Do-It-Yourself: JewelMint Steampunk Necklace!

I don't think there are many people who don't love JewelMint's Steampunk Earrings. Their unique, and probably even more versatile than you'd think!

If your anything like me, there are days when wearing large hoop earrings is just impossible. Being a mom, I've mentioned before that it can be hard to wear certain pieces around little one's who make a habit of mistaking your dangly hoop earrings for toys. :)

Over the years I've had to become a little bit more creative with how I wear my jewelry around my kids. For instance, the Steampunk Earrings are great earrings, but I soon found out that it's so much more fun (and safer) for me to remove one of the charms by slipping it off the hoop and adding it on a chain!

Even without the steampunk charms, the hematite hoop earrings are great basics all on their own. I also particularly like this do-it-yourself project because it doesn't involve the use of jewelry tools or having to alter the earrings in any way.

Here's the end result!

Would you wear the Steampunks as a necklace charm?

xoxo, Lily

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DIY Tutorial: Eros Earrings Makeover - Second Generation to First Generation Transformation!

Ever notice that your 2nd Generation Eros Earrings look different than JewelMint's 1st Generation?

That's because during production, the 2nd Generation Eros Earrings were assembled differently. The two outer round discs at the bottom were rotated 180 and switched, thus making the 2nd Generation look shorter and chunkier. The Check out this photo showing you the difference between the two...

If you own a pair of 2nd Generation Eros and would like to make the change, follow my video tutorial below. I hope that I've made it easy enough to follow!

Also, a quick tip for removing jump rings: Never pull each side apart in the opposite direction of each end. Simply twist the jump ring open and twist it shut in order to not lose its circular shape as seen in this photo from my DIY Humanity Bracelet/Necklace Tutorial...

So with that little tidbit of advice, you're ready to follow the tutorial and get started!

Check it out...




Check out my review of JewelMint's Eros Earrings here!
Stay tuned for Jewels+Mints Eros Earrings photos coming soon!

If you have any questions, send me an email at jewelsandmints@gmail.com.

xoxo, Lily

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JewelMint's Humanity Bracelet/Necklace Do-It-Yourself Tutorial & Upcoming Giveaway ♥

*UPDATE* On October 15th, JewelMint Fan Vyanh Vo posted a photo on Facebook of this very fashionable idea (see here).

JewelMint recently re-released the Humanity Bracelet back on September 28th in a brand new limited silver and rose gold color in a BOGO promo for one day only. It was then announced on Facebook that after the first 800 sold out, all subsequent orders would receive the Original Humanity Bracelet.

I personally missed the boat on the new silver version, but still received the original with my order.

As mentioned the same day (Sept 28th) of the silver version's release (in this post here), I had the idea of turning the original Humanity Bracelet into a matching pendant necklace!

As you may remember I started "refashioning" JewelMint jewelry back in June with the Very Audrey Necklace Do-it-yourself tutorial (here) and most recently, the Midnight Soiree Necklace (here). JewelMint has since refashioned some of their own pieces such as Kate Bosworth's refashioned Versailles Earrings (here), Mystic Secrets Necklace - Pin (here), and the upcoming Baltic Gem Refashion (vote here)...to name a few.

It's so much fun being able to reconfigure some of your favorite or excess pieces into something totally new! I'll also try to do these tutorials more often, as I have a ton of ideas and a ton of pieces I'm looking to convert.

So without further ado, here is how to turn your Humanity Bracelet into a Humanity Necklace with a step-by-step tutorial.

Let's start with supplies! You'll need these SIX staples:

(1) JewelMint Humanity Bracelet - obviously ;)

(1) Measuring Tape

(1) Jewelry Tool Set including round nose pliers, chain nose pliers, and a flush cutter.

(1) Necklace chain of your choice. For this tutorial I've decided to use a thin black and gold 24 inch chain (left) similar to that of October's Empress Necklace. The contrast between the gold and black of the pendant will match this chain perfectly!

(4) 4mm Jump Rings. To match the chain, I'm using black for this tutorial.

(1) 12mm Lobster Clasp (also black)

Note: For those new to jewelry making, learn the proper technique to opening and closing jump rings here.

Let's get started!

