My first purse charm
It is unbalanced. Well, that is how things go when you attempt something for the first time. All the flaws and problems make themselves known. That is all part of the learning process. {I’ll keep telling myself this}
The products I have used to make this purse charm follows in this post. All of the things you will see in this post were purchased from Michaels. Some recently and some a long time ago.
I found some large Lobster Clasps from Michaels. This purchase was made just a few days ago. This comes in a set of four.
Lobster clasps
Silver Plated Chain. This item was purchased from Michaels several years ago….probably more than three years. It is one of the crazy “toss in the basket” choices that I had no clue what I was going to ever do with once I got it home. It was chucked in a drawer and buried under lots of other stuff.
Silver plated chain
The only explanation I have for this next purchase from Michaels is the cost was $.90. LESS THAN A DOLLAR. Oh, and it was shiny 
I seem to be an ostrich. If it is shiny I have to grab it This purchase was well over a year ago. Michaels had built a new store in my area and they were doing everything they could to eliminate moving older stock to their new store. Everything was on crazy discounts.
It was shiny and CHEAP
One of the charms I messed with. Alcohol ink works really great on this cheap metal. Once I had the color scheme made (only because my alcohol ink choices are limited) I used Glossy Accents over the dried ink in an attempt to save my work. Don’t know how long this is going to last.
Alcohol ink painted charm
I attached the Lobster Clasp to the end of a length of the silver chain with a jump ring.
Attach Lobster Clasp to chain
With my wire cutters I cut the chain to a 4″ length. Why 4 inches? Only because many of the videos I watched on making purse charms called for that length. So….other people are the experts and who am I to question them?
4 inch length of chain
I attached the flower charm to the bottom link of the chain. So far so good.
Attach charm to bottom of chain
Now come the hard part. Attaching the individual bead charms to the links of the chain. My left index finger is quite sore from working with the jump rings. A CAUTIONARY NOTE: Find the CENTER of your chain to add a large charm that is not beads. I just stuck the silver charm on the chain and that is part of the reason the whole thing looks unbalanced.
You will need to put the bead charms on each side of the chain. This is quite tricky since I had to pick the whole thing up to add the charm then fiddle with it in closing the jump ring. Getting all the beaded charms to lay out flat was like chasing a bunch of kindergarten children on a play ground.
Place charms on both sides of the chain
All I have to say for myself is that it does attach to a purse. Not the most spectacular and awe inspiring piece I have ever seen.
Attach to purse
I think I needed more of the larger glass beads and less of the small bead strings to make this thing pop. I do know that the next one I will find the center to place the non beaded charm to hang better.
If you have never made “jewelry” before I can tell you one of your fingers will be sore and tender from working the jump rings. Your eyes will give you fits in focusing. Trying to see that teeny tiny space to close on the jump rings will make you think you are damaging your eyes forever. After you have hung the sixth charm on that crazy chain you will wonder at your sanity for even starting this project in the first place. Keep plugging along until you have finished one project.
I hope that I have inspired you to give this a shot.
Leslie
Message In A Fold 