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Review: The Sparkle Factory by Tarina Tarantino and Halloween Bling I made with Prima Beads

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If you like making fun and pretty jewelry and experimenting with all sorts of jewelry making techniques you will love The Sparkle Factory: The Design and Craft of  Tarina’s Fashion Jewelry and Accessories.

This book is packed with great stepped out tutorials for making all different types of jewelry, everything from stringing and wirework to casting and of course recycled elements. The styling is beyond cool and the designs are to-die-for! I was inspired buy so many of the projects in The Sparkle Factory I was instantly digging through my stash to find bits to make some new pieces of jewelry. With Halloween just around the corner I thought I’d start there.

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This page from The Sparkle Factory was my inspiration. It features lots of bracelets layered and mixed together (one of my favorite looks!)

I made 3 bracelets with Prima Jewelry Basics black glass beads and two skull beads from the stash.

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When wrapped together they make a super-wide cuff!

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I also have a little tip for you. To get the 2 skulls in the center of the memory wire I made a small make in the center of the wire before I started stringing the beads onto the wire. This way when I got close to the mark I new to put the skulls on. Memory wire stretches out a bit when the beads go on.

More about from the publisher Running Press

The Sparkle Factory: The Design and Craft of  Tarina’s Fashion Jewelry and Accessories

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Tarina Tarantino

“Tarina Tarantino’s love affair with fashion jewelry and accessories began when she was just a little girl. Tarina now owns and operates her famous global jewelry, accessories, and cosmetics brand, TARINA TARANTINO, out of her international headquarters in downtown Los Angeles, The Sparkle Factory. In her first book, Tarina invites you into her world to learn how to make and wear beautiful and inspirational fashion jewelry. Fashionistas, aspiring jewelry designers, and DIY lovers will learn how to make 20 of Tarina’s most essential pieces including statement earrings, cocktail rings, hair jewelry, stretch cuff bracelets, embellished spectacles, and more. Fans of Tarina will also learn about her brand history, getting inspired, creating themes and stories, sourcing materials, essential tools and techniques, how to wear and style your jewelry wardrobe, and more. The text is complemented by tips and hundreds of full-color photos throughout.”

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Handmade with a Past: Tuesday’s Top Recycled Etsy Find

Let’s talk about a quiet little hero in the kitchen: the humble trivet. But not just any trivet — this set of 4 recycled plastic square trivets is a modern, minimalist dream made from 100% recycled household plastic. Yep, the same plastic that might’ve ended up in landfill is now protecting your benchtops in style. That’s a win.

I have to admit, I get a little thrill when practical things are also eco-friendly and just plain good-looking. These remind me of the ones I picked up at a zero-waste store in Melbourne — sleek, colorful, and almost too pretty to put a hot pot on. Almost.

Each one is handcrafted in small batches, with flecks of color that tell the story of what it used to be — lids, containers, maybe even your old shampoo bottle. It’s like modern terrazzo meets sustainable design. Perfect for gifting to a housewarming host or just treating your own kitchen to something that feels good and does good

Why we’re obsessed:

  • Made entirely from recycled household plastics

  • Each piece is uniquely speckled and full of character

  • A perfect match for eco-conscious kitchens, minimalist decor, and zero-waste living

Small item, big impact. And every time you set down your coffee pot or casserole dish, you’ll get that sweet little “I did something good today” feeling.