How to Make a Tiara

Use crystal beads in your favorite color to make the tiara.

Create a beautiful tiara for a princess costume, prom accessory or even a bridal headpiece. The tiara is made from simple lengths of medium-gauge jewelry wire that are filled with sparkling crystal beads and iridescent pearls. The tiara is simple enough to make that you can even use it to keep a group of children occupied at a princess or fashion-themed birthday party. Each child can decorate a tiara according to her preferences and bring it home for a memorable party favor.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Medium-gauge jewelry wire
• Crystal and pearl beads

1. Cut an 8-inch-long piece of medium-gauge jewelry wire. Fill the wire loosely by alternating between pearl beads and crystal beads in the pattern of your choice. Leave 1/2 inch of wire empty at the ends.

2. Shape the wire ends into loops and tuck the ends of the loops into the closest beads. The loops allow you to attach the tiara to bobby pins to keep it secure in your hair. Shape the wire into a semicircle to make the tiara's base.

3. Cut a 6-inch-long piece of the wire and fill it with the same type of beads with 1/2 inch empty at the ends. Shape the wire into a semicircle. Hold the wire perpendicular to the base wire and wrap the 1/2-inch ends around the base wire to attach the two.

4. Cut a 4-inch-long piece of wire, fill it with the beads and leave 1/4-inch empty at the ends. Shape the wire into a semicircle and hold the wire perpendicular to the base wire, centered in between the 6-inch-long wire. Wrap the 1/4-inch ends around the base wire.

5. Cut a 2-inch-long piece of wire, fill it with beads and leave 1/4 inch empty ends again. Shape the wire into a semicircle and hold it perpendicular to the base wire, centered in between the 4-inch-long wire. Wrap the ends around the base wire.

References

• "Bead Girl: 25 Sparkly Beading Projects, from Toe Rings to Tiaras"; Mikyla Bruder and David Magnusson; 2001

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish