Thanksgiving is still a couple weeks away. Now is the perfect time to gather your jewelry making supplies and have some fun. Let’s learn how to make some lovely beading project ideas for the holiday. We have some clever designs for the beginner beaders and the seasoned stringers.
This holiday is ripe with delicious colors. Rich black, orange and cream. Rustic browns dance with warm corals. Copper and brass celebrate with gold. These project ideas can be created as seen or you can play with your pallet and make them more than seasonal jewelry.
Show us your work. We would love to see your Thanksgiving jewelry. Join our Facebook group – VIB, show us what you made. Visit our Facebook page if you want to catch our live shows and sales. Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more tips.
Double Strand Earrings
Designer Sara Oehler
Skill Level Beginner
Materials
Soft Flex Beading Wire .019 diameter - 10"
Sterling Silver
Ear Wires - 1 pair
2x2mm Sterling Silver
Crimp Tubes - 8 pcs
3mm Clear Fire Polished
Beads - 6 pcs
6mm Clear Fire Polished Beads - 2 pcs
Tools
Magical Crimping Pliers
Cutters
Instructions
Step 1: Choose your color of Soft Flex Wire and Czech Glass. Use those creative juices to pair colors together that will make your earrings uniquely yours!
Step 2: Use Soft Flex® Flush Cutters to cut two 3 inch pieces of wire and two 2 inch pieces of wire.
Step 3: Use 1 crimp tube and the Magical Crimping Pliers to attach 2 inches of wire to one ring of onr ear wire.
Step 4: String one 3mm Fire Polished Bead.
Step 5: Use 1 crimp tube and the Magical Crimping Pliers to attach the other end of the wire to the other ring of the ear wire.
Click here for Magical Crimper instructions.
Step 6: Use 1 crimp tube and the Magical Crimping Pliers to attach 3 inches of wire to one ring of the ear wire. String one 3mm Fire Polished Bead, one 6mm Fire Polished Bead, and one 3mm Fire Polished Bead.
Step 7: Use 1 crimp tube and the Magical Crimping Pliers to attach the other end of the wire to the other ring of the ear wire.
Step 8: Repeat Steps 2-7 to make a second earring.
Effortless Copper Necklace
Designer Sara Oehler
Skill Level Beginner
Materials
Copper Color
Soft Flex Metallics Wire .019 diameter - 18"
Copper
Clasp- 1 set
2x2mm Copper
Crimp Tubes - Approx. 48 pcs
Copper
Beads, I used 3mm & 4mm round (any size or shape in copper would work) - Approx. 30 pcs
Tools
Crimping Pliers
Cutters
Instructions
Step 1: Cut two 10 inch pieces of .019 wire. Use both wires to string 1 crimp tube, one 4mm bead, one 3mm bead, and 1 crimp tube. Adjust the second tube so that it is at the very end of the wires, and crimp. Snug the beads down to the crimped tube, and crimp the other tube. This will be the focal point of your necklace.
Step 2: Decide the distance apart on the wire you'd like your beads to be and use 1 wire to string 1 crimp tube to that distance (Sara placed her beads about 1/2" apart). Crimp the tube. String one 3mm bead and 1 crimp tube. Crimp the tube to keep the bead stationary. Repeat three times. Repeat the entire step using the second wire. Set aside.
Step 3: To create the second strand, cut a piece of .019 wire about 7 inches long. String 1 crimp tube, one 3mm bead, and 1 crimp tube to the center of the wire. Crimp the tubes to hold the bead in place.
Step 4: String 1 crimp tube and place it about 1/2" from the previous tube; crimp. String one 3mm bead and 1 crimp tube. Crimp the tube to keep the bead stationary. Repeat to add another bead grouping. Repeat entire step using the other end of the wire.
Step 5: Combine the two strands by crimping the two wires together: Use the longer strand to string 1 crimp tube. Pass one end of the shorter strand up into the tube. Adjust the tube so that it is about 1/2" from the previous tube and crimp. String one 3mm bead and 1 crimp tube. Crimp the tube to hold the bead in place. Repeat entire step to connect the two strands on the other side of the necklace.
