Learn How to Make Things! Tutorials!

I love Craftsy.  You want to make something?  Just search on Craftsy, find the tutorial, pay and you have it instantly.

I sell my tutorials on Craftsy, too!

What's great about my tutorials?

I have 2 main types of tutorials:  Digital Programs and Individual Tutorials. 

Digital Programs contain usually at least 4 different individual projects (many times more!), plus all the skills you need to make them.  They give you ideas for customizing and personalization and making each project more your own. 

Individual tutorials have 1 project and all the skills you need to make it.  I don't just tell you to "open a jump ring" here.  I give you photos and tell you exactly how to open the jump ring.  (There is a specific way and most beginners don't know that!)

Design-a-doll is one project, but I teach you how to design your own doll!!  You can use this tutorial over and over again to make lots of dolls!

• You learn more than just how to make a project (or projects).  I teach you skills to be able to make it your own and come up with your own projects.
• TONS of full color photos.  Big photos with details! 
• Detailed instructions.  I teach you like you know nothing.  (Except for anything involving sewing.  With the doll tutorials and cuff tutorials, I assume you know how to sew at least in a straight line.)
• You can email me questions!  I want you to succeed.  I'm just an email away! 
• Bonus:  I don't mind if you sell the products you make from my tutorials!

To see all of my current digital programs and tutorials, check out my Craftsy Pattern Store.

Tutorial: Stacked Button Necklace

I recently came into possession of a lot of buttons (to add to my growing collection.)  I love buttons and even though I don't always know exactly what I am going to do with them, if I see a deal on them, I'll buy them!

I have made button necklaces before, but this is the first one like this.  I made earrings in this style previously, which were so cute, too!

Materials and Tools:

• Buttons ( I used 62.  If you are a smaller stature person, you'll need less)

• Wire (I used 24 gauge wire)

• Chain

• 4 jump rings (I used 3 4mm jump rings and 1 7 mm jump ring)

• Wire cutters

• Round nose pliers

• Needle nose pliers

Step #1

Pick out buttons that want to use.  I used just 2 colors:  purple and gray.  I have a lot of those colors, plus I knew they would match outfits I have.  You can definitely use different colors, more colors, etc.  You'll only see the sides of the buttons, so keep that in mind.

Also the shank type of buttons won't really work for this project.  (See photo below for what I'm talking about.)

Shank button.  Won't work for this project.

Step #2

Cut off about 12 inches of wire.

Step #3

Make a loop on one end of the wire.

Step #4

Start stacking buttons on the one by one, like you would beads.  You could add a bead on each end.

Step #5

Add a loop to the other side of the buttons and trim off the excess wire.

Step #6

Decide how long you want your necklace to be.  Measure how long the button piece you just made is and subtract that from how long you would like your necklace to be.  Cut a piece of chain the length that is left.  Then cut the piece of chain in 2 equal lengths.

Step #7

Open a jump ring (I used a 4 mm jump ring) and add the chain to the button piece.  Repeat on the other side.

Step #8

Add a jump ring to one side, for 1/2 a clasp.  (I used a 7 mm jump ring)

Step #9

Open a jump ring (I used a 4 mm) and add a lobster clasp to the other side.

Step #10

Enjoy your new necklace!

Note:

1. You can use beading wire instead of silver wire, and then make loops and crimp. 
2. You can use any color buttons, however, shank buttons won't work for this project.
3. Use any kind of chain you desire, and any clasp you would like!
4. You can make this necklace as long or as short as you want!  Same goes for how many buttons you use!
5. If you have questions about how to, or need more instructions on wire wrapping loops, I have a tutorial that teaches that!  Hardware Necklace and Bracelet teaches you basic wire wrapping and you make a couple awesome projects!

Tutorial: Bracelet Made from old Slides

Recently a lot of slides have come into my life.  Lancaster Creative Reuse seems to have a never-ending supply of them from an Art History department.  Then I also recently came across a bunch that belonged to a widower without any family.  They would have been thrown out.

Where you can find slides:  estate sales, garage sales, thrift stores, auctions.  Just keep your mind and eyes open and you'll find them!  

Supplies and Materials:

(what on earth is going on here?!?)

• Slides (I used 5)

• 7 mm jump rings (22)

• Lobster clasp

• 2 pairs of pliers

Step #1

I didn't take a photo, but I removed the slides from the protectors.  Sometimes they are the plastic protectors.  Keep those!  You can find so many other things to do with them!  These were the cardboard and they were pretty destroyed when I got the slides out.

Step #2

Connect the slides together with 2 jump rings, 1 in each corner.

I used 5 slides.  You may not need as many.  You can also add more jump rings and use less slides.

Step #3

On the end slides make a chain of 3 jump rings on each corner.

Step #4

Connect the 2 chains with another jump ring.

Step #5

Do steps #3 and #4 on the other end.  When you add the final jump ring, add the lobster clasp to it before closing.

Step #6

Enjoy your unique bracelet!

If you need some extra help with jump rings or want to make more unique jewelry, check out my How to Make Extraordinary Jewelry from Ordinary Objects Workshop (a/k/a How to Make Hardware Jewelry Workshop.)  Available for purchase + instant download in my Craftsy Store.