Easy DIY Projects: Jewelry and Paper Crafts

Interested in making jewelry? Creative Mixed Media is an online website for crafters interested in DIY projects that are affordable and simple to make. Choose from several art projects including jewelry making, scrapbooking, card making, constructing mosaics, or stitching and sewing. Free tutorials are available for each project along with additional tips and resources for extra help (books and other websites are referenced). 

For each DIY project, a list of materials is included along with a video tutorial that goes step-by step. This is extremely helpful for visual learners! Jewelry designers can learn how to wire wrap beads and use polymer clay to make simple earrings, bracelets and necklaces. This is definitely a great website for beginners!

 

Resources:

http://www.createmixedmedia.com/make/jewelry

Ickynicks Jewelry is an online handmade shop for men and women. Ickynicks designs gold hoop earrings, sterling silver and stainless steel hoop earrings. We provide links to tips and tricks for jewelry making.

Jewelry Lessons and Tutorials: Jewelrylessons.com

JewelryLessons.com is a great resource for crafters who are interested in advancing their skills in jewelry making.  An entire section on the website is devoted to DIY tutorials and patterns. You can search for specific tutorials based on the level of difficulty, type of jewelry you want to design, rating level, or jewelry techniques below:

• Wire wrapping
• Hand hammering (silversmith)
• Bead weaving with thread or wire 
• Polymer or metal clay
• Polishing or finishing stones, charms, or rings 
• Surface embellishment with pendants, bracelets, or rings
• Using string and fiber
• Metalsmith
• Men's Jewelry

DIY Jewelry Making: Wire Wrapping Rings

One of the most difficult things to do with jewelry is learning how to wrap wire. Before you begin, you want to ask yourself, 'what do I want to make?' Are you interested in wrapping wire to make rings, pendants, charms, earrings, or bracelets? This will help narrow it down. Once you decide, then you can begin to gather supplies and tools. If you decide to make rings, it's easier if you wrap the wire around small objects that you can find in your home. This includes liter bottle caps, wine corks, toilet paper rolls, or any type of small round objects.

What Do I Need? Basic Jewelry Supplies and Tools for Wire Wrapping:

1. Round wire (sizes 16, 18 or 20-gauge)
2. Beads (optional) sized between 6-10mm
3. Round or Chain Nose Pliers
4. Wire Cutters
5. Round small objects or 'ring mandrel' - any object that you can wrap the wire around to make it into a ring.

 

Tutorials on Wire Wrapping Rings:

• Wire Wrap Beaded Rings
• Stone Rings
• Knitted Bow Ring
• 13 DIY Jewelry Crafts
• Instructables: Wire Wrapping Tutorial
• Buying Tools and Supplies for Wire Wrapping