As the flowers start budding all around us, I love to celebrate them with flower-inspired crafts – like these simple wire bookmarks with a semi-abstract rose design.

This project is a great introduction to wire crafting for beginners or for younger crafters, and a fun new idea for those who are already familiar with the art. You’ll be surprised and impressed by how professional these bookmarks look, and how easy they are to make.

While I’ve designed and demonstrated these as bookmarks, you can also use them in other ways. You can use them on their own as fancy paper clips, or you can attach them to the frame of a bulletin board to hold photos or memos.

I’ve used purple wire for the tutorial, but craft wire actually comes in many colors, which can give your flower “garden” a whole different look!

If you’re ordering online, make sure to look for craft wire or jewelry wire, because electrical wire also comes in 18 gauge and you don’t want to end up with the wrong type when you’re eager to get started on your craft.

When you’ve gotten the hang of this simple craft and you’re ready to try something a little more complex, try starting with your own template. Just start with a spiral and build our design around it – and see if you can master it!

What you’ll need

• Craft wire, 18 gauge
• Jewelry pliers (round and flat nosed)
• Wire cutter
• Chasing Hammer, Bench Block (optional)

• The template (download at the end of this post)

How to Make a Wire Flower Bookmark

1. Take your spool of wire and use the round pliers to make a small loop at the starting end – don’t cut the wire off the roll yet.

2. Circle the wire around the loop 2-3 times to create a swirling design. This will be the head of the flower – think of an abstract rose style.

3. Use the flat-nose pliers to bend the wire 90 degrees to stick straight out from the swirl. This will be the top of the flower’s stem.

4. To begin making the leaf, use the pliers to bend the wire about 45 degrees upward (for the non-mathy, that’s tilting back toward the flower head)

5. Decide how big you want the leaf to be. Put the flat nose pliers where you want the leaf to end, and bend the wire downward to make the tip of the leaf.

6. Use the flat nose pliers to pinch the tip, creating a point.

7. To make the vein in middle of the leaf, bend the wire back from the bottom of the leaf toward the tip, going through the middle of the leaf shape. Cut off the wire a little before the tip of the leaf.

Place the wire flower on a flat surface and hammer it to flatten it to work harden it and and give it a finished look.

To use it as a bookmark or paper clip, slide the paper between the swirls of the flower head.

Download the Wire Flower Bookmark Template:

To download, fill out the form below. You’ll be signed up for our free newsletter – unsubscribe at any time in the footer of the emails. I respect your privacy and the law and won’t share your information with anyone.

The post Wire Flower Bookmark appeared first on Moms and Crafters.

Who doesn’t love a bunny rabbit? This one may not be quite soft and fluffy, but he is definitely ready to cuddle up with you and your favorite book – or maybe a new book that you haven’t gotten to know just yet.

While DIY wire bookmarks aren’t exactly a beginner craft, it’s simple enough to learn how to form with our free downloadable template below. If you’ve never shaped wire before, it’s worth taking the time to give this a couple of tries. Before long, you’ll be giving these DIY wire bunny bookmarks as gifts to people who won’t believe you did it yourself!

And you won’t want to stop with bunnies!

Craft wire is available in a variety of colors, so you can choose how you want this project to look. Or consider making the same thing in a few different colors for a beautiful gift set. 

For this craft, you’ll need 18-20 gauge wire. A smaller gauge number means the wire is thicker – it may be harder to work with, but the shape will be sturdier in the end. I highly recommend going with a good quality 18 gauge jewelry wire to get fabulous results!

You’ll also need to use pliers. If you don’t already own pliers, don’t be intimidated – it is not expensive to purchase a simple set, and you’ll find them useful for all kinds of things once you have them!

Grab your supplies and let’s hop right into it!

Supplies Needed for your Bunny Bookmark

• Craft wire – 18 or 20 gauge.aluminum wire is lighter weight and easier to manipulate but won’t hold as well as jewelry wire. I recommend jewelry wire in 18 gauge for best results.
• Chain Nosed jewelry pliers – the ones used for this tutorial were serrated jaw ones which grip the wire better, but smooth ones will mark the wire less.
• Bunny template (download and print here)
• Wire cutters
• Optional: Chasing hammer, steel bench block, and leather sandbag for work hardening

How to Make a DIY Wire Bookmark

Note: the final template was based on the finished project. The steps are photographed with an earlier sketched template.

1. Take your whole spool of wire and start using the loose end without cutting it off. Choose the size bunny you’d like to work with and cut it from your printed template.

2. Use the tip of your pliers to make a small loop at the end of the wire. This will prevent you from having a sharp end poking out of your finished project.

3. Begin forming the wire into a spiral, with the loop at the center. You can use the pliers to hold one end, or just use your fingers, whichever is easier for you. Follow the printed template as you circle around 2-3 times.

4. Hold your spiral against the template to check if the size is correct. If not, you can easily adjust it by pulling it looser or tighter. It does not need to match the template exactly; you can use the template as an approximate suggestion.

5. Use the flat-nosed pliers to bend the wire away from the spiral. This will form the bottom of the head.

6. Holding your wire on top of the template, bend the side of the head along the printed outline.

7. Use the flat-nose pliers to bend the bottom of the ear away from the curve of the head.

8. Following the shape of the outline – again, as a model/suggestion, it does not need to line up exactly – find the tip of the ear and use the pliers to bend it over. Use the pliers to pinch the tip of the ear and make it a little pointy.

9. Continue using the pliers to bend and pinch as you follow the outline for the top of the head and the other ear.

10. Bend the remaining side of the head according to the outline, the same way you did the first side of the head.

11. Curve the wire around the shape of the body until you’re back near the bottom.

12. Use the pliers to bend the wire away from the body and pull it a little upward to form the bottom of the tail. 

13. Measure about an inch of wire for the tail, and cut off the extra using a wire cutter.

14. Use the tip of your pliers (or needle-nose pliers) to create a small loop at the end of the wire like you did at the beginning of the project.

15. Bend the wire according to the template to form the tail shape.

16. Use your hands to make any adjustments to the bunny shape if you feel it’s needed. To flatten and work harden: Place your bunny on a steel bench block positioned on a leather sandbag. The sandbags helps absorb shocks and keep things in place.

Use a chasing hammer to flatten the project. Tap softly and flip your project over to hammer the other side as it curls up. Keep flipping, adjusting, and hammering until you’re happy with the final result.

To use the bookmark, slide the body swirl over a page like a paperclip. The head and ears will peek out of the closed book. How sweet!

The post DIY Wire Bookmarks – In a Sweet Bunny Shape appeared first on Moms and Crafters.

I originally decided to make myself a paperclip chain bracelet WITHOUT necessarily blogging a tutorial, but then on a whim picked up my phone and took process photos.

And of course, I followed up with images of the final craft. So here I am sharing how to make DIY chain bracelets using wire – rather than actual chain by the foot.

Disclosure: because of this, the images aren’t the greatest! I hope you’ll enjoy the tutorial regardless.

I used 20 gauge wire to make this. You can definitely go thicker, it’ll just be harder to work. It’ll also be sturdier. I don’t recommend using anything thicker than 16 gauge – even 18 is better – as twisting your links closed will be a challenge.

I used gold filled wire because I wanted a gold bracelet that I can shower in. You can also user copper or sterling.

I don’t recommend making wire wrapped designs with totally fake wire, as the metal is a major component of the bracelet. It won’t be worth all your hard work to have it look awful after one use!

You can see that I also made a very simple beaded bracelet to go with it! This one is simply blue gemstones with gold filled round spacer beads. They are linked together on wrapped loops.

One of the things I love about paperclip chain bracelets is that they are so much fun to stack and wear every day! And DIY chain bracelets are no different.

To me, the only thing cooler than treating myself to a new piece of jewelry is treating myself to one that I designed. The feeling when I complete a piece that I love is just so accomplishing. You can try more things to make with beads and wire that’ll really make you smile.

When you’re done, give these DIY metal stick earrings a go! Or, try learning how to make hoop earrings with wire from scratch. Learn everything you need to know about making copper jewelry too.

What you need to make DIY chain bracelets

• Wire: I used 20 gauge twisted gold filled wire – dead soft that I had in my stash. I can’t find a link for the twisted one, but here’s the equivalent in smooth wire.
• Round nose pliers
• Wire cutters
• Nylon jaw pliers
• Ball peen hammer
• Steel bench block
• Recommended to absorb blows: sandbag
• Optional – to created beaded links: 22 gauge wire
• Optional – to create beaded links: 3 mm round beads
• Clasp
• Optional: jumpring

How to make a paperclip chain bracelet without soldering

1. First, take your pliers and curve over your wire about 3/4 – 1 inch. You basically want it to take the shape and form of a paperclip.

2. Bend it over again, so that your first bit aligns with the portion that’s still on the spool. You almost have a paperclip now.

3. Trim it from the spool so that the loop overlaps for most of the length of one side.

4. Using pliers, bend up the bit that overlaps about 1/3 of the way from the curved end. Try not to ruin the shape of your paperclip, but if you need to, don’t worry too much about it. You’ll reshape it later.

