Welcome to Beaded Jen!

I'm Jen Nipps, beader/jewelry maker in south-central Oklahoma.

Look for tutorials (including the Crafting Contest entry, Butterflies on Parade) on how to make your own necklaces, bracelets, watches, earrings, and more starting tonight.

I will be adding more Terms & Techiniques as time goes on. Check back often for more tips, links, and fun.

Best,

~Jen

Terms & Techniques

clasp: the fastener for your necklace, bracelet, or watch; can be toggle, lobster-claw, hook and eye, s-clasp, etc.

crimp bead: small metal bead or tube flattened and formed to hold the finished piece together

ear wires: hoops, ball-and-post, or shaped wire with loops used to make earrings

finding: any metal object not used as a bead; examples: head pins, eye pins, crimps, clasps, etc.

Nymo: a nylon thread popular with bead weaving

stringing: the process of putting one bead after another on a single wire

weaving: a description of a variety of patterns from right ankle weave to peyote stitich, square stitch to loom weaving, and so on

Crystal Pendant Necklace

Do you have a pendant (or more than one) that you don't know what to do with? In just a few minutes, you can make an wearable necklace.

Supplies:

Wire/chain nippers
2 figure-8 connectors
Clasp (I've used a magnetic clasp here)
Pendant of your choice (I've used a quartz crystal & Swarovski crystal pendant here)
Round-nose pliers
Flat-nose pliers
Silver-plated curb chain

You can buy your supplies at any arts & crafts store that carries them. My chain, pliers, and nippers came from Ocean Sky Beads & Glass in Oceanside, California. The connectors are from Hobby Lobby. The pendant and clasp are from Crescent Moon Beads in Eureka Springs, Arkansas.

Making the Necklace

1. Determine how long you want your necklace to be. Use an existing necklace you like and wear as a guide. Measure your chain and use your nippers to cut it to the appropriate length.

2. Use your flat-nose pliers to open one end of a figure-8 connector. Slide the first link of the chain over it. Use your pliers again to close it. I recommend that now you use your round-nose pliers to tighten the loop down some so your chain won't slip off.

3. Using yor flat-nose pliers again, open the other side of the figure-8 connector and add the clasp. Repeat the process for closing and tightening the loop.

4. String the chain through the loop (or hole) on the pendant.

You're almost done.

5. Repeat steps 2 and 3 for adding the second figure-8 connector and attaching the other half of the clasp.

Ordinarily, I would use a toggle clasp. However, recently I have been receiving many requests for magnetic clasps. Traditionally, these haven't been very strong, so I am testing some stronger magnetic clasps, which is what I have used in this piece.

Congratulations! Your new pendant necklace is ready to wear.

Butterflies on Parade

Supplies: (for bracelet and earrings)

Wire cutters

Round-nose pliers

Crimping pliers or crimp-forming pliers

2 crimp tubes

6mm or 8mm clear crystal AB beads

8-10mm silver-plated butterfly beads

2 ear wires

2 1-1/2" - 2" head pins

Beading wire

Making the Bracelet:

1. Cut a length of beading wire about twice the length you want your finished bracelet to be.

2. On one end of the beading wire, string a crimp bead and half of the clasp. Take the wire back through the crimp bead and pull it close to the clasp.

3. Follow the directions on your crimping pliers to form the crimp on the wire. (Do not let the wires cross or you might cut the wire.)

4. String 2 crystal AB beads, a butterfly, 1 crystal, a butterfly. Place them over the short end of the wire as well and trim any excess.

5. Repeat the crystal and butterfly pattern until you get within 1" of the desired length.

6. String 2 crystal beads, the second crimp, and the other half of the clasp. Pull the short end of the wire down through the last few beads strung and pull the clasp close to the crimp bead. Check for fit, adding or removing beads as needed. Use your crimp pliers to form the crimp.

7. Trim the excess wire from the tail, making sure the end is secured inside a bead.

8. Enjoy your finished Butterflies on Parade bracelet.

Making the Earrings:

1. Take a headpin and string a crystal AB bead, butterfly, and another crystal AB bead.

2, Using your round-nose pliers, bend the headpin 90-degrees directly above the last bead.

3. Trim excess off the pin, leaving approximately 1/2" of the pin extending past the bend.

4. Wrap the end of the pin around your round-nose pliers to create a plain loop. (Make sure the cut end of the pin is close to the stem to make a complete loop.)

5. Open the loop on an ear wire and attach the butterfly dangle you just created.

6. Close the loop, making sure the end is snug against the stem. Repeat to make a second earring.

7. Wear alone or with your matching bracelet.