The Purple and Black Collar Necklace
The purple and black collar necklace is a beautiful, yet simple design. Use a combination of techniques and tools to complete this classic project. Learn how to make this wonderful piece of jewelry with the video and written instructions below. Have fun!
Jewelry Supplies Needed:
7 Large beads (Purple)
8 Medium beads (Black)
20 Small beads (Grey)
2 Crimp beads
1 Jump ring
1 Lobster claw clasp
30″ Silver beading wire
Tools Needed:
Chain Nose pliers
Flat Nose pliers
Round Nose pliers
Crimp Nose pliers
Clippers
Making this piece of jewelry:
1. Begin by straightening the wire that you’ve cut from the spool. Then thread on the beads in the following order: medium, large, medium (or black, purple, black).
2. After the last medium (black) bead, thread on 10 small (grey) beads. Then thread on one crimp bead, snip the excess wire about 1/2 inch above the crimp bead. Take the tip of the end of the wire with the flat nose pliers and bend it back 180 degrees toward the beads, this will make a sort of square shaped loop.
3. Grab the square loop with the round nose pliers and squeeze the two ends of the wire to where they touch one another thus creating a nearly closed, round loop around the ends of the round nose pliers. This allows you to slide the crimp bead up and over the two ends. Slide the crimp bead as far as it will go toward the round nose pliers. Crimp the crimp bead with the crimp nose pliers, squeeze hard but not so hard that the crimp bead breaks. This loop will be the “large” loop that the lobster clasp will attach to.
4. Now that one end is complete, slide all the beads already threaded onto the wire as far as they will go toward the completed end. This will make sure not much wire will show once the project is complete. Thread on the remaining 10 small (grey) beads on the open end of wire.
5. Thread on the last crimp bead, snip the excess wire about 1/4 inch above the crimp bead. Take the tip of the end of the wire with the flat nose pliers and bend it back 180 degrees toward the beads, this will make another sort of square-shaped loop.
6. Grab the square loop with the chain nose pliers and squeeze the two ends of the wire to where they touch one another thus creating a nearly closed loop around the ends of the round nose pliers. Slide the crimp bead as far as it will go toward the round nose pliers. Crimp the crimp bead with the crimp nose pliers, squeeze hard but not so hard that the crimp bead breaks.
7. Open the jump ring with the flat nose pliers and the chain nose pliers, thread the jump ring onto the smaller of the two loops on the necklace (the loop created in step 5, not step 3). Slide the lobster claw clasp onto the open jump ring then close the jump ring.
8. Wear!
Cost:
To buy the jewelry making materials from scratch it will cost you roughly:
$3: Beading Wire
$3: Package of large beads (Purple)
$3: Package of medium beads (Black)
$2.50: Package of small beads (Grey)
$3: Package of crimp beads
$3: Package of jump rings
$3: Package of lobster clasps
$20.5: Total
Time:
This project will take about fifteen minutes to make.
Bead caps are decorative covers you can put on either end of a bead. Not only does it serve as a bit of decoration, it can be used to cover flaws or rough patches around the hole of the bead.
Here are a few examples of bead caps:
A “bail” is a small component used to attach a pendant to a chain, cord, or wire that allows it to slide along the chain. It is usually made in a teardrop shape but you can find some rather elaborate designs. Some pendants come with a jump ring but others will need a bail to create a finished look.
Here is a photo of a pinch bail:
The word “findings” is simply a broad term to describe all the small objects, materials, tools, etc. that jewelers use to create jewelry. Hooks, clasps, pins, jump rings, and pin backs are a few of examples.
Here is a photo of a number of findings:
The Leaf Double Pendant Necklace
The leaf double pendant necklace is a beautiful twist on a traditional pendant style necklace. Use a combination of techniques, including the wire wrapped loop, to complete this easy to make project. Learn how to make this innovative piece of jewelry with the video and written instructions below. Have fun!
[VIDEO COMING SOON]
Jewelry Supplies Needed:
16 Jump rings
7″ Chains (2)
1 Lobster clasp
5 Acrylic beads
2 Leaf pendants
25″ Gold beading wire
Tools Needed:
Chain Nose pliers
Flat Nose pliers
Round Nose pliers
Clippers
Making this piece of jewelry:
1. Begin by making wrapped wire loops for each of the 5 acrylic beads. Given the size of the bead you’ll only need about 3 inches of beading wire per bead (How to make the wrapped wire loop).
2. Connect the beads with jump rings – make a “Y” shape by connecting two beads to the bottom-most bead with flat nose and chain nose pliers. The bottom-most bead will be attached to the pendants. Attach the remaining two beads to complete the “Y” arrangement.
3. Make one more wire loop with about 8″ of wire to connect the two pendants together. In the case demonstrated above, one of the pendants is a ceramic pendant with a large, off centered hole – thus requiring a wrapped wire loop to connect the two together. If you use two pendants with centered holes, you might only need a single jump ring to connect them.
