The necklace above started out as a couple of strands of beads that I bought on sale, they were perfectly colour matched... and with very little effort on my part, turned into a lovely necklace to wear The necklace on the right above, I used flexible beading wire and crimp beads to attach a loop and lobster clasp to finish The necklace below, I used silver wire (22 guage) and wire wrapping with short lengths of chain in between the bead segments Typically, I would use odd number of bead segments 3 or 5 with chain in between but it is up to you to create your unique look These beads were purchased at the fabric store on sale for $6 each strand! What a great deal and I have enough of the bigger beads leftover to make earrings The chain is a bigger loop chain, rectangle in shape that was on sale at the craft store It's simple and pretty: black, grey and white! The necklace above is a single strand (doubled to fit into the photo) The beads are on wire (22 guage) and then wire wrapped in segments One bead per segment with wire wrapping on each end and joined them as you go along Then add chain between (each grouping of 5 segments) For interest, add a larger bead in between the smaller bead segments at a ratio of 2 small bead segments with one large bead segment in the middle For a two strand necklace, make one strand using wire wrap and another using beading wire and crimp beads Make it charming!!! - by adding a charm! To make a bracelet using beading wire Start by making two sets of segments (each using a smaller bead) on a piece of 22 guage silver wire IDEA: Use a wire wrap to attach to the clasp so that you are not using a jump ring that the wire can unattach to (because of the gap in the O ring) One segment: wire wrap to a lobster claw (right or left) Other segment: attach a loop (opposing end of bracelet) Leaving the other loop of the segment available to attach the 10mm aventurine beads Now you will have one right and one left segment to attach together as a clasp and loop and two free loops to attach the rest of the bracelet to beads segment In between these two closure segments use wire and a crimp bead to attach the beads, alternating as you wish Ensure that you leave a bit of a gap so that the beads can shape into a circle (if you do not leave a bit of space using wire and crimp beads, the piece will be straight and not curl around your wrist) Alternating with a charm and a seed bead in between each bead With all the beads strung, attach to the open loop using a crimp bead (I use 2 crimps) and use a crimp cover to conceal the crimp bead Add the chain and a charm on the end (attached charm using a piece of wire and wire wrapping it closed) and you have a unique bracelet! These bracelets can be worn several at a time "stacked" make a couple more of various colours to add to the collection The aventurine bead looks like jade and with the elephant charms, it gives it an exotic quality I refer to these types of bracelets: "delicates" IDEA: To hold a bracelet steady while adding charms I made a ''holder'' out of a cardboard form (that I use to make flower wreaths) and attach the chain using pipe cleaners... The chain is held steady and I can use both hands to attach charms to! (photo above shows a chain held together with pipe cleaners) The delicate bracelet above is created using wire wrap between the bead segments I alternated with: flower spacers small 2mm crystals butterfly charms and flowerish caps at each side of the pink beads I also added a length of chain and a charm at the end on one side (opposite to the lobster clasp side) The length is perfect to wear as a necklace or as a bracelet (wrapped around a couple of times) Memory wire is a quick and easy way to make a bracelet Cut three rounds of memory wire (using special memory wire cutters) Make a loop at one end of the wire Start adding beads! You can use the same pattern of beads throughout or make a pattern on each separate level of the bracelet i.e. bead, crystal, bead on the first round, all beads on the second, all crystal on the third... whatever you like! Using memory wire is a great way to make a bracelet with the "odd" or spare beads that you have and make a beautiful piece Small or big beads, a variety of colours... The possibilities are endless! Add a loop to the end of the wire. No clasp is required!! To finish the look, I add a charm in one or both of the loops. To make the bracelet in the photo above... I start with 3 lengths of memory wire all equal in length They are usually cut less than one complete circle (making room for the clasp) so when finished, the necklace will be a bangle (if the lengths are too big, the clasp will sag) TIP: It may be easier when constructing, to put beads on all three memory wire circles at the same time (instead of one circle at a time) start by attaching all 3 memory wire circles to a 3 to 1 finding (optional) If you decide not to add a clasp, the bracelet may be prone to falling off your wrist Be cautious when placing beads that the size of the bead on one row do not push against the other rows I tend to set the beads out first in the order that I want to put them on... it makes it easier Also, use silver tubes in one of the rows to create space When putting the connectors on (square shaped in the photo) you may have to use pliers to get them through the holes Make sure they are lined up in the same hole on each side of the connector (going in and out at the same level) You can use 2 or three connectors... it's up to you Any type will do, and there are lots to choose from, it's your creation! Finish putting the beads and connectors on, make an end loop and attach to the 3 to 1 finding add the lobster (or other) clasp and you are done! So pretty and unique! I bet you can't just make one In each of your favourite colours! In the photo above, three bracelets are shown Add a silver tube to the middle of the circle of memory wire and add a charm The charm will slide on the tube... creating a unique look to the bracelet If you add a couple of charms... they might make a pleasant tinkling sound... so pretty to look at and to hear! Wear a few of them... stack them on your wrist!!! The set above uses memory wire for the bracelet (three circles) - no clasp required! Above bracelets were made using single row memory wire and the other two were made using beading wire (with crimp beads and covers) Stack as many as you like on your wrist and wait for the compliments!!! MAKE IT UNIQUE
and HAVE FUN CREATING!
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