We love bead-stringing projects and were dying to use this pretty combination of frosted glass beads together. Then Kitty suggested dressing up the simple strand of beads by adding three cool charms in mixed metals. Of course, the hardest part was deciding which charms to use. There are so many fun ones out there right now! The wing definitely wanted to be the star, so we picked an arrow and a key to go on either side. We chose three different metals: the arrow is rose gold, the wing is gold, and the key is silver.
We decided to dangle the charms off of rings so we could slide them off and on the beaded necklace––right over the clasp! Watch the video below to see how we created the charm dangles. Then watch how truly easy it is to make a beaded necklace. All you need are the right jewelry findings, basic tools, and a little guidance from us!
Video How-to: Three Charm Beaded Necklace
How To Make A Three Charm Beaded Necklace
Materials
1 Wing charm, gold, 26mm
1 Arrow charm, rose gold, 23mm
1 Key charm, silver, 21mm
30 Frosted glass round beads, peach, 6mm
30 Frosted glass round beads, yellow, 6mm
14 Frosted glass rondelle beads, blue, 6mm
3 Twisted rope design rings, silver, 11mm
8 Jump rings, 5mm
2 Crimp beads, silver, size #1
2 Clamshell bead tips, silver
Lobster clasp
20” Bead stringing wire, silver, 19-strand
Bead Bug (optional) or Masking Tape
Tools
Chain-nose pliers
Round-nose pliers
Wire cutters
Steps
1. Start by assembling the charm dangles, which consist of a charm, two jump rings, and one of the large twisted rope rings. To make each charm dangle, open a jump ring using two pliers. Grasp the jump ring on either side of the split and rotate one set of pliers up and one down to open the jump ring. It will open like a door and maintain its round shape.
2. Slide the charm onto the open jump ring, then close the jump ring using the same technique in reverse.
3. Open another jump ring using the two-pliers method and slide on the charm jump ring. Then attach the open jump ring to the large twisted rope ring. Close the jump ring. The charm will hang from the large ring with what is now a little jump-ring chain!
4. Repeat steps 1 through 3 to create all three charm dangles. Love them!
5. Now create the beaded necklace by stringing the beads. Start by cutting a 20″ piece of bead-stringing wire. If you want to know more about bead stringing wire, here’s a video we made about bead stringing wire. Place a Bead Bug or a piece of masking tape at one end of the wire to keep the beads from sliding off.
6. String 30 frosted yellow beads onto the bead stringing wire to create the first color-blocked section of beads. Try pouring the beads into the palm of your hand and “fishing” each bead onto the end of the wire. Or simply feed each bead onto the wire one at a time. Choose whatever technique you like!
7. Then string 14 frosted blue beads to create the center section of the necklace and 30 frosted peach beads to fill the other side of the necklace.
8. Time to finish the ends! Feed the end of the wire up through the hole in the bottom of the clamshell bead tip.
9. Then slide on a crimp bead.
10. Flatten the crimp bead with the chain-nose pliers. Make sure the crimp bead is fixed in place on the wire.
11. Use the wire cutters to trim the wire next to the crimp.
12. Then slide the clamshell bead tip up and over the flattened crimp bead. Use the chain-nose pliers to gently close the clamshell over the crimp.
13. Open a jump ring and feed it through the loops on the clamshell bead tip, then feed on the lobster clasp. Close the jump ring. One side done!
14. Slide all the beads down to the finished side of the necklace and remove the Bead Bug or masking tape. (But don’t let the beads slide off!)
15. Feed the end of the wire up through the hole in the bottom of the clamshell bead tip. Then slide on a crimp bead. This time, slide the clamshell and the crimp right up next to your last bead, making sure the necklace has no slack in it. The crimp bead should be nestled inside the open clamshell. Using the chain-nose pliers, reach into the clamshell bead tip and press the crimp bead flat onto the wire.
16. Trim the wire with the wire cutters. Then press the clamshell closed over the flattened crimp bead.
17. Open a jump ring and slide it through the other piece of the clasp and connect it to the clamshell bead tip. Close the jump ring.
18. Slide the three rings with the charm dangles over the clasp and beads and onto necklace.
Don’t you just love the way the charms hang off of those big silver rings?! All that added movement brings so much to the party! Plus, the mixed metals are super trendy right now—and they make the necklace go with everything! Let us know what charms you choose for your Three Charm Beaded Necklace. We’d love to hear from you!
Happy Crafting,
Jennifer & Kitty
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