How to Make Bling Bling Western Jewelry

Why spend a huge chunk of change on necklaces like these when you can make your own?

Characterized by its large beads and intricate craftsmanship, Western-inspired jewelry is more than just a handful of chunky beads strung together on a necklace. This flashy and ever-popular style of accessories is categorized by shiny pendants, large turquoise stones and hearts and horses hand-carved into sterling silver. But, like most jewelry, "blingy" cowgirl jewelry isn't always the cheapest of accessories. The solution? You can make your own one-of-a-kind bling bling Western jewelry set at home, making it more unique to you and less of a budget breaker.

Things You'll Need

• 8-inch large-link silver chain bracelet
• 2 silver earring hooks
• 1 pack of ice pick-style silver bails
• Rough-cut turquoise stone beads
• Sterling-silver horseshoe charms
• Needle-nose pliers

Instructions

1. Take two bails and hook one turquoise stone and one horseshoe charm onto each bail. Use needle-nose pliers to secure each bail to one of the earring hooks.

2. Use more bails to hook turquoise stones to random links in your bracelet, and close the bails with your pliers.

3. Use more bails to hook your sterling-silver horseshoe charm in between your bracelet links with dangling turquoise stones; close bails with your pliers.

Tips & Warnings

• You can secure your beads and charms with snap-on bails instead of ice-pick bails and pliers.

• The beads used above are not your only options for making bling bling Western jewelry. You can substitute your horseshoe-shaped charms for horse-shaped charms or heart-shaped charms, or substitute the turquoise stones for coral stones or silver beads.

References

• JewelrySupply: Sterling Silver Ice Pick Bails
• FireMountainGems: Beading and Jewelry Making Fashion Trends
• SilverEnchantments: How To Make a Charm Bracelet

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish