ambertortoisejewelry

Make Your Own Birthstone Pendant Necklace- Perfect for Mother’s Day

2010-03-28T13:14:00.000-07:00

I have been writing an article each month for a local newspaper. Here is my April article, which includes instructions on how to make a Birthstone Pendant Necklace.

Mother’s Day is a holiday where a personalized gift can really make the day! It is an opportunity to thank your Mother for everything she has done for you and to show her your appreciation with something special.

I frequently receive requests to make custom birthstone jewelry for holidays and other special occasions. My most requested item is a birthstone pendant necklace, which is perfect for Mother’s Day. Mother’s Day is right around the corner on Sunday, May 9th. Following these instructions, you can make your own birthstone pendant necklace to give your Mom!

A Mother’s Birthstone Pendant Necklace is a circle which is wrapped with the birthstones of each of her children. It is typically made with Sterling Silver or Gold Vermeil, although any metal can be used. They are simple to make, affordable, and great for beginners or experienced jewelry makers alike. This project will take approximately one hour to complete and the necklaces will last a lifetime!

These are the Supplies you will Need:

(1)- 24mm or larger Closed Jumpring or Circle Finding (1”-1.5” in diameter is usually the preferred size)
(24”)- 26 Gauge Wire
(8-16)- 3mm or 4mm birthstone beads
(1)- Sterling Silver Necklace Chain (18” is the most common length for this style of necklace)
(1)- 5mm Sterling Silver Open Jumpring
You will also need a ruler, sharp pair of scissors and 2 pairs of flat nosed jewelry pliers

Some Considerations Before you get Started:

Mother’s jewelry typically only includes the birthstones of each child. You may want to consider adding your Mother’s birthstone as well to make it more unique and personalized.
Decide what materials you want to use, from metals to stones. You have many choices for birthstones, including the actual gemstones or other less expensive materials in birthstone colors. For example, many people use Zircon or Crystal in place of Diamonds.
To best match your Mother’s style, choose sizes and finishes that compliment her. Look for smooth or twisted jumprings and bright or antiqued finishes when selecting your metal supplies. For birthstones, look for smooth or faceted cuts and round or rondelle shapes.
Decide how you want to arrange the stones. Some choose order of birth and some choose what looks best aesthetically. This will help you determine how many of each type of birthstone to purchase.

For suggestions where to buy materials and pictures of finished pendants, please visit: www.ambertortoisecreations.com/custom_birthstone_jewelry

Birthstone Guide- Stones and Colors:
✻January: Garnet/Dark Red
✻February: Amethyst/Purple
✻March: Aquamarine/Light Blue
✻April: Diamond/Clear
✻May: Emerald/Green
✻June: Pearl or Moonstone/White
✻July: Ruby/Bright Red
✻August: Peridot/Yellowish Green
✻September: Sapphire/Deep Blue
✻October: Opal or Pink Tourmaline/Multi-colored
✻November: Citrine or Yellow Topaz/Yellow Gold
✻December: Blue Topaz or Turquoise/Bright Blue

To Make the Pendant :
*All instructions are written for someone who is right-handed. If you are left-handed, simply reverse each step.

Cut a 24” piece of 26-gauge wire. Wrap the wire tightly around your large closed jumpring 5 times. To start your wrap, leave a “tail” of approximately 1-2” to have something to hold as you wrap.
Thread your first gemstone onto the wire and position it inside or outside the ring (see pictures for examples). Hold the gemstone in place with your left hand and then wrap the wire tightly around the ring another 4 times. Place another gemstone on the wire and repeat the process . Repeat until you have added your last gemstone and then wrap the wire 5 more times around the ring. Use wire cutters to cut both ends of the wire flush to the ring and then use flat nose pliers to crimp the ends so they lie flat against the ring. Be sure to leave a small area of the ring unwrapped so you can attach the jumpring that will connect to the necklace chain.

To Attach the Pendant to the Necklace Chain:

Using flat-nosed pliers vertically in your left hand, hold the 5mm open jumpring so the split opening is centered at the top. Using your right hand, grab the jumpring with your second pair of flat-nosed pliers and open by pulling the right side towards you. (It is important to twist the right side of the jumpring towards you and that you do not pull it open to the right.)
While holding the left side of the now-open jumpring in your pliers, slide the pendant onto the jumpring. Next, slide the closed necklace chain onto the jumpring. Pick up your second pair of pliers with your right hand and close the jumpring by grabbing it at the top near the opening and pushing the right side away from you. You will want to go past the point of closure and then pull it slightly back towards you in order for it to close evenly.

Congratulations, you now have a beautiful handmade custom birthstone pendant necklace to give your Mom this Mother’s Day!

