DIY Clasps

Whether you are looking to save money, match a unique pattern, or add your own sense of flair, making your own clasps is a cinch.    Doing a little research on the technique that works for you can take you from Oh, you made it yourself to Wow, you made that?

Here are some pics from that net that I'm tempted to try:

Cool Copper Celtic Clasp

Circulet Clasp with Dangling Bead

Beaded Wire Clasp

Bead-Centered Clasp

Gorgeous Front Clasp

For tutorials, try these sites:  

Easy, simple S clasp for beginners

Beaded S Clasp

Bonus!  A Clever DIY Tool for Fastening Your Bracelet.

Easy Crystal Bracelet Tutorial

Left:  Blue crystals, rows of three 6 mm alternated colors.
Right:  rows of three 4 mm, with four rows of 4-6-4 mm crystals in the middle.

Skinny bracelet: Single crystal rows (8mm).

One of the first types of bracelets I learned to make is this simple crystal bracelet.  If you love sparkle and want something that works up quickly and easily, this is a great way to practice beading while giving yourself or a loved one a gorgeous gift.

You don't have to use crystals. In fact, any beads you like will do.  I just happen to love the sparkle of Swarovski crystals.



What you'll need:

• Wire Cutters
• Round Nose Pliers
• Crimper

• 11/0 seed beads (about 220 of them, or one small package)--I used size 11 cylinder beads instead.
• Crystals (about 60 6 mm or so for a wider bracelet or 20 8 mm for a smaller one)
• A clasp (I usually use a two-strand clasp)
• Beading wire
• 4 crimp beads

1.  Start by affixing your two strands of wire to the clasp with crimp beads.  Basically, you insert the wires into the clasp holes.  String on a crimp bead for each strand.  Fold the tail of the wires with a little excess (about a centimeter or so) and tuck them into their respective crimp beads.  Use your crimpers to squeeze the crimp bead closed.

2.  Next, string 6 seed beads onto each wire.

3.  Pick up your crystal(s) with one wire.  Then go through the crystal(s) in the opposite direction (criss-crossed) with the other wire.  Pull snug, but not too tight.




















4.  Repeat until you have the desired length (usually this will be 20 rows of crystals with the 6 seed bead columns on either end).  Avoid help from eager children and mischievous cats.

5.  When you have your desired length, add the crimp beads and insert the wires into the clasp.

6.  Trim the wires, slip them from the back of the clasp into the crimp bead and several of the seed beads.  Crimp and then you're done!

Tips:  
Be careful about the length you use when crimping around the clasp.  Too tight and it will be too stiff.  Too loose and it won't look right.

As you work, pause after each row to make sure your tension is adequate (not too tight, not too loose).

Always cut a longer strand of wire than you think you need.  It's better to have extra than to run out!

Jewelry Dress Form

For some time now, I've wanted something that would help me perfect my necklace-making.   I've yelled, "I can't believe that just happened!" so many times that my kids and husband roll their eyes at my now-ironic statement.  I guess I should believe it because half the time I hold up a strung design to my neck and chest (trying to figure out how long I want it), one half of the wire slips out of my grasp and beads cascade all over the floor.  I even tried using Bead Buddies to keep the ends secure and it still spilled all over the place!!!  Hopeless?  Nope!

Jenny II:  My sister-in-law's form.

In the absence of a mannequin, I decided to make my own necklace form.  Luckily, my sister-in-law just moved up and happens to have similar dimensions!  After watching a Youtube on how to make a dress form, off I went to her place with a bunch of duct tape, an old shirt, and my enthusiasm.  An hour later I was cutting the form off her and sealing it up.

Using the dress form to see how my chameleon charms hang.

Here's what I learned:

1.  Pinning up hair isn't good enough.  Spray water, detangler, or better yet, hairspray.  Baby hairs love duct tape.  OUCH!

2.  Cut the duct tape into smaller pieces for around the neck.  That much curve is hard to handle.  I even cut it in half length-wise.

3.   For bumps, use a curling iron.  Just run it hot over the tape (preferably with a thin cotton tee between the iron & tape). Of course, wait until you get it off the model's body first.

4.  Because you've used many layers of duct tape, now the form is going to be larger than the actual model.  I now need to cut it apart again and reduce the size.