Party On!

Sparkle during the festive season with claire humpherson's gorgeous purple and black accessories

Claire Humpherson, Beads Direct Designer

I love using these stunning crystal glass beads to make statement party pieces!

Dazzle and glitter at every party with these opulent sets. You’re sure to catch someone’s eye with a luxurious headband, wrapped with fire-polished crystals and finished off with an embellished ribbon rosette, while the oversized statement rings and shoulder-grazing earrings ooze red carpet style. Wear together for total bling, or create different outfits to accessorise each individual piece.

Headband

1. Thread a mix of firepolished beads in different sizes and colours onto 0.5mm silver wire until you have strung a 60cm section. Wrap this around a tiara base, keeping the double band separated by wrapping around each side individually at intervals as well as winding around both bands.
2. Cut four 15cm lengths of purple satin ribbon and fold each one in half. Mark the centre and open out. Lay one piece on top of another, lining up the centre marks to form a cross, then layer the other two on top to make a star. Push a threaded needle through the centre, and fold each end of ribbon into the middle, sewing it in as you go.
3. Use the end of the thread to attach heart, diamond and twisted coin beads to the good side of the rosette in a circle, with a rondelle in the centre. Go through each large bead a few times to secure. Tie off the thread and snip the excess, then attach the rosette to the headband using a 30cm piece of 0.5mm silver wire.

Ring

1. Wrap 2mm aluminium wire around a ring mandrel three times. Slide off the mandrel and wrap the end through the loops to secure. Thread a purple twisted coin bead with 0.5mm silver wire and attach it to the ring by winding the ends around the 2mm aluminium wire.
2. Wrap the ring wire around the bead, and continue adding other beads in this way, wrapping the 2mm wire around each until you are happy with the size and shape of the ring. For extra decoration, you can circle the whole beaded section with the wire then finish by tucking the end underneath and snipping off any excess wire.

Earrings

1. Thread a 4mm jet red iris fire-polished bead onto a head pin, followed by a purple twisted coin bead and a 6mm amethyst firepolished bead. Make a wrapped loop at the end of the pin, then attach this to five links of silver-plated chain. Secure the top link to an earwire, then repeat to make a pair.