Trendy Tuesday – Jewelry & Charms
By: Katherine Elliot
Jewelry and charms are the ultimate embellishments. Dangle a pretty trinket or a cute charm on a card or scrapbook page, or design an original wearable handmade creation, and you have transformed a project into a true keepsake. Below are a few projects and brands that show off this attractive & inspiring trend. Check out this parade of projects and products and you”ll be charmed, I”m sure…
Shannan Teubner created the keepsake bookmark below with decorative twine & a charm. The simple project makes a lovely gift. She created the charm using the tools found at Epiphany Crafts.
Pocket card with charm bookmark, image source withfeathersandsequins.blogspot.com
Chris at Easily Amused has many lovely cards adorned very simply with different charms which match the themes of her cards.
Goldfish Girl card featuring My Favorite Things stamp, image source Easily Amused
In the example below, an additional close up photo shows more clearly the addition of a crystal bead and metal charm embellishing the card.
Sweet Sunday Take Time card featuring My Favorite Things stamp , images from Easily Amused
Keep in mind, your card does not need to be elaborate for a charm to sweetly adorn your greeting.
Small Wonder card by Bonnie Klass featuring greeting from Stampin” Up! , image source Stamping with Klass
If you”re looking for simple charms like the ones above, your local craft store jewelry aisle is a great source. Look for charms, beads, jump rings and other jewelry findings that help you create an embellishment that can be easy to attach to a project.
Beaded charm card, image source Kat n” Drew Cards, wheresyourcolor.blogspot.com
Not just confined to cards, check out the pearls, pendant and a line of beads added to this scrapbook page. The added baubles give the impression that this couple will surely be leading a charmed life together!
Scrapbook page featuring line of dangling beads, image source scrappypixie.blogspot.com
Of course, while trinkets & charms are certainly alluring on your paper craft projects, these fun embellishments can inspire you to branch out and create your own custom jewelry.
Remember this post from the Library? This simple tile necklace is so pretty and so easy to make.
Check out the “how to” video at the Papercrafters” Library from this previous post: Prima Marketing Spotlight Sun Kiss Collection
Stampin” Up! fans may have been sad to see the Simply Adorned line discontinued this year, but that line certainly demonstrated some lovely projects which are still creatively inspiring.
Simply Adorned necklace charm with key and heart trinkets by Robin Spinner, image source Splitcoast Stampers
If you are looking for some more information on how to make your own jewelry and other sources for tools to use, check out some of the instructions and items available at Artbeads.com.
Monkey Business Bracelet, image source and instructions at artbeads.com
Several craft companies have unique charms and fun tools for this trend. Prima Marketing, Vintaj, Tim Holtz findings, are just a few of the popular brands offering many different styles to suit your taste.
Sunkiss Metal Charms by Prima Marketing, image source twopeasinabucket.com
Vintaj Natural Brass Co. has many classic charms and other jewelry making supplies. Matching hardware and findings make easily attachable charms for your projects.
image source vintaj.com
image source vintaj.com
Vintaj has also teamed up with Sizzix to create embossing dies that can be used with metal blanks or other malleable metal and run through the Sizzix Big Shot, transforming plain metal charms into a customized piece.
Metal blank embossing die image source vintaj.com
We”re always on the look out for a variety of projects to showcase the trends featured, so check out this very cool 3D project featuring some Tim Holtz embellishments…
Pen & pencil organizer created by Linda Cain, image source inspirationemporium.com
Tim Holtz Idea-ology Word Sticks, image source simonsaysstamp.com
Adding a metal charm to your project is not always practical, especially if you”ve made a card you want to send through the mail. Have no fear, products like the dies below from My Favorite Things, help you make your own paper or chipboard charms which may be much easier to slip in an envelope.
I Ruff You! card featuring stamps from There She Goes, image source Megan Lock Designs
My Favorite Things Die-namics, image source mftstamps.com
One last card I must share which shows some attractive nautical charms. This tri-fold card by Grace Nywening really stands out as an amazing example of a card turned keepsake.
Smooth Sailing card featuring stamps from Our Daily Bread, image source Th-INK-ingofYou.blogspot.com
Now it”s time to “charm” my husband into letting me spend a little more time in my craft room to try my hand at creating a few of these things. I hope you”re inspired to do the same. Happy crafting!
Love all these charms. Lots of inspiration!
I love all the trinkets; they add so much to each creation.
Thanks for the great inspiration and all the lovely ideas. I love to add trinkets and charms to projects, but you’ve giving lots of new resources for ideas and products. Gotta go check ’em out!!!
I LOVE using metal charms and sheets in card making–Thank you for reminding me to do so:) ALso–Thanks for highlighting Grace’s amazing card—when I first got to see this card on a blog hop a couple of weeks ago—it was such a treat to get to glean from plus the other beautfiul projects that you’ve highlighted are great, too:) be blessed
~Beyond Measure
Tammy
The article on charms is very informative and inspiring. Thanks for the links and samples. I can’t wit to play in my craft room. Hokulani S.
I love all the charms and jewelery in this post. So many lovely ideas. All the cards are wonderful!
Love those cute vintage charms! Awesome.
So cute, but your cards are my favorite! 🙂