6 fantastic jewelry projects

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For this necklace, I made bead caps by coiling 20-gauge wire.

String an heirloom
Trendy yet timeless tassels highlight a pearl lariat by Bethany Eddy
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This lariat is a splurge to make, but its a piece that will proudly be passed down and treasured for generations. Between the glow of pearls and the sparkle of pav components, this necklace denitely says special occasion.

lariat Cut a 10-in. (25 cm) piece of clear beading cord. Center the bar of a buckle on the cord and string a crimp bead over both ends. Make a flattened crimp (Basics).

a On one end, string 17 or 18 4 mm pearls. Tie off the end (Fringe strands, p. 3). Repeat on the other end. b Attach two or three more pairs of fringe strands to the bar.

String a 20 mm pav ring and a second buckle over all of the fringe strands.

Unwind a card of silk beading cord. Tie the end (without the needle) over the second buckle bar with two overhand knots (Basics). Apply a dot of glue and trim the tail close to the knot.

Following steps 1 and 2a, attach five pairs of fringe strands to the second buckle bar. Make these strands 15 or 16 pearls long.

On the silk cord, string a 14 mm pav ring, a 12 mm pav bead, a bead cap, and 15 10 mm pearls.

Bring the cord back through the last bead strung and tighten it. String the remaining 10 mms, bringing the cord back through every 25th bead or so to maintain the tension.

String a bead cap, a pav bead, and a 14 mm pav ring. Make a second tassel. String the silk cord through the tassel. Tighten the cord and tie two overhand knots to the tassels second buckle bar. Apply a dot of glue and trim the tail close to the knot. On each end, apply glue to the 14 mm pav rings to keep them centered within the buckle.

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Here are some other ways to wear the necklace.

earrings For each earring: On a head pin, string a 10 mm pearl. Make a wrapped loop (Basics) with four or five wraps.

String a 14 mm pav ring over the pearl unit. Open the loop of an earring wire (Basics) and attach the dangle. Close the loop.

Fringe strands

Supplies
lariat 64 in. (1.6 m) 4 20 mm round buckles 2 20 mm pav rings 2 14 mm pav rings 2 12 mm pav beads 143 10 mm crystal pearls 420476 4 mm crystal pearls 2 68 mm bead caps card of silk bead cord with attached needle, size 4 clear beading cord, .010 1416 crimp beads chainnose pliers scissors E-6000 adhesive earrings 2 14 mm pav rings 2 10 mm crystal pearls 2 2-in. (5 cm) head pins pair of earring wires chainnose and roundnose pliers diagonal wire cutters Supplies from Merchants Overseas, 800.333.4144, merchantsoverseas .com. Check your local bead store for supplies. To find the nearest store, visit beadshopfinder.com.

Looped once

Knotted

To tie off a fringe strand: Bring the cord back through the second bead from the end. Tie an overhand knot (Basics) and bring the cord through the third bead before trimming the excess. If desired, apply a dot of glue to the knot. To make stringing the second row of fringe strands easier, separate the second buckle from the stack and bring both ends of the cord around the bar from the back.

Looped twice

Bethany Eddy

As a belt!

Bethany Eddy is a jewelry designer and director of sales for Merchants Overseas Inc. She lives in Providence, R.I., with her two dogs, Preston and Bentley. Bethany, a self-taught beader whos been making jewelry for more than 20 years, points to Coco Chanel as her style icon. Her favorite Chanel quote: A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous. Contact Bethany at beddy@ merchantsoverseas.com. See more of her work at merchantsoverseas.com.

Visit BeadStyleMag.com/videos for these handy videos: flattened crimp, overhand knot, wrapped loop, opening a jump ring or loop

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Easy elegance

Crystal cluster earrings

by Beth Heywood

Turn vintage inspiration into a simple design

As an avid antique- and thrift-shop explorer, Ive come across many pairs of crystal cluster earrings from the 50s and 60s. But I still prefer designing my own. It couldnt be easier: Simply make two kinds of bead units and string them on a head pin. The size of the crystals makes each one fall into place, forming an ornate-looking beaded bead. Try substituting round gemstones or pearls for a variation.

