It is a fantastic day to learn how to make jewelry with Soft Flex Craft Wire! Today, we are looking at five of our top viewed videos featuring our versatile Craft Wire. Soft Flex Craft Wire is wonderful for making rings, earrings, wire wrapping stones, and so much more. If you have ever wanted to master your wire design and wrapping skills, these videos are slow paced enough that you can easily follow and learn as you go. If you have not been watching our Craft Wire series - Conversations In Wire with James Browning - well, today, let's give you an introduction!
Meet our Soft Flex Craft Wire guru - James Browning. James is a Customer Service Representative for the Soft Flex Company. He moved to California from Eastern Washington. He has a Bachelors of Fine Arts concentrating in the studio arts. He had the opportunity to study abroad in Florence, Italy for 3 months where he studied marble sculpting, and mosaic making. He has taught multiple art classes including pottery and polymer clay design. His passion for jewelry has been life long, making beaded necklaces and wire pieces for friends and family. He also had an Etsy store where he would sell custom lanyards and polymer clay creations. Recently his passion has extended beyond beads to wire wrapping. He states that “wire is an inexpensive hobby that tends to not take over your craft room!” You can see more of his work on his Facebook page.
James loves to design jewelry with Soft Flex Craft Wire. 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.
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. An exceptional design idea deserves a professional craft wire.
Intro To Wire Wrapping
This video is a fantastic introduction to wire wrapping with Soft Flex Craft Wire.
James first discusses tools used for manipulating Craft Wire. He covers the unique functions and techniques of each tool. He then discusses wire gauges. Knowing the wire gauge you will need to use for a given project will increase your skill when designing your project. James then covers the wire hardness of Soft Flex Craft Wire. Hardness refers to the malleability of the wire. A softer wire is easier to manipulate than a harder wire. Soft Flex Craft Wire is soft to dead soft. It can be work hardened to half-hard.
James demonstrates a technique he calls ‘chicken-wire wrap’ as the finished look reminds him of the wire that is used to contain chickens. He admits that the technique probably has a real name, but he prefers his pet name. James says his technique can be done on any stone, but is most useful on rough cut stone and faceted stone. James says to be mindful that different gauges can create different looks with the finished wrap.
Supplies:
Soft Flex Craft Wire - Bare Copper 26ga
Cutters
Nylon Jaw Pliers
Round Nose Pliers
Bent Nose Pliers
Craft Wire Starter Kit (optional)
How To Make A Rose Ring Using Soft Flex Craft Wire
Let’s learn how to make a ring with Craft Wire! James discusses how to make a fun ring with a wire wrapped rose center. His video is easy to follow and will have you designing a ring of your own in no time!
James calls this lovely ring a rose ring or simple wrap ring. The ring requires very little materials and is great for a beginner project. It is basically a ring with a twisted or swirled center to give the rose dimension. Changing the gauge of wire will give the ring a finer look. Change the color of the wire for a different look. You can add stones to the ring if you would like once you get the hang of it. As you master you wire working, you can make your rings more intricate with wire detail.
Supplies:
Ring Mandrel
Soft Flex Craft Wire - Silver Plated 20ga
Cutters
Nylon Jaw Pliers
Round Nose Pliers
Bent Nose Pliers
Craft Wire Starter Kit (optional)
Learn Kumihimo Wire Weaving Using Soft Flex Craft Wire
James is a thoughtful teacher and works at a pace that is very easy to follow. He suggests working at a slower pace as any mistakes you make can easily be corrected. If you try to rush through a design, you will find that it is much more difficult to correct any errors and you may overwork your wire.
In this video, James shows how to use a square Kumihimo plate with 22 gauge Soft Flex Craft Wire to create a flat wire weave that can be turned into a fun ring. James got this idea working in Tucson at the To Bead True Blue bead show. This ring was James first time working with a Kumihimo plate. It took some work, but James nailed this design. If you have not worked with Craft Wire and a Kumihimo plate, consider getting plenty of wire before trying this project as the first attempt may not be perfect.
Supplies:
Square Kumihimo Plate
Soft Flex Craft Wire - Silver Plated 22ga
Cutters
Nylon Jaw Pliers
Round Nose Pliers
Bent Nose Pliers
Craft Wire Starter Kit (optional)
How To Make Lettering With Soft Flex Craft Wire
James shows us how to create words with Soft Flex Craft Wire. There are so many fun applications for this. You could make a focal bead with your loved one’s name on it. You could craft a gift tag for a holiday present with the recipient’s name on it. You could simply create letters to place on a work desk. This will be easy with tools, a little know-how, and an imagination.
James walks us through the process of creating words freehand. He also shows us how to use a printed word as a template. Using a template will ensure the words you make are all uniform and precise. That is great for creating a professional finish. Freehand words are awesome too. Freehand designs can be more playful and imaginative. Go with what suits you.
Supplies:
Soft Flex Craft Wire - Silver Plated 20ga
Cutters
Nylon Jaw Pliers
Round Nose Pliers
Bent Nose Pliers
Craft Wire Starter Kit (optional)
Viking Knit With The Lazee Daizee And Craft Wire
James filmed this video after we had just stocked our shelves with the Lazee Daizee Viking Knit Wire Weaving Tool. James was eager to play with it and see how well it worked. James selected 24 gauge Craft Wire and created a stunning bracelet.
The Lazee Daizee makes Viking Knit so easy. The tool has a petal design that really helps make your looped wire consistent and simple to manage and work. The length of the rod of the tool is a great guide for the looped wire segments. The tool is soft enough that it will not scuff or damage the Soft Flex Craft Wire. The Lazee Daizee comes with an instruction sheet. So exciting! Viking Knit has never been faster or more accessible.
Supplies:
Lazee Daizee Viking Knit Wire Weaving Tool
Draw Plate
Soft Flex Craft Wire - 24ga
Soft Flex Craft Wire - Silver Plated 24ga
Cutters
Nylon Jaw Pliers
Round Nose Pliers
Bent Nose Pliers
Craft Wire Starter Kit (optional)
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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