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Metal Tassels and a Book Embellishment/bookmark

Metal Tassels and a Book Embellishment/bookmark
The one in the middle is the Travel Journal Bookmark The two either side are
my first attempts at metal tassel making
Im in the process of making another journal and the theme for it is a travel journal but vintage and girlie too.  I wanted to make a nice bookmark for it, but instead of adding the normal ribbon bookmark, I wanted something different.  Something that could be used as a page marker, a book embellishment or tassel but also something that could be removed and hooked onto a luggage bag or suitcase as an extra identity tag for your travel bag or hook it onto a room key or safety deposit box as a keyring, or hook it onto a belt, mobile phone, necklace or handbag just as a pretty little bit of blingy embellishment to add to your every day items.  I didn't want it to be just a bookmark alone, I wanted it to be a multi-tasking bit of jingle jangly loveliness!!

So as you can see from the photos I have tried to put as many travel/holiday related charms as possible onto it.  There's a pair of sunglasses, a wee sun, starfish, Eiffel Tower, currency, bicycle a boat and loads of other little jingly jangle bits.

So once I had made that, there was no stopping me.  So I decided to make a couple of less jingly jangly tassels which you'll see below.

I just dismantled chain that I had, made them all around 7cm long.  Took a piece of 28 gauge wire and threaded one end of all the cut chains and twisted it at the top to secure.  I then threaded the wire through a bead cap and made an eye/loop with the wire at the top of the bead cap and cut off the excess wire.  Took a thicker piece of wire which happened to be a head pin (thats all I had) and making another loop/eye, I attached the bead cap to it.  I them just threaded on whatever beads and spacers I wanted, formed a loop/eye at the top again and added another length of chain and a lobster claw clasp.

If you would like a tutorial on how to make the tassels, please leave a comment and let me know and I will certainly do one for you.

I tried to use as many travel/holiday related charms as possible along with bling

Sunglasses, boat, starfish, Eiffel Tower, bicycle, currency charms

The charm can be removed by the clasp which will simply
hook back onto the spine which will have a hole and an eyelet inserted
near the top of the spine of the journal

Full length of the charm

The charms as they hang

This tassel was made with a pink heart bead and a pink pearl

I added little metal spacers and metal wings


This was made using an acrylic clear bead and cream pearl


I also added metal spacers and wings

This tassel can also be attached to things

This tassel also has a claw to attach to items
Both completed tassels
My thoughts on what I made and other things I like to make
I have had so much fun making these and they took no time at all to make.  They are by no means flawless pieces, but to me, that's the point of hand-crafted items.  They were never intended to be in pristine store bought condition.  And I will never set out to achieve store bought perfection with anything I make because I feel that that is setting myself an unachievable goal.  I'm not a machine in a factory churning out item after perfect item.  All my creations will be hand-crafted with all the love, care and attention I can afford the project but that means it also gets all my quirks, mishaps and imperfections and as far as I'm concerned....there's nothing wrong with that!!  My way of doing things means I don't stress out if something goes wrong.  If it goes right, well and good....its a hand crafted masterpiece!!  If not, well we'll just put it down to being another Lee-ism.  Ahhhhh, the joys of crafting!!

Thanks for having a wee look and any comments are always welcomed and appreciated.  Again if you would like a tutorial on how to make the tassels please comment below.  Thank you and bye for now.  

Toodles Noodles.....Loops xx

If you want, you can buy me a coffee which helps me maintain this blog so I can make bigger and better content, simply click on the image or copy the link below.  No pressure at all, its just if you want to.  Cheers big ears!

https://ko-fi.com/craftyloops



Comments

  1. These are yummy! Great idea, by the way :) Hugs from kissinia :)

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  2. Ahh, these are great! I can see a whole new craze developing here!! You've put a lot of thought into the pieces and they've turned out gorgeous, Ruth x

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  3. What a good idea, would never be able to do it myself but they would be good at a craft fayre. love Alison xxx

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  4. yet another one of your creations i love!! definitely a bit of jingle jangly loveliness =) xx

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  5. wow these are stunning hun.really beautiful :D

    xx coops xx

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  6. Oh! WOW!!! Lee! they turned out amazing...and beautiful!! Funny, my girls have been playing with beading recently too (cottage crafts :) We take books from the library and had some fun! We made more barefoot sandles (jewelery for your feet for when you're at the beach.

    Thanks so much for your sweet comments at my blog, you always bring a smile to my face. I totally hear you on how expensive scrapbook and crafting products can get. I will try and do another tutorial soon on how to make blooms without die cuts (there is one I used a while back on some of my pages that is easy peasy and no need for fancy equipment :)

    THanks again!

    Gabi xx

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  7. they certainly look flawless to me Lee in fact wow girl they are stunning pieces of work
    Mina xxx

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  8. Fabulous,well done.
    Wendy xx

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  9. wow super super ... love all the little charms ... especially the sunglasses very gucci ... lol ... happy crafting and love sandy xx

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  10. Evening Lee, These are stunning pieces,Love them
    I have left you a message at docrafts
    keep up the good work...

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  11. Hi Lee, WOW!!!! these are amazing, you are so clever Mrs. I love all the little charms and gorgeous beads. Perfect!

    Donna x

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  12. Wow Lee, these are wonderful! You are so clever :o)
    Hugs Tab xxx

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  13. These are just gorgeous xx

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  14. Is there no end to your talent my dear, these are gorgeous, you are so clever.
    hugs Teresa xx

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  15. Ooooh! These are gorgeous! You are so talented :-) Thank you for all your lovely comments this week, I really appreciate them and they make my day :-) Elaine-xxx-

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  16. Wow! These are beautiful, what a fab idea too. X

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  17. what gorgeous bookmark and tassels, the charms are fab! Fi leapblogging from DC x

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  18. Beautiful - what a clever idea!! (leapt over from DC x)

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  19. Hi another Lee,thanks so much for visiting me.You are very talented these are Fantastic.Yes please would love to see a tut.xx

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  20. these are lovely lee.
    you really are a talented lady!
    kathleen mc x

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  21. Wow Lee, these are beautiful, would love to be able to create something like this! Love your flower tutorials too, thanks for the great inspiration :-D

    Sue xx

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  22. Wow fab hun!You are a very talented girl with all your lovely creations! x

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  23. wow, what beautiful pieces!! they are gorgeous, you must be so proud of yourself!
    Kelly xx

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  24. Hi Lee these are fantastic they would certainly adorn any book and make it look fab, and your flowers below are stunning, are you from NI.
    Chris x

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  25. Oh wow Lee these are fab hunny
    hugs Mandy xx

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  26. These are absolutely fabulous. I would love a quick tutorial. Thanks grbelli@hotmail.com

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Helloooooo! Anybody out there??!! Hey....there you are! Thanks for leaving a comment and stopping by my Blog. Lee x