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​Make your own jewelry!

Wire Wrap/Weave Donut Pendant

1/30/2018

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Donut stones can be quite stunning, but they can be equally confusing as to how to wrap them in a complimentary way. I love this wrap because it alternates between an open stone area to a wrapped area and back and forth. I also love how it has space between the frame and the stone making feel like it is floating. It is not a wrap that hides to much of the stone and it has a modern character. So if you want to learn how to wrap a donut stone into a frame like an expert, let's get on with it!
DIY wire wrapped stone donut pendant
Tools
  1. ​Round nose pliers
  2. Flat nose pliers
  3. Flush cutters
  4. 1/4" dowel (for bail)
  5. Dowel for frame  1 1/4"
  6. File
  7. ​Rubber hammer and bench block (opt)

Materials
  1. 30mm Donut
  2. 16 gauge wire 8 ½”
  3. 24 gauge wire 4 ft
Directions
  1. Wrap 18 gauge wire around the dowel (center it as best as you can)
  2. Bend wires with flat nose pliers up in the center so that they lay next to one another and out away from the dowel in a 90 degree angle
  3. Two inches in on the thinner wire, wrap it around and upward over the 18 gauge wires where they meet at the top of the circle until the two inches is all gone
  4. Flatten the end with the flat nose pliers to tuck it in
  5. Do not cut the long wire!
  1. Take off the dowel and hammer the circle only to harden the frame, do not hammer the thin wire wrap.
  2. Now wrap the thinner wire around the circle frame on one side 5 times
  3. Begin the weave by wrapping the wire in between the stone and the frame then around the stone and back in between the frame and the stone. This creates a little space between the frame and the stone
  4. Now wrap the frame five times before wrapping around the stone again.
  1. Repeat the wrap of frame and stone until you cover ¼ of the frame and stone
  2. End this section by wrapping the frame five times
  3. Cut and flatten the end to the inside of the pendant
  1. Now repeat wrap/weave that you did before starting at the center bottom of the frame heading up.
  2. Begin with the five wraps around the frame then work your way up and end with five wraps
  3. Trim and tuck the end into the inside of the pendant
  1. Place the ¼” dowel behind the 18 gauge tails just above the thin wire wrap
  2. Wrap the tails over the dowel and down the back of the pendant
  3. Trim and file the tails just shorter than the stone hole.
  4. Make tiny loops on the tails up wards and away from the stone

Be sure to go see some of my original work in my store!

Picture
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Easy Egyptian Coil Bracelet

5/9/2017

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Ever wonder how they make those awesome spiral /coil Egyptian bracelets? Well so did I. I went searching and I found only two sets of directions. Both were terrific, but as I was working, I wondered if there was an easier way to assemble them. I was having trouble getting the links hooked together after I made them. So I came up with a way that works better and easier for me, and maybe it will be better for you too. 
Picture
Tools
  1. Round nose pliers
  2. Flat nose pliers
  3. Wire cutters
  4. File (emery board)
  5. ¼” Dowel
  6. Thin Sharpie
  7. Ruler
Materials
18-20 gauge wire 10 feet (I used 18 gauge)

Directions
  1. Cut one piece of wire 8” long
  2. Cut 18 pieces of wire 6” long
  3. File all the wire ends
Clasp Hook

  1. Hold ends together and fold in half
  2. Using flat nose pliers bring the tip closers to begin hook
  3. Gently bend the very tip up just a bit
  1. Measure from the tip ⅜” then using round nose pliers bend it around the pliers so little tip is still pointing up
  2. Move round nose pliers to ⅛” below where the tip is and bend back in the opposite direction (you should have something that resembles a S shape)
  3. Spread tail wires a little apart at the tips
  1. Make a small loop on each tip from inside to outside
  2. Continue loops till you get spiral coils that should end Just below the hook top
Links
  1. Fold 17 of the 6” pieces in half
  2. Use flat nose wires to bring them slightly closer but not closed
  3. Mark these wires ¾” from the fold tip in with a thin sharpie
  4. (Optional) mark ⅜” between the tip and the mark
  1. Feed one wire onto the hook loop under the spirals
  2. Make a small loop on both ends
  3. Coil each end until the spiral meets your ¾” mark
  1. Bend the coils up over your round nose pliers towards the last link
  2. Continue steps 5-8 for the rest of your wires, or until your bracelet is one link short of fitting.
Clasp Eye
  1. Mark the center of the last wire (3”)
  2. Loosely fold the last wire into a large open teardrop
  3. Place on tip into the last link loop and then the other tip on the other side of the loop(they should cross each other inside the loop)
  4. Place your ¼” dowel into the large loop so that your half way mark is centered on it.
  5. Pull both wire ends until they are tight around the dowel and the center mark is centered
  1. Remove dowel
  2. Make small loops on each end of the wires
  3. Coil until they come over and just barely under the eye loop top
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All Wire Spiral Earrings

5/2/2017

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Picture
 
    Love spirals? Well so do I! I just can't get enough of these fun designs. They are everywhere in nature and they can be mesmerizing to look at. So I designed these super easy and fun earrings that you can make in a very short period of time.
  
​   The best part is the design is simple to master and you can add all sorts of elements to change it up a bit. For instance add extra small beads t the top of every spiral for some color, or if you just can't stop yourself from making spirals add even more drops for more drama. Whatever you do have fun with it!



Tools
  1. Round nose pliers
  2. Flat nose pliers
  3. Wire cutters
  4. File (emery board)
  5. Pen with cap (bic style round)
  6. Rubber Hammer and bench block
  7. Sharpie

​Materials
  1. 18-20 gauge wire 49-50”
  2. 4" of the 20 gauge is for ear wires
​

Directions

Make sure to check out my store too!

Picture
Fish hook ear wires
  1. Cut one wire 4” long
  2. Small loop with round nose pliers on both ends
  3. Slide on loop under pen top with loop opening away from pen
  4. Wrap wire about ¾ of the way around pen​
​
  1. Now repaet step four in last section on the other side of the wire
  2. Find center between the larger loop ends and cut making two ear wires
  3. Cut shorter stems if you wish
  4. Gently file ends with emery board
  5. Using Chain nose pliers make a small bend on ends facing away from earring loops (if you wish) to a 20 degree angle with flat nose pliers
  6. Hammer gently to strengthen 
  1. Cut - 2 wires 10” long, 4 wires 4” long, 2 wires 4 ½” long (for a total of 20 pieces)
  2. File the ends of all the wires
  3. Make a small loop on one end of every wire

4” and 10” wires
  1. Begin to make spiral using the flat nose pliers to help hold the loop and keep the spirals parallel, then slowly in small increments make the wire spiral around.
  2. When you get enough of a spiral you can drop the flat nose pliers and use your fingers.
  3. Spiral until only ¼” is left on the wires
  1. On the smallest spirals only, make a small loop going from the front of the spiral to the back
  2. Bend this spiral up to make the loop centered to the spiral center
  3. Set aside the completed and uncompleted spirals
​4 ½” wires
  1. Mark the end with no loop with a sharpie at ¾” from the end
  2. Repeat steps one and two in the previous section until the spiral reaches the sharpie mark.
  3. At the mark bend the wires up to center them
  4. Make a small loop going from the front of the spiral to the back ( hold the wire stem just under your tool to keep the stem from warping while making the loop)
Assembly
  1. Gently hammer all the spirals to make them sturdy, be careful to not hammer the small loops.
  2. Feed onto the large spiral one small one medium and one small spiral drop
  3. Make a small loop on the large spiral going in the opposite direction of the spiral to capture these drops and make a place to hang on the earwires.
  4. Open the earwire and place the large spiral on, then close the earwire and you are done!
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Three Bead drop Earrings

4/25/2017

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DIY three pearl drop earrings

  
​   If you want to learn how to make your own earrings, here is a super easy style to make. They have swing and sass and can be made with any beads you like. You don't need a lot of tools and they will take such little time to master. Let's get started!
​
Tools
  1. Round nose pliers
  2. Chain/Flat nose pliers
  3. Cutters
  4. ⅝” Dowel (you can use the top of your favorite nail polish)
  5. Emery board

    Materials
  1. 20 gauge wire 11”
  2. Two of each - 4mm beads, 6mm beads, 8mm beads

Check out my store too!

