Featured Project ~ April 2010
We design creative projects with Vintaj natural brass!
Put your collection of river stones and beach rocks to good use! Layer and wrap them with Vintaj findings and filigree to create unique & organic style jewelry. The possibilities are endless!
Materials:
Natural brass findings:
BD90- Filigree Bead – 15mm
DP210- Hammered Ring– 22mm
DP292- Teensie Frog Charm- 9.5mm
DP293- Teensie Lizard Charm- 9.5mm
EP1 – 1” Eye Pin
HP1 – 1” Head Pin
HPF15- 1.5"Pearl Head Pin
JR30- 5.25mm Jump Ring
JR55 – 10mm 16 Gauge Jump Ring
TB10- Bead Pod Creative Bar – 24 x 7mm
Tools & Supplies:
Ergonomic Rosary Pliers, Round with Cutter
Ergonomic Chain Nose Pliers with Cutter Wire Cutters
Other materials:
Czech glass flower drops aqua blue “Serenity”color mix 7mm - www. Beadaholique.com
Desert jasper 6mm heishe beads tan beige- www.Beadaholique.com
Size 8 seed beads – “Sage Pewter” - www.BeadInspirations.com
Mother-of-pearl rings
Smoky quartz glass rings
TIPS:
Alternate the color of river stones in your design. It is also helpful to use “flat” stones when creating settings, in order for filigree to easily wrap around both components.
STEP by STEPS
Step 1: Create your river stone connectors.
A: Center stone on textured side of hammered ring.
B: Use pliers to completely open filigree bead. Place opened filigree over the stone and hammered ring (covering the pre-drilled hole on the hammered ring with a section of filigree).
C. While holding all three pieces together, use your round nose pliers to turn in the edges of the filigree.
D. In order to fit a 10mm jump ring and still securing the filigree to the back of the hammered ring, round two opposite ends with the round nose pliers.
E. Use chain nose pliers to flatten and secure to the other two opposite ends (sides you are not connecting).
F. Repeat steps 2 times, for a total of 3 connectors.
*View our Filigree Bead Wrapping technique for similar instructions.
Step 2: Create beaded drops.
A: String 1 seed bead, 1 heishe, 1 seed bead onto a 1” head pin. Form a simple loop. Repeat 3 times, for a total of 4 drops.
B: String 1 fresh water pearl onto a 1.5” pearl head pin. Form a wrapped loop.
C. String 1 aqua flower drop onto a 1” eye pin. Bend the looped end of the eye pin up towards the back of the flower design. Form a wrapped loop with the remaining wire. Repeat 2 times, for a total of 3 drops.
D. Attach a 5.25mm jump ring to all of your beaded drops and 4 teensie charms. Close jump rings to secure.
Step 3: Attach components.
A: Use chain nose pliers to attach 4 – 10mm (16 gauge) jump rings to the mother-of-pearl rings. Close jump rings to secure.
B: Open an additional 10mm (16 gauge) jump ring and string on a beaded drop, teensie charm, beaded drop. Continue by stringing the jump ring through a loop of the river stone connector and 2 of the jump rings secured to the mother-of-pearl ring. Close jump ring to secure.
C: Repeat 3 times alternating every other section by replacing the aqua glass flower drop with a tiny glass ring. Once your components are connected you should have a river stone connector in the center of the bracelet.
D: Finish the ends by making a creative toggle clasp. Attach a 5.25mm jump ring to 2 hammered rings layered back to back. String pearl drop and last remaining aqua glass flower drop onto a 10mm (16 gauge) jump ring. Continue by stringing the jump ring through the loop of a stone connector on the end of the bracelet and through the jump ring securing the hammered rings.
E. String 11 – size 8 seed beads onto a 1” head ping. Feed the beaded head pin into the open end of the bead pod creative bar. Carefully slide the head pin out, leaving the beads resting inside. Use chain nose pliers to close and secure the open end. Attach and secure 2 – 5.25mm jump rings to the end of the bead pod. Use a 10mm (16 gauge) jump ring to connect the bead pod to the open looped end of the last river stone connector. Slide the bead pod through the hammered rings to open and close your bracelet.
Your bracelet is complete, Enjoy!
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