How to Make Dangle Bead Jewelry
Making dangle charms from beads is a simple way to dress up a necklace or bracelet chain, or to make a new pair of earrings. With a few basic beading tools and materials you can turn all your leftover beads into dangles that bring your own personal style to your jewelry. Save money on store-bought charms while perfecting a few fundamental wire wrapping techniques.
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Things You'll Need
- Necklace or bracelet chain
- Head pins
- Assorted beads
- Round-nose pliers
- Chain-nose pliers
- Clasp
- 2 ear wires
Instructions
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Necklace or Bracelet
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1
Cut a length of chain 1/2 inch shorter than you want your finished necklace or bracelet to be. A necklace that hangs just below your collar bone should measure between 17 and 19 inches, and an average adult bracelet will measure 7 to 8 inches.
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2
String each bead you want to hang from your necklace or bracelet onto a headpin. Bend the headpin to a near 90-degree angle at the top of the bead and grab the wire at the bend with your round-nose pliers.
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3
Wrap the wire around the tip of your pliers to form a loop. Center the loop above the bead and string it through the link on your chain where you want it to hang. Hold the loop with your chain-nose pliers and wrap the remaining wire around the base of the loop to secure it on the chain.
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4
Hang bead dangles in clusters or evenly spaced along the length of the chain by following the procedure in Steps 2 and 3.
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5
Open the link on the end of your necklace or bracelet chain by holding each side of the opening with your pliers and twisting in opposite directions. Run the link through the attachment hole on one side of the clasp and close it by reversing the twisting motion. Repeat at the other end of the chain and the other half of the clasp.
Earrings
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6
String one to three beads onto each of two headpins, making sure to leave at least 1/2 inch of wire.
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7
Bend the wire at a near 90-degree angle above the top bead and grab the bend with your round-nose pliers. Wrap the wire around the pliers to form a loop.
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8
Center the loop above the beads with your chain-nose pliers and hold in place while you wrap the remaining wire around the base of the loop.
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9
Hold an ear wire in one hand and use your chain-nose pliers to twist the loop at the base open. Attach your beaded dangle charm and twist the ear wire loop closed. Repeat for the other earring.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Browse jewelry design websites like FusionBeads.com and Etsy.com for inspiration and ideas.
Attach your clasp with a jump ring if your chain is soldered shut or too big to fit through the hole on your clasp.
Beads are a choking hazard for young children.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit bracelet image by Magalice from Fotolia.com
