By Dana Meachen Rau • Illustrated by Kathleen Petelinsek

Digitized by the Internet Archive

in 2019 with funding from
Kahle/Austin Foundation

https://archive.org/details/makingjewelryOOOOraud
1745.5942 RAU
Rau, Dana Meachen, 1971-
Making jewelry / by Dana Meachen Rau

Aug 2012
; illustrated by Kathleen Petelinsek.
■

Carnegie-Stout Library
 •V.
<1
Vv
 By Dana Meachen Rau • Illustrated by Kathleen Petelinsek

CHERRY L A K E PUBLISHING • ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN

 ri.°TET0ADULTS'
for ,n5ir^

Cherry
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Publishing

Published in the United States of America by Cherry Lake Publishing

Ann Arbor, Michigan
www. cherrylakepublishing. com A ^Sg<ut
o =ure ask 3
Content Adviser: Dr. Julia L. Hovanec, Professor of Art Education, KeLpvAh these
Kutztown University, Kutztown, Pennsylvania

ft activities whe" Yoa

Photo Credits: Page 4, ©BestPhotoByMonikaGniot/Shutterstock,
Inc.; page 6, ©Warren Price Photography/Shutterstock, Inc.; page
7, ©Jeremy RichardsA5reamstime.com; page 11, ©Julie Campbell/ neel it. AW5 ^
Dreamstime.com; pages 14, 20, 21, 22, 27, and 28, Dana Meachen
Rau; page 32, Tania McNaboe safety
Copyright ©2013 by Cherry Lake Publishing
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in
any form or by any means without written permission from the publisher.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Rau, Dana Meachen, 1971-
Making jewelry / by Dana Meachen Rau.
pages cm — (How-to library. Crafts)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-61080-475-2 (lib. bdg.) —
ISBN 978-1-61080-562-9 (e-book) —
ISBN 978-1-61080-649-7 (pbk.)
1. Jewelry making—Juvenile literature. I. Title.
TT212.R37 2012
745.594 2 dc23 2012003186

Cherry Lake Publishing would like to acknowledge the

of The Partnership for 21st Century Skills. Please visit
www.21stcenturyskills.org for more information.

Printed in the United States of America

Corporate Graphics Inc.
July 2012
CLFA11
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Art to Go!...4
Decoration in History...6
Basic Tools...8
Stringing Beads... 10
Working with Wire... 12
Nifty Knots... 14
Decoupage...l6
Candy Wrapper Cuff Bracelet... 18
Party Pom-pom Ribbon Barrette...20
Swirly Spiral Earrings...22
Picture-Perfect Anklet...24
Tied Together Forever Necklaces...26
Endless Possibilities...29

Glossary... 30
Tip...30
For More Information...31
Index... 32
About the Author...32
Art to Go!

Inspiration for art is everywhere.

Artists look for inspiration every day. They might look to

sunsets, landscapes, or city skylines. They might look closely at
the petals of a flower, the gears of a machine, or the shape of
someone’s nose. Such things inspire the artists to create art.
Some artists create art that hangs on a wall or sits on a
table. Jewelry artists transform their ideas into something you

4
can wear. Each piece of jewelry—whether it’s a necklace, ring,
or bracelet—is a creation that travels. It’s art to go!
What inspires you? Perhaps you
like observing nature or playing a
sport. Maybe you have a favorite
pet. Movies, music, and hobbies
?^A
Agists
jouwAl
0/i
can be inspiring. Take your ideas
and turn them into wearable art. -
■ ’■/
^ 50 *
or

Kjeep a journal handy

capture all of your ideas.

5
Decoration in History

beaded decorations.
Native Americans wore

Throughout history, people have made things to help them

survive. We made tools for cooking and hunting. We made
shelters and clothing to keep warm. Besides the items we
needed to live, we also created art to decorate our bodies and
clothing.

6
 Jewelry is an important part of culture. Long ago, artists
transformed natural materials—such as wood, stone, and
bone—into bracelets, necklaces, and other types of jewelry.
Jewelry showed wealth, marked achievements, and played an
important role in rituals and customs.
Ancient Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, Chinese, Africans,
Native Americans, and many other cultures all made
jewelry. Their traditions were handed down through many
generations. Today, people still wear jewelry to decorate
themselves just as they did thousands of years ago.

c«(W?raX7o"r and 0tWj€ve(r7 are import

7
Basic Tools
So what can you use to make jewelry? Anything and everything!
Jewelry combines many artistic mediums, such as metal, clay,
paper, paint, and varnish. If you go into the jewelry sec
hobby store, you’ll find many tools and supplies. t

Metal
Artists use metal hardware such as pin backs,
barrettes, earring hooks, and clasps to make their
jewelry. These items might be made of steel or brass,
or plated with gold or silver.

Beads
Hobby stores and bead shops sell beads made
from metal, glass, plastic, clay, wood, and even
paper. These beads come in many colors, sizes,
and shapes.

Threads ft
Jewelry artists use different types of thread to L
string beads or weave designs. Thick threads I
called cords are made from leather, silk, or cotton.
Other thread is clear or stretchy and made of plastic.
Beading wire is made of metal.

8
Tools
You will need many tools
and supplies for some of
the projects in this book.
Check out the materials
list for each project before
you get started. These are
some general tools you will need
• Tape measure and ruler—
to measure your work
• Wire cutters and pliers—to
bend wire
• Tweezers—to help you pick up tiny beads
• Scissors—to cut cords

You may already have a lot of these

supplies at home in a craft cabinet or
a drawer. Your recycling bin may
hold candy wrappers, plastic
milk jugs, and old magazines yTH^ materials
that you can turn from trash
into treasures. This is a great JeVe7 » Uy storl Y
Can°lso**kej^e( f You
way to avoid wasting useful
‘vood, varnkk -y ^T paPer'
objects. All of the projects
in this book reuse items that
, TT r' =**=*
would have been thrown away. -iXt:<o ^ ^
Stringing Beads
There are three simple steps to making a project with beads.

Measuring Length M&tiLl It

A tape measure is a flexible

ruler. Use it to measure your wrist, ankle,
or neck. ^

Designing the Pattern

A bead design tray can help you plan your pattern.
You can buy one, but you could make your own. Here’s how:
1. Fold a piece of 8 V2 x 11 inch (21.5 x 28 centimeter) card
stock paper in half lengthwise.
2. About 1 inch from the center fold, fold the top flap of paper
in the opposite direction.
3. About 1 inch from the cei
fold, fold the bottom flap
of paper in the opposite
direction, too.

You have created a V-shaped groove. This is where you can

lay out your beads, switch them around, and experiment with
your design. Keep a ruler handy. When you are happy with

10
the final arrangement, measure the beads to make sure they
match your needed measurement.

Stringing the Beads

Always cut your threads a couple of inches longer than your
measurement. You’ll need extra space on the ends to add a
clasp or tie a knot. Place a piece of tape on one end of the
string to keep your beads from falling off.
String the beads onto the other end one at a time from
your tray. Often, you can just poke the thread through a
bead’s hole. But if the bead is small, you might need to use a
long, thin beading needle.

, TVor ,pe ^ your cord to keep

,e falling off as yoti work
Working with Wire
Wire comes in different gauges. The gauge is its thickness.
Thinner wires have higher gauge numbers.
You’ll need special tools to cut and
shape wire. Always ask an adult to help
you. Even if you are careful, wire can
be sharp. You’ll need a wire cutter that
makes a completely flat, flush cut. You’ll
use round-nose pliers to make loops. Flat
chain-nose pliers will allow you to hold
and press loops closed.

,re Co,nes In
Spools.

II set
'(ou can buy 3 sma
of jewelry tools.

12
 Here’s how to make a
loop with round-nose pliers:
1. Cut the tip of your wire
with flush wire cutters.
2. Put the tip in the round-
nose pliers and hold it in
place. The tip should barely
poke up on the top.
3. With your thumb, press and
wrap the wire around the
round tip of the pliers.
You’re wrapping the wire,
not bending it with the pliers
4. Readjust the pliers as you
wrap the wire into a circle.

have an ^
^Iway5
work with wire.
help you
Nifty Knots
You can design your own
interesting cords for a bracelet,
anklet, or necklace. Here are
some ways:

Basic Braid
1. Attach three cords of the
same length together with an
overhand knot. Clip the knot
to the top of a sturdy book or clipboard.
2. Take the left-hand cord and place it over the Basic braid

cord in the middle.

