the ear wire. Repeat for other earring. Note: if your filigree is different you may need more or fewer beads. Substitute different colours or metals, round beads instead of fire polish. If it fits, it works.

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There are lots of instructions out there on basic jewelry techniques like forming loops, many bead magazines have a basic instruction section or check out websites for tutorials from magazines like “Bead and Button” and “Beadwork”. If you have questions, please email or make sure I can contact you if your question is in a comment. Whatever you do – have fun!


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Meow!
  

18 comments:

Victoria said...

Wow..super gorgeous post...and meow to you too Kitty! I love the barbies..how cool is that! mega-beautiful jewlery..fabulous tutorials...wow..shine on!
Victoria~

Sara said...

Oh I love it all!!! Hope you are having a magical day.

Lenora said...

Thanks for the tutorial! Love the barbie twins! Magical Post! If you care come and join us for ours! More Practical Magic at Practical Magic - How To Make A Magic Wand
http://lenorita-lenoramoore.blogspot.com/2010/09/practical-magic-blogparty-2010.html

Theresa MacNaughton said...

Thank you for a lovely Practical Magic Party Post. And thank you for sharing your jewelry tutorials.

If you have not already done so, please feel free to fly over and sit with me a spell...

http://faeriemooncreations.blogspot.com/2010/09/because-theres-little-witch-in-every.htm

Sincerely,
Theresa

Scrap Vamp said...

Thanks so much for having me to your lovely party! The jewelry you made is spectacular!

Auntie sezzzzzz... said...

Thank you for your 'Practical Magic' blog Party entry.

Gentle hugs,
'Auntie' who is being "Sweet Aunt Bridget," for the weekend

Birgit said...

Great post! :)

-- Birgit

Michelle Frae Cummings said...

What a wonderful post! Love tuitorial! I hope you'll come "fly" over to my blog and see what I have been brewing!
~Michelle
http://faeriedustdreams-michelle.blogspot.com/

Aimee Jeffries said...

Great tutorial, thanks so much for sharing!

Anonymous said...

Wonderful party post! Great tutorial, thanks for sharing!! Brightest Blessings!

Laura said...

Those are so beautiful! Thanks for the tutorial!
blessings
~*~

annabelle said...

Lovely creations in the most perfect of colours for the witching season.~^..^~ *Annabelle

Pellie / Penny said...

The necklace you created is beautiful.
Thank you for the tutorial.

Thank you so much for sharing your heart and your talents.

Brightest Blessings,
Penny

Marfi-topia said...

how lovely!
and what a beauty that is at the end of the post.
have a great day!!!

Susan said...

Superb post! Love the set you made, just lovely. (it is a shame they do not make some of that stuff in black, and that you have to use spray paint) I agree, I loved how Aunt Frances dressed. (I actually liked all of the family's clothing...not real crazy about Aunt Frances' hat though) I'm now following. :)
Please come visit mine:
http://piecesoffatesusan.blogspot.com/

Peace,
Susan

Susan said...

PS... I forgot to say I also like your "familiar" Meow:)

Susan

Pauline said...

Loved your post for the party! I'm only halfway through the visiting... beautiful jewellery, I make vintage inspired jewellery myself. I don't post much on my blog about it, thoug my party post was filled with it! I love your blog and will enjoy visiting often.
hugs and blessings from Australia!
Pauline

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