Wire wrapped gemstone pendant
Directions
Hoop earwire
  1. Cut two 20 gauge wires 2 ¼” long and file ends
  2. Make an open loop one one end only of each wire
  3. Shape around the ⅝” dowel with loop facing out
  4. Hammer well to strengthen and flatten out the hoop
  5. Reshape on the dowel so that opening is not to big and the earrings will stay on your ears
​Beaded drops
  1. Cut two wires each - ¾”, ⅞”, 1”
  2. File ends of each wire
  3. Make a loop with a back bend on one end of each wire
  4. Place 4mm beads onto smallest wires, 6mm beads onto middle size wires, 8mm beads onto longest wires
  5. Make a loop going in the opposite direction of the first loop (ie, front to back and side to side) on each wire to capture the beads
  6. Open sideways one end loop on each bead drop
  7. Now connect to each drop and close loop ,going largest to smallest then to the earwire
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Linked Necklace with Briolette Pendant

3/14/2017

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   Making a necklace from start to finish may seem very daunting. But, I am going to show you how to make all the components you need to complete a beautiful necklace that is simple to create and yet elegant. I am adding a bit of chain into my design, but you can make the entire necklace by just repeating the links until you get the desired length you want. I am also making the center briolette for this design, but again you can use any pendant design you wish to finish the look. Let's get started!
​
DIY briolette necklace
Tools
  1. Flat nose pliers
  2. Round nose pliers
  3. Flush cutters
  4. File (emery board)
  5. ¼” dowel

Materials
  1. 20 gauge wire 8” or more
  2. 18 gauge wire 10 1/2" (add 1 ⅛” per additional small link)
  3. 16 gauge wire 7 ½” (add 2 ⅛” per additional large link)
  4. Optional Chain with large enough for links 12-14”​

Small S Links

Directions
  1. Cut 6 pieces of 18 gauge wire 1" long and file ends
  2. Make a loop about half way down on the round nose pliers
  3. Flip over and repeat loop on opposite side to make an S
  4. Repeat on all wires 

Large Spiral S Links

  1. Cut two pieces of 18 gauge wire 2 1/8" long and file ends
  2. Make a small loop on both ends, each going in the opposite direction
  3. Round one end to make a larger loop by pulling the smaller one around in a circle
  4. Repeat on other end 
  5. Repeat for other wire

Center U Link 

  1. Cut one piece of 18 gauge wire 3 1/4" and file ends
  2. Make a small loop on both ends going in the same direction
  3. Pull each small loop in and around toward the center to create a spiral
  1. Hold the wire in the center between the two spirals on your round nose pliers about half way down on the tool (spiral should be spiraling inward and on top)
  2. Bend each spiral side down to create a U shape (adjust as needed to make it as centered as possible)

Hook and Eye Clasp

Hook
  1. Cut one piece of 18 gauge 1 1/2" long and file ends
  2. Make a loop on one end and back bend (center it)
  3. Make a small loop on the other end going in the same direction as the other loop
  4. Create a spiral on the small loop end like in the spiral links
Eye
  1. Cut one piece of 18 gauge wire 2 1/2" long and file ends
  2. Make a loop on one end and back bend it (center it)
  3. Wrap wire tail around the 1/4" dowel leaving about 1/4" between the small loop and the bottom of the dowel
  4. Leave the wire on the dowel and wrap the tail around under the dowel till you reach the smaller loop (you should have two-three wraps)
  5. Trim excess tail and file /flatten it to hide the end

Briolette Pendant ( optional, you may use your own pendant style)

  1. Cut length of wire out of 20-22 gauge wire
  2. Slide briolette onto wire in the center
  3. Bring wire ends up and together, pinching them tight to the briolette top
  1. Wrap both wires front to back over your round nose pliers to create a loop
  2. Leave the wires wrapped around the pliers and begin wrapping under the tool and the loops
  3. Spiral down towards the briolette and cover it if you wish
  4. To finish the wires you can do one of three things
             A. Wrap them back up to the top and trim
             B. Tuck them underneath the other wires to hide the ends
             C. Trim and make a tiny loop end on each wire and lay it on the bead front

Pre-Assembly
  1. If you are planning to make it all wire links please make enough of the small S links and large spiral S links to fit you.
  2. First we must check all wires for any burs or sharp spots and file them
  3. Now gently hammer all the components to make them strong and smooth and flat (this insures the necklace lays properly)
  4. Lay out all the components in the order they will go
​

Assembly

  1. Gently Open one side of the U shaped center link
  2. Slide pendant onto the link center and close the open side back up
  3. Open one side of two small S links 
  4. Put links onto each side of the center U link and re close them
  1. Open the small S links on the other end and place large spiral  links onto them
  2. Close the small S links
  3. Open and attach the next set of small S links to the other side of the large spiral links
  4. A. If you are not using chain keep alternating between the small S link and the large spiral link until you get the length you desire                                                                                                           B. If using the chain attach it to the last small S link on both sides
  5. Attach the hook and eye to a small S link
  6. Now attach the hook and eye small S links to the ends of  last large spiral link or the chain
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Linked Necklace with Briolette Pendant

3/14/2017

0 Comments

 
   Making a necklace from start to finish may seem very daunting. But, I am going to show you how to make all the components you need to complete a beautiful necklace that is simple to create and yet elegant. I am adding a bit of chain into my design, but you can make the entire necklace by just repeating the links until you get the desired length you want. I am also making the center briolette for this design, but again you can use any pendant design you wish to finish the look. Let's get started!
​
Picture
ools
  1. Flat nose pliers
  2. Round nose pliers
  3. Flush cutters
  4. File (emery board)
  5. ¼” dowel

Materials
  1. 20 gauge wire 8” or more
  2. 18 gauge wire 10 1/2" (add 1 ⅛” per additional small link)
  3. 16 gauge wire 7 ½” (add 2 ⅛” per additional large link)
  4. Optional Chain with large enough for links 12-14”​

Small S Links

Directions
  1. Cut 6 pieces of 18 gauge wire 1" long and file ends
  2. Make a loop about half way down on the round nose pliers
  3. Flip over and repeat loop on opposite side to make an S
  4. Repeat on all wires 

