Jewelry Making: Glass, Opalite, and Obsidian Bracelet and Earrings

I have some "special" beads that I keep set aside for special gifts so I grabbed a pair of black and white Murano style glass beads and some coordinating Opalite and Snowflake Obsidian beads from my stash, along with solver spacer beads and bead caps and went to work.

Supplies:

• Murano Style Fused Glass Beads (Specialty Bead Shops or Shipwreck Beads/Fire Mountain Gems)
• Natural Gemstone Beads (I used Snowflake Obsidian)
• Silver Bead Caps and Spacer Beads (Sterling or Plated, Bead Landing from Michaels)
• Earring Wires
• Jump Rings
• Head Pins
• Stretch Jewelry Cord
• Jewelry Glue (Aleenes, Walmart)

The black and white glass beads worked perfectly with the Opalite, picking up its luminescence. Opalite is actually a crystal vs Opal which is a gemstone. I love the head pins by Bead Landing at Michaels because they're strong yet bend smoothly.

I strung an Opalite bead on the pin followed by the black and white bead and finished with a bead cap before making a closed loop.

Once you're done with both pieces, attach to the ear wires using jump rings.

Then I went to work on the bracelet which used a combination of Snowflake Obsidian and Spacer Beads.

The design on these coordinated well with the bead caps. Spacer beads are also by Bead Landing. I strung a spacer bead and then a black crystal bead followed by another spacer bead and completed the rest of the bracelet alternating spacer bead, gemstone bead, spacer bead until I had the right size. As I shared in my Spooky Season Jewelry post, clamp on end of your stretch cord length, and I just eyebal until I have the size I need for my wrist which is pretty average-sized.

To finish, I added a small rhinestone charm (Charm Along, Michaels) using another jump ring. Since this was a gift, I wanted to present it as such. I love these organza bags which you can find at Michaels, JoAnn, bead and packaging shops.

I cut an earring card using my Cricut and placed the bracelet in a small bag and the earrings in a medium one to accommodate the earring card. .

I love making gifts for special people but I also always hold my breath. I think as makers, we know we love what we do but maybe wonder if other people do? Maybe that's just me! I exhaled when I got the nicest thank you note stating that the recipient LOVED her gifts.