Memory Wire Wrap Bracelets are an easy beginner level to jewelry making. Of course, it’s an easy and fun DIY for all levels. We’ll show you how to make a wrap bracelet with three layers and designing each layer differently.

When designing each layer for your wrap bracelet, you want to give off the look as if you’re wearing multiple bracelets. Since layering is the trend these days, it’s fitting for memory wire bracelets.

For our beginner bracelet, we’re only using three beads:

• 6mm Round Gemstone Beads
• 6mm Wood Beads
• 8/0 Miyuki Seed Beads (SB00106)

With our sample below, you can see that with only three types of beads, you can switch up the layers with different bead combinations. While our main stars are the gemstone and wood beads, using seed beads are a good option for spacing and sectioning grouping of beads. Plus, if you’re concern with your beads rubbing such as glass beads or crystals, a seed bead will help alleviate the rubbing so your beads don’t get chipped while wearing your creation!

Our first layer is our main star, the 6mm gemstone bead. We’ve spaced them out with a seed bead in between to make them pop. The second layer is our second star: wood beads. Since it would be too similar to our first layer to added a seed bead in between, we’ve added a seed bead between each grouping of 5 wood beads. I always find that odd numbers of grouping is pleasing to the eye. And lastly, we’ve incorporated both of our stars and added groupings of wood beads to sandwich between the gemstone beads.

There are a bunch of bead combinations to try out, give it a try!

Items used in bracelet: WR00109, PDA6RD, WD-WH6RL & SB00106.

Instructions:

1. Make a simple loop to one end of the memory wire with Memory Wire Finishing Pliers.
2. Slide on a seed bead and gemstone bead. Repeat until you’ve added 25 gemstones beads. End this row with a seed bead.
3. Slide on 5 wood beads and a seed bead. Repeat until you’ve added 10 groupings.
4. Slide on a gemstone, seed bead, 3 wood beads and seed bead. Repeat 9 more times.
5. Cut memory wire end with Memory Wire Cutters, leaving a 1/4″ or 3/8″ tail. Make a simple loop.

Check out our other Memory Wire Wrap Bracelet with different layer options:

• Satin Wrap Bracelet
• Gold Turquoise Wrap Bracelet
• Memory Wire Leather Bracelets

Make these with your friends during your next virtual get-together and see all the combinations there are!

This Gemstone Leather Necklace incorporates the classic black and white colors. It is a fun piece for a business pantsuit or a small dinner party. Made with large-hole gemstones and 1mm leather cord, you can make this in fun necklace in minutes!

What you’ll need for Gemstone Leather Necklace:

• ONX8RDLH-8 – 8mm Onyx Gemstone Round Large Hole Beads
  Check out more Large-Hole Gemstones.
• A022071 – 1mm White Round Leather Cord
  Try other 1mm or 1.5mm leather cord sizes.
• A022211 – 11mm Flat Round Silver-Plated Brass Beads
• Z011500 – 4mm Jump Ring
• Y005033 – 6mm Close Ring
• Z001124 – 12mm Lobster Claw

Directions:

1. Open 4mm jump ring, slide through loop of clasp and close jump ring. Open another 4mm jump ring, slide through closed ring and close jump ring. Open lobster clasp and clasp onto the closed ring.
2. Cut a piece of leather at 27 inches.
3. Slide one end of the leather through a 4mm jump ring in step 1, about 1.5 inch of the way. Make a slip knot. Use pliers to tighten the slip knot before cutting off excess leather end.

4. Slide on the following onto the leather:
3 onyx beads, 5 flat brass beads and 3 onyx beads.
5. Repeat step 3 to other leather end and through other 4mm jump ring from Step 1.

Need a gift for the holidays? This easy gift-giving beadable DIY bottle opener is what you’ll want. It’s easy to make and great for a quick gift you can wrap right up. Pair it with some cool looking large-hole gemstones for a masculine vibe.

