ECT TV Episode 20: Making a Button Charm
ECT TV stands for Emerging Creatively Tutorials Television, my biweekly YouTube video series that teaches you how to make jewelry.Episode 18 was about making a button charm bracelet by using jump rings to attach to the chain. But what if you want to use a button that's bigger than a jump ring?This answers that question!After learning this technique, you will be able to use any button in your jewelry designs. I made a few and make a necklace, but it works just as wonderfully for bracelets.Here's the video episode:Here's how to make a button charm in photos:Materials and Tools:
- A button - any size, but it should have holes. A shank button doesn't really work with this technique.
- Wire - I suggest 20 gauge half-hard round wire. However, I used 24 gauge wire and it worked fine, too.
- Wire cutters
- Round nose pliers
- Chain nose pliers
- Another pair of pliers such as bent nose pliers.
Step #1
Cut a piece of wire about 6 inches long. Your wire length may vary depending on the size of your button.Step #2
Slide the button onto the wire and center it.Step #3
Bend the wire in half.Step #4
Cross the two wire ends. It should cross in the middle of the top of the button.Step #5
Twist the wire once. You can use chain nose pliers or just use your fingers. Again, the twist should be centered at the top of the button.Step #6
Hold one of the wires in round nose pliers just above the twist you just made.Step #7
Twist the wire around the pliers and in between the pliers and the twist.Straighten the loop you just made by rolling your wrist back. Alternatively, you can straighten the loop when you take it off the pliers with chain nose pliers.Step #8
Hold the loop in chain nose pliers.Step #9
Make wraps by twisting the first wire around. Try to keep the wraps tight and close together. Then wrap the other wire around.Make sure to go around a few times and then trim off any excess wire.Step #10
Use your chain nose pliers to push in the ends and make sure they're not poking out.Now you can use your button charm on charm bracelets or necklaces or however you like!I made this necklace:
I'll be doing these videos every other week now, but in the other week I'll still be posting a tutorial here, so it shouldn't affect your jewelry making!——————————————————————————————————————–Want to learn how to make your own charm bracelet from creating your own chain to headpins to several kinds of charms?Check out my Charm Bracelet eCourse!