Happy Wednesday to all of you lovely, creative people! Today we have a scrumptious serving of  Soft Flex Craft Wire projects. Craft Wire is surprisingly versatile. Craft Wire is great for:  knitting, braiding, wire wrapping, jewelry components (like ear wire and jump rings), chain, and so much more! It is beginner friendly and it is forgiving if you don't rush your work. If you have not had the opportunity to work with Craft Wire, make sure you check out our  free project ideas and YouTube videos for easy to follow instructions.   

The five  free project ideas we offer today are great for anybody that has worked with  Soft Flex Craft Wire before. They are recommended for an intermediate skill level. We included an easy to make  bracelet for beginners. Even if you do not consider yourself an intermediate designer, these designs will be simple after some practice. Soft Flex Craft Wire is easy to pick up as long as you have patience.  Conversations in Wire is a great starting point for a beginner. James makes it easy to follow along and learn new techniques. 

If you need to purchase tools for your Soft Flex Craft Wire projects, consider a starter kit. Craft Wire Starters Kits include a Bead Mat, Bead Nipper, Nylon Jaw Pliers, Round Nose Pliers, Bent Nose Pliers, Lobster Clasps, a 10 yard spool of 22 Gauge Soft Flex Craft Wire in your choice of metal color and a FREE package of Beads. (Bead colors vary and will be based on your wire color choice).

Soft Flex Craft Wire is a high quality, permanently colored copper wire. It is resistant to scratching, peeling and marring. This is due to the special enameling process used to coat the wire to produce the wide spectrum of colors we offer. After the enamel is applied, the wire is then clear coated to prevent tarnishing. Bare Copper is the only wire in the line that is not treated. If antiques and old findings are your medium, Bare Copper will patina - perfect for making that new project look like an heirloom.

Quality  Soft Flex Craft Wire is 100% lead and nickel free. There are no other metals used in the wire production other than copper and fine silver. The temper of the wire is soft. It is firmer than similar wire products offered on the market, which are typically only available in dead soft and can't be tempered to half hard. We currently offer six of the most commonly used gauges in the jewelry industry and more are on the horizon. An exceptional design idea deserves a professional craft wire.

Wire Wrapped Quartz Dangles

Designer Shelley Richey
Skill Level Intermediate

Materials
Silver Plated Ear Wires - 1 pair 
22 gauge Non-Tarnish Silver Soft Flex Craft Wire - 7" 
3mm Sterling Silver Round Beads - 4 pcs 
6mm Clear  Quartz Faceted Round Beads - 2 pcs
12x10x4mm Clear  Quartz Faceted Teardrop Beads - 2 pcs

Tools
Round Nose Pliers
Cutters 
Needle Nose Pliers

Instructions

Step 1: Cut the Soft Flex Craft Wire in half.

Step 2: Use 1 wire and form a 90 degree bend 1 1/4 inches from one end of the wire. String 1 teardrop and bend the wire into a triangle shape.  Form a wire wrapped loop at the top of the teardrop. Do not cut any wires.

Step 3: Use the long end of the wire to string 1 silver round bead, 1 quartz round bead, and 1 silver round bead. Form a wire wrapped loop that attaches to 1 ear wire. Trim wire ends.

Step 4: Repeat Steps 2 and 3 to make a second earring.

Vino Earrings

Designer Jamie Hogsett
Skill Level Intermediate

Materials
22 gauge Non-Tarnish Silver Soft Flex Craft Wire - 32" 
Silver Plated Ear Wires - 1 pair 
4mm Smoky Purple CZ Faceted Rondelles - 12 pcs 
10mm Petal/Henna/Rose Pink Wildflower Kazuri Beads from  Antelope Beads - 2 pcs
12mm Peony/Caprice Zanzibar Kazuri Rounds from  Antelope Beads - 2 pcs
12mm Peony Kazuri Rounds from  Antelope Beads - 2 pcs

Tools
Cutters 
Chain Nose Pliers
Round Nose Pliers 
Flat Nose Pliers 

Instructions

Finished Size: 3"

Step 1: Use flat nose pliers to fold up the last 1/4" of one end of 4" of wire so that the wire is parallel to itself. Use the long end of the wire to string 1 CZ rondelle, 1 Zanzibar round, and 1 CZ rondelle.  Form a wire wrapped loop, doubling the wire wrap by wrapping the wire over itself back up toward the loop. Wrap the tail end of the wire down around the Zanzibar round and wrap it around 1/8" of the doubled wire below the bottom CZ rondelle.

