DIY Gemstone Wave Copper Cuff Bracelet

I created this tutorial for Prima Bead last month and am just now getting around to posting the step-by-step tutorial for it.  The written instructions are also on Prima Bead in a downloadable PDF format.

Gemstone Wave Copper Cuff Bracelet

Materials List:
16 gauge copper wire
24 gauge copper wire

Two packs 10mm Round Gemstones or similar

 

Tool List:

Beadalon Artistic Wire 3D Bracelet Jig

Beadalon Artistic Wire  Bracelet Jig Extra Pegs 

Round Nose Pliers

Chain or Flat Nose

Heavy Gauge Wire Cutters

Flush Cutters

Ruler

Tape Measure

Optional Tool List:

Nylon Jaw Pliers

Sharpie

Bracelet Mandrel 

 

Skill Set: Intermediate

Wire Wrapping

Working with Jigs

Craft Time: 1 hour

Instructions:

Cut and straighten 40 inches of 16 gauge wire. Set aside.

Measure wrist. Place tape measure around jig and place a peg at each end of your wrist measurement in the center of the rows. Skip over one row and begin placing pegs into the top row of the jig skipping every other hole until you reach your end peg. Place pegs in the next to last row of the jig skipping every other hole until you reach your end peg. Pegs should be diagonal from the top row, not in line with it.

Make a loop with round nose pliers in one end of the wire. Place the loop over your anchor peg. Wrap the wire over each peg forming a wave. Do not wrap around your stop peg. Slip wire gently off jig.

Bend the anchor loop sideways so that it is perpendicular to the wire.

Measure one inch from the last wave and make a 90º bend towards the waves. Fold the wire down back so that the wire end now runs parallel to the waves. Measure about ½ inch from the bend and trim off extra wire. Press the bend close together so it will easily slide through the anchor loop forming a clasp.

 

 

 Adjust any odd-shaped bends in the wave with round nose and flat nose pliers.  If needed, adjust the openings of the waves with the barrel of a Sharpie®™Marker.

Working with short pieces of 24 gauge wire, attach gemstones to each bend of the wave except the bends closest to the clasp. 

Squeeze the waves closer together and reshape into a bracelet.

DIY Filigree Hoop Earring Tutorial

Last week I gave a review of a two wire jigs Prima Bead has available on their site and I told you I would be posting tutorials using both jigs.  Here is the very first of those tutorials.  This particular one is using the flat or regular jig.  It is a very versatile tutorial that can be easily customized to your tastes.  Your end result will be a lightweight and fashionable pair of earrings.

SPECIAL NOTE: DO NOT USE HALF-HARD WIRE.  Your pegs will snap.

Filigree Hoop Earrings

Materials Needed:
20 gauge silver plated copper wire or any wire you choose (I used 63815072 from Prima Bead)

Tools Required:

Wire Jig (34737052)

Round Nose Pliers

Flat Nose or Chain Nose Pliers

Marker

Emery Board or Wire Rounder

Skill Level: Beginner 

Craft Time: 20 - 30 minutes

Skills Required:

Form a Loop

Wire Jig

Instructions:

Measure, cut, and straighten two 10 inch pieces of wire.  Form a loop at one end of each piece of wire. Set aside.

Place 16 pegs into the jig in two rows of 8 diagonally across the jig. 

Place one piece of wire between the rows of pegs.  Slide the loop all the way against the pegs.  

 Begin wrapping the wire around each peg forming a series of figure 8s.









Gently slide form off the jig.

 

Press the loops closed using flat or chain nose pliers.  Adjust any odd shaped loops with round nose pliers.

Bend the end of the wire at a 90º angle flush with the last loop using flat or chain nose pliers.

Wrap form around the barrel of a marker.  Slip the tail into the end loop.

 Make a slight bend in the very end of the wire using flat or chain nose pliers. Trim if necessary.

Smooth wire end with emery board or wire rounder.

 Repeat for second wire.

Design Idea:  Wire wrap crystals or beads into the loops of the filigree for a little bling.

Beadalon's Artistic Wire 3D Bracelet Jig and Prima Bead's Wire Jig Reviews

I was recently asked by Prima Bead to play around with Beadalon's new Artistic Wire 3D Bracelet Jig and create some projects using the jig as well as using a flat wire jig, also available from Prima Bead.

First let us look at Beadalon's new Artistic Wire 3D Bracelet Jig.

