Waterfall Earrings

I've been into LONG earrings lately so here's one we're calling Waterfall Earrings and we have a free work sheet for our Bead Shops!  I used left overs of the Chinese crystals from our demo in November and added more Sierra Pacific Crafts finding with two different chains to create a lot of movement.  These are collar bone ticklers but you can always adjust the length to meet your comfort level!

We'll demo this project on Saturday December 1 and again on the 8th, both at 2 PM. 

I'll see ya at the store!

Lynn H @ Mapunapuna BFC Bead Shop

Wine Cork Ornament

Here's a way to upcycle wine corks into ornaments!  I used various bead and wire wrapped them into a long dangle, you can make it as long or short as you see fit. I took some flex wire and attached to the end of the dangle and strung on some buttons for a base.  I used a metal awl to create a hole through the wine cork and pulled the flex wire through.  I topped it off with more buttons to finish it off the design and then just looped the end of the wire to make it easy to hang.  These can be used for Christmas tree ornaments, sun catchers in the window, or just to add a little sparkle anywhere.  It's also a great way to use up any orphan beads you might have. 

We'll demo how to do this at our Mapunapuna Bead Shop on Saturday November 17 at 2 PM in case you want to watch!  Hope to see you there!

Lynn H @ Mapunapuna BFC Bead Shop



Moonlight Sonata

I was playing around with a variety of beading components that we carry in the store and ended up with this pair of earrings that I've named Moonlight Sonata.  When I look at this pair, I think of a garden water fountain in the evening with the moonlight playing off the water movement.  I love how we get inspired by images or daydreams to create something just as much as the inspirations that the piece makes after it's made! I used Chinese crystal from our Sweet Beads line, Sierra Pacific Craft findings, and Quick Link hoops . We will have this as a demo on Saturday November 10 at 2 PM. It's a great way to learn how to wire wrap so stop by if you have a chance!

I'll see ya at the store!

Lynn H @ Mapunapuna BFC Bead Shop

Aurora's Earrings

Sea shells are still popular in jewelry trends here so we've made a pair of earrings! Don't forget that we carry sea shells and the diamond encrusted drill bits to make the holes! I used Swarovski pearls and crystals for some added bling.  With the pearl nestled inside of the shell, it'll look pretty regardless of any way the shell turns while being worn!  This demo will be on Sunday November 4 at 2 PM and again on Sunday November 11, also at 2 PM so come and visit if you have a chance!

Lynn H @ Mapunapuna BFC Bead Shop

Dia de los Muertos

Dia de los Muertos is celebrated on November 1 so come in for our demo on these Day of the Dead Earrings.  Images of sugar skulls have become popular in fashion so you can actually wear them anytime but it seems especially appropriate this time of the year and they are very easy to make.  We carry these skulls with our Imagine It gemstone line, they come in 2 different sizes and I used the larger size for these.  I  used 2 part epoxy to glue the Swarovksi 8mm margaritas into the eye sockets and then nestled them in a bed of uncooked rice while the glue dried.  Then I wire wrapped a bunch of our resin flowers from our bead soup collection with Swarovksi 3mm bicones and Sweet bead ball ended head pins.  Once I finished with the flowers my glue was set and I just stacked everything onto 20 gauge wire, topped it with copper beads and wire wrapped it close.  Add on ear wires and tadah!
Our demo will be at our Mapunapuna Bead Shop on Saturday October 20 and 27 at 2 PM so if you have time, stop by to check it out!

I'll see you at the store!

Lynn H. @ Mapunapuna BFC Bead Shop

Cha Cha in the Pumpkin Patch

Here's another Halloween themed project that we will demo at our Mapunapuna Bead Shop.  Cha Cha bracelets have lots of charms dangling from the bracelet base and tend to be full with a lot of movement so I thought it would be fun to have little ghosts and witches dancing together in the pumpkin patch using some of our resin flowers from our bead soup, Swarovski pearls, orange gemstone, and plastic donuts.  Stop by our Mapunapuna bead shop to see the sample or for our demo which will be on Sunday October 14 at 2:00 PM. 

I'll see you at the store!

Lynn H @ Mapunapuna BFC Bead Shop

Halloween in Fimo

Look at the cute little Halloween characters that Shari created out of Fimo clay!!  She'll be doing a demonstration in our Mapunapuna Bead shop on Saturday October 6 and again on October 13 starting at 2 PM so come by to check it out!  We'll be doing a variety of Halloween themed project all month long so stop by our store or the bfcraft club web site to find out what's happening!