New Jewelry Idea- Quest of Series

2009-12-07T10:20:00.000-08:00

I just listed a FREE Earring contest on Etsy here or see below. I hope this contest is really fun and helps both buyers and designers find the perfect earring creation!

Happy Holidays!

Crista
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I am starting a new series of jewelry designs called my “Quest of” Series. Each month, I will create new jewelry designs from the feedback I receive from you on the topic of the month. The first item I am in the Quest of is the “PERFECT EARRING”. Everyone has different styles and different tastes. What I want to know is… what is the perfect earring for YOU?

What does it look like? How long is it? How does it hang? What type of earwire is it made with (i.e. french hook, leverback, post, hoop, etc.)? What type of metal is it made with (i.e. sterling silver, copper, etc.)? What stones, colors or materials is it made with? How much does it cost? How does it feel when you wear it? Where do you wear it? etc. The more specific your response, the better!

About the CONTEST (being offered on Etsy and via this blog):
1. Tell me what the perfect earring is for you by replying to this post or sending me a convo
2. You can do so in 2 ways:
a. Simply post your comments about the perfect pair of earrings in general… or…
b. Provide feedback on any pair of earrings in my Etsy store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/ambertortoise?section_id=6022771. i.e. I really like this pair of earrings but I would like to see them longer and made with amethyst instead, etc. I always welcome feedback, good or bad, so don’t be shy (but I would appreciate it if you keep any criticism constructive ;D)
3. I will compile all of the responses into a list and post it on this blog and start creating new earring designs from your input
4. I will choose one person (or more depending on number of responses) to receive a FREE pair of earrings that were created from your feedback! They will be Free, Free, no catches- packaging and shipping included. If the earrings were created based on your responses alone, the earrings will be named after you. If they were created based on feedback from many responses, everyone will get credit in the listing (as best as possible).
5. This contest will run through January 15th, 2010 and the winner will be contacted directly and announced here on January 17th
6. I will start a new contest each month throughout 2010, with the next one starting January 16th. Future “Quest of” contests will include the Perfect Bracelet, Perfect Necklace, Perfect Anklet, Perfect Pendant, Perfect Stone/Color Combinations and more. Anyone can participate and winning one month will not exclude you from winning future months contests.

I really look forward to your responses and can’t wait to hear what the perfect Earring is to YOU!

Nov/Dec Newsletter 2009

2009-11-28T09:01:00.001-08:00

This is a copy of my Nov/Dec Newsletter. It includes some Holiday specials in my Etsy store as well as some non-jewelry gift ideas. I hope you find this to be helpful!

Please feel free to add a comment with some of your favorite gift ideas/Etsy stores. Happy Holidays!

If you wish to receive a copy of my newsletter, just let me know and I will add you.
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Shopping for Holiday Gifts?
Jewelry makes the perfect gift!

I have stocked my Etsy store full of new jewelry and stocking stuffers. For those hard to buy for people on your list, AmberTortoise Creations now has gift certificates and jewelry of the month club subscriptions!

Please visit my Etsy store for Unique One-of-a-Kind Handcrafted Jewelry and other items. You will find Necklaces, Bracelets, Watches and Earrings in Sterling Silver, Copper and Pewter; Pins to accent purses, sweaters, shawls or scarves; Bookmarks; and Sterling Silver Necklace Chains and Pendants.

You can also visit AmberTortoise Creations at one of the following holiday craft fairs:

Sunday, Nov 29th at the Aqua Turf in Southington, CT
Sunday, Dec 5th at St. Matthews Holiday Fair in Tolland, CT

AmberTortoise Creations jewelry is also for sale locally at Land of Local Treasures in Storrs, CT and at Jones Family Winery Gift Shop in Shelton, CT.

Beyond Jewelry- Some additional gift ideas

I have a goal this year to do almost all my Holiday shopping on Etsy because I love the idea of giving unique handcrafted gifts. Here are some of my favorites to help you with your holiday shopping:

Fine Art Nature Photography by FatFrogPhotography
Gorgeous Pottery from DowntoEarthCeramics
Wood Wine Stoppers & Pens from SunsetTurnings
Beautiful Tree of Life Sculptures by Andy
Amazing Leather Journals by GildBookBinders
100% Natural Mineral Makeup by MoiMineralCosmetics
Etched Glasses and Wood by DayDreemDesigns
Handprinted Women's Clothing by ellembee

These are only a few of my favorites. Whatever you have in mind, if it is handmade or vintage, you are sure to find it on Etsy!

Free $5 Gift Certificate!

Purchase any gift certificate from AmberTortoise Creations and receive a bonus $5 Gift Certificate for each recipient!

