
The Design Gallery
Get project ideas & share your designs
Follow along with step-by-step beading projects and share your designs with beaders around the world—it’s quick & easy!
Chatter
- bluedog on “Night Owls Lariat”:
“So many different kinds of owls, and the branches!!! Fantastic. Lucky daughter:)…” read »
- Lynn g on “Sari Silk Gift Wrap”:
“really cute!…” read »
- Beady Little Eyes on “Night Owls Lariat”:
“Thanks for the great comments. This is a peyote stitch so each row only adds 1/2…” read »
- Lynn g on “Hummingbird Swing”:
“That is really awesome!…” read »
- Fresh Baked on “Night Owls Lariat”:
“The black background for this piece really makes the vivid owls really pop! Thanks for all…” read »
- Fresh Baked on “Hummingbird Swing”:
“Yes, thanks for sharing, Phoenix! They are very protective of their food sources, aren’t they?…” read »
- Crystal Canary on “Night Owls Lariat”:
“Beady--Pure artistry!! This is wonderfully playful & would be so enjoyable to wear! I…” read »
- Crystal Canary on “Hummingbird Swing”:
“I watched the video--precious! Adding red glass beads would definitely draw them. Thanks Phoenix…” read »
- Beady Little Eyes on “Hummingbird Swing”:
“Thanks for the info Phoenix. That was fun to watch.…” read »
- Beady Little Eyes on “Night Owls Lariat”:
“Thank you all so much for your sweet comments. KR - I designed the owls using a…” read »
- kye on “Follow The Directions”:
“So pretty! Love the colors.…” read »
- Phoenix on “Hummingbird Swing”:
“Check out the bird supply store: Duncraft.com to watch a video of hummers using a…” read »
- sweetjane on “Follow The Directions”:
“Thanks so much for all the comments!! I'm happy with this necklace and that I was…” read »
- kye on “Stranger's Earrings”:
“Such pretty nifty wirework!…” read »
- Granny Nancy on “Night Owls Lariat”:
“How amazing is this. I always wonder how in the world someone puts something like this…” read »
- kye on “Hummingbird Swing”:
“I've never heard of a hummingbird swing. It's so sweet. Will they use it? Even if…” read »
- kye on “New year”:
“Your bracelet is wonderful. Yellow and grey. Who knew they could be so beautiful together? I'd…” read »
- MH on “Follow The Directions”:
“Lovely blue necklace!…” read »
- MH on “Night Owls Lariat”:
“Very cute. VERY artistic!! How do you do all this? And is your…” read »
- Melody F on “Hummingbird Swing”:
“Fresh Baked, I like the idea of a fairy swing, and if the birdie guys want…” read »
- Melody F on “Follow The Directions”:
“When I saw this I guessed it would be yours, Sweetjane, and it was. Very…” read »
- Melody F on “Night Owls Lariat”:
“You made me smile! What wonderful energy in this piece! Are you sure you…” read »
- K Ralston on “Night Owls Lariat”:
“This looks so difficult. Did you have a pattern for the owls at least, or were…” read »
- kye on “Night Owls Lariat”:
“So adorable! I love the rich colors and different owl types. How creative and fun!…” read »
- sweetjane on “Night Owls Lariat”:
“Absolutely darling!! What a fun piece of art to wear!!…” read »
- BevB on “Night Owls Lariat”:
“This is so cute!…” read »
- Beady Little Eyes on “New year”:
“Lovely work. Love all of the different beads and the colors are wonderful. So fun also.…” read »
- Beady Little Eyes on “Night Owls Lariat”:
“Close-ups of the upside down owls on either side of the center. …” read »
- Beady Little Eyes on “Night Owls Lariat”:
“And close-ups. …” read »
- Beady Little Eyes on “Night Owls Lariat”:
“As always - more photos. …” read »
- Beady Little Eyes on “Hummingbird Swing”:
“Such fun. I tried making a swing for my hens when they were little but it…” read »
- Beady Little Eyes on “Stranger's Earrings”:
“Wow KR - those are long. Beautiful work. Sorry to hear about your problem Bev.…” read »
- bojo ranch girl on “New year”:
“The square bead is Lampwork glass. The same as most of the others. Seed beads in…” read »
- Fresh Baked on “Hummingbird Swing”:
