Posts Tagged ‘multi-purposing’

Multi-purpose this: another use for wire protectors

Thursday, June 11th, 2009

Here’s a quick tip that we found at the excellent Starving Jewelry Artists discussion forum:

Multipurpose this: learn another use for wire protectors!

Multipurpose this: learn another use for wire protectors!

“I shared this with a friend awhile back and she thought it was a great idea. I came up with it out of frustration.

“I use wire guards (or what ever name you may call them) as extra protection and finishing when using watch faces.

“I never liked the look of the beading wire going through the hole but more than that I was concerned about the durability. I always used two strands of high quality beading wire but never felt extremely confident. Now I have no worries and although it is obvious I still think it looks a little better or more finished.”

- Sophisticated Hippie

Know another great tip for using findings?  Share it here in a comment!

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* On August 3, five winners will receive coveted Rings & Things gift certificates!
* Enter often & see if you win!

Strand enhancers enhance your business

Thursday, May 7th, 2009

Looking at the new Wedding / Bridal / Prom section that we’re building in our Design Gallery, I learned a technique…

Strand enhancers can grow your business.  For a second, I thought this might mean “necklace extenders“, which are amazingly useful findings themselves.

But no, strand enhancers are yet a different way of offering extra value to your jewelry customers.  They instantly make any necklace into a “Y” necklace, as @wendytgibson put it on Twitter.  See one detache, and one in action, in this “Always a Bridesmaid” necklace design:

The "Always a Bridesmaid" design from Rings & Things

The "Always a Bridesmaid" design from Rings & Things

For this necklace, designer Cindy made the “pearl enhancer” with a #39-541-11 9×15mm oval no-trigger lobster clasp, in sterling silver.  Have a custom wedding order?  You can make clip-on strand enhancers with colors that match the bridesmaids’ dresses!

You can take this idea to craft fairs and jewelry shops too!  Offer necklace-buying customers a matching strand enhancer for a little sales bump.  They let the customer multi-purpose her necklace, choosing the style she wants.  And they’re easy to make — so you could even offer to “build to order”.  As @CreationsWHeart (also on Twitter) pointed out, “I can see how you could come up w/ a ton of designs whether it’s on a chain or beaded necklace! How fun!”

PS: A little extra design trick is to use seed beads in a pearl necklace like the one seen here.  They’re easy, affordable spacers and they take far less time than knotting the cord!

Want to suggest more necklace design tricks and tips?  Share them in a comment below.  You’ll be entered in our raffle!

May giveaway:
* You enter by leaving comments this month
* At the end of May, 2 winners will receive coveted Rings & Things goodie packs!
*
So read the blog regularly, to enter a lot & to see if you won!

Multipurposing: teapot bead cap => Aladdin’s lamp charm

Tuesday, April 28th, 2009

Multipurposing tip:  Rings & Things’ sterling silver teapot bead caps also make a magical Aladdin’s lamp charm.

sterling_teapot_bead_cap_43-546-02

Sterling silver teapot bead cap (Rings & Things #43-546-02)

Credit goes to @tamdoll on Twitter for this great craft business tip!  Just “cap” this finding around your favorite 10- to 12mm bead.  It makes a fine addition to a charm bracelet, or earrings…  Here’s another style that we offer:

Sterling silver teapot bead cap (Rings & Things #43-546-01)

Sterling silver teapot bead cap (Rings & Things #43-546-01)

This means you have at least three flavors of lamp for Arabian Nights-themed jewelry, because we’ve also added this new antiqued-silver plated Aladdin charm:

Aladdin's lamp charm (Rings & Things #44-940-17-AS)

Aladdin's lamp charm (Rings & Things #44-940-17-AS)

How about an aquiline crystal bead as a lamp?  Check out this Aladdin’s Lamp earring design from our Design Gallery!

normal_aladdins_lamp_earrings

Have more ideas for Arabian Nights jewelry?  More multipurposing magic in mind?  Share by leaving a comment!

April giveaway: “DIY Display Ideas”:
* You enter by leaving comments under the March 31 giveaway announcement
* At the end of April, 2 winners will receive coveted Rings & Things goodie packs!
*
So read the blog regularly to see if you won!

Ready for May birthstones?

Tuesday, April 7th, 2009

Plan ahead for May birthstones!

There’s one main birthstone for May, emerald.  This is also the seasonal birthstone for Spring, so it’s doubly appropriate.  For an economical emerald look, think about glass beads.  Anything from these metal-core Calypso™ (“Pandora”-style) lampwork beads…

emerald_calypso_28-356-03-003

…to the ever-popular, economical Cosmic Crystal™ bicone…

emerald_bicone_28-371-04-372

…can be an evocative way to play on the emerald theme.  Just search our online store for “emerald”!  Or for “sapphire”, which some consider a birthstone for Taurus.  Now that’s multi-purposing your components!

Speaking of zodiac signs, Gemini’s birthstone is agate.  We always seem to have dozens of varieties of it at Rings & Things’ BeadTour bead shows, and you can always find agate beads in our online store.  A couple of favorites are Botswana agate, like these faceted rounds…

botswana_agate_21-896-102

…and blue lace agate, like this bib:

blue_lace_agate_21-802-005

Less well-known May gemstones, according to various traditions, are chrysolite, carbuncle, and chalcedony.  For reliable, honest background information, you can look these and many more up in our popular Gemstone Beads Index!

What’s your favorite May birthstone, or birthday jewelry?  Share it in a comment below.  You can even link to pictures of your own creations!

April giveaway: “DIY Display Ideas”:
* You enter by leaving comments under the March 31 giveaway announcement
* At the end of April, 2 winners will receive coveted Rings & Things goodie packs!
*
So read the blog regularly to see if you won!