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Tips to elevate your handmade pieces!
I love jewelry, I love looking at it, I love making it, and I love wearing it. But there are some parts of jewelry that I don’t love. I can’t stand it when a piece is uncomfortable and scratchy to wear, and I also can’t stand poorly constructed jewelry that looks like it will fall apart after two wears, so I thought it would be fun to share with you some things to look out for so that you always make strong, comfortable jewels that you will enjoy for years to come.
Here are my tips for making long-lasting, professional looking and comfortable jewelry:
1: Make sure you tuck away the ends of the tiger-tail wire. I usually achieve this by running the wire through a few of the beads at each end of my beaded designs so that it doesn’t poke out. You can also use a crimp cover which covers any sharp ends of the wire. You can see some examples below.
Look at the ends of this beaded strand, the ends of the wire are hidden under the beads. Follow the tutorial for this necklace here. 
The crimp cover on this earring charm protects you from being scratched by the wire. Tutorial for these earrings here. 2: Avoid using elastic in your designs. Elastic might be easy to put on and take off (and in some cases, is the only appropriate option in terms of accessibility). Unfortunately, this accessibility comes with a trade off, elastic tends to wear out quickly, and you can find your beautiful bracelet scattered all over the floor at the most inopportune moment. I suggest making your beaded jewels with nylon beading thread or tiger-tail wire for a longer life span. I’ve got a post about the pros and cons of different beading materials here.
Here’s a bracelet I found a while ago that was made from elastic. Unfortunately it had broken and been lost to its original owner! 
I’m yet to experience any of my tiger-tail beaded pieces breaking on me, I suggest choosing it if you are looking for durability in your designs. Full tutorial here. 3: Pull your wire tight at each end of your beaded pieces. I’ve noticed with the trend towards beaded jewelry in recent years, beaded tiger-tail necklaces are being sold with large loops at each end. This loose loop can catch on things and lead to breakages. I also personally think it looks sloppy and makes your work seem less polished.
I think this anklet with tightly finished ends looks a lot neater than a loosely looped wire. You can follow the steps to make your own anklet here. 
Don’t leave big loops like this on your jewelry pieces, they can catch on things and don’t look as polished. 4: Try to use precious metals! I spent a long time making jewelry using findings made from base metals. While these materials are cheaper and great for when you’re starting out, I think investing in fine metals such as sterling silver, is a great way to elevate your designs and make them seem more polished and professional.
A sterling silver clasp elevates this beaded bracelet. You can see the tutorial for this bracelet here. 
Sterling silver wire goes a long way! Some silver wire can be transformed into many sleek, minimalist jewellery designs with minimal effort. Tutorial to make these here. Here are some sterling silver materials you can buy and use in your designs:
5: I don’t always follow my own advice, but when you are making beaded pieces with pearls, it can pay to spend some extra time knotting your beading thread between each pearl. This technique not only protects the pearls, it also stops you from losing them all in the case of a breakage! I have’t made a pearl knotting tutorial yet, but I think there will be one on the way soon so keep an eye out.
This pearl bracelet features individually knotted pearls. So there you have it, a few tips and tricks to elevate your jewelry making to that next level! Please note that this post contains affiliate links.
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Here’s how to make a single floating pearl necklace!
I’ve made a floating pearl necklace before using multiple pearls, you can see the tutorial here. This design is a bit different. For this one you won’t need extra crimp beads, the pearl instead slides freely on the tiger tail wire! I also added some crimp covers on this version so that the trimmed tigertail ends don’t scratch your neck! Please note that this tutorial contains affiliate links.
You’ll need these tools and materials to make this floating pearl necklace:
1: Pliers. I used my cutting pliers, flat nose pliers and round nose pliers for this floating pearl necklace.
Cutting pliers (left), Round nose pliers (middle) and flat nose pliers (right) 2: Tiger tail wire. Cut to your desired length, I made mine a bit longer than I usually like, but you can check your length by holding the wire loosely around your neck or measuring the wire against the length of your fave necklace and adding about 3cm extra.
3: Two crimp beads.
4: Two crimp cover findings.
5: A pearl bead. I used this oval shaped freshwater pearl bead.
6: A clasp and extra jump ring.
Follow these steps to make your floating pearl necklace:
1: Add a crimp bead to one end of the wire.
2: Loop the end of the wire back through the crimp to create a loop.
3: Pull the loop tight around the crimp bead.
4: Squash the crimp bead using flat nose pliers and then trim the excess wire at the end.
5: Add a crimp cover from the other end of the wire, pulling it so that it sits around the squashed crimp bead.
6: Close the crimp cover around the squashed crimp bead using the flat nose pliers.
7: Add the pearl to the wire.