4. Connect the two leaf pendants to the bottom-most bead of the acrylic bead “Y” formation with a jump ring.
5. Attach the a 7″ chain to the one of the top-most acrylic beads in the “Y” formation with a jump ring. Repeat for the other 7″ chain.
6. Attach the lobster clasp on the left side of the chain with a jump ring. Attach the remaining jump rings together to make a small adjustable chain. On the right side of the 7″ chain attach the jump ring chain.
7. Wear!
Cost:
To buy the jewelry making materials from scratch it will cost you roughly:
$8: Chain
$3: Lobster clasp
$3: Jump rings
$2.5: Package of beads
$3: Beading wire
$8: Pendants
$27.5: Total
Time:
This project will take about thirty minutes to make.
Chains are an absolute staple in jewelry making. Learn how to properly add a clasp to complete your jewelry piece.
Supplies
Chain nose pliers
Flat nose pliers
1 Jump ring
1 Lobster clasp
Attach a Clasp to Jewelry Chain
Once you’ve completed your beautiful jewelry piece, open an appropriately sized jump ring (4 mm, 6 mm, etc.) with chain nose and flat nose pliers. Slide the chain(s) onto the open jump ring, slide the loop at the end of the lobster clasp onto the same open jump ring and close the jump ring. It’s that simple!
-Cate
aka: jewelrymakingtime
Nylon cording is such a versatile jewelry making medium. Learn how to complete your masterpiece by properly adding an attractive clasp.
Supplies
Chain nose pliers
Flat nose pliers
Nylon cording
1 Crimp bead cover
1 Crimp bead
1 Jump ring
1 Lobster clasp
Attaching a Clasp to Nylon Cording
When planning your piece, cut the cord to ensure that you have enough space for the jewelry beads and about 1-2 inches at each end. Leaving this amount of cord free will allow you room to work while putting on the crimp beads and crimp bead covers.
Once you’ve threaded beads onto the nylon cord and are ready to finish your piece, thread on a crimp bead cover, bottom-first. Then, thread a crimp bead onto the cord and slide into place, generally tight against the beads (note: the crimp bead cover will be between the jewelry beads and the crimp bead). Squash the crimp bead with chain nose pliers once you have it in place. Make sure the crimp bead is nice and tight and will not slip or move.
Close the clam shells of the crimp bead cover to hide the squashed crimp bead. Snip off the excess nylon cord with clippers. Slip a jump ring onto the loop at the end of the crimp bead cover, close the loop.
Open the jump ring you just attached to the crimp bead cover with crimp nose and flat nose pliers. Slide the lobster clasp onto the open jump ring through the loop at the end of the clasp. Close the jump ring.
It is important to note, if you have small or unruly beads, it might be best to put a crimp bead cover, crimp bead and jump ring on one end of the nylon cording before you thread additional beads. This will create a stopper as you thread your beads. This will also allow you to get the beads nice and tight when you add your second end unit.
-Cate
aka: jewelrymakingtime
Here are a few cute, inspired pieces I’ve found for sale on various art sale sites. These’ll get your spirits back in check and might help, if you’re at a loss for ideas, to make jewelry making fun again! The holidays always manage to get the jewelry-design-juices flowing again! Enjoy! (Ok, Ok, the last one isn’t jewelry, but these beads are too awesome to ignore!)
Eye Love You
by luckyduct on Etsy.com
Mixed Metal Bat Necklace
by Little Green Room on Etsy.com
The Woman Behind the Mask Earrings
by lorijaclynsjewels on Etsy.com
Victorian Bat Lady Cameo Pendant
by VespertineGallery on Artfire.com
Real Spiny Spider
by SizeLoveCreations on Artfire.com
Bone Skull Halloween Earrings
by SizeLoveCreations on Artfire.com
Halloween Witch Finger Beads
by HomeFriedBeads on Artfire.com
-Cate
aka: jewelrymakingtime
Jewelry making was an instant obsession for me. Going to the store to pick out the beads, wire, and clasps is such fun – I just get lost in all the choices. I usually don’t have an idea of what I want to create until I arrive. Once I see all the beads, I begin to create the next jewelry design in my head on the spot and begin searching for the components that will make the next cute bracelet, necklace , or ring!
Yea, it can be a little pricey but it’s so worth it once you have the final product – your own piece of handmade jewelry! In most cases, its a bit less expensive than buying a similar piece from a retailer and you have the satisfaction of knowing that it was made by you. Not to mention the bragging rights!
Making your own jewelry has become so popular over the past few years, and it’s no wonder why! Being able to escape for just a little while while you create a beautiful beaded creation is rewarding and relaxing.
It was an instant hobby for me and I love sharing my new designs!
-Cate
aka: jewelrymakingtime
I’ve added my first few jewelry making instructional videos to the site to date! See them here:
Beaded Pendant Necklace – Bird
Rosette Beaded Pendant Necklace
- Cate
aka: jewelrymakingtime