What you’ll need for DIY Bottle Opener:

• A003253 – Bottle Opener
• Large-Hole Gemstones – Items used in example ATQ10RDLH-8

Directions:

1. Twist of the end of the bottle opener and slide on 4 gemstones.
2. Twist the end back onto the bottle opener end.

Need more easy DIY gift-giving ideas? Check out these Beadable ideas!

Today, Our easy DIY gemstone jewelry is on how to make these fun post earrings using DakotaStones cabochons.

Items used in earrings:

• Z001725/A014133 – Earring Backs
• A014131/Z019552 – Post Earrings
• DakotaStones Cabs – Items used CAB-CHR8DC (2) & CAB-BGS10DC (2)
• A012906 – Needle Filer
• A015821 – Super New Glue

Directions:

1. Take the filer and give the back of the cabs a few light scratches.
2. Wipe the back of the cab. Add a small dot of Super New Glue.
3. gently position the post earrings in the center of the cab back.
4. Repeat for other earring.
5. Leave earrings for a few hours to dry.

Stun them on your next zoom meeting with this pair of Turquoise Hexagon Point Earrings! They are quick and easy and only take a few minutes to make.

Items use in earrings:

• Z004060 (2) – Turquoise Point Pendant
  Check out other Gemstone Point Pendants.
• TC02582 (2) – TierraCast® Pinch Bail
• Y003014 – Hoop Post Earrings

Directions:

1. Remove small bail from the turquoise pendant. Repeat on other pendant.
2. Slide hoop of post earring into the bail and put the prongs of the bail into the loop on the pendant and pinch them together.
3. Repeat Step 2 for other earring.

Let’s welcome fall with a this fun DIY using LeatherCord USA 1.5mm leather, Blue Crazy Lace large-hole gemstones from Dakota Stones and the perfect findings from TierraCast to pull it all together.

What you’ll need:

• BCL8RDLH-8 – 8mm Blue Crazy Lace Large-Hole Gemstones
• Z019126 – 1.5mm Leather Cord
• TC01913 (3) – 6mm Hammered Barrel Bead
• TC02800 (2) – Crimp End Cap
• Z001256 – 6mm Magnetic Clasp
• Z011500 – Jump Rings

Directions:

1. Cut 4 pieces of leather at 9″.
2. Slide all 4 pieces of leather through a barrel bead and center the bead in the middle of the leather pieces.
3. Divide 2 leather pieces to each side of the barrel bead.
4. On one side, fold the inner leather in half and slide a gemstone bead onto both leather ends.
5. Fold the outer leather strands in half, laying them on either side of the gemstone you added in Step 4 and slide all 4 ends through a barrel bead. Adjust leather strands to lay flat, and slide barrel up close to the gemstone you previously added.
6. Using nylon pliers or a flat nose pliers, gently crimp down on the barrel bead to keep the middle leather and gemstone in place.
7. Repeat steps 4 through 6 to other side of the bracelet.
8. Trim to wrist size and minus about ½ inch; making sure your barrel/gemstone design is centered and you’re making a straight flush cut.
9. Add an end cap to one end of your leather design, making sure all 4 leather strands fit inside and crimp down on your end cap using a flat nose or nylon pliers. Repeat on the other end of the bracelet.
10. Open 1 jump ring and slide on your end cap loop and clasp loop. Repeat on the other end cap loop and magnet end.

— Click HERE for more DIY projects from GoodyBeads–

The days are getting cooler, so fall is surely coming soon. Why not try this leather necklace with a TWIST to accompany your fall weather fashion!

What you’ll need:

• 2mm Leather Cord (Item used in example A022075/Z018647)
• Gemstone Donut (Item used in example MZJ40DNT-M)

Directions:

1. Cut a 60”-70” piece of leather cord and fold in half. Slide the mid point through donut hole. **Note – it’s better to have too much leather starting out than not enough. You can always cut it before making the sliding knots in the final step.

