Jewellery making tutorial – simple bracelet

By Helen Abdul

Materials 

• 0.6mm tiger tail wire (silver) 
• Approx. 5x7mm oval jump rings (silver plated)
• 10mm lobster clasp (silver plated)
• 2mm crimp beads (silver plated)
• 4mm crimp covers (silver plated)
• 8mm mix of beads of your choice (glass, wooden, ceramic, crystal)
• Flat nose plier
• (Side) Cutting pliers

Instructions 

1)  Cut your desired length of tiger tail.  Thread a crimp bead near the end and squash it with your flat nose plier.

2)   Continue adding beads until you have created your desired bracelet length.  When you are satisfied with your composition, block the beads by adding another crimp bead to the other end and squash it with the flat nose plier.

3)   It is time to add your clasp.  Thread a crimp bead and bend the tip of the wire back and tuck through the crimp bead as pictured. Squash the crimp bead with the flat nose pliers.

4)   If there is some excess wire coming through the crimp bead, trim it.  Place a crimp cover over the squashed crimp bead.   Close the crimp cover around the squashed crimp using your flat nose pliers. Try to shape it as a round bead by pressing with the flat nose pliers.   Do this to both ends.

5)   Time to put the oval jump ring in the loop!  To open your oval jump ring, grip one side and split it with the flat nose plier. Insert it in the loop.   Close your oval jump ring securely using the flat nose pliers.   Do this to both ends.

6)   Open the oval jump ring and thread on your lobster clasp.   And ta-da! You did it!