Last week while shopping at one of those "has everything" discount stores, I came upon some clearance items. I had just recently given in and finally gotten a little cell phone, and saw, hanging on one of the racks, what were called "Cell Phone Charms". On sale, mind you, they were asking $2.99! The charms were made of cheap, base metal and "enameled", which probably wasn't really enamel. There was a jump ring included, but it was quite small and barely fit on the small rubber ring that you were to slide down, onto your cell phone antenna.

First of all, even if it's just for my cell phone, I personally like to use precious metals, and immediately thought this neat idea would be so much better if the jump ring and charm were Sterling. I did purchase one of the cheap charms....an "S" for my first name. I then searched around for more of the little rubber rings and found them. Since I make jewelry, I have a lot of Sterling charms, Sterling jumprings and splitrings too. I also have a lot of gemstone beads. Once I created some of my own, I decided my friends, here, in the Forest of Light, might enjoy learning how to create them for their cell phones as well! So, here are the instructions.

All you need is a charm or dangle....as I said, you can make a really nice one with Sterling findings and pieces. If you prefer gold, you can use brass, or gold-tone base metal or real gold, if you are willing to spend the money. You will also need Sterling jumprings or split rings, and one of those little rubber O-Rings. That's it!

The exact rubber rings that were used on the one I purchased at the discount store are 3.8 x 1/4 x 1/16, #5 O-Rings. They are used on faucets. You can find them in the plumbing section at most home improvement stores. I found mine at Menards, but they're probably at Lowes, Home Depot or Builder Square too. If you want to make a lot of them for yourself and for gifts, too, you can probably find them over the internet for even less than what I paid. If you watch the animated graphic at the top of the page, you'll see what they look like, next to the package. Each rubber ring cost me 47 cents, but I have since found them cheaper over the internet. Just remember that there will be shipping and handling, and unless you are buying a lot of them, it will probably end up being cheaper getting them in town. You may even find them cheaper where you live!

Also notice the jumprings and splitring picture. You can use either. The cheap charm that I purchased used only one base metal jumpring, and it was a very small 4mm ring...it barely fit on the rubber O-Ring. I decided to use TWO 6mm Sterling jumprings. I found it gave the charm more dangle power. That's my personal preference. However, if you would prefer to use only one jumpring, it will work fine, too. Notice that I also mentioned using the optional splitring, which is pictured next to the jumpring in the animated picture. Splitrings are actually a more secure option, but can sometimes be challenging to attach since it's wound around a couple of times. You have to separate the ring, attach it to the rubber washer and then sort of keep turning it to feed it onto the rubber ring. Once it's on, though, you won't have to worry about losing your charm!

A word about the charms. As I have mentioned, my preference is to use Sterling charms, however, if you would prefer to use inexpensive base metal charms, or pewter charms, they will work too. In the picture above, I show a variety. You see a Stering wizard's hat, a couple of Sterling fairies, a pewter tea pot with a glass bead, the really cheap "S" charm that I got, and a charm I made out of a gold toned, base metal head pin and genuine gemstones. I used little garnets, peridot and amethysts gemstone beads. You could even create a chakra charm with real stones or chips! You can also use small base metal or precious metal earring dangles. I had lost an earring from a pair and hated to throw it away because I liked the dangle on it....so I removed the dangle from the one left, and added the jumprings, and attached it to the O-Ring. Now I have a great cell phone charm and the left over earring hasn't been wasted. If you're good at wire working beads or crystals onto headpins, you can create your own little dangle with Swarovski crystals and beads. Use your imagination, and have fun!

Once you've attached your jumprings onto your charm, and attached it all onto the rubber washer ring, you're good to go. Simply slide it over the little antenna on your phone! It will fit snuggly and because it's rubber, it doesn't slide off. I love mine!

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