2. Pull cord ends through to almost make a lark’s head knot.

3. Flip donut around.

4. Take the midpoint of the loop and make a twist. Pull cord ends through that loop.

5. Pull your cords to create a cross loop.

6. Make sliding knots to cord ends to make it adjustable. Check out previous blog on how to make a Sliding Knot.

One of our popular Facebook LIVEs we did previously was these pair of earrings using Sodalite gemstones, straw and Flat Artistic Wire. Get all the components to make this pair of unique earrings.

What you’ll need:

• AW00195 – 21 Gauge Flat Artistic Wire (Silver option: AW00196)
• A019680 – 20 Gauge Headpins (Silver option: A019679)
• SDL12x22-50GP – Sodalite Gemstone Graduated Point
• Z017898 – Rattan Straw Triangle Pendant
• Z013426 – 6mm Twilight Crystal Czech Glass Fire Polish Beads
• Z008990 – 15mm Satin Gold Round Ear Posts (Silver option: Z008989)
• (2) TC00569 – 7mm Gold Nugget Spacer by TierraCast (Silver option: TC00034)
• Punch Pliers – A018918 OR TL00314

Directions:

1. Slide in through the middle and clamp down onto the wire end and piece.
2. Wrap wire around and up. Take off pliers and clamp both sides of the wire and pendant piece.
3. Bend wire to come across the top of the pendant.
4. You can take your sharpie or some fine point marker to mark the top to indicate where you will hope punch for the headpin.
5. Gently pull off wire. Take hole punch to the middle of that dot you made.
6. Slide on headpin, coming under the hole you punched.
7. Slide wire piece back on your pendant piece. Fold wire to the back.
8. Cut wire so that it overlaps with the other wire end.
9. Bend out the bottom end, fold in the top end and bend back the bottom end to overlap. Use nylon pliers or regular pliers to cinch them closed.
10. On the headpin, slide on nugget bead, gemstone and Czech bead and make a simple loop. Open loop and slide on post earring hole. Close loop. (As an option here, you can make a wrapped loop.)
11. Repeat all steps for other earring.

FB Live Video Tutorial

Check out the Video for a tutorial. Tutorial begins at around 8 Minutes.

(opens in a new tab)”>LINK TO VIDEO TUTORIAL HERE >

Variations of choker and collar necklaces are making a comeback. Here is our version with Chrysocolla gemstones with 2mm Hematite beads. It sits on your collarbone and creates a different and unique kind of statement.

What you’ll need:

• 3mm Chrysocolla Gemstone Beads – CH3RL-F-AA
• 2mm White Silver Plated Hematite Faceted Round Beads from Dakota Stones – HEMWS2RD-F
• Very Fine Beading Wire – Z003717 or Z004310
• Crimp Tube – A004831
• 5mm Split Ring – Y001368
• 15mm Lobster Claw Clasp – A011535

Directions:

1. Cut beading wire to 24 inches.
2. Slide a crimp tube and split ring onto the beading wire and loop beading wire back down to create a small loop. Make a crimp with crimping pliers. Cut the small excess wire leaving a 1/4 inch tail.
3. Slide on the following bead sequence: 5 gemstone and 1 hematite bead. Repeat this sequence 31 times. Then ending with 5 more gemstones. (Note, you can make a long necklace by using a longer piece of beading wire or shorten the sequence for a closer fit necklace/choker.)
4. Slide on a crimp tube and split ring. Slide beading wire back through crimp tube and a bead or two. Pull wire to keep all your bead in place and crimp your crimp tube. Cut off excess wire.
5. Open split ring and slide lobster clasp loop through.

One of our happiest combinations are leather and gemstone. Throw in a fantastic large rhinestone clasp and this bracelet is one you’ll wear all the time.