Step 2: Use 6" of wire to form a wire wrapped loop about 2 3/4" from one end of the wire. Do not trim the wire end. String 1 CZ rondelle, 1 wildflower bead, and 1 CZ rondelle. Form a wire wrapped loop that attaches to the wrapped loop in the previous step. Do not trim the tail end. Use one tail end to wrap around the wildflower bead and wrap over the wire wrap on the opposite side of the bead. Repeat, wrapping the other tail end around the wildflower and over the wire wrap on the other side.

Step 3: Repeat Step 2, using the peony rounds and attaching the second wrapped loop to the open loop of the wildflower bead link. Attach 1 ear wire to the remaining wire wrapped loop.

Step 4: Repeat Steps 1-3 to make a second earring.

Silver Moonstone Necklace

Designer Virginia Magdaleno
Skill Level Intermediate

Materials
20 gauge Non-Tarnish Silver Soft Flex Craft Wire - 1 spool 
26 gauge Non-Tarnish Silver Soft Flex Craft Wire - 1 spool 
Sterling Silver Toggle Clasp - 1 set 
Sterling Silver Head Pin - 1 pc 
Cylinder  Czech Glass Beads - Approx. 29 pcs
3mm  Moonstone Rondelles - Approx. 58 pcs

Tools
Needle Nose Pliers 
Cutters 
Round Nose Pliers 

Instructions

Step 1: Use Soft Flex Professional Flush Cutters to cut 2 inches of 20 Gauge Silver Soft Flex Craft Wire. Form a wire wrapped loop that attaches to one half of the clasp. String 1 Czech Glass bead and  form a wire wrapped loop.

Step 2: Use 2 inches of wire to form a wire wrapped loop that attaches to the previous wire wrapped loop. String 1 Czech Glass bead and form a wire wrapped loop. Repeat entire step 12 times.

Step 3: Repeat Steps 1 and 2 using the other half of the clasp.

Step 4: Use 2 inches of wire to form a wire wrapped loop that attaches to the final wrapped loops in the chains formed in Steps 2 and 3. String 1 Czech Glass bead and form a wire wrapped loop. Use 2 inches of 26 Gauge Silver Soft Flex Craft Wire to form a wire wrapped loop that attaches to the previous wire wrapped loop. String 1 Moonstone Rondelle and form a wire wrapped loop. Use 1 Head Pin to string 1 Moonstone Rondelle and form a wire wrapped loop that attaches to the previous wire wrapped loop.

Step 5: Use 2 inches of 26 Gauge Silver Soft Flex Craft Wire to form a wire wrapped loop that attaches to the bottom loop of the third Czech Glass bead from the center on the right side of the necklace. String 1 Moonstone Rondelle and form a wire wrapped loop.

Step 6: Use 2 inches of wire to form a wire wrapped loop that attaches to the previous loop. String 1 Moonstone Rondelle and form a wire wrapped loop.

Step 7: Repeat Step 6 five times, attaching the final wire wrapped loop to the bottom loop of the fourth Czech Glass bead from the center on the left side of the necklace.

Step 8: Repeat Step 5, attaching the first wire wrapped loop to the top loop of the third Czech Glass bead from the center on the right side of the necklace. Repeat Step 6 twelve times, attaching the final wire wrapped loop to the top loop of the seventh Czech Glass bead from the center on the left side of the necklace.

First Blush Bracelet

Designer Jamie Hogsett
Skill Level Beginner

Materials
Pink Tourmaline Soft Flex Beading Wire .019 diameter - 14" 
22 gauge Non-Tarnish Silver Soft Flex Craft Wire - 10" 
16x11mm Sterling Silver Oval Toggle  Clasp - 1 set
2x2mm Sterling Silver Crimp Tubes - 6 pcs 
3mm Sterling Silver Crimp Covers - 6 pcs 
6mm Sterling Silver Flower Bead Caps - 8 pcs
8mm  Czech Pressed-Glass Clear with Green Tint Rounds - 4pcs
10x12mm  Czech Pressed-Glass Matte Green Leaves - 5 pcs
Size 11° Pink Seed  Beads - 8 pcs
Size 11° Silver Seed  Beads - 2 pcs

Tools
Cutters
Chain Nose Pliers
Round Nose Pliers
Needle Nose Pliers
Crimping Pliers 

Instructions

Finished Size: 7 3/4"

Step 1: Use 4" of beading wire to string 1 crimp tube and the ring half of the clasp. Pass back through the tube and crimp.  Click here for crimping instructions. Cover the crimp tube with 1 crimp cover. String 1 leaf and 1 crimp tube. Pass back through the tube, leaving a small loop of wire, and crimp. Cover the crimp tube with 1 crimp cover.

