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| Easy Jewellery Making Projects for Beginners |
By:
Glenn J Tucker |
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Jewellery making is such a diverse and wide-ranging craft that it almost seems constrictive to group so many disciplines under one banner. From charm beads and bracelets, from necklaces to rings, earrings and more - each is a distinct and engaging craft, each has their own techniques and procedures. In fact, jewellery making is such an immensely open-ended world that it can seem intimidating for the budding jewellery crafter. It can be difficult to know where to start.
I've compiled this list of easy jewellery making ideas that avoid the advanced techniques that require expensive materials and hours of practice. These ideas should point you in the right direction to start making jewellery projects of your own, and can be undertaken by anyone with a bit of creative flair and a budding interest in jewellery making!
Children's Flower Bracelets
Polymer clay is one of the all-round easiest tools for the jewellery making beginner. Available in a wide range of colours - from bright and bold shades to soft natural tones - polymer clay can be easily moulded and set in a household oven. Sculpt intricate designs or use metal cutters to create uniform pieces that are ready to apply to your latest creation.
Its bright, chunky appearance makes polymer clay perfect for making children's jewellery. Use cutters to create flower shapes out of bright clay with a small circle of clay to form the centre of the flower. Make a small hole through the side of the flower piece and bake until set. Your flower shapes can then be threaded onto a leather strip or nylon coated wire to create beautiful bracelets for older kids. Secure the end of the wire with a sterling silver crimp tube flattened with a pair of pliers to finish.
Crystal Beaded Necklace
Luxury crystal beads are surprisingly inexpensive, and they are pre-drilled with holes for easy threading. For a straightforward jewellery making project that will look simply exquisite, thread a selection of crystal beads onto a black rubber necklet. These are available pre-fitted with clasps, so there are no fiddly bits to worry about and you can get on with creating wonderful jewellery!
For a graceful look, try threading jet and clear bicone beads in an alternating pattern. Or for a romantic present, use deep rich reds and finish your necklace with a charm heart. Then simply seal the beads on with two crimp tubes - it couldn't be easier, making this the ideal jewellery making project for the first-timer.
Elegant Earrings
A slightly more advanced jewellery making project. Nonetheless, once you've mastered the basics of earring making you'll be creating professional-looking creations in no time. You'll need some wire (22-gauge thickness is about right) cut into two-inch lengths. File down the ends of the wire to a smooth edge and then bend one end of each of the wires into a tiny curl. This will hold the beads onto the earring.
Then simply thread some small beads onto the wire - let your imagination run wild when choosing colours, but don't make them too large or they'll look a little overpowering. One tiny bead threaded on top of a larger bead will make for a chic design. Once your beads are threaded, bend the top end of the wire into a wrapped loop and attach sterling hooks to finish.
These are just a few ideas - check jewellery making forums and websites for more ideas. Once you've had a go at making some of your own creations you'll soon be ready to move onto some more advanced jewellery making projects.
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Glenn Tucker writes for a variety of arts and crafts blogs and enjoys sharing his knowledge of jewellery making tools for the benefit of the hobbyist and professional jeweller. |
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