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. Snowflake Necklace Card - 1. Open an 8mm jump ring, add a large crystal snowflake on a second 8mm jump ring and close carefully. Make eleven individual droppers by threading silver head pins with a single 6mm bicone crystal, or one or two 4mm bicones and a stardust bead or freshwater pearl. To form the droppers bend the wire above each top bead with round-nosed pliers to form a right angle and trim to 1.5cm with wire cutters.
   
   2. Holding the end of the wire between the tips of round-nosed pliers turn your wrist to create a circular loop, but leave a small gap. Hook the droppers onto the top jump ring and carefully close up the gaps with pliers. To finish the necklace simply add a fine silver ready-made chain.
   
   3. To make the card, fold a 21cm square of blue card in half and cut a 4.5cm x 11.5cm aperture in the front with a craft knife. To make the frame cut a matching opening in a 7.5cm x 14.5cm piece of contrasting card, wind the necklace chain around the top of this and hold in place by gently tying with organza ribbon.
   
   4. Attach the frame to the card with two layers of 3-D foam pads, being careful not to get any of the pads stuck to the chain. Use a computer and white paper to print a festive greeting, tear the edges carefully and glue in place on the card.
   

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.