Beading Tutorial For Mobile

I created this beading tutorial to be used with my crib mobile tutorial. This can be applied to making jewelry as well.  Please let me know if you have any questions! 🙂

Here is a pdf file of the tutorial if that is more convenient.

*I wanted to note that the easiest way I have found to paint the hoop and beads is to use spray paint.  To paint the beads I get the floral syrofoam (green stuff) and bamboo skewers. Cut skewers to around 4 inches long.  Make sure that beads stay suspended on the skewers and don’t fall all the way to the bottom.  If they do, wrap a layer on masking tape in the middle of the skewer to keep them suspended.

Paint top portion of beads and then when dry, flip the beads over on the skewers and paint the other side.  This can also be hand done with acrylic paints.

Beading Instructions

supplies:

-beading wire

-crimp beads or tubes

-beads

-wire snips

-crimping pliers or can use needlenose pliers

-large split ring

-4 small split rings (found in craft shops in the beading section)

1. Gather Supplies

Here are the supplies that you will need to complete this

project.

Large split ring, like the ones you use for your car keys.  These can be found at craft stores in the jewelry or craft aisles.

These are crimping tubes or crimping beads.  I prefer the tubes to the beads, I think that they are easier to work with and look much clean and precise when finished.

These are crimping pliers.  They are inexpensive and can be found at craft stores in the beading section.  These are made specifically to finish crimp beads.  Notice the two notches on the pliers.  You will want to make sure that your pliers have both.  You may also use needle nose pliers and will not be finishing off the crimp bead.  If  you use needlenose pliers you will simply smash the crimp bead in between the pliers until it is really flat.

This is beading wire.  The brand I prefer is Beadalon and can be found at most craft shops with beading sections.  you can also find it online at http://www.artbeads.com .  Cut your wire pieces at approx. 21″ long, this will give you enough length for a few inches additional length on each end.  You will need this amount to finish off the ends.

2. Begin beading

Start by putting a crimp bead onto the end of your wire.  Wrap in the end of the wire around the wooden hoop and then back through the crimp bead.  Pull on the tail of the wire to tighten.  You want it snug but not too tight or you won’t have any movement with your mobile.  You want about 1-2” length on the tail after tightening your wire.  You will need this length later, DO NOT snip the access wire off.

Using the notch furthest back on the crimping pliers, fit your crimp bead into the space.  If you are using needlenose pliers, just squeeze and flatten the crimp bead until it is nice and flat and the wires are tightly held by the crimp bead.

Squeezing the crimp bead.  This will make your crimp bead U-Shaped.  It is ideal to have one wire in each of the sides of the U.  If that doesn’t happen, don’t sweat, just make sure it is all nice and tight at the end.

Once you have made the first indents in the bead, it is time to finish crimping it.  Turn it sideways with the U facing out past the nose of the pliers.  Setting the bead into the first notch on the pliers (the oval shaped notch) carefully squeeze the crimp bead until the U-Shape is smashed together and becomes a tightly closed U-Shape.  This should have tightly secured your wires.  I like to use the very tip of my pliers or some needlenose pliers and give it one more good squeeze.

Tightened and finished crimp bead.

Now begin threading your beads onto the wires.  I like to use 18 beads per wire.  Make sure that you put the first beads over the tail as well.  You want to cover it and make the wire secure.

Thread all of your beads on to the wire and get ready to put the other crimp bead and small split ring on the end.  Get both in your hands at the same time  be sure to hold onto them or they will drop through the holes in the beads.  Thread the end back through the crimp bead.  Hold onto the crimp bead and slowly pull on the tail.  This will shorten the slack.  Once you get out of room, slide the crimp bead down to the top of the beads and repeat.  Make sure that your bottom beads have stayed over the tail.  Keep doing this until your crimp bead in snug and securly next to the beads.

Crimp the bead closed the same way that you did before making sure that you have the crimp bead tightly next to the beads.

Trim your tail to about 2”.  Tuck the end into the beads holes until it is hidden.

Continue until all four wires are complete!  You are finished!

Happy Beading! 🙂