Thanks for stopping by!

Lynn H @ Mapunapuna BFC Bead Shop

Mehndi Ring Hana Hou

Here's a project that we did last year but since we've had so many inquiries recently we've decided to do another demo!   We call it the Mehndi Ring because it reminds me of henna patterns done on the skin for special occasions!  Come in on Saturday September 29 at 2:00 to see the demo and we'll also have it as a free worksheet!  Hope to see you there!

Lynn H @ Mapunapuna BFC Bead Shop

The Beaded Pomander

Have you mastered the basic beach ball (from our free worksheets) and want to take it to the next level?  Then I have the project for you!  This is the beaded pomander and it's an embellished beach ball!  Come in for our Mapunapuna Bead Shop demo on Sunday September 23 at 2:00 PM to find out the tricks on making one for yourself!  Can't make it on the 23rd?  We'll demo it again on Sunday September 30 also at 2:00 PM so I hope to see you soon!

Lynn H @ Mapunapuna BFC Bead Shop

Shell Drilling

Sea shell jewelry is still a hot trend, especially here in Hawaii so come in for our demo on how to drill your sea shells to be able to turn them into lovely jewelry!  Our Ben Franklin Crafts' stores that have extended bead shops (Mapunapuna, Maui, and Hilo) have started carrying diamond encrusted drill bits and they are perfect to use with the rotary tool we sell, we even have a free worksheet to give you tips on what to do!  Our demo will be at our Mapunapuna Bead Shop on Saturday September 15 at 2:00 PM and again on Saturday September 22 also at 2:00 PM.

Thanks for stopping by!

Lynn H @ Mapunapuna BFC Bead Shop

Wired Awareness Ribbon

October is just around the corner and most of us know that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month so here's a project that you can make to show your support!  We took 16 gauge wire, shaped it into the awareness ribbon shape, hammered it to make it sturdy, and then used 26 gauge wire to embellish it with 4mm Swarovski bicones.  Of course you can adjust the color to fit your cause and you can also use thinner gauge wire to make earrings or a smaller pendant.  We'll be doing this as a demo today at 2:00 at our Mapunapuna Bead Shop so stop by if you have a chance!

See you later!
Lynn H @ Mapunapuna BFC Bead Shop

The Wired Nautilus

We'll be doing a free form wire work demo on Sunday August 26 from 2 PM so come by to check it out!  I took 20 gauge copper wire, coiled it up with some tools, and then embellished it with beads and 26 gauge wire.  Sometimes it's fun just to play with wire to create organic free form shapes and I liked the way it came out looking like a nautilus shell with all the various segments.  Normally I don't like to mix colors with my metals but lately I've been into it so I guess my tastes are changing!  Thanks for stopping by!

Lynn H @ Mapunapuna BFC Bead Shop

Glinda's Earrings

Here's another pair of earrings that we took inspiration from the musical Wicked!  I'm calling this one Glinda's Earrings and I'll be doing a demo on how to make them on Sunday August 12 starting at 2 PM.  Now the design in general is pretty popular using a variety of different beads and color pallets but I'm going to show you how to use the various tools we sell to create your own beading elements with wire.  Want to make this exact pair?  I used 3 mm bicones in crystal ab and the 2 hole focal bead, all from Swarvoski.  The wire form is made from 22 gauge wire and then 26 gauge wire to wrap the beads.  But hopefully you can make it in for the demo because it's always interesting to find out what the different beading tools can do!

I'll see ya at the store!

Lynn H @ Mapunapuna BFC Bead Shop

Elphaba's Earrings

Have you heard that the musical Wicked will be coming to town in November?  Well we're already getting inspired in preparation for it!  As you may or may not know, Elphaba (AKA The Wicked Witch of the West) has different characteristics in the musical versus the books but one of the constants is her green skin and I took my inspiration from that with various shades of our new Miyuki seed beads.  I wanted something beautiful and dramatic so I wired size 8 and 11 seed beads to different sizes of Quick Link elements and then  I wire wrapped them to different lengths of chain with fire polish beads.  Of course you can adjust this to your taste in color and length but it's a fun pair of earrings none the less!  I'll be demoing this at our Mapunapuna Bead Shop on Saturday August 4 and 11 starting from 2PM in case you want to ask questions so I hope to see you there!