Large Spiral S Links

  1. Cut two pieces of 18 gauge wire 2 1/8" long and file ends
  2. Make a small loop on both ends, each going in the opposite direction
  3. Round one end to make a larger loop by pulling the smaller one around in a circle
  4. Repeat on other end 
  5. Repeat for other wire

Center U Link 

  1. Cut one piece of 18 gauge wire 3 1/4" and file ends
  2. Make a small loop on both ends going in the same direction
  3. Pull each small loop in and around toward the center to create a spiral
  1. Hold the wire in the center between the two spirals on your round nose pliers about half way down on the tool (spiral should be spiraling inward and on top)
  2. Bend each spiral side down to create a U shape (adjust as needed to make it as centered as possible)

Hook and Eye Clasp

Hook
  1. Cut one piece of 18 gauge 1 1/2" long and file ends
  2. Make a loop on one end and back bend (center it)
  3. Make a small loop on the other end going in the same direction as the other loop
  4. Create a spiral on the small loop end like in the spiral links
Eye
  1. Cut one piece of 18 gauge wire 2 1/2" long and file ends
  2. Make a loop on one end and back bend it (center it)
  3. Wrap wire tail around the 1/4" dowel leaving about 1/4" between the small loop and the bottom of the dowel
  4. Leave the wire on the dowel and wrap the tail around under the dowel till you reach the smaller loop (you should have two-three wraps)
  5. Trim excess tail and file /flatten it to hide the end

Briolette Pendant ( optional, you may use your own pendant style)

  1. Cut length of wire out of 20-22 gauge wire
  2. Slide briolette onto wire in the center
  3. Bring wire ends up and together, pinching them tight to the briolette top
  1. Wrap both wires front to back over your round nose pliers to create a loop
  2. Leave the wires wrapped around the pliers and begin wrapping under the tool and the loops
  3. Spiral down towards the briolette and cover it if you wish
  4. To finish the wires you can do one of three things
             A. Wrap them back up to the top and trim
             B. Tuck them underneath the other wires to hide the ends
             C. Trim and make a tiny loop end on each wire and lay it on the bead front

Pre-Assembly
  1. If you are planning to make it all wire links please make enough of the small S links and large spiral S links to fit you.
  2. First we must check all wires for any burs or sharp spots and file them
  3. Now gently hammer all the components to make them strong and smooth and flat (this insures the necklace lays properly)
  4. Lay out all the components in the order they will go
​

Assembly

  1. Gently Open one side of the U shaped center link
  2. Slide pendant onto the link center and close the open side back up
  3. Open one side of two small S links 
  4. Put links onto each side of the center U link and re close them
  1. Open the small S links on the other end and place large spiral  links onto them
  2. Close the small S links
  3. Open and attach the next set of small S links to the other side of the large spiral links
  4. A. If you are not using chain keep alternating between the small S link and the large spiral link until you get the length you desire                                                                                                           B. If using the chain attach it to the last small S link on both sides
  5. Attach the hook and eye to a small S link
  6. Now attach the hook and eye small S links to the ends of  last large spiral link or the chain
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Wire wrap a stone into a frame pendant

2/28/2017

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       I am lucky enough to live on Cape Cod so of course I love to collect beach stones and shells. I can't wait to make them into pendants and it can be a challenge to wrap them without covering to much of their beauty. I also love my pendants to be reversible if possible so not to waste any of the stones character. Many of my students also wanted to learn a style of wrap that was not to complicated and so I created this style of wrap, which I adapted from other designs I had seen by other artist. You can use this style with flatter beads and other objects as well. So let's get started!
DIY wire wrap pendant
Tools
  1. Flat nose pliers
  2. Round nose pliers
  3. Flush cutters
  4. File (emery board)
  5. ¼” -⅜” dowel

Materials
  1. 16 Gauge wire 
  2. 24-26 gauge wire 3 1/2-4 ft 
  3. Stone, shell, found object flattish or large flattish bead
First we must figure out the frame wire length (16 gauge)
  1. Measuring around the outside of the stone/shell (I roll the stone down the length of a ruler)
  2. Take this number round it up to the next whole number and add 5"
  3. Cut a 16 gauge wire the length you formulated in steps one and two
  4. File ends
  1. Starting in the center of wire shape it around the outside of the stone (it is ok if it is a little larger and the corners do not have to super sharp)
  2. Cross the wire tails at the top
  3. Using flat nose pliers bend the tails where they meet to make them parallel to each other and going up
  4. Cut the 24-26 gauge wire about 2 1/2 “
  5. Wrap this small wire around the two frame wires to secure them to each other
  6. Hammer the frame to make it strong (avoid the thin wrap)
  1. Cut 24--26 gauge wire 3- 4 ft long (depending on size of stone frame size)
  2. Make a small U shape at the center of this wire
  3. Place U bend around the center ish place of the bottom frame and pinch it tight
  4. Begin wrapping on wire up the frame till it makes about ¼” of a wrap
  5. Repeat on the other side of the frame with the other wire
  6. Check to see if this is wide enough on your stone base ( if not continue to wrap wires up on both sides till it still captures the base but looks right)
  7. Each wire will end up on different sides of the frame
  1. Find the next place to wrap the wire on the frame by wrapping it over the stone and across the front of the stone. The placement of the wrap should capture the stone and leave a small space between it and the last wrap (about ¼”, less if a small stone)
  2. Drop stone and wrap the wire up the frame from this spot for about ⅛” or five wraps, making sure to leave the front space for the stone profile (otherwise your stone will not fit when you are done)
  3. If your wraps are too far apart squeeze them together with your flat nose pliers
  4. Your front wire is now in the back
  5. Repeat steps 18-20 with the other wire on the back of the stone, crossing over to the other side
  6. Your back wire is now in front
  1. Continue to repeat steps 18-22 till you reach the about ¼” from the top of the frame, remember to place stone into the work to check fit as you go, eventually you will be able to leave the stone in place as you wrap (usually after two cross wraps)
  2. If you like the look and wish to stop here with the cross wrapping just keep wrapping the thin wire around the frame till you reach the very top
  3. If you want to make more cross wraps going back down the stone to make X’s just go down with each wire underneath the previous wraps
  4. When you reach the last bottom wrap area keep wrapping until you meet up with the center wrapping
  5. Trim the thin wire close and tuck the wire inward towards the stone
  1. Now determine which side of the stone is going to be the front
  2. At the top of the thin wire wrap of the two tails make a bend with you flat nose plier towards the front
  3. Place your dowel right at the top of this bend
  4. Wrap the tails over and around the dowel and forward to one side of the pendant
  5. Leave the dowel in the loop and wrap the wires under and around the base till they are again in front
  6. You may wrap them to the back and trim and tuck the end on them if you are want a clean look or…. Lay them over the front of the stone and make a small loop at the end for a slightly more fancy look.(top wire should be slightly shorter than the bottom one)
Do not fret if you decide you back is prettier than your front because the pendant is truly reversible!
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Tree Of Life Pendant W/Stone

2/14/2017

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Picture
Tools
  1. ​Round nose pliers
  2. Flat nose pliers
  3. Flush cutters
  4. 1/4" dowel (for bail)
  5. Dowel for frame  1 3/8"
  6. File
  7. ​Rubber hammer and bench block (opt)