Supplies
earrings 4 8 mm faceted rondelles 10 6 mm round crystals 20 5 mm bicone crystals 4 4 mm bicone crystals 4 110 seed beads 30 11 2 -in. (3.8 cm) head pins 2 2-in. (5 cm) head pins pair of earring wires chainnose and roundnose pliers diagonal wire cutters Check your local bead store for supplies. To find the nearest store, visit beadshopfinder.com.

For each earring: On a 11 2 -in. (3.8 cm) head pin, string a 5 mm bicone crystal. Make a plain loop (Basics). Make 10 bicone units and five round-crystal units.

On a 2-in. (5 cm) head pin, string: seed bead, 4 mm bicone, faceted rondelle, five bicone units, five round-crystal units, five bicone units, rondelle, 4 mm bicone, seed bead. Make a plain loop.

Beth Heywood
Beth works at an antique shop and has been beading for 10 years. She doesnt stress about beaders block: The best thing to do is just not worry about it. Ideas will come when they come. Contact Beth at beth.heywood@gmail.com.

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Open the loop of an earring wire (Basics). Attach the dangle and close the loop.

Classic charms
The charm bracelet is truly a classic, a must-have for every jewelry box. In these versions, the dark tones of base metal chain make the perfect palette for colorful enameled charms.
Jackie Boettcher

Charm bracelets represent a few of your favorite things, so pick charms as eclectic and eccentric as you!

Earring options
Hang mismatched charms from a bit of leftover chain as in steps 3 and 4 of the bracelet. Or, pick just one theme from your bracelet (perhaps eco-awareness) to make earrings.

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1 Decide how long you want your bracelet to be and cut two pieces of chain to that length. On a head pin, string a 68 mm round bead. With the largest part of your roundnose pliers, make the first half of a wrapped loop (Basics). Make three or four round-bead units.

2 About 1 in. (2.5 cm) from the ends of the chains, attach a round-bead unit to a corresponding link on each chain. Complete the wraps. Attach the remaining round-bead units as desired.

Supply List
5 6 920 mm charms 3 4 68 mm round beads 78 in. (1820 cm) chain, 1617 mm links 78 in. (1820 cm) chain, 1314 mm links 8 10 2-in. (5 cm) head pins 1 3 14 mm jump rings 67 mm jump ring 1517 mm lobster claw clasp chainnose and roundnose pliers diagonal wire cutters Charms from Fire Mountain Gems and Beads, 800.355.2137, firemountaingems.com. Chain from Michaels, michaels.com for store locations. Check your local bead store for supplies. To find the nearest store, visit beadshopfinder.com.

3 Trim the head from a head pin and string a charm and an optional 14 mm jump ring. Make a set of wraps above the charm as for a top-drilled bead (Basics). Make the first half of a wrapped loop. Make five or six charm units.

4 Attach the charm units to the large-link chain as desired. Complete the wraps.

Tip
Charms can come from just about anywhere. Salvage them from broken jewelry or mate-less earrings, or buy clearance or thrift-store jewelry with charms you can remove. You can also make your own charms by drilling found objects and coins.

5 Open a 67 mm jump ring (Basics) and attach an end link of each chain and a lobster claw clasp. Close the jump ring. Attach a 14 mm jump ring to the other end of the chains.

Contact Jackie in care of Bead Style.

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Stack crystal, metal, and Lucite layers in a fancy, flowery design

Experiment with a variety of shape, color, texture, and size combinations.

by Ashley Bunting
I love teals and greens, and I love mixing silver and gold. After choosing an assortment of Lucite and metallic owers, I played with stacking and layering different color combinations until the necklace was both balanced and exciting.

Luminous blooms
The large flowers are actually buttons with two holes.

