How to Make Handmade Jewelry

Three Methods: NecklaceBraceletEarrings

Buying jewelry, even costume jewelry, can be expensive. Knowing how to make handmade jewelry means more than making nice pieces at lower costs, but also closely matching the style to your personal taste. By learning a few basic techniques, you should be able to construct unique styles of jewelry sets, necklaces, bracelets, earrings and more.

Steps

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    1. Gather all the necessary tools and supplies.
  2. Make Handmade Jewelry Step 2 Version 2.jpg
    2. Begin using your creative abilities! Take your stringing material and add all types of elements to your project!

Method 1 of 3: Necklace

Here is just an example of a design layout:

  1. Arrange beads in the grooves of the beading design board in the following pattern:
     5 pearls, 1 spacer, 1 bicone crystal, 1 spacer. Repeat the pattern until you have reached the marks for an 18-inch design (45.72 cm).
Make Handmade Jewelry Step 3 Version 2.jpg
  1.  Make Handmade Jewelry Step 4 Version 2.jpg
    1. Using wire cutters, cut a 20-inch (50.8 cm) piece of beading wire.
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    2. Thread 1 end of the wire through a crimp tube, then through one side of a clasp. Pass the wire back through the crimp tube, leaving about 1/2 inch and close the tube with the crimping pliers.
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    3. Starting at one end of your design layout, begin stringing the beads from the board onto the wire, threading the wire tail from the crimp through the first 3-4 beads.
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    4. Thread a crimp tube and the other half of the clasp on the wire. Go back through the crimp tube and the last 3-4 beads. Pull the wire until it is close to the edge of the crimp tube; it may be easier to do this with chain-nose pliers. Close the tube with the crimping tool. Trim any loose wire ends with the flush-cutters.

Method 2 of 3: Bracelet

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    1. Arrange beads on the beading board for a 6 to 7-inch bracelet, depending on the size of your wrist (15.24 cm to 17.78 cm).
    Use this pattern: 2 pearls, 2 spacers, 2 pearls, 1 spacer, 1 bicone crystal, 1 spacer. Repeat until you have reached the desired length.
  2. Make Handmade Jewelry Step 9.jpg
    2. Thread the crimp tube and one side of the toggle clasp on a 9-inch piece of beading wire.
    Go back through the tube and close it with the crimping tool.
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    3. String the beads onto the wire.
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    4. Add another crimp tube and the other part of the clasp. Return through the crimp and close it.

Method 3 of 3: Earrings

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    1.On each of 4 headpins, string 1 pearl, 1 spacer, 1 bicone crystal, 1 spacer and 1 pearl.
    On 2 headpins, string 2 pearls, 1 spacer, 1 bicone crystal, 1 spacer and 2 pearls.
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    2.Make an open loop just above the last bead on each headpin.

    • Use the chain-nose pliers to bend the headpin to a 90-degree angle.
    • Grasp the wire at the bend with the round-nose pliers and bend the tail around the jaw of the pliers with your finger.
    • Cut away the extra wire with the flush-cutters.
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    3.Open a jump ring and add 1 short element, 1 long element and 1 short element. Slide the jumpring through the earring finding and close the jumpring. Repeat with the remaining headpin elements and wire or clip-ons.

Video

Sursa: youtube.com

 

 

 

Tips

  • Now that you know the basics of how to make handmade jewelry, you might add the dangles from the earrings to your necklace for an added design piece or make similar but shorter ones to dangle between the beads on your bracelet.
  • You can use the same steps for adding crimps and clasps to any beaded jewelry. Arrange the beads on the board until you have a pattern you like, then add them to the wires. Use 2- or 3-strand spacers to make multi-strand necklaces or bracelets. Use the same patterns designed for bracelets to make an anklet by extending its length to fit your foot.

Things You will Need

  • Beading design board
  • 4mm to 6mm pearl beads
  • 4mm to 6mm bicone crystals
  • Gold or silver spacers
  • Either 19- or 49-strand flexible beading wire
  • Flush-cut wire cutters
  • Crimp tubes
  • Toggle clasps
  • Crimping tool
  • Head pins
  • Chain-nose pliers
  • Round-nose pliers
  • Jump rings
  • Earring wires or clip-ons

Sursa: wikihow.com