Perfectly Loopy - Wrapped Wire Loop Tutorial

I get asked a lot about how I make my wrapped wire loops so circular and consistent.  My OCD not withstanding, I put a tutorial together to show how I do it:

Materials:

wire

beads

Tools:

Flush cutter
Needle-nosed pliers (large & small)
Round-nosed pliers
Nylon jaw pliers

Steel bench block

Chasing hammer

Step 1:

Take your wire and wrap it around your smaller-sized round-nosed pliers.  Make a 90 degree bend in the wire at the base of the pliers.  Begin wrapping the end without the bend around the straight wire end.

Step 2:

Finish your wrapped loop, trying to keep the wire as tight as possible.

Step 3:

Turn your loop upside down and add a bead to your wire.  Hold the link by the finished loop and make a 90 degree bend in the other end of the wire, leaving room for the wraps.

Step 4:

Wrap the wire around the pliers, making sure the bend stays at the bottom of the pliers.

Step 5:

Finish wrapping the loop and trim the excess wire.

Step 6:

Here's what your loops will look like now:  in need of flattening.

Step 7:

Using your old nylon-jawed pliers, gently squeeze each loop until they flatten out evenly with your wraps.

Loops after flattening with the nylon-jawed pliers.

Step 8:

To shape the loops, place the loop on the larger round-nosed pliers.  Using your thumbs, push down on both sides of the wire, stretching the loop into a perfect circle.

Step 9:

Place the loop on a steel bench block and gently flatten the top of the loop with the chasing hammer, then turn it around and flatten the other side.

And there you have it - perfectly loopy loops!

"Be Free" 10-Minute Necklace Tutorial For Jewelry In A Pinch

There are times when I want to wear a simple, straightforward piece of jewelry, and can't always find the right one.  This super-easy project is a perfect solution to "I don't have anything to wear"-itis.

Materials:
Silver Bird Accent
12 pc Heart Swirl Charm Set
Large Deco Lobster Clasp
Small Oval Silver Chain
Silver Jump Rings

Tools:
Needle-Nosed Pliers
Flush cutter

Directions:
1. Use an 8mm jump ring and add it to the bird charm. Open the clasp and attach it to the same jump ring you added to the bird.

2. Add 4mm Jump rings to a swirl charm and a round charm.

3. Cut approximately 32" of silver chain.

4. Add the clasp, both charms and both ends of the chain to a 6mm jump ring and close it.

All you need to do is to slip the necklace over your head and you are ready to go!

Bella Crafts Creative Team First Blog Post: Copper Wire Butterfly Bracelet Tutorial

Today is my first blog post for the Bella Crafts Creative Team - woo-hoo!  I wrote a tutorial for this copper wire butterfly bracelet, and you can check out the whole story on their blog here.

Versatile Valentine: Abstract Spiral Heart Pendant Tutorial

This simple design for an abstract wire heart pendant frame is so versatile  and fun!  Here's what you need to begin:

From Prima Bead:
16g wire
Flush cutter
Needle-nosed pliers
Round-nosed pliers
Nylon jaw pliers

From your local hardware store:
Two 6" lengths of 3/4" wooden dowels (or 2 large sharpie markers)
Duct tape or packing tape

Step 1:  Cut a 12" length of 16g wire. at approximately 5 1/2", bend wire so that both sides of wire are together.  Make sure the bend is completely together, using your nylon-jaw pliers if you need to squeeze them together.

Step 2:  Using duct tape or packing tape, tape the two dowels together, leaving a small space between the dowels so the wire can get through.  Set the doubled-over wire in between the dowels, bend-end first, making sure the bend fits through the dowels and bend each side of the wire over the dowels (see picture).  This will form the top of the heart.

Step 3:  Starting with the short end of wire, start a spiral using your round-nosed pliers.

Step 4:  Continue to spiral the wire using your nylon-jawed pliers until it fits snugly into the top of the heart.

Step 5:  Approximately 3 1/2" from the bottom of the non-spiraled wire, bend the wire into a "V" shape - this will create the bottom of the heart.  Start a spiral with this end of the wire in the direction of the "V".

Step 6:  Continue to spiral the wire using your nylon-jawed pliers until it fits snugly into the "V".

Voila!  You're finished!  Just add a jump ring to the non-spiraled side of the heart and hang it on your favorite chain or cord!  You can also try adding beads or more wire to the frame, using a heavier gauge wire, hammering the wire for texture, heating the wire for color, or anything else you can think of!

Have fun, and let me know if you try this technique - I'd love to see your designs!

Rustic Rhinestone Wrap Bracelet Tutorial

Here's a quick, simple bracelet tutorial that will have you making stacks of these little beauties to wear with just about everything in your closet!

Materials Needed (click on the material name for links to supplies):

Black leather cord

Rhinestone chain

20g Black wire

Silver hook clasp

Tools Needed:

Wire cutters

Needle-nosed pliers

1. Cut a piece of leather that is 2x the size of your wrist.  For example, if you have 7.5" wrists, you will want to cut a 15" piece of leather.

2. Cut a 15" piece of the 20g wire.

3. Fold the leather in half and, using the 15" piece of wire, wrap the folded end, forming a loop, leaving the long end of the wire attached and hanging with 2 leather strands:

4. Cut a length of the rhinestone chain that is 1" shorter than the size of your wrist

5. Keeping the two strands of leather tightly side-by-side, lay the rhinestone chain in the little 'valley' between the leather strands and begin to wrap the wire tightly around the leather strands, between each rhinestone link.

6. Continue wrapping to the end of the rhinestone chain and wrap two times around just the leather strands.

7. Fold the remaining leather in half to form a loop with both strands and continue wrapping the leather, making sure to include all four strands of leather (see picture above).

8. Trim off the excess wire, making sure to tuck in the end and secure it tightly with needle-nosed pliers.

9. Add your clasp and you are ready to go!

Try using other color combinations and make a whole bunch of these!  If you decide to try this tutorial, I would love to see your results, so post them online, comment below with the link, and I'll share your pictures here!