5. Twist it around the other portion with an open end. It’ll twist about two times.

6. Then take the other end that’s still overlapping a bit. Twist it around the other side right next to where that one coils. This part is a bit trickier and finer work, but you’ll manage it just fine. Make sure your cut ends of wire aren’t poking out at all.

Do this for every link! My bracelet has five links.

7. Take your single link to your bench block. Work harden it and secure it by gently tapping with your chasing hammer. to absorb the blows, you can place a sandbag below your bench block.

8. I connected my links using a simple wrapped beaded link. If you’re not doing it, you’ll want to attach the next link basically at the point that you have a paperclip (step 3).

To make wrapped loop links: Take a few inches of wire. Form a wrapped loop through the link.

9. Slide on a few spacer beads.

10. Form a second wrapped loop connecting it to your next link.

11. Continue until your bracelet is long enough and then add a clasp. This can connect to your final chain link, or add a jump ring as a connector.

Your DIY chain bracelets are complete! I hope you’re proud to wear it out and about and get many years of use from this gorgeous, unique paperclip chain bracelet!

The post DIY Chain Bracelets: No Solder Paperclip Chain! appeared first on Moms and Crafters.

Making your own earwires is a fantastic way to save space in your craft room and to save money when making jewelry with more expensive metals.

The raw materials when crafting with copper and silver, for example, will likely be cheaper than buying the components.

I love to make my own earwires when I’m using a material that I don’t necessarily stock. I have loads of gold and silver plated components, but I have more of a copper wire stash than anything else. So I make my own copper findings.

I’ve shared in the past how to make wire jewelry clasps as well as how to make jump rings from scratch.

Today, I’m sharing my favorite: how to make earwires. I do this a LOT because of the cool organic feel you get.

I also struggle with ‘lost earring syndrome’ when wearing hook earrings. And I never seem to have enough backs. When I make my own earwires, I often make it elongated so that it stays in better.

You can even take this a step further as I did with these DIY metal earring. And finally, the earrings you see modeled in this post were made for my tutorial on how to wrap crystals with wire – but I made sure to photograph the process of how to make earwires so that I can then share that tutorial too! You can see the other style featured in this wire wrapped pendant (minus the outer wire).

Which wire should you use for making your own earwires?

It’s very important to choose a good wire weight for making earwires from scratch.

You don’t want it too thin or it’ll be flimsy.

You don’t want it too thick or it won’t be comfortable to wear.

A good size would be 18 gauge. You can probably get away with 16 gauge wire here too. Play around with what works for you. Remember that the higher the gauge the thinner the wire. The lower the gauge the thinner it is.

What you need to make DIY earwires

• 18 Gauge copper wire
• Wire Cutters
• Nylon Jaw Pliers
• Round nose pliers – it doesn’t have to be one with guides, but it’ll definitely help!
• File (or wire end rounder)
• Chasing hammer
• Steel bench block
• Sandbag – recommended to absorb the shock of hammering
• Clamp – recommended to more easily bend two at the same time

How to Make Earwires – Step by Step with Photos

1. Cut two pieces of wire about 2.5 inches long.

2. Round off the ends (or at least the end that’ll be poking into the ear).

3. Slightly bend back the end using the nylon jaw pliers so you don’t nick it. This makes it easier to angle into the ear.

4. Hold the two wires together so that the portion you bent back align. Holding them with a clamp with a flat end really helps with this step. Determine how long you want your earwire to be. Bend the two together around your round nose pliers together at that point.

5. Place your wires on your steel block, on top of your sandbag. Tap gently with the flat side of the hammer to slightly work harden it. Leave the bottom portion alone as you want it to remain workable to make your loop. Make sure it keeps its form as you harden it and flip it over to hammer the reverse if it starts curling up.

6. Using your round nose pliers, curl back a loop on your earwire to attach whatever will be dangling from it. Make its partner to match.

7. Make a pair! You’ve succesfully learned how to make earwires in a beautiful, elongated, and more practical shape. To make it less elongated, make a wider loop and make the loop much higher up.

When you’re done, open the loop a little to attach your dangle!

You’ve successfully nailed how to make ear wires from scratch!

The post How to Make Earwires from Scratch appeared first on Moms and Crafters.

I love the look of top-drilled stones wrapped in copper wire! A while ago, I picked up some beautiful crystals to make myself jewelry. They did not work for what I had planned them for, as they were top drilled.

