Free Kid's Mixed Media Jewelry Project by Avalon Potter

Avalon's Super Cool Mixed Media Necklace Copyright 2009

The thing I love the best about kids is that they have no filters. They're brutally honest and they're not afraid of taking risks. Until someone nags the creativity out of them, they're blissfully unaware of the rules. I like to fancy myself that sort of creative soul and I try as best as I can to nurture that freeform creativity in my daughter.

Avalon and I found these AWESOME K & Company chipboard animals recently and we knew immediately that they simply had to be made into some fun jewelry. I've not had a chance to make my piece yet, but she's finished hers and it's fabulous! I love the colors she chose and how beautifully she used asymmetry. Mind blowing. We had a small craftastrophe when she tried to punch a hole in the koala, but we put on our thinking caps and used a small grungeboard shape to cover up the bad hole and add a little texture and dimension in the process. Plus it gives him a little personality, don't you think?

Kid crafts don't have to be cheesy or simple, you'd be surprised what a kid will create with a little help on the technical aspects. I'd wear this necklace in a New York minute! Great work, Miss Avalon!

Avalon's Super Cool Mixed Media Necklace
Copyright 2009 Avalon Potter
For Personal Use Only

Materials
K&Company Actopus to Zelephant Chipboard Koala and Elephant
6 8mm rose water opal CRYSTALLIZED™-Swarovski Elements rounds
4 8mm mint alabaster CRYSTALLIZED™-Swarovski Elements rounds
6 8mm black diamond CRYSTALLIZED™-Swarovski Elements rounds
3 8mm white alabaster CRYSTALLIZED™-Swarovski Elements rounds
Small Grungeboard shape
Brown Ranger paint dabber
Decoupage medium matte or gloss
All purpose craft glue
2 sterling Beadalon EZ-Crimp ends
5 10mm silver plated jump rings
49 strand .018 Beadalon wire
11" section grey Beadalon polyester chain
Silver plated large swivel lobster clasp

Tools
2 pairs chain nose pliers
Wire cutters
Crop-o-dile
Paint brush

1. Paint decoupage medium on chipboard. Allow to dry. Repeat for opposite side.
2. Paint grungeboard shape and allow to dry. Adhere to forehead of koala.
3. Mark and punch hole in center top and bottom of koala and top center of elephant.
4. Attach and EZ-Crimp end to one end of an 8" segment of wire.
5. Slide on your beads in the following order: black diamond, rose water, blk. diamond, mint, blk. diamond, rose, mint, rose, rose, mint, rose, blk. diamond, mint, blk. diamond, rose, blk. diamond, three white alabaster.
6. Thread wire into second EZ-Crimp using chain nose pliers to grasp and pull. Keep wire slightly rounded to prevent from being too stiff. Attach end and cut off excess wire.
7. Thread a jump ring on elephant and attach to center front of beaded segment.
8. Attach a jump ring to bottom of koala and attach to left side of beaded segment.
9. Remove poly chain segment and attach with a jump ring to top of koala.
10. Attach a jump ring to open end of beaded segment.
11. Attach lobster clasp to open end of poly chain segment.

Enjoy!

Until next time...craft on with your bad selves!

xoxo,
Madge and AVALON!

28 comments:

~drew emborsky~ said...

Looks great Avalon!! You're very talented!!

Tammy said...

That is adorable! I like the use of the chain in the back too.

Aileen said...

What a fun necklace Avalon!, You have a great eye! Keep creating!

Unknown said...

That necklace is A-dorable. Love it!

Wendy T. Gibson said...

Bead Princess of the Universe?!

Cathie Filian said...

super cute! I love the elephants!

Cindy Gimbrone said...

Hi Avalon!

You made an awesome necklace! Everyone will want to make one just like it. Thanks for sharing your creativity!

:-) Cindy

TesoriTrovati said...

You go Avalon! I see that you are a mighty talented youngster. It is fun to create with your kids. My daughter (8 years old) and I make jewelry. She is setting up her first display for sale, and she will be published in a magazine in Sept! So awesome to encourage this creativity. I love the assymmetry and the use of materials. I will share this with my little jeweler to see if we can make use of some of our scrapbook materials! Enjoy the day! Erin

Andrew Thornton said...

What a cute and cool mixed media necklace! Nicely done. Keep up the good work, Avalon.

It's easy to see that the apple (or rather, Avalon) doesn't fall far from the Margot Potter tree. :-)

Melissa J. Lee said...

Hi, Avalon. That necklace is so cute (and it looks comfortable, too)! A great piece for summer - I would definitely wear it.

Eileen The Artful Crafter said...

That is just adorable! Good color sense and good balance - even though asymmetrical. TFS!

Cyndi L said...

Great necklace, Avalon! Hope you've got lots of fun places to wear it this summer :-)

FunkyMonkey Girls said...

Great job Avalon! Very nice eye and keep it up:)

Jolene

Jean Katherine Baldridge said...

Dea Avalon--WOW!--I cannot wait to make a necklace like yours--you have taught me so much, here! ...and then go on a visit to the ZOO, or maybe even possibly, go on safari!

Great inspired idea and so beautifully put together! You are a star!

xox jean

Candie said...

Fun! Fun! Fun! I love it!

Unknown said...

I would totally wear that! It is fabulous!
Stef
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Rebekah said...

So cute!!!!

Rebekah said...

So Cute!!!

Connie G. Barwick said...

Avalon, This is so neat. I really like the fact that you didn't try to make everything symmetrical. You combined the many different elements used in a unique and interesting manner. And, I am glad the first hole in the Koala made you find a creative solution instead of giving up!

Carmi Cimicata said...

I came to thank you for you craftastrophie comment this morning and found a wonderful image to look at from your daughter! I love it!

Robin Hartman said...

Super cute necklace! Thanks for sharing it.

Lisa Crone said...

Wow! Love this necklace! I want to squeeze that koala bear!! He is SO CUTE!! I am very impressed with the color combinations in this piece. Creating unique color mixes is quite an advanced skill.

I was also thrilled to learn about a couple of swarovski colors that I wasn't familiar with!! I am getting ready to place an order for some of those mint crystals, AWESOME! Thanks so much for sharing!

Sherri Osborn said...

What an adorable necklace. You did a great job Avalon, you should be very proud.

Judy said...

Super Sparkly Avalon rocks too!!

Jean Campbell said...

Nice work, Avalon! I like the way you mixed paper, chain, and beads--that's not always easy, and you did a great job! Keep it up.

Jennifer Perkins said...

Like mother like daughter! The necklace looks awesome. Love the animals, might have to run out and get some to add to my stash.

*.:。✿♫RB♫✿.。.:* said...

Beautiful !! Do you have any price for this necklace??
RB

barbe said...

Absolutely fantastic! The crafty apple certainly didn't fall far from the tree!

I think Avalon should do a childrens/tween jewelry book. She's a real natural just like her Momma!