DIY Baby Head Bands

Boutique style baby head bands are so easy to make and you can make them way under budget. These head bands are very special to me as these are the first DIY project I did for my little one. After this project I made a lot of DIY decor projects for her nursery. So stay tuned for up coming posts but forgive me, it might take a while to post them all as I am busy loving my newborn. 

Coming back to head bands, things you need:

• Pretty lace pieces of your choice (I got mine at local Joann craft store)
• Matching ribbon
• Satin ribbon flowers, big lace flowers or any other embellishments (optional)
• Thin elastic ( I used 0.25 inch thick braided elastic)
• Hot glue gun
• Scissors

Don't this list look so simple? I promise the procedure is as simple as the list.

For head band sizing information, you can google "Baby head band size chart" and you will find a ton of information. 

For example new born's head band need to be approximately 11 to 12 inches,  if you are making one for a new born cut your lace piece and elastic such that they both add up to 11 or 12 inches. 

I just made my head bands in 3 different sizes to use them as baby grows.

Cut lace and elastic pieces according to measurements you choose. Cut 2 pieces of ribbon about 1.5 inch each.

Join one end of elastic to one end of lace using little hot glue, dab little more hot glue and wrap the joint around with a ribbon piece.

Similarly join the other end of lace to other end of elastic and wrap the joint with ribbon using hot glue.

Cut any excess ribbon left at the joints. If you like add a pretty flower or bow to make it even more gorgeous.

That's it you just made a pretty head band. Isn't it the easiest craft you ever made?

Here are a couple more headbands I made for my little angel. Try using thicker lace or elastic bands with beautiful vintage style lace flowers for a glamorous look. 

These handmade headbands take very little time to make for your baby girl and they can add a touch of love to your baby shower gifts. I hope you enjoy making these as well. I love to hear your comments. Thank you for stopping by. Have a great day :)

DIY Pretty Swarovski Necklace

Hi friends, I am back this week with a simple jewelry making tutorial. This necklace was inspired from early episodes of FRIENDS where Monica and Rachel wear these simple vintage style bead necklaces. I love how simple they are to make yet look stunning on neck. It takes less than an hour for even beginners to make. Let me show you how I made it.

Supplies Used:

• 6mm Swarovski Bicone mix beads
• 4mm Swarovski Bicone mix beads
• 18 inch silver color small chain
• Silver color eye pins
• Heart shape toggle and clasp
• Small silver color jump rings
• Made with love silver color charm (optional)
• Bead board
• Round nose pliers
• Flat nose pliers
• Side cutter pliers

Layout your beads and get creative with your design. I decided to go with 3 bead clusters with alternate colors.

To make bead clusters you simply put them into an eye pin in order you want, leave enough to make a ring on other end too and cut the excess wire using cutter pliers. Using round nose pliers make a ring on the other end to finish. I am sorry, I missed taking elaborate pictures, however there are lot of tutorials online that show you how to use eye pins. Check them out.

I decided to go with 7 sets of beads and made them first.

Layout the chain and beads together to see where you want to make cuts in the chain.

For my layout I wanted 2 long chains for either ends and 6 small chain pieces to connect my bead clusters to each other. To cut chain at equal lengths, I would suggest you hang them on a eye pin or straight wire as shown above and make the cut using cutter pliers. This will ensure that your necklace ends up symmetric.

In above picture I show you 6 small cut pieces of chain that I used to connect my bead clusters together.

To connect the chain, you simply open the ring of a bead cluster and slide your chain in and close the ring back using flat nose pliers. Repeat with all the chain pieces and bead clusters in order that you have decided.

Now you are almost done with your necklace except for the closure.

For the necklace closure: Open a jump ring, slide one end of your necklace in, (optional made with love charm), the ring part of toggle clasp and close the jump ring. 

Open another jump ring, slide the other end of necklace in, the rod part of toggle clasp and close the jump ring.

You are done! Isn't it pretty simple to make? You can get creative with your design and make beauties.

I made this one for a friend and she loved it. Hope you like it too. If you like to check out much simpler bead necklace, see this basic bead necklace tutorial. Thank you for stopping by. Have a great day.

Castle Charm Bracelet

Jewelry making is fun, especially when you can finish a bracelet in less than 10 minutes. Yes! This bracelet is easy enough for kids to do and you don't need any complicated jewelry making tools. Doesn't it look bright and fun?

Supplies used:

• Colorful beads of your choice
• Castle charm from charm along collection
• E6000 glue
• Stretch magic (elastic cord)
• Scissors

Arrange the beads in order you like and start beading them on to stretch magic (elastic cord).

Add the charm in the middle of your beads using its jump ring. 

When you are done adding beads, hold both ends and wrap around your wrist to check bracelet's length. If you are satisfied with your bracelet's length, cut elastic cord leaving a good length to knot the ends.

Knot the elastic cord ends together atleast 3 times, tug the ends good enough between every knot. Knotting elastic cord can get tricky, so take your time.

Tug on all the 4 sides of elastic cord to secure the knot. 

Add a small dab of E6000 glue to the knot. Use a paper pin or tooth pick for precise application of glue. After the glue is set, cut the loose ends of elastic cord close to knot using a pair scissors.

Isn't it easy enough for kids to make one? They will love this easy castle charm bracelet.

I used same technique to make pearl bead bracelet, showed in earlier post.

What do you think about this bracelet? I love to hear your comments. Thank you for stopping by. Have a great weekend :)

Bead Necklace-Tutorial

I was planning to start Jewelry making from a long time. I can hear some of you saying "Me too", so this post is for you. After I attended a free jewelry making class at Michaels, I couldn't stop any further from stepping in. Great reason, my niece birthday was coming up and I thought why not make her a pretty necklace. My niece loves pink as much as I do. So I grabbed few white and pink glass pearl beads to get started.

Supplies I used for necklace:

• Darice White glass beads
• Darice pink glass beads
• Crystal Rondelle Spacer Beads
• 2 Crimp Beads
• Heart shape toggle clasp
• Darice Made with love metal charm
• Beading wire
• Jewelry making tools: Side cutter pliers, Flat nose pliers, Crimping plier, Round nose pliers(not needed to make this chain but for earrings) 
• Bead Board (optional)

Arrange beads in a pattern you like. Just play around a bit with beads you have and you can create something unique. This is where a bead board comes very very handy. It not only helps you keep your beads from rolling all over but also gives you a vision of how your design looks even before you make it. However, if you don't have one then use cotton fabric as a bead mat. It just helps a little.

Once you are happy with your design, go ahead and start adding beads to the beading wire from one end. Don't cut the beading wire yet, just let it stay in your spool and keep adding the beads at an open end. (If you cut the wire prior to adding beads chances are sometimes while you add beads on one end they slide off the other end or sometimes you can fall short of wire to crimp at the end)

Check if you are satisfied with the length of necklace. Hold the beaded ends tightly and place around your neck to check the length. If you are satisfied, leave 3 inches of extra wire on both ends and cut the wire. (Incase you want to lengthen the necklace, cut few more extra inches of wire and add extra beads to both ends to keep necklace symmetrical.)

To one end of  the wire add a crimp bead, ring part of toggle and an optional charm.

Enclose the clasp, charm in wire by bringing back wire into crimp bead. Crimp the crimp bead using crimping pliers.

Source: Beadalon.com

Above instructions found on beadalon website describes clearly how to crimp.

After Crimping, tug on wire to check if the wire is secured properly. Go ahead and cut the wire leaving about half inch of wire (using side cutter pliers). Pull the beads back in to place. Beads will cover the half inch piece of wire we left.

To the other end of necklace add a crimp bead and rod part of toggle clasp. Enclose the rod part of clasp with wire by bringing back the wire into crimp bead and few white beads(or which ever color beads you used). Tug on wire tight enough so that there is no gap left in necklace anywhere. Crimp the crimp bead using above instructions.

Tug once again to ensure the wire is securely crimped. Cut the extra wire with side cutter pliers.

Tada!!! Your first pretty necklace is ready :) Adore it by wearing with a proud smile.

I am glad my niece loved it and she could appreciate the fact that its handmade.

I hope this tutorial helped you. I love to hear your comments. In next post, I will show you how easy it is to make an elastic bracelet.

P.S: Make sure you like my Facebook page Let's Make it Lovely to stay connected.

Have a good day :)