Paper Bead Knockoffs-Duck Tape Cuties Part II
Welcome back.
We have created the beads, and now are ready to make them into some lovely pieces of jewelry. First, you will need a sharp tool of some sort to cut the beads off the stirring straws. Shown here are a circle cutter (my favorite), a pair of scissors, an exacto knife, and a single edge razor. Any tool that is sharp enough to cut the bead off the straw will work.
I recommend using a cutting mat of some kind. I use a small self healing Omnigrid Mat like quilters might use. A heavy sheet of cardboard will also work.
Cut the beads off the stirring straws just as close to the beads as possible. You might even trim off just a tiny bit of the bead tape to make sure that as little of the stirring straw shows at the end of the bead as possible.
The ends of the beads look unfinished. The glue and strands of fiber show, and will show on the finished necklace as well. This is where we take a permanent marker of a compatible color and color the ends of all the beads (not just the cylinders) so they look more finished.
The beads are now ready to assemble into a necklace and earring set, bracelet, or whatever you wish to make with them.
To make beads that do not slide over your head, you will need two (2-3 mm) jump rings, two crimps, and a clasp. A barrel clasp is shown here. You could use a spring clasp, a lobster clasp, or a toggle clasp. You may find a pair of regular pliers (not pictured) helpful as well.
You will need some kind of cord or string for the beads. Here I show Tiger Tail Jewelry Wire, Waxed Linen, and Stretch Magic 1 mm plastic stretch cord. You could also use ribbon, yarn, memory wire, or any other thread of your choice. I will be using the 1 mm Stretch Magic. I like it because the cord nicely fills most of the hole in the straw center of the bead and it has some give to it. It does not allow for a lot of play in the beads.
Next, you need to lay out your bead pattern with complementary and accent beads. I am using a bead landing board because it helps keep the beads in the order I wish to put them without having them roll all over. A beading boards like this can be purchased at Hobby Lobby or WalMart or most other craft stores. However, it is not necessary. A cookie sheet or jelly roll pan with sides and lined with a towel or perhaps the rubbery kind of shelf liner will help you keep your beads under control.
I have chosen a clear acrylic yellow green bead with black amber-like inclusions and clear gold seed beads with large holes (about size 8) for my accent beads.
Now, to assemble.
Thread your beads in the desired pattern onto your cording of choice. Do not cut the end from the spool yet. This will keep the beads from going all over the place as you work on the first end.
Take the loose end and make a loop in the cording. (This next part can get tricky) Lay the loop inside the crimp, and using the regular pliers, fold the crimp sides over the cord.
Make sure the crimp is tight and the cord is secure. Then cut the tail of the cord as close to the crimp as possible. I have included spacer bead between the cylinder and the crimp. This is optional. It could be a regular bead, or nothing. If the hole in the bead next to the crimp is large enough, tuck any extra tail down inside it. Slide the beads close to the crimp.
Now you are ready to cut the other end from the spool. Leave about 1 inch of cording more than what the necklace needs. Repeat the process with the crimp, folding the edges of the crimp over the cording as close to the beads as you can. Clip and tuck the tail into the closest bead. If for some reason, the cord does not seem secure in the crimp, you can place a small dab of E 6000 or Super Glue or some other clear adhesive on the cord to help hold it in place. Open the jump rings by twisting the ends sideways (away from each other. If you pull them apart to create a gap, it is very difficult to get them back into shape when you want to close them.) Add the clasp pieces, and then twist the jump rings back into position.
Your necklace is finished.
Now, for the earrings:
You will need two 2 inch head pins, two earwires, and two sets of the beads you plan to use. Again you can use spacer beads if you wish, but it is optional. I have chosen to do so as I think it finishes off the ends of the Duck Tape beads nicely.
You will also need a pair of round nose or needle nose pliers.
Thread the beads on the head pin in the pattern that corresponds with the necklace pattern.
Once the beads are all in place, place the round nose pliers next to the beads and bend the remaining wire over the pliers at a right angle.
Change the position of the pliers so that the wire can be wrapped around the nose of the pliers, forming a circle. Clip off any remaining wire or wrap it tight so that there is a closed circle.
Bend the loop of the earwire sideways, slip the earring on, and bend the loop back until it is closed. Repeat the process with the second earring, and you are finished.
Enjoy wearing your one of a kind gems, and don’t be afraid to experiment with other colors and patterns. Stay tuned for examples of other Duck Tape patterns and the styles of beads they make. Until then, may you soar with the eagles.
Send a picture with your comments when you try this tutorial. Let me know how they turned out. If I have left out a step, or a part is not clear, let me know that too so I can make the tutorial easier to understand.Thank you.
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