By: Ginny Project Type: Bead Stringing
If you want to do something a little different, buttons are beautiful teamed
with beads. An iridescent vintage button decorated with a floral bouquet is the
inspiration for this simple bracelet
Supplies as pictured:
1 - vintage button
1 foot Soft Touch beading wire
2 – 2mm gold-filled crimps
2 – gold- filled crimp covers
6 – 6mm rose glass barrel beads
10 – 5mm base metal flower beads
5 – 8 mm base metal flower beads
12 – 3 mm bronze faceted beads
40 to 50 Delica or size 11 seed beads
Tools:
Wire cutter
Crimp pliers
Instructions:
String the beads onto beading wire, as pictured, or choose your own. Using an
average-size button, approximately ½ to ¾ inch, when you have strung enough
beads that they will just touch if you wrap the wire around your wrist to test,
you have enough beads. If you are using small beads the correct length will be
the same as your wrist measurement, for larger beads if will be a little more.
If the button is larger or smaller, you will need to adjust the length of the
beads and the corresponding loop.
Add crimps beads at each end. On the button end, add 3or 4 seed beads to cover
the wire loop. Add the button, then 3 or 4 more seed beads. Put the wire back
through the crimp and the last few beads, crimp with crimp pliers, trim the
wire, and add the crimp cover.
At the other end of the bracelet, add seed beads to form a loop approximately
twice the diameter of the bead, then put the wire back through the crimp bead
and the last few beads. Test the loop to make sure the button moves through it
easily before you crimp. Allow for the fact that the crimp cover will make the
fit a little snugger. Crimp, trim the wire, then add the crimp cover.
Click picture for a close-up of detailed steps.
