Delightful Bangles, a tutorial

I was inspired today to make a bracelet, so I made 3... ha ha. My fingers do hurt now but I did take pictures and write up a quick little tutorial if you want to give it a try. I got the inspiration from a Pin on Pinterest of this Bangle but it didn't have enough pictures for me so decided to make one for myself and do lots of pictures for you. This one is easy if you have all the supplies and you do not need any soldering equipment. So let's get started.

Supplies Needed:

• Round nose pliers
• Flat nose pliers
• Flush wire cutters
• Bracelet Mandrel
• Hammer
• Stainless Steel Block
• 12 or 14 gauge wire (for bracelet)
• 24 or 26 gauge wire (for wrapping)
• 3mm stones or crystals

Instructions:

1. Gather all your supplies before you start and make sure the stones you choose will slide on the wrapping wire.
2. Cut 10” of your bracelet wire which is either 12 gauge or 14 gauge.
3. Make a loose curl on one end of the cut wire with your round nose pliers.
4. Form your wire around the bracelet mandrel inserting the straight end through the curled end. As you can see I have marked on my mandrel the size I want my bracelet to be. Mine is 8”.
5. With your round nose pliers curve the straight end of the wire around to tighten.
6. Make a loop with the curved wire.
7. Hammer the wire on the bracelet mandrel all the way around… hammer more.
8. Hammer on the stainless steel block. Switch between the mandrel and the block, hammering to harden the wire.
9. When it is the shape you want, nice and round and lays flat you are ready to begin to add your stones.

1. Cut about 36” of your wrapping wire which is either 24 gauge or 26 gauge and start wrapping on your bracelet at the coiled end.
2. Wrap the tail of the wire until you just have about 1/4 “ left.
3. String a stone on the long end of the wire.
4. Bring the stone down tight against the bracelet.
5. Hold the stone in place and start wrapping the wire around the bracelet.
6. Continue wrapping about 3 or 4 times, add another stone.
7. More wrapping.
8. Continue wrapping and adding stones until you get to the end of your wire.
9. Cut the wire at the top of the bracelet and flatten with your flat nose pliers.
10. Cut another length of wrapping wire (not as much) and start wrapping around the bracelet. I like to start wrapping behind the stone and then wrap around to the front. I cut the tail off on top of the bracelet and flatten it with my pliers.
11. Continue wrapping and adding stones until you get back to the beginning. Clip tails and flatten them on top of the bracelet. Always cut the wire on the top or sides otherwise it will scratch your wrist underneath.
12. Enjoy your bracelet.

If you have any questions, please be sure to ask.

October Tutorial Swirl and Curl Chain

I'm finally getting caught up. No one is putting pressure on me to create these tutorials but myself but it was one of my New Years resolutions. How are your resolutions coming or did they go out the window say about June? I've been at least trying to keep this one but it is hard...life gets in the way sometimes and at the beginning of the year we think we can accomplish so much that it won't be a problem. Okay like that is ever the case. So, here is October's tutorial the Swirl and Curl Chain.

Playing with wire in my craft room one day I came up with these links that could be joined together with jump rings to create a chain. I’ve worn the bracelet and necklace now everyday in testing and it is very comfortable and doesn’t come apart. Here’s how to do it.

Supplies Needed:

• Stainless Steel block
• Hammer
• 16 or 18 gauge soft wire. I used copper and soft sterling. The brass was hard so I only used it a couple of times.
• Jump rings that are 6mm or 7mm in size
• Toggle clasp or a clasp of your choosing
• Wire cutters
• Chain nose pliers
• Round nose pliers

Instructions:

1. Cut 3 2.5” pieces of wire to make the swirls as shown in the middle of the bracelet
2. Make a loop with your round nose pliers at one end of one piece of wire, make sure that your loop is large enough that your jump rings will not slip through. You may have to slide a jump ring on to test it out.
3. Make a loop going the opposite direction at the other end of the wire
4. Holding the wire in the middle with your chain nose pliers, insert the round nose pliers in the loop on one side and curl towards the center.
5. Turn your wire piece around and do the same thing to the opposite side until you have swirls curling inward as pictured in the top row of pictures.
6. Make 2 more of these swirls.
7. Cut 4 2” pieces of wire to make the curls
8. Make a loop with your round nose pliers at one end of a piece of wire.
9. Make another loop on the opposite side of that wire curling it in the same direction. These do not have to be perfect.
10. Make 3 more of these curls.
11. Slightly hammer your curls and swirl links on the stainless steel block to harden the wire and shape them flat.
12. Open a jump ring and insert two of your links.
13. Close the jump ring.
14. Continue adding jump rings and links in your desired pattern.
15. Add a jump ring at the end of each side of your bracelet and add your clasp.
16. There you go a beautiful bracelet that you fashioned yourself.

