Adirondack Weddings Magazine » DIY

“Something Old”? Making Vintage Jewelry New

Adirondack Weddings — Fri, 30 Dec 2016 08:43:58 +0000

“Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue” is a phrase many brides take into consideration when planning their wedding. Finding an item to satisfy the “something old” requirement can sometimes be a challenge. Of course, it’s easy when your engagement ring was handed down by your groom’s great-great grandmother — but what if there are no family heirlooms in the picture? Luckily, there are many ways to incorporate less expensive costume jewelry into your wedding, whether it be a cherished piece from your mother, or a lucky find from an antique store or flea market.

Costume jewelry is wonderfully versatile. A brooch, such as the 1960s Schreiner ruffle pin pictured above, can be used to adorn your bouquet or even a sash tied around your waist. Clip earrings can be worn as intended, or repurposed as embellishments on boutonnières or bridesmaids’ bouquets.

Vintage costume jewelry, however, does not always age well, especially if it was well-loved in its heyday. Water, hairspray, and natural oils from the skin corrode once-shiny metals, sometimes even creating a greenish-blue mold-like substance called verdigris. Fortunately, with a bit of elbow grease and a few simple ingredients found around your house, vintage costume jewelry can be cleaned and restored.

Materials You’ll Need:
• Water
• Toothpaste
• Baking soda
• Paper towels
• Cotton swabs
• Toothpicks
• Window cleaner (ammonia free)
• Micro-fiber cloth

Step 1
Wash your hands to avoid spreading natural oils. (For extra vigilance, opt for latex gloves.)

Step 2
Find a workspace with good lighting, where you’ll see every detail (or blemish) on your jewelry.

Step 3
Lay your chosen piece of jewelry on a few stacked paper towels and inspect it for areas that need TLC. There are probably only a few isolated areas that need special attention. However, if the whole piece needs polishing, start at one end and systematically move across the piece.

Step 4
When you’ve identified the area you’d like to work on, grab your baking soda and toothpaste. Apply an equal amount of each onto a dish and use a cotton swab to mix it all together. (The size of the batch you mix will depend on how big of an area you will be cleaning.) Remember, a little goes a long way. If you end up with too much, just dab some of it off your cotton swab onto the paper towel.

Step 5
Using the cotton swab, gently rub the mixture onto the areas of blemished metal. When the cotton swab end begins to get dirty, flip it over and use the other side, or get a new one. At this point, you should be able to notice a difference from before you started cleaning.

Step 6
After polishing to your satisfaction, use a slightly moistened paper towel to clean any residue off the piece. (If your piece has rhinestones, however, avoid touching them with the paper towel, as the fibers could cause a scratch.) If there are any stubborn areas of verdigris, gently scrub them with cotton swabs or tooth picks dipped in an ammonia-free glass cleaner.

Step 7
Finally, polish your piece of jewelry with a micro-fiber cloth. These cloths are soft enough to avoid scratching the jewelry and are able to pick up any missed particles. Contrary to what was once believed, rhinestones can be safely polished with ammonia-free glass cleaner. After cleaning, always make sure your pieces are completely dry; lingering moisture is the primary cause of metal decay.

That’s it! Don’t be discouraged if your jewelry doesn’t turn out looking perfect. Your cherished piece is likely very old, so it’s important to go into this process with realistic expectations. Your jewelry will surely look brighter and shinier than it did before — the lack of perfection is exactly what gives it a special vintage charm!

— Story by Jenna Whitehill

An everlasting bouquet: How to preserve your wedding flowers

Adirondack Weddings — Tue, 08 Jul 2014 14:00:00 +0000

For many Adirondack brides, preserving the wedding dress is a given. But have you considered preserving your wedding flowers, too? Because you can do it yourself at home, it’s far less costly than preserving your gown, and instead of sitting in the back of your closet, this pretty memento will liven up your home with memories of your big day.

Preserving flowers by drying them is one of the simplest and most elegant craft ideas. You might choose to dry not only your bridal bouquet, but also the flowers from your reception centerpieces. Once the flowers have dried, hang them upside down on a wall or arrange them in a vase where they can be admired every day. There are many different techniques for preserving flowers, but we like this one for its simplicity.

