How to Make Custom Jewelry
Designing your own custom jewelry offers a way to express your personal style creatively with color and texture. You can mix and match crystal, glass, shell and wooden beads to make a custom necklace, bracelet and earring set to coordinate with any outfit or to fit any occasion. Look for jewelry making supplies at your local craft store or check with online retailers for a much better selection.
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Things You'll Need
- Bead board
- 1 top drilled pendant
- Beads
- Elastic beading cord
- 2 clasps
- Jeweler's glue
- 2 earring wires
- 2 long earring pins
- Round nose pliers
- Needle nose pliers
- Wire cutters
Instructions
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Custom Neclace & Bracelet
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1
Create the design for your jewelry on a bead board. Place the top drilled pendant bead in the center and layout the sides of the necklace in the grooves on the bead board. Your beads will stay in place on the board, and you can customize your design as you go. The bead board also has measurements along both sides so you can easily see how long your jewelry piece will be. You can create a symmetrical piece with both sides exactly the same, or arrange a mixture of crystals, Delicas, wood or clay beads any way you'd like.
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2
Cut a length of elastic beading cord 6 inches longer than the length of your necklace design. Tie either section of your necklace clasp onto the end of the strand with a double overhand knot.
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3
Thread the beads onto the elastic in the order of your design. The first few beads should fit over both strands of elastic cording at the end of your necklace. Tie the other section of your necklace clasp at the end of the strand with a double overhand knot. Feed the tail of the knot down into the beads at the end of the strand.
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4
Add a drop of jeweler's glue to the top of each knot and let it dry. This will help your knot stay in place.
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5
Create a custom bracelet using the same steps as for the necklace, but shorter, to fit your wrist.
Custom Earrings
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6
Thread an arrangement of the same style beads as in your necklace and bracelet onto one of the earring pins. Leave 1/2 inch at the top of the pin bead free.
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7
Grasp the top of the earring pin with your round nose pliers and turn the wire to form a hook. Press the tip of the hook closed to form a circle.
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8
Open the hook at the base of the earring wire with your needle nose pliers. Slide the circle of the earring pin over the earring wire. Squeeze the earring wire closed.
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9
Repeat Steps 1 and 2 to make another earring.
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