Who's a, What's a DINGLE DANGLE??

I was asked by a dear friend to make her a little sparkly something to use as a zipper pull for an outfit she wears to work.  When her co-workers saw it, she was asked to ask me if I would make them some with different themes.  So I made these chain tassels, or, I call them "Dingle Dangles."  I made some religious, some for tea lovers, dog lovers, cat lovers, cowboy, beach/ocean and even Flamenco Dancer themed ones.

                                         

These are fun to make and you can use just small amounts of chain and the little doodads you pick up from various places.  I bought a number of base metal charms from www.bohemianfindings.etsy.com who have a large selection.  I also buy interesting and wonderful finds from Crystal Basica at www.vintagefairyfinds.etsy.com and Robin Dudley-Howes at www.shadesofakasha.etsy.com.  Can you tell I like to shop and peruse www.Etsy.com?

I like to pick out a number of chains in different sizes and lay them out with the little charms. I place the charms with some higher and some lower along the various chains and then cut the chains into different lengths so that the charms don't all land at the bottom of the tassel.

 After I put the charms onto each of the pieces of chain with jump rings, I run about a 10 inch piece of 20 gauge wire through the tops of all the chains.  From one end of the wire, I cinch together and wrap the wire around the top a couple times to hold the tassel together and leave the longer piece of wire to put up through the bugle bead.  This hides the wrapped wire part of the tassel with the tops of the chains.  I usually add spacer beads and another pretty bead to the top of the bugle bead.  I wire wrap the top of the large bead with a loop that I can then finish with a clasp.  

 Here are a couple of different Cowgirl/Cowboy themed tassels.  If you use rhinestone cup chain you'll want to use a wire wrap or you can find cup chain holders in different sizes from Crystal Basica at Vintage Fairy Finds.  You'll need to contact her for a custom order, but she's fun to work with and can get them in different sizes.  She also has little crowns, vintage chandelier crystals, cameos, metal stampings and lots of different sizes of rhinestone cup chain.

Robyn Dudley-Howes has miniature crosses, mini Eiffel towers in silver and gold base metal and Mardi Gras type masks.  Great stuff.

I've shown a few of the types of tassels I've made.  A happy coincidence is that you can use these to add sparkle to your zipper pull, your purse or use with your own chain, ribbon or leather strand to use as a pendant.  I hope these inspire you to try and make these yourself or to give as a gift, but if not, I sell them at www.ribbontapestry.etsy.com and can make custom Dingle Dangles for you.  

Have a wonderful day! 

Julie