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Supplies
necklace 20 in. (51 cm) 45 mm eight-petal metal flower 2 25 mm six-petal metal flowers 3 16 mm five-petal metal flowers 38 mm Lucite flower button, with two holes 2 1418 mm Lucite flowers 3 8 mm round crystals 2 4 mm spacers 6 in. (15 cm) 24-gauge wire 1418 in. (3646 cm) chain, 5 mm links 2 1-in. (3.8 cm) head pins 2 8 mm jump rings 6 mm jump ring 4 mm jump ring lobster claw clasp chainnose and roundnose pliers diagonal wire cutters metal hole punch earrings 2 18 mm Lucite flowers 2 14 mm Lucite flowers 2 8 mm round crystals 4 4 mm filigree spacers 2 in. (5 cm) chain, 5 mm links 4 1-in. (3.8 cm) head pins pair of earring wires chainnose and roundnose pliers diagonal wire cutters Supplies from The Beadin Path, 877.922.3237, beadinpath.com. Check your local bead store for supplies. To find the nearest store, visit beadshopfinder.com.

necklace Punch a hole through the tip of a 25 mm (medium) flowers petal (Punching holes, p. 3). Punch a hole through another medium flower. Hammer the medium flowers if desired. Punch a hole through the tip of a 45 mm (large) flowers petal. Skip two petals and punch a hole in another petals tip.

Cut a 2-in. (5 cm) piece of wire. Center a crystal. String each end between two petals of a 16 mm (small) flower. String each end of the wire through a hole of a Lucite button and between two petals of a large flower. Twist the ends together. Trim the excess wire and tuck the ends into the hole of the large flower.

Cut two 79-in. (1823 cm) pieces of chain. On a head pin, string a spacer, a 1418 mm Lucite flower, the punched hole of a medium flower, and an end link of chain. Grasp the end of the head pin with roundnose pliers and roll the wire around to form a loop. Repeat with the other chain.

Cut a 2-in. (5 cm) piece of wire. Center a crystal. String each end between two petals of a small flower and between two petals of the medium flower from step 3. Twist and tuck the wire as in step 2. Make two medium layered flowers.

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Open an 8 mm jump ring (Basics). Attach a hole of the large layered flower and a petal of a medium layered flower. Close the jump ring. Repeat.

Check the fit and trim chain from each end if necessary. On one end, use a 4 mm jump ring to attach a lobster claw clasp. On the other end, attach a 6 mm jump ring.

My biggest beading challenge is simplicity. Its hard for me to stop before going over the top.

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Stack two flowers for lightweight earrings.

earrings For each earring: On a head pin, string a spacer and a crystal. Make the first half of a wrapped loop (Basics).

Cut a five-link piece of chain. Attach the bead unit and an end link. Complete the wraps.

Punching holes
To punch holes in a flower that doesnt have loops, you can use a pliers-style hole punch or a steel hole punch. To use a pliers-style hole punch: Line up the petal and squeeze the handles. If necessary, gently twist the pliers back and forth. To use a steel two-hole punch: Use the smaller diameter hole, line up the petal, and turn the handle. Though the pliers-style punch is easier to work with on curved flower petals, I found that the two-hole punch went through the metal more easily.

On a head pin, string: spacer, 14 mm Lucite flower, 18 mm Lucite flower, center chain link. With roundnose pliers, grasp the end of the head pin and roll the wire around to form a loop.

Open the loop of an earring wire (Basics). Attach the dangle and close the loop.

Design alternative
To make a bracelet, layer metal, Lucite, and upcycled vinyl flowers on a silver or gold cuff. Supplies from The Beadin Path, beadinpath.com.

Ashley Bunting
Ashley works as a jewelry designer and product developer for The Beadin Path, so she is inspired by the materials she has to work with. She enjoys thrift-store shopping and spending time with her fashion-thrifter-blogger boyfriend. Contact Ashley at missashleykate@gmail.com or visit missashleykate.etsy.com.

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Gemstones cluster in a stunning necklace

by Antoinette DAndria Rumely

BUNCHES of briolettes
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Im obsessed with gemstones of all different shapes and hues, but Im partial to pinks, purples, and greens (especially celadon). These amethyst briolettes dazzled me with their beauty, color, and clarity. The stones are miracles from the earth! For an inexpensive version, use gemstone lookalikes made from glass. The ones I used have the look of real turquoise.

necklace Cut a piece of beading wire (Basics). String five briolettes and a metal bead. Repeat four or five times, then string five briolettes. Center the beads.

