Instructions for Using Golden Beads

Gold beads can be used to create unique, exotic jewelry designs.

Gold beads come in a variety of different shapes and sizes. Gold beads can be used to embellish a number of different items. The advantage of creating jewelry with gold beads adds value and provides endless design possibilities. It's possible to create a unique design experience choosing to use gold beads produced in Venezuela, or another exotic locale that has a special meaning for you. Designing with gold beads imported from an area of the world of interest to you is a great way to connect with that culture and create a special piece of jewelry to treasure. The techniques used in this example have broad applications in the creation of other types of jewelry.

Things You'll Need

• Gold beads
• Gold spacer beads
• 2 24-mm gold hoops
• 2 gold headpins
• 2 gold ear studs (for pierced ears)
• Flat nose pliers
• Needle nose pliers
• Wire cutters

Instructions

1. Grip the headpin using the needle nose pliers. Stack the largest gold bead first, in order to balance the weight of the design. Stack a small spacer bead. Stack a gold bead that is smaller and opposite in design to the first larger bead. Stack a small spacer bead. Add another smaller spacer bead.

2. Grip the headpin with the needle nose pliers. Cut the headpin 1/4-inch above the last bead with the wire cutters. Grip the headpin above the last bead with the flat nose pliers. Grip the wire with the small joint of the needle nose pliers. Rotate the wire forming a loop with the needle nose pliers. Straighten the wire underneath the loop with the flat nose pliers so that it is centered. Press the loop gently closed with the flat nose pliers. Follow these steps for the other headpin. Put the headpins aside.

3. Grip the gold hoop with the needle nose pliers. Slide a small gold spacer bead onto the hoop. Slide a gold bead of slightly larger size onto the hoop. Slide a small gold spacer bead onto the hoop. Slide the headpin onto the hoop. Slide the same sequence of beads on the other side of the headpin onto the hoop. Repeat this step for the other hoop.

4. Grip the hoop with the needle nose pliers. Bend 1/8-inch of the end of the hoop straight up, creating a hook. Hook this end into the loop on the end to close. Repeat this step with the other hoop.

5. Open the ear wire stud loop using the needle nose pliers. Place the hoop inside the loop on the ear wire stud. Adjust the direction of the loop if necessary with the flat nose pliers. Close the loop gently with the flat nose pliers. Test the weight of the earrings for comfort.

Tips & Warnings

• These beading techniques can be used to assemble gold-beaded necklaces, bracelets and other styles of earrings as well.

References

• How to Wire Wrap a Briolette or Top-Drilled Bead
• How to Make Simple Drop Earrings
• The "How To's" For Beginning Jewelry Makers