Shine Online February 2017 | Page 7

1. Cut a length of 1mm wire measuring approx 25cm and straighten it with your fingers or nylon jaw pliers.

2. Fold in half and open up the ends of the wire so it forms a V shape, straighten again.

3. Bend the left side over into a curve, with the end of the wire ending up pointing down.

4. Bend the right side of wire to the left into a bigger curve, again gently with fingers so that the end is pointing downwards and the 2 wires are parallel next to each other.

5. Trim the end of the smaller curve, with enough left to create a small curl shape. Curl the wire using round nose pliers.

6. Coil the end of the larger curve up in the same direction as the smaller side, but in a tighter coil, again using round nose pliers.

7. Optional, if you have a wire hammer, the heart can be gently hammered with the nylon side to harden up the shape.

8. Cut a 15cm length of 0.31mm purple wire.

9. Wrap around part of the heart where 2 curves meet, making sure the 2 curves don’t overlap, finish both ends with 3 wraps around single wire, trim excess tails and make sure that ends are -

- smoothed down with chain nose pliers to ensure they don’t catch on your skin.

10. Cut a 80cm piece of 0.31mm purple wire.

11. Start on smaller curve next to the wrap created in step 9. Wrap round wire going away from centre of the heart, try to keep the wraps neat and next to each other. Throughout wrapping, compress the wraps so they are neatly next to each other. Pull the wire to the front of the heart so the beads sit correctly.

12. Put a bead on to the wire and holding it close to the inside of the heart, wrap the wire.

13. Continue doing this until the whole of the inside of the heart is beaded. Try and place a bead right at the bottom point of the heart.

14. Trim the tails and smooth as before.

15. Attach a jumpring on the larger side of the heart between 2 beads.

16. The heart then can be put on a charm hanger, strung onto a necklace, put on a bangle, or attached to Kumihimo braids.

The hearts can be made in different sizes, beads can be random or in a pattern.

17. To create earrings, the 2 hearts need to match and the bead pattern should be the same. Each heart will then be attached to earring wires.

MATERIALS

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TOOLS

• Wire cutters

• Chain nose pliers

• Round nose pliers

• Nylon jaw pliers

• Wire hammer

• Steel block

Learn how to make this delicate wire jewellery set using bright size 6 seed beads and shining silver plated findings. These lovely hearts were designed by Mary Hughes and are perfect for adapting into romantic decorations for Valentine's day or wedding celebrations!