Make A Matchbox Pendant With Hidden Compartment

Greetings, friends!  I propose that it's time to start thinking about handmade gifts.  This recycled necklace gift can charm nearly anyone: a simple matchbox turned into a secret-compartment pendant.

The awesomeness is threefold.  1.) It's simple and eco friendly.  2.) Customize the art to your loved one's style and interest.  3.) Because there's a tiny secret compartment, you can include an additional mini-gift inside!  Here's the secret drawer:

Aren't they fun?  Want to make one?  Here's how.

Tools:
jewelry pliers
wire cutters
something pointy for poking holes

Materials:
a matchbox
clear packing tape
acrylic craft paint
craft wire
1 or 2 headpins
a tassel
glue or mod podge
1 or 2 accent beads OR a strip of recycled plastic
spacer beads
optional: a bit of chain

The DIY

1. Embellish.  Paint the matchbox's outer sleeve.  If you like, paint the inner drawer as well.  Then embellish!  Adhere something delightful to the top of the matchbox - anything you like.  (A few ideas at the end of the post.)

2. Reinforce.  Reinforce the matchbox drawer with clear packing tape: cut 2 strips and crisscross them in the back, wrapping the tape over the edges and into the inside of the drawer.  Reinforce the inside of the matchbox sleeve with a bit more hidden tape (that you tuck inside and smooth down).

3. Turn it into a pendant.  First, poke two holes in the top of the inner drawer.  Thread craft wire through the two holes and make two loops at the top.  It's easy!  Like this:

To finish the bottom, there are two versions.

ONE HOLE VERSION: At the bottom of the inner drawer, poke one hole in the center.  Add a spacer bead to a headpin, thread it through the hole, add an accent bead and make a loop.  Add a tassel.  It will look like this:

TWO HOLE VERSION: At the bottom of the drawer, poke two holes.  Using the same headpin method as above, add either two accents beads or, as in the Lucky Cat version seen below, a rectangle of plastic with two matching holes.  Make two loops underneath.  Add a bit of chain, with a tassel suspended in the center.  Like this:

Functional Note: the accent beads or plastic strip should be just a bit wider than the matchbox.  This prevents the sleeve from sliding off.  (My accent beads in these examples were repurposed rubber washers, because I liked how they looked.  But any bead is just fine.)

Ideas for how to embellish the pendant:
Modpodge some original or found art.
Paint it, glitter it, doodle it.
Glue stuff on, like charms or buttons.
Add a polymer clay panel. (I made my Japanese-themed panels from polymer clay, impressed with rubber stamps I bought at a 100 yen store in Tokyo.)

Ideas for mini gifts inside the matchbox:
Photos
Love notes
Funny coupons to be redeemed
Candy
3 carat diamond earrings
Ca$h

Who can suggest some more tiny gifts for inside?

Alrighty, you guys - thanks for visiting, hope you enjoyed this one!

  

Ball Chain Of A Different Color

Hi, all!   This week I made two jewels from hardware store ball chain.  I did it using a fun trick with a finding meant for a different purpose.

First the jewels, then the trick!

I started with this beautiful multicolored ball chain, isn't it the prettiest stuff?

I found it at a local Ace Hardware.  (If anybody knows an online source, leave it for us in the comments, eh?)

The finding in question is a type of bead tip (typically used for adding clasps to ball chain or strung beads).  This is the kind that closes sideways instead of folding in half.

Now for the big trick.  I clamped a bead tip onto the end of a short length of ball chain, like so:

And...welp, that's it!  Simple, yes?  And there are tons of ways to create jewelry from this interesting component.

To assemble an earring, I used these ingredients:

Using jump rings, I added the ball chain segments to a filigree.

Then I connected the fishhook ear wire to the top.

If you have two ears, make a second earring.   Done!

Note: if you have been coming here long enough, you know that I don't have pierced ears, so instead I wear ear cuffs.  Here's my ear cuff version:

Either way, these earrings are awesomely swingy and surprisingly light to wear!

The necklace went together pretty quickly, too.    They key difference: put bead tips on both ends of each ball chain segment.  This close-up shows the construction a bit better.

I made three double-ended chain segments in graduated sizes.  I threaded them onto craft wire, separated by silver beads.    I finished with a small loop on each end - and added more ball chain for the necklace.

If you can't find the colorful chain, use regular silver or gold tone.  Just think how many ways you can use these little ball chain segments!  How about fringe at the bottom of a large multi-loop pendant?  How about individual skinny ball chain earrings?  How about a great big tassel?

Let's hear your suggestions!

Alrighty, then, that's today's project - thanks for visiting, hope you enjoyed!

p.s. Interested in making your own simple ear cuffs?  Check out this tutorial.

