DIY Network

New Mom Birthstone Bracelet From "Jewelry Making" episode DJMK-206

The completed "mommy" bracelet, with dangling birthstone bead.

Guest artist Liz Gourley creates a bracelet with birthstone chips to commemorate the birth of a new baby.

Materials:

Beads of your choice
Birthstone gem chips
Gold or silver eye pins
Gold or silver jump rings
Gold or silver spring ring clasps or clasp of your choice
Gold or silver bell caps, size to fit your chip
Bonding cement
A baby tooth (optional)
Spray acrylic (for baby tooth)
Round nose pliers
Flat nose pliers
Diagonal wire cutters

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Steps 1-2

1. Thread desired bead or beads on an eye pin. Use flat nosed pliers to make a 90-degree angle in the wire close to the end bead.

2. How to make a loop in the wire: To make a loop at the end of the beads, hold the wire with the round nose pliers as close to the bend as possible and, with your fingers or the flat nose pliers, bend the wire around the top jaw of the pliers, pulling tight. Make sure the loop is the same size as the one on the other side.

3. Cut off the excess wire and close the loop with the flat nose pliers.

4. Make as many beaded eye pins as desired to achieve a 7-9 inch (standard length) bracelet.

5. Join the eye pins with jump rings, opening and closing them with a sideways motion, so as not to strain the metal.

6. Attach clasp ends with jump rings.

7. Glue gem (birthstone) chips into the bell caps and allow to dry.

8. Join completed bell cap and gem with a jump ring to the bracelet.

GUESTS :

Elizabeth (Liz) Gourley
Fax: 805-644-7485
E-mail: beadingladies@yahoo.com