How to Make Jewelry Out of Metal Beads

There are many different types of beads that can be used in making handcrafted jewelry. Your finished piece of jewelry will vary significantly, depending on the bead medium you select in your jewelry-making. Using metal beads creates distinctive jewelry. This style of jewelry tends to be somewhat more bold than some of the other beads that could be used. If you use metal beads, often you can soften the effect with a few glass beads as well.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Glass beads (optional) Beading wire (.018 gauge) Closure clasp 2 crimp beads Needle-nosed pliers Wire cutters

1. Determine the finished length of your necklace. Add 2 inches for working.

2. Cut a length of wire to the measurement determined in Step 1.

3. Thread a crimp bead onto one end of the wire.

4. Thread the wire through the loop of one half of the closure clasp. It doesn't matter which half is used.

5. Pass the wire back through the crimp bead and pull the wire taut.

6. Crimp the crimp bead with the needle-nosed pliers. Cut off any excess wire end coming out from the crimped crimp bead.

7. Lay out the metal beads and glass beads if you are using them. Determine your layout.

8. Begin adding the metal and glass beads onto the beading wire according to the design made in Step 7.

9. Add the beads until the wire is filled. Check the necklace, sizing carefully one more time before finishing the bead stringing.

10. Place the second crimp bead onto the wire when the necklace is the proper size.

11. Thread the wire through the loop of the other half of the closure clasp.

12. Repeat Steps 5 and 6 to finish the necklace.

Tips & Warnings

• This same technique can be used to create a matching bracelet. Simply make the bracelet the proper length to fit your wrist.

Resources

• Metal Beads