Photography Tips

Hello all! I am so not doing a good job of keeping up with the blog as promised so I thought I'd do a quicky today about photographing jewelry (or other small things).

If you're anything like me, you HATE taking pictures. I don't get things listed on Etsy because I hate to take the time to photograph them. It can be such a hassle and so time consuming, sometimes I feel like it isn't worth it.

Aside from getting a super awesome camera like a Canon Rebel xs or something similar (I got so fed up with my old camera that I splurged and got this baby as a happy-birthday-to-myself gift!), you need to know how to take a good photo with what you've got. I always tried to make them artistic like other Etsy users I see. I tried to add flowers or drape the jewelry across cut glass, etc and it never worked. I tried a light tent, which worked pretty well, but now I'm just using 4 sheets of white printer paper and two desk lamps.



As you can see, I taped two pieces of paper to the monitor and layed two pieces (stacked on top of one another) on the desk. I positioned the desk lamps so that light comes from both sides and doesn't create shadows. The white background also doesn't distract the potential customer, either. Play with your camera and the settings to see what works best for you. I use an extra flash and the high-detail setting on my camera to get the best results.

Need more tips? I have a tutorial for sale at my shop that you might be interested in.

Thanks for looking and I hope you learned something! ♥

Check out these before and after shots. (Twilight Inspired Apple Earrings)

Swarovski Crystal Colors

Good evening all! Starting now, I'm going to try to update the blog more frequently. Life can get so busy sometimes that it's hard to remember to do it and sometimes, I just have nothing to say! I know that I have almost 100 followers so I guess I should give y'all something to read now and again! lol

This one is for the beady people in the crowd.

Have you ever wondered just what color the Swarovski crystal in your inventory is? I found a great chart on their website with all the colors they make for bicones, pearls, and flat backs. It's a fabulous resource for anyone who uses the products regularly. I printed a copy and will keep it in my "look book" of designs.

Check out the PDF here. The chart is on pages 16-19. (Pages 20-23 also have a great bracelet tutorial to try out!) Enjoy. :)

How to Make a Wire Wrapped Ring

Materials You’ll Need:
-2 Different Gauges of Wire (I use 24 and 26, but 22 and 24 work well, too.)

-Focal Bead (I used a 10mm Swarovski crystal heart.)

-Ring Mandrel

-Wire Cutters

-Chain Nose Pliers

-Round Nose Pliers

First, cut about 12 inches of your larger gauge wire. Holding your ring mandrel between your knees, wrap the wire around it one time with each end. There should be three wires in the back. Make sure you begin wrapping one size larger than you want the finished ring to be. (I am making a 6 so I’ll work from a 7.)

Next, holding the wire at the correct size, slip it off the mandrel and snip the excess wire off. Leave about 1/4 inch of wire to make a loop on each end. Use your round nose pliers to form a small loop on either end of the wire. The loops will be a frame of sorts for the bead to go in. You have now made your ring shank. (It’s okay if it’s not perfectly round!)

Clip about 15 inches of your smaller gauge wire now. Holding your ring shank in shape, wrap one end of the smaller wire near the outside of one of the loops you just made. Wrap it about four times moving towards the loop. You may need your chain nose pliers to pull the wire tight and snug.

Once you have wrapped the shank to the loop, open that loop with your pliers and insert the wire. Close the loop with your wire inside it. Clip the excess wire from where you began wrapping this wire (NOT the end inside the loop!).
Next, slide the ring back on the mandrel and use your pliers to tighten it. Pull the non-wrapped loop tight to take out any slack in the shank. You should pull it to the beginning size (in my case, a 7), not the finished size. Make sure you leave enough space between each loop for your focal bead to fit. You may need to reposition the loop on the un-wrapped end for the bead to fit.

Now, slide your bead on the wire. Insert the end of the wire through the second loop just as you did before. It is extremely important that your ring shank is snug and smooth at this point. Adjust the bead, if needed, to make sure it’s sitting straight.

Wrap the wire around the second side of the shank, this time working away from the loop. Snip the wire once it’s tightly wrapped about four times. Use your chain nose pliers to flatten the pointy end of the wire to either side of the bead so that it doesn’t snag clothing or the person wearing it.

*The next part is optional. I find that it helps secure the bead further and also makes it more attractive, in my opinion.*

Attach the leftover section of smaller gauge wire to the outside of one of the loops just as you did to attach the bead. Once it is secure, CAREFULLY cut off the loops. Don’t cut them too closely or clip any other wires accidentally. The loops were just there to stabilize the bead while you made the shank. You can leave them if you would prefer but I think the finished product looks better without the loops.

Now, wrap the long end of your wire around the bead three or four times. This helps keep it from wiggling. It is very important that you wrap it as tightly as possible and that you end on the opposite side from where you first anchored this wire.

Wrap the end around that side just like you did to anchor it before. Clip the excess wire off of both sides and flatten the ends with your chain nose pliers.

Last, slide the ring back on the mandrel and make sure that it’s the proper size. You can use the handle of your pliers to “hammer” the band round on the mandrel if needed. Now you’re finished!

Don’t get discouraged if your ring doesn’t turn out very good the first few times you make them. (I made about 30 before they were presentable!) Also, try using a lower grade craft wire when you’re learning. I find that sterling silver wire is very difficult to use, even after learning how to make them!

Feel free to leave comments if you would like tips. Be sure to leave your email address if you need a reply!

Can't get it just right? Interested in buying one of these pretty rings? Visit my Etsy Shop to see all of the rings available there!

Thanks for checking out my tutorial and I hope you enjoyed it!

Photo Editing Tutorial

Hey everyone! I've written a photo editing tutorial and am offering it on my Etsy shop. As part of the listing, I'll also edit 5 of your photos (either sent to me via email or from your shop).

The tutorial includes fairly basic information but is very helpful in getting more shop views. The techniques it describes are written for Etsy users but can be applied to any shop or website you upload photos to.

Check it out! It's only $4.99 and contains some very valuable information. Remember, photos are the most important part of your shop since buyers can't see the items in person!

♥