3. Take the right-hand cord and place it over the new middle one.
4. Continue placing the cord from the left, then the right, over
whichever cord is in the middle. Pull tightly as you braid. When
you reach the end, secure the braid with another overhand knot.

Half Knot
1. You will need four cords. Two of them need to be three to four
times longer than the other two. Attach all four together with an
overhand knot. Arrange the two shorter cords in the center. The
longer cords on the outsides will be the knotting cords.

14
2. Clip the knot to the top of the clipboard.
Clip the two center cords to the bottom.
The two knotting cords should move freely.
3. Remember these words, in order: over, over,
under, through. Place the left cord over the
center cords toward the right to create a loop
on the left. Place the right cord over the left
strand. Thread the right cord under the
center cords and through the loop on
the left side.
4. Pull the two knotting cord ends tightly to make a knot.

Square Knot
1. Repeat steps 1 to 3 above to make a half knot
2. To complete the square knot, remember this
saying: under, under, over, through. Place the
left cord under the center cords toward the
right to create a loop on the left.
Place the right cord under the left strand.
Thread the right cord over the center cords
and through the loop on the left side.
3. Pull the two knotting cord ends tightly to
make a knot.

\T AMD SPIRAL
ou keep repeats the half

,t tke cord will create a spiral

tck If you complete t e stua

Dt the cord will lie 3 • 15

Decoupage
Decoupage (day-koo-PAHZH) is the art of cutting out images
from paper and pasting them onto another surface, such as
glass or wood. It is a great way to add images and color to a
jewelry design.

Paper
Many hobby stores sell decorative papers. You may already
have some interesting papers at home. Use leftover wrapping
and tissue paper, images from magazines, or scraps of old
maps. You could even use photos of your family and friends.
You can cut out images with scissors or tear them out for a
jagged edge.

Paste
You’ll use varnish to paste your paper
cutouts to a surface. Varnish is like glue.
You first paste down the bottom side of your
image. Then you brush over the image to
seal it from the top. Water-based varnish is
the easiest to clean up. It looks white when
you brush it on, but it dries clear. You can
find varnish at most craft stores.
 h
Brush the- varws
rface f<or
over the sui
otectwe C09"t'n9*

Here are the simple steps to decoupage:

1. Dip your paintbrush in the varnish.
2. Paint it onto your surface.
3. Place your paper flat onto the painted area.
4. Repaint over the top of the image.
5. If you want to, lay more papers on top, overlapping your
first image.
6. Set your project aside to dry. Clean your brush with water.
7. Add more coats of varnish for a harder, more protective
finish. For small projects, you may only need one or
two coats.

17
Candy Wrapper Cuff
Bracelet
Do you like to snack on sweet
stuff? It's not healthy to bring a
bag of candy with you everywhere
you go. But it's fashionable to
wear the wrapper!
M/X IT up
tap- rn
Materials
Scissors
Plastic milk jug w*-'***£
Duct tape (2 inches wide (5 cm))
^PPers arKj , Can&
Candy wrapper
^ <*>&: cr ^ ^ *
Z e Cr^aiIOhs
Double-sided tape

Steps
1. Use scissors to cut a piece from a plastic milk
jug about IV2 inches wide by 9 inches long (3.8 x 23 cm).
Make sure your plastic strip is clean and dry.
2. Cut a piece of duct tape about 11 inches (28 cm) long and lay
it flat on a table, sticky side up. Center the plastic strip on top.
There should be about a quarter inch (0.6 cm) of tape showing
on the top and bottom, and 1 inch (2.5 cm) on each side.
Candy wrapper

