Rings & Things Jewelry Blog

Learn a simple and sparkling way to make bangle bracelets with hex wire. No soldering or wire wrapping required!Created by: Rita HutchinsonDesigner TipsUnroll and straighten enough wire for all bracelets you plan to make. Add an extra few inches of wire, as the ends won’t be twisted, and the total length will shrink a tiny bit.Insert one end of wire into the chuck of the coiling gizmo. Hold other end firmly with pliers (or with a vise) and hold straight out from coiling tool. Turn handle on tool …

This project uses durable, springy memory wire as the base, and 26-gauge dark blue Artistic Wire as an accent. Created by: Amy MickelsonDesigner TipsUse heavy-duty cutters to cut memory wire.Lashing the beads onto the memory from the center outward allows you to keep half of the wire needed on the spool, making the wire wrapping easier to manage.You will need a total of 72-84" to wrap the beads onto the wire.Unroll approximately 36-42" wire from spool but do not cut it. Put the cover back on spo …

Created by: Summer MelaasDesigner TipsCut about a foot of wire and place the wire almost 3/4 of the way in the hole of the feather.Cross wires over each other above the top of the feather. Bend the shorter one straight up above the feather. Take the longer wire and wrap haphazardly around the stem of the feather adding the 2mm copper beads as you go. Wrap up tail of long wire just at the top of the feather.Add your 8mm bead to the shorter wire. Make a loop and swirl it down around the bead, fini …

Welcome to our new Jewelry Design Gallery! To browse jewelry ideas by category or theme, use the turquoise #tags below (#etched jewelry projects, #enamel projects, etc.) for all projects of a particular category. For a Jewelry Design Gallery / Resources search box, click here or press the turquoise "FREE JEWELRY PROJECTS" link near the bottom of any project's page. You might also like our blog (blog.rings-things.com), filled with step-by-step illustrated projects, and a spot for Q …

Depending on the beads you use, this quick and easy unisex design can go from frilly and feminine to macho and masculine.  Created by: Michelle Horning   Designer TipsFor step-by-step instructions, see the Double Wrap Hammered Ring portion of our 2014 blog post on creating rustic hammered wire wrapped Swarovski crystal rings.Putting a small bend in the wire on either side of the bead before attaching to the thicker gauge wire will help keep the bead in place.Make sure the ends of the l …

Created by: Rita HutchinsonDesigner TipsCut chain to a length of 8 links. Attach one end to earwire for ease in handling.Create dangles with crystal beads and round metal beads, and wire wrap directly to the chain. Add 12 dangles to chain. New to jewelry-making? For step-by-step instructions on making wire-wrapped loops, and most secure way to open and close jump rings, see Jewelry Basics 101 (PDF).Little-known trick: Crimp Pliers are handy for tucking in trimmed ends of wire when making wire-wr …

Created by: Michelle HorningDesigner TipsSee Rustic Wire Ring blog article for illustrated step-by-step instructions for making this style of ring.Hide the cut ends of the finer gauge of wire, on the back side of the ring.The larger the swirls, and more thinly hammered, the more space it will take up on your finger, so it will be more susceptible to snagging and bending.Some styles of beads can be spun to show different sides (see back view of these scarabs, below.)Optional: before hammering end …

Created by: Sondra Barrington Designer TipsKeep gold-filled and gold-plated findings separate, and mark your supplies well!Use chain-nose pliers to turn the loop on ear wire 90-degrees so it faces side to side (not front to back). This is easier to do, before you assemble the rest of the earring components.Wire-wrap the dangles directly on loop. New to jewelry-making? See Basic Jewelry-Making Technique Sheet (PDF) for step-by-step looping instructions. Suggested Supplies1&nbs …

Depending on the beads you use, this quick and easy unisex design can go from frilly and feminine to macho and masculine.Created by: Michelle HorningDesigner TipsFor step-by-step instructions, see the Double Wrap Hammered Ring portion of our 2014 blog post on creating rustic hammered wire wrapped Swarovski crystal rings.Make sure the ends of the large gauge wire don't hang too far over, or they will catch on things and bend."Balance" Copper Ring is a modification with two smaller beads. Add one …

This project uses Swarovski crystals. Created by: Amy MickelsonDesigner TipsCut a length of wire 20" long, or longer if desired. It is better to have plenty of wire for wire-wrapping the heart pendant, depending on how much of the crystal you want to cover.Make a 90-degree bend in the wire about 1.5-2" from the end.Slide the crystal heart pendant onto the wire it reaches the bend in the wire.Wrap the longer piece of wire around the shorter piece a few times.Use round-nose pliers to create a doub …