Step 6: Use 1 strand of wire to string 1 crimp tube. Crimp the tube so that it is about 1/2" from the previous tube. String one 3mm bead, one 4mm bead, one 3mm bead, and 1 crimp tube. Crimp the tube. String 1 crimp tube and crimp it 1/2" from the previous tube. String one 3mm bead and 1 crimp tube; crimp. Repeat entire step for the other half of the necklace.
Step 7: Use 1 end of the wire to string 1 crimp tube and one half of the clasp. Pass back through the tube, adjust the necklace length (the finished piece should be just longer than a choker, with the wire resting on your collarbone), and crimp. Repeat for the other end of the necklace.
Elegant Necklace
Designer Jamie Hogsett
Skill Level Intermediate
Materials
Trios Elegant wire set (Copper, Coral, Onyx)
20 yards 24 gauge Bare Copper
Craft Wire - 1 spool
16mm Copper Toggle Clasp - 1 set
2mm x 2mm Copper
Crimp Tubes - 25 pcs
3mm Copper
Crimp Covers - 31 pcs
18-22mm Baroque Coin Pearls - 7 pcs
8x5mm Black Tourmaline Faceted Barrels - 18 pcs
6x4mm Red Coral Natural Beads - 6 pcs
25mm Red Sponge Coral Rounds - 1 pc
Tools
Crimpers
Cutters
Bead Stoppers
Instructions
Finished size: 25 1/2"
Step 1: Use 14" of Copper Soft Flex Craft Wire, folded in half and doubled, to form a wire wrapped loop. String the Coral round and form a wire wrapped loop. Set aside.
Step 2: Use 6" of Copper Soft Flex Craft Wire to string 1 crimp tube. Place the tube at the very end of the wire and crimp. Cover the crimp tube with a crimp cover. Use the other end of the wire to string 1 Pearl. Form a wire wrapped loop.
Step 3: Use 4" of Onyx wire to string 1 crimp tube. Place the tube at the very end of the wire and crimp. String 1 Black Tourmaline oval and 1 Coral bead. Pass through the wire wrapped loop formed in Step 2 and one of the wire wrapped loops formed in Step 1. Pass back through the wire wrapped loop formed in Step 1. String 1 Coral bead, 1 Black Tourmaline oval, and 1 crimp tube. Place the tube at the very end of the wire and crimp. Cover the crimp tube with a crimp cover.
Step 4: Repeat Step 3, using 5" of Coral wire.
Step 5: Repeat Step 3, using 6" of Copper wire.
Step 6: Cut 29" each of the Onyx, Coral, and Copper wire. Place one Bead Stopper at the center of the three wires. Use all three wires to string the other wire wrapped loop formed in Step 1 to the Bead Stopper.
Step 7: Use the Coral wire to string 1 crimp tube. Place the tube 3/4" from the center of the wires and crimp. Cover the crimp tube with a crimp cover. String 1 Black Tourmaline oval, 1 Pearl, 1 Black Tourmaline oval, and 1 crimp tube. Crimp the tube and cover with a crimp cover.
Step 8: Repeat Step 7, placing the first crimp tube 2" from the previous tube. Repeat entire step.
Step 9: Use the Coral wire to string 1 crimp tube and one half of the clasp. Pass back through the tube and crimp, wasting as little wire as possible. Cover the crimp tube with a crimp cover. Repeat to attach the Onyx and Copper wires to the same half of the clasp.
Step 10: Remove the Bead Stopper and repeat Steps 7-9 for the other half of the clasp.
Step 11: Attach one crimp cover around all three wires in six spots in order to keep the wires together at certain points on the necklace.
Join the fun in our VIB Facebook Group today! Stay in the know. Stay up to date. From our bead shows to our video shows and sales, you can stay in touch with us. The community is full of artistic and helpful beaders and crafty people. Inspire and be inspired. Share your pictures and get the beading bug from others!
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Blog contributor Thomas Soles is the Trade Show Coordinator for Soft Flex Company. His favorite stones are Lapis and Pietersite. His favorite hobby is day dreaming. And his favorite mustache is Tom Selleck's. As you can see, he has a healthy (or possibly unhealthy) sense of humor. You can write to him at Thomas@SoftFlexCompany.com