Materials
  1. 16 gauge wire md 8" 
  2. 24 gauge wire 44"
  3. 1  1/4" flat bead
Directions
  1. File one end of 16 gauge wire
  2. Go in from end about 1 1/2"  and wrap the wire around the 1/4" dowel
  3. Wrap short tail around long tail until gone to make bail
  4. ​About 1/8" under the bail make a sharp bend
  1. beginning at the sharp bend bottom wrap the wire around the 1 3/8" dowel
  2. Now wrap the tail around under the bail till it meets the other wrap.
  3. Trim, file and flatten smooth
  4. Hammer the hoop (not the bail) to strengthen the frame (optional, but suggested)
  1. Cut five 8" wires from the 24 gauge
  2. Cut one wire 4" long from 24 gauge
  3. Wrap one end of the 4" wire around the frame four times
  4. Now fold all the other wires in half and wrap three on one side of the shorter one and two on the other side
  1. Grab all the wires and twist them three half turns to make the trunk
  2. Fan them out 
  3. Pull towards the back the center most wire  away from the others (we will use this later to attach the back bead)
  4. Twist the first two together to make a stem and two branches
  5. Do this with all the remaining wires to make five stems and ten branches
  1. Start on one side and wrap the wire around the frame up towards the bail.  
  2. Use flat nose pliers to make sure the end is smooth and flat
  3. continue this wrapping process with the next four wires 
  4. When you get to the other side of the bail skip the bead wire, but leave room for it to be wrapped ( about 1/8")
  5. Now begin wrapping the other side starting with the next top most wire and wrapping it up towards the bail
  6. For more branch details carefully use the tips of your round nose pliers to create bends 
  1. Place bead onto remaining wire
  2. Feed the wire under the frame to the front of the frame
  3. Wrap the wire from the bail (to center the bead) outward in the remaining space(5 wraps at least to secure it well, gently move the others out to get more space if needed)
  4. Trim excess and flatten with flat nose pliers
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Teardrop Link Beaded Bracelet

2/7/2017

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This DIY bracelet is fun and simple to create. It will open you to a whole new world of link making. Which such a great tool in so many ways. Turn it into a chandelier earring, a necklace, or a chain to hang your pendants from. Create smaller or larger links, with or without the beads and play with different wire colors. The possibilities are endless, so let's get started!
Picture
Tools
  1. Round nose pliers
  2. Chain nose pliers
  3. Cutters
  4. Emery board
  5. 3/8" Dowel
Materials
  1. 18 Gauge wire 26” (use a bit extra for mistakes)
  2. 22 5-6mm  beads (make sure hole is large enough for wire)
  1. Cut 10 pieces of wire 2 ¼” long File ends
  2. Shape each wire in a U shape around the 3/8" dowel
  3. Slide a single bead onto each wire
  4. Make a loop on the side with the bead only on each wire
  1. On one wire only place a second bead
  2. Make a loop on the other side of this wire only (This is the beginning ,or the eye clasp, of the bracelet)
  3. Bend the loops outward and then pinch them together with your flat nose pliers to make loops sit flat against each other.
  1. Get the next wire and feed it through the first links loops
  2. Place a bead on the open side
  3. Make a loop to capture the bead onto this link
  4. Bend the loops outward and then pinch them together with your flat nose pliers to make loops sit flat against each other.
  5. Repeat these steps until all the wires are linked to one another 
  1. Shape around the 3/8” dowel in a U shape
  2. Now pinch the wires together on the dowel to make a hoop
  3. Put a bead onto the wire
  4. Feed it through the last link
  5. Put on last bead
  1. Wrap one tail around the other two times, where the two wires bend upward
  2. Trim, file and flatten the wrapping tail
  3. Make a small loop on the remaining tail in the opposite direction of all the others( towards the front of the bracelet)
  4. Using round nose pliers bend the wire over and towards the inside of the bracelet to make a hook.
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Oval Hoop Chandelier Earrings

1/31/2017

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I love hoop earrings! They never go out of style and you can make them in different sizes and shapes as well as hang them into a long chandelier that is stunning. Learning to make hoop earrings is so simple and is absolutely necessary to any wire jewelry artist as far as I am concerned. It open up a huge world of possibilities in your work. These chandeliers are easy to make and so much fun to wear, so let's get started!
DIY chandelier earrings
Tools
  1. Round nose pliers
  2. Chain nose pliers
  3. Cutters
  4. Emery board
  5. Pen w/cap
  6. ⅝” Dowel

Materials
  1. 18-16 gauge wire 6”
  2. 20 gauge wire 13”
  3. 8  2-4mm beads
  4. 2  6mm beads (can use 2-4mm beads if you wish)
 Use Hoop Frames
  1. Cut two pieces 2 3/4” pieces of 18 or 16 gauge wire and smooth ends (Use 2 7/8"- 3" of wire for round hoops or longer teardrops) Also the thicker the wire gauge the longer the wire should be.
  2. ​Mark the center of the wire
  3. Wrap each  wire around the ⅝” dowel to create a teardrop shape (if you are doing a circle hoop wrap the wire around and where they meet create a sharp right angle on both away from the dowel)
  4. Create a small open loop on one side only of each hoop
  5. Hammer the  large hoop now if you wish to for added strength. Only hammer the large hoop not the small one.
Drops
  1. Cut 2 pcs of 20 gauge wire 1 3/8” long file ends (center beads)
  2. Cut 4 pcs of 20 gauge wire 1 1/8” long file ends (outside center)
  3. Cut 4 pcs of 20 gauge wire 1” long file ends (complete outside)
  4. Make a very small centered open loop on one end only on all 10 pieces of wire
  1. Slide on the beads for each wire (remember the longest ones are the center beads, then the medium ones on either side of the center and the shortest on the outside of those one)
  2. Make a centered open loop above the beads on each wire to secure the bead (this is the top of the drop)
Create a pair of forward facing fishhook earwires using the directions in this link.
Assembly
  1. Place one short, medium then long, medium and bead drop onto each hoop
  2. Create closed loop on other side of the hoops
  3. Pinch loops together till they meet at the top
  4. Make a bend outward just under the loops 

  1. With Flat nose pliers pinch the two hoop loops together (Feel free to use the dowel again  to make the loops flush and re-shape the hoops)
  2. Make any needed adjustments so the loops lay flat and parallel to each other
  3. Now open the earwire and place on the earring, close up loop
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Wrapping A Briolette, Two Ways

1/24/2017

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   So you love briolette beads, but you have no idea how to wrap them? Well It is super easy and you can make it look clean and professional in no time at all! I am here to show you how to do it so you can get all those gorgeous beads and stones without worrying how to use them. Let's get started!

