Well, it's
Maker's Monday once again! I was on vacation all last week so today's project was thrown together at the very last minute. I've linked supplies to where I have purchased them but you may buy them elsewhere.
Supplies:
2 natural brass headpins (2 inches long)
3 4mm Swarovski crystals in Light Turquoise
1 natural brass connector/pendant
28 inches of brass-toned chain
3 brass-toned open jump rings (3mm)
1 brass-toned lobster clasp (not in photo)
Tools:
Jeweler's pliers (one or two pairs, depending on your preference)
Flush cutters
Instructions:
1. Slide a crystal onto a headpin. With the tips of your pliers, make a 90 degree bend in the headpin just above the bead.
2. Cut the excess tail from your headpin so that it measures just under 1/2 an inch long.
3. Here's a quick tip for cutting headpins so they are all the same size: when you have trimmed your headpin to the desired size, take your scrap end and line it up with another headpin. Hold them both in your non-dominant hand and cut your headpin, using the scrap as your guide. Repeat for the remaining headpin. They should all be the same length now. Go ahead and make your 90 degree bends in the remaining headpins.
4. Now you'll make your loops. Line the very end of a 90 degree bent headpin and bead up with the mark on your pliers. Make sure the mark is facing up and clamp the pliers around the end of the headpin—hold the rest of the wire tightly with your other hand. Line the headpin up on that mark and make sure the pliers are at the very end of the headpin. Hold the pliers tightly and "roll" them toward you to make a loop. You will notice that you can only roll them so far before you have to stop. Readjust your hands on the pliers and make sure the pliers are snug in the loop you've started. Finish rolling the pliers toward you. Repeat for the other two headpins.
5. Time to add the crystal beads to the connector/pendant! The pendant I'm using I got at the Vintaj booth at this year's Bead and Button Show in Milwaukee, WI. If you make your own jewelry and haven't been to this show ... you need to get there! I was definitely on bead overload. After I got back, I checked Vintaj's website and I didn't see this particular style so it might not be available anymore. You can substitute another style/brand. Slightly open one of your loops by clasping it in
the pliers with one hand and holding it firmly between your thumb and index
finger of your other hand. Gently twist the pliers away from you and the ring
should open. Slide a loop onto a ring of the connector/pendant making sure the opening faces to the back side of the connector/pendant then close it by gently twisting the pliers
toward you. Repeat these steps for the other two rings.
6. Slightly open a jump ring and slide it through the top loop of the connector/pendant with the same push/pull twist you used to open your headpin loops. You can use two pliers if it is easier for you. Close the jump ring reversing the motion.
7. Feed the chain through the jump ring.
8. Add a jump ring to each end of the chain. Depending on which is your dominant hand, you will open one of these jump rings and add your lobster clasp.
Now you have a completed necklace! I hope you're inspired to make your own version of this necklace. What color would you have chosen for the beads?
Supplies:
2 natural brass headpins (2 inches long)
3 4mm Swarovski crystals in Light Turquoise
1 natural brass connector/pendant
28 inches of brass-toned chain
3 brass-toned open jump rings (3mm)
1 brass-toned lobster clasp (not in photo)
Tools:
Jeweler's pliers (one or two pairs, depending on your preference)
Flush cutters
Instructions:
1. Slide a crystal onto a headpin. With the tips of your pliers, make a 90 degree bend in the headpin just above the bead.
2. Cut the excess tail from your headpin so that it measures just under 1/2 an inch long.
3. Here's a quick tip for cutting headpins so they are all the same size: when you have trimmed your headpin to the desired size, take your scrap end and line it up with another headpin. Hold them both in your non-dominant hand and cut your headpin, using the scrap as your guide. Repeat for the remaining headpin. They should all be the same length now. Go ahead and make your 90 degree bends in the remaining headpins.
4. Now you'll make your loops. Line the very end of a 90 degree bent headpin and bead up with the mark on your pliers. Make sure the mark is facing up and clamp the pliers around the end of the headpin—hold the rest of the wire tightly with your other hand. Line the headpin up on that mark and make sure the pliers are at the very end of the headpin. Hold the pliers tightly and "roll" them toward you to make a loop. You will notice that you can only roll them so far before you have to stop. Readjust your hands on the pliers and make sure the pliers are snug in the loop you've started. Finish rolling the pliers toward you. Repeat for the other two headpins.
6. Slightly open a jump ring and slide it through the top loop of the connector/pendant with the same push/pull twist you used to open your headpin loops. You can use two pliers if it is easier for you. Close the jump ring reversing the motion.
Now you have a completed necklace! I hope you're inspired to make your own version of this necklace. What color would you have chosen for the beads?
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