On each end, string metal beads until the strand is within 1 in. (2.5 cm) of the finished length.

On each end, attach half of a toggle clasp (Basics).

bracelet Cut a piece of beading wire (Basics, p. 88). String five briolettes, a metal bead, and five briolettes. Center the beads.

2
On each end, string metal beads until the strand is within 1 in. (2.5 cm) of the finished length. On one end, attach a lobster claw clasp (Basics). On the other end, attach a 1-in. (3.2 cm) piece of chain for the extender.

Cut a 3-in. (7.6 cm) piece of 24-gauge wire. String a briolette and make a set of wraps above it (Basics). Make the first half of a wrapped loop (Basics). Attach the end link of chain and complete the wraps.

Ive loved jewelry since childhood, as my mother had a beautiful collection of handmade original designs from Milan.

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Supplies
necklace 16 in. (41.9 cm) 3035 1520 mm briolettes or top-drilled teardrops 2330 68 mm round metal beads 4 34 mm spacers flexible beading wire, .014 or .015 2 crimp beads toggle clasp chainnose or crimping pliers diagonal wire cutters bracelet 11 1520 mm briolettes or top-drilled teardrops 1115 68 mm round metal beads flexible beading wire, .014 or .015 3 in. (7.6 cm) 24-gauge half-hard wire 2 crimp beads lobster claw clasp 1 in. (3.2 cm) chain for extender, 56 mm links chainnose and roundnose pliers diagonal wire cutters crimping pliers (optional) earrings 6 1520 mm briolettes or top- drilled teardrops 2 68 mm round metal beads 2 2-in. (5 cm) head pins pair of earring wires chainnose and roundnose pliers diagonal wire cutters Pink amethyst briolettes from Oriental Gemco, 212.391.5801 or faxog@yahoo.com to order. Turquoise glass teardrops from Eclectica, 262.641.0910. Check your local bead store for supplies. To find the nearest store, visit beadshopfinder.com.

earrings On a head pin, string three briolettes and a metal bead. Make a wrapped loop (Basics).

Open the loop of an earring wire (Basics). Attach the dangle and close the loop. Make a second earring the mirror image of the first.

Tip
If youre buying briolettes online, take note of how many beads are on each strand. Better quality briolettes are often sold on shorter (8-in./20 cm) strands with plastic or metal spacers in between.

Design alternative
If you prefer more delicate jewelry, make a necklace or bracelet using small (56 mm) briolettes. For a variation on the earrings, make longer dangles by stringing several briolettes on each head pin.

Antoinette DAndria Rumely

Antoinette or Cookie, as she has been called all her life is a true city slicker. Born and raised in New York, she enjoys strolling the bead district: Its like going into a candy store. She also loves to travel, especially to countries where she can speak Spanish or Italian. Contact Antoinette at maxamarm@aol.com or visit neartamerica.com.

If you like this project, combine more briolettes and gemstone beads in Brights of spring
(BeadStyleMag .com, March 2006).

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STACK of SPARKLE
by Karla Schafer

I used beads in crystal copper and crystal volcano.

Transform a piece of wire and a couple of crystals into a fabulous ring

I love the brilliance of a crystal rondelle perched upon a square pendant, but this ring is open to creative interpretation. Just make sure both beads have holes large enough to accommodate two ends of 20-gauge wire. If youre already an expert in wire-wrapping, try this project with 18-gauge wire.

Supplies

14 mm square crystal pendant 12 mm crystal rondelle 3 ft. (.9 m) 20-gauge Artistic Wire chainnose or crimping pliers diagonal wire cutters ring mandrel

Supplies shown from Aunties Beads, 866.262.3237, auntiesbeads .com. Check your local bead store for supplies. To find the nearest store, visit beadshopfinder.com.

Cut a 3-ft. (.9 m) piece of wire. Place the wire against a ring mandrel at the desired size. Wrap it around five or six times.

Bring the two ends together. Over both ends, string a square pendant and a crystal rondelle.

