Friday, February 26, 2016

Bohemian Sapphire Earrings

These bohemian-inspired chandelier earrings are truly elegant. With ice-coloured crystals dangling gracefully from the bottom of the loops, they sparkle as they move to create an air of elegance and sophistication. The delicate look combines cool coloured crystals with a lightweight silver filigree chandelier fitting. Add a sparkly cubic zirconia-set earring wire to make them even more upmarket and they'll look like they were handcrafted by a master jeweller! You'll need: Twelve 4mm Sapphire bicone Crystals Four Light Sapphire briolettes . (I used 9x5mm but you can also use 12x6mm briolettes for this design) Twelve silver/gold headpins Two  filigree silver chandelier fittings with 7 loops (Or, try these in gold ) Two cubic zirconia-set silver earring wires  (here's a gold version ) 24g non tarnish silver plated wire  ( gold plated wire ) Tools: round nose pliers, flat nose pliers, flush cutters Set aside half the components and work on one earring at a time....
Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Make a Sparkly Swarovski Crystal Lamp

I've had a bee in my bonnet just recently. You see, a while back, I came across an eye catching ceiling pendant in a local homewares shop that I was really taken with. It was a simple black shade studded with chandelier crystals that sit suspended in little cutouts, allowing the light to glisten through the crystals. All I could think was how PERFECT it would be in my studio.......... and I really wanted it. If only it weren't a ceiling pendant! I didn't end up buying that light fitting (althought I am still tempted) but it did inspire me to recreate the look in a more practical and compact table lamp that will glisten and gleam and be just as sparkly, if not more! All it takes to create your own dazzling sparkle-icious lamp is an inexpensive black lamp with a chrome base....... and as many Swarovski crystals as your heart desires (or your budget allows). Here's what you'll need: A straight sided lamp shade (mine is a black 6" shade) and a chrome lamp...