How to Make a Stone Bead Necklace
Supplies Needed: Stone Beads,
"Tiger Tail" or Softflex Wire,
Pliers (crimp or long nose),
crimp beads,
clasp (jump ring needed with "C" clasps), and
adhesive.
1.
Cut a length of "Tiger Tail" or Softflex long enough for your necklace,
plus about 8" (4" on each end to work with). Be careful not to put any
kinks or bends in your wire. The "Tiger Tail" especially, will not hang
well with kinks or bends, and will eventually break at the kinks.
2.
String your Beads.
3.
Add two
crimp beads to one end of the necklace.
4.
Put the wire through one end of the
clasp, and back through both
crimp
beads. Slide crimp beads and clasp together. Smash crimp beads with
pliers. Add a drop of adhesive to crimp beads as insurance. String
wire back through last few beads and snip the extra length.

5.
Dangle strand from the unfinished side. Allow beads to snug up to the
finished
crimp beads. Add two crimp beads to unfinished end. Loop
necklace as if it were being worn, and thread wire through other end of
clasp. (For "C" clasp without tab, loop wire through a jump ring.)
Keeping necklace in loop shape, finish this end the same as the other.
By keeping the necklace in a loop shape, the beads will have the proper
spacing.
6.
Allow
adhesive to dry.
7.
Don't be afraid to re-string these beads into something else whenever
you're ready!
Featured
Article: Using Findings to Make Tumbled Stone Jewelry
Using findings
to make tumbled stone jewelry is fun and easy for adults and kids.
Findings are available to make bracelets, earrings, necklaces, tie
tacks, broaches, bolo ties, and more. The finished results can look
amazing.
Findings are
usually metal castings that are shaped to hold stones, beads, and
cabochons in jewelry. The metal can vary from nickel, chrome, silver,
gold, and combinations such as plated. The basic procedure is to bend
prongs around the stone and glue it in place. In many jewelry items
multiple findings are assembled into more involved pieces. For example,
when making earrings a stone can be glued in a bell cap. Then the bell
cap is attached via a jump ring to an earring hoop.
Here is a list
of basic terms for findings:
Bell cap: the
multi-pronged piece that is glued on "top" of the stone
Jump ring: the
small ring that goes though the hole on top of the bell cap to attach
the cap to any other finding
Ear Hoop: the
earring piece for dangle earrings
Earring Post:
the earring piece for post earrings
Bolo Back: the
piece you glue a tumbled stone to that the cord loops though
Bolo Cord: the
cord that goes around your neck to hang a bolo back on
Bolo Tips: the
metal pieces glued onto the ends of the bolo cord
We carry
findings to make jewelry with tumbled stones and beads! Check out our
current selection in store or at
www.erockshop.com.
How to
make a Tumbled Stone Bracelet Using a Bracelet Blank Finding
4 Step Process
Difficulty Level 1
Materials Needed:
1- 1
Bracelet
2- 11 Small Tumbled Stone
3-
Hot
Stuff Adhesive
Step One:
Make sure each link or pad of the
bracelet is washed and clean.
Step Two:
Drop Glue (Bond 527) onto the first pad.
Step Three:
Lay the first stone on the pad and allow
it to dry for several hours before wearing.
Step Four:
Repeat steps 1, 2, & 3 until each pad is
filled. |