How to Make Copper Headpieces
Headpieces can be anything from a barrette to a bridal veil to a showgirl style ornament with feathers and fruit. Common materials for headpieces include tulle, beads, lace and netting. Beads offer the most versatility in your headpiece designs; choices include crystal, wood, ceramic, seashell and copper. With a few simple techniques, you can create a beaded copper headpiece that you can wear over your hair or around your forehead.
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Things You'll Need
- Measuring tape
- Beading wire
- Wire cutters
- 3 to 1 connector finding, copper finish
- Round nose pliers
- Crimp beads
- Crimping pliers
- Bead design board
- 4mm round copper beads
- 3x7mm copper corrugated oval beads
- 6mm crystal beads
- Copper bead caps
- 2 jump rings
- Lobster claw clasp
- 6-inch extender chain
Instructions
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1
Cut three 26-inch strands of beading wire. Your finished copper headpiece will have 24 inches of beadwork and 6 inches of chain so you can adjust the fit to accommodate your head. Alter the size of your headpiece by altering the length of the wire strands.
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2
Fold one of the wire strands over a loop in the 3 to 1 connector, 1 inch from the end. A 3 to 1 connector has three loops on one side where you can attach your beaded strands and one loop on the other side where you can attach your clasp. Thread a crimp bead to the loop, covering the beading wire and the 1-inch tail. Crimp the bead with crimping pliers to hold the wire over the connector.
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3
Lay out the design for one strand of your copper headpiece on a bead design board. Bead design boards are covered in felt and have grooves to hold the beads in place. In making your design, mix the copper ovals and the copper rounds with deep crystal beads; sapphire, rich red and deep green are all good choices to pair with the copper. Whenever you add a crystal bead, flank it with a copper bead cap on either side to make the transition appear more finished.
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4
Thread the beads in your design over the wire strand, up to the crimp bead. The first few beads will cover both the tail and the beading strand. Leave 1 inch of beading strand open at the end of your design. Add a crimp bead and hook the wire over a corresponding loop on another 3 to 1 connector.
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5
Repeat Steps 2, 3 and 4 to make three beaded strands.
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6
Open a jump ring with your round nose pliers. Hook the jump ring over the single open end of one of the 3 to 1 connectors. Loop the lobster claw section of the lobster claw clasp over the jump ring. Close the ring. You will not need the other end of the lobster claw clasp
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7
Connect the last link in the 6-inch extender chain to the remaining 3 to 1 connector with a jump ring.
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