Beads in Wire Woven Bangle Tutorial

This tutorial shows how to make a Wire Woven Bangle.
Printer friendly -5 pages

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Wrap Bracelets

These women's wrap bracelets feature a combination of high quality beads and crystals.
Over 200 beads are skillfully woven to a strand of silver/grey colored leather.

 

See more  at AroundBeads.etsy.com
Use coupon code BLOG10 to get 10% off! 

Button Rings

How much fun it is to be able to use round craft wire and a few "found" items to make a fashionable item! Instead of using buttons, you can substitute large flat beads, add your own flair with a few accent beads, use colored craft wire, and you're making a new ring in just a few minutes.  
This is a great crafts project for young girls at a party or on a rainy afternoon, too!

Materials:
20ga round read soft wire - 2ft
2.5mm round metal beads - 8 (your button may require more beads, depending on its size)
4-hole button 

Tools:
Chain nose pliers
Wire cutters
Ring mandrel
Ruler

Instructions

Cut the necessary wire. Place the center of the wire on the ring mandrel, at ¼ size larger than the desired finished size. Wrap both ends of the wire very tightly around the mandrel until you have 3 or 4 full wraps around it.

 

Button Earrings

I always find a few left-overs that can be used for a new project. Today’s very simple tip would work perfect for those miscellaneous buttons, ear wires and beads that you have just sitting around.

Use small 2-hole buttons as connector/ findings to hook ear wires and beads together.

 I prefer to use oval jump-rings to connect the button and beads. CLICK HERE to see how to make your own jump rings. Very easy to do with a mandrel and wire.

Cotter Link Chain

Tools and Materials:
·         20ga dead soft round wire (1.5" (4cm) for one link)
·         Flat nose pliers
·         6 Step Barrel Pliers (you may use round nose pliers with 5mm and 2mm diameter marks)
·         Wire cutters

Sea Turtle Pendant

This wire wrapped turtle necklace is a great gift for the turtle lover in your life!
I have used 16 gauge solid copper wire to fabricate a turtle, it was textured with a hammer, oxidized and polished.

I made a family: Mama-Turtle and two babies :)

You can buy these pendants here

Crimp Pliers – Not just for crimping beads

Make your own headpins using…crimp pliers! It is so fast and easy.
1. Paddle pin.

• Use the back flat surface of the pliers to “squeeze” the end of wire.
• If the paddle is not even, file it with an Emory board.

Bracelet Sizer

I made these three bracelets that are the same length (8”) but they fit differently because the size of the beads.

You can make your own bracelet sizer from Styrofoam cup.

First, I made templates with pieces of thread, one for each size.

Fold the thread in half; place a knot half size away from the fold. For example, for 7” size, place a knot 3 ½” away.

Turn the Styrofoam cup upside down and slide the thread templates on it. Mark the cup with sharpie marker tracing on the threads and write the size too.

 Slide your bracelets to determine the size (my blue large bead bracelet does not fit for this cup).

Helpful guidelines for bracelet sizes:
I work on the following rule for making my bracelets:
wrist measurement + 1 inch = bracelet size

Women's Sizes: 
Small: 6.5"
Average: 7"

Large: 7.5 – 8"
X-Large" 8.5+"
Men's Sizes:
Most Common: 8"
Average: 8-9" 
Ankle Bracelet (Anklets)
Most common: 9"
Average: 9-10"

Oval jump rings

Oval jump rings are a great alternative to round jump rings. These rings are ideal for connecting clasps, charms or beads to chains.

Need a mandrel to make your own oval jump rings? Use a set of two the same size knitting needles, wrap your wire around them.

  Carefully remove coil and cut evenly with sharp flush cutters (double- flush cutters work the best).

 

Measuring Template

If you’re making a piece of jewelry that requires multiples of one component, make all those matching components as close as possible to being the same size.

* Mark your round nose pliers with Sharpie marker to make the same size loops every time.

* Use a popsicle (craft) sticks as a template for measuring the wire for making ear-wires, S-clasp, head/eye pins, etc. Write down the wire measurements, wire gauge (I use a pencil to write, Sharpie marker can smear). Also, you can tape a sample or trace it. 