“Gotta love Pinterest, friends! I saw some hummingbird swings posted on there and thought they…” read »
- Crystal Canary on “New year”:
“Ditto! Complete success! So glad you were able to get it posted. I…” read »
- sweetjane on “New year”:
“It looks great from what I can see...I especially like your touches of sari silk.…” read »
- Maggies Mom on “Hummingbird Swing”:
“This is fabulous and so sweet!!! Thank you for sharing your inspirational swing!…” read »
- Maggies Mom on “New year”:
“Successful attempt!!! I like the textures and whimsy in this piece.…” read »
- Crystal Canary on “Hummingbird Swing”:
“Love this!! Our little hummy is still in his leafless tree again this winter. …” read »
- Phoenix on “Hummingbird Swing”:
“This is too cute! I'll have to make one of these for my little buddies…” read »

Sparkle Plenty
by Fresh Baked on 01/03/18
About this design:
I made these to give as gifts this year. A set of 12 crystal chandelier pieces are very inexpensive on Amazon. I added silver solder tinning around the edges of the one on the right...for an additional antique look. Then, add all the bling-bling you want for some pretty sparkle for the Christmas tree, in a window, or to hang on the rear-view mirror.
Components:
18 gauge silver plated wire, crystals and glass beads.Read the comments (or add your own)
Add your thoughts!
-
On Jan 25, 2021 at 2:44 pm
YOU say:

On Jan 03, 2018 at 7:05 pm #
jdtt says:So lovely! I would hang them in my window…
On Jan 03, 2018 at 9:39 pm #
Elis Mom says:Beautiful! I’d love these as a suncatcher as well.
On Jan 03, 2018 at 10:06 pm #
Beauty Sought Khristin says:These are wonderful! I’ve always wanted to do that with solder. How do you do it exactly? Should I just YouTube it? These are so cool. I too would use them as suncatchers, it would make me sad to pack them away after each Christmas.
On Jan 03, 2018 at 11:14 pm #
Moogie says:You are too cool Lynda!! I love that you lined your own crystal with silver. I’m with Khristin—now I need to know how to do that! I haven’t been brave enough to learn soldering but this will be my year to learn more metalwork. I would also keep these out all year either as suncatchers or fan pulls or to hang in my home somewhere. They are so pretty:)
On Jan 03, 2018 at 11:41 pm #
S KatollakaSue says:Wonderful!
On Jan 04, 2018 at 12:48 pm #
Medieval Momma says:I’m also intrigued by the idea of learning how to solder. It sure adds that certain something to these marvelous sun catcher charms. They are so pretty!
On Jan 04, 2018 at 3:44 pm #
kye says:Very cool. I would definately love to hang one in the window.
On Jan 04, 2018 at 6:30 pm #
Fresh Baked says:Love the idea of hanging these in windows and tree branches in a garden tool
Here’s a link to my pinterest board for tin soldering tutorials and ideas.
https://www.pinterest.com/lyndac/soldering-iron-tutorialsideas/
It’s not a cheap technique…the soldering iron was about 70 dollars, Also need flux, jewelry grade silver solder, copper tape.
I’m interested in seeing others post about this technique.
On Jan 06, 2018 at 10:32 am #
Beauty Sought Khristin says:I have copper tape, silver solder paste (it has the flux already in it, I bought it like that to make certain tasks easier) and a soldering iron. Will ANY soldering iron work?
On Jan 06, 2018 at 11:32 am #
Moogie says:I’ve looked at several videos & what I’ve seen are people using their torch. I haven’t seen the soldering iron used. I think I’ll need more education! Thanks for the links Lynda.
On Jan 06, 2018 at 6:06 pm #
Fresh Baked says:Sorry for the confusion. The ones that show melting solderwith a torch. is for stamping a design when the solder is still molten. A video that shows the tinning technique is this one…http://marie-lostbirdstudio.bl.....dants.html
No torch for this, but a soldering iron. The silver solder comes on a spool and looks like very thick wire. I purchased mine at a stain glass arts store, but you might find it on Amazon. Look for jewelry grade, no lead solder.