Hohoho How To Brand Necklaces Amongst Vintage Keys

In my final spider web log post I discussed my basic pattern procedure for working amongst a unique focal element, inward this case, some fantastic vintage & antique keys that I came across at a flea marketplace final summer. I besides discussed the basics of choosing gratuitous materials such equally beads, as well as the “laying out,” or organization of the design. The next post volition beak over the fabrication of those keys into a slice of unique, 1 of a form slice of jewelry.

Below are 2 styles of necklaces made amongst keys:

Vertically Hung Key With Beaded Chain

Horizontally Hung Key Necklace

Materials List for both projects

Vintage Keys

WD-40 as well as newspaper towels to build clean upward your keys as well as take away rust

Coordinating wire: Brass or copper run well. For the necklaces shown, I used Beadalon ColourCraft Permanently Colored Copper Wire inward Brown (20 gauge) as well as Zebra Wire Colored Copper Wire inward Brown inward 18, 22 as well as 26 gauge

Antique complete brass or copper chain (for horizontally hung necklace)

Antique complete brass or copper jump rings (for horizontally hung necklace)

Antique complete brass or copper clasps (toggle as well as or lobster-claw style)

A multifariousness of gemstone as well as drinking glass beads

Round olfactory organ pliers

Flush-cut pliers

Chain olfactory organ pliers

*Aside from the keys, nigh items listed inward a higher house are available through Fire Mountain Gems Jewelry Supply http://www.firemountaingems.com/

FABRICATION

If you lot honor that your keys are a fiddling rusty, spray them amongst WD-40 as well as build clean good amongst newspaper towels. Because the keys I used were a nice, rusty brown, I decided to role chocolate-brown colored copper wire for my necklaces. I liked the keys hung both vertically as well as horizontally as well as thence I decided to brand both styles. Below are the instructions for both.

Vertical Key Necklace: 
beaded chain technique amongst toggle clasp

*For these necklace you lot volition take to know how to brand a basic wrapped loop. This is a uncomplicated technique that is basic to jewelry making.If you lot practise non know how to brand a wrapped loop, directions tin last works life here: http://www.firemountaingems.com/beading_howtos/beading_projects.asp?docid=652t

Step 1. Cut a 2.5” slice of wire as well as connect 1 terminate to the hole inward the locomote past times of the fundamental amongst a basic wrapped loop. (For this agency I used the xx justice wire)

Detail of wrapped wire loops attached to key

Step 2. Place a bead onto the other terminate of the wire as well as consummate the terminate amongst some other closed, wrapped loop.

Step 3. Repeat your adjacent department amongst some other department of 2.5” wire, this fourth dimension connecting 1 terminate of the wire to the previously finished beaded loop. Again, house a bead on the wire, as well as consummate the unfinished wire terminate amongst some other wrapped loop.

Step 4. Continue repeating this “wire, bead, loop” procedure until you lot accept created 1 entire side of beaded chain inward the length that you lot desire. (I made each side of my necklace approx. 10”, for a full finished necklace length of 21” including fundamental as well as clasp.)

Step 5. Repeat steps 1 through iv to practise the other side of your beaded chain.

Step 6. Attaching the toggle clasp: When you lot accept finished your beaded chain inward the length that you lot desire, attach your clasp. Using the same wrapped loop technique, attach the “bar” business office of the toggle clasp to 1 side of your beaded chain as well as the “loop” business office of the toggle clasp to the other side of your beaded chain. That's it! You are finished!

Detail of toggle clasp attached amongst wire wrapped loops

Directions for Horizontal Key Necklace:

Step 1. Place fundamental horizontally on table. Cut a 3” slice of wire as well as connect 1 terminate to the hole inward the locomote past times of the fundamental amongst a basic wrapped loop. (For this agency I used the xx justice wire).

   Step 2. Place a bead onto the other terminate of the wire as well as consummate the terminate amongst some other closed, wrapped loop.

   Step 3. Cut some other 3” slice of wire as well as amongst a wrapped loop, connect 1 terminate to other, contrary terminate of the key, wrapping the wire approximately the torso of the fundamental to the within of the key’s teeth.

   Step 4. Place a bead onto the other terminate of the wire as well as consummate the terminate amongst some other closed, wrapped loop.

Step 5. Continue this technique using 2.5” lengths of wire as well as beads, until you lot accept the beaded await you lot want; I used 2 beads on 1 terminate of the fundamental as well as iv on the other terminate of the key. *Do NOT twine the opened upward terminate of the wire later your final bead.

Step 6. Cut 2 lengths of chain (I used 2 10” lengths of chain) as well as instantly making a loop inward the wire later your final bead, thread the chain onto the loop as well as twine the end. Repeat amongst other side. Your lengths of chain are instantly attached to each side of your necklace.

 Step 7. Attaching the clasp: At the terminate of each length of your chain you lot volition attach your clasp. For this agency necklace I used a lobster hook agency clasp. Use a jump band to attach the clasp to 1 side of your chain as well as consummate the other side of your chain amongst some other jump ring. You are finished!

Lobster-claw agency clasp

A unlike color combination: Citrine as well as Honey Jade

Pink Rhodonite gemstone beads

If you lot accept whatever questions, experience liberate to post them below!

- Laura