I promised you a jewelry tutorial and here it is! Two days later is better than no post amiright? My foolish plan to slowly simplify my life is just going a little slower than I would like. Sadly, I had the jewelry made on Saturday with hopes to get this blog up on Sunday but that just didn't happen. I ended up having a great dinner with my grandparents and family. So, maybe when things don't work out how you plan, maybe they are working out just how they should! That's my deep thought for the day so let's get this party crack-a-lackin!
Here's a list of necessary supplies: (sorry about the pic, I really couldn't get the lighting right for it!)
1. Round nose pliers
2. Wire cutters
3. Beads of your choice
4. 20 gauge wire
5. Closures of your choice. I have a lot of trouble getting bracelets on so I chose a "clasp" that was easier for me. Lobster claws would work great too and you get more in the package for your money as well!
1. Round nose pliers
2. Wire cutters
3. Beads of your choice
4. 20 gauge wire
5. Closures of your choice. I have a lot of trouble getting bracelets on so I chose a "clasp" that was easier for me. Lobster claws would work great too and you get more in the package for your money as well!
To begin...cut a short piece of your 20g wire to around an inch or so. I put one bead on each so you don't really need a lot. Now, take your round nose pliers and loop one end of the wire towards you. This should create a looped end.
After you've created your loop, go ahead and bend the loop so that the middle of the loop is centered of your wire. You want it to look more "O" shaped and not "P" shaped.
Go ahead and slide your bed on the wire and repeat the looping process for the other end of your wire. Don't worry if your first loops don't look exactly circular, you will get the hang of it the more you do and they will get easier and better! On a sidenote....aren't these skull/rhinestone beads AWESOME! I've been eyeballing them for a while and now I finally had a reason to buy them!
Repeat this process with your next bead and wire. The exception is that on the second loop, you will put the straight wire through the loop of the previous bead/wire before you make the loop, so that you form chain links.
Repeat this process with your next bead and wire. The exception is that on the second loop, you will put the straight wire through the loop of the previous bead/wire before you make the loop, so that you form chain links.
To put your clasps on, you will stick the un-looped wire through the end of each clasp and loop over just as you did with each link.
It is seriously that easy!
It is seriously that easy!
I was able to make 2 bracelets out of 2 strands of beads and 1 package of clasps. I still have plenty of wire to make a ton more.
Green is my favorite color and I love all of those infinity charms that you see around so I made this other bracelet the same way, instead putting 3 beads on a wire. Same process, a charm and I have a different look. There are many options with just this one technique so have fun with it. It would even be fun to have some beads dangling off!
This was a great craft for myself as I have a hard time finding jewelry that fits my rather fluffy frame, and now I can make it in whatever color I like AND it fits!
So..until next time....
Craft on!
Green is my favorite color and I love all of those infinity charms that you see around so I made this other bracelet the same way, instead putting 3 beads on a wire. Same process, a charm and I have a different look. There are many options with just this one technique so have fun with it. It would even be fun to have some beads dangling off!
This was a great craft for myself as I have a hard time finding jewelry that fits my rather fluffy frame, and now I can make it in whatever color I like AND it fits!
So..until next time....
Craft on!