How to Make Paper & Wire Sculptured Jewelry
Jewelry doesn't have to include precious metals or gemstones to be attractive. Making your own jewelry at home often results in pieces that are more unique, personal, and interesting than their store-bought counterparts. Of course, making your own jewelry is also much less expensive, and provides the added satisfaction of a hobby. With just a few simple household materials, you can make your own earrings, necklaces, bracelets, rings or pendants in an afternoon--a great way to express yourself while saving money.
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Things You'll Need
- Jewelry wire (available at any craft or beading store) or thin picture-hanging wire
- Paper (assorted varieties)
- Scissors
- Silk cord (optional)
- Ear wires or ear posts (optional--available at any beading store)
- Two pairs of needle-nose pliers
- Thumbtack
Instructions
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1
Select your paper. This is the primary source of color for your jewelry, so pick something unusual. Fragile papers make a beautiful contrast with the wire, but they will need to be carefully reinforced. Choose a thicker, more durable cardstock for your first piece.
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Cut the paper into a fairly small shape--around 1 square inch. Larger shapes can be used, but they will increase the fragility of the piece.
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Use any shape of paper you like, but remember that rounder shapes are more durable, and easier to work with. For added interest, use a piece of a photograph or a drawing, or decorate the shape yourself.
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Using the pushpin, perforate the edges of the paper shape with holes. Make at least four holes around your paper shape.
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Use the needle-nose pliers to guide the wire through each hole. Feed the wire across the entire shape on the back of the paper, and from hole-to-hole on the front. Keep the wire flat against the paper--this will increase the strength of your jewelry. You will occasionally need to hold the wire steady with one pliers, while bending it into position with the other.
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Leave a large end of wire loose at the top of your paper shape. Twist this wire into a loop, coiling it around itself at least five times at the base of the loop. Using both pliers, tuck the end of the wire into the coil, to avoid snags.
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Use a silk cord to make your paper and wire jewelry into a necklace, or attach it to ear wires or posts to make earrings. Alternatively, make several pieces, and attach them all to a charm bracelet.
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References
- Photo Credit the open book and jewelry image by ELEN from Fotolia.com
