Suncatcher with Asfour Crystal Drop and Suncatcher, Acrylic Drops and Focals and Celestial Crystal® Beads
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Design Idea KA01
-- Designer --
Jude, Jewelry Artist, Exclusively for Fire Mountain Gems and Beads®
To learn more about Jude Wroblewski, read her jewelry artist success story here.
: : : Materials : : :
Click here to view a full list of materials used in this design.
Please take the creative opportunity to select the products of your choice for this design, offered here at Fire Mountain Gems and Beads.
- Bead, Celestial Crystal®, 16-facet, translucent light blue AB, 3mm faceted bicone
- Bead, Celestial Crystal®, 16-facet, transparent medium purple, 3mm faceted bicone
- Neckwire, silver-plated brass, 2mm round with smooth curve, 15 inches
- Component, acrylic, translucent frosted yellow, 11x7mm flower
- Drop, Asfour Crystal, crystal clear, 23x20mm faceted round teardrop
- Suncatcher, Asfour Crystal, crystal clear, 38x12mm faceted point
- Seed bead, Dyna-Mites™, glass, opaque iris silver, #8 round
- Bead, electroplated druzy agate (coated), rainbow, 12mm round, B grade, Mohs hardness 6-1/2 to 7
- Seed bead, Dyna-Mites™, glass, transparent rainbow yellow, #11 round
- Wire, Zebra Wire™, tinned copper, silver color, round, 28 gauge
- Wire, Wrapit®, Nickel Silver, half-hard, round, 22 gauge
- Drop and focal mix, acrylic, transparent light green / green / dark green, 24x22mm double-sided round leaf / 36x19mm double-sided folded leaf / 40x14mm double-sided curved leaf
Instructions
Butterfly Component Instructions
Step 1
Cut the following:
- One 6-inch length of 22-gauge wire
- Two 9-inch lengths of 22-gauge wire
- Five 60-inch lengths of 28-gauge wire
Step 2
String and center a faceted point suncatcher on the length of 22-gauge wire.
Bend both sides of the wire up then twist together for approximately 3/4 inch.
Step 3
String a 12mm druzy agate round onto both wire ends then separate the ends.
String 9 - 11 iris silver #8 seed beads onto one wire end. Trim the wires to approximately 1/4 inch then create a hook to secure the beads. Repeat with the second wire end to create a second antennae.
Step 4
String and center the faceted point on both 9-inch lengths of 22-gauge wire.
Step 5
Shape one wire end into a wing then wrap around the adjacent wire end near the faceted point to secure. Trim any excess wire.
Repeat with the three remaining wire ends to create four wing frames.
Step 6
Wrap the end of one 60-inch length of 28-gauge wire around the junction of two wing frames tightly three times.
Wrap the wire around the lower wing frame close to the junction twice.
String one 3mm bicone onto the wire then wrap tightly around the wing frame once. Repeat to add bicones along the entire lower wing frame, ending with three wraps at the wing junction.
Step 7
String two 3mm bicones onto the wire. Leaving a loop of wire, wrap the wire onto the wing frame on the opposite side of the next wrapped bicone. Repeat to add a row of bicones on wire loops on the inside of the wing frame.
Step 8
String one to two bicones onto the wire then pass the wire through a loop created in Step 7. Pick up one to two bicones then pass through an adjacent loop. Repeat to fill the wing with bicones.
Secure the wire by wrapping around the wing junction three times then trim any excess wire.
Step 9
Repeat Steps 6 - 8 to add bicones to the remaining wing frames.
Wrapping the Hoop Instructions
Step 10
Wrap the end of a 60-inch length of 28-gauge wire around a neckwire approximately 6 inches from the straight end.
String one bicone onto the wire then wrap around the neckwire twice. Repeat to add 22 more bicones along the neckwire.
Step 11
Using your non-dominant hand, hold the butterfly to the neckwire just below the last wrapped bead.
Wrap the 28-gauge wire around the "neck" of the butterfly just below the druzy agate bead. Pass through the adjacent wing and back around the neckwire.
Step 12
Pass forward through the opposite top wing then pick up a few iris silver seed beads. The number of beads needed will vary.
Pass in front of the butterfly just below the druzy agate bead and through the adjacent wing.
Pick up a few iris silver seed beads, pass behind the neckwire and through the adjacent wing.
Repeat to wrap down the body of the butterfly and approximately 8mm of the faceted point.
Step 13
Wrap iris silver seed beads down around the faceted point, without wrapping the neckwire, three times.
Step 14
Wrap the wire around the neckwire twice then repeat Step 10 to wrap 13 more bicones along the neckwire.
Wrap the wire tightly three times to secure then trim any excess.
Adding Floral Embellishments Instructions
Step 15
Cut one 12-inch length of 28-gauge wire for each desired floral embellishment cluster.
Wrap the end of the wire around the neckwire, between wrapped bicones, two to three times to secure.
Step 16
To add a leaf: Pass the wire through the hole of a leaf charm. Bring the charm close to the neckwire then wrap around the neckwire tightly.
To add a flower: Pass the wire through the hole of an acrylic flower. Pick up three rainbow yellow #11 seed beads then pass back through the flower. Bring the flower and seed beads down the wire close to the neckwire then wrap around the neckwire tightly.
Once all the desired floral embellishments have been added at that area, wrap around all of wire wraps used to secure. Trim any excess wire.
Repeat to add floral embellishment clusters where desired.
Step 17
Cut an 8-inch length of 22-gauge wire. String and center a round teardrop crystal onto the wire.
Bend both sides of the wire up to meet above the teardrop. Using both wire ends as one, create a large wrapped loop. Trim any excess wire.
Step 18
Cut a 12-inch length of 28-gauge wire.
Wrap the end of the wire tightly around the wrapped loop.
Repeat Step 16 to add floral embellishments loosely around the wrapped loop and top of the teardrop.
String the loop of the embellished teardrop to the large round loop of the neckwire.
Step 19
Cut a 6-inch length of 22-gauge wire.
Wrap the end of the wire around the neckwire approximately 1 inch from the top center three times. Repeat with the opposite end of the wire approximately 1 inch from the top center in the other direction.
Shape the wire for hanging the suncatcher then trim any excess wire.
Have a question regarding this project? Email Customer Service.
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