Beaded Safety Pin Jewelry

Beaded Necklace and Earrings

Materials:

20+ colored safety pins
glass beads (E beads are a good choice)
18-gauge wire to match beads
small needlenose pliers
wire cutters
2 earring findings

1. To make the necklace: Open up 20 safety pins and slip beads onto shaft (figure A). The number of beads will be determined based on the size of the beads (figure B).

2. Close each pin as you fill it and crimp the head shut with pliers to secure beads (figure C).

3. Measure and snip 25 inches of wire. Slip a beaded safety pin onto wire through the loop, with the pin head hanging down. Follow this with an E bead (figure D). Continue alternating the beaded pins with the E beads until you have used up all the pins (figure E). Center on the wire.

4. Fill remaining sides of the wire with beads of your choice, leaving 3 inches free at each end (figure F). Bend wire back to hold beads in place.

5. Holding the wire end, using the pliers, curl around in an open loop twice to form a decorative clasp/hook at each end (figure G ).

6. To make the earrings: Follow steps 1 and 2 from necklace, above, filling and securing four pins.

7. Cut two pieces of wire, 3 inches long each. Bend wire in half in a U shape. Using pliers, make a small loop at each end. Slip one pin at each loop, hanging the same as on the necklace.

8. Grasp the ends of the wire with pliers and curl around the pin in a circle, securing the pins but allowing them to hang freely.

9. Using pliers, open loop at the bottom of the earring finding; slip on wire with beaded pins and close (figure H).