Hello and welcome to another jewelry making video brought to you by KeepsakeCrafts.net.
Today we're going to look at some more basics, this time were going to look at the basics
of simply stringing beads on bead wire, you can use just that simple technique to make
yourself some lovely jewelry.
To make this necklace you will need a strand of assorted beads in colours of your choice,
it's nice to buy these strands already pre-sorted, also a couple strands of crystal beads in
two different sizes, these are about four millimeter, these are around six millimeter,
you'll need some bead stringing wire, chain-nose pliers, crimping pliers and wire cutters.
You'll also need findings, all of ours are sterling silver. These are some round corrugated spacer
beads, a lobster clasp, 2x3 millimeter crimping tubes, and some solid fused jump rings. You'll
also find one of these beads design boards very helpful in making stringing designs.
And what you can do, I have already cut this wire off, you can lay out your strand of beads
in one of the channels and then just pull out the wire, and now they are all in place.
To design this I've decided I'm going to make a necklace of two strands, and I've pulled
out these four purple crystals for the second strand and then it's just a matter of filling
in. I'm going to start with some of these larger crystals and I'll put one on either
side, and then just continue filling in with the large crystals, the smaller ones, and
with the silver. So I sped up the design process here so as not to bore you to death. What
I'm basically doing is adding the same bead to either side of my main focal beads.So
each of the main focal beads will have a silver bead on either side or one of the
large crystals, or one of the small crystals. I'm not overly concerned with symmetry, but
I just thought I would make that much symmetry and then I'm filling in, in-between them with
a larger crystal and then smaller ones on either side, again not 100% symmetrical, just filling
it in and trying to make a pleasing and balanced arrangement. One thing I realized is that
I run out of beads and didn't have enough to make the length so you'll see me in a minute
here, bring in these glass beads and these are just leftovers from strands of beads,
they're spacers and so I use them to fill in between my crystals and give me the length
needed for the necklace. So this all took about 10-15 minutes. So really as you can see here
the work in stringing isn't really the stringing, you'll see in a minute the stringing is very
simple.
The work is in the designing, in planning out your layout. So once you have it all planned
then it is time to cut yourself a piece of bead stringing wire and go ahead and start
stringing your beads. And the best way to do it is to leave it on the spool as you string.
However, another tool that is wonderfully handy are these, these are called bead bugs
and they're just little springs with handles and what that will do is clamp on to the end
of your wire. So if you have a spare length of wire that you're using, or you just want
to cut the piece, you can just clamp that on and it is a bead stopper. But whenever possible
I like to work on the spool of wire. So I'm going to go ahead and string these two strands
and my board isn't long enough but I'll make this one long enough to just be a little bit
shorter than this outer one, and the measurements are wonderfully helpful because they show
you that this necklace is going to be about twenty nine inches long. It's not exact because
these beads aren't lying the way they will be in the necklace, but it gives you the idea.
So you just use your piece of wire like a piece of thread and start putting your beads
on.
So once you've finished stringing and you're satisfied with the length and notice that
the length of this is actually quite a bit less once the beads are all condensed on the
string. Once you're satisfied with your arrangement and the length, go ahead and cut off the wire
leaving a few extra inches on each end and then clamp each end or secure it somehow, and
repeat with your second strand. So once all of your strands are strung, it's time to finish
them up with some crimp tubes. This is the way we finish the wire ends of stringing wire.
So take your bead bug off one end and string on a crimp tube, and then string on one of
these soldered jump rings. Put the end back though the crimp tube, and then pull it up.
You want the jump ring to be able to move freely but you want as little as possible showing,
You want both of these wires to be lying flat, not crossed over each other inside the crimp
tube, then take your crimping pliers, you'll notice there's a round shape and a U-shape.
Start with the round shape, wrap around the tube and give it a squeeze. I like to (oomph) and
then switch to the U-shape, and give it another squeeze, and then give a tug on your jump
ring, it shouldn't come loose. If it does you'll have to start over, if it doesn't, go ahead
and trim off that little bit of wire, nice and close so nothing remains to scratch the
skin and then repeat on this end attaching the second strand to the same jump ring and
another jump ring on the other end. So here they are, all strung.
The final step is to use your wire cutters to cut a split in one of the jump rings so
that you can open it and use it to attach your lobster clasp to one of the other jump
rings. Right through there, and through there, and close it up and you're all done.
Here is another look at the project that we
made today. By the way, if you'd like to add some length to it, feel free to add a small
piece of chain to the end without the lobster clasp, add some chunky chain, and then you'll
be able to make it, not only longer, but adjustable to whatever length you like.
I hope you've enjoyed this project, and that you'll give it a try.
Thank you so much for watching Keepsake Crafts' videos, please be sure to click on the subscribe
button so that you subscribe to my YouTube channel and don't miss a thing. And check
out my blog, KeepsakeCrafts.net, for lots more crafting and sewing, ideas and inspiration.
On the screen there are two more jewelry making videos that you might enjoy.
Thanks again for watching, have a good one. Bye bye.