This thing is totally cool. It is a round jig base with evenly spaced rows and columns of holes.  Pegs go through the holes and are secured with some sort of flexible plastic fasteners that slip over the peg ends.  This jig allows you to create wire bangles and cuff bracelets with ease as well as curved earring components.  The jig retails for $15.99 on Prima Bead and comes with 20 pegs and fasteners as well as an instruction booklet.

It is a very easy to use jig and the pegs really stay in play as you work.  I have used up to 16 gauge wire on the jig without any trouble.  To remove your design, simply slip the fasteners off the bottom of the pegs and remove the pegs.  The design will fall off with ease.  You can even make those super cute and trendy adjustable bangle charm bracelets with this bad boy.

Important to note is that you will need additional pegs and fasteners for more intricate projects.  The extra pegs come packages in sets of 30 pegs with fasteners for $6.99 on Prima Bead.

The only draw back to this jig is that there isn't enough pegs in the package with the jig if you have an elaborate design. For simple designs, 20 pegs are plenty.



Here are two bracelets I made using the 3D Bracelet Jig:

This one was made with 20 pegs.

This one definitely required extra pegs.

Tutorials to follow in another post for these two bracelet.

Prima Bead also offers a flat wire jig for those who are just starting out. It retails for only $7.49 and comes with two colors of practice wire, 21 various sized plastic pegs and instruction booklet.  There is one really large peg, two smaller pegs, two medium size pegs and 16 small pegs. The pegs stay securely in the jig without any fasteners.  This is a great beginner jig for simple projects.  You can create filigree connectors, hook and eye clasps, and even ear wires with this jig.  If you are just creating simplistic designs, then this is a great jig to use.

This jig can be a bit of a learning curve when you first look at it, but don't be intimidated.  Once you figure out what row lines up with which column, you will have it licked.  The instruction booklet has two blank templates for you to sketch out designs on.

I found three minor drawbacks to this tool.  One is again the pegs. There is not any extra pack of pegs that can be purchased as yet.  So, be careful as not to lose them.  The second drawback to this jig is there are only two blank templates. But this is an easy fix.  Simply photocopy or scan them.  The final drawback is the jig cannot handle heavier gauge wire.  16 gauge wire is a bit of a stretch for the jig.  It can be done as long as the wire is aluminum or dead soft copper wire.  It is, after all, just a beginner jig.

Here are a few items made with the flat wire jig:

Tutorials to follow on these as well.

While you are visiting the Prima Bead site, check out the new look.  Also, make sure to check out the link at the bottom of the page for their loyalty program.  Be sure to sign up and let them know you found about about it here!

Rocker Chic DIY Spike Necklace Tutorial - Femme Fatale

It has been some time since I have done a tutorial, so I decided as I was making this necklace to create the tutorial as I went.  It is a very easy necklace to make with just a few items most of which are widely available either online or in craft stores.

Femme Fatale Necklace

Craft Time - Under an hour

Skill Level - Beginner Intermediate

Skills Required
Cutting Chain
Crimping
Jump Rings

Materials:
Beading Wire (I used Cousin brand from Walmart)
6 Gold Spikes (34708503 from Prima Bead)
6 Black Spikes (34708560 Black Spikes from Prima Bead)
13 Silver plated pewter dagger beads from Hobby Lobby (or substitute these from Prima Bead)
Twenty-Four 4mm Black Pearls (7120003 from Prima Bead)
Two Crimp Tube from (3471905 from Prima Bead)
Three 4mm Jump Rings (3471905 from Prima Bead)
Extender Chain (3471905 from Prima Bead)
Two Crimp Covers
Silver Chain (63815134 from Prima Bead)
Art Deco Clasp (34719172 from Prima Bead)

Tools:
Flush Cutters
Flat or Chain Nose
Crimpers

Instructions:
Measure and cut two 8" sections of chain.  The measure a length of about 10 inches of beading wire.  Attach the beading wire to one end of a section of chain using a crimp tube. Cover the crimp with a cover and close with chain nose pliers. Trim off excess.





















String on your pattern of spikes and beads alternating between silver gold and black with a 4mm black pearl in between each one.

Finish by attaching the beaded end to the second section of chain using a crimp tube. Cover with a crimp cover and close with chain nose pliers.

Measure and cut a 3" piece of the extender chain from the starter pack and attach it to one end of the chain using a jump ring.  To the end of the extender chain, use a jump ring to attach the last dagger bead. Attach a clasp to the other end of chain using a jump ring.

Your necklace is finished!