Easy DIY Projects: Jewelry and Paper Crafts

Interested in making jewelry? Creative Mixed Media is an online website for crafters interested in DIY projects that are affordable and simple to make. Choose from several art projects including jewelry making, scrapbooking, card making, constructing mosaics, or stitching and sewing. Free tutorials are available for each project along with additional tips and resources for extra help (books and other websites are referenced). 

For each DIY project, a list of materials is included along with a video tutorial that goes step-by step. This is extremely helpful for visual learners! Jewelry designers can learn how to wire wrap beads and use polymer clay to make simple earrings, bracelets and necklaces. This is definitely a great website for beginners!

 

Resources:

http://www.createmixedmedia.com/make/jewelry

Ickynicks Jewelry is an online handmade shop for men and women. Ickynicks designs gold hoop earrings, sterling silver and stainless steel hoop earrings. We provide links to tips and tricks for jewelry making.

Queen Cleopatra: Ancient Jewelry of Egypt

Cleopatra was the last pharaoh of Egypt. She ruled alongside her brother between 51-30 B.C. after their father's death. Egyptian tradition required Cleopatra to marry her younger brother to keep status of ruler. Over the course of her reign, she was believed to be one of the most powerful female pharaohs in the Egyptian patriarchal society. She engaged in a relationship Julius Caesar and had a son, then with Marc Anthony and bore three children.

To the left is a gold box ring


On the right is a gold bracelet featuring two serpents that symbolizes protection.

Jewelry from the Cleopatra museum exhibit

Blue portrait print of Cleopatra VII

 Resources:

Historical Life of Cleopatra

Early Life of Cleopatra

Women's History: Cleopatra

Jewelry Lessons and Tutorials: Jewelrylessons.com

JewelryLessons.com is a great resource for crafters who are interested in advancing their skills in jewelry making.  An entire section on the website is devoted to DIY tutorials and patterns. You can search for specific tutorials based on the level of difficulty, type of jewelry you want to design, rating level, or jewelry techniques below:

• Wire wrapping
• Hand hammering (silversmith)
• Bead weaving with thread or wire 
• Polymer or metal clay
• Polishing or finishing stones, charms, or rings 
• Surface embellishment with pendants, bracelets, or rings
• Using string and fiber
• Metalsmith
• Men's Jewelry

Ancient Egyptian Jewelry of Nefertiti

Queen Nefertiti was the wife of Egyptian Pharaoh, Akhenaten (Amenhotep IV). She reigned for 12 years with her husband during the 18th dynasty, 14th century B.C. Nefertiti and her husband transferred the religion of Egyptian society from polytheism to monotheism. They crafted a cult that worshiped one god: Aten, the Egyptian Sun God. Researchers believe that this disruption in religious beliefs caused hostility among people in ancient Egyptian society. Nefertiti's death is unknown and not specified in historical records because her mummy (body) was not found in any tombs. However, she is regarded as one of the most powerful female rulers of Egypt.

Gold Ring of Queen Nefertiti and King Akhenaten

 Gold scarab and ring with Nefertiti's name inscribed on it

Egyptian necklace (collar)

Resources:

Metropolitan Museum of Art

Who was Queen Nefertiti?

Life of Queen Nefertiti

Women's History: Ancient Egyptian Jewelry of Queen Hatshepsut - First Female Pharaoh

The first female pharaoh of Egypt was Hatshepsut, who reigned between 1473 - 1458 B. C during the New Kingdom, 18th dynasty. She was the longest running female pharaoh in the Egyptian Empire.

 

Ring with name inscription of Hatshepsut and her nephew, Thutmose III. They reigned together during the early 18th Dynasty, 1472 - 1458 B.C.

 




Scarab Pin

  

  

Above are amulets made of copper, steatite, alabaster and amethyst (crystal known for spirituality and gaining psychic awareness)

This ear artifact is an amulet, similar to a charm or pendant. It was known as a 'hearing ear' because Egyptians believe that their gods and goddesses could ear and reply to their prayers. 

Resources:

Global Egyptian Museum

Queen Hatshepsut

Archive of Queen Hatshepsut

Metropolitan Museum of Art

Ancient Jewelry: King Tut of Ancient Egypt

Antiquity jewelry and ancient earrings from the Egyptian civilization. Jewelry pieces shown below were worn by King Tutankhamun during his reign of power, 1336-1327 BCE. Many gold rings, bangles, bracelets, collars, and earrings were  found in King Tut's tomb. Did you know King Tut only ruled Egypt for 10 years and then died at age 19?

 

Gold Bangle with Lapis Lazuli

Wesekh Collar (necklace)

Gold Ring from King Tut's tomb. Wire Wrapped band with lapis lazuli (blue gemstone) and symbol of the God Horus.

 

Gold and Enamel Earrings  

 

 

 

 

Jewelry found in King Tut's Tomb. Researchers believe that the gemstone (yellow-green) in the middle was made from a comet 28 million years ago. Click to read the article

 

 

 

Below is a collar worn by King Tut. Made of papyrus, olive leaves, persea leaves, berries, and red dyed linen fabric.

Resources:

History of King Tut 

Metropolitan Museum of Art - Ancient Egypt 

Ancient Egypt Timeline