Ribbon Weave Necklace

Supplies: *Big link chain (I picked dark silver)
*Medium link chain (matches big link chain)
*Length of ribbon (about a foot)
*Ribbon clamps (2)
*Lobster Claw Clasp
*2 large jump rings (to match chain)
*2 medium jump rings (to match chain)
*needle nose pliers
*Flat nose pliers
*Measuring tape

*Tip 1- Plan It Out* As with all jewelry designs I laid out the design on my bead board before I started doing anything. Had to try out different style gem stones to see which one matched best, as I did not buy any of the beads at the same time. This also includes making sure the clasp and clamp beads match the color pallet. Practice weaving the ribbon in the length of chain to determine the amount needed.

*Tip 2- Measure* Always measure for each project to make sure the lengths that fit best are correct. This is important when making items for other people. Once you have done them enough times you will know the required lengths and can skip this step.

*Tip 3 - Consider Material and Purpose* You must always be aware of the type of give and strength your supplies have or you could end up with breaks, scrapping, and no flexibility. Use large items if you think the smaller version will not allow for flexibility. (i.e. large jump rings over small/medium ones)

Steps:

-Measure out the length of chain you will need to fit around your neck. (see *Tip 2* )  Use the needle nose pliers to open a link to shorten the chain to your length needed.

-Take a pair of needle nose pliers and open a jump ring. Slide the jump ring onto the end of the clasp, then on one end of the chain length you just made, close the jump ring.

- Take a pair of needle nose pliers and open another jump ring. Slide the jump ring onto the end of the other length of chain. Then close the jump ring.

- Create a length of large link chain that you can weave the ribbon inside.

- Take a ribbon clamp and clamp one end of the ribbon. Use the flat nose pliers.

-Take the other end of the ribbon and weave the ribbon in-between the links of the large link chain.

- Take the end that you just finished weaving and clamp it with the remaining ribbon clamp. Use the flat nose pliers.

- Use the needle nose pliers to open a medium jump ring and attach one end of the medium chain. Then slide on the ribbon clamp on and then one end of the large link chain.

- Use the needle nose pliers to open a medium jump ring and attach the other end of the medium chain. Then slide on the other ribbon clamp and finally the other end of the large link chain.

-Pick a side that you would like to tie the bow.

- Tie the know around the chain, not threw it. Then create the bow.

  -At this point everything should be connected and you have a finished necklace.


 

Time Around Your Neck

I found a set of vintage clock pendants and I wanted to put them all together. It ended up looking great.

Supplies:
*Silver link chain.
*Clock pendants (several in my case)
*Clear gem pendant (2)
*Lobster Claw Clasp
*2 large jump rings (silver)
*7 medium jump rings (silver)
*needle nose pliers
*Measuring tape

*Tip 1- Plan It Out* As with all jewelry designs I laid out the design on my bead board before I started doing anything. Had to try out different style gem stones to see which one matched best, as I did not buy any of the beads at the same time. This also includes making sure the clasp and clamp beads match the color pallet.

*Tip 2- Measure* Always measure for each project to make sure the lengths that fit best are correct. This is important when making items for other people. Once you have done them enough times you will know the required lengths and can skip this step.

*Tip 3 - Consider Material and Purpose* You must always be aware of the type of give and strength your supplies have or you could end up with breaks, scrapping, and no flexibility. Use large items if you think the smaller version will not allow for flexibility. (i.e. large jump rings over small/medium ones)

Steps:

-Measure out the length of chain you will need to fit around your neck. (see *Tip 2* )  Use the needle nose pliers to open a link to shorten the chain to your length needed.

-Take a pair of needle nose pliers and open a jump ring. Slide the jump ring onto the end of the clasp, then on one end of the chain length you just made, close the jump ring.

- Take a pair of needle nose pliers and open another jump ring. Slide the jump ring onto the end of the other length of chain. Then close the jump ring.

- Hold both ends of the chain and find the middle point. Mark that spot with tape.

- Use the needle nose pliers to open a jump ring and slide on the pendant you want in the middle. Then slide the jump ring onto the middle point of the chain. (see *Tip 1*)

- If you have a chain tower use it to clamp both ends of your chain (making sure that the chain isn't twisted). If you do not, you will have to make a point to keep the chain from twisting and remember which direction you slide the jump ring on. This is important to keep the pendants facing the right direction and hanging correctly.

- Continue to use the needle nose pliers to open jump rings and hang pendants on the chain. I spaced my out every four links on the chain to make the most use of the chain.

-Since I had an odd arrangement of clock pendants I added in two clear gem stones. In my plan (see *Tip 1*) I randomly added them in to break up the continues look.

 -At this point everything should be connected and you have a finished necklace.

Chain Tower

In June of 2012 I went on vacation to Wisconsin. I went for a family reunion on my Dad's side of the family.
In preparation for the trip I wanted to make some jewelry that would match my outfits. Most of the jewelry I had already made would go with my outfits. I had picked up some more summer colors and I wanted longer necklaces for those outfits.

One has tones of purple and the other has tones of blue and green. They were the first projects I used my chain tower with and it was very helpful. I would highly recommend getting one. It keeps the chain in the same direction so the gems don't face different directions.

Blossom branch necklace

 

 

 



Supplies:

*Gold large link chain about 3 1/2 inches on each side.
*Blossom branch pendant
*Flying bird pendant
*Lobster Claw Clasp
*large jump rings (4) (match the chain color)
*medium jump rings (1) (match the color of the pendants)
*needle nose pliers
*Measuring tape

*Tip 1- Plan It Out* As with all jewelry designs I laid out the design on my bead board before I started doing anything. Had to try out different style gem stones to see which one matched best, as I did not buy any of the beads at the same time. This also includes making sure the clasp and clamp beads match the color pallet.