Design alternatives
Consider plastic and Lucite beads for fun rings. They tend to have large holes that can accommodate 20-gauge wire. Or, for a cocktail ring, try stacking a rondelle and a square on top of a 30 mm square.

Use your fingers to gently coil the pair of wires around the rondelle. Separate the wires so they point in opposite directions.

Wrap each wire around the band five or six times. Trim the excess wire. Use chainnose or crimping pliers to tuck each end.

Karla Schafer
A skilled wire-wrapper, Karla challenged herself to top what she had already done. Contact her at karla@ auntiesbeads.com or visit auntiesbeads.com.

To tighten the wraps, place the ring on the mandrel. Gently push the ring band down the mandrel.

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Basics
A step-by-step reference to key jewelry-making techniques used in bead-stringing projects
Cutting exible beading wire
1 Decide how long you want your necklace to be. Add 6 in. (15 cm) and cut a piece of beading wire to that length. (For a bracelet, add 5 in./13 cm.)

Surgeons knot
15 Cross the right end over the left and go through the loop. Go through again. Cross the left end over the right and go through. Pull the ends to tighten the knot.

Flattened crimp
2 Hold the crimp bead with the tip of your chainnose pliers. Squeeze the pliers rmly to atten the crimp bead. Tug the clasp to make sure the crimp has a solid grip on the wire. If the wire slides, remove the crimp bead and repeat the steps with a new crimp bead. 3 The attened crimp.

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16

Overhand knot
16 Make a loop and pass the working end through it. Pull the ends to tighten the knot.

Plain loop

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Folded crimp
4 Position the crimp bead in the notch closest to the crimping pliers handle. 5 Separate the wires and rmly squeeze the crimp bead. 6 Move the crimp bead into the notch at the pliers tip. Squeeze the pliers, folding the bead in half at the indentation. 7 The folded crimp.

17 Trim the wire 38 in. (1 cm) above the top bead. Make a right-angle bend close to the bead. 18 Grab the wires tip with roundnose pliers. Roll the wire to form a half circle. 19 Reposition the pliers in the loop and continue rolling, forming a centered circle above the bead. 20 The nished loop.

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Wrapped loop
21 Make sure there is at least 1 in. (3.2 cm) of wire above the bead. With the tip of your chainnose pliers, grasp the wire directly above the bead. Bend the wire (above the pliers) into a right angle. 22 Position the jaws of your roundnose pliers vertically in the bend. 23 Bring the wire over the top jaw of the pliers. 24 Reposition the pliers lower jaw snugly in the curved wire. Wrap the wire down and around the bottom of the pliers. This is the rst half of a wrapped loop. 25 Grasp the loop with chainnose pliers. 26 Wrap the wire tail around the wire stem, covering the stem between the loop and the top bead. Trim the excess wrapping wire, and press the end close to the stem with chainnose or crimping pliers.

Folded crimp end

8 Glue one end of the cord and place it in a crimp end. Use chainnose pliers to fold one side of the crimp end over the cord. 9 Repeat with the second side of the crimp end and squeeze gently.

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22

Opening a jump ring or loop

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10 Hold the jump ring or loop with two pairs of pliers (may include chainnose, roundnose, and/or bentnose pliers). 11 To open the jump ring or loop, bring one pair of pliers toward you. 12 The open jump ring. Reverse the steps to close.

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Attaching a clasp
13 For a two-piece clasp, on each end, string: spacer, crimp bead, spacer, Wire Guardian (optional), half of a clasp. Check the t, and add or remove beads if necessary. Go back through the beads just strung and tighten the wire. Crimp the crimp bead and trim the excess wire. 14 Or, follow step 13 to attach a lobster claw clasp on one end and a soldered jump ring or chain extender on the other.

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Split ring
27 Proper position of split-ring pliers.

A set of wraps above a top-drilled bead

28 Center a top-drilled bead on a 3-in. (7.6 cm) piece of wire. Bend each end upward, crossing the wires into an X above the bead. 29 Using chainnose pliers, make a small bend in each wire so the ends form a right angle. 30 Wrap the horizontal wire around the vertical wire as in a wrapped loop. Trim the excess wrapping wire.

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