Get crafty this christmas with Brenda Harvey's unusual jewelley cards

What you need...

• BEADS Crystals, SWAROVKI ELEMENTS: 4mm, 6mm, selection of colours; rondelles, 8mm, Snowflake, crystal, SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS, 2cm, Glass, foiled, turquoise, 8mm, Spacers, daisy, silver-plated, Rounds, stardust, 6mm, Crystals, flat back
  
  FINDINGS Clasp, toggle, Necklace, fine silver, ready-made, Jump rings, 8mm, Calottes, silver, Crimp beads, 2mm, Head pins, Beading cord, elasticated, 0.5mm, Thread, monofilament, Wire, fine, Card, Ribbon: satin; organza, Beading glue, Foam pads
  
  TOOLS Pliers: flat-nosed; round-nosed, Cutters, wire

instructions

1. Christmas Tree Card - 1. Cut two 60cm lengths of monofilament beading thread. With both ends together, add a calotte then a 2mm crimp. Compress the crimp with flat-nosed pliers, trim away the excess thread and gently squeeze the calotte around the crimp to completely enclose it.
   
   2. Keeping both strands together, add five 4mm crystals. Separate the strands and thread one with a single stardust bead and the other with a small silver daisy spacer, followed by a freshwater pearl, 6mm crystal and a second daisy spacer. Bring both strands back together and add five 4mm crystals then separate them as before to repeat the sequence. Once the necklace is the required length add a calotte and crimp to the other end. Secure to a toggle clasp with jump rings to finish.
   
   3. To make the card, fold a 12.5cm x 25cm piece of coloured card in half. Use a computer and white paper to print a festive greeting, tear the edges carefully and glue onto a piece of contrasting background card 11.5cm square. Draw and cut out a simple tree shape in card, with a separate section for the base. Carefully wrap the necklace around the tree like a garland and position the toggle closure at the front so that it can sit on the separate base as shown.
   

2. Make it yours - Buy ready-made boxes or plain mini gift bags and customise with textured or patterned paper to make your gifts beautifully packaged with very little extra effort.