Step 2: Use 2 1/2" of 22 gauge wire to  form a wire wrapped loop that attaches to the previous wire loop. String 1 pink seed bead, 1 bead cap, 1 round, 1 bead cap, and 1 pink seed bead. Form a wire wrapped loop.

Step 3: Use 6" of beading wire to string 1 crimp tube and the previous wire loop. Pass back through the tube and crimp. Cover the crimp tube with 1 crimp cover. String (1 leaf and 1 silver seed bead) twice. String 1 leaf and 1 crimp tube. Pass back through the tube, leaving a small loop of wire, and crimp. Cover the crimp tube with 1 crimp cover.

Step 4: Repeat Step 2 three times.

Step 5: Use 4" of beading wire to string 1 crimp tube and the previous wire loop. Pass back through the tube and crimp. Cover the crimp tube with 1 crimp cover. String 1 leaf, 1 crimp tube, and the bar half of the clasp. Pass back through the tube and crimp. Cover the crimp tube with 1 crimp cover.

Pink Tourmaline Dangles

Designer Virginia Magdaleno
Skill Level Intermediate

Materials
26 gauge Non-Tarnish Silver Plated Soft Flex Craft Wire - 1 Spool 
22 gauge Non-Tarnish Silver Plated Soft Flex Craft Wire - 1 Spool 
Faceted  Pink Tourmaline Saucers - 64 pcs
Faceted  Tourmaline Briolettes - 14 pcs

Tools
Round Nose Pliers
Cutters 
Needle Nose Pliers

Instructions

Step 1: To make ear wires for the earrings, use Soft Flex Professional Flush Cutters to cut about 2 inches of 22 Gauge Soft Flex Craft Wire from the spool. Use the narrow end of Soft Flex Professional Round Nose Pliers to  form a simple loop at one end of the wire. Move the pliers 1/2 an inch away from the simple loop. Using the wide end of the pliers, wrap the wire in the opposite direction as the simple loop. Repeat entire step to form a second ear wire.

Step 2: Use Soft Flex Professional Flush Cutters to cut 2 inches of 26 Gauge Soft Flex Craft Wire. Use the wire and 1 Faceted Tourmaline Briolette to form a wire wrapped bail. Repeat entire Step to form 10 Briolette bails.

Step 3: Use 2 inches of 26 Gauge wire to form a wire wrapped loop that attaches to 1 bail. String 1 Faceted Pink Tourmaline Saucer and  form a wire wrapped loop.

Step 4: Use 2 inches of wire to form a wire wrapped loop that attaches to the previous wire wrapped loop. String 1 Saucer and form a wire wrapped loop.

Step 5: Repeat Steps 3 and 4 to form a second short chain.

Step 6: Repeat Step 3. Repeat Step 4 four times. Repeat entire step to form a second medium chain.

Step 7: Repeat Step 3. Repeat Step 4 five times to form a long chain.

Step 8: Use 6 inches of wire to form a wire wrapped loop that attaches to the end of one short chain. String 1 Saucer, 1 medium chain, 1 Saucer, 1 Briolette, 1 Saucer, 1 long chain, 1 Saucer, 1 Briolette, 1 Saucer, 1 medium chain, and 1 Saucer. Form a wire wrapped loop that attaches to the second short chain.

Step 9: Use 2 inches of wire to form a wire wrapped loop that attaches to the first wire wrapped loop formed in Step 8. String 1 Saucer and form a wire wrapped loop.

Step 10: Repeat Step 4 twice.

Step 11: Repeat Steps 9 and 10, attaching the first wire wrapped loop to the second wire wrapped loop formed in Step 8.

Step 12: Attach 1 ear wire to the final wire wrapped loops formed in Steps 10 and 11.

Step 13: Repeat Steps 3-12 to make a second earring.

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 loves Jazz Age writers and crunchy french fries. His favorite gemstones are Lapis and Pietersite. His favorite hobby is day dreaming. And his favorite mustache is Freddie Mercury's. As you can see, he has a healthy (or possibly unhealthy) sense of humor. You can write to him at Thomas@SoftFlexCompany.com