Get more bling for your buck when it comes to your Halloween costume. Just one string of beads can be used to make a whole set of jewelry -- earrings, a ring, and a necklace -- fit for an evil queen or a little princess.
Jewelry How-To
Use a strand that has at least six center-drilled beads.
Tools and Materials
Strand of beads
24-gauge gold wire
Jewelry pliers
4 jump rings
Ribbon
2 earring hooks
Sandpaper
Ring base with pad
Fast-setting multiuse glue, such as Beacon 527
- Remove beads from strand. Reserve 3 beads for earrings and ring.
- For the necklace: String remaining beads onto a length of gold wire, making a small loop at each end of the wire to secure beads. Attach 1 jump ring to each loop. Tie a length of ribbon to each jump ring.
- For the earrings: Feed a length of gold wire through each bead, making a small loop at each end of the beads. Attach 1 earring hook to one of the loops at the end of each bead.
- For the ring: Sand down the spot on the bead where you will attach the ring base. Apply glue to pad of base, and stick on bead.
Gold beadery wire, 24-gauge, $4 for 30 yd.; gold jump rings, 7 mm, $1.50 per bag; gold spring clasps (H-14), 14 mm, $6 for 12; gold ring posts (#2222-7), 7 mm, $12 for 15; gold ear wires, $5 for 12; and superfine round-nose pliers with spring, $7.50; tohoshoji-ny.com.