Lynn H @ Mapunapuna BFC Bead Shop

Kawaii Tile Jewelry

We've got super kawaii paper in so I made some Kawaii Tile Jewelry!!  Don't you think the frogs will be a good gift for someone going to Vegas and the birds would be cute for someone that uses Twitter?  Come in to our Mapunapuna Bead Shop on Sunday July 29th at 2:00 PM to watch our demo on how to make these!  We've got the birds in different colors (all on one 12x12 sheet) and also MONKEYS!!  Stop by because I'll cover various tips on how to make these.

See ya at the store!

Lynn H @ BFC Mapunapuna Bead Shop

Interchangeable Bracelet

Wearing multiple bracelets is very popular but sometimes it can be a hassle to deal with all the clasps on each bracelet and they tend to run around your wrist at varous points, all visible and distracting!  We'll be doing a demo on Saturday July 21 and 28 starting at 2:00 PM at our Mapunapuna Bead Shop to show you how to make a S hook clasp that allows you to have an Interchangeable Bracelet and by using a pretty button you won't mind that the clasp is visible!  As you can see above, I have 3 strands on this one but you can always use less or more as you desire!

Thanks for stopping by and I'll see you later!

Lynn H @ BFC Mapunapuna Bead Shop

Simplicity Earrings

Sometimes you just gotta appreciate the beauty in minimalism!  We took 22 gauge wire, hardened it to function as ear wires and then attached beads.  The lines are clean and simple so we named it the Simplicity Earrings. We're doing a demo on the Simplicity Earrings on Saturday July 14 starting at 2:00 PM at our Mapunapuna Bead Shop so come in to find out how to use the various tools that we carry and how to use them!

Hope to see you there!

Lynn H @ BFC Mapunapuna Bead Shop

Bubbly Earrings

Here's a fun and fast project you can do, Bubbly Earrings!!  I took 26 gauge wire and used it to wrap on 4mm and 6mm Swarovski rounds onto a ready made earring hoop.  I used 3 different colors and 2 different finishes to give it more dimension.  We're doing this as a demo on Sunday July 8th starting at 2:00 PM at our Mapunapuna Bead Shop so stop by if you don't believe how fast it is to make.

I'll see ya later!

Lynn H @ BFC Mapunapuna Bead Shop

Lily Of The Valley Earrings



May's flower is Lily of the valley so if you have anyone that has a birthday this month, this might be a nice gift idea!  I took the flourish petal bead caps from Vintaj and brought out the gold highlight with their metal reliefing block.  Then I used the ball end head pins and thin chain from our Sweet Beads findings line.  I cut the chain into 3 different lengths and then wire wrapped  Swarovski 4mm crystal bicones and small resin flowers to one end of each length of chain.  I took 20 gauge wire and wrapped the other ends of the lengths of chain so that there was a cascade of flowers.  The wire then gets passed through the bead cap and wrap up the top with another bicone.  Attach to ear wires and repeat to complete the pair! 

If you have time, stop by our Mapunapuna BFC Bead shop on Sunday May 27 at 2 PM when I demo this project!

I'll see ya later!

Lynn H. @ Mapunapuna Ben Franklin Crafts Bead Shop

Flower Wreath Earrings

Here's another jewelry project that would make a pretty Mother's Day gift! I took a variety of resin flowers from our Bead Soup mix and used the ball end head pins from our Sweet Beads finding line to attach them to the some 24 mm textured rings by Beadalon.  I really like these ball end head pins because they are very affordable since they are made from base metal but also because they are thin, which makes them very easy to bend and wrap!  After all my flowers were in place, I filled up the rest of the ring by using 26 gauge wire to wrap on fire polish beads.  When I reached the top of the "wreath" I wrapped a jump ring to the back to make it easier to attach my ear wires.  Because we carry both the resin flowers and the fire polish beads in so many different colors, it's very easy to change up the color pallet to fit your needs.

I'll be doing this as a demo at our Mapunapuna BFC Bead Shop on Sunday May 6 and 13 from 2 PM so stop by if you have a chance to check it out!

Thanks for stopping by!

Lynn H. @ Mapunapuna Ben Franklin Crafts Bead Shop

I took the solid 24mm textured rings from our Beadalon finding and used 26 gauge wire