Generally Creative: August 2010

I talked about this yesterday, so I'll get right to the tutorial for this bracelet.

Materials needed:

22 Gauge Wire
7-10 9mm beads or pearls
Wire cutters
Chain nose pliers
Round nose pliers
The sharpie pictured above is what I used to make the clasp, you can make or buy. Whatever you like.
Ruler

I like to start my bracelets by making 1 full bead link, and 1 full "s" link. Then I measure them together to determine how many I will need to create a 7.5"-8" bracelet. My preferred size.

To create a bead link:
Step 1 - Cut 1 5.5" length of the 22 gauge wire

Step 2 - Line the top of the 2 lengths of wire at the top. (Your about to make an eye pin, so if you know how to do this, just skip on down to step 7)

Step 3 -With the chain nose pliers at about 7/8th of an inch from the top of the wire, bend the top of the wire towards you.

Step 4 - Clamp the wire at the short side of the bend with the round nose pliers.

Step 5 - With your finer, wrap the wire around the top clamp of the round nose pliers and down so that the point is facing the same as the other end of the wire.

Step 6 - Change the position of the pliers so that the loop is now on the bottom clamp of the round nose pliers. Then wrap the shorter tail, around the longer one until you've gone around twice.

Step 7 - Thread your bead onto the eye pin.

Step 8 - Bend the tail of the eye pin at a 90° angle while holding the wire with the chain nose pliers.

Step 8 - Using the round nose pliers create a loop at the top of the bead and wrap the tail as if you are making the eye pin.

Step 9 - Begin wrapping the bead with the tail working your way toward the start of the bead.

Step 10 - Secure the tail of the wire around the top eye loop.

Step 11 - Turn both eyes at the top and bottom to face the same direction.

Create the "s" link.

Step 1 - Hold the tip of wire between the round nose pliers:

Step 2 - Wrap the tail of the wire around the top of the round nose pliers and back towards you to create a loop.

Step 3 - Hold the tail end of the wire right up close to the loop between the round nose pliers.

Step 4 - Using your fingers, wrap the tail of the wire up around the top of the round nose pliers.

Step 5 - Wrap the tail down so that is crosses the other tail of the "s"

Step 6 - Snip any excess wire so that the tip of the tails, just touch the joint of the "s"

To create the bracelet:

Attach one bead link to one "s" link and measure them.

Also, measure the clasp:

This means, I'll need 7 sets of beads and "s" links.

Attach everything together and you've got a bracelet.

I'm rather addicted to these little suckers, as you can tell:

So my little sneak peak from Saturday - was from the wire wrapped beaded jewelry that I've been working on.

I am completely loving this collection - so while I haven't figured out how to wrap, or apparently spell, a bauble, that did lead me to these little numbers.

Interested in making your own set? Let's start with the earrings.

Materials needed:

22 Gauge Wire
2 9mm beads, pearls or whatever you want.
Earring findings
Chain nose pliers
Round nose pliers
Wire cutters

Step 1 - Cut 2 5" lengths of the 22 gauge wire

Step 2 - Line the top of the 2 lengths of wire at the top. (Your about to make an eye pin, so if you know how to do this, just skip on down to step 7)

Step 3 -With the chain nose pliers at about 7/8th of an inch from the top of the wire, bend the top of the wire towards you.

Step 4 - Clamp the wire at the short side of the bend with the round nose pliers.

Step 5 - With your finer, wrap the wire around the top clamp of the round nose pliers and down so that the point is facing the same as the other end of the wire.

Step 6 - Change the position of the pliers so that the loop is now on the bottom clamp of the round nose pliers. Then wrap the shorter tail, around the longer one until you've gone around twice.

At this point, I like to make my other eye pin rather than continue on just the first earring.

Step 7 - Slide your bead onto the eye pin.

Step 7 - Bend the tail of the eye pin 90°

Step 8 - Using the round nose pliers, hold the tail of the eye pin wire and bein wrapping the tail wire around the pliers.

Step 9 - Holding the already wrapped part of the bead, and the wire firmly in your left hand, begin wrapping the wire around the bead, turning and pinching as you go.