You will need:
- Thin twine
- A tack
- Hairspray or an aerosol flower sealer

Step one. Place the flowers in water as soon as possible after use on your big day. If you’re not going to be carrying your bouquet around after saying, “I do,” choose someone trustworthy ahead of time who can put them somewhere safe.
Step two. As soon as possible, remove the flowers from the water and gently dry the stems with a clean towel. Adjust any flowers or ribbons that may have come undone.
Step three. Wrap the twine around the flowers where they’re already tied with the ribbon or lace, and leave a long piece free (about 6”). Turn the end of the long piece of twine into a small hook.
Step four. With a nail or a tack, hang the flowers upside down (against a wall or from the ceiling if you don’t want one side to flatten while drying). Only hang them in a well-ventilated, dry area with no direct sunlight.
Step five. Leave until they are completely dry. Be patient; this can take up to four weeks, depending on the flowers!
Step six. Generously spray the entire bouquet with hairspray or aerosol flower sealer.

Once your flowers have dried, let the decorating begin! Hang them on the wall next to your framed wedding photograph or use a vase from your reception to create a new centerpiece for your dining room table. Drying and displaying your flowers allows them to be like your love – everlasting!

— Story by Felicia Bonanno

Editor’s note: Have you used your wedding flowers to decorate your love nest? Let us know! We are planning a story on this very topic for an upcoming issue of the print magazine. We’d love to feature your story!

Bridal Beauty: DIY Honey Face Scrub

Adirondack Weddings — Wed, 11 Jun 2014 14:00:00 +0000

Every bride deserves to walk down the aisle with confidence, and confidence begins with having healthy skin. The months prior to your wedding is the perfect time to indulge yourself with a spa facial. But to achieve or maintain glowing skin at home, look no further than your kitchen! Honey isn’t just a great wedding favor; it also smooths your skin. For a gentle face scrub, combine with other simple ingredients you probably already have on hand — milk, oatmeal, and olive oil.

Each of these ingredients have special benefits that will leave your skin feeling smooth and rejuvenated.

Milk
Using milk as a skin care product can be traced back to hieroglyphic writing. It’s believed Cleopatra used milk regularly as a part of her skincare routine, and with all of the benefits, it’s easy to see why: milk shrinks pores, prevents premature aging, removes stains, and soothes irritations.

Oatmeal
Oatmeal is made up of polysaccharides, carbohydrates composed of blended sugar molecules. When added to liquid, polysaccharides form a gel, so when it’s applied to your skin, it moisturizes, softens, and nourishes it, giving it a longer-lasting protection. The flakes also help exfoliate your skin, removing the dead skin cells and leaving it smoother.

Olive Oil
Using organic or extra virgin olive oil will allow your skin to stay hydrated. Olive oil contains the right acids and polyphenols that help trap water in your skin and keep it moisturized.

Honey
Because honey is a natural antibacterial, a simple application can keep your skin bacteria-free. Honey will also moisturize and soften your skin.

Without having any of these ingredients on hand, the scrub will cost a maximum of $10-15, depending on the brands you prefer. Because the recipe calls for only a teaspoon or two for each ingredient, you will have more than enough ingredients for multiple scrubs.

Ingredients:
• 1 tsp whole milk
• 1 tsp honey
• 1 tsp organic or extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tsp oatmeal

Steps:
1. Gently wash your face with warm water before you begin.
2. In a bowl, add 1 teaspoon of milk, 1 teaspoon of honey, and 1 teaspoon of olive oil.
3. Add 2 teaspoons of oatmeal to the mixture. Tip: Blend oatmeal in a blender to get smaller pieces, which work better as a scrub.
4. Let the mixture sit for about 5 minutes, or until the oatmeal flakes are soft.
5. Gently rub in circular motions all over your face.
6. Massage the paste over your face for about 1-2 minutes.
7. With warm water, gently wash off the paste.
8. Rinse again with cold water to leave your face feeling smooth and refreshed.

With a preparation time of less than five minutes, keeping your skin radiant and smooth is a snap. You can even make it a party by inviting your bridesmaids over for some girl talk and beauty bonding. Here’s to health, relaxation, and gorgeous wedding day skin!