They are, however, perfect for making wire wrapped crystal pendants, and so today I’m going to teach you how to wrap crystals with wire!

I’m going to show you how to wrap two types of crystals. One is more rugged and durable, and so you can use a thicker wire that holds its shape. I used 22 gauge.

This is a great bead type for learning, for beginners.

The other is extremely delicate (and cost me an arm and a leg- and sat with my craft supplies for ten years! Can you relate?)

It’s a smaller crystal that is good for detailed cluster jewelry or minimalist pieces. For this I used super thin 28 gauge wire. It was maybe a bit too thin, but all the better to show you how to work with it.

This second method is great for using with top-drilled briolette crystals, however as you can see, the square cut crystals that I used are suited to this method too.

Finish these wire wrapped crystals as pendants, earrings, or whatever you want! It’s a great jewelry skill to have in your repertoire.

You can learn more about copper jewelry making if you’d like, or check out my full list of jewelry crafts for every age and stage!

What you need to make wire wrapped crystal pendants

• Crystals or any top-drilled beads – I used these really cool Aurora Borealis hematite beads.
• Wire – 22 gauge for a larger, more sturdy crystal, 24-26 gauge for a more delicate crystal. I like working with copper, but you can use any metal, as you can see that I experimented with
• Jewelry pliers: I used round nose pliers, flush cutters, as well as nylon jaw pliers.

How to wrap crystals with wire

1. Insert the end of your wire into the hole, leaving a couple of inches sticking out.

2. Bend the sides up to the top of the bead to form a triangle.

3. Use the round nose pliers to curve the smaller end of wire down so that it crosses over itself right at the top of the bead.

4. Take the longer end of the wire and wrap it a couple of times around that area right above the bead where the smaller end crossed over itself. At this point, you can trim it off the spool to roughly a foot.

5. Finish up that little piece of wire by wrapping it around that crossed-over point right above the tip of the bead, right below or above the other wire. Tuck the end so that it really sits tight against the wrapped portion.

6. There’s no real trick (that I know of) to wrapping neatly – besides for practice maybe. So just go for it! Grab that wire with your hand, and just wrap as neatly as you can. I recommend wrapping from the bottom of your loop that you formed, all the way down to the hole in one run. That means covering over the previous spots you wrapped.

If you feel you need to readjust it, you’ll want to use nylon jaw pliers so that you don’t mark your wire.

7. When you’re done wrapping, just trim the wire (or wrap until the end) and tuck the tip as flush as you can with the whole shebang so that it doesn’t poke out and ruin that gorgeous top. As you can see, it’s as if there’s no hole! You simply can’t see it, but your crystal is super secure because there really is a hole.

If you’d like to add a little style when you learn how to wrap crystals with wire, you can take a little detour, and wrap the same wire a bit around the center of the bead.

The main change you’ll make if you’re wrapping a very delicate crystal: form a wrapped loop first, off the bead.

Add the crystal, and bend/groove your wire with your hands so that it sits nicely below the wrapped loop.

Wrap ‘er up the same way you did before! Wrap the long wire a couple of times to hold things down, wrap the tail of the short wire and hide it, and then use the long wire to wrappy till you’re happy…

When you’re done learning how to wrap crystals with wire, make a dozen, add them to a dozen chains, make half a dozen earrings – the choices are all yours!!

The post How to wrap crystals with wire appeared first on Moms and Crafters.

Ready to learn how to make jump rings? I’ve previously shared how to make wire jewelry clasps – and this one is even more important to know!

I’m thrilled to teach you this basic jewelry making skill, fantastic for making copper wire jewelry or any precious or non-precious metal jewelry! These are great to make for Cricut leather earrings, polymer clay jewelry, and more.

You’ll need jump rings for virtually any jewelry making crafts for kids and adults.

And the supplies you need are so simple – you literally can use your regular jewelry making supplies that you already have.

Should you make your own jump rings or just buy?

I haven’t bought jump rings in years! And I make LOTS of jewelry. My go-to is to DIY my jump rings.

It’s a cool skill to make your own jump rings for a few reasons:

It’s much easier to just keep wire as a raw material rather than having each finding for each color and size you’ll need.

1. You can customize your size and shape to suit your craft.
2. It’s more space-efficient.
3. It’s more cost-effective.

That being said, it does add an extra step to your projects. So I would recommend getting an assortment pack or two in the color metal you use most (or just a pack in the size and color you use most instead of an assortment).

What you need to make jumprings

You just need three things in your craft room to DIY jump rings!

1. Round Pliers:

I use regular round nose pliers to make my jump rings.

There are special jump ring plies you can get to make jump rings.

The question is: do you need it?

I’ll tell you from experience, you definitely do not. I make my own jump rings. I literally haven’t bought jump rings in years. And I don’t own a jump ring tool.

That being said, if you care about precision in sizes and/or want an easy way to gauge size especially when making larger sizes, I DO recommend getting special pliers.

2. Flush Cutters:

You can use the same wire cutters you use in all your jewelry projects!

You will want a pair that’s nice ‘n sharp at the tip and hasn’t blunted over time, as you’ll heavily use the tip for this.

3. Wire:

Of course, you need wire. Gauge is important: I like to use 18 gauge but you might prefer 20 gauge (thinner), depending on the project you’re working on. If you want it to be super thick or decorative, go for 14-16 gauge. These will be harder to work with but will hold better too.

BONUS: Some optional specialty tools do exist to make your life easier

• Jump Ring Maker –
• Nylon Jaw Pliers – I have these handy anyway for using soft metals. These help you not nick your wire and are an essential tool for opening and closing your jump rings (rather than making them) but can help you in making cool shapes (see below)
• Coil Cutting Pliers – these don’t have the best reviews but I want you to know it exists. It basically holds your coil while you cut through with a saw in a straight line.
• Jump Ring Tool – This really only makes sense if you’re making jump rings in bulk, but is fantastic if you are.

How to make jump rings the easy way

1. Starting from the tip of your wire, grasp it at the lowest/widest point of your round nose pliers.

Start coiling.

2. Continue coiling your wire so that the new loops go below the first wire, staying consistent with your size. Let the old wire move up on the pliers, eventually moving off them if you’re making a lot.

3. Continue coiling as many as you need – or until you feel like it’s not going so well anymore. Remove the wire coil from the pliers.

4. Snip your coil off the main roll.

5. Snip away at your jump rings, cutting them off one at a time where they meet.

That’s it! You’ve learned how to make your own easy jump rings from scratch!

You don’t need to worry about slight inconsistencies – just make sure to close it well when you’re actually using it!

How to make decorative jump rings

Want to make decorative jump rings?

There are a few ways to do this:

1. Use thicker wire.
2. Use decorative wire.
3. Use colorful wire.
4. Make decorative shapes.

I like to make decorative shapes using decorative wire for a double win!

While you can purchase metal forming pliers, you don’t need it if you’re just making a few decorative jump rings.

I hope you enjoyed learning how to make jump rings from wire! Which are your favorite tools to use? Comment below!

The post How to Make Jump Rings from Scratch appeared first on Moms and Crafters.

If you’re making your own jewelry using wire, you can make simple clasps for bracelets and necklaces! Here, I teach you how to make wire jewelry clasps.

These clasps are best for wire jewelry creations because they really flow with the look. They are stupid simple S hook clasps that anyone can make.

Use these on stiff bracelets or on necklaces. Loose bracelets will be less secure with this clasp.

I originally made this for my simple beaded bangles but it can have so many other applications!

I’ll take this moment to remind you how wire gauge works. The lower the number the thicker the wire. The thicker the wire the more sturdy it is, and the easier it is to work with.

I used 16 gauge wire to teach you how to make wire jewelry clasps because:

1. Some of my tools (wire cutter, end rounder) are recommended for a maximum thickness of 16 gauge.
2. It is easier to work with but totally thick enough, making it a “happy medium”.

I happen to be obsessed with copper so I used this exact wire, but you can do this with any real, non-coated metal, such as silver or brass.

What you need to make DIY jewelry clasps

• Wire – I like to use copper. 20 gauge at minimum, 14-16 is best
• Wire cutters
• Optional: file to smooth the end
• Round nose pliers
• Nylon jaw pliers
• Chasing hammer
• Steel bench block

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How to make wire jewelry clasps

1. If you’d like, smooth the end of your wire using the file. Fold it back as small as you can using nylon jaw pliers so you don’t nick your wire.

2. Leave about an inch and curve back. I used the widest point of of the pliers to measure the size of this curve.

3. Trim your wire off the spool. I left just about the same length as the length of the clasp.

4. Form a simple loop from the end you just cut off. Use the nylon jaw pliers to bend your wire slightly TOWARDS the first fold you made in step 1. This should be just below that point, as pictured. Use the round nose pliers to form a loop starting form the tip, and curling away from the loop.

5. Work harden your clasp by hammering it with the flat side of a chasing hammer. You can also use the ball side to add a fun hammered texture.

