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Debbie Witenski
BellaOnline's Jewelry Making Editor

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Cord Bead Charm Bracelet Project Completion
Guest Author - Chris Franchetti Michaels

Click here for the first page of this project article.

4. Attach the bead charms to jump rings. Open each jump ring by holding each side of the ring in chain nose and/or flat nose pliers, then using a scissor motion, pulling the ends apart up and down (not side to side).

Place three bead charms onto each jump ring, and close the rings using the opposite motion you used to open them.

For my pattern, I placed the leaves and flowers together in the same cluster. Feel free to arrange them differently if you'd like. When finished, they should look something like this:

5. Next, knot each jump ring with charms onto the leather cord. String the first bead cluster onto the cord about an inch from the end, and begin to tie a regular overhand knot in the cord with the bead cluster contained inside. Make sure the beads are strung on the large loop that is created as you tie the knot, as shown:

Pull the knot tight. Use your fingers if the cord is long enough, but if it's too short to get a strong grip, use flat nose pliers to pull gently on the short end. (However, always be careful using pliers on leather cord; they can easily mar or damage it.)

String and knot the remaining bead clusters onto the cord. For a small to medium sized bracelet, try not to space them farther apart than about 1/2 to 3/4 inch. For a large-sized bracelet, string the clusters about 3/4 to 1 inch apart.

When all the clusters have been attached to the cord, trim the cord at the end, leaving about an inch of tail. If you realize that you're bracelet needs to be a little shorter or longer, trim the end of the cord accordingly. (Remember that the clasp will add about an inch to the total length of the bracelet.)

6. Now attach the cord ends by using flat nose pliers to crimp them onto the cord. Begin by squeezing one side of the cord end down so that it gently grips the cord end.

Turn the cord around and squeeze down the other side of the cord end. It will not squeeze completely flat. As long as both sides are squeezed down as shown, they should hold tight enough onto the cord that glue is unnecessary.

7. Finish your bracelet using two more jump rings to attach both ends of the toggle clasp to the cord ends. (If you find that your bracelet is a little too short at this point, add more jump rings to create a chain on the "bar" part of the clasp, to create a little chain.)

*****

Alternatively, try substituting beads of different materials and colors, but similar shapes and sizes, using the pattern of this project as a guide.

~ Browse for Czech glass bead on eBay

~You can also find a wide variety of Czech pressed glass, and free shipping, at Artbeads.com


Chris Franchetti Michaels is a writer and jewelry artisan specializing in beaded designs, wire work, and metal fabrication. She is the author of the books Teach Yourself Visually: Jewelry Making and Beading, Beading Quick Tips, and Wire Jewelry Quick Tips. Visit her website BeadJewelry.net for more jewelry-making help and inspiration.


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Content copyright © 2008 by Chris Franchetti Michaels. All rights reserved.
This content was written by Chris Franchetti Michaels. If you wish to use this content in any manner, you need written permission. Contact Debbie Witenski for details.

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