Crafty DIY - Jewellery beading ideas

Arts and crafts tips on making chokers, earrings, 1920s necklaces, pendants and broochers. Christmas/Yule/Other is the perfect time to make statement home made jewellery for yourself - or pearlescent stocking stuffers for others.

This morning, we looked into our crystal ball. It was a little murky, and we had to clean it with a handkerchief and a bit of spit, but the glimmerings within suggested you'll soon be making your home pretty with sparkling, shimmering Piratemas / Yule / DIY Christmas decorations. Good for you! The crystal ball went on to suggest you may be feeling a bit poor, and that you're not averse to brushing up your arts and crafts skills to make home made jewellery.

Clever, clever little (occasionally inaccurate) crystal ball!

Bring this same festive magic to your holiday party wardrobe with home made jewellery fashioned from your shiniest, most sparkly beads. Holiday party accessories are unlike other jewelled items because they can carry the weight of being an over-the-top statement when other pieces of jewellery are meant to accentuate an ensemble. These tips have been brought to you by the quick-fingered craft elves at Beadcrafty.com.

Tips for crafting home made jewellery with a Christmas Party twist

Graduated crystal necklaces and bracelets: For something truly eye-catching, a necklace and bracelet set constructed of large crystals with an AB finish will do the trick. Choose graduated sizes, stringing the largest beads in the centre. Go monochromatic, or custom match an outfit with varying shades.

Strands of beaded chokers: Make a choker of same-size medium or large AB crystals, or create a long strand that can be worn to the midriff or wrapped around your neck a few times to mimic the appearance of a multistrand piece.

1920s style long necklaces: For something to go with your 1920s makeup, try making an ultra long necklace using silver-lined or oil slick finished seed beads punctuated with large, globe-shaped crystals. String seed beads in two-inch segments, or vary the bead count between the crystals for a more random look. Use a monochrome palette or go bold with vibrant hues. Choose crystals with an AB finish for maximum impact.

15th Century chokers for the brave: If stringing is not challenging enough for your tastes, or if you want something a bit less contemporary, you can weave a 15th century-styled choker or cuff bracelet from seed beads or small crystals. Right angle weave is very simple, and when using 4mm or 6mm crystals, the look is open and lacy. Accentuate the choker with teardrop beads. If using crystals, choose rounded Czech fire polished for comfort.

Rivoli chain pendants: If you have a collection of rivolis, use some size 14/0 Delicas to make bezels for the rivolis, and construct a gorgeous, unique piece of jewellery that is sure to command the attention of everyone in the room. The design can be as simple as a pendant worn on a chain, or something more elaborate to showcase your intricate needlework skills. Either way, the sparkle of rivolis makes them perfect for holiday festivities.

Mermaid pearls: Oh, classic pearls. They're as eternal as the waters they came from, and never look dated. We don't talk about them being created by very irritated oysters. Ever so versatile, pearls can be worn with jeans or a wedding gown. Or both at the same time. When pearls are invited to join the fun, their warmth cannot be matched. A strand of freshwater pearls in any colour is always super-lovely, and when pearls are woven or strung with crystals and other beads, you've got yourself an elegant, classic look that is most mooksome indeed.

To really showcase the beauty of pearls, be they glass or genuine, use a favourite needlework stitch to weave a collar from ivory-hued pearls and incorporate shiny gold Delicas and clear crystals with an AB finish. The look is romantic, beautiful, and so powerful, yet understated, no other jewellery will be necessary. Nor will clothes, if you're an undercover Venus in a Half-Shell.

Earrings are jolly good, actually: Earrings must not be ignored during the winter soiree season. The trick to successfully wearing holiday earrings is to make them so stunning you don't need any other jewellery at all. In fact, if your lobes are strong enough to support full-size porcelain teacups attached via paperclips, just do that.

For a very simple pair of sparkly earrings, place a large Swarovski crystal on an earring wire and consider it a job well done. If you crave greater elaboration to match your Marie Antoinette heart, bead a bezel around a rivoli and hang this from an earwire.

Brooches can actually change the world: Brooches never go out of style. Steampunkers and wayward Victorian girls (and boys) love them. You just have to remember to pin them to your clothes, not the skin (unless you're terribly brave and really, really want to). Like pearls, flowers are a current trend but they're sort of eternal, so you may want to break out the pinbacks and make a few flower brooches! Not only will festive brooches look wonderful on your garments, but they're also quick and easy stocking stuffers.

Using bugle beads, or seed beads and crystals, fashion your flowers in any colour palette you enjoy. A beaded brooch may be the perfect holiday accessory if you are tired of wearing jewellery every day. Pin one to your lapel, a favourite hat, or use one to close a Bloomsbury Set shawl around your shoulders.

What do you mean you don't have a shawl?

Oops. Fear not, lovelies. No-one ever said you had to have a shawl.

No matter what you wear this time of year, as long as it is paired with your gorgeous beaded creations, you will feel like the embodiment of the holiday party season!

Bead making lexicon of terms

What is a right angle weave? An easy beading stitch to learn, it means the beads sit at right angles to each other. It's perfect for making lace-effect bead chokers. In fact, here: have a right angle weave tutorial video.

What is an AB finish? 'AB' refers to the 'Aurora Borealis' finish, a bead treatment inspired by the Northern Lights. It's a coating applied to beads (usually just on one side) with a rainbow or iridescent effect.

What is a Bezels? It's a rim into which a piece of jewellery can be set. Bezels are usually made of metal.

What are Rivoli beads? Technically speaking Rivolis aren't beads because they have no drilled holes. Rivoli 'beads' are a type of faceted cut used for rhinestones. You can do nice things with them, like set them in bezels.

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