The Saturday Evening Post » Pamela Leap http://www.saturdayeveningpost.com Home of The Saturday Evening Post Thu, 23 May 2013 12:02:29 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5 Beaded Friendship Bracelet http://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/2012/12/19/health-and-family/crafts/beaded-friendship-bracelet.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=beaded-friendship-bracelet http://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/2012/12/19/health-and-family/crafts/beaded-friendship-bracelet.html#comments Wed, 19 Dec 2012 19:39:20 +0000 Pamela Leap http://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/?p=79108 This handmade jewelry makes a beautiful and unique gift at Christmas or for any special occasion year-round.

Beaded Friendship Bracelet The Saturday Evening Post

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Handmade jewelry makes a beautiful and unique gift. And if you’re willing to do a bit of research, you can find quality materials at reasonable prices. I purchased the beads for this tutorial at a local shop that offers me great discounts because I’m a regular customer. Besides showing company loyalty, buying your supplies in bulk may also offer great savings on beads.

I’ll be using my bargain beads in the tutorial below, but feel free to use different colors and shapes to give your friendship bracelet a personal touch.

Beaded Friendship Bracelet

Materials

  • Beading wire
  • Beads
  • 2 crimp beads
  • 1 magnetic clasp

Tools

  • Wire cutters
  • Bead board or towel
  • Crimping pliers

Directions

  1. Decide how long you want your bracelet to be and add 6″. Cut your wire, making a knot close to the end of the wire on one side to act as the bead stopper.
  2. Using your bead board or towel, lay out beads in the pattern you want for your bracelet. String all your beads onto the beading wire.

    3. Beads on bead board for beaded friendship bracelet

  3. To attach the clasp, string on a crimp bead and half of the clasp. Turn your wire to push it back through the crimp bead. Check the fit of your bracelet and add/remove beads as needed.

    4. beads, crimp bead, and magnetic clasp on wire

  4. Using your fingers, grip and bend the beading wire at the clasp and push the crimp bead up against the clasp, but not too tightly. You want the clasp to move freely once it is secure. Continue to push the wire through the next 2 or 3 beads, trim wire to leave no tail, and push all beads snug against the crimp bead.

    5. beads, crimp bead, and magnetic clasp on wire

  5. Using the “tooth” of the crimp pliers, press the crimp bead to flatten the crimp and crease the center. Move the bead to the next hole in pliers and gently press to fold and round the flattened crimp. Your wire is now secured.

    6. crimp bead in crimp pliers

  6. At knotted end of wire, use wire cutters to clip off the knot. Repeat the crimp and clasp process.

    7. cutting bead wire with wire cutter

  7. Do not bend the beading wire at the clasp until you have pulled the wire through the next two or three beads and pulled the wire snug with the remaining bracelet beads, eliminating any excess wire in the length of the bracelet. This time you will have a tail outside the second or third bead from pulling the wire tight. When you have secured the clasp, use wire cutters or fine point scissors, if you wish, to remove wire tail.

    8. hands holding beads, crimp bead, and magnetic clasp on wire

    Congratulations on your new creation!

    Beaded Friendship Bracelet


Beaded Friendship Bracelet The Saturday Evening Post

]]> http://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/2012/12/19/health-and-family/crafts/beaded-friendship-bracelet.html/feed 0 Beaded Earrings Tutorial http://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/2012/10/25/health-and-family/crafts/beaded-earrings.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=beaded-earrings http://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/2012/10/25/health-and-family/crafts/beaded-earrings.html#comments Thu, 25 Oct 2012 15:45:38 +0000 Pamela Leap http://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/?p=74948 Learn to make a beautiful, hand-beaded earring in just three simple steps—then repeat!

Beaded Earrings Tutorial The Saturday Evening Post

]]> Bring some glamour to your wardrobe by following the tutorial below.

How to Make Beaded Earrings

Beaded Earrings by Pamela Leap

Materials

  • Two head pins
  • Beads and bead caps
  • Two ear wires

Tools

  • Round nose pliers
  • Wire cutters

Directions

  1. Thread beads and bead caps onto head pin.

    2. Beaded Head Pin

  2. Use round nose pliers to press pin down at right angle over top bead, then use end of pliers to make loop and cut off excess pin with wire cutters.

    3. Bending Head Pin with Round Nose Pliers Bent Head Pin for Beaded Earring Bending Head Pin

  3. Open hanging loop of ear wire and attach beaded dangle. As you close ear wire loop, add some pressure to push the ends toward each other. Push the ends past each other a tiny bit and back again until they align perfectly (so there is no gap).

    4. Opening Loop of Ear Wire Attaching Ear Wire to Beaded Earring Attaching Ear Wire to Beaded Earring

  4. Repeat to make second earring.

    5. Beaded Earrings Beaded Earring dangling on ear


Earring Giveaway

(GIVEAWAY ENDED NOVEMBER 1, 2012)

TO ENTER

To enter this special giveaway, just answer the following question in the comments section of this post.

What is your favorite thing about fall fashion?

From cozy sweaters to chic scarves, fall fashion is in full swing. What is your favorite trend or accessory?

THE RULES

Only one entry per person. Giveaway ends November 1 at 11 p.m. EST. Winners will be selected at random and announced Friday, November 2.

Beaded Earrings Tutorial The Saturday Evening Post

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