The Beading Gem

How to Make a Silicone Mold Using a Real Leaf

Making your own molds using silicone means you can really make truly unique jewelry. Sveta, the UK based crafter behind @FreshIdea8019 takes it up a notch. Her tutorial demonstrates how you can make small leaf silicone molds using real leaves! Many of us have small potted plants in the house so you do not have to wait for summer to access leaves from the garden,

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5 Beaded Multi- Layered Beadwork Necklace Tutorials

Have you tried wearing multi-layered necklaces? The necklaces deliver much more pizzazz when grouped together.

The necklace design which first caught my eye is the lovely tutorial shown above by hobbylandarltd. Gold and black is such an elegant combination.

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Clever Rain or Water Drop Resin Jewelry Tutorials | The Auspicious Rain Dance

There are a number of fun and clever resin jewelry tutorials to create what looks like rain or water drops! Clear fishing line is used to help with the illusion.

First up is the tutorial from @arty_creations170 who uses UV resin. She adds the resin drops on a silicone sheet and then adds short lengths of fishing line before curing. Her method of grouping the strands for a tidy capped ending is lovely.

Please make sure you use adequate ventilation for UV resin work because there is usually a lot of off gassing in a short period of time.

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Gorgeous Machine Embroidered Cork Fabric Keychains by FromDuskTwillDawn

Canadian artisan of FromDustTwillDawn had an epiphany when she had to upgrade her old sewing machine. She went with a sewing and embroidery combination. She now makes gorgeous machine embroidered cork fabric key chains and coasters. I have only shown one of her coasters at the end - a clever dinosaur skull one.

Shown here are some of my favourites. The killer bee and goose carrying knives are delightful. She hand draws her designs which is then converted into pixels using an embroidery machine program.

Like many Canadian artisans, she is able to ship to US customers without any tariffs through the USMCA (or CUSMA) program.

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Tips on Rose Petal Bead Making | Skhab Beaded Jewelry | How Traditional Osmanthus Beads are Made

April is still a little too early for roses but soon these fragrant blooms will abound in gardens. But rose enthusiasts in warmer climates will definitely have access to them now!

This rose petal making tutorial from @motherearthnewsmag - a great channel on all things rural and naturally sustainable living - is full of tips on how to collect and crush up real rose petals to make beads.

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Fun Beadwork Tiny People and Doll Tutorials

Ukrainian artisan, Miroslava

The wonderful linked people beaded choker tutorial shown above by Ukrainian artisan, Miroslava of KeychainbyMirami888 was what inspired this feature. She also has a kit available.

Over the years, I have collected various people or doll tutorials - see the links at the end for more wire and metal work people inspirations.

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Animal and Flower Ceramic and Porcelain Charms | How Ancient Egyptians Made Faience Amulets

Ceramic and porcelain are both made from clay. However, porcelain is made from finer clay and is fired at higher temperatures. You know what? I adore them both as charms in jewelry making. Every artisan has a distinct style in how they make their charms. Here are some of my favourites.

The gorgeous ceramic fox pendant above is by a wonderful artisan, Majoyoal, whose work I have featured before.

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Pretty Flower Petal Cluster Earrings by CaitlynJewelryArt

I've said it many times before. I'll say it again. It's not what you use but how you use it that counts. CaitlynJewelryArt has a collection of pretty flower petal cluster earrings. Each petal is not flat but has undulating curves.

What caught my eye was the different ways which these petals are grouped together with a diverse range of findings. That makes each design unique. The designs could be long and dangly or the petals arrayed around hoop findings.