Air Dry Clay Creature Skulls

Hello again!  I used some kids' air dry clay (mine was Crayola brand from the drugstore) to make a fun and weird little creature skull pendant.  Take a look!

Want to try something like this?  Well, here's what I did.  First, using my nearly-non-existent sculpting skillz, I molded the plain white clay into these vaguely reptilian skull beads...

I'm still not sure if they are tiny dragons, baby gators, or lizards of an identified species.  As you can see, pretty much anyone could whip these up.  Bring in a kid to help if you aren't feeling skullish.

I left them to dry overnight, and then they were ready to decorate.

I sat down with my mom and some Sharpies, and we each did a skull.  Mine:

And Mom's:

I always LOVE what she does, without being able to do anything similar myself.  I adore how our artistic styles are so different - it's like we come from different creative planets!  

Next step: I made a curlicue on the end of some craft wire, and threaded it through the skull bead.

I finished up my pendant with a little bead tucked into that depression to protect the hole, and a loop for hanging.

Then I added it to a bright glass bead necklace.  Because the critter obviously wasn't colorful ENOUGH, right?

Here's a wider shot of the full necklace:

I've already gotten some compliments on it.

I hope this inspires somebody to grab a blob of air dry clay and make a big focal bead.  It's fun and quick!  Let it dry overnight, then Sharpie at will.

Later, gators!

Quick Jewelry Makeover: Refashion An Elastic Bracelet

Hi!  Today I have a frugal and easy makeover for you.  First let me show you the end result: these pearly, coppery little necklaces.

I've been wearing them a lot lately - they are subtle, so simple and go with everything.

Here's another design, this one a bit more shmancy:

The makeover began with this (sorta, maybe, kinda) cute elastic bracelet...

...which I probably would never wear in real life.  Not that it was awful, just not my personal style.   But I do love the individual segments.  Such a pretty dark copper color and a nice silhouette.

So I turned them into necklace focals.

For the simple version, all I did was thread two headpins through the focal.  At the top, I turned two small loops.

I added chain and pearls to complete the necklaces.

The fancier, tasseled necklace went together differently. It's created with flexible beading wire (tiger tail), covered over with hollow coiled wire.  You can see this a bit better in the closeup:

The coils are a cool way to disguise the plain tiger tail underneath, don't you think?  (In case you're curious, here's where I bought the coil stuff.)

I had lots of fun raiding my stash for copper-toned treasures to tie onto the tassel.

Btw, those tiny rusty flower buds began life as mini jingle bells - click here for the how-to.

Anyway, you get the idea - you can harvest eight (or more!) focal pieces from one bracelet, and go nuts coming up with various necklace designs.

As frugal as this is, it could be a great party project or craft night challenge: how many different ways can a bunch of people use the same focal?

Before I go, one more makeover to show you - and this time, the bracelet in question is genuinely ugly.

Yuck!  No.  Just...no.  But maybe the individual segments had potential.

So here's what I did with one of them.  Step one: string a few beads on craft wire, and thread the wire up through the two holes:

Make wrapped loops on top.

Add some ribbon, a chain, or a length of cord, like so:

And what is it?  Why, this - an eyeglass holder necklace.

I definitely think it's an improvement on the dreadful original jewel!  Not to mention useful as heck.

And hey - I have nine more sparkly segments to experiment with.  Got any suggestions?

Convertible Magnetic Bookmark Necklace

You know those magnetic bookmarks, right?  The kind with two flat magnets that stick to the edge of your page.  Like these woodland cuties.

They are always embellished with some type of nicely laminated art;  you can find them in thousands of adorable designs.

I have a funny little hack for turning them into necklaces.  As an added bonus, they are interchangeable - switch out the bookmarks to a different design in seconds. Wanna see?  Sure you do!

Begin by making a simple wire piece with a loop on each end.  The straight section of wire should be the same width as your bookmark.  (Optional: add two small decorative spacers.)  Here's how it should look:

Now add the wire piece to a necklace or a chain.

Open a bookmark, slip it over the wire, and let it fall closed.  That is it!

Switch it to another bookmark in the blink of an eye.

It's a great beginner's wirework project.  Couldn't be any easier - two loops and you're done.  Try it with a teen or a tween, or a jewelry-making newbie!

This would be a fun gift for a book lover: give a set of bookmarks and a convertible necklace to go with it.

I'm sure you can find an elegant bookmark out there to match anyone's taste.  Something sophisticated, or whimsical, or literary...

Or you could go in a different direction.

!!!Omg puppies!!!

Bye for now.

p.s. thanks for the puppy ones, mom!
p.p.s. fellow blogger Divya suggested making them for your book club - great idea!