How to Use Jumprings to Make Jewelry

Making jewelry is an excellent way to show off your creative side, but now you have a beautiful design of beads and don't know how to finish it. That's okay, all you need is a jumpring--a small wire ring used to connect a string of beads to the jewelry clasp, or a dangle of beads to the wire hoop of an earring. Here's how to use one.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Two chain nose pliers
• Jumprings

1. Grasp the jumpring with the ends of both sets of pliers on each side of the cut.

2. Pull one side of the jumpring gently toward you and the push the other side away. Open the jumpring just wide enough to fit the loop you're connecting.

3. Slip the looped end of the beading or clasp into the opened ring.

4. Secure the jumpring by reversing Step 2. Rub the ends of the jumpring together to ensure the ring is closed properly.

Tips & Warnings

• Jumprings come in a variety of sizes and colors which you can find at your local jewelry supply store or craft store. You can also find them online.
• Prevent losing your jewelry by making sure the jumpring is completely closed.
• Jumprings can be fragile, so in order to not break them try not to open them more than three times.
• Don't pull the jumpring apart (left to right) from the cut. This distorts the shape of the circle making it very difficult to get it back to its original shape.
• Opening the jumpring too far can also alter the shape of the jumpring.