Category Archives: Jewelry

Recent DIY Projects

5.26.2011

I’ve been so busy lately I’ve been neglecting to share things that I’ve made. Here are a couple items that I’ve finished up and am enjoying:

Galaxy-Print Scrunchie

Make following this tutorial from some leftover self-designed galaxy-print fabric scraps. I’m making a top with the fabric and since the tiny amount I bought was so goshdarn expesnive, I didn’t want to let any part of it go to waste. The fabric is silk, backed in black mesh chiffon. I should have made it twice as wide, but I only had so many scraps leftover. It tends to slip out of my hair since it’s silk, so I wear it around a hair-tie.

Tribal Necklace

Made with faux bamboo-stick beads and faux coral beads from Michael’s. I love the spiky organic-ness to it.

Bohemian Leaf Head-band (Head-dress?)

I’m not really a boho gal, but I couldn’t resist crafting this. Take any flat-ish jewely finding that has a hole in either end, and string them together with jumprings to make an adornment for your brow. The leaf findings I used only had one hole, so I drilled another one in the end of each piece. Which took a $%##% long time, too.

Feather Earrings

Made in the style of Owlita. (Theirs are much nicer, though!) I just wired together some feathers and added a handmade ear-wire to them. I love how they mingle in with my hair.

Have you made any projects recently that you’re dying to show off? Do tell!

xoxox

Carly

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DIY, Earrings, Headbands, Jewelry, Necklace

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Ring Storage Solutions

5.16.2011

So this now closes my Rings Week series – it actually ended up being TWO weeks as I’ve gotten so behind on things. This is how I store my rings in my closet: right below my clothing, on top of my tights drawer.

Storing rings (or just about anything) I’ve always found a challenge – because the more you have, the harder it is to make the storage look “neat” and “organized.” My solution is to store my rings with thin bands in a velour-lined case, bought from a jewelry supply shop; it keeps them visible, neat, and looks a little luxurious. (This is a tufted ring display, similar to this one here.)(I stack another box and 3 layers below this one that hold small stud earrings, chain necklaces, and larger necklaces. Similar flocked inserts are sold here, and the trays are sold here.) But lately I’ve acquired a number of rings that have very thick shanks or wide bands or large, wide stones in them, and have had trouble figuring out how to store/display them. (For me, if I don’t have it on display in front of my face, I completely forget that it’s in my closet.;-) At first I tried compartmentalized boxes, but I own such a range of sizes and widths that I was still left with rings that didn’t fit in the boxes, or tiny, delicate rings that were just left swimming in their compartments. So I now keep my larger rings all jumbled together (they’re costume jewelry anyway) in wide, cotton-lined jewelry gift boxes that have come with one purchase or another at some time. You can see some of the ring shanks are wrapped with moleskin to prevent them slipping off my fingers.

Right now this is what’s working best for me.

If you like displaying and storing your jewelry in a professional manner, you can certainly just use what jewelry stores do: velour, denim, plastic, or leather stands and cases are all surprisingly affordable and chic. Some people also like buying tiny busts or miniature mannequins to display their favorite pieces, on top of a dresser or armoire for easy access. You can pile all your rings on long spikes (like those desk accessories that you stab finished receipts onto from old film noir movies) for a long n clustered look. Ring Storage Solutions

Brass Desk Spike Paperweight from Amazon.com: a DIY Ring Holder?

Ring Storage Solutions If you like the idea of a ring tray, Smart N Snazzy has a great DIY for making your own, lined in satin. It gives the standard jewelry tray and utterly regal feel.

Ring Storage Solutions The ubiquitous hand-holder. (img src)

Some people choose to display their rings on a branched holder; I’ve seen one shaped like deer antlers or trees; some use real sticks and branches to give their collection an earthy, bohemian feel.

Ring Storage Solutions Deer from Urban Outfitters; no longer available.:-(

Ring Storage Solutions The uber-talented duo from Dismount Creative DIY’d another Urban Outfitters piece: this one, white dollhouse chairs in a tower-cum-jewelry-organizer (which is also a great option if you like the “branch” setup and like to keep things on display). What an inspiring project!

Do you have any ring storage solutions or ideas that work for you? Please let me know in the comments!

Well this Week of Rings has been fun! Hopefully there’s been some info in there that has been inspiring or useful – and helped us all look at those little decorations for our fingers just the slightest bit differently. Thanks for reading along!

xoxo
Carly

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Jewelry, Of House and Home, Rings

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Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Rings Q&A

5.08.2011

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Rings Q&A Question Mark Ring from CHAO & EERO – you can place an order from them here

Since beginning this week chock-full of ring-themed posts, I realize I haven’t delved into the basics just yet. So for all of you who have questions about rings: how to clean em’, how to size em’, how to keep ‘em…this post’s for YOU!

