How to Make a Pretty Pearl Necklace with Jesse James Beads!

Here's a quick necklace idea featuring 1 Petite Strand of Jesse James Beads!

You'll also need, a 14" strand of freshwater pearls, beading wire, crimp tubes, Upper Clasp, wire cutters and crimping pliers.

String the beads onto the wire.  You can lessen the amount of pearls to make a shorter necklace.

Using smaller beads on the sides of the necklace really make the Petite strand stand out!

Attach the clasp with the crimping technique.  Click here for the crimping tutorial!  Snappy and snazzy jewelry in a pinch!  Life is good!

For a peek at all the pretty JJB Petite Strands, click here.

Have a great week!

Candie

$100 of Strands Giveaway!

FreeBeads! FreeBeads! We all scream for FreeBeads!

Jesse James Beads and Candie Cooper are hosting an amazing 

$100 giveaway of Jesse James Beads, that's 

20 JJB Strands including FIVE of our newest Elite Strands. 

Want in? Entering is easy as pie. Here's the steps:

1) Login below with either your email or Facebook

2) Click the Social Media links (Facebook/Twitter/Pinterest) and follow us 

-- THEN enter your social media handles on the form 

and click the 'I Followed' Button

3. Sign up for the Newsletter with your Email 

for even more chances!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Want even more chances to win? Tell your friends and get them to enter too, more entries = more chances! If one of you wins y'all can go halfsies on the stash, 

that'd be 10 strands each! 

Thanks so much for your constant love and support. 

We couldn't do all this without you! 

Inspiration to All,

Sarah James

How to Make A Bungee Cord Necklace

Let's take some time and play, shall we?  That's what creating is all about after all.  This is a fun necklace that uses unique Jesse James Beads along with special findings and bungee cord that you can whip up in an hour.  

Materials List:  

7" Strand of Jesse James Beads

2 6mm silver jump rings, 2 crimp beads

.018 49 strand Beadalon beading wire

Pepperell Braiding Co.'s bungee cord

"" 2 Cord organizers

"" 2 Perpendicular links

4 Spring glue-on end findings   

You'll also need: 

Scissors

Multi-purpose adhesive

Crimping pliers

Flat nose pliers

Let's get started!

To make a necklace approximately 18," cut two pieces of cord, 10" long.  String the perpendicular links and cord organizers onto the cord like the picture above.  Finish the ends by gluing the loop findings to the ends of the cords with the multi-purpose adhesive.

Open a jump ring and connect the two end loops and add a lobster clasp before shutting the ring.  Repeat for the second cord piece, adding only a jump ring.

String a row of beads onto the beading wire followed by a crimp bead.  Thread the tail of wire back through the crimp bead and crimp.  Here's a tutorial if you're new to crimping.

Slide the beads down to the connected end.  Finish the opposite end of the beaded strand to the link by crimping.

How about that?  Summer fun is on the way!

Be bold, be bright!

Candie 

Jesse James Beads Jewelry

Hello there friends and neighbors! Looking for a dose of inspiration to spark your day? Of course you are! Here's some eye-candy to drool over. All freshly made artist creations by our wonderful designer, Candie Cooper. Let us know what you think!

Bodacious Body Jewelry

Body jewelry is all the rage! 

Great Gatsby-Style Full Body Jewelry by Artist Candie Cooper

Materials Used... 

- Chain Reaction beaded chain

- JJB Mixed-Bead Strand

- Style Linx Toggle Clasp

- Grand Finale Magnetic Clasp

- Beadalon Quick Links

Tribal Rainbow Necklace

Tribal Rainbow Necklace by Artist Candie Cooper
Materials Used:
- 2 Jesse James Beads Petite Strands
- 1 Jesse James Beads Stoneware Strand
- 1 Jesse James Beads *New* Elite Strands (available at Jo-Ann Stores)
- 3 enameled Tibetan 'teeth'
- Beadalon Twisted Artistic Wire in gold

Feeling 'Knotty' Bead Crochet Bracelet/Necklace

Feeling 'Knotty' Bead Crochet, by Artist Candie Cooper
Materials Used:
-3 JJB Petite Strands OR 3 JJB Inspiration Strands
- Beadalon 1mm Elasticity in Black OR Gold

Gettin' Handsy Necklace

Gettin' Handsy Necklace, by Candie Cooper
Materials Used:
- 2 Jesse James Beads Petite Strand #71
- 1 Jesse James Beads Petite Strand #81
- Hand links from JoAnn Fabrics
- Chain from JoAnn Fabrics

Chain and Leather Layers Necklace

Chain and Leather Layers, by Candie Cooper
Materials Used:
- Jesse James Beads Singles (coming soon!)
- JJB Chain Reaction beaded chain
- Leather Cord USA dyed leather


Thanks for checking out the latest JJB creations! Share with us what you like to make with your JJBbeads, we'd love to see. Have a beautiful and inspiring day!