Double Loop Bail

Single Loop Bail

            
     Tools                                                        Materials
  1. Round nose pliers                                      1.  20-24 gauge wire
  2. Chain nose pliers                                        2.  Briolette of choice
  3. Cutters
  4. Emery board
​
Double loop bail
  1. Cut length of wire out of 20-22 gauge wire (I used 8" for this medieum sized stone)
  2. Slide briolette onto wire in the center
  3. Bring wire ends up and together, pinching them tight to the briolette top
  1. Wrap both wires front to back over your round nose pliers to create a loop
  2. Leave the wires wrapped around the pliers and begin wrapping under the tool and the loops
  3. Spiral down towards the briolette and cover it if you wish
  4. To finish the wires you can do one of three things
             A. Wrap them back up to the top and trim
             B. Tuck them underneath the other wires in the back, to hide the ends
             C. Trim and make a tiny loop end on each wire and lay it on the bead front (show in photo)
​


Single Loop Bail

  1. Cut length of wire out of 20-24 (I used 2 1/2" for this small crystal)
  2. Place round nose pliers 1 ” from one end and make a loop
  3. Wrap the short tail under the loop to create a close loop making sure it is nice and tucked (alternately you can make an open loop instead at the very end instead of going in 1 ”, but this style is best with the 20-22 gauge)
  1. Create a sharp bend in the wire with your flat nose pliers the make the bail loop at least ⅛-¼”” above the bead top ( I measure the bead hole to the top and add the extra so I know where to make the bend)
  2. Slide on the bead
  3. Make another sharp bend upward towards the bail with the remaining tail
  4. Wrap the remaining wire up towards the bail
  5. Trim when you reach the other wrapped wire or the bottom of the top loop< file and/or flatten the end




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Plain Hoop Earrings -Two Styles

10/11/2016

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DIY hoop earrings
Tools
  1. Side Cutters
  2. Round nose Pliers
  3. Chain nose Pliers
  4. Nail file
  5. 1" dowel (small circle hoops)
  6. 1 ⅜” dowel (medium circle hoops)
  7. ⅝” dowel (small teardrop hoops)
  8. Ruler
  9. A bic pen with a top
Materials
  1. 20 gauge round wire
  2. 18-16 gauge round wire
​Round hoops
  1. Cut two pieces of the thicker gauge wire 4 1/2" for small hoops or 5 ½” long for medium hoops, and file ends
  2. Make a small loop on one end of each wire using the round nose pliers
  3. Gently shape each one around the 1 ⅜” dowel as you feed the the straight end through the small loop (alternatively, do not feed through the hole but instead wrap the wire tail around under the small loop then cut any excess tail)
  4. Hold the wire tightly around the dowel and then make a sharp bend right where the wire comes through the loop to make it tight
  5. Trim tail to just to ½” and refile the end
  6. Make a larger loop on this end with the round nose pliers to hold it in place
  7. bend the wire of the loop up with the chain nose pliers to create a place to hang the earwire onto the frame
  8. You may gently hammer the outside of the wire to make it looser and come off the dowel easily
  9. Repeat procedure with other wire to create a set of frames.
  10. If you need to make the frame more round and uniform please shape it around the Dowel.
  11. Now take frames and gently hammer them to strengthen them up a bit
Simple Fish hook earwires
  1. Cut one 20 gauge round wire 4” long
  2. Make small loop with round nose pliers on both ends
  3. Slide on loop under pen top with loop opening away from pen
  4. Wrap wire about ¾ of the way around pen
  5. Now do the same to the other side
  6. Find center between the larger loop ends and cut making two earwires
  7. Cut shorter stems if you wish (no shorter than 7/8” from top of hook to tail end)
  8. Gently file ends with emery board
  9. Using Chain nose pliers make a small bend on ends facing away from earring loops( if you wish) to a 20 degree angle with flat nose pliers
  10. Lightly hammer for added strength if you wish

​
Teardrop hoops
  1. Cut two pieces of the thicker gauge wire 3” long and file ends
  2. Make a small loop on each end of the wire going in the same direction (you may backbend them if you wish)
  3. Place ⅝” dowel in the center of the wire and curve it around the dowel till the loops meet
  4. Make a slight bend in the loops where they meet to make them lay parallel to one another
  5. Place the pen into the bottom center of the loop and reshape the bottom so the top loops actually lay together
Fish hook earwires with forward facing loops
​
  1. Cut 4 3/4" of 20 gauge round wire and file both ends
  2. Make a large  loop with round nose pliers on both ends
  3. Slide on loop under pen top lying flat on the pen
  4. Wrap wire about ¾ of the way around pen
  5. Now do the same to the other side
  6. Create a bend just under the loop away from the larger loop on both ends then re-adjust over the pen to set in the earwire arch)
  7. Find center between the larger loop ends and cut making two ear wires
  8. Cut shorter stems if you wish (no shorter than ¼” from loop end bottom to tail end)
  9. Gently file ends with emery board
  10. Using Chain nose pliers make a small bend on ends facing away from earring loops (if you wish) to a 20 degree angle with flat nose pliers
  11. You may gently hammer the top curve of the earwire for added strength

​
You can make these hoops in any size you want to and the round can become teardrop as well as the teardrop become round, just change up the dowels and alter the wire length for whatever you want to create. 

Also remember to check out my store!

Sterling silver cuff bracelet
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Capturing an undrilled bead, Spiral style

10/4/2016

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Picture

Tools
  1. Round nose pliers
  2. Flat nose or chain nose pliers
  3. Cutters
  4. File
  5. Sharpy
  6. Hammer and block (for hardening)

Materials
  1. 10 - 12mm round beads
  2. 9” 18g wire per bead
Directions
  1. Cut one piece wire 9” long (per bead)
  2. File all ends
  3. Mark center of each wire with sharpy
  4. Make small loop on the ends of the wires going in opposite directions
  5. Spiral around continuously till you reach the center mark on one side
  1. Make same spiral on the opposite end going in the opposite direction to create a very fancy S
  2. Gently hammer the S piece to slightly harden it
  3. Pull up the center loop on one side to make connector *(if you are doing a chain of these beads, pull up the loop on the opposite side as well)
  1. Fold each S in half making a v shape
  2. Gently grab the center of one spiral and pull outward to create a cup
  3. Repeat on other side of spiral
  4. Place bead inside and use fingers to close and shape around the bead
  5. It is now ready to hang
  For earrings make an earwire of your choice out of 20g round wire.I have many choices in my Projects section to choose. 
    This technique can be used for any shape bead, even long styles, just recalculate the length of wire needed and how big a spiral you need. For a long and yet thinner beads you can spiral the wire around a dowel after making the first loop (it will look like a spring).  


Also remember to go check out all my handmade jewelry in my on line store.

Picture
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Three Easy Earwire Styles

9/27/2016

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DIY drop beaded earrings
Tools
  1. Round nose pliers
  2. Flat nose or chain nose pliers
  3. ⅝” Dowel
  4. ​Bic or capped pen
  5. Cutters
  6. File
  7. Hammer and block (for hardening)

Materials
  1. 20 Gauge round wire (I prefer dead soft but you can use half hard)
Fish Hook Earwires-​​
  1. Cut a piece of 4" wire
  2. Make small loop with round nose pliers on both ends
  3. Slide on loop under pen top with loop opening away from pen
  4. Wrap wire about ¾ of the way around pen
  5. Now do the same to the other side
  6. Find center between the larger loop ends and cut making two earwires
  7. Cut shorter stems if you wish (no shorter than 7/8” from top of hook to tail end)
  8. Gently file ends with emery board
  9. Using Chain nose pliers make a small bend on ends facing away from earring loops( if you wish) to a 20 degree angle with flat nose pliers​
  10. Gently hammer the earwires to strengthen them
Long Drop Earwires​
  1. Cut two pieces of wire 2 ¼” long and file both ends
  2. With round nose pliers grab the wire at 7/8"- 1" from one end and bend it into a v shape (repeat with other wire)
  3. Using flat nose pliers squeeze the wire at the bend to slightly sharpen it.
  4. Open the wire and wrap it around the ⅝” dowel to create a curve shape
  5. Make a small loop on the longer tail to hang your drop from
  6. Gently hammer the earwires to strengthen them
Square/Diamond Earwires
​
  1. Cut two wires 2” long and file both ends
  2. Grab both wires with your flat nose pliers at ¼” away from one end so that tools outer edge is on the ¼” line
  3. Make a sharp 90 degree bend
  4. Measure ½”from bend and grab with flat nose pliers with the tool outer edge on the ½” line
  5. Make a 90 degree bend in the same direction as before
  6. Repeat step 4 and 5 to make last bend
  7. Using round nose plier make a small loop on the very last bit of wire in towards the center of your square/diamond
  8. Hammer earwires gently to strengthen them.
All the earwires can be made larger just up the size of each wire and scale the design as needed.

*For bead drops to hang from your new earwires go to Three Easy Bead Drop Styles in the projects section.

Check out my own designs in my store.

Copper swing earrings
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Three Easy Bead Drop Styles

9/27/2016

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Picture


​Tools
  1. Round nose pliers
  2. Flat nose or chain nose pliers
  3. Cutters
  4. File
Materials
  1. 20 gauge round wire
  2. Beads (no longer than ½” per drop)
Basic Bead Style
  1. Cut two pieces of wire 1 1/4" long
  2. Make a small loop  with a back bend on one end of each wire
  3. Place on bead
  4. Make a small loop with a back bend on the end (if the bead has too much room between it and the loop, trim just a hair off and remake the loop)
Closed Loop Drop With Bottom Loop
  1. Cut two pieces of wire 2 ½” long
  2. Make a small loop with a back bend on one end of each wire
  3. Place beads onto the wires
  4. Hold wire above beads with round nose pliers about ¼” away from the beads
  5. Wrap wire tail around the pliers to make a loop
  6. Wrap tail around the wire under the loop to finish the drop
  7. Cut and file any excess tail and flatten it in
  8. ​Other bead drops can be hung from the bottom loop for a long chandelier style drop
Closed Loop Drop with No bottom Loop
  1. Cut two wires 2 ½” long
  2. Make a small loop on one end of each wire and be sure to back bend it to center the loop on the tail
  3. Place bead onto wire
  4. Move bead a bit and grab the wire just under the loop with your flat nose pliers
  5. Push tail wire up the back of the bead, keep the space with your flat nose pliers
  6. Move flat nose pliers out of the way (you should have a little head space between the bead and the loop
  7. Wrap the remaining tail around the wire just above the bead and upward toward the loop
  8. Cut any left over if there is any and flatten it to the wire.
  9. File the end if needed
These easy methods can be used for larger beads, just scale the wire length up to fit. For some earwires just go to Three Easy Earwires Styles in the projects section.
​

Remember to check out my online store as well.

Picture
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Tumbled Stone Ring

6/8/2016

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 You went to the beach and collected tones of really cute shells, beach glass and stones. No wait you went to the bead store and raided all their cool polished stones. Now what? Well here is a fun project that you can do with all those awesome treasures. A wire wrap ring that is so fun you won't be able to stop making them. 
Large wire wrapped gemstone ring
DIY wire wrapped gemstone ring
Materials
  1. Tumbled stone (Preferably with angles and oblong)
  2. 18g wire 2.5-3.5ft (depending on stone and ring size)


Tools
  1. Round nose pliers
  2. Flat nose pliers
  3. Cutters
  4. File
  5. Ring mandrel
  6. Sharpie

​

  1. Find wire center and mark it
  2. Wrap wire around ring mandrel two times , starting at the top of the mandrel.
  3. Use ½-1 size larger than the one you want to end with, exp I want a size 7 ring so I make band on a 7.5-8 on the mandrel.

  1. Wrap the wires around each other going in opposite directions and keeping the flat against the band.

  2. Continue wrapping these tails in a spiral fashion to create a rosette center for the stone to sit on

  1. Place stone on the rosette

  2. Wrap one tail around the stone two times then go under the band and across to the other side and wrap once around the other side

  3. Wrap under the band and then around the band twice to secure the wrap 

  4. Cut the end on the outside of the band to 1/8"  file and flatten it down on the outside band

  1. Now wrap the other tail in the same manner around the stone and through the band to the other side of the ring.

  2. Wrap twice around the band, cut to outside, file and flatten

  3. If stone feels loose feel free to tweak the wires in a zig zag fashion under the band or all over to make an organic look.

  4. Place back on the mandrel and reshape or size as needed.
  5. Smooth out any scratches or dings with file or polishing clothe

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Wire Wrapped Cabochon ( Four Wire)

5/11/2016

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Picture
Picture
Tools
  1. Round nose pliers
  2. Flat nose pliers
  3. Wire cutter
  4. File
  5. ¼”-⅜” dowel or a round pen
Materials
  1. 20 Gauge wire square or round 32”
  2. 20 Gauge half round wire 16”
  3. Cabochon 30mm x 20mm or smaller
*If you choose to use a larger cabochon adjust the length of the  square wire to accommodate this change.

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Tree Of Life Pendant

5/4/2016

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Everyone loves a tree of life pendant. You see them at fairs and at shops. They look so difficult to make and a bit mysterious, but I am here to show you that they can be a great do it yourself pendant for beginners to wire jewelry. With just a few tools and a bit of practice you will be making this Tree of life for all your friends, in every color imaginable.
DIY tree of life pendant
 Tools
  1. Round nose plier
  2. Flat nose plier
  3. Cutter
  4. 1/4" dowel
  5. File
  6. Dowels for frame sm 1 ¼”, md 1 ⅜”, xl 2”

Materials
  1. 16g wire for frame (sm) 7”, (md) 8”, (xl) 9”
  2. 24g wire for Tree (sm) 28”, (md) 32”, (xl) 36”
  3. Assortment of stone chips or xsmall (2mm) beads
Directions
  1. Cut 16g to length needed and file ends of wire
  2. About 1 ¼  from one end of 16g make a large loop around the 1/4"
  3. Wrap the short tail around the long one 2 times.​
  4. Make it lay smooth and file the end
  5. Make a bend 1/8"-1/4"from bottom of wrapped bail

  1. Shape long tail around large dowel and then wrap under bail once or twice to meet up with the other wrap.
  2. Cut any excess, tuck in tight and file smooth
  3. Remove frame from large dowel
  4. Hammer frame to make it stronger, being careful to not hammer the bail.
  1. Cut 24g wire into 4 pcs (sm)7”, (md)8’, (xl) 9”
  2. File all ends
  3. Fold each wire in half leaving a small u bend at centers
  4. Starting at the center bottom wrap each wire around the frame 2 times on each side one next to the other, making a coil around the frame
  1. Push all coils close together.
  2. Take all eight tails and twist tie them together three to five times. This is your trunk and the shorter (less twists) it is, the fuller your tree will be.
  1. Separate all the tails into branches
  2. Flip tree up in front of frame
  3. Twist tie together the second and third tails three times
  4. Then do the same on the opposite side of tree 

  1. Now twist tie the top center tails 5 times .
  2. Bead  wire starting on one side and working your way around the frame ( picture shows starting at the top, but I found this much more difficult as I went)
  3. Wrap remaining tail after placing beads onto wire around frame in a downward coil around the frame and tighten with your flat nose.
  4. Check for any rough edges and smooth them out
  5. Feel free to adjust branches if needed and retighten​

For an optional look add a flat bead in ne wire as a moon or add a tiny bird, use your imagination and make it fun. You can also do it in wire only for a skeleton tree, add more branch wires so it won't look to spares. Or make it really large for a Christmas ornament or suncatcher.
Picture
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Closed link Wire Wrap Bracelet

4/27/2016

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    I know you have all seen these gorgeous  closed link bracelets and wondered, could I make that? Well yes you can, and I am going to show you how. 
   
