Sparkly Gifts for Everyone on Your Holiday List – or Perfect New Year’s Eve Jewelry!

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“Twinkle, sparkle, let a little sunshine in.” – from Charlotte’s Web by EB White

Are you ready for Sparkle Season? This is the perfect time of year to break out your crystals, faceted glass, metallic finishes, and all of your favorite sparkle and shine. Making sparkly gifts is a lovely way to spend time with your beading stash, and it’s fun to share your creativity with family and friends. Whether you try a new technique or dive into a more advanced project, sparkly gifts will raise your spirits and the spirits of your recipients, too. Plus, they make perfect New Year’s Eve jewelry!

ABOVE: Nila Pendant by Rangashrii Santhanam

Make Sparkly Jewelry for Sparkle Season

Our resident jewelry maker and all-around sparkly gal Tammy Jones has deemed Black Friday through Valentine’s Day “Sparkle Season.” She loves Sparkle Season because “There will be festive parties, get-togethers, family dinners, romantic evenings, maybe even some dancing and enjoying bonfires. Those are all prime times for being sparkly, twinkly, glittery, and bright – and the easiest way to do that is with crystal jewelry.” Read Happy Sparkle Season! Make Festive Holiday Jewelry and Sparkle Into Next Year to see some of Tammy’s favorite sparkly project ideas.

Beadwork contributor Edgar Lopez is a big fan of crystals, saying, “I use Swarovski crystals and gemstones in a lot of my designs because they bring the look of fine jewelry to my beadwork. I like the bright crystals, the variety of colors, and the quality.” If you’re ever going to go over the top with what you make and wear, Sparkle Season is the perfect excuse to do it. And, there are loads of patterns to help you make the perfect gift.

Bead It

This impressive Art Deco-Style cuff features a large fancy Swarovski crystal oval fancy stone and a veritable smorgasbord of decadent beading, from tubular and cubic right-angle weave to brick stitch, picots, and more. Your Majesty Bracelet by Leslie Venturoso sparkles with the center stone, fire-polished rounds and metallic seeds. It’s an advanced design but you’ll have plenty of time if you get started beading soon.

Leslie is a pro at combining colors to suit different tastes. She says, “Look at your clothes: Even if they’re all black, you can use beads and other elements with different finishes and textures to create design. My ensembles go together because I gravitate to the same colors in my clothes and beads.” For more of Leslie’s advice about choosing colors, read Color Confidence: Trust Your Instincts.

Stitch It

Create a stunning EVA Crystal Bracelet using EVA beads, Swarovski crystals, and right-angle weave. Designer Susan Sassoon was a Beadwork 2019 Designer of the Year and the featured Bead Artist in Beadwork August/September 2019. She loves weaving seed beads with crystals to stitch up maximum sparkle. In this bracelet, Susan uses crystal chatons in two-hole settings to mimic the look of crystal cupchain. This intermediate-level design will make a gorgeous, heartfelt gift.

If you’re looking for something with a little less commitment, try Tinos Flower Earrings by Susan Sassoon. It’s a free pattern from the pages of Beadwork that gives a touch of sparkle with a bite-size taste of netting and peyote stitch. Bezel backlit spectrum 2-hole baroque cabochons crystals in the center of the earrings for a different take on sparkle and shine.

Bezel It

Stitch an eye-catching Morning Glory pendant. Set off a sparkling Swarovski crystal oval rivoli by bezeling it with seed beads and surrounding it with Kite beads, fire-polished rounds, and crystal bicones. Make it your own using different color combinations or exchanging the bail to suit your style. Or, convert it to an ornament that catches the light on your tree or in a window.

Rangashrii Santhanam specializes in beautiful beaded pendants. Bezel the reversible Numa Pendant by accenting a large Swarovski crystal fancy round stone with pinch beads, seeds, Paisley Duos, pearls, and crystal bicones. Or, use Arcos Par Puca beads to create a beaded bezel for the Nila Pendant, another perfect sparkly gift.

Weave It

This necklace is more shiny than, sparkly but I love its modern look. The triangles are woven in simple ladder stitch with Superduos. It’s from Fast & Fabulous Holiday Sparkle Pattern Pack. The collection features seven designs that are perfect for Sparkle Season or anytime. They’re collected from the Fast & Fabulous section of Beadwork magazine, so they use techniques like easy stringing, wirework, knotting, metal stamping, epoxy clay and ladder stitch.

Fast & Fabulous Over The Top Sparkle Pattern Pack is also jam-packed with sparkling projects you can make in an evening or a weekend. Seven designers bring you elegant, beautiful necklaces that are sure to shimmer and shine during a night on the town. Find the perfect piece to complete your outfit or give as an unforgettable sparkly gift. Each design works up quickly and can be easily customized for a fast and fun project.

Solder It

Take your jewelry skills to the next level with this Getting to the Point Cuff that highlights the lore and mystery of crystal quartz. Get started soldering with this dramatic cuff featuring eye-catching quartz points. Known as a universal “power stone,” it has been used throughout history for many purposes including healing, protection, and enhancing intuition. The cuff incorporates basic soldering and wire wrapping for a beautiful, impactful design and sparkly gift.

For a beginner-level metal cuff bracelet that doesn’t require soldering, check out the One Truth Etched Cuff. In just a handful of hours, you can transform a brass cuff from simple into a masterpiece. Drill, oxidize, etch, and wire-wrap the material for this cuff, and before you know it you’ll be wearing it out for a night on the town. Here’s a tip: If you want to add texture to the brass cuff, use lower grit sandpaper when cleaning the metal for etching. Alter the embellishments to suit your style – and be sure to add some sparkle!

Happy beading,
Katie Hacker, Content Manager, Bead and Jewelry
Editor of Beadwork and host of Jewelry Artist podcast