ECT TV Episode 5: How to Make a Bead Dangle

This week on ECT TV (Emerging Creatively Tutorials) I show you how to make a bead dangle.  You can then use that bead dangle to make all kinds of jewelry.I also show you some different ideas to use as jewelry supplies.  Use some of these alternative supplies + bead dangles and make a unique charm bracelet or other jewelry.Try the free mini eCourse from Rediscover Your Creativity through Making Jewelry.  Go on a Creativity Expedition and Make a Souvenir Charm bracelet.Here's the episode:How to make a bead dangle:Materials and Tools:

• Bead
• Head pin
• Round nose pliers
• Chain nose pliers
• Another pair of pliers
• Wire Cutters

About head pins:I like to use 2 inch headpins, 20 gauge.  You can also make your own headpins (I have different tutorials here that include showing you how to make your own headpins.  Have a look around.)In the example below, I made my own knotted headpin.Step #1Slide a bead onto your head pin.Step #2Hold the wire in round nose pliers.  Wrap the wire around one barrel of the pliers, in between the pliers and the bead.You want the loop to end up centered above the bead, so roll the pliers back a little to center the loop.  You can also fix this in the next step.  (You'll get the hang of this with practice!)Step #3Hold the loop in the middle of chain nose pliers.  Wrap around the wire a few times.  Keep the wraps tight and straight.Step #4Trim off any excess wire and push in the end.  Make sure it's not sticking out at all.Ideas for using bead dangles in jewelry:Really I think of the bead dangle as a basic in jewelry making.  You can use them in so many ways.  Start to think creatively and add more beads to them.Here are some ideas to get you thinking further:

• Make simple earrings.  Just add earring wires and you have earrings.
• Make a whole bunch and add in some fun stuff (see below) and make a charm bracelet or try the free mini eCourse to learn how to make a "Souvenir Charm Bracelet."
• Make charm necklaces.
• Make rings with them.

Alternative Jewelry SuppliesI love taking ordinary objects and using them in my jewelry designs.  Once I started using alternative supplies, I began to think about everything in terms of how it could be used for jewelry.Some ideas include:

• Keys
• Key hole covers
• Locks (think little mini padlocks)
• Crystals from chandeliers
• Buttons
• Zippers
• Rules cut up and with holes drilled in them
• Other fun charms you find at flea markets, thrift stores or Goodwill.

Just keep an open mind and you'll find all kinds of things!(I mentioned my Scrabble Tile Pendant Tutorial in the video.  It's not available at this time individually, but it is part of Rediscover Your Creativity & Make Jewelry eCourse)(Newsletter subscribers get this information in their inbox in PDF form, so they can easily print and take to their worktable!)

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Remember, if you head to the Free mini eCourse, you'll learn how to make a bracelet like the one above!