6. Attach your clasp to your bracelet or necklace and enjoy how gorgeous it looks!

You’ve successfully nailed how to make wire jewelry clasps! Keep making more and more and watch your skills improve!

Now try these:

The post How to make wire jewelry clasps appeared first on Moms and Crafters.

Wire wrapped rings are pretty cool, simply because there seems to be fewer options out there for those of us who do not solder to make DIY rings.

You can totally personalize even this beginner-level wire wrapped ring tutorial using different beads, as you’ll see below.

You can totally stack these rings, but if they feel bulky, just wear one for a minimalist look. Or wear them on different fingers. These might be a classic but they are SO cool!

A few notes about this wire wrapped ring tutorial

These were made with larger seed beads. A few little tidbits about this:

• Seed beads come in a huge variety of sizes. The larger the size number the smaller the bead.
• Check the hole size to make sure it matches up with your wire
• Be wary of coated beads that may scratch as you work with them.

Seed beads make great practice beads, since they’re relatively inexpensive.

However, you can also use other small beads, such as Czech crystal rondelles, or a single oval gemstone. The main thing is to make sure that your wire works well with your bead color.

A few notes about choosing the right wire for this wire wrapped ring tutorial:

If you’re new to jewelry making, you might want to work with “practice wire“. That is, the cheapest wire you can find.

However, if you’re beyond your first attempt, you’ll probably want a “real metal” wire – brass, copper, sterling all work. You just don’t want something coated that’s easy to scrape off. It just won’t look as good.

Look for a dead soft wire if you can. Personally, I work with copper a lot, as you can see from these wire hoop earrings I made a while ago, as well as these cool DIY metal earrings.

What you need to make wire wrapped rings

• 18 gauge wire
• Jewelry pliers – flush cutters, round and flat nose pliers
• Seed beads or other small beads
• Ring mandrel

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How to make wire wrapped rings

1. Measure your ring size and cut wire 4 times the length of your ring size. String on 4 to 6 seed beads.

2. Bring the beads to the center of the wire and hold them against the mandrel slightly above the point of your ring size. Wrap both sides of the beaded wire around the mandrel one time. crossing them over in the back.

3. Bring them around the front, with one side of the wire below the beaded part and the other side of the wire over the beaded part. 

4. Carefully remove the beaded wire ring from the mandrel.

5. Coil the open end of the wire that you now have on the left neatly 3-4 times around the ring base, right next to where the beads are.

6. Repeat on the other side.

Use the flat nose pliers to flatten the coiled parts to give it a finished look and to make sure the ends of the wires aren’t poking out. Place the ring on the mandrel to give it a good shape.

The post Wire Wrapped Ring Tutorial appeared first on Moms and Crafters.

Metal beads make beaded bangles look SO classy! Use small beads in different tones for a WOW look – it’s elegant, it’s got a touch of quirky, and it’s easy and fun to stack and wear!

Here I made one bangle using mixed metals in both matte and glossy finishes, and another using matte copper beads in different shapes.

Last time I did this, I used simple round spacer beads on one and matte antique-style square beads on the other. Both looks are amazing. But if you’re sticking with silver beads, definitely go with something simple that has a touch of character, like hte square beads!

I used a clasp because I have, well… a big hand. A big hand and a small wrist, which don’t match well with bangles. So I put on a clasp that’s somewhat subtle. It does break up the whole clean-ness of it, but it doesn’t show much and it DOES make it much easier to wear.

In this tutorial, I’ll teach you how to make beaded bangles with clasps. You can try to expand the size a little and make it without a clasp.

Variate the style of your beads to make your bangles perfect for stacking! They also stack beautifully with other bangles and beads. I’ve stacked the copper beaded one with other copper bangles and the mixed metal with wider leather bracelets.

Learn how to make beaded bangles to give out as gifts or keep for yourself. They’re:

1. Inexpensive to make
2. Quick to make
3. An impressive gift!

Simple beaded bangles also look amazing as standalone bracelets, with a delicate, minimalist feel.

What you need to make simple beaded bangles:

• Wire – thicker is better. Try for 18 gauge, but if that won’t work, use 20 gauge. A thicker wire (lower number) will hold the bangle shape better, but it needs to fit through your bead. Choose a wire color that works with your beads (copper, silver…)

• Small beads – Across the bracelets I made I used:
  • 4mm round beads
  • 4mm cubes
  • Assorted matte rose gold hematite
  • 3mm round mixed metals
• A clasp – one or two sided. Just make sure it goes will with your bangle – it’ll show! The copper one I made – you can learn how to make wire jewelry clasps here!
• Pliers – round nose, needle nose, and side cutter. I recommend nylon coated pliers instead of serrated jaws so you don’t mark your wire if working with precious metals (such as copper).