Read the Full Post ---»

DIY Materials, How-To, Jewelry, Rings

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ThisRING.com: Let Your Fiance Know Your Engagement Ring Wishes Before He Pops the Question

5.07.2011

ThisRING.com: Let Your Fiance Know Your Engagement Ring Wishes Before He Pops the Question Boy, I wish this site had been around when I got engaged! Hub, kind and loving that he is, honestly isn’t the most clued-in when it comes to my personal taste or jewelry that I am drawn to. As a result, I’m not really a fan of my own engagement…or wedding rings, sad to say.:-( Though they are representative of our bond and our commitment to each other, they’re really not representative of either of us!

But shopping for an engagement ring is one of the most difficult things to do for a guy – ever! You (as the lady on the receiving end) probably don’t want to whip out a list and say “This is what I want…something like this….but not THIS…” and hand it over to your guy before he even gets around to popping the question (talk about putting the cart before the horse!) You can drop hints all you like prior to being asked but sometimes they go right over your guy’s head – or worse, he hears all of your hints and decides instead to choose something that he likes because it symbolizes his love for you. (Yet you’re the one who has to wear it. Ladies – please chime in here: is this ever okay?) Oftentimes guys have no clue where to start and just ask their other guy friends, or other women in their lives for their advice…often even defaulting to their mothers to make this difficult choice!(*ahem*) And sometimes there’s no hinting at all – and you are caught completely by surprise by the proposal – and didn’t even have a chance to mention what you’d really like to wear to show off as a symbol of your bond.

Enter ThisRING.com, designed to take the guesswork out of buying an engagement ring for someone else. From their description:

It’s straightforward, no matter if you are in a relationship or not you just create an account, including diamond color and shape, ring size and metal type, and ring styles that you might have seen and wish to replicate. It’s a very simple process, and can take as little as five minutes to complete. Once done, for a very small fee the man can secretly access your details so the proposal is still a surprise, but present you with the ring of your dreams!

The style guides are specific enough so that the bride-to-be can lay out the details of what she likes…and vague enough so that the groom-to-be can still make his own decisions for the final piece.

ThisRING.com: Let Your Fiance Know Your Engagement Ring Wishes Before He Pops the Question What do all of you think? Is this a service you can see yourself using? Are you happy with your engagement/wedding ring yourself? How did you get the hint across to your beau?

(Take it from somebody who’s been on the receiving end of something…less than perfect…it ends up as a permanent “wish it couldabeen….” years down the road. Perhaps at our 10th wedding anniversary we’ll renew our wedding/engagement rings so they’re more…our style…but gosh, it would have been soooo nice to get them right the first time around!!)

I had some different content planned for all of you this evening…but I have the flu, and have spent most of this week cocooned in blankets and tissues. Hopefully I’ll be able to string together a couple sentences in coherent thought when the Dayquil kicks in tomorrow, and post something more meaty then. Til tomorrow, lovelies!

xoxox
Carly

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Cool Sites, Jewelry, Rings

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Kate Middleton’s Ring is America’s #1 Obsession!

5.05.2011

Well, according to Emitations.com – check out the amazing infographic above that they put together about the iconic Kate Middleton Ring! (Probably the most well-known and discussed ring of late…)

If you are looking to purchase the affordable version of the Kate Middleton ring in Sterling Silver or in silvertone (or any other jewelry inspired by Kate and the Royal Family), Emitations has an entire page of possibilities! Also: Until May 9th, take $4 off a $40 order with code HN440, and take $12 off a $80 order with code HN1280 (So the Kate Middleton ring in Sterling Silver would end up at $70 using code HN440, for example.)

What do all of you think? Is the appeal in owning what feels to be a part of history? A pretty jewel? An icon of royalty? Do tell!
xoxox
Carly

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Jewelry, Rings

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Inspired Alert! Elizabeth + James Knuckle Ring…and Forever 21 Sideways Cross Ring

5.03.2011

Inspired Alert! Elizabeth + James Knuckle Ring...and Forever 21 Sideways Cross Ring Popularized by the lovely Rumi of FashionToast…among many, many others, this Robert Lee Morris for Elizabeth + James liquid-metal-look knuckle ring was a huge hit from last year, and continues to be a strong seller from the line. There’s just something about its sleek, minimalist beauty that seems both timeless and fashion-forward, and I’ve been drooling over it for awhile now.

Robert Lee Morris for Elizabeth + James Long Knuckle Ring, $195, Saks.com Knuckle Ring in Gold, $30, Shockboutique.com

So I was glad to recently find both a version at ShockBoutique.com, AND one from Forever21 as well. (Took you long enough, Forever 21! Hint: Just rip off the filigree from the front of the ring if you’re looking for an exact dupe – it’s affixed with what feels like cheap hot glue and comes off easily.;-)

Forever 21 Regal Knuckle Ring, $5.80

(The Stretchy Knuckle Ring from Forever 21 is also a lookalike for the smaller Elizabeth + James knuckle ring, at about 1.5″ long, and with a stretchy band.)

