DIY Beaded Suncatcher Mobile to Brighten Your Year in Illuminating Yellow
This week on Free Spirit Beading with Kristen Fagan, we get crafty! Learn to make a beaded suncatcher mobile to brighten your year with Pantone's Colors of 2021: Illuminating Yellow and Ultimate Gray! Place a mobile in your yard or in your house! They are a playful and pretty addition to your home or patio décor.
Supplies:
2021 Pantone Color of the Year Duo of Beading Wire
2021 Pantone Color of the Year Czech Glass Bead Mix
2021 Pantone Illuminating Yellow Bead Strand
2021 Pantone Color of the Year Illuminating Yellow Bead Mix
2021 Pantone Color of the Year Ultimate Gray Bead Mix
Soft Flex Craft Wire - 18 Gauge and 22 Gauge
The idea of this came to me based on a previous tutorial for a wire wrapped bangle. I had created this pretty yellow wire wrapped bangle but, sadly it ended up being a wee bit big for my wrist. I didn't want to cut up the design and figured I would hold on to it until inspiration strikes. This week, it fell right into place with this DIY beaded mobile idea! The wire wrapped top is 3" in diameter and made with Soft Flex Craft Wire in 18 gauge and 22 gauge. See how to create that part with this video tutorial.
I decided to create nine 10" strands of beads to hang from the wire wrapped bangle. I chose to use beads from the 2021 Pantone Colors of the Year using Czech Glass bead mix, Ultimate Gray bead mix, Illuminating Yellow bead mix and bead strand. After sorting the beads, I pulled out any of the beads that would make good drops for the bottom of the strands first. I settled on the little Czech Glass bead drops, two birdie charms and 4 tassels.
I began with crimping the bottom drop, charm or tassels to the strand, then string a few beads and knot the beading wire with the figure 8 knot. String a few more beads and add another knot and so on. Once done stringing and knotting you crimp the strand the wire wrapped top.
To create the hanging part at the top, I cut four 6" strands of beading wire and crimped them North, South, East, West pattern so they were evenly spaced out. I added two beads to each strand. Gather the four strands together and slide on a 3mm crimp tube. Pass the wire through a closed jump ring, back through the crimp tube and crimp with Mighty Crimping Pliers.
Next, I added a large bead suspended in the center that crimped from East to West onto the wire wrapped circle. This is optional but, since I had just one of those large beads left I decided to try it. Hang your finished mobile from a patio, near a window or from the ceiling and enjoy!
Join me live for a jewelry making tutorial on Soft Flex Company's YouTube channel Monday's!
If you like this idea, you may like these other jewelry making tutorials:
How to Make a Wire Wrapped Beaded Bangle Bracelet with Craft Wire
Learn all about our 2021 Pantone Color of the Year items
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Kristen Fagan is a Website Graphic Designer and Jewelry Making Educator for Soft Flex® Company. She is the co-author of Seed Bead Revolution, an artist and creativity guide. She lives in Arizona with her husband, their two sons and two dogs. When she's not painting, drawing or beading, she enjoys reading, yoga, exploring the outdoors and traveling. Her favorite stones are Turquoise, and Quartz and she can't bead without Bead Stoppers. Contact her at Kristen@softflexcompany.com or visit her Website | Facebook | Instagram