Double-sided tape

Plastic strip

Duct tape —JHhHHM

3. Cut a strip out of a candy wrapper about 9 inches (23 cm)

long and IV2 inches (3.8 cm) wide.
4. Place a piece of double-sided tape along the center of the
plastic strip. Then lay the candy wrapper on top.
5. Fold up the duct tape along the bottom side and press to
seal. Then fold
and press the top
strip of tape.
6. Fold over the duct
tape on one end of
r 1 1 tine, top'
the plastic strip. Repeat on the other end. ' 101 ^ ends.
7. Bend the strip into a ring, wrapper side b^°'nr''
out, so the ends overlap about an inch (2.5 cm).
8. Cut a piece of duct tape about 3 inches (7.6 cm)
long. Place it over the overlapped edges.
9. Fold over the duct tape on the top and bottom into the
inside of your ring. Press it as flat as possible.

Hi

Secure tAe cuff

SB
anoi^r piece
°T tape.

19
Party P
Ribbon
After your next birthday party,
collect the ribbons from the
presents. Use them to make
another gift—a fun, festive barrette.

colors of
Materials Use anY
w\s b.
Needle r\bbon T
Thread
About 5 yards (4.5 meters) of VTinch (0.6 cm) fabric ribbon
1 plain hair barrette
Scissors

Steps
1. Thread your needle with a piece ^evv a rwvng stitch
of thread about 12 inches (30 cm) ^n9 the whole piece
long. Knot the end. r,^°n'
2. Cut a piece of ribbon 12 inches (30 cm) long.
3. Poke the needle up through one end of the ribbon and pull
through. Then poke it down through the fabric and pull through
again. This is called a running stitch. Continue sewing the
running stitch up the whole length of the ribbon to the other end.

20
4. Pull on both ends of the
thread so the ribbon zigzags
and scrunches together.
5. Tie the two ends of the ribbon
together tightly into a knot. Snip
the ends of the thread. You have
created a “bead” of ribbon.
6. Repeat steps 2 to 5 until you
have made 15 ribbon beads.
7. Thread the needle with a piece
of thread about 12 inches (30 cm)
long. Instead of tying a knot at
the end, secure it to one end of
your barrette with a knot.
8. String three ribbon beads onto the thread.
9. Wrap the thread down through the top of the bar of the
barrette and out the bottom. This will secure the beads
onto the barrette.
10. String three more beads onto the thread. Again,
wrap the thread around the bar of the
barrette. Pull the thread tightly each
time so that the beads are secure.
11. Continue until you run out of beads
and reach the other end of the barrette.
Secure the thread onto the barrette and tie
a knot. Snip off the extra thread.

21
Swirly Spiral Earrings
Next time you use up all the paper
in a spiral notebook, don’t throw it
away. Use the notebook’s metal
coil to make earrings!

Materials
Used spiral-bound notebook
Wire cutters
Round-nose pliers
2 wire ear hooks
Chain-nose pliers
Pencil
Ruler J^ead notebook
y°a Can co\l
About 24 plastic seed beads, any color craft ' OI °^
^Ee fo hnake
th1eSe carries, too.
Steps
1. Remove the spiral from the edge of the notebook.
2. Cut the spiral in half with the wire cutters. You
should now have two pieces of wire, both with
flush ends.
3. Create a loop at the end of one of the wire
pieces. (See pages 12-13 for steps.) Thread this
loop onto the loop of a wire ear hook.

L°°P coil onto

22 e ear hooks.
4. Tighten and close the wire loop with the
chain-nose pliers so it won’t slip off the ear hook.
5. Holding the ear hook in place at the top of a
pencil, wrap the rest of the wire around and around
the pencil. The wire is already coiled, but coiling it
again will make a tighter spiral. Wrap until the coil
measures IV2 inches (3.8 cm) long.
6. Thread 12 beads onto the wire.
7. With the round-nose pliers, make a loop
at the bottom of the coil so the beads
won’t fall off. Tighten it with the
chain-nose pliers.
8. Repeat steps 3 to 7 with the other piece
of wire, to make a matching earring.