Items used in bracelet sample:

• 1mm Leather Cord – Z015514
  Try other 1mm leather cord colors.
• 8mm Large Hole Gemstones – WAF8RDLH-M-8
  Try other selections of 8mm Large Hole Gemstones.
• Two Hole Oval Pewter Beads – Z008288
• Silver Plated Lobster Clasp with Rhinestones – Z014867
• 5.5mm Jump Rings – X003062

Directions

1. Cut the 2 meter of leather in half. Take one and cut in half again.
2. Take your two strands and slide both through rhinestone clasp loop and center. Make an overhand knot with all four strands, close to clasp loop.
3. Flare out your ends and determine which are your middle two strands and your side strands. Take one gemstone and slide through the two middle cords.
4. Decide your two left and right strands. Slide a gemstone through the two left strands and another gemstone to the two right strands.
5. Slide another gemstone through the two middle strands.
6. Take your two left strands and slide through one hole of oval bead. And take your two right strands and slide through other hole of oval bead.
7. Repeat Steps 3-6 one more time.
8. Repeat Steps 3-5 again.
9. Rhinestone clasp comes with an end connector with a small loop. Open jump ring, slide through small loop and close.
10. Make sure to wrap bracelet on your wrist to help determine where you want to situate your knot. Take your four ends and slide jump ring through all ends and do an overhand knot with the jump ring/ring connector within the knot.
11. Try on the bracelet and adjust knot you made previously if you need to make length shorter or longer. Cut leather ends as an option.

Video Tutorial

You can check out our previous Facebook LIVE episode where we demonstrate how to make this bracelet HERE.

Take a break and breathe. Our DIY today helps ground yourself and bring positivity to the wearer. It consists of Shungite beads, which can “aid in pulling negative energy from the wearer in general, which may help you to keep a more positive, focused attitude” and Muonionalusta Meteorite, which promotes clarity and spiritual growth.

Plus, when you wear these stones, feel its weight. Its solid form has a tangible weight and know that you have a piece of prehistoric stones and ‘out-of-this-world’ kind of beads!

For our stretch bracelet, what we’ve used are:

• 0.8mm Stretch – A021634 OR Z001624
• 6mm Shungite Gemstones – SHU6RD
• 6mm Muonionalusta Meteorite – MME6RD-2

Directions:

1. Cut a piece of elastic to 9 inches. Pull and pre-stretch your elastic.
2. Slide on 23 Shungite beads. (Adjust length by adding or descreasing amount of beads to fit your wrist.)
3. Make a surgeon’s knot. Cut Excess elastic, leaving a small stub of elastic end.
4. Repeat all steps for other bracelet, while substituting a Shungite bead for a Meteor bead. Make a surgeon’s knot and cut off excess elastic.

Blog Post and Information courtesy of Dakota Stones and DakotaStones.com

All gemstones are fascinating and special. They come from far-away, remote parts of the globe. These Muonionalusta Meteorite beads, however, are more special than most, and originally came from much farther away. The meteorite was first discovered in Sweden, nearly 100 miles north of the Arctic Circle, in 1906 by two children who stumbled over a metal object stuck in the ground. Later determined to be an iron meteorite, it was thought to have fallen approximately 800,000 years ago. Other, smaller pieces of the meteorite have been found in the area, spread by the impact with the earth or moved through glacial changes. 

Muonionalusta Meteorite requires routine care in both specimen and jewelry form. Once you receive your pieces, it’s important to properly and regularly care for them. This article applies only to the care and keeping of Muonionalusta Meteorite in bead or other “finished” form. Different types of meteorite and meteorite specimens may require different care.

DOs

– Immediately remove from any sealed plastic packaging and put in a dry place with a controlled temperature.
– Clean your meteorite thoroughly in anhydrous (water-free) alcohol. Anhydrous alcohols include 95% ethyl alcohol which can be found at hardware or home improvement stores or 99% isopropyl alcohol found in drug stores.
– Seal it. Appropriate sealants can be found in hardware stores and include brands like WD-40 or RustGuardIt. You can also use microcrystalline wax, but this process involves prolonged exposure to high heat. 
– Store in a dry, temperature controlled area. 
– Store with a desiccant (silica gel packs) and recharge or change them out.
– Re-clean and re-seal as needed. The amount, type of wear, or individual wearer can all impact how frequently the stone will need to be cleaned and sealed.
– Clean and re-seal after exposure to sweat or heