Ok, I know a couple of you guys always post the same comments on my jewelry posts. “Gee – that looks great but there is no way I could make jewelry.”
However, I am here to tell you that yes you can! In fact, if you can operate a can opener you can make the necklace below.
Here is what you do. You need some supplies listed below:
- Bead Design Board
- Crimp Pliers or Flat Pliers
- 18-20 inches of .6mm-.9mm Beading Chain
- Some Pretty Sparkly Beads (I prefer a chunkier bead to contrast with the thin wire, but make sure the hole isn’t drilled too wide or it will end up sliding over your crimp beads)
- Bead Crimps (2x however many beads you have)
- Crimp End Clasp
Lay out your design on your bead board like so. Space each bead out evenly and then collect up all your bed crimps and keep them somewhere handy.
Once you get your design laid out, start with your middle most bead. Slide a crimp bead onto your chain and one of your big sparkly guys so you can get it centered. Once you have your bead where you want it, grab onto that lil crimp and squeeze down on your pliers like a can opener and smoosh it flat. Now make sure your pretty bead doesn’t slide over your nice lil crimp and do another one on the other side. It should look like the picture below.
Now that you have it centered, you can lay your necklace back down on the bead board and start stringing the rest of your crimps and beads. I recommend working up one side and then making sure the other side matches or working in parallel up both sides to make sure you have even spacing.
Once you have your beads all strung, get your little crimp clasp (I love this set here at Fire Mountain Beads) and slide it on the ends, squeeze your pliers one last couple times and you are done.
Voila – and there you have a necklace!
Now come on, fess up? Is that too difficult? Think it is something you might try? Lemme know!
I am linking this up with the following party's this week!
DIY Day with Kimba @ A Soft Place to Land
Get your Craft On with Kim @ Today’s Creative Blog
Oooh - and I found a new party this week! Thanks for the invite from Heather @ My Frugal Family to her Talented Tuesday party!
Oooh - and I found a new party this week! Thanks for the invite from Heather @ My Frugal Family to her Talented Tuesday party!
13 frugal friends said ...
I want to try my hand at jewelry, but must admit, the cost of the supplies scares me!
Great job, though!
Feel free to share this link with my link party, Talented Tuesdays at My Frugal Family.
http://theherberfamily.blogspot.com/2010/01/talented-tuesday-links-january-19th.html
I've got so many friends who make jewelry that I haven't gotten into it. I love this necklace - it's the time of jewelry I love.
I've never heard of a bead design board (but I've never made jewelry either). What an awesome idea! Pretty necklace.
I've gotten started making jewelry too. I love it. Thanks for the quick and easy tute!
My what a nice trim waist you have! Fun hobby - as soon as I find some time, I'll join in with my friend, Sita. She makes jewelry and has a beautiful selection of beads. Hello from your fellow SITS sistah!
I love the simple look and what a statement piece it is! Plus the fact that it cost about a fourth of buying it from the store.
That does look easy - and beautiful!
I've always wondered how you do that.
Great tutorial! Will I try it? Maybe. I'll let you know if I ever do!
You make it look so easy and yes I want to try! Not sure when...that's probably my biggest obstacle but now it doesn't seem so complicated. Thanks for sharing! Great tutorial!
:)
Roeshel
Jewelry making can be simple, or incredibly hard. Thankfully there are always simple patterns like this one! Thanks for sharing. :-)
You do make it look easy.
So pretty, I want to make one now too!
Post a Comment
Your comments mean the world to me - so please leave one! It makes my day! I read and try to respond to each one!
Didn't get a response? Check out my tips here to link your email and blog back to your profile.