Yours in Creativity,

Sarah & the Team at JJB

www.facebook.com/jessejamesbeadsfanpage

Feeling 'Knotty' Bead Crochet Project

Hello friends! Happy Easter weekend, and pleasant Passover as well. This is Sarah James coming atcha from the home computer - We at Jesse James Beads are off today, hooray! And what better way to kick off a relaxing holiday weekend than with a little crafty inspiration? Here we have the 'Feeling Knotty' Bead Crochet project - it's a convertible bracelet and necklace so you can switch up your adornment however your outfit best sees fit! This is a super fun project created by our gal Candie Cooper. Candie taught a workshop for this project last weekend at Bead Fest Spring, and holy moly did it get some rave reviews!! Ready to make some bead magic this weekend? That's what I thought!

Feeling 'Knotty' Bead Crochet Project

Materials Needed:

- 3 Jesse James Beads mixed-bead strands (all 3 the same style - Petite Strands work great!)

- 1 mm diameter Beading Elastic (we like Beadalon Elasticity - find in your local craft store)

- Crochet hook, 5.5mm diameter

- Clear nail polish

OK ready to begin? Let's do this thang!

Bead Crochet Instructions

Step 1: String Your Beads

String all the beads onto the spool of elastic.

Step 2: Begin Crochet Loops

Secure the tail of nylon to the crochet hook with a slipknot then chain 3 stitches.  “Chain” refers to pulling the long tail of cord through the loop that’s on the hook, releasing. (New to crocheting? Here's an easy video that teaches the 'chain' technique you use throughout this project. Super easy stuff)

Step 3: "Come on in, beads! The crochet knots are fine!"

Slide a bead up next to the crochet hook and pull the long tail through, locking the bead in place.  Chain 3 stitches ('loops') without a bead and then one with a bead. Continue in this manner (in other words, each bead will be separated by 3 chain stitches) until you’ve used all the beads.

Step 4: Tie Her Off!

When all the beads have been used tie a sturdy knot - we suggest doing a square knot about three times. Then, apply a dot of clear nail polish on the knot. Perfecto!

Look out, world! Mama's got herself a new piece of sparkly swag!

This piece is so super fun because it can be worn as a long necklace or wrapped several times around the wrist for a bracelet. Either way you choose you will be certain to be stylin'!

Thanks so much for checking out our blog! Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram to stay in the JJB know! We're also sending newsletters on the bi-weekly with tips&tricks, specials, new product releases and more - sign up for the updates here!

Lots of Love and Creativity,

Sarah James and the Team at 

JesseJamesBeads.com

How To String a Necklace

In Tucson at the To Bead True Blue show, Sarah and I set to finding some fabulous pendants to match our big, glorious, beads.  This bird was one of our finds.  Here's how I used it in a necklace using a basic crimping technique.  Let's go!

You will need: 3 strands of JJBs, pendant, 49 strand .018 beading wire, #2 crimp tubes, clasp, crimping pliers, wire cutters and possibly some chain nose pliers.

 I mixed and matched the third odd strand into the green strand of boho beads until I got it just right--approximately 8" on one side of the bird.  I love the saucy pink and green color combo.

String two crimp beads onto the wire followed by the clasp.  Thread the tail of wire back through the crimp beads.  The reason I use two crimp beads is because of the chunky, weighty, nature of this piece.  

Crimp the crimp beads into a "U" shape by placing them in the inside opening of the crimping pliers.

Turn 90 degrees and place them in the "eye" opening of the crimping pliers.  Clamp down and roll the crimp beads over.

String the second half of the necklace and finish the end as you did on the first side.

Now that's a Bird in Paradise!

Happy Spring!

Candie

Fox Locket Necklace with Chain Reaction

What does the fox locket say?!  Sorry, we couldn't resist.  All joking aside, foxes are everywhere in fashion right now.  This little fox locket found at the craft store was begging to dangle from a couple strands of Chain Reaction.

Here are the basic supplies needed:  Chain reaction (1 strand for a short necklace, 2 for a long), locket, 3 jump rings-6mm diameter, 2 pairs of chain nose pliers and a lobster clasp in case you opt for a short necklace.

Remove the split ring from each of the Chain Reactions so they are one long strand.

Snip a 2" section of chain from each piece (this keeps the locket from hanging down by your belt buckle).

Open a jump ring with the chain nose pliers and connect one end of the chain...

 followed by the opposite side.

Connect the locket to last jump ring.  Use another jump ring to connect the opposite ends of the chain so it finishes off your necklace.

Cute!  Cute!  Drop a sweet note in the locket and give as a gift!  Or write a wish to yourself for safe keeping by Mr. Fox.  Happy Day!