How to Make Sea Glass Jewelry - Step by Step
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Most people have found sea glass from time to time when walking on the beach, yet even though it is very beautiful, they have no idea what to do with it. Now, thanks to this step by step guide, you can turn your treasured find into a piece of gorgeous jewelry. This tutorial uses a wire wrapping technique to make a gorgeous necklace. Your option B - if you feel you want be able to make your own jewelry is to check these 3rd wedding anniversary gift ideas and just buy the item. Whatever you choose you significant one will truly appreciate your present!
Essential Tools and Equipment
You will need the following pieces of equipment and tools on hand before commencing your project:
• Flat nosed and round nosed pliers
• Wire for wrapping (26 gauge sterling works well)
• A large jump ring
• Chain
• A diamond drill bit
• Water in a small dish
• Flex shaft drill or dremel
• Connector and clasp and 2 jump rings for attachment
If you have no flex shaft or do not want to drill into the piece of sea glass there are several other ways in which you can wrap it, however drilling a hole is easier as then it can be wrapped in the same way as a briolette. A diamond drill bit is the best way to drill through your glass as it will go through without shattering the piece.
1. Drilling Through Your Glass
The first step to creating your jewelry is to fill a small dish with sufficient water to ensure that your piece of glass is covered. You will need to keep your glass completely submerged under the water throughout the drilling process in order to prevent it from shattering. The water will become cloudy however you should keep the diamond drill bit in place. As you drill through the glass you may notice that some glass will blow out once the drill bit hits its other side. Cratering will appear on the back of the glass. If you want to avoid this effect, drill through both sides of the glass so that the holes meet in the centre.
2. Wrapping the Glass With Wire
The next step in your jewelry making project is to wrap the glass with wire. To do this, you should use the briolette wrapping technique:
• Thread the wire from front to back through the hole that you have just drilled leaving about an inch.
• Bend the front of the wire with the flat nosed pliers up to the top of the glass and then form a sharp angle at the top to make the wire point upwards.
• Using the pliers, wrap the long length of wire across the front of the glass and around the small section above its tip. By starting close to the glass and working up, you will be able to obtain a tidy result.
• Trim the end of your wrapping and flatten it gently using the flat nosed pliers.
• If you would like to use pieces of sea glass as intervals in a chain, you should drill a hole in the top and bottom of the pieces and then thread wire through both of the holes and follow the above steps.
3. Linking the Pieces to the Chain
Attach the pieces of glass to the chain by sliding the link with the open end onto the chain. Grip the open end using the flat nosed pliers and then wrap it using your other pliers until it meets the glass. Trim off any excess. Repeat using all of the glass pieces that you wish to use, making sure to line them up with the chain before you attach them in order to check that they will lie with the alignment that you are hoping for to achieve the desired effect. Once all of your pieces are correctly aligned, thread all of the chains onto the jump ring and close it off. Make sure to do this with all of the briolettes that you have created as well as both sides of the chain which will go around your neck, fitting on the connector and clasp.
Remember that there are no set rules about how to create the perfect piece of sea glass jewelry, so feel free to use your imagination and creativity to come up with a design that is entirely unique.
