ECT TV Episode 62: How to Make a Wire Wrapped Gemstone Bracelet
I have a brand new episode of Emerging Creatively Tutorials TV (ECT TV) for you!Maybe you saw my recent necklace tutorial, Chunky Quartz Rose Necklace? In this tutorial, I'll show you on video how to make wire wrapped bead links and you can use beads leftover from the necklace!Here's today's video:
Step-by-Step Photo Instructions:These are step-by-step photo instructions of the exact tutorial that's in the video.
Materials and Tools:
- Rose Quartz Large Nugget Gemstone Beads 9-35mm
- Rose Quartz Nugget Beads 10-14mm x 8-10mm
- 30mm Pewter Toggle Clasp
- 20 gauge, half-hard round wire (I used silver plated)
- 7mm jump rings
- Wire cutters
- Round nose pliers
- Chain nose pliers
- Bent nose pliers
- A sharpie and a ruler
About wire: You can use any metal you like.Jump rings: I used 7mm, but you could use a different size if you like.Step #1
Before we get started, make a mark on your round nose pliers with a sharpie. It doesn’t matter where exactly where you place the mark; just that you use the mark to make your wire wrapped loops throughout the project so they are uniform.Step #2
First I’ll show you how to make the wire wrapped bead links with the big chunky rose quartz beads.Cut approximately 10 inches of wire.Step #3
Hold the wire in round nose pliers about 2 1/2 inches from the top.Step #4
Wrap the short end around one barrel of round nose pliers.Step #5
Take the wire off your round nose pliers. Hold the loop in chain nose pliers.Step #6
The loop will be off-center at this point and we want to center it. To do this I wrap the short end of the wire around the longer one and at the same time pull the longer wire out straight, which centers the loop.Step #7
Wrap the wire around two more times. Keep your wraps straight and close together.
Hint: If your wraps are not close, use chain nose pliers to pull them close to each other.Step #8
Trim off the excess wire making a flush cut.Step #9
Using chain nose pliers, push in the end to make sure it’s not poking out.Step #10
Slide on a rose quartz large nugget gemstone bead.Step #11
Hold the wire just above the rose quartz with round nose pliers.Step #12
Like we did previously, wrap the wire around the pliers forming a loop.Step #13
Follow Step #6 to straighten the loop.Step #14
Wrap the wire around 2 more times.Step #15
Pull the wire down across the bead and then wrap the wire around the wire wraps you did previously a couple times.Step #16
Now pull the wire across the other side of the bead and wrap the wire a couple times.Step #17
Trim off the excess wire making a flush cut.Step #18
Use chain nose pliers to make sure the end is not poking out.Repeat for 3 of the chunky gemstones.Step #19
Now we'll make a couple wire wrapped bead links with the smaller gemstone beads. You could make them the same way as shown above or follow the instructions below and make them plain.These are very similar to the wire wrapped bead links we made previously, but these will not have the wire across them.Cut a piece of wire about 6 inches long.Step #20
Follow Steps #3 through #10 to form a wire wrapped loop on one end of the wire.Slide on a smaller rose quartz nugget gemstone bead.Step #21
Hold the wire in round nose pliers just above the bead. Wrap around a barrel of round nose pliers forming a loop.Step #22
The loop will be off-center at this point and we want to center it. To do this I wrap the short end of the wire around the longer one and at the same time pull the longer wire out straight, which centers the loop.Step #23
Wrap the wire around two more times.Step #24
Cut off the excess wire making a flush cut.Step #25
Use chain nose pliers to make sure the end isn’t poking out.Repeat to make as many as you need to make your bracelet the length you need.Step #26
Now we have all of our components and we can simply put the bracelet together using jump rings.If you need help with opening and closing jump rings, click here.
Step #27
Add half of the toggle clasp to one end and half to the other using jump rings.And that's the completed bracelet!Ways to customize this bracelet:
- Use any gemstones you like.
- Try using the different size beads and techniques in different ways. You may need to do this to get it just the right size for you!
- I used silver plated wire, but you could try brass, copper or, of course, sterling sliver.
- Mix and match gemstones to make a more colorful bracelet.
If you like making bracelets, you'd love my Charm Bracelet eCourse!You can start anytime! Purchase it now and start right away!You'll get all the steps to make your own charm bracelet from the chain, to headpins to charms. You can choose to make your own components (like chain, clasp, headpins, and charms) or you can use store purchased items to fill in with your handmade items.For example, in the eCourse I show you how to make chain, but you can most certainly use chain from the jewelry supply store!Learn more about this eCourse and purchase it here.
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