Kelly McCoy, Auntie’s Beads Designer
If you're new to making jewelry, watch this
basic beading video to learn all the techniques you'll need to make these projects.
Instructions for Example 1:
1. Use your nipper tool to cut a 10" piece of beading wire.2. First, lay out the name on the beadmat with the crystals in between each letter bead and measure it with a ruler. Subtract this length from the total ending length you want your bracelet to be and divide that by two. This is the length you need to string before adding letter beads. So, if your letter beads take up three inches of beading wire, for example, and you want a seven inch bracelet, you need to string about two inches worth of beads on each side of the name. This isn't an exact science, but can be a real time saver so you don't end up stringing and restring repeatedly trying to get it just right.
3. String four 4mm round crystals and then a pattern of 8mm rondelles and 4mm crystals until you have five rondelles strung, ending with a rondelle (as explained above, you may string more or fewer rondelles, depending on the number of letter beads you are using).
4. Begin adding your letter beads, separating each letter with a jet 4mm round. Then simply complete the other side of the bracelet as you did in step 3.
5. On both sides, use your crimper tool to crimp to the simple sterling toggle.
6. On two headpins, place a 4mm round crystal and then a 6mm round jet crystal. On a third headpin, add two 4mm round crystals and then a 6mm round crystal. Using your mini round nose pliers as an aide, dangle these three headpins from the part you crimped to on the circle end of your toggle. Put the longest headpin (with three crystals on it) in the center. Need help dangling your crystals? This drop beading video should help you.
Two shorter names can also fit on one strand, separated by two 6mm round jet crystals. See the inset photo for an example. Multiple children with longer names will likely need more than one strand, which will be shown in Example 2.
Materials and Tools Needed for Example 1:
12mm Simple Sterling Toggle (1)
Nipper Tool (1)
Designer Crimper Tool (1)
Beadlon 49 Strand wire, .015 diameter (1)
2 x 2mm Crimp Beads, Bag of 50 (1)
1 1/2 inch sterling silver head pins, 22 gauge, bag of 10 (1)
The number you will need of the following depends on the number of children, as well as the number of letters in each of their names:
Swarovski Crystal, 6mm Round, Jet (hint: vary this color to the mother's preference or to the children's birthstones)
Swarovski Crystal, 8mm Round Rondelle, Crystal
Swarovski Crystal, 4mm Round, Crystal, Bag of Ten (two bags will likely work for a 7 inch bracelet)
Sterling Silver Alphabet Beads, 5.5mm
Instructions for Example 2:
1. Use your nipper tool to cut 2, 10" pieces of beading wire.
2. First, lay out the names on the beadmat with the crystals in between each letter bead and measure them with a ruler. Subtract these lengths from the total ending length you want your bracelet to be and divide that by two. This is the length you need to string before adding letter beads. So, if your letter beads take up three inches of beading wire, for example, and you want a seven inch bracelet, you need to string about two inches worth of beads on each side of the name. This isn't an exact science, but can be a real time saver so you don't end up stringing and restring repeatedly trying to get it just right.
3. On the first strand, string two 4mm sterling silver rounds and then a pattern of crystal bicones and sterling silver rounds that cover the amount of beading wire you calculated in step 2. Begin adding your letter beads, separated by bicones. If you'd like, you can add a daisy bead (or another symbol bead) on the end. Complete the other side of the first strand the same way. Crimp both sides to your two strand toggle using your crimper tool and complete the second strand in just the same way. Pay attention that the names on the second strand are centered relative to the names on the first strand.
Materials and Tools Needed for Example 2:
Sterling Silver Two Strand Twist Toggle, 15mm (1)
Nipper Tool (1)
Designer Crimper Tool (1)
Beadlon 49 Strand wire, .015 diameter (1)
2 x 2mm Crimp Beads, Bag of 50 (1)
The number you will need of the following depends on the number of children, as well as the number of letters in each of their names:
Swarovski Crystal, 6mm Bicone, Fuchsia (hint: vary this color to the mother's preference or to the children's birthstones)
Sterling Silver Seamless Beads, 4mm, Small Hole, Bag of 25 (one bag will likely work for a 7 inch bracelet)
Sterling Silver Alphabet Beads, 5.5mm
