ECT TV Episode 43: Buttons and Butterflies Necklace

In today's episode learn how to make this cute necklace with lots of little buttons, some larger buttons and butterfly beads.In it you'll learn:

• How to wire wrap a button;
• How to make a bead dangle; and
• How to open and close jump rings properly.

Here's the video:

Step-by-Step Photo Instructions for the Buttons and Butterflies Necklace:

Tools and Materials:

• Small buttons (I used about 60 3/8" buttons)
• Larger buttons (I used 5 3/4" and larger buttons)
• Butterfly beads (Mine are from Joann's, but you could use any beads you like or use charms instead)
• 7 mm jump rings (I used more than 70)
• Lobster clasp
• Chain
• 20 gauge half hard round wire
• 2" headpins
• Wire cutters
• Round nose pliers
• Chain nose pliers
• Bent nose pliers

Buttons:Of course, feel free to use any buttons you like.  You may want to use less if you don't want that bunched up chunky look.Jump rings:If you're not using the size buttons I am, that's fine, but just make sure to test your jump rings with the buttons and find a size that will go through a hole on the button, the chain and close.Step #1Cut your chain.  I just measured it around my neck, decided where I wanted it to lay and cut it.  Then just put it aside for now.Step #2Wire Wrapped Button CharmThere are a few components to this necklace.  First we'll make a wire wrapped button charm.I use this technique for larger buttons that either a jump ring won't go through or I don't like the look of a large jump ring.  It's also gives a little different look to some of the buttons.  These buttons will hang down a little lower.Cut a piece of the 20 gauge half hard round wire about 4" long.Step #3Slide the wire through one hole of the button and then cross the wire on top of the button.Step #4Twist the wires.Step #5Hold one of the wires in round nose pliers.Step #6Wrap around the pliers to form a loop.Step #7You probably noticed the loop wasn't centered on the button.  There are many ways to make it straight, but the way I do it is to hold the loop in chain nose pliers and while I'm wrapping the wire around one time I also straighten the loop.Step #8Then switch to the other hand, hold the loop in pliers and continue to wrap around with that wire using bent nose pliers to hold the wire or just your fingers.  Then wrap with the other wire.Keep the wraps straight and close together and as neat as possible.Step #9Cut off any excess wire.Step #10Make sure the ends of the wire are not poking out.Step #11I made a total of 5 of these larger wire wrapped buttons.Step #12Wire Wrapped Bead DangleNow we'll take our butterfly beads and make them into bead dangles to use as charms.  Alternatively, you could just add some charms to your necklace or you could use any kind of beads and make bead dangles to add to your necklace.Slide a butterfly bead onto a headpin.Step #13Hold the wire just above the bead with round nose pliers.Step #14Wrap the headpin around the round nose pliers to form a loop.Step #15Like in Step #7 above, straighten the loop out by holding it in chain nose pliers and straightening while wrapping the wire around one time.Step #16Switch hands, hold the loop in your chain nose pliers and use your bend nose pliers or just use your hands to wrap the wire around.Keep the wraps straight and close together and as neat as possible.Step #17Trim off any excess wire.Repeat 5 times.Step #18Open a bunch of jump rings.  It's quicker and easier to have a bunch open instead of stopping to open a jump ring each time you need one, especially when you'll be using a significant amount such as in this project.  I used around 70 7mm jump rings.Step #19Find the middle of your chain and add one of the wire wrapped buttons.Step #20Decide how large you would like the decorated area of the chain to be and then add the rest of the larger buttons.  I didn't end my button area with large buttons, but with the smaller ones, so I left some room on each side of the last large button to add smaller ones.Step #21I added a small button to every link.  Grab an open jump ring, put it through a link in your chain, add a small button and close it.I worked from the middle out and I just used a random pattern for the colors of my buttons.  Depending on how large the links of your chain are, the buttons will have a kind of bunched up, layered look.Step #22I also added small buttons to the wire wrapped buttons: one in the wire wrapped loop and one attached to the jump ring attached to the wire wrapped button.Step #23Next I added the butterflies.  I used 2 jump rings so they'd hang a little bit down from the smaller buttons.  I ended up attaching them into the jump ring of the small buttons instead of directly to the chain itself.Step #24Use a jump ring to attach the lobster clasp on one end of the chain.Step #25On the other end, I added a couple jump rings and an additional butterfly bead.Isn't it cute?And after I made this necklace, I have seen so many more butterflies.  Maybe a coincidence, but maybe not.  ;)Reminder:  Rediscover Your Creativity & Make Jewelry eCourse starts on July 6th, but there's a 25% off discount until Wednesday at 8:00 pm Eastern.Here's a little video to learn more about it or click here to read all the details and sign up.To get more details and sign up for Rediscover Your Creativity & Make Jewelry, click here.