How it works: When you purchase a gift certificate, you specify the recipients name upon checkout so I can include it on the gift card. If you purchase 5 different gift certificates for 5 different recipients, you will receive $25 in free gift certificates.

You can choose to keep the gift certificates for yourself or you can choose to add the extra $5 to the gift certificate of the recipient, so a $25 gift certificate would become a $30 gift certificate, a $75 gift certificate would become an $80 gift certificate and so on.

Simply enter the Code 5FREE in the notes to seller upon checkout.

This is only being offered to Newsletter recipients and Facebook Fans as my way of saying Thank You for supporting AmberTortoise Creations!

I wish you and your family a very Happy and Safe Holiday Season!

Sincerely,

~Crista Grasso

AmberTortoise Creations

Website: www.ambertortoisecreations.com
Etsy Jewelry: www.ambertortoise.etsy.com
Facebook ~ Become a Fan: www.facebook.com/ambertortoise
Twitter: www.twitter.com/ambertortoise

2 Shows Coming up in September

2009-09-02T18:20:00.000-07:00

I can't believe September is finally here!

I will be participating in 2 shows this month, and I am really looking forward to them. I have been working non-stop to create my fall jewelry line to feature at the shows.

I will be posting pictures later in the week, but for now, here are a few of the pieces I have completed.

Glastonbury's 47th Fine Art & Craft Show- 9/12 & 9/13
Artists in the Country- 9/26 & 9/27

Have a great Labor Day Holiday!

~AmberTortoise

June Update

2009-06-26T15:38:00.001-07:00

So much has happened this past month! First, I was accepted into 2 juried Art shows and I am so excited! Both are in September:

Glastonbury's 47th Fine Art & Craft Show- 9/12 & 9/13
Artists in the Country- 9/26 & 9/27

Jeremy got accepted into the Glastonbury show as well, so it will be so much fun to get to do the show with him (www.fatfrogphotography.com)! We just finished doing a small show in Tolland called the Wares Fair. We are looking for some other shows to participate in this year as well.

The next big thing is that I FINALLY finished my website... well finished it enough to publish and share with the world, but I still have a lot of work to do with it! It is very exciting though to finally have a real website. If anyone has any feedback or suggestions, I would love to hear them!! www.ambertortoisecreations.com

Next, I finally decided on the direction I want to go with beading parties. I often get asked if I will do beading parties and I love to teach people how to bead, so I decided that I will do beading party workshops instead of traditional jewelry parties. I hosted one a couple weeks ago and it was a huge success! It was a group of 4 and we all had lots of fun and everyone made some gorgeous jewelry!

This weekend I am working on some custom orders and experimenting with wine charms. And, as always, I am listing new items on Etsy- fun, fun!

I hope the month of July is even half as eventful as June turned out to be!

Back from Rendezvous 2009

2009-05-27T19:33:00.000-07:00

I am just back from Rendezvous and it was such a great time! For those who don't know what Rendezvous is, it is a primitive camping event which focuses on the time period of 1760-1840. You can find out more info and see some pictures of me making jewelry here on one of the NEPR (Northeastern Primitive Rendezvous) sites.

People take on different trades at camp- there is a blacksmith, a potter, etc. I have dabbled in selling my jewelry creations at the event in the past, but this year I decided to go all out and open a jewelry "store". It was a blast! I was able to spend 4 days straight making jewelry, talking about jewelry and stones and metals, and visiting with some of the most wonderful and unique people I have had the pleasure of meeting!

I was quickly reminded of just how happy it makes me to see someone pick up something I created and fall in love with it. What was especially wonderful was getting to see those same people wearing my creations all week and showing them off to others. So many people stopped by my booth because someone told them about me or sent them over. It was all very exciting!

That is the thing I love so much about Craft fairs/Ren fairs/Rendezvous type events- getting to visit with the people! There are so many people who share my love of stones and nature and jewelry. I get so inspired by their stories! I spent some time visiting with an amazing man called Stone Turtle. We talked for the longest time about all types of different stones and Pow-Wows and all sorts of things. Talking with him was one of the highlights of my trip and although we weren't talking about jewelry the whole time, he got me thinking of many new design ideas- mostly incorporating stone turtles. He expressed concerns that he is getting too old to attend another event, but I am holding out hope that he makes it to next years Vous so we can visit again. He was only one of many people I got to spend time talking to.

I was able to make many new pieces of jewelry- lots of earrings and some necklaces, bracelets, pendants and barefoot sandals! Some of them sold at camp. Sadly some sold before I was able to photograph them. (I always like to take pics of everything I make to add to my Gallery of Designs.) The others have all been photographed and I am in the process of getting them listed on Etsy. Here are a few of my new pieces:

Overall, it was a wonderful time!
~AmberTortoise