Copy Cat Anthro Bracelet

I am back with another copy cat jewelry project!

This time I decided to try making my own version of this bracelet from Anthropologie.

It looked like something I could easily do with my bake able molding clay and I was right! I didn't want to spend any money on this project so I just used the clay colors I had at home and this is what I came up with.




 I can't take all the credit for this project. All I did was roll my clay out. Danny took over from there and actually cut the shapes out for me. I just don't have the precision for stuff like that! He made little paper templates so they would be symmetrical where as I would have probably just eyeballed it and hoped for the best.

Making jewelry with clay is so easy and cheap. The little blocks of clay cost maybe $2 and once you get the shapes you want you just throw it all in the oven and bake it according to the directions on the package. Easy peasy!

Copy Cat Anthro Necklace

I saw this necklace from Anthropologie on Pinterest the other day and immediately thought "I am going to make that when I get home tonight".

As you know, I get into hobbies for a few months at a time. Last year I got into jewelry making for a couple of months so I had a stock pile of supplies at home. My mom would REALLY get into hobbies so I came home after Christmas with  tons and tons of beads and other random jewelry making supplies. One look at my inspiration picture and I knew I had everything I needed at home to make a really similar necklace .

After dinner Monday night I headed to the craft room to get started on my necklace and this I what I ended up with.




Pretty close match right?!?!

I loved the raspberry colored beads in the Anthro necklace but the beads I had in that color hung vertically instead of horizontally so I couldn't use them. I was also making the necklace with the intention of wearing it to a wedding  this weekend and the dress I am planning on wearing is navy and cream so I added in some blue beads to tie it into my dress.

I was pretty pleased with my final product! I was even more pleased that it cost me nothing to make since I already had everything I needed at home and it got me itching to start making jewelry again!

Stella & Dot Knock Off

I am going to a Stella and Dot Jewelry party later this week and was browsing their website to get an idea of some of the items I want to buy. While I was looking, I came across the Layla Stretch Bracelet and two things crossed my mind; Layla is a cute name and I could make that bracelet for way less than $34.

I did a quick internet search for some printable Michael's coupons and discovered that all beads were on sale for 50% off! Perfect! You seriously should never ever buy anything full price at that place because you can always find some sort of coupon or get lucky and have the item you need be on special that week.

I ran to the store and picked up my beads, a roll of .7mm clear Stretch Magic and some bead glue (used a 40% off coupon) which I needed for a different project but it came in super handy on this one as well.

Then I made the easiest bracelet ever made.

Step one: Cut a strand of Stretch Magic

Step 2: String your beads on the Stretch Magic

Step 3: Tie a knot, put some bead glue on it, let dry, tie another knot, more glue, let dry

Done!

I ended up getting beads to make two different types of bracelets and did a cost break out for both of them.

The grand total for the bracelet with the turquoise beads was $2.92 and the coral one was $3.05 which is more than a $30 savings over the Stella and Dot version!

Next up is another knock off bracelet that will save you over $250!!!

Adventures in Jewelry Making

So, I have a new hobby that I am totally into right now but will probably be totally over in about a month. I am now a jewelry maker!!! Just add it to the long list of other hobbies I have attempted in the past like scrap booking, sewing, scarf making, tortilla making, running (this one has surprisingly stuck), etc.

I see so many cute and easy DIY jewelry tutorials on Pinterest so I decided to take a shot at it!

So far I have only made a couple of bracelets and one necklace but I am really loving it and I have a few more projects that I will take on as soon as my supplies come in the mail!

First up we have this braided bead bracelet. The tutorial I followed used satin ribbon cording, but I could not find beads with a big enough hole to use that stuff. Instead, I bought some natural colored twine at Michael's for $2.99 and a bag of beads at Joann's for like $4.





I used an end crimp and and lobster clasp at the end of my bracelet to close it but you could always just tie it in a knot.

Then I decided to get a little more fancy and make a beaded clay bracelet like one I saw here on Etsy. All you need for this is some oven bake clay, toothpicks, chain and some sort of clasp to close it all up (some jewelry making tools like pliers and a chain cutter are needed also).

You can find tons of colors of oven bake clay at craft stores for just a couple of dollars each . All you do is roll out some beads, poke a hole through them with a toothpick, and stick them in the oven and bake using the package directions. Then just string your beads on your chain and add your clasp. Voila! Cute, inexpensive bracelet!

All the supplies I bought to make this probably cost me about $20. That includes 5 blocks of clay, 72 inches of chain, a box of clasps, a box of small jump rings and a box of medium jump rings (I use these to hold the beads in the middle of the bracelet so they don't slide all over the place).

So far I have made three bracelets and only used up the tiniest bit of clay and I still have enough chain to make at least three more bracelets. All in all, I would say that each bracelet costs about $3 to make.

This weekend I finished up this braided bead necklace that I have been working on. I think it may be my favorite thing I have made yet! All I needed was 6 strings of beads (they come 2 per pack) from Michael's ( I got them when they were on sale for 40% off and then I had an additional coupon for 20% off my entire purchase so they were practically free). I also picked up some of that clear plastic thread stuff that looks like fishing line, something called a bead clamp and used some chain and a lobster clasp that I already had on hand from my bracelet making. Total this necklace probably cost be about $6 to make.

This weekend I am hoping to make another necklace like this and make a couple of different types of bracelets if all my supplies come in!