|
|
(Your shopping cart is empty)
|
|
 |
|
|
Making wire and bead jewelry using 20-gauge craft wire
|
|
If you have never worked with jewelry craft wire to make jewelry, this is a good place to start. This simple beading project uses 20-gauge wire, beads and connectors to create a beaded necklace with a simple drop and drop earrings. Working with wire does take some getting use to but by following the directions below you should be able to assemble many beautiful jewelry pieces.
If you want to create the necklace and earrings shown, you can find the items used to create this design listed at the bottom of the page. |
| Start out by cutting a piece of jewelry craft wire about 2" in length, you can adjust this depending on how many beads you want to place on the wire. Grasp the end of the 20-gauge wire with your round-nose pliers. |
 |
 |
Using your thumb, work the wire so that it wraps around one of the jaws of the pliers, creating a loop. |
| Once your loop is created (the end of the wire should be touching the end of your loop) use the chain-nose pliers to grasp the wire just below the loop. Grip firmly, but not too hard, otherwise you will mar the wire. |
 |
 |
Using the index finger of your other hand, apply pressure to the loop in the opposite direction. You'll want to bend the loop back so that your wire now comes straight down (forming a right angle) to the opening of the loop. |
| Your loop should look something like the loop on the right. |
 |
 |
Once you've created your loop, you can begin sliding beads on the wire. When you have the desired beads on the wire, you're ready to create the loop at the other end. Push the beads down so they are snug against the loop you've already created and at the last bead you'll bend the wire (with your index finger) to form a right angle. Use your round-nose pliers to grasp the wire against the last bead and begin wrapping the wire to create your second loop. Once you've created the loop, trim off the excess with your side cutter pliers. ALWAYS WEAR SAFETY GLASSES AND CUT SO THAT ANY MATERIAL TO BE TRIMMED AWAY WILL NOT BE FACING YOU. |
| Your completed piece should look something like this. What you want to do now is create many more pieces like this since we'll be attaching these to form a chain. |
 |
 |
To connect your beaded components and connectors, use jump rings. Hold the jump ring with your bent chain-nose pliers while grasping the other end of the jump ring with your chain-nose pliers. Do not use both pliers for leverage. Hold the bent chain-nose pliers steady while pulling the chain-nose pliers either up toward you or down away from you. AGAIN ALWAYS WEARING SAFTY GLASSES. |
| You should now be able to slide your piece on the jump ring. To close the jump ring, repeat the previous step, moving the chain-nose pliers in the opposite direction that you used to open the ring. If done correctly the jump ring should slide back into place and close easily. |
 |
 |
Continue connecting pieces until you have achieved the look you want. |
| For this project we alternated sections of Czech Fire polish crystal beads in Crystal AB, Sterling Silver round bead and Swarovski bicone crystal beads in Ruby and Jet, Sterling Silver round beads and again with Czech Fire polish crystal beads in Crystal AB beads. A total of three Bali connectors were used for the necklace and one connector for each earring. Once you have achieved the desired length for your necklace - this one is approx. 17" - attach your Bali clasp with jump rings. |
 |
To create the jewelry design above you will need the following items
(this beading project assumes you already have pliers - if not, see our tools section)
If you're looking for another beading project, click here
|
|
|
|