Step 1:  Locate the attached jump ring on either side of the Humanity pendant.

Step 2:  Using your round nose and chain nose pliers, open the jump ring using the jump ring technique (noted above). 

Step 3:  Separate the jump ring from the pendant.

Step 4:  Repeat steps 2 and 3 for the jump ring on the opposite side of the pendant.

Step 5:  Now that your pendant is separated from the old bracelet chain, now what?

Step 6:  Don't forget to separate the JewelMint Charm as we will be using this for the necklace!

Step 7:  Take one of your four black jump rings and attach one side of the Humanity pendant to the new chain.

Step 8:  Secure the jump ring closed.

Step 9:  Repeat steps 7 and 8 for the opposite side of the pendant.

Step 10:  Lay your necklace out flat to get a general idea of where to make your cut to shorten the necklace and to add a clasp and the "JewelMint' charm. No worries on measuring just yet, you can snip anywhere near the top of the necklace as we will be measuring it out in a minute.

Step 11:  Take your flush cutters and snip one of the links at the very top.

Step 12: Next, you will measure out the chain on each side to your desired length. I recommend testing the length in the mirror to get a general idea of where you would like to pendant to hit. Play it safe by removing a little at a time as you can always remove more. I personally made the one chain that the clasp will be located approximately 9 1/2 inches in length.

Step 13:  Grab another black jump chain and feed the lobster clasp through, but do not close the jump chain just yet...

Step 14:  If you're right-handed, attach the jump chain (with the lobster clasp still on it) to the side of the necklace that will require you to use your right hand to open and close the clasp when putting your necklace on. If you're left-handed you can customize your necklace to open with your left hand by attaching the jump chain and clasp to the opposite side! Close the ring.

Step 15:  Locate another black jump ring for the opposite chain that will function as the anchor for the lobster clasp to attach to. Attach the jump ring and close. Note: You can layer extra jump rings to the "anchor" side to make the length adjustable by an extra inch or two!

Step 16:  Locate your JewelMint Charm - this is how your necklace should now look:

Step 17:  Attach the JewelMint Charm like so and close the ring.

Step 18:  You can now attach the lobster clasp to the opposite "anchor" ring!

Step 19:  Your JewelMint Humanity Necklace is now complete! Enjoy! :)

If you have any questions or need any help, please send me an email at jewelsandmints@gmail.com!

Now that my necklace is complete, I will be giving this very necklace away in an upcoming contest! Stay tuned within the next couple weeks to learn how you can win this necklace! :)

xoxo, Lily

JewelMint Very Audrey Earrings/Necklace Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Tutorial

 

 

 

 

 

 

In love with JewelMint's Very Audrey Earrings?? Well, you're in luck because here's a new way to take them to a whole other level with a Very Audrey Necklace tutorial!

JewelMint recently brought these beauties back with their first Bring It Back application on Facebook. While they're currently sold out, they do have the ever-so-promising JewelMint Waitlist option! This would also be perfect for the upcoming Black Center Stone Very Audrey Earrings that are coming soon! I'll be sure to purchase two sets of these so that I can make a necklace out of those too!

The best part of turning your Very Audrey's into a necklace is the fact that you can get two pendants out of one set! This would be perfect to keep one for yourself and to give one to your best friend as a sort of friendship necklace or as a one-of-a-kind gift to someone special!

Here's what you'll need:
1 Set of JewelMint's Very Audrey Earrings (or 2 sets if you want to have matching earrings)

1 Silver or Gold Necklace (your choice)
1 Jewelry Kit or Pliers (available at your local craft store or just steal your husband's) ;)

I personally used a 14kt white gold chain I received from my hubby awhile back as a birthday gift. I slid off the diamond pendant (shhh, don't tell him lol) and replaced it with what I like to now call my "The Audrey Pendant"!!

The great thing is, you can use any chain your heart desires, mix and match...you can switch it up however you like! You can even slide one or two of these onto a bracelet if you'd like as a sort of charm!

Hope you enjoy my mini tutorial video below!! Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions :D

xoxo, Lily

P.S. I'm still crossing my fingers that JewelMint will release a red version of these for the holidays!!! I know a lot of you would just die for that!!! Who wants to see a red centered version of the Very Audrey Earrings???? ;)