The collection so far

A pic of all the rings I have made so far. I have a few more ideas so expect more tutorials in the future!

Diamond shaped beaded ring tutorial

Ring tutorial number 5! I don’t normally wear many rings anymore but I am obsessed with making them. I have lost loads over the years. I always take off my rings before washing my hands and then forget to pick them up again L 

So it is always nice to have a big selection of cheap rings (I cannot be trusted to own expensive rings anymore). 

For this tutorial I tried out two different style ring bands. Personally I think the style used for the red ring fits in better with the front detail. 

Diamond shaped beaded rings

Different ring band styles

The materials listed below makes a 17mm (approx) diameter ring. If you want to make a bigger/smaller ring you will just need to adjust the numbers of 2mm red and white beads. (Of course you can use any coloured beads you like!)

To make this ring you will need:

Tweezers (not pictured-but may be needed when threading through the smaller beads as it can be quite fiddly!)

Scissors

Fishing wire (x 1m)

2mm White beads (x 32)

2mm Red beads (x 22)

4mm White bicone bead (x 1)

4mm Orange bicone beads (x 4)

You will need... shocking photoshop skills used for the red bead :-S

Steps 1, 2 & 3:

Step 1:

Take your fishing wire and thread two 4mm orange bicone beads and one 2mm white bead (as indicated on the diagram). Let the beads fall to the middle of the fishing wire, making sure you have equal lengths of fishing wire on either side of the beads. Then thread both ends through the 4mm white bicone bead. (You will then have a 'loop' of 4 beads).

Step 2:

Add two more of the 4mm orange bicone beads, one on each end of the fishing wire. Finish this 'loop' by threading both ends of the fishing wire through one 2mm white bead.

Step 3:

Thread both ends of the fishing wire back through the 4mm orange bicone beads to put the fishing wire back to the middle of the piece.

Step 4:

Thread four 2mm red beads onto both ends of the fishing wire and secure by looping the fishing wire back through the first red bead you threaded on. Then thread through the 4mm orange bicone bead and white 2mm white bead. 

Step 5:

Now you can start making the ring band. To make this ring band start by threading a bead on either end of the fishing wire, then thread both ends through one 2mm red bead. 

Step 6:

Continue this until you reach the desired length for the ring band. Tie a knot and continue threading the wire through the ring to make it a bit more rigid and sturdy. Then cut the lengths and then you have finished!

If you prefer the other ring band style please visit: http://strawberrybox-serenie.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/beaded-ring-tutorial.html

Finished!

Which ring band do you prefer?

Available to buy from my google checkout store too!

Kawaii Kitchen!

Hello everyone hope you are all having a lovely week.

I have spent the past few days looking for things that we need for our tiny kitchen. As usual I have found a list of things that I would love to own but also things we really do not need.

Here are three items on my list:

This is Pan Pocket, a sandwich pouch making kit. All you need to do is warm the bread in a microwave, fold a slice of bread in half, press the cutter into the bread and hold for 5-8 mins, and then put the filling into the pouch. Sounds good no? But having warmed many a sandwich in the microwave I know the bread gets pretty soggy (especially if you whack it in for too long), then, if you leave the sandwich (to cool down for example) the bread starts to harden. Not tasty. So I guess this item would be nice only if you devour the sarnies as soon as they are made.

Pan Pocket: http://www.jbox.com/product/SEA051

Continuing with the sandwich theme... Rabbit/Flower/Bear Sandwich and Bento Food Cutter. These look very cute. But as I only work part time I don't really need to take a packed lunch to work. I do however make my husband a packed lunch to take to work. His response to taking a box of cute shaped sandwiches to work: "No bloody way, can't be seen with cute sandwiches".

Sandwich cutters: http://www.jbox.com/product/NET969

Pikachu Cake Mould!

Cake mould: http://www.jbox.com/product/CHP191

Think we just need to buy cups and plates for now. The gimmicky things may have to wait until we have more money :-(

Beaded Fish Charm Tutorial

Here is a tutorial on how to make a beaded fish. In this tutorial I have tried to break it down a bit more. So this time there is a diagram and some step by step photos. The fish is made by creating loops of beads, and the trick to it is just to make sure that each 'loop' is connected to ones surrounding it. (Hopefully the diagram is clear enough to indicate how each 'loop' is connected).

Beaded fish charm

To make this fish you will need:

2 X Black beads

36 X White beads

29 X Coloured beads

1.5m of fishing wire

You can use any size beads to make this but just make sure that they are all the same size. The beads I used were 4mm beads. 

Diagram-the main body

1. Start with the mouth. Thread four coloured beads onto the fishing wire and make sure that the group of beads fall to the centre of the wire making sure you have equal lengths of thread at both ends. Thread both ends of the wire through one of the coloured beads.

Step 1-four coloured beads

2. Add four white beads onto one end of the wire

Step 2-add white beads

Again thread both ends of the wire through the last white bead.

Create a 'loop'

Continue adding beads onto the thread as indicated on the diagram, each 'loop' should consist of 5 beads in total.

Threading beads as indicated on the diagram

3. Ok, now you have step two completed, continue threading beads onto the thread. In step three the 'loops' should consist of 6 beads, and the thread should combine 2 beads from the 'loops' you completed in step 2.

Step 3-the main fish body

Once you have completed step 3 most of the fish body has been made.

4. To complete the fish body we go back to creating 'loops' that consist of 5 beads. Again this step involves threading the wire through two of the beads you created in the last step.

Step 4-the main fish body, completed!

5. Next the tail fin. This is created by 1 white bead onto one end of the fishing wire followed by 4 coloured beads and finished by 1 white bead on the end. Continue as indicated on the diagram (5. Tail Fin)

Step 5-part of the tail fin

Completed tail fin!

6. Next thread the fishing wire through the existing beads to either side of the fish body (as indicated on the main body diagram). Add 3 coloured beads to the fishing wire.

Step 6-one fin added

Two fins added

Thread the fishing wire to either side of the fish towards the 'eye sockets' (see diagram) and add a black bead.

Fish eyeballs

7. The final part is to add the dorsal fin. Again thread the fishing wire to the area indicated on the main fish body diagram and add 3 coloured beads. 

Step 7-the dorsal fin

Once you have done this, use one end of the fishing wire around one 'loop' of beads so that the wire meets directly and allows you to tie a double knot. Once you have done this thread the ends of the wire through the beads to strengthen the main body of the thread and cut the remaining ends. (This ensures that there is less chance of the wire unraveling making the fish a bit sturdier). 

Finished! Mobile phone fish charm