Have you ever designed with our CN10- Filigree Cone End Cap? It’s our current promo item, so our design team got creative to see what unique ways we could incorporate it into jewelry. Thinking out of the box, we used it in a few fun ways other than a typical end cap of course.

Take a close look at our “Asian Lantern” inspired project ideas, and you will notice that the filigree cone has been manipulated into different shapes to take on a whole new function to construct these unique designs!

Let’s start out with Mackie’s gorgeous Asian Lantern bracelet (featured on our homepage). Directly below the tiny hook clasp, you will find the Filigree Cone End Cap turned into a decorative bead link. She strung a topaz faceted glass rondelle, the end cap and a 4mm melon bead onto a 1.5 inch eye pin and finished the bead link with a wrapped loop with the straight end of the wire. Mackie incorporated this beautiful bead link into her multiple strands, resting alongside etched cable chain, seed beads and a hand dyed silk ribbon. Through the openwork of the filigree you can see a glow and pops of the warm topaz color, reflecting like a stained glass window or in this case a flickering lantern. {all beads sponsored by our online bead partner, Bello Modo. Click on the above photo to view a full list with direct links to the products}

Next up we have Rose’s stunning Asian Windchime necklace. In this design, she opened up and flattened four Filigree Cone End Caps. You simply take two pair of chain nose pliers, find the open slit along the side of the cone, insert one of the pliers and grip the small end and the same for the larger end in order to pull open the cone (same motion as if you were opening a jump ring, pulling one side toward you and the other way). Once you have the cone completely open you can either use your pliers to continue flattening the piece out or place it on a steel bench block to hammer it flat, this makes a fun fan shape. As you can see Rose connected four filigree fan shaped pieces with jump rings to create the base of her design. She then strung a variety of colorful glass beads onto our new 22g natural brass wire. The fanned filigree also frames the 40mm Multi-tiered Donut layered with our Sparrow’s Compass. {all beads sponsored by our online bead partner, Bello Modo. Click on the above photo to view a full list with direct links to the products}

In this last project idea,Tranquility necklace, I incorporated the Filigree Cone End Cap in three different ways. First I wire-wrapped two top drilled sparkling Swarovski elements inside the cones using our new 24g Arte Metal Wire, they peek out at the bottom adding a little shine to the design. You’ll also see one of the cones open and flattened into a fan shaped connector on the right side of the necklace. It is attached to the toggle ring and the hand dyed silk ribbon is looped through the filigree openwork to secure the strand. On the opposite end the cone is used in a traditional way, it was simply strung onto the end of the silk before it was knotted to a jump ring. Another similar way to use the cone end is to hold multiple beaded strands brought together through the cone and crimped into one loop to complete your jewelry design. {all beads sponsored by our online bead partner, Bello Modo. Click on the above photo to view a full list with direct links to the products}

How have you used this piece? If you have designs featuring the Filigree Cone End Cap share with us on our facebook page, we would love to see!

Inspired by our “Asian Lantern” theme? Join us in our September Design Challenge for a chance to win over 75 Vintaj pieces inspired by the theme. Submissions due by NOON (CST) Friday, August 31. Click here for details!

Happy Designing!