8: Add the second crimp cover to the wire and let it fall out of the way.
9: Add the second crimp bead to the wire and repeat the loop that you did in steps 2-4.
This is before trimming the excess wire. I suggest trimming the wire before closing the crimp cover. 10: Pull the crimp cover back up the wire and fold it around the crimp bead end, close it carefully using the flat nose pliers.
11: Use the loops at the end of the crimp covers to attach the clasp to one side of the necklace and the jump ring to the other side. Shape and close the crimp cover loops using the round nose pliers.
Once the clasp has been attached, your floating pearl necklace is ready to wear! Would you wear this piece as a simple statement or layered with other pieces?
Here are some other pearl necklace designs you can make:
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Here’s how to make a fun hand harness with pearl tassel charms, so cool!
Are you bored at home staring at your hands with nothing else to do? Make them more interesting to look at with this fun hand harness! Making this should be fun and and you’ll have a cool accessory at the end. This tutorial contains affiliate links.
You’ll need these tools and materials to make your cool pearl tassel hand harness:
1: Pliers. I used my flat nose pliers and round nose pliers.
2: Chain that is long enough to wrap around your finger, the front of your hand and wrist. I used some gold-tone rolo chain.
3: Two medium jump rings.
4: A lobster clasp.
5: Pearl beads. I used eight pink pearl beads.
6: Eight smaller jump rings.
7: Eight head pins.
Follow these steps to make your pearl tassel hand harness:
1: Add each of the pearl beads to the head pins.
2: Curl the tops of the head pin around the round nose pliers to form loops and secure the beads in place. Once you have beaded and curled all eight pins you can set them aside.
3: Pick up the chain and create a loop that fits loosely around your middle finger.
4: Attach the end of the chain to the point where where it fits so that you have a loose loop of chain secured together. You can do this by opening one of the chain links and then closing it again around one of the links in the chain.
5: Measure a piece of chain so that it falls down the middle of your hand.
6: Then wrap the rest of the chain around your wrist, trim it and secure it into a large loop like you did with the ring part of the chain. Now you should have one small and one large loop with a single chain joining them.
7: Split the large loop so that it is open in the back opposite to the centre chain.
8: Attach the medium sized jump rings to either end of the open loop and attach the lobster clasp to one of them.
9: Now all that is left is to attach the pearl charms! Add the eight pearl charms to the centre chain that runs down the centre of your hand using the smaller jump rings.
Once all your pearls are attached your pearl tassel hand harness is finished and ready to wear!! So cute!
Here are some other hand harness designs that you can make:
This tutorial contains affiliate links.
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How to make a cute pearl charm out of wire!
Maybe you’ve got some earrings that you want to change up a bit, like a pair of hoops that could use some extra charm… why not make this tiny pearl pendant out of hammered wire?
You’ll need the following tools and materials to make this little charm:
1: Cutting pliers and round nose pliers.
2: A steel block to hammer on.
3: A hammer. I used a normal hammer but a jewelry hammer might be more appropriate 😉
4: A piece of wire. I used some rose gold-filled wire, approximately 3cm long.
5: Pearl beads. I used these two small white pearls.
6: A file or sandpaper for finishing off the ends of the wire.
Here are the steps to follow to make your cute pearl charm:
1: Cut the wire to the length you want it, make sure you leave enough room for hammering and curling the top of the wire.
2: Place the wire on the hammering block.
3: Hammer one end of the wire, flipping it over to make sure both sides are even. Keep hammering until the wire is wide enough to stop your bead from falling off.
4: Place the beads on the wire. They should be stopped from sliding off by the newly hammered end.
5: Bend the wire to form a right angle at the top.
6: Loop the wire using the round nose pliers to secure the beads from sliding off the other end.
7: File or sand the hammered end of the wire to ensure that there are no sharp edges.
Now your charm is finished! What will you decorate with yours?
If you liked this design, here’s another hammered charm tutorial.
Here are some other hammered earring tutorials
- Hammered wire arch earrings with gemstones
- Simple hammered studs
- Hammer texture threader earrings
- Beaded wire threader earrings
This tutorial contains affiliate links.
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Combine the latest trends in one awesome design with this pearl anklet!
Pearls and anklets are having a moment right now. Hop in on the trend with this rainbow pearl beaded anklet. Contains affiliate links.
You’ll need the following tools and materials to make your pearl anklet:
1: Pliers. You’ll need cutting pliers, flat nose pliers and round nose pliers to make your anklet.
2: Tiger tail wire. Cut it a little longer than the length you want to make your anklet.
3: Four crimp beads.
4: Two jump rings.
5: A lobster clasp.
6: Pearl beads. I used three pink freshwater pearls.
7: Mixed beads. I used a mix of bugle and seed beads.
