Jewelry Making Fun

How to Attach an Eye Pin to a French Hook

admin — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 03:48:25 +0000

This video demonstrates two ways how to attach an eye pin to a French hook. This is one of the most important basic skills to know when learning how to make jewelry. It’s a good thing that this skill is also very easy to learn.

To do this, you’ll need:

1 or more eye pins
1 or more French hooks
1 pair of chain nose pliers

Jewelry Making Basics – Using Jump Rings

admin — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 23:39:24 +0000

This jewelry making basics video demonstrates how to use jump rings. It covers how to open and close the jump rings, as well as how to connect them to one another, in the most basic way, to make a simple earring.

Tools:

Chain nose pliers

Jewelry Making Basics – How to Make an Eye Pin

admin — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 23:11:58 +0000

In this jewelry making basics video, I demonstrate how to make an eye pin out of wire. If you don’t have any eye pins handy, you can easily make them yourself from either straightened wire, or even from head pins.

If you don’t have wire, and only have head pins, you can make an eye pin in the same way as I show in the video, only snip off the head of the pin first. One reason you may wish to make your own eye pins out of head pins is to take advantage of volume pricing. Some jewelry shops will offer discounts on larger orders of individual items, such as head pins. You can order more head pins and make eye pins as you need them.

Eye pins are useful for middle sections of jewelry, as, unlike head pins, they can connect at both ends. When you are ready to finish off the eye pin with a top loop, the steps are similar to those used on a head pin.

For information on this, please see the video: How to use a Head Pin

Materials:

Wire (22ga or 24ga works very well)

Tools:

Round-nose pliers
Wire cutters

Please note: I suggest you wear safety glasses when making jewelry, especially when you use wire cutters.

Jewelry Making Basics – Scratch-Resistant Pliers Tip

admin — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:32:43 +0000

In this jewelry making basics video, I demonstrate how masking tape can be used to reduce the risk of your pliers scratching the softer metals while you make your own jewelry. Also, make sure your pliers have no “teeth”. Pliers with teeth scratch softer metals very easily.

Tools:

Chain nose pliers
Masking tape
Sharp blade such as box cutters

Jewelry Making Basics – How to use a Head Pin

admin — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:12:02 +0000

In this jewelry making basics video, I demonstrate how to use a head pin, including two ways to finish off the head pin loop and a warning that could save you some time and frustration. Also explained, is the difference between a head pin and an eye pin.

Tools:

Round-nose pliers
Chain nose pliers (I say needle nose pliers by mistake in the video)

Jewelry Making Basics – Earring Findings

admin — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 07:24:14 +0000

In this jewelry making basics video, I give an overview of the different types of findings I use to make earrings. I review French hooks, posts and head pins. I explain the difference between head pins and eye pins, and why surgical stainless steel findings are important.

How to Make Earrings – Celtic Knot Earrings

admin — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 05:49:12 +0000

This project shows you how to make a more intricate looking pair of earrings with a Celtic knot wire design. While these earrings look intricate and complicated, they are simple to make when broken down, step-by-step. These earrings do require additional tools, such as a jig peg board. You can either purchase a jig peg board from WigJig, or make one yourself, out of something like wood and nails.

Tools:

1 pair of round-nosed pliers
1 WigJig Delphi Jewelry Making Tool
Wire cutters (I’m using tin snips in this video, as my wire cutters are broken)
smooth-surfaced hammer
Anvil (or hard striking surface)

Materials:

1 pair of French hooks
2 head pins
2 small beads (4mm) of light colour
6 small beads of (4mm) of dark colour such as onyx.
15 inches approximate of 18ga wire

To look similar to the wire earrings I make in this video, the French hooks, the head pins and the wire should ideally be made from the same type of metal. However, you are only limited by your imagination!

How to Make Earrings – Hematite Hoop Earrings

admin — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:14:46 +0000

This project shows you how to make a simple pair of beaded earrings. For this project, you will need:

Tools:

1 pair of round-nosed pliers

Materials:

1 pair of French hooks
2 head pins
beads