Tk beads can freely

F0rWr^elttkearnngs
top before p ^
Tfie leads M((
™ See k* lo"9 * ,
, + +be bottom- vmd dovn coil
alt to 9io 1
a spiral slide.
23
Picture-
Flip through old magazines to find colorful photographs of
flowers. Then turn them into a ring of blooms for your ankle.
You can also cut out faces, letters to spell a word, or a mix of
interesting colors or textures.

Materials
10 to 12 small square Tape measure
wooden beads 10 to 12 round
Permanent marker in the wooden beads
color of your choice Elastic cord
Scissors Ruler
Magazines Tape
Paintbrush
UHUlllllll
Water-based varnish

Steps
1. Color all six sides of the square wooden beads
with the permanent marker. Set aside to fully dry.
2. Cut images from magazines into
squares slightly smaller
than the sides of
your beads.

24
 c
ZE1 THEM co^ed
'^c,diy rcW ones,

3 Dip your brush in

'VOrkSp3^
the varnish and
dab it onto the face
^ ^ don't (cse
3hy.
of one of the beads.
4. Place a paper square onto the
bead. Paint over the paper, flattening it as you brush on the
varnish. Set the beads aside for about an hour to dry. ■H
5. Measure your ankle with the tape measure.
6. Plan out your pattern on a bead tray. Alternate between the J
M
cube beads and the round ones. Check your pattern against
your ankle measurement to make sure it is long enough.
7. Cut a length of elastic cord about 12 inches long. Place tape
on one end to keep the beads from falling off.
8. String your beads onto the other end of the cord in the order
you have laid them out on your tray.
ocfl
9. Hold the two ends of cord together. Remove the tape and tie
a square knot as close as you can to the two end beads. —J

10. Thread the remaining ends through a few of the beads on

each side of the knot. Snip off the ends of extra thread.
Tied Together
Forever Necklaces
Make necklaces for you and your best friend. Make them extra
special by working on them together.

Materials
10 yards (9 m) of hemp cord 2 clips
in Color 1, and 10 yards Sturdy book or clipboard
(9 m) of hemp cord in 2 metal washers
Color 2 (enough to make 2 lobster clasps
2 necklaces) Clear nail polish
Scissors Fine tip permanent marker

26
Steps
1. Take 5 yards (4.5 m) of Color 1 and 5 yards
(4.5 m) of Color 2. Hold them together and fold
them at 1 yard (0.9 m). Tie the folded cords in an
overhand knot to make a small loop. The 1-yard
(0.9 m) cords are the center cords. The other 4
yards (3.5 m) of cord are the knotting cords.
2. Clip the knot to the top of a clipboard
or sturdy book. Clip the two center
cords to the bottom.
3. Tie a half knot. [See pages 14-15
for steps.) Continue tying half knots
until the piece measures 8 inches
(20 cm) long. This is the midway
point. As the piece spirals, you’ll
have to unclip and readjust it.
4. Place a washer on top of the
center cords. Pull the cords up
through the hole to make a loop.
5. Widen the loop. Thread the right
knotting cord through the right
side of the loop. Thread the left
knotting cord through the left
side of the loop.
the center cords
6. As you tighten the loop, through the center of the
push the washer up to just washer, and thread the knot-
below the last stitch.
rf,T 5 mi° eacf> side to
Wd the washer ,'n p(SCe
27
7. Tie a half knot at the base
of the washer. Continue
tying half knots for another
8 inches (20 cm).
8. Thread the two center
cords into the hole on
A (o^er C( ,
the lobster clasp. Push
^ckiaCe , S roctr
the clasp up to the base
of the last stitch. Continue tying 3 more half knots to hold
the clasp in place. Cut off the extra cords.
9. To help keep the knot from untying, coat the ends with
some nail polish. Let the nail polish dry.
10. Repeat steps 1 to 9 to make a second necklace.
11. With the permanent marker, write “BEST’ on
the washer of one necklace and "FRIENDS”
on the other.

