threadesque: DIY TheseNotions

GUEST POST SUNDAY

Meet Dina, the beautiful lady behind

TheseNotions!

She has been one of my sponsors

for a couple months

& we've quickly become friends!

She's sharing a lovely necklace D.I.Y

Hi, I'm Dina!

I was so excited (and honored) when Sam asked me to guest post a tutorial for her blog. Although I've never met her in person, I think she is ADORABLE and have been so blessed by her! She is one of the first bloggers that I have connected with in the blogging world and has been such a sweetheart to me. I would like to thank her for that.

Thanks Sam!

I gave Sam a choice on what tutorial she would like for me to share with you all, and she chose a necklace that I have for sale in my etsy shop. It too is a favorite of mine. Here we go!

Crystal and Pearl Chain Link Tutorial

This is a super easy necklace to make. (I hope I make it super simple to understand)

First gather the tools and supplies. All of the following are available at any craft supply store. My personal preference is Hobby Lobby.

You need:

Wire cutters

Flat nose pliers

Round nose pliers

Chain

Center drilled beads

(in this tutorial, 4mm cream colored pearls

and 6mm champagne colored crystals)

Headpins

First, decide the length of chain that you would like to be between each handwired crystal or bead. Use the wire cutters to cut your chain into several pieces of the length that you have decided on. The chain I like to use is a very dainty curb chain. This is easy to cut through, however, if you choose a chain with bigger links, use your flat nose pliers to open up one of the links and create smaller chain links.

Now we will make a bead connector.

Step 1: Take a headpin and snip the flat end off of it. Grab one end of the wire with your round nose pliers as close to the tip as you can.

Position your working wrist with your thumb facing you and hold the wire tight with your free hand.

Step 2: Use only your wrist to bend the round nose pliers torwards you, when you cannot bend your wrist toward you anymore,(you should have half a loop) reposition your working hand by loosening the grip on the wire and rotating your wrist away from you until your thumb is facing you again. Tighten the grip of the round nose pliers onto the wire, and again, bend only your wrist to form a circle loop with the wire. Place a bead onto the open end of the wire, and adjust the finished loop to straighten it using your flat nose pliers.

Step 3: Bend the wire as close to the top of your bead as you can, to form a 90 degree angle.

(This is the hardest part) Decide how long of a wire you need to create a loop. In the photo above I actually snipped a little off to have the correct length. This part takes practice but once you get it.... its easy.

Repeat Step 2 but know that your bead is already on the wire. When you are done you should have a beaded connector.

Step 4: open one end of the connector and thread it into to the end of one of your chain pieces.

Connect the pieces together until your necklace is as long as you want it.

Add whatever finish you like, I prefer a lobster clasp. or make the necklace big enough that you just connect the ends together to complete the beaded pattern and just throw it over your head.

I hope you all enjoy making a necklace of your own!