— Story by Heidi LaPoint

Homemade honey wedding favors

Adirondack Weddings — Wed, 21 May 2014 15:06:58 +0000

There’s a good reason why we use the word “honey” as a term of an endearment. Honey oozes natural sweetness and even looks heavenly, like an amber-colored beam of sunlight. Like love, it makes anything in life sweeter.

Honey is delicious on its own, but spicing up the bees’ craftsmanship with herbs can give a whole new meaning to the term “nectar of the gods.” Herb-infused honey is incredibly simple, natural, and a great way to add a new flavor to your favorite tea, baklava, pancakes, or any number of delicious foods you might serve at your wedding or bridal shower. For those looking for a unique favor idea, this honey can be prepared in a large batch, poured into decorative jars, and given away as gifts. Imagine how impressed your guests would be to find out you made it yourself!

Flowery herbs don’t just make honey tastier, they also add a medicinal quality. Lavender and chamomile relieve stress, for example. (Just think of it as taking your daily medicine!) To create your own signature blend of honey with your honey, follow these simple steps:

1. Buy a jar of real honey, raw or otherwise. (Local honey is always a bonus, especially if you suffer from seasonal allergies! Local honey will have bits of pollen from native plants in your area, so you’ll slowly build up immunity to the allergens.)

2. Next, choose your herbs. Have fun with this step, but make sure you do research first to figure out what you’re going for and if the herbs are safe to ingest. Our personal favorite herb is lavender, which is pictured here. Other ideas include rose petals, sage, chamomile, peppermint, cinnamon, and vanilla.

3. Fill a large, empty jar halfway with the herbs of your choice.

4. Next, slowly pour the honey over the herbs, filling the jar.

5. Seal tightly and place the jar on a west-facing windowsill that receives plenty of sunlight during the day. Leave for at least two weeks.

6. Once you’ve let the mixture sit at least two weeks, drain the honey through a strainer and pick out any leftover stems or leaves. Pour into a cute jar — or any number of smaller jars — and enjoy!

Even before the wedding festivities begin, herb-infused honey is a great way to sweeten up tea and help you relax during countless hours of wedding planning. So get your honey dipper out, thank the bees, and revel in flowery bliss.

— Story by Felicia Bonanno

DIY Bridal Hairpiece

Adirondack Weddings — Wed, 23 Apr 2014 14:00:00 +0000

As an Adirondack bride to be, you’ve probably spent many hours dreaming about all the details of your big day. You’ve tried on dozens of dresses, you’ve scouted locations, you’ve pinned hundreds of inspirational images on Pinterest — but have you thought about your accessories yet? In the tradition of our DIY Bridal Earring Set and DIY Fall Leaf Bouquet tutorials, we’ve created an original “do-it-yourself” (DIY) on one of the day’s most important accessories — your headpiece!

Many lovely bridal headbands are available in bridal boutiques or online shops, but they often cost upwards of $100. A more original alternative that also happens to put less strain on your wallet is to make a headpiece yourself! For a fraction of the cost, you can use our method below for a simple and elegant bridal hairpiece for the bride, for bridesmaids, or for flower girls. In creating this quick project, we used a plain white headband, lace pieces, and iron-on Swarovski element crystals, all of which are available from any craft store. (Our cost for the final product was less than $15!)

Materials:

A plain headband or ribbon
Super glue or fabric glue
Iron-on crystals or other decorative elements
A piece of lace
Fabric stiffener (optional, available online or at your local craft store)

Steps:

1. To get a smooth work surface, iron your lace on a medium heat setting with no steam. Take care to protect it by covering with a piece of cloth, like a hand towel or pillowcase.
2. Position your crystal or decorative elements. Take your time as this may require a little playing with. Do you like a lot of bling? Or just a touch of sparkle? Now’s the time to decide.
3. Once you’ve positioned your crystals, carefully cover with cloth and iron according to the direction on the package. It may be best to work with a little bit at a time; that way, you don’t jostle your pieces and end up ironing something to the wrong spot.
4. Allow the lace to cool, then it’s time to attach everything to the head band or ribbon. If you’re using a piece of ribbon, fold the length in half and gently iron the folded end to mark your center. If you’re using a headband, you may want to place it in your hair and use trial and error to find the best positioning for the lace.
5. Once you’ve decided on the positioning, carefully apply a dot of fabric or super glue to your headband and press the lace in place. Start at one end and work toward the other, ensuring that your placement remains intact.
6. Allow to dry completely.
7. Optional Step: You may want to apply a fabric stiffener (or you can make a 1:1 solution of Elmer’s White or clear glue) to prevent the lace from warping or drooping, especially if you’re using a larger piece. Regular spray starch will not likely be strong enough unless you are using a very delicate, fine piece of lace.

Use this DIY to create your own personal wedding style while being thrifty. You could even incorporate your “something old” by using a vintage piece of lace or ribbon, perhaps a piece passed down from an older generation. No matter what you choose, you’re sure to create a beautiful bridal keepsake!

— Story and photos by Elizabeth Piseczny

“Tea for Two” Wedding Favors

Adirondack Weddings — Wed, 02 Apr 2014 14:00:00 +0000

Choosing a unique wedding favor can be daunting. As bride and groom, you want to offer guests something they’ll either keep as a remembrance, or use and enjoy, and there are so many – almost too many – wonderful options out there. One idea we find charming is to create a personalized signature tea. Blend together in sachets, or pair with a mug or teacup.

With a special blend of fine tea you select and mix yourself, paired with a teacup or mug and perhaps a heart-shaped steeper, you’ll leave your guests with something they can enjoy and relax with after their journeys back home. You might choose to engrave or monogram the mugs, or to simply pick a design that reflects your taste or compliments your wedding’s theme. Either way, the memento serves as a nice, practical keepsake, and the scent of lavender or spices from your unique tea blend will bring the day to mind for years to come, for you and your guests.

To create your personalized tea, stop by your local co-op or health food store. Most will have loose teas sold in bulk that you can mix and match depending on your taste. Feel free to start with one of the recipes below and add or modify flavors based on your preferences.

Here are some mixtures we recommend:

Purple Mist. This blend of lavender, green oolong, and jasmine pearls is an aromatic delight. The fresh, springtime quality of the lavender and jasmine blends perfectly with the earthier green tea. The result is smooth, fragrant, and perfect with a dollop of honey.

Red Chai. Great for fall and winter, this chai is made with red rooibos, a smooth, refreshing African tea that is naturally caffeine-free. Combined with cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves, this is the perfect tea for a relaxing night by the fire.

Floral Bouquet. Just as the name implies, this is an all-flower blend that makes for a refreshing spring or summer brew. Made with chamomile, lavender, rose, and jasmine flowers, this mixture offers a light and complex taste, and a scent that is sweetly soothing.

Can’t decide on the perfect blend? Invite your bridesmaids over for a tasting to help you choose. (Aren’t we all overdue for a tea party with our best friends?) Once you’ve decided, simply pour your blend into small, individual satchels, which can be found in any craft supply store, and start looking for the perfect teacups!

— Story and photos by Elizabeth R. Davidson

ADK brides & grooms: join the conversation!

Adirondack Weddings — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 14:00:00 +0000

We are lucky to have some loyal followers who comment on many of our blog posts. You may have noticed that select readers have photos that appear next to their comments, as illustrated in the screen capture below. Wondering how your photo can appear next to your comments here on the Adirondack Weddings website? We’ll show you how it’s done!

You simply need to register for a “Gravatar,” which is short for “globally recognized avatar.” This avatar connects with your email address and allows you to post on millions of recognized blogs and web forums with your name and picture included. Getting your own Gravatar is simple! Just follow these steps:

1. Visit the Gravatar website and register

Click or type http://gravatar.com into your web browser. You’ll see a “Log In/Sign Up” link near the top of the website.

2. Add your email & pick your personal image

Enter your email address and then choose where you want to upload your profile avatar image from by clicking “Get Your Gravatar.” You can either upload a file from your computer’s hard drive, an image from one of your accounts on the internet, or a previously uploaded image.

3. Look for a confirmation email

You should receive a confirmation email from Gravatar. Click on the link provided in the email and you should be able to choose how to input your image.

4. Crop your image & finish registering

Crop your image by moving the box that is overlaid on the image you choose. Then click the “Crop and Finish” button.

5. Choose an image rating for your Gravatar

The rating you choose for your Gravatar should reflect the content of your Gravatar image and postings. G, PG, R and X are the content rating options. (Be advised that an X-rated content image will automatically prevent you from posting on many sites.)

Now you’re set! Come back and comment on our site to make sure it worked. Having a Gravatar helps you personalize your online identity across the web. Cool, huh?

20 (More) Romantic Holiday Gift Ideas

Adirondack Weddings — Sun, 15 Dec 2013 09:00:00 +0000

The holiday season is here once again — lights decorate neighborhood trees and a dusting of snow coats the ground — meaning the time has come to pick out the perfect present for your sweetie. To help inspire you, we’ve put together this list, which features an array of choices from lavish to frugal, from handmade to digital. Scroll down for our list, and for even more ideas, be sure to check out last year’s holiday gift guide, 15 Romantic & Fun Holiday Gift Ideas. Without further ado:

DIY & Special Touches

1. Commemorate moments in your life together by penning a detailed memory book of your relationship. Buy a monogrammed journal such as this one and hand write memories of special times in the life that you’ve shared. Add more to the journal as your relationship grows.

2. Buy your betrothed their dream house! Wait, too expensive? Then perhaps try a house made of gingerbread, customized to look like the home you hope to one day share. Add personal touches, like your partner’s favorite candy, to make it really special. Bake your own or try out a kit, such as this Minions gingerbread house or this gingerbread cottage.

3. Decorate a simple red cardboard gift box with glitter, stickers, text, or photos and tuck a personalized coupon inside, perhaps redeemable for a kiss under the mistletoe or your beloved’s favorite homemade dinner.

4. If your sweetie spends way too much time at his desktop computer (who doesn’t these days?), try custom designing your own mouse pad by decorating a blank white mouse pad with a photo transfer — ideally, a photo of the two of you!

Classic Gifts

1. If jewelry is a must for your lovely lady, try a pair of sophisticated studs like these relatively inexpensive sterling silver gemstone earrings. For the man in your life, consider a watch, like this classic stainless steel option.

2. A custom ornament is the perfect traditional, inexpensive gift for your beloved. Make it a keepsake by choosing one imprinted with the year. Did you get married in 2015? Frame your favorite wedding photo in this personalized wedding ornament.

3. A tailored gift basket to suit your love’s taste is sure to delight them. Make your own by putting together their favorite things, perhaps including this Crabtree & Evelyn body lotion and a quilted reversible throw blanket, or pick an already-assembled basket of goodies, such as this chocolate sampler gift basket.

4. Comfortable sheets make all the difference when you’re relaxing in bed with your special someone. This affordable navy blue silky satin sheet set is an elegant favorite.

5. Is that love in the air? Candles are an easy way to make an otherwise ordinary day romantic. Try this Christmas cookie scented Yankee Candle, which has the added bonus of making your home smell like the holiday season.

Leisure, Camping, & Travel Gifts

1. If your sweetie is an outdoorsy, Adirondack-loving camper type, try this High Sierra backpack, or this Coleman Palmetto cool weather sleeping bag. This cute purple women’s hydration pack is sure to inspire her adventurous spirit.

2. Do you travel a lot? If so, consider this adorable and inexpensive luggage tag to give your sweetie an easy way to recognize her luggage.

3. Surprise your beloved by booking an engagement or anniversary photo session with a local photographer. Browse through our fantastic roster of photographers in the photography section of our online vendor directory.

4. The hustle & bustle of the holiday season can cause both of you to stress out. Give your special someone a gift certificate for a spa date at the The Spa at Mirror Lake Inn in Lake Placid. Pick a pampering treatment and relax and unwind together.

5. For your music-crazed partner, buy tickets to a local concert. Whether it’s a band you’ve both loved for years or a rising local artist, live performances are an exciting way to spice up regular date nights. Do you love live music but hate crowds? Then purchase a live concert DVD and watch it together at home.

“Extended Release” Gifts

1. The best gifts keep on giving months beyond the holidays. Try a season pass to a ski resort or season tickets to your sweetie’s favorite sporting event.