Follow these steps to make your pearl anklet:
1: Add two crimp beads to one end of the wire.
2: Add a jump ring.
3: Loop the wire around the jump ring and through the crimp beads.
4: Squash the jump rings using the flat nose pliers.
5: Add your beads. I added mine in a pattern with the pearls situated close to one side of the anklet.
6: Once your anklet is fully beaded add the remaining crimp beads.
7: Add the second jump ring.
8: Loop the end of the wire around the jump ring and through the crimp beads and the end few glass beads.
9: Pull the wire tight.
10: Squash the crimps using the flat nose pliers.
11: Trim the excess tiger tail wire.
12: Add the clasp to one side of the anklet. Close the jump ring to secure it in place.
Now your pearl anklet is finished and ready for a summer #ankleparty.
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How to make a rainbow beaded pearl necklace
I’ve seen a lot of pearl and glass bead jewelry online lately so I thought it would be a good time to share a rainbow pearl necklace tutorial so you can DIY these expensive jewels at home. Contains affiliate links.
You will need the following tools and materials to make your rainbow pearl necklace:
1: Pliers. You’ll need your cutting pliers, round nose pliers and flat nose pliers.
2: Tiger tail wire.
3: Four crimp beads.
4: Two jump rings.
5: A lobster clasp.
6: Multicolored glass beads. I used these mixed glass beads.
7: A pearl bead. I used this white pearl bead.
Follow these steps to make your rainbow pearl necklace:
1: Add two of the crimp beads to the tiger tail wire.
2: Add a jump ring to the wire.
3: Fold the end of the wire around the jump ring and through the crimp beads.
4: Squash the jump rings using the flat nose pliers.
5: Start adding the glass beads to the wire.
6: Add beads to half of the length you want your necklace and add the pearl. beads.
7: Add the glass beads to the rest of the wire so that the pearl sits in the middle.
8: Add the remaining crimp beads and the other jump ring to the wire.
9: Fold the end of the wire around the jump ring and through the crimp beads and the last few glass beads.
10: Pull the wire tight.
11: Squash the jump rings using the flat nose pliers.
12: Trim the excess wire using the cutting pliers.
13: Attach the lobster clasp to one side of the necklace onto one of the jump rings.
Now your rainbow pearl necklace is finished! How satisfying to get the look for less by making it yourself?
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Hop on the pearl trend with these beaded pearl hoop earrings!
I am loving the pearl jewelry trend right now! Here’s how you can DIY your way into unconventional pearl earrings. Contains affiliate links.
You will need the following tools and materials to make your beaded pearl hoops:
1: Pliers. I used cutting pliers to cut my wire, round nose pliers and flat nose pliers.
2: Some wire. I used this wire that I reclaimed from an old jewelry project.
3: Charm connector stud earrings.
4: Two small jump rings.
5: Two medium jump rings.
6: Two larger jump rings.
7: Two small head pins.
8: Two pearl beads. I used these freshwater pearl beads.
9: Seed beads. I used these mixed glass seed beads.
Follow these steps to make your beaded pearl hoops:
1: Curl the end of the wire to form a loop using the round nose pliers.
2: Add the seed beads to the wire.
3: Once the wire is beaded and there is only about 1cm left of the wire left use the round nose pliers again to curl the end into a loop.
4: Repeat steps one to three for the second piece of wire.
5: Form the beaded wires into circle shapes.
6: Join the ends of the wires using the two small jump rings and then set the hoops aside.
7: Add the pearls to each of the head pins.
8: Create a loop at the top of each pin using the round nose pliers. This will secure the pearls on the pins.
9: Attach each of the pearl charms to the beaded hoops using the medium sized jump rings.
10: Attach the earring posts to the top of the hoops using the largest jump rings.
Once the earring posts are in place they are ready to wear! How cute are they?!
Here’s another pair I made with some green pearls.
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This earring is HOT! Combine pearls and glass charms to make a cool statement earring
I can’t get enough of glass food charms. Here’s another idea for how you can use them in your jewelry designs. This earring uses pearls and a glass chilli charm to make something very sexy!
You will need the following tools and materials to make your pearl chilli earring:
1: Pliers. You’ll need your round nose and flat nose pliers.
2: An eye pin.
3: A charm loop earring finding.
4: Two jump rings. One larger and one small.
5: A glass chilli charm.
6: Three freshwater pearl beads.
Follow these steps to make your pearl chilli earring:
1: Add the pearls to the eye pin.
2: Create a loop at the end of the pin to secure the pearls in place.
3: Add the chilli charm to one end of the pearl pin using the large jump ring.
4: Add the earring to the other end of the pearl pin using the smaller jump ring.
Now your earring is finished and ready to wear! How cool?!