    A closed link technique can be used to make all kinds of chain designs, from these bracelets to earrings and full necklaces. It is one technique repeated over and over to make the chain. The difficult part is remembering to capture the last bead when making the new link. But if that happens just catch it in the next link, or making a matching set of earrings to go with the bracelet or necklace.
DIY beaded wire bracelet
Tools
  1. Cutters
  2. Round nose plier
  3. flat nose plier
  4. ¼”  dowel
  5. File

Materials
  1. Chain (optional) 2"
  2. 22g wire 25"
  3.  20g wire 8"
  4. 8 beads size 10mm 
Directions
​Bead Links
  1. Cut 22g wire into 8 pcs 3” long.
  2. Create a loop on one end approximately ¾” from end of the wire tail.
  3. Wrap wire closely together in a swirl motion( or coil) under the loop
  4. ​With flat nose pliers flatten the wire in close
  1. Place one bead on wire and create another loop about ⅛” away from bead
  2. Make a loop about 1/9" away from bead and wrap the tail under the loop and around the wire to meet up with the bead and secure it. 
  3. Trim Excess if needed and flatten or tuck the end in to be smooth​
  1. Make your next bead link loop, but before you wrap the wire under the loop, make sure to catch the last bead links loop to create a chain.
  2. Now place on bead
  3. Make loop on other side of the bead
  4. Repeat these steps until all eight beads are attached into a chain.
Hook and Eye Clasp
Eye
  1. Cut 20g wire 3 ½”
  2. Make a small loop with the 3 ½” wire like when you made the bead links and capture one end of the bead chain (and the safety chain into the loop, if you are using a chain) before wrapping it closed
  3. Wrap long tail around the ¼” dowel about 1/8" away from finished small loop
  4. Wrap the wire closed, under the dowel and loop until it meets the other coil making sure to trim or flatten the end
Hook
  1. Cut 20 gauge wire 5 ½”  
  2. Make a small loop and capture the other end of the bead chain (and the safety chain as well, if using)
  3. Wrap the wire under the loop​
  4. Now bend the tail at 1 3/4" from the finished loop and squeeze it tightly.

  1. Holding the two wires still with your flat nose pliers wrap the remainder around the single shaft with your finger till you can not anymore.
  2. Now switch the flat nose and with the round nose plier and continue to wrap the tail around closed and smooth
  3. Make a loop in the double wire end around the dowel to make a hook that goes just past the finished loop
  4. Gently bend or loop the end of the hook to make it neat

Make sure to visit my store.

Wire wrapped gemstone pendant
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Heart Earrings

2/3/2016

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    It's that time of year again when we send out notes of love to one another and remember how important those we care about are to us.  So what says I love you more than something you made just for them? Pretty much nothing as far as I am concerned. These earrings are easy to make and your friends and family will love them! You can whip out a pair for every lady in your life, and yes it is quite all right to make some for yourself while your at it.
DIY Valentine's day heart earrings
Tools
  1. Round nose pliers
  2. Cutters
  3. File
  4. Pen with Cap
  5. Small Rubber hammer and block(optional)
Materials
  1. 8” 18 gauge wire
  2. 7” 20 gauge wire
  3. 2 beads 6-10mm
Directions
  1. Cut 18 gauge wire in half making two pieces 4” long
  2. Cut 20 gauge wire into three pieces- one 4” and two 1 ½” long
  3. File the ends of all the wires
Beaded Connectors
  1. Make a small loop on one end of each 20 gauge 1 ½” wire
  2. Back bend the loop to center it on the stem
  3. Place bead onto wire
  4. Trim ¼” if using a 6mm bead and refile the end
  5. Make loop on remaining wire going front to back as opposed to other loop which goes side to side (This allows hearts to hang facing forward when worn).
Hearts
  1. Mark the center of the two remaining 4” 18 gauge wires (2” is center)
  2. Make a small loop on both ends  of each wire, rotating in towards the center
  3. Place the loop of one wire under your pen cap with the loop facing toward the pen
  4. Holding the cap stem tight to keep the wire in place rotate the pen in toward the center mark on the wire
  5. Remove pen and repeat on the other side
  1. Repeat steps 3- 5 on other wire
  2. Holding the wire on the center mark with your round nose pliers bend each side up and in toward the mark to create the heart, repeat on other wire.
  3. Feel free at this time to adjust the loops on each heart to your liking, then hammer gently to make them slightly harder and more smooth looking.
Picture
​​
​Ear Wires

Use my directions for the ear wires in this link.(4" of 20 gauge will be used)

Assemble
  1. Open the loops on the bead connectors (sideways)
  2. Place one end on the earwire and close
  3. Place heart on the other end and close
  4. Repeat on other side making sure the heart faces the opposite direction and you are done.

Don't forget to check out my shop.

Beach stone pendant
Amazonite hoop earrings
Wide copper cuff bracelet
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Cross wrap Pendant

2/2/2016

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Picture
  Another great project for those found objects, stones, shells and odd shape pieces. This pendant is simple in technique yet powerful in it's beauty. You can also tuck the wires under the base wire for a cleaner look,  I got the inspiration for this pendant design from Eva Marie Sherman's Infinity wrap published in Wire Jewelry magazine February/March 2015 issue.  
Picture


​Tools                                       Materials

  1. Round nose pliers           1. 3 ft 20 gauge round wire
  2. Flat nose pliers                2.    Stone or found object
  3. Cutters
  4. File
  5. ¼” Dowel

Directions
  1. Cut three pieces of 20g into 12” long
  2. File ends
  3. Holding wires parallel to each other find the center
  4. Wrap at the center around a ¼” dowel just till wires cross
  5. Wrap one set of wires around the other to create a bail
  1. Place stone into wires right up under the basil and wrap, three wires in front of the stone and three in the back
  2. Wrap front wires down the front then up the back to become parallel to the back wires
  3. Hold back wires with thumb and bend them up to a 90 degree angle at the center
  4. Now put thumb on both sets of wires and cross the front wire in the opposite direction 90 degrees to make a cross
  1. Flip stone over and pull each set of wires across the stone to meet parallel across the stone center
  2. Hold center with thumb and cross each set of wires 90 degree angle in opposite directions just like on the back
  3. Continue the spiral trying to keep the wires flat
  1. Wrap The tails up  around/under the bail one full time to end up in the front. Trim and curl the ends to finish them off. 

