Making Spiral Bead Caps

Beads With Hats?

I've always been stumped when it comes to using bead caps.

I have several different styles that I've collected over the years - mostly bali style sterling silver, but whenever I go to use them, they always end up looking strange to me.  

Like my beads are wearing little hats. Hats that don't fit right.

So, like most of my recent projects, I decided to tackle multiple demons with one projects - the problem of how to use bead caps and have them look good AND how to make bead caps with a wire spiral.

The picture of the carnelian bead is from a very old project of mine - a simple pair of earrings.  The individual components are all pretty - but together - ugh!

How to Make Perfect Wire Spirals for Jewelry

Spiraling Out of Control

I hate to start out with technical stuff, but I get confused pretty easily.  The first thing I wanted to do it get my terminology down.  

Every designer has the right to call things by whatever name they like, but when I see projects I often wonder

• Is a swirl different from a spiral, or are they the same things? 
• What about a flat coil?  Is it the same of different?

And I think I have the answers - at least grammatically and technically.

Loopy: DIY Handmade Jewelry Projects with Loops

Simple Loop Ring Free Tutorial

Two Steps Forward, Three Steps Back?

I guess I took an unplanned break from my blog for the past couple of weeks to regroup.  I've still been making jewelry during my brief break, just not posting it while I was deciding what direction I wanted to explore next.


Before I jump into the next set of projects with free tutorials, I thought I'd give you a little insight into the method to my madness with respect to my jewelry making and the projects on my blog this year.

Teardrop Link Bracelet Chain with Handmade Clasp

Make, Modify, Repeat...

Today's bracelet project is a is a variation of the lucky horseshoe link chain tutorial that I published last month.

The horseshoe link bracelet has quickly become one of my favorites because it is pretty, comfortable and feels slinky when I wear it.

Once it was complete, I immediately starting thinking of new variations, including adding beads, using different size wire, and closing the links more.

Not long after I published my bracelet project, I saw this free handmade chain tutorial from Kia Dallons Studio on  Pinterest.  

I really like her design, and her method of construction is slightly different from the horseshoe link bracelet.   Because I am using thinner wire, I thought it made sense to adopt some of her techniques.

Copper Wire Flower Pendants

Flower Power

Just a little show and tell of copper wire flowers today.

Using the same technique from the four leaf clover pendant/clasp, I tried making wire flowers for my jewelry with 5 petals.


I used different types of pliers, different size wire and different techniques to make the petal shapes and flower centers.

Here are some of my results.

DIY Wire Four Leaf Clover Charm or Clasp

Four Leaf Clover Clasp

Don't you love it when a project turns out better than you ever expected?

I'm not talking about today's project (yet), but the lucky horseshoe link bracelet that I made last week.

It is my favorite bracelet right now.  It's comfortable, pretty, the perfect size and most of all, it's slinky.

On the down side, it's a little plain though.  There are several options to spice it up, such as adding beads to make a charm bracelet.  I definitely plan to do that in the future.

But for now, I decided to follow a similar path that I did with the infinity link bracelet.  Add a pretty handmade clasp that follows a theme - and provide step by step instructions.

Free Lucky Horseshoe Stud Earrings Tutorial

A little more luck...

The horseshoe wire link bracelet project inspired me to make another horseshoe shaped piece of jewelry.

This time, it is lucky horseshoe stud earrings.

I've never made stud earrings before, but this simple wire shape seems like a perfect place to start.

The best thing about this project?  It only takes about 2 inches of wire so you can make plenty of them right from your scrap bin!

Making these earrings doesn't take much wire or time, but it probably works best if you have a pair of step pliers or bail making pliers to make the horseshoe shape even.

I shaped the wire for both earrings at the same time.  Saves time and helps to make the shapes even.  This isn't really possible using standard round nose pliers.