My advice is to practice with copper wire and then move onto sterling if you want. If you like the tri color effect, then you would use copper, brass or 14kt gold filled and sterling silver wire. If you like the look of the necklace then you would continue making curl and swirl links until you have achieved the length you need.

 

Tutorial - Tree of Life Pendant

Since I have been working with gem trees it would be only natural that I would create a gem tree pendant. There are several jewelry designers out there that create wonderful pendants that are similar. Here is my take on this popular pendant. If you would prefer this in a downloadable .pdf please visit my Wrapped Up site HERE.

Supplies Needed:

• 12” of 14 or 16 gauge wire (14 works best for me)
• 48” of 26 gauge wire
• Gemstone chips or other small beads
• Flat nose pliers
• Round nose pliers
• Wire cutters
• Ruler (not pictured)
• Bracelet mandrel or pill bottle to make the round frame (not pictured)

Instructions:

1. Gather supplies as noted above.
2. Wrap your 14 or 16 gauge wire around a bracelet mandrel or other round object such as a pill bottle for the shape of your wire frame and twist 3 times. Leave one end shorter than the other.
3. Cut the shortest wire off at the twists.
4. Straighten the long wire.
5. Wrap the long wire around your round nose pliers to create a loop. This will be your bail.
6. Continue wrapping the wire around the previous twists to secure.
7. Cut the wire at the twists and flatten the sharp edge with your flat nose pliers tight against the other twists.
8. Cut 8 pieces of 26 gauge wire at 6”.
9. Separate the wires into two groups of 4 and twist them together leaving about an inch or more (mine was about an inch and a half) at the bottom.

10.      Measure your twisted wire against your frame to determine how high you want your tree trunk to be and adjust as necessary.

11.      Wrap the bottom wires around the frame at the bottom center about 3 or 4 times. Cut them at the back and tighten them against the frame.

12.      Spread your top branch wires and starting on one side add your beads.

13.      When the wire has been filled with beads, wrap it around the frame to secure. Keep this wire nice and tight. Cut the wire at the back (see picture 16) and flatten it against the frame with your flat nose pliers.

14.      Continue adding beads to your wires. As you can see I have twisted some of my wire branches together for a little added interest.

15.      Close up of wrapping the wire around the frame.

16.      Close up of cutting the wire at the back of the frame.

17.      Finished pendant.

18.      Arrange your branches to your satisfaction and your done.

There are so many other variations but I found this one to be simple for beginners.

These instructions are for your personal use, please do not distribute but you can link back to me.

Since I didn't have time last month for a tutorial, I'll write another one up later this month. Cheers and enjoy.

April Tutorial - Leather Necklaces

I didn't know what to call these necklaces, but they are both leather and one has knots. These are great for casual wear with jeans or dress them up a bit.

Necklace #1

Supplies you need for both necklaces:
Leather 1mm (necklace #1 = 38" and #2 = 54")
Beads with a hole large enough for the leather
Other beads to dangle (necklace #2)
Head pins (necklace #2)
Spring ring or Lobster claw clasp
4 - 4" strips of 22 gauge silver wire for both necklaces (I used sterling, but you could use whatever you have on hand)

Instructions for Necklace #1:

1. Gather your supplies (leather, clasp, wire and beads)
2. String your beads on the leather
3. Loop leather, add your clasp and wrap with the wire on one end
4. Finished clasp end
5. Loop leather and wrap with the wire the other end
6. Finished clasp

Necklace #2

Instructions for Necklace #2:

1. Knot the center of your longest piece of leather (54") and add one bead on each side
2. Made a wrapped loop crystal
3. Add crystal to necklace and knot the leather (Continue adding large hole beads or beads that dangle and knotting the leather between each)
4. When you have the length you desire (mine was 36") finish one side with the clasp as we did in Necklace #1
5. Finish the other side with just a loop
6. Finished necklace with dangles and beads

Here are the two necklaces finished.

Here are both of the necklaces doubled up to wear short. I did this with one of mine made the same way with silver and agate beads and received lots of compliments.

Have fun, use different colored leather, lampwork beads, crystals, pearls for whatever outfit you want to match. I wanted a couple that would go with anything so I just used the silver, clear crystal and a small black lampwork bead.