Getting Wired

“Southwestern”

For this post, I want to show you how to make necklaces that require wire to connect them rather than jump rings.  But before I get in to that, I’ll show you a few more necklaces like the ones from my previous posts to help you get into the beading spirit.

The “Southwestern” is another necklace you can string yourself but the pendant adds a twist.  This particular pendant has holes at the bottom so you can add an extra touch to it.  I used 2 kinds of beads: main blue ones and blue seed beads.  For the beads at the bottom you use the flathead pins like was shown in the “Blue Drop.” 

“Beautiful Half”

For “Beautiful Half,” you get to use a mix of beads, both pre-strung and ones you must string yourself.  I got 2 sets of pre-strung beads of 2 different colors (light and dark).  I connected them using a jump ring and then strung 2 other beads to the end of each set using more jump rings.  Afterwards I connected them to some chain, which you’ll have to measure and cut into 2 equal lengths. 

“Subtle Purple”

As a final note, “Subtle Purple” is a pre-strung necklace I put together by just adding some jump rings and a clasp, but of course you can also make this kind of necklace by stringing the beads yourself.  I really like this necklace because of its mix of sizes and bead styles.   

“Pink Squared”

“Pink Squared” is also a simple necklace.  Just measure out your chain and then slip on the pendant.   

Now let’s move a step up into wire beading.  I found some lovely beads and pendants at this small shop Calbeads.  But the shape of these beads doesn’t work with jump rings no matter what size you get.  This is when wire and patience come in.  I bought the thinnest bendable wire I could find and inserted into the sides of the bead.  

Bendable wire (gold and silver).  Thread wire (far right).

 For “Reversed Gold,” you use the pliers to bend it upward and have enough left to twist it with the other end.  This can be tricky though because even with thin wire it’s hard to bend and twist it without damaging the bead.  In fact, I broke one of the beads through this twisting and bending, so you must be gentle and take your time.   

“Reversed Gold”

“Silver Drops” uses this same method for attaching the beads.  

“Silver Drops”

One trick to avoid such damage is to use more wire than you might think to.  With the “Three Drops” I used more wire giving it oversized circles but allowing me to keep from damaging the beads.  After that it was easy to connect the pedant to the chain and have a different type of necklace.  

“Three Drops”

 But this isn’t the only type of wire necklace you can make.  Next time, I’ll show you how a type of wire that is used to thread the beads, thus creating the necklaces.  These types of necklaces are all about the beads.

Parts and Pieces (Part Two)

If you read my previous post then you now have a handle on how to make your necklaces using already strung beads.  This time you’re going to learn how to make several necklaces by stringing all the beads yourself.  You will use the same techniques and supplies as you did before but will now be able to control the design and create the necklace you want.

 Finished "Blue Gems."

The first one is “Blue Gems” and also has a matching bracelet (lest you think I make only necklaces).  For this one, I used 3 types of beads: the main gem beads (Michaels) and 2 types of seed beads (Michaels-I think).  You’ll also need a little bit of chain unless you have enough gem and seed beads to make it long enough (which I didn’t, but I like the design I came up with more anyways).  

For the gem beads, you’ll have to use 1 eye hook pin per bead because they’re too big to have enough of the pin leftover for a second use.  The seed beads will be 2 per pin, so you might be able to get double usage out of the pins when you’re stringing the seed beads, but only if you’re careful.  It takes a lot more of the pin to curl it then you might at first think.  Once you have each piece beaded and ready you can connect them and attach the ends to the chain (along with the clasp) and you’re done!

Finished "Blue Gems" bracelet.

As for the bracelet, that came about because I had leftover beads.  Such beads almost always become bracelets for me.  It’s the best way to use them.  I only had one of the original kind of seed bead left  so to add a little something to it I took a different kind of seed bead (also a leftover) and added it to the little bit of chain dangling at the end.

Finished "Shells."

The next 2 necklaces are less about stringing and more about placement.  For “Shells,” you measure out your chain, add clasp and then attach jump rings to all your shell beads (Michaels).  You then pair them up (1 circle with 1 teardrop) and attach both to the same place on the chain.  I recommend getting a chain that has long links like the one pictured.  That makes it easier to place multiple beads on one link.

Finished "Glass Flowers."

 This necklace, “Glass Flowers,” may seem very easy to make because there are only 4 beads but as stated before placement is very important.  You need to measure out the chain and cut out 3 equal lengths (short) and 2 other equal lengths (long).  Getting the distance between beads can take a few tries, but it’s worth it to have it look symmetrical.  

Spacer beads (two sizes).

For this necklace, I also added some spacer beads (Michaels) to the end of the big beads (Michaels).  I had to do that because the holes on the big beads were so large that the eye hook pins slipped right through.  I think they also made the necklace look better.  They are plain so they don’t take away from the main beads but their addition adds a little quiet style to it as well.        

Next time I’ll show a mixture designs but will focus mostly on the more complicated usage of wires for beads that can’t be connected using jump rings. 

Parts and Pieces (Part One)

Left: Pliers.  Right: Cutters.

Now we really get into it.  To make your own necklace “from scratch” you need several tools and supplies.  The most important tools (and the only ones I’ve ever needed to use) are jewelry pliers and wire cutters.  You can get them wherever the sell jewelry or craft stuff.  

Left: Crimp Beads  Middle: Clasp  Right: Flathead and Eye Hook Pins

Depending on the type of necklace you want to make, you might need a lot of parts and pieces or just a few.  The necklaces I’ll show this time need a few things such as jump rings, clasps, chain, eye hook pins and flathead pins. 

Jump Rings: various sizes.

Silver and gold chain.

A closeup showing how to connect all 3 parts.

The first necklace, “All White,” is an easy way to start.  For this one, I got the beads (already strung) at Wal-Mart.  You can find some nice beads there once in a while.  Because these beads were already strung, half the wok was already done, but that also means that you have to cut it apart to adjust the length and add layers as I did.  

The finished "All White".

Measure out how long you would like each side to be and then detach one bead from the other.  To do this, you use your pliers to pull open the eye hook at the end of the bead just enough to slip it off. Then you can attach the ends, four in the case of this necklace, to jump rings.  Open the jump ring like you did for the eye hooks and slide each bead on.  One side will also have the clasp.  After that you can hook the clasp to the other jump ring and you’re done!

Closeup of "Turquoise" showing how to connect to the pendant.

For this necklace, “The Turquoise,” you do much the same things expect that there is the added complication of the pendant.  I also found these beads and the pendant at Wal-Mart so the beads were already strung.  I cut eight equal lengths (four on each side) and then used an eye hook to place in the pendant and connect both sides.  The original eye hook was too long so I had to cut it using the cutters.  *Beware, put a box or something in front of where you’re cutting it, so it’ll hit the box and not go flying across the table.*  You then need to take the cut side and using your pliers, curl it into a circle, to match the opposite end.

Finished "Turquoise".

Once that is done, you can attach jump rings (big ones because you will be putting so many strands of beads on each end) and connect them to the eye hook on the pendant.  Then you can start attaching the strands.  After that, you will do the same thing you did on the previous necklace, attaching all the strands to more jump rings as well as the clasp.  That’s another fairly easy necklace!

Bottom of "Blue Drop" showing flathead pin.

Here’s one last necklace, simpler than the previous one "Blue Drop".  For this one, you need one pendant/bead, some chain, jump rings, a clasp and a flathead pin.  I got the bead at Surf City Beads.  They offer a better variety of beads (more unique ones), but they’re a small shop, so it’s kind of expensive. 

Finished "Blue Drop".

Measure out the length of chain you want and detach it from the rest by using the pliers.  Some types of chain won’t have an already cut place, so you can easily open it.  If that’s the case, then use the cutters to cut the link in the chain and then you can open it and remove it.  Next put the bead onto the flathead pin and either cut the length to make it shorter or just curl the end to make the hook.  You can then directly attach the bead to the chain like I did or you can use a jump ring.  Afterwards just add a jump ring to each end of the chain and then a clasp to one jump ring.  That’s it! 

Part Two will have some more already strung necklaces as well as some that you will have to string yourself, bead by bead.  Have fun!

Simplicity

The Ice Crystal necklace.  

Sometimes the simplest designs are the most beautiful, elegant even.  And they are very easy to make.  They’re the perfect way for a beginner to start making their own jewelry.  Those more complicated designs make look flashy and eye catching, but they can be intimidating to jewelry newbies. 

Or in my case, they look like a fun challenge.  Those challenges though are not always the best way to go. They can be frustrating and make you want to give up or can lead to lots of wasted time and money making some poor quality designs.  I know I have my share of “horror necklaces”.  Hopefully you though will avoid all that and start your jewelry making with a few of my favorite simple designs that I created after learning this very lesson. 

The simplest of all necklaces to make are the ones where you don’t need any tools or supplies.  In fact, the only things you’ll need are the pendant and the chain.  Now this necklace may be too easy, but it’s not all about the ease.  In the end, it’s more about making a beautiful necklace that you can wear instantly!

The chain with clasp and adjustable tail.

For this necklace, which I’m calling the Ice Crystal (so I can keep them all straight), I got one stunning pendant and a chain that already had a clasp.  I got both of these items at Michaels, but you can find the chain at most other bead stores.  Of course you can substitute the pendant for any kind you want.  Sometimes the chain comes in different thicknesses.  I prefer a thinner chain for small or medium pendants. 

The pendant I picked out because it was so lovely.

In general, I think thinner is always better than thicker except when using larger beads.  Then you definitely want to use a thicker chain as I do in the necklace at the far left (last photo).  I found the thicker chain at Jo Ann and the beads at Michaels though Jo Ann has similar ones as well.

Just slip the pendant onto the chain and instant necklace!

These particular beads are popular now but kind of expensive.  It’s best to use just a single packet of them instead of getting enough to fill the whole chain.   
Too many will make the necklace heavy 
and look overdone.              

The Charm Necklaces, as I like to call them.

And there you have it, two different designs for the simple but beautiful necklace.  Next time I’ll teach you how you can make your own necklace “from scratch,” using tools and supplies.