I Thought It Was an Original Idea

I thought my idea for keychain/purse charm watches was such a good idea.  So did others.  Since I posted it, I have found several other places that also had the same idea.  Actually, about a week after I posted my idea here, I was looking through an Avon book and found a very close replica of what I was making.  Obviously I wasn't the first to come up with it.  I just find it strange that so many other people had the same idea at roughly the same time.

I will continue to make them though.  I think they are a great idea.  Clip them to almost anywhere - your purse, an id badge, your backpack, your jeans, or where ever you would like.

I hope most people find them as useful as I do.

Wire Wrapped Rings

One of my best sellers at sales lately is my wire wrapped rings.  I sell them for $5 each.  They are fairly simple to make and at my last sale, I was even custom making some for the smaller fingers that were eager to wear something shiny.

As I said, they are failry easy to make.  Start with a piece of wire.  I like to use 20 gauge because it isn't too thin or too thick.  I use crafting wire that can be found at any craft store.

Wire, ring madrel, beads, needle nose pliers, round nose pliers, hammer

Bend wire in half with bead in center.

All of my rings have one of my own small glass beads.  You could use any small size bead on your ring.  Thread the bead onto the wire until it is centered.  Bend the wire in half and position the bead in the center.

I have a ring mandrel so I can make rings different sizes and know what sizes they are.  Before the mandrel, I used cylindrical bottles that small beads (such as seed beads) come in.  Use what you have that will give you the right size ring.

Wrap top wire 3 times

Centre the bead on the mandrel (or whatever you are using).  Wrap the top wire around the mandrel 3 times.  Then wrap the bottom wire around 3 times making sure you tighten the bead and wire as you go. 

Bottom wire wrapped around the bead.
 Use round pliers to bend into wrap.

Take the bottom wire and wrap around the bead until it is almost all the way around.
Using round nose pliers, bend the end of the wire and push it into the wrap so there isn't a sharp point.  Next wrap the top wire around the other wrap.  Finish the end again by bending the wire into the wrap.

Re-adjust where needed using the needle nose or round nose pliers.  When you are happy with the shape of the ring, uise a nylon hammer to strengthen the wire.  Hammer the back part of the ring while it is on the mandrel.  This will help it hold its shape.


Remove the ring from the mandrel and you are done.

 I have yet to figure out exactly how to get certain looks.  A lot of what I do is trial and error.  So play arond with it and see what you can come up with.

There are many more complicated wire wrapped rings which turn out quite pretty.  But to keep my cost at  $5, I think I will stick to my simple wrapped ring.

***I would like to thank Karen from Wood River Creations  for showing me how to wire wrap rings in the first place.  Thanks Karen!

Another Giveaway

I forgot to mention that I am having a give-a-way once I reach 100 likes on my facebook page.  I will be giving away a bookmark to one of the 100 people who likes the page (randomly selected).  So if you don't already like the page, please click the link on the side of this page.  If you already like the page, please let others know so they can like it as well.

Thanks again!

Caroline
http://www.facebook.com/carelebeads

What's new?

Park Art is over for another year. This was my last show until October when I will be participating in the Things We Love Tradeshow. Between now and then I will be adding new items to my etsy and zibbet shops. I will also be updating my website's sale items.

 

 

For the next week, ending on July 10, 2011, I am having a sale in my etsy shop to celebrate Canada Post's strike/lockout being over. Save 10% on your purchase by adding coupon code "strikesale" during checkout.

 

 

Find a few of my "newer" items listed below: