Introduction and Supplies
Load up some wire with sparkling crystal beads and form it into a circle that you can wear on your choice of sterling silver chain or add to a beaded creation. The aurora borealis finish on these beads, however, are pretty flashy on their own, so that's why I opted to add the pendant to a Figaro style chain I already had.
You will need the following tools and supplies:
*6 - 6x12mm Chinese AB crystal briolettes AB
*32 - 3x5mm Chinese AB crystal long rondelle beads
8 inches of Sterling silver 24-gauge dead-soft wire
Wire cutters
Chain-nosed pliers
Round-nosed pliers
Nylon-nosed pliers
40mm Diameter round metal storage container
Choice of sterling silver chain
*The crystal beads came from Auntie's Beads.
Form Wire
1. Take the sterling wire and wrap it around the metal container to form a circle with the wire. The container I used had a little groove around it that the wire rested perfectly on.
Wire Circle
2. While the wire is around the container, bend the wire as if you are going to wrap the wire around itself where one wire is is bent 90 degree straight up, and the other is bent also 90 degrees but fits around the other wire. Do not actually start wrapping yet.
Open Wire Circle
3. Open the wire circle you just bade back up, leaving the ends of the wires bent.
Add Beads to Wire
4. Start adding on beads and push them to the center of the circle: 15 rondelle beads, 1 briolette, 1 rondelle bead, 1 briolette, 1 rondelle bead, 1 briolette, and another 15 rondelle beads.
Note: You may have to straighten the wires a little to get the beads on, but the wire is very soft, so you can bend it back very easily later.
Wrap Wire
5. Bring the wire back into the shape of a circle, and wrap one end of the wire around the other, trimming off excess wire.
6. Using the wire piece that is sticking straight up, make a wrapped loop to form a bale at the top of the circle.
7. Slip your choice of sterling chain through the bale.
You could make two more pendants like these and attach ear hooks to them for a pair of matching earrings.