2. “Of the month” subscription gifts usually range anywhere from 3 months to a year, depending on your preference. Consider, for instance, this 6-month K-cup Coffee of the Month Club. You can put together monthly deliveries of anything you’d like using a program such as Amazon’s Subscribe & Save. From monthly beauty products to pet care, you are bound to discover something that will keep your sweetie cheerful all-year long.

3. Guarantee a date night every month by jotting ideas down on a 2016 calendar of your choosing. We adore this 2016 Adirondacks Wall Calendar. There are thousands of options, from the 2016 Star Wars The Force Awakens Wall Calendar to the 2016 Hello Love Wall Calendar.

4. Memberships and renewals are both perfect and practical for anything your partner takes interest in. If gaming, try this Xbox Live 12-Month Gold Membership Card, and if it’s fitness, try a gym membership. If you are drawing a blank, renew a currently expired membership.

5. To cater to your betrothed’s unique interests, try a magazine subscription. There’s a magazine for almost everything! Is he crazy about cats? Try I Love Cats. Is she a tattoo lover? Try Inked. And on the topic of magazines, we have one final suggestion …

Wedding planning

1. Last but not least, if you don’t yet have all three copies of Adirondack Weddings Magazine, you can still order in time for Christmas! Like last year, we’ll ship out copies same or next business day on all orders received this month. Packages go out by USPS Priority Mail. While we can’t control how long the postal service will take to deliver the goods, we can promise we’ll do our part in getting orders out the door.

And there you have it! Need more ideas? Scroll through last year’s holiday gift guide here: 15 Romantic & Fun Holiday Gift Ideas.

As the weather grows colder and Christmas nears, treasure the moments spent with your significant other, family, and friends. Here’s to a happy holiday season!

— Story by Anne Rathe

Adirondack Strawberry Cocktail

Adirondack Weddings — Wed, 24 Jul 2013 16:00:46 +0000

It’s strawberry season here in Upstate New York (or perhaps we should say, “strawberry daiquiri season”?). There’s no better way to sit back, relax, and keep cool during these warm summer days than sipping on a freshly-made cocktail. Whether you’re honing in on a signature drink for your wedding or simply enjoying a girls’ night in with your bridesmaids, this delicious recipe is one to consider.

No strawberries in the house? Feeling adventurous? Make a day of it! Enjoy the nature of the Adirondacks with your betrothed or bridesmaids by picking your own strawberries. This will not only be a fun way to enjoy time with loved ones, it might also allow you to get your mind off of wedding planning for a few hours. (Or, for brides who can’t help themselves, don’t fight it—plan while you pick!)

There is no right or wrong way to make a strawberry daiquiri, and there are many variations. Our favorite happens to be both super easy and delicious. All you need are fresh strawberries (although frozen will do in a pinch), a lime or lime juice, light rum, and ice cubes.

Ingredients

3 cups chopped strawberries
1 cup light rum of your choice
1/4 cup lime juice
1 cup of ice cubes

Place all ingredients into the blender, mix until it’s a smooth consistency, then simply pour into a glass. If the drinks aren’t as sweet as you’d like, try adding some sugar or strawberry-flavored syrup. Depending on the desired thickness of your drink, feel free to add more ice. We recommend adding 1/2 cup at a time until you reach the consistency you want. To make the drink sweeter and more visually appealing, top with whipped cream and a cherry.

Recipe yields 4-6 drinks and takes just minutes, meaning you’ll be enjoying these delicious treats in no time!

— Story by Heidi LaPoint

DIY Project: Bridal Earring Set

Adirondack Weddings — Fri, 12 Jul 2013 20:22:47 +0000

On your big day, you walk down the aisle supported by the most-loved ladies in your life — otherwise known as your bridal party. Each woman is perfectly dressed in coordinated gowns and shoes, with complementary hair styles and beautiful bouquets. But what about jewelry? Providing earrings and necklaces is a common and much appreciated gift from a bride to her attendants, and there are many gorgeous options from which to choose (our favorite go-to spot for fine jewelry is Darrah Cooper in Lake Placid).