​*For a more advanced design trim the tails  1/4" past base wires instead of wrapping them around the bail, then curl them under the base wires. Be careful not to scratch the stone or object. You can use an awl to bring the base wires away from the object to make it a bit easier. Then if stone is to loose tighten the bail wires by placing the dowel into the bail and twist until the wires tighten up around your object.
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Cross Wrap Ring

1/2/2016

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Picture
   So you have a box of found objects that are collecting dust and you only bring them out once in a while when your feeling nostalgic, right? Well I decided it was time to do something great with those objects and enjoy them every day. I was inspired by a design I saw by Eva Marie Sherman and I tweaked it a bit to show more of the object and I also did a few trial runs to perfect it for my design. The technique is not difficult but the wrap can be tricky because that cool object wants to get away back into the box, But you can do it and with practice you'll be a pro in no time. 

  So go get that box and your tools and let's get started!
Picture

​Tools
  1. Wire cutters
  2. Flat nose pliers
  3. File
  4. Ring mandrel

Materials
  1. Found object (no larger than a nickle, preferably not to round or circular)
  2. 3 pcs of 20 gauge dead soft wire (round or square) 10" long each

​

Directions
    1. Lay the three wires flat next to each other and tape the together keeping them parallel to one another.
    2. Mark the center of the wires on the tape
  1. lace center of wires onto ring mandrel 1/2 size larger than finished ring will be.
  2. Wrap wires around to front center of mandrel crossing the wires
  3. Holding the shank twist the wires around each other keeping the wires parallel 
  4. Continue to twist them around in a spiral design trying to keep them as flat and parallel as possible and make one rotation
  1. Turn over mandrel and press down on the ring to flatten the wires and create a good base for your object
  2. Make sure twist is tight on the mandrel
  3. Place object onto the ring and adjust the direction of the wires to create a good capture
  1. Holding the object on the shank, fold over one set of wires across it trying to keep the object centered and the wires parallel
  2. Now fold over the other wire across the object as well
  3. Cross and twist the wires around each other like we did to create the base. We are only crossing them once not a full rotation around each other.
  4. Make sure wires are still parallel and that they are going to hold the object secure when wrapped under the shank. 
  1. Before we take the ring off the mandrel do any size adjusting (remeber ring should be 1/2 size larger now than when it is finished) making sure the object is tight and secured properly, and that the wires are facing the shank they will wrap around.
  2. Wrap one side of the wires under the shank keeping them snug on the object and keeping the object centered.
  3. Fold wires around the shank and wrap over
  1. Trim wires and either tuck them under between the object and shank to prevent scratching the wearer or wrap the wires flat on the outside of the shank and file them.
  2. Now wrap the opposite side in the same way to finish the wrapping
  1. Place the ring back on the mandrel to check size and reshape if needed. You may gently hammer the shank if it is smaller than you wanted
  2. Remove tape, polish and show off!
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Large Leaf Hoop Earrings

11/18/2015

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These fun earrings can be made for fall in copper or gold and with browns ,reds and dark greens or for Summer/Spring in silver with lighter greens and blues. Let your imagination go wild and make a set for every season! This is a beginner project with some difficulty. 
DIY leaf wire earrings
Dawn Rosell Design.com
Tools
  1. ​Ruler
  2. Round Pen with cap
  3. Emery board(nail file)
  4. Round nose pliers
  5. Flat nose or smooth chain nose pliers
  6. Wire cutters


Materials
​
  1. 16” of 18 gauge round wire
  2. 3.5” of 20 gauge round wire
  3. 2  6mm beads
Directions
To create the ear wires for this project, go to my tutorial  Simple Fish hook Ear wires
Leaf Component
  1. Cut 16” 18 gauge wire in half to make two wires 8” long
  2. File both ends smooth
  3. On one end of each wire make a small loop then back bend it to make it centered to remaining wire
  1. Place one bead onto each wire
  2. Now make a 90 degree angle in the wire about ⅛”- ¼” away from the bead
  3. This should leave you with approximately 7” of wire left from the bend
  1. Place your round nose pliers on the wire at  2 ½”  from the last bend of the wire
  2. Wrap the wire tail around the pliers to make a sharp bend in the wire
  3. Gently unbend the 90 degree angle just a bit to readjust the wire

Don't forget to check out my shop as well!

Wire wrapped pendant
Wire and bead bracelet
Large hoop and gemstone earrings
  1. Open slightly the sharp bend at the bottom
  2. Gently Sliding your finger from the top bend down to the bottom bend and adding a small amount of pressure as you slide create a curve in both your wires
  3. Place round nose pliers at the bottom bend with the tools out nose holding the outer wire
  4. Bend back the wire away from the center just a bit ​
  1. Sliding your finger gently with a small amount of pressure create a rounding on the opposite side from the bend to the top so the wire crosses itself
  2. Tweak the shape a bit if you wish to but remember they do not have to be exactly the same, just close to the same.
  3. Holding the two wires tightly where they cross wrap the end wire under the bead and through the leaf just using your finger to do this
  1. Now bend the end wire up again and under the last wrap stopping when the wire is in the center of the leaf(If you need to use the flat nose pliers to make a tighter wrap feel free just don’t use to hard a hand or you will warp the leaf)
  2. Use flat nose pliers to tighten
  3. Now using the slide method with your finger again make the vein curved and more centered
  4. Now just open the ear wires and place the leaves on  and close the loops, to finish your fun earrings​
*If you have done any hammering before you may gently and carefully hammer the fish hook wires and leaves before assembling them together, just watch out for the connections and the beads.
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Wire weave Teardrop Pendant

8/4/2015

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DIY beginner wire weave pendant

I love to do Custom work, let's get creative and make something really special!

Tools
  1. Round nose pliers
  2. Flat nose pliers
  3. Cutter
  4. Ruler
  5. Sharpie
  6. ⅜” dowel
  7. Ring mandrel or 1” dowel

Materials
  1. 18g wire 18”
  2. 26-24g wire 24”
  3. ¾ ” teardrop stone


Directions
  1. Cut 18g wire into two even pieces(9”)

  2. Mark center of the wires then mark out 1” on either side of the center mark

  3. Wrap 1” of thinner wire around one 18g wire on one of the outer marks heading toward the center of the wire.

  4. Holding second 18g wire begin wrapping around the second wire three times

  5. Weave back to the first wire and wrap it three times

  1. Alternate back and forth just before you get to the last mark on the wires

  2. Be sure to keep smushing the wires together and keep them ¼” apart as you weave.

  3. Now wrap 1” of coils around the 18g wire to finish weave

  4. trim and flatten wire

  5. Shape wire woven wires around the 1” dowel or ring mandrel to make a hammock for the stone bottom. 
  6. Shape as needed carefully around the stone, you may use painters tape to help hold the stone( I found the tape would not stay on my stone because it was so small and smooth)

  1. Bend front and back wires at top to capture the stone

  2. Wrap back wires around the ⅜” dowel to create a bail leaving tails flat against the stone back

  3. Using front wires wrap around the bail twice so tails end in the stone front 

  1. Trim back wires, file them and curl them up towards the bail to hide ends

  2. Trim and then curl the front wires flat to make a pretty design and to help secure the stone.
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    Dawn Rosell

    I am a self taught jewelry designer and artist.  I studied fashion design and come from a very creative family.
    I am a wife to a wonderful husband and a mom to an amazing child. Both of which  continually inspire me to try new things and think outside the box, as well as to reach my dreams and inspire others.

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