Retired - Gilded Dreams Necklace and Earring Set

Note: Components and tools listed within this INSTRUCTIONS box and the printer-friendly PDF, if available, may have been discontinued since this project was published. Refer to the PURCHASE COMPONENTS and TOOLS AND OTHER SUPPLIES sections for current availability.

1. Before beginning this project, watch this video on how to wire wrap beads around a form.
2. We are going to start by making a clasp. Watch this video to see how to make the clasp used in this project. The length of 16 gauge copper wire you should cut for both the hook and eye should be 2.5 inches each.
3. Once you have made your clasp, cut 6 inches of 26 gauge gold wire. Starting near the base loops on the hook part of your clasp, tightly wind the gold wire around the neck area of hook. Make 6 - 8 tight winds and bring the wire to the backside and tuck it under the last couple wounds. Snip the wire end with flush cutters and use your flat nose pliers to press the wire end firmly into the loops of wire.
4. Cut a 16" length of 26 gauge gold wire. Choose an end of your eye part of the clasp to start from, right up near one of the base loops, make 5 tight winds. Start adding your beads in the pattern of 1 Czech seed bead 11/0 in light topaz luster, then two tight winds, another bead, another 2 winds, etc. Do this until you reach just short of the loop on the other side. Leave enough space to make 5 tight winds, do so, and then snip off your wire ends using flush cutter and press your rough end into your wrappings.
5. Cut 2 lengths of 16 gauge copper wire, 2 1/2" long each. For this step we are going to use the wider part of your round nose pliers (for the round nose pliers I am using, it is the furthest back I can go, but for reference, it is approximately 1/4" diameter circular loop we are creating). Grabbing the very end tip of a wire length, create a simple loop - using the pliers just bend the wire into a loop until the end tip touches the body of the wire. Do the same on the other side, just make it so the loop goes in the opposite direction of the loop you created on the other side, like a large "S" shape. See photo. Do the same for the other 2.5" length of wire.
6. Using the technique you learned in the wire wrapping video, wire wrap the straight interior section of each segment from the previous step. You should cut 6 inches of 26 gauge gold wire and starting up close to one loop, wrap in the following pattern: start with 3 tight winds, then a Czech seed bead 11/0 in light topaz luster, then 1 tight wind, 1 bead, 1 tight wind, etc. . Do this until you reach the other loop and do 3 tight winds. Cut off any excess 26 gauge wire and press the rough end into your winds. Repeat this step on the second segment from the last step.
7. The next 4 steps all are for making the focal pendant:
8. Cut a 4" length of 16 gauge copper wire. Create a loop on each end using your round nose pliers. I chose to make my loops approximately 1/8" in diameter. You do not need to measure and can just estimate where this will be on your round nose pliers, if they are a little larger or smaller it will be fine either way.
9. Find a round cylindric object which is approximately 1/2" in diameter. I used a thick sharpie marker. The lid on a small paint bottle or something similar will work fine as well, just make sure it is solid and stiff.
10. See the photo again for the orientation of how you want the end loops to face. Following the same technique you used to make the eye part of your clasp, bend the wire around the object to make a nice rounded hoop shape but do not let your end loops cross. Starting up near one of the loops, wire wrap the main loop following this pattern: 3 tight winds without beads, then a Czech seed bead 11/0 in light topaz luster, then 2 tight winds, 1 bead, 2 tight winds, etc. Do this until you reach the loop at the other end. Make 3 tight winds and then snip off your wire.
11. Cut another 6 inch length of 26 gauge gold wire. Starting at the same point you you began your wrapping before, make several tight wraps. When your wire is facing the interior of your hoop, add 15 Czech fire polished glass 3mm round beads in purple iris. Bend this wire with the beads close up together around the interior of the hoop. See the photo. When you get to the other side of the hoop, add another couple purple beads if you need to make the sides even. When it looks correct, make several tight wraps up near the side loops over your previous wrapping. Cut off excess wire on both sides with flush cutters and use your flat nose pliers to push the rough ends into the wrapping.
12. Now cut a 3" length of 26 gauge wire. Again, make several tight wraps around your previous wrappings up near the loop on one side. Add 3 Czech fire polish 4mm round beads in apollo gold. Pull the wire to the end loop on the other side of your hoop, creating a bridge. Make several tight wraps around your previous wrappings on this other side. Cut off excess wire with flush cutters and press the rough end into the wrapping. You have now made your focal point.
13. It is time to connect all your pieces together. Cut your 2 feet of chain into 4 sections, 6 inches long each.
14. Use the photo as a reference. Open a 5mm jump ring. Connect it to the loop on one side of your focal point and the loop on one of your interior bar sections which have been wire wrapped. Close the jump ring. On the other side of the beaded bar section, connect two 6 inch lengths of chain using 3mm gold jump rings. On the other end of the chains, open and connect a 3mm jump ring and attach each one to one of the loops at the base of one half of your clasp. Repeat this entire step on the other side of your necklace.
15. You have finished the necklace. Good Job.

1. Remember to double these instructions to make your matched pair
2. To create the earrings, follow the exact same steps you did to make the focal point on the necklace with just one deviation: instead of starting your beaded wrapping after just 3 tight winds without beads, for the earrings make about 8 tight winds before adding beads. Then follow all the same steps. Once done, carefully bend your two sides of the hoop inward together up near the top. See photo.
3. Open two 5mm jump rings. Connect one to each of the top loops of your earring. Close the jump ring.
4. Open another 5mm jump ring. Connect it to the two jump rings you just connected and the hoop at the base of your earring hook. Close the jump ring back up.
5. Congratulations - enjoy your lovely new set!

• FEA-02060 - Earring Hooks, French Wire with Coil 19mm Long, 4 Pieces, 14K Gold Filled
  Project uses 2 pieces. You will need 1 package.


• BCP-3336 - Czech Fire Polished Glass Beads 3mm Round Purple Iris (50)
  Project uses 31 pieces. You will need 1 package.


• FJR-5230 - 22K Gold Plated Open Jump Rings 3mm 22 Gauge (x100)
  Project uses 8 pieces. You will need 1 package.


• FJR-3082 - Genuine Copper Open Jump Rings 5mm 20 Gauge (50)
  Project uses 3 pieces. You will need 1 package.


• BCP-3408 - Czech Fire Polished Glass Beads 4mm Round Apollo (Gold) (50)
  Project uses 9 pieces. You will need 1 package.


• WNT-1634 - Beadsmith Tarnish Resistant Bright Copper Wire Heavy 16 Gauge 8 Yards (7.3 Meters)
  Project uses 14 inches. You will need 1 package.


• WNT-2633 - Beadsmith Tarnish Resistant Gold Color Copper Wire 26 Gauge 34 Yards (31 Meters)
  Project uses 37 inches. You will need 1 package.

• XTL-5514 - Beadsmith Jewelry Fine Round Nose Micro Pliers
• XTL-5600 - Xuron Sharp Flush Cutter Pliers - Wire/Soft Flex
• XTL-5511 - Beadsmith Jeweller's Micro Pliers Chain Nose Flat Nose