Women love jewelry; that’s never going to change. Some women can afford beautiful diamonds and gold whereas others browse the costume jewelry section at a nearby department store. Sure, many women choose costume jewelry because it’s much cheaper but even some costume jewelry pieces can be a little pricey. One example is a spiral wire bracelet. You’ve seen them, haven’t you? A single piece of wire wraps around and around the wrist and features a pattern done in beads with large areas of the wire still exposed. These types of bracelets can be a little expensive unless you make them yourself. The bracelets are perfect for little girls as well as women and can be made to match any outfit.
Since you’ll likely have to buy wire by the spool you might invest more than a couple of dollars. However, an entire spool of wire will allow you to create bracelets galore. Make assorted spiral wire bracelets for yourself and make more to give others as gifts. You’ll find wire appropriate for the bracelets at a home improvement store or even a craft store. Although it’s cheaper to purchase the wire at a home improvement store you generally have to purchase larger rolls. Craft stores charge a little more for wire but you can often by a much smaller amount.
Even though you can technically use any type of wire you want the bracelets look the most impressive if you use copper wire. However, you can sometimes purchase wire in various colors, like blue, green and even red. These colored wires give you even more options for creating a multitude of spiral bracelets. The gauge of wire matters, too. You want to choose a wire gauge that is pliable but also a gauge that will hold its shape. Copper wire in gauges of 26 to 32 gauge work well. The wire you choose should be very small in diameter, if it’s a rounded-type wire, or should be very thin and narrow if it’s a flat-type of wire.
There are many different ways to make the bracelets, but no matter what design you choose, you’ll start by wrapping the wire around your wrist. Wrap it as many times as you want depending upon the design you want to make. Don’t wrap it so that each wrap lies upon the previous one; wrap the wire so that there is an inch or so of space between each wrap. Don’t wrap the wire tightly; wrap it at an angle so that you create a loose spiral instead. When you’re finished wrapping it you should be able to slide it off over your hand. Later, you can make the bracelet a little tighter if needed.
After removing the bracelet begin adding the beads to create the design you want. Use one bead which is a cap bead. That is, a bead that has a hole on one side but not on the other. This bead should be glued to one end of the copper wire. Now begin sliding on the beads. Position them where you want then add a little hot glue to hold them. Or, wad up pieces of Scotch tape so that the sticky side of the tape is facing outwards. Stuff the tape into the hole of the bead using a toothpick. The tape will prevent the bead from sliding.
You can gather two, three or more beads together in one spot, then leave a space before duplicating the pattern, or you can just add one bead every couple of inches. When you get to the opposite end glue on another cap bead. If you can’t find cap beads, or just don’t have any, you can simply position a regular bead at the very end of the wire. It can be helpful to fold the wire over a little, then insert it in the bead, to keep the end bead tightly in place. Add a little hot glue to help secure. By combining various beads, spacing techniques, colors and more you can create literally thousands of different spiral bracelets. Spiral bracelets don’t have to be strictly for the wrist. Make one for the upper arm, too. Just follow the same technique of wrapping the wire around the arm, removing it, then adding the beads.
You don’t have to spend a lot of money on the beads for the spiral bracelet. You’ll often find a small assortment of inexpensive beads at a dollar-theme store. Even if you shop for beads at a craft store you’ll see that you can get the beads you want for a couple of bucks and that those beads will be more than plenty to make several bracelets. You’ll enjoy the new jewelry you make and you’ll love telling everyone you made it yourself. Others who receive the spiral beaded bracelets from you as gifts will cherish them forever, too!
Reference:
- Purchase craft wire here: www.michaels.com