Additionally, I also found another Elizabeth + Jamese knuckle ring lookalike from Etsy seller snefter.

snefter Flat Armor Finger Knuckle Ring, $15.99, Etsy.com

(It’s not quite as long as the E + J version above, but not quite as short as the small version.)

Also find their YSL Arty Oval Ring lookalike KILLER Chunky Gold Finger Ring, and their Forever 21 sideways cross lookalike Sideways Cross Connector Double Finger Knuckle Ring in their store as well. Oh, snefter – you crafty caster, you! Now, the rings they offer for sale are not exact copies down to the millimeter, but they’re pretty goshdarn close. It’s obvious that the original pieces were not used in the creation of the molds this person uses in their jewelry, but still…they’re amazing doppelgangers!!

And speaking of that Forever 21 sideways cross ring that just EXPLODED in popularity last year (some people were paying $95+ for it on Ebay!)…

Find ASOS.com’s Double Finger ‘Cross’ Ring (above left) here and ShockBoutique’s Two-Finger Cross Ring (above right) here. And I just re-stocked my silver sideways cross rings in my Etsy shop, too.

Inspired Alert! Elizabeth + James Knuckle Ring...and Forever 21 Sideways Cross Ring My version of the ubiquitous sideways cross ring.

Any designer rings you’re looking for me to sniff out an affordable version of? Or a DIY? Let me know in the comments!
xoxox
Carly

All ring photos copyright of their respective owners; FashionToast photo from this post here.

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Inspired Alert!, Jewelry, Rings

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It’s Rings Week Here at Chic Steals!

5.02.2011

Its Rings Week Here at Chic Steals! Arbitrarily I have decided to make this week all about rings here on my site. One-fingered, two-fingered, sterling, precious metal, gemstones, faux, real, what-have-you – it’s all about finger-adornment!

If you have any questions about rings: how to organize them, how to clean them, and (best of all, IMHO) how to make them…either leave your questions in the comments or shoot them to me via the Formspring.me Ask me anything box in my right sidebar. —–> I’ll be getting to them all week long, so send them my way!

So first things first, here are some books to learn from and be inspired by:

1000 Rings: Inspiring Adornments for the Hand

I love this book! This is the perfect coffee table/inspiration book for anyone who loves rings.

30-Minute Rings: 60 Quick & Creative Projects for Jewelers

This is another one of my faves: beautiful photography and inspiring projects featuring a variety of techniques.

Make Your Own Rings: Easy ring projects to do at home

Another technique and tutorial book; this one also includes tutorials for rings made of Precious Metal Clay (PMC; similar to Art Clay Silver), which is a material people familiar with PolyClay can learn to use quite easily.

The Rings Book (Jewellery Handbooks)

Jinks McGrath, a well-known name in metalsmithing, has written this book which details ring-making for bench jewelers. Though this is certainly not for the hobbyist or beginner, the principles and techniques covered in this book are for fine jewelry and will familiarize anyone with how to properly create a durable piece of jewelry and work of art.

The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy (Platinum Series Special Extended Edition)

Its Rings Week Here at Chic Steals! Sorry, but we’re talking long-haired elves in tights. I figured a list about rings would not be complete without the One Ring, hmmmm? (Plus, the extended editions add almost an hour of cut footage to the movies -hence, more elves in tights. All the more reason!;-P)

And to get further in the mood, here are a two DIY Ring Tutorials I’ve shared here on the blog:

Its Rings Week Here at Chic Steals! Spiked Crystal Ring

Its Rings Week Here at Chic Steals!

DIY Rhinestone Panja

Only…TWO??!!

Well, I’ll just have to remedy that!

xoxox
Carly

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Books, DIY, Jewelry, Jewelry, Rings, Rings

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Inspired Alert! Alloy.com Kali Wrap Bracelets vs. Chan Luu Wrap Bracelet

4.18.2011

Inspired Alert! Alloy.com Kali Wrap Bracelets vs. Chan Luu Wrap Bracelet Odds are, if you’ve been living anywhere except under a rock you will have noticed Chan Luu‘s beautiful beaded wrap bracelets, which have been making the rounds everywhere from the Internet to the wrists of celebs since at least last year.

A little bit boho, a little bit dressy, these bracelets come in turquoise, jade, silver, and a whole variety of semiprecious stones and metals, woven onto leather cords, to add a bit of color and flash to your wrists.