For crafty brides who like the idea of homemade jewelry, recent bride Eva Mizer created this do-it-yourself tutorial. Utilizing only wire and a handful of inexpensive beads, these earrings can complete the look of your entire bridal party!

Before you begin, you will need to plan out which design and colors best suits your needs. For this project, we used a mix of blue, opaque, and clear beads to create a simple dangling chandelier design.

For this set of three, which includes the bride, maid of honor, and bridesmaid’s earrings, you will need wire cutters, needle-nose pliers, a spool of 20 mm gauge silver wire, six hooks, 12 tiny beads, eight small opaque beads, 10 medium clear beads, eight medium-wired blue beads, two large-wired blue beads, and 16 “O” rings.

Side Tier:
1. Set out the beads in the design you will be using.
2. Cut a 1-inch section of wire and close one end by twirling it in a circle with the needle-nose pliers.
3. Take the one tiny bead and one small opaque bead and slide them onto the wire.
4. Cut the wire and curl the end as in step two.
5. Repeat steps #2-4 with a medium clear bead.
6. Open an “O” ring and loop it through the end of the first segment and the top the second segment and close it.
7. Repeat step #6 with the second segment and a medium-wired blue bead.
8. Open the curl on the bottom of the earring hook and loop it through the top curl of the first segment and close it.
9. Repeat steps #1-9 for the second tier.

Middle Tier:
1. Set out the beads in the design you will be using.
2. Cut a 1-inch section of wire and close one end by twirling it in a circle with the needle-nose pliers.
3. Take one small opaque bead and slide it onto the wire.
4. Cut the wire and curl the end as in step two.
5. Repeat steps #2-4 with a medium clear bead.
6. Open an “O” ring and loop it through the end of the first segment and the top the second segment and close it.
7. Repeat step #6 with the second segment and a large-wired blue bead.
8. Open the curl on the bottom of the earring hook and loop it through the top curl of the first segment and close it.

Wire Top:
1. Cut a segment of wire about 4 inches in length.
2. Lightly put the ends of the wire together and bend it at the middle, creating an elongated loop at the center.
3. Curl the ends of the wire up, but don’t close them all of the way.
4. Cut a segment of wire about 3 inches in length and repeat step #2.
5. Curl the ends of the wire perpendicularly, so they will be able to wrap around the back.
6. Place the bended wire (now in a downward “V”) to rest on the previous wire (now in an upward “V”), so the curled ends of the second wire are fastened in the curled ends of the previous wire. Keep the curls of the previous segment open.
7. Loop the open curls of the previous segment through the top curl of the side tiers. Close the curls, keeping ample room for the second segment and side tier to move.
8. Take the middle tier. Open the curl of the top segment of the tier and loop it through the middle loop of the downward-facing “V” wire segment. Close it.
9. Open the curl on the bottom of the earring hook and loop it through the top loop of the upside down “V” segment and close it.
10. Repeat all steps for the second earring.

1. Set out the beads in the design you will be using.
2. Cut a 1-inch section of wire and close one end by twirling it in a circle with the needle-nose pliers.
3. Take the two tiny beads and one small opaque bead and slide them onto the wire.
4. Cut the wire and curl the end as in step two.
5. Repeat steps #2-4 with a medium clear bead.
6. Open an “O” ring and loop it through the end of the first segment and the top of the second segment and close it.
7. Repeat step #6 with the second segment and a medium-wired blue bead.
8. Open the curl on the bottom of the earring hook and loop it through the top curl of the first segment and close it.
9. Repeat steps #1-9 for the second earring.

1. Set out the beads in the design you will be using.
2. Cut a 1-inch section of wire and close one end by twirling it in a circle with the needle-nose pliers.
3. Take the two tiny beads and one medium clear bead and slide them onto the wire.
4. Cut the wire and curl the end as in step two.
5. Open an “O” ring and loop it through the end of the previous segment and the top of a medium-wired blue bead and close it.
6. Open the curl on the bottom of the earring hook and loop it through the top curl of the first segment and close it.
7. Repeat steps #1-6.

We love DIY projects such as this one because they help you get in touch with your creative side, and this project comes with the bonus of serving as a gift that commemorates your special day. Happy crafting!

— Story and photos by Eva Mizer. Layout and story editing by Heidi LaPoint.