Want to learn how to make jewelry out of anything? Get the book!

How to make beaded bangles:

1. Bend back.

Bend back the tip of your wire about 8mm – or enough to form a comfortably sized loop.

2. Form loop

Using the round nose pliers, curl it inward from the tip to form a loop.

3. String

String your beads onto the wire until you’re satisfied with the length. Since this is a stiff bangle, you don’t want it to be too tight, but you want it to be small enough to remain comfortable and not slip off (especially if you’re using a clasp).

4. Finish & Shape

Create a second basic loop when you’re done. First trim it to size, leaving 8mm. Leave a little slack – don’t pull the beads tight. Then bend the wire back and form the loop. Shape your bangle using your fingers to form a smooth oval.

5. Clasp

Attach your clasp! You can use a simple spring ring clasp or lobster claw, and hook it right onto the opposite loop or add a jumpring or chain. I used a DIY s-hook clasp for my copper one and hooked it right onto the other end. Because my bangle is the right size, it doesn’t slip off.

You have successfully learned how to make beaded bangles! They are ready to wear or to gift.

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Copper is a top choice for beginner metal jewelry artists for the following reasons:

• It’s a “real” metal that won’t flake or peel.
• It’s soft enough – and comes in soft versions – so you can work with it.
• It’s also really affordable.

I also happen to love how copper looks.

Today, I’m thrilled to teach you some copper jewelry making skills for beginners.

This post is geared toward those of you who are truly starting out but I’ll include some recommended reading to take it a step further.

Because it’s for true beginners, I focus on copper wire.

I recommend copper sheets, which require sawing and more advanced techniques, as well as techniques that require joining pieces, for those who are at the level past this one.

Tools for copper jewelry making

When you go in deep, you’ll worry about soldering tools and such. For now, we’re going into what any jewelry artist or crafter might want to get started with copper jewelry making – in addition to the regular jewelry making tools.

Nylon Jaw Pliers:

When working with copper – or any precious metal – you want nylon jaw pliers. This is similar to your typical pliers only the jaws are literally covered in nylon. This helps you not nick the soft metal and keep your piece in top notch shape.

Wire rounder – or file:

A wire end rounder is a file with a little round groove at the end that contains the filing bits inside. You use it to remove burrs at the end of your wire and to round it. You can also use a regular file.

Ball Peen Hammer:

Otherwise known as a Ball Pein Hammer or Chasing Hammer. This special hammer should carry some weight. Use it to hammer your metal.

Hammering metal accomplishes two things which I will get into further down in this post when we discuss techniques.

Steel Bench Block:

This is a chunk of steel that you place under your item when you are hammering. You need a solid block that won’t (or will minimally) give in to your hammering so that your metal actually gives.

Leather Sandbag:

Place it under your bench block (if you want). Leather makes it slip resistant. It helps damper the blow and the sound of your hammering.

Which wires to use for jewelry making

Before trying copper jewelry making, you’ll want to learn the differences between different wires and the terms:

Shape:

You’ll mostly want round wire. This basically means that the wire itself is round in shape and it’s the most versatile of all wires. I sometimes use square wire to form the base of something that’s sturdier and more elegant. Another common shape is half round. For the purposes of these copper jewelry making ideas, you’ll want round wire.

Hardness:

Copper wire comes in dead soft, half hard, and hard. For many projects you’ll want dead soft, simply because it’s the easiest to work with and comforms the most. For things like earwires that require the most stability and might not be hammered (more on that to come…) you’ll want something a little harder.

Gauge:

Gauge refers to the thickness of your wire. The higher the gauge, the thinner the wire. 14-16 gauge is a nice, thick base. 20-22 gauge is thinner but still holds, and is great for findings. 24-28 is really thin and best for wrapping. I got this pack of thinner wires….

….and this one of thicker wires – they are great stash builders. I did add other wires (a 28 gauge spool and a 16 gauge square coil) when I needed them.

Want to learn how to make jewelry out of anything? Get the book!

Copper Jewelry Making Techniques

Now we’re moving on to how you actually go about copper jewelry making. Of course, these are just very basic copper jewelry making techniques, but they are the building blocks you’ll need. And once you know these, you’ll be able to make a lot as you can see with the projects below:

Hammering copper jewelry

Hammering provides two benefits: it hardens your wire and it adds texture. Hammer when you’re happy with the shape (more or less) as it really does solidify it to some degree. Trying to reshape a wire that’s been hammered often causes it to break.