Share ^ ccr■r reab'0^

wv+h a triers
 Possibilities
Jewelry making is a craft with unlimited possibilities. There
are many types of jewelry to make and a lot of materials to
choose from. Mix that variety with your limitless imagination,
and you can create beautiful art to wear.
So much of what people throw away isn’t really trash. It can
be reused to make wearable art. Look for materials you can use
over again. Perhaps you can turn bottle caps into pins. Use old
wooden game pieces as beads. Look for materials in nature,
too. Collect shells to make a necklace or
weave flower stems into a bracelet.
Work small, but think big. Your piece
of jewelry doesn’t just decorate you.
It helps you express yourself and
makes the world more beautiful, too!

\r^a9'na^'or! r
e5S yourseU
Glossary
clasps (KLASPS) devices used to hold things together
coil (KOI-uhl) a spiral shape
culture (KUHL-chur) the art, traditions, and way of life of a group of
people
flexible (FLEK-suh-buhl) able to bend
flush (FLUHSH) forming an even surface
gauges (GAY-jiz) thicknesses
generations (jen-uh-RAY-shuhnz) the people who live at a certain time
inspiration (in-spuh-RAY-shuhn) something that gives you a creative
idea
jagged (JAG-id) rough
mediums (MEE-dee-uhmz) materials used to create art
plated (PLAY-tid) covered with a thin layer of a metal
rituals (RICH-oo-uhlz) special ceremonies

30
For More Information
Books
Di Salle, Rachel, and Ellen Warwick. Junk Drawer Jewelry. Toronto:
Kids Can Press, 2006.
Kenney, Karen Latchana. Super Simple Jewelry. Edina, MN: Abdo
Publishing Company, 2010.
Newcomb, Rain. The Girls' World Book of Jewelry. New York: Lark
Books, 2004.
Packham, Jo. Artful Jewelry. San Francisco: Chronicle Books, 2009.
Scheunemann, Pam. Cool Beaded Jewelry. Edina, MN: Abdo Publishing
Company, 2005.

Web Sites
American Museum of Natural History: Totems to Turquoise
www.amnh.org/exhibitions/totems
Check out some Native American jewelry to get ideas for your own
projects.

Disney Family Fun: All Jewelry

http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/crafts-by-type/jewelry-accessories/
jewelry-crafts
Follow along with these projects to create even more jewelry.

National Gallery of Art: The Art Zone

www.nga.gov/kids/zone/zone.htm
Look at different kinds of art to get inspiration for your projects.

31
Index
ancient cultures, 7 inspiration, 4, 5 rituals, 7
round-nose pliers, 12, 13
beads, 8, 9, 10-11, 23, loops, 12-13
25, 29 sketchbooks, 5
bead trays, 10, 25 materials, 7, 8, 9, 10-11, spiral stitches, 15
braids, 14 16, 29 square knots, 15
metal hardware, 8, 22 stringing, 8, 11
candy wrapper cuff swirly spiral earrings
bracelet project, 18-19 notebooks, 5, 22 project, 22-23

decoupage, 16-17 paper, 8, 9, 16 threads, 8, 11

duct tape, 9, 18 party pom-pom ribbon tied together forever
barrette project, 20-21 necklaces project,
flat chain-nose pliers, 12 patterns, 10 26-28
flat stitches, 15 picture-perfect anklet tools, 8, 9, 12, 13
project, 24-25
gauges, 12 pliers, 9, 12, 13 varnish, 9, 16

half knots, 14-15 recycling, 9, 29 wire, 9, 12-13, 22

ribbons, 9, 20 wire cutters, 9, 12

About the Author

Dana Meachen Rau is the author of more than
300 books for children on many topics, including
science, history, cooking, and crafts. She creates,
experiments, researches, and writes from her home
office in Burlington, Connecticut.

32
 Read all the books in the HOW-TO LIBRARY:

Whether you’re looking for something to do on a rainy day

or making a personalized gift for a friend, crafts are a great
way to pass the time. Follow along with the exciting activities
in these books to build the skills you need to create amazing
art projects of your own.

Braiding Hair Learning to Knit

Building Birdhouses Making Butterfly Gardens

Building Sandcastles Making Jewelry

Building Snow Forts Making a Paper Airplane

and Other Paper Toys
Carving Pumpkins
Painting Rocks
Creating Fairy Retreats

Decorating Eggs

Cherry
||LAKE 9781610804752 22
Publishing

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