| Making jewelry is a fun hobby and for some can | | | | bracelet or ring, decide how many times you |
| become a full time business. At the very least, | | | | want it to wrap around your wrist or finger - |
| you will be able to make gorgeous and unique | | | | wrap the wire right around your own wrist and |
| jewelry to wear and give as gifts. As with any | | | | cut to size. A necklace can only go around your |
| hobby, you need to start with the basics and | | | | neck once (well, you could probably make it to |
| using memory wire to make jewelry is a method | | | | wrap around a couple times but I think it would |
| that requires a bit less skill than some of the | | | | be hard to get on and off). You want to size it so |
| others. Memory wire jewelry does not need a | | | | that the ends overlap a bit. |
| clasp or fancy crimping and one size fits all. | | | | Step 2 - Now you need to close up one end so |
| Memory wire is flexible wire that springs back to | | | | that the beads don't slide off. Take the tip of |
| it's original form when not stretched - kind of like | | | | your needle nose pliers and place them right at |
| a slinky. It comes in necklace, bracelet and ring | | | | the very end of the wire. Now take the wire in |
| sizes. You simply cut off a section to the size you | | | | your other hand and bend it around the pliers. The |
| want and string on beads! | | | | wire is pretty hard, so this might be difficult and |
| Of course, the first step (and the most fun) is to | | | | yoy may have a hard time with this at first. Try |
| decide on the beads! Some people are inspired by | | | | practicing on some smaller pieces first until you |
| artisan made lampwork beads, others by | | | | can make a perfect little loop. Make sure the loop |
| gemstones beads and still others by the vast | | | | is closed off so no beads can escape. Don't worry |
| array of crystal beads. Some like to use all of the | | | | - if you screw up you can just cut off the end |
| above in their beaded jewelry designs! You are | | | | and try again! You want the loop to be as small |
| only limited by your own imagination and there is | | | | as possible so it doesn't detract from our design |
| no "wrong" combination of beads so choose the | | | | Some people also glue on little silver end cap |
| beads that "speak" to you and incorporate them | | | | beads. While this looks a bit better, you run the |
| into your design. | | | | risk of the glue not holding and all your beads |
| To make beaded jewelry using memory wire, | | | | sliding off. This happened to me once and is why I |
| you will need: | | | | use the loop method. To make the loops look a |
| 1. A tool that cuts the memory wire (can be | | | | bit snazzier, I just dangle a bead from them! |
| found in any bead supply store - don't use regular | | | | Step 3 - String the beads! If you are making a |
| wire cutters as you will soon ruin them!) | | | | necklace that has a certain design or focal piece in |
| 2. The memory wire (sold in packages where you | | | | the middle, you will have to be careful to space |
| can get 2 or 3 pieces of jewelry out of each | | | | the beads exactly so that they are symmetrical |
| package) | | | | and the focal piece is in the exact middle. |
| 3. Needle nose pliers | | | | Step 4 - Close the other end. Using the method in |
| 4. The beads! | | | | step 2, close up the other end and you are done! |
| Step 1 - Cut the memory wire to size. For a | | | | |