Stainless Steel Elegance is NOT an oxymoron

When someone says “Stainless Steel”, do you automatically think “elegance”?

Yeah. Me neither. I think either “surgical” because everyone in my family is a Registered Nurse (but me) or I think about my big Stainless Steel mixing bowl in my kitchen.

Well, I have to say I was definitely surprised by the Stainless Steel Elegance line by Cousin Corporation, available at Prima Bead. As I get older, it seems my skin is more and more senstive. I break out from almost all jewelry, especially jewelry I make, since it is pretty difficult to get jewelry findings that don't have some kind of weird chemical makeup. This is the beauty of the Stainless Steel Elegance line. It won't tarnish because it is Stainless Steel and it is hypoallergenic–so all of us with sensitive skin can now MAKE our own jewelry pieces and know we won't have a rash or green-neck ring afterwards. Yeah, that green neck thing really did happen once!

Besides having sensitive skin, I can't tell you how annoyed I get when “metal” findings tarnish–I bought something that was a silvery color and now it looks like it was old and rusty – ew! What is sooooooooooooooooooooooo cool about Stainless Steel Elegance is that it won't EVER tarnish!! If the piece does become “dirty”, simply wipe with a clean cloth and warm water. Easy peasy, right?

Finally, Stainless Steel Elegance is affordable. Having senstitive skin, I am always told to buy silver or gold. Well, that's be nice if I was wealthy. Every time I lose a pair of earrings I cringe that thought of buying new ones. And forget about buying findings in precious silver or gold – I just can't afford it on a regular basis. I can afford Stainless Steel Elegance and it makes a whole lot of sense to me – practical, safe for my skin, and affordable. Sign me up!

So, let's get into what I created with the selection of Stainless Steel Elegance products that the Prima Bead Bloggers were given:

This first piece is a cuff bracelet that started as a necklace. Being that I am “plus size”, an 18″ chain doesn't do much other than choke me. While this 18″ chain was lying on my table, I loved the serpent like shapes it fell into…and I had a Gru “lightbulb” moment. Why make a necklace when I could use this chain like ribbon?!

Here's how to create this piece:

1. Cut the clasp ends off of the chain and start twisting and turning the chain, overlapping it onto itself. Sand or trim the ends of the chain so that they are not sharp.
2. Adhere the overlapping pieces together with E6000.
3. Measure a piece of pleated ribbon (by Maya Road) to the size of your wrist and cut it to fit.
4. Adhere the looped, serpentine Stainless Steel Elegance chain to the stitching along the center of the pleated ribbon using E6000 and allow to set overnight.
5. Add Ribbon End Clamps in Silver to the ends of the ribbon – use two for a wide ribbon, such as the one I used in this project. Add lobster claw clasps to the ends.

Supplies:

• Cousin Ribbon End Clamps in Silver – available at Prima Bead 
• Cousin Stainless Steel Elegance Chain – available at Prima Bead
• Cousin Stainless Steel Elegance Lobster Claw Clasp – available at Prima Bead
• Cousin 6 Piece Precision Comfort Tool Set –  available at Prima Bead
• Maya Road Pleated Ribbon
• E6000 Adhesive

This next project was created with my daughter Katie in mind. She is entering High School this year and has to dress up for band concerts. She typically brings her dress to school to change into but wears the same jewelry and makeup for the actual concert that she wore during the day for school. This earrings and neckalce set can look great with jeans and a sassy t-shirt or dress up a nice black cocktail dress for concert night. Wearing these Stainless Steel Elegance based earrings all day and into the night won't irritate her senstive skin like other jewelry might.

Here's how to create this set:

Necklace:

1. Cut a piece of Cousin .45mm 7-Strand Black Bead Wire to the desired length of the necklace plus 2″.
2. Thread a Stainless Steel Elegance Crimp Bead and a Stainless Steel Elegance Bead onto the wire and keep towards one end.
3. Thread the end of the wire back through the Stainless Steel Elegance Bead and then through the Stainless Steel Elegance Crimp Bead to create a loop, about 1/4″ long. Close the crimp bead with a crimping tool or pliers.

Earrings:

1. Thread a Stainless Steel Elegance Bead onto a Stainless Steel Elegance 35mm Head Pin followed by a White Donut Round with Flower Bead and then another Stainless Steel Elegance Bead.
   
2. Thread the Stainless Steel Elegance Euro Leverback EarWire onto the head pin.
3. Close the end of the head pin with a loop.
4. Repeat for the second, matching earring.

Supplies:

• Cousin Stainless Steel Elegance Beads – available at Prima Bead 
• Cousin Stainless Steel Elegance Crimp Beads – available at Prima Bead
• Cousin Stainless Steel Elegance Jump Rings – available at Prima Bead
• Cousin Stainless Steel Elegance 35mm Head Pin – available at Prima Bead
• Cousin Stainless Steel Elegance Lobster Claw Clasp – available at Prima Bead
• Cousin Stainless Steel Elegance Euro Leverback EarWire – available at Prima Bead
• Cousin .45mm 7-Strand Black Bead Wire – available at Prima Bead
• Cousin 6 Piece Precision Comfort Tool Set –  available at Prima Bead
• Cousin White Donut Round with Flower Beads – available at Prima Bead 

See? Stainless Steel is ELEGANT!!  What would you create with Stainless Steel Elegance? Leave a comment below telling me what you would create — be sure to link the products you'd use from Prima Bead. Follow Prima Bead on social media!

Thanks for stopping by!

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Author: Jennifer Priest

It started with jewelry, beading, sewing, home decor, painting, basket weaving, pottery, and cross-stitch. Marry that to an entrepreneurial spirit & at 9 years old a girl is selling her wares at craft fairs as far as her parents and grandparents would drive her. These days, Jennifer enjoys crafts of all genres from sewing to scrapbooking to jewelry with a little dabbling in the mixed media world. Her style is approachable and she wants everyone who sees her work to feel that they too can embrace creativity and make their home and life beautiful.