 

Spiral Post Earrings, Part 2 (using butane torch & LOS)

This lesson shows how to make a spiral post/stud earrings with balled end.

 Materials:
8” of 21 ga round half hard wire

Earring backs-2
 Tools:

 Flat nose pliers
 Round nose pliers
Wire cutters
Bench block
Ball peen hammer
Metal file 
Liver of sulfur (optional) 
Butane torch (optional)

Celtic Wig Jig Earrings

Here is another video how to make a beautiful pair of Celtic Wire Earrings using a Wig Jig.

The final product

Spiral Post Earrings - Part 1.

This lesson shows how to make a spiral post/stud earrings.

Materials:
• 8” of 21 ga round half hard wire
• Earring backs-2
 Tools:
 • Flat nose pliers
 • Round nose pliers
• Wire cutters
 • Bench block
• Ball peen hammer
• Metal file

Beaded Coral Tassel Tutorial

This lesson shows how to make beaded coral tassel. You can use this technique for making earrings, key-chain and bag charms. 

Materials:

Seed beads #11/0
Focal bead (or group of 2-3 large beads)
Beading thread
Lobster clasp (for bag charm)
Split ring (for keychain)
Ear hooks (for earrings) 

Tools:

Beading needle #12 
Scissors (or thread burner) 

Instruction below will show how to make a bag charm, but you can use this technique for making earrings as well.

Step 1: On a comfortable length of thread, pick up focal bead(s) and lobster clasp. Place this group in the middle of thread.

Step 2: Pass the thread back through the bead(s) skipping the clasp. Tighten.

Fancy Pyramid Pendant Tutorial

This tutorial shows how to make a 3D pyramid wire wrapped pendant.

Printer friendly- 6 pages, 33 steps

Materials and tools:
18ga round dead soft wire
26ga round dead soft wire
3mm round beads
Round nose pliers
Wire cutters
Chain nose pliers
Wig-Jig® Cyclops with pegs – optional
Extra optional: chains, beads, headpins

Tutorial is HERE

Lark's Knot Earrings

Materials and Tools:

• 5 inches of 20 ga round dead soft wire
• 5 mm Jump Rings, 20 ga - 2
• 4mm Crystals/beads - 2
• 1 pair ear wires
• Round nose pliers
• Chain nose pliers
• Chasing hummer
• Bench block

Chain Card

To keep the chain neat and kink-free, wrap it around a business card. Cut two notches at opposite edges of the card and secure the ends in the notches. You may want to label the card with information about source, size, the price, item number.

Variation: Instead of thin business card, I use an old plastic card such as a gift card, a credit card, a membership card. Also, I peel the label from the vendor’s plastic package and place it on the card. So, I have all info about this chain.

Organize your wire

I keep all my coils of wire (I order mine from wire-shulpture) in an accordion folder.

I have separate folders for different wires: copper, sterling silver, sterling silver filled, etc… Each pocket is labeled with the gauge and type (dead soft- DS, half hard- HH). Keeping the wire inside plastic bags will also cut down on tarnish (I keep my wire in the original bags.)

It's easy to see what I have and what needs to be reordered.

Tree of Life Wirewrapped Agate Sterling Silver Pendant

The Tree of Life is an esoteric philosophy common to many cultures and mythologies, and the Ancients envisioned the entire cosmos in the form of a tree whose roots grow deep in the ground, branches reaching high into the heavens. 

 This Tree of Life pendant is made of sterling silver filled wire and natural agate cabochon.
The pendant's size: 1 1/2" x 2 3/4" (4cm x7cm)

 Agate is an excellent stone for re-balancing and harmonizing body, mind and spirit. It cleanses and stabilizes the aura, eliminating and transforming negativity. Agate enhances mental function, improving concentration, perception and analytical abilities. It soothes and calms, healing inner anger or tension and creates a sense of security and safety.

Buy it here

Cello sale:)

My daughter Anya wants to play the cello. Beautiful instrument! I want to buy her one.
So, there is a cello sale at my jewelry shop. Use coupon code CELLO to get 15% off!