Amazing DIY’er and beader Ruby Mines shared her tutorial last year for making your own (that won Fan Favorite in The Ultimate DIY Competition on Cut Out + Keep!)…and I have to say, I just couldn’t tell the different between the original and her version!! (I think she’s taken down her tutorial since I can’t find it any more…sorry!)

(Edit 4/19: In the comments a reader mentioned a video tutorial for this bracelet done by SewPetiteGal. Check it out if you’re looking to make your own version. Thanks for the heads-up!)

Now Alloy.com has come out with the exact same style of bracelet…except for $14.90. (And using glass, plastic, and wood beads and polyester cording.)

Which would you buy? Pay homage to the designer who came up with the original…or be frugal and snap up the cheaper version? Does the Chan Luu version deserve its $170 pricetag…and is it more ethical as a consumer to buy it?

Discuss!;-)

xoxox

Carly

images from the respective websites above; photo array by me.

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Bracelets, Inspired Alert!, Jewelry

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Featured as a “Crafty Superstar” on Cut Out + Keep!

3.19.2011

Forgot to mention this – I was featured on craft-tutorial sharing site Cut Out + Keep a couple weeks ago, as a Crafty Superstar!

Since I was feeling sort of black-and-white at the time and wanted to share a range of projects that utilized a variety of techniques, I contributed four projects (click the name to go straight to the how-to):

DIY Alexander Wang Wool Glasses / DIY Corseted Tee

Featured as a Crafty Superstar on Cut Out + Keep!

DIY Sequin Bow Belt / Woven Chain-and-Ribbon Earrings

Read the Short Interview Here

Thanks so much to Cat and whole team at Cut Out + Keep – I’m so thrilled to have been featured!

What do you all think of the projects? Anything that you’d like to try out?
xoxox
Carly

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Accessories, DIY, Featured in..., Interviews, Jewelry, Men's Shirts, Tops

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DIY in 5: Acrylic Bib Necklace

2.17.2011

DIY in 5: Acrylic Bib Necklace

Yesterday I coveted it, so today I’m going to show you how to make it. It’s DIY in 5 – minutes, that is. The easiest, quickest ways to take a piece from blah to fab and update it to current trends.

From left to right: Giambattista Valli, Alexis Bittar, Giorgio Armani, VPL Victoria Bartlett.

photo credits: Style.com, Wireimage.com; photo array by me.

With the coming of Spring, jewelry tends to go lighter, translucent, and more plastic-y…and the bib necklace is no exception. But finding just the right clear acrylic piece for a necklace is pretty tough; jewelry supply stores usually don’t sell large bib-style acrylic pieces, for one thing. You could always design it yourself and have it cut by Ponoko.com – but there’s a steep learning curve for the design software, usually multiple prototypes are necessary before you reach your final design, the service is pretty expensive for just once, and hiring out lasercutting seems a bit over-the-top for just a single piece for yourself. No, fast, cheap, and easy is the name of the game, so when I spied a set of acrylic purse handles at Jo-Ann Fabrics and Crafts store, I figured one would be perfect for a necklace.

Project Difficulty: (Easy/Beginner)

You Need:

*1 acrylic purse-handle

DIY in 5: Acrylic Bib Necklace

*2 silvertone rectangle rings or D-rings (also found in purse-making section)

*1/2″ wide satin ribbon

*2 silvertone scrapbooking brads (not pictured)

And…

*pliers (optional: wirecutting pliers)

*scissors

*awl

*lighter/flame

How-To:

I love how it looks like the purse handle is smiling at you. Happy Handle!:-D

1. Use the pliers to remove the top rings from the handle – usually I find these rings, being sized for purses, are too big and bulky in relation to the size of the handle to use as-is for a necklace. (It literally looks like you’ve slung a purse handle around your neck…something I don’t want to be too obvious in the finished piece.)

DIY in 5: Acrylic Bib Necklace

2. Attach the rectangles or D-rings that you got separately to the ends of the handle with the pliers – twisting apart and then re-closing like a jump ring with 2 sets of pliers. (If you couldn’t find any rings or don’t like that look, you can always skip this step and just thread the ribbon ends through the holes in the ends of the handle instead.)

DIY in 5: Acrylic Bib Necklace

3. Cut two long pieces of ribbon and thread each through the rectangles/D-rings. (Make sure each ribbon piece when doubled-over, is still long enough to tie behind your neck.)

DIY in 5: Acrylic Bib Necklace

Cut the ends at an angle and heat-seal them with a lighter or open flame.

DIY in 5: Acrylic Bib Necklace

4. Use an awl or the scissors to poke a hole through the ribbon center near the rectangle/D-rings. Attach a scrapbooking brad through the hole and fold over the brad legs. (You can also trim them if they stick out beyond the width of the ribbon by using wirecutting pliers.)

DIY in 5: Acrylic Bib Necklace