*Tip 2- Measure* Always measure for each project to make sure the lengths that fit best are correct. This is important when making items for other people. Once you have done them enough times you will know the required lengths and can skip this step.

*Tip 3 - Consider Material and Purpose* You must always be aware of the type of give and strength your supplies have or you could end up with breaks, scrapping, and no flexibility. Use large items if you think the smaller version will not allow for flexibility. (i.e. large jump rings over small/medium ones)

Steps:

-Measure out the length of chain you will need to fit around your neck (minus the pendant length). Use the needle nose pliers to open a link to shorten the chain to your length needed. (on both sides of your neck)

-Take a pair of needle nose pliers and open a large jump ring (one matching the chain color). Slide the jump ring onto the end of the clasp, then on one end of the chain length you just made, close the jump ring.

- Take a pair of needle nose pliers and open another large jump ring (again matching the chain color). Slide the jump ring onto the end of the other length of chain you created. Then close the jump ring.

- Take a pair of needle nose pliers and open another large jump ring (matching the chain color). Slide one end of the chain. Then slide on one end of the branch pendant. Then close the jump ring. One end of the branch pendant should be dangling from one length of chain.

- Use the needle nose pliers to open a medium jump ring (matching the pendant color) and attach the open end of the branch pendant. Then attach one end of the bird pendant (make sure its going the direction you want *Tip 1*). Close the jump ring.

- Use the needle nose pliers and open the last large sized jump ring and attach the other end of the bird pendant. Then slide on the other side of chain.

-At this point everything should be connected and you have a finished necklace.

 ***The supplies can be found at Hobby Lobby, Michaels, and Jo-Ann stores. ***

Mod flower necklace.

I know I haven't been on in a while. Work yet again has been messing with my free time.

I made this MOD necklace to just wear with random darker outfits, such as my work clothes. Very basic project.

Supplies:
*2 strands of Mod flower pendants
*bead wire (.18mm in silver)
*Lobster claw
*jump rings (2)
*clamp beads (3) #1
*needle nose pliers
*clamp pliers
*wire cutters
*Measuring tape

*Tip 1- Plan It Out* As with all jewelry designs I laid out the design on my bead board before I started doing anything. Had to try out different style gem stones to see which one matched best, as I did not buy any of the beads at the same time. This also includes making sure the clasp and clamp beads match the color pallet.

*Tip 2- Measure* Always measure for each project to make sure the lengths that fit best are correct. This is important when making items for other people. Once you have done them enough times you will know the required lengths and can skip this step.

Steps:

- Measure out the length of bead wire you will need to fit around your neck comfortably and then give yourself about 2 inches to loop back through at the ends. Use wire cutters to cut correct length.

-Take a pair of need nose pliers and open a jump ring. Slide the jump ring onto the end of the clasp and close the jump ring.

- Take a clamp and thread it on the bead wire; then slide the bead wire through the jump ring attached to the clasp. Loop the bead wire back through the clamp bead and then use the clamp pliers to clamp it the bead in place. This should allow for a loop to hold the one end in place.

*Tip 3- Tight Loops* Try and keep the loop as tight as possible to keep from having a big gap. This can be done by holding one end of the bead wire with a needle nose pliers and then taking the other end of the wire and pulling it tighter. Keeping it tight keeps the wire from rubbing. This is also why using a jump ring to attach to the clasp is important, as the wire attached to the jump ring is not going to move around much if its pulled tight.

-Thread on the beads and gems in the order of the design you picked ahead of time (see *Tip 1* )

-Continue this until you have the length you determined earlier. (see *Tip 2* )

-Once you have finished your design for the length, slide on a clamp and use the clamp pliers to secure it in place. (see *Suggestion 1* and *Tip 4* )

*Suggestion 1* Doing one clamp bead at the end to make sure everything stays tight and then another to create the loop is NOT required. You can choose to use only one clamp bead, just be sure to keep the beads together tightly enough to not end up with large gaps when you wear it. I do it for both ease and strength. Beginners can do this until they get better at re-threading the closure clamp.

*Tip 4 - Consider Material and Purpose* You must always be aware of the type of give and strength your supplies have or you could end up with breaks, scrapping, and no flexibility. The heavier the wire the less bend and flexibility it has. String the beads too tightly together and some will rub together and break. String them too tightly and the beads will bunch and not bend well around your wrist. Some times you need to allow for "give room" with bracelets in order to get the bracelet to wrap.

-Take another clamp bead and thread it on first, then slide on the other jump ring, then thread the wire back through the clamp. Now tighten the wire until you have a small loop. Be sure that the jump ring stays in the loop you create. Use the clamp pliers to close the clamp when you have the loop the size you want. (see *Tip 3* )

-Take a wire cutters and clip off the extra wire as close as possible to the last clamp bead. If the wire is bend-able enough and the bead holes are big enough you can thread the extra wire back through the beads instead of cutting it.

-Take a needle nose pliers and open the jump ring on the end you just finished and slide on the other end of the clasp (Or length of chain if you want to use that instead. This will allow for different tightness around the wrist. This can be very helpful if you didn't follow *Tip 2* and its not long enough to go all the way around the wrist.) and close the jump ring with the needle nose pliers.

That will finish off the bracelet.


***The MOD flower strands listed in the supplies can be found at Michaels. ***