To hammer: place your metal on your bench block (which can be sitting on a leather sandbag if you want). To flatten, hammer with the flat side. To add texture, hammer with the ball side.

Keep in mind: as you’re hammering, your metal responds accordingly. You’ll see it bend and curl. Make sure you’re readjusting and guiding your metal as you go along to move in the direction you want it to. Flip over your piece when the wire curls upward. If it’s moving away from you and you want it to move toward you, rotate your piece.

Wire Wrapping with Copper

Wrapping is a whole skill of its own, and it can be super simple or elaborate. Guess which of those two I love?

If you guessed simple, you got it right. You can do so much with a bit of freeform wrapping without the pressure of crazy designs.

Wrapping is really about making the wire do what you want it to, and is quite a fun beginner skill. I have a couple of projects below to start you off with.
Generally, when wrapping, makes sure your beginning coils are flush against your main wire that you’re wrapping it around. Do this by pressing it tight with a flat nose pliers.

Rounding Wire Ends

An important stage of finishing off a wire piece when copper jewelry making is rounding your ends. This is especially important with loose ends – those that aren’t flush against another wire.

Rounding it basically means filing off the burrs that are left when you cut a piece of wire. Do this by using a file or end rounder, and gently removing those bits.

Copper Jewelry Making Projects for Beginners

Make each of these to get started with the different techniques you’re ready to learn! As I add more projects to the blog, I’ll add them here, but meanwhile, feel free to subscribe for updates so that you don’t miss any…

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Wire Hoops

A classic, these wire hoop earrings are a lyre harp inspired shape. The two-piece design shows you how different wire sizes provide different benefits, with a thinner earwire and a thicker hoop. It also gives it a bit of dangle. You’ll learn how to make earwires that are good for any project too . This tutorial also teaches you the basics of hammering and rounding.

Stick Earrings

Mix your designs with beads in these DIY metal earrings! A good, rounded end means a beautiful hammered end. This tutorial demonstrates how versatile your skills can be even before you can solder. It’s made of a few inches of copper wire combined with a stunning Druzy bead – that’s it!

Hammered Hearts

Make these hammered wire heart pendants for a loved one – or turn them into keychains. The focus here is obviously on hammering, but you can see that beautifully wrapped coil in the center that’ll help you sharpen your manipulation skills. It also shows you the powerful effect you can get with a nice, thick wire.

Wire Wrapped Hearts

Get started wrapping! Wire wrapped hearts have a gorgeous, almost lacy look with a hint of color. Again, the focus is showing you how different gauges of wire play out differently – but whatever you do with it, it’s just gorgeous.

Wire wrapped cabochons

Learn How to Wire Wrap Stones Without Holes with this basic copper jewelry making tutorial. This one is less freeform but you can get the drift and go with the flow on the next one. I just LOVE how the copper tones look on deep amethyst.

Beaded frame earrings

A fun twist on wire wrapping, these copper earrings are colorful and unique. Play around with different shapes and bead combos.

Tassel earrings

While these tassel earrings are more multi-textured and dimensional, you’ll love seeing how wire can play out in filling in for other jewelry making crafts – as well as beautiful wrapped links.

Copper Jewelry Making Books

Ready to take your copper jewelry making skills to the next level? These books are fantastic ‘further reading’ for copper jewelry making – both for basic skills and next-level techniques:

• Chic Metal: Modern Metal Jewelry to Make at Home – I bought this about eight years ago and used it to self-teach many of my current skills
• Handcraft Wire Jewelry: Chains •Clasps •Pendants – I love this book for people who want to learn how to make various jewelry elements and findings from wire.
• Wire Jewelry Masterclass: Wrapped, Coiled and Woven Pieces Using Fine Materials – perfect for those of you who love those elaborate wire creations. An alternative and another fantastic choice for this: Timeless Wire Weaving: The Complete Course
• Metalsmithing Made Easy: A Practical Guide to Cold Connections, Simple Soldering, Stone Setting, and More – perfect for learning the above skills
• Simple Soldering: A Beginner’s Guide to Jewelry Making – this one is more focused, and great for those of you who want a book that’ll really get you to nail soldering.
• Copper Jewelry Collection: Versatile Projects to Expand Your Skills – this one really focuses on next-level skills – so it’s not for the faint of heart
• Enameling on Copper – another really cool copper jewelry making skill to learn
• Colored Pencil on Copper Jewelry: Enhance Your Metalwork the Easy Way – although it’s not necessarily something I intend to try tomorrow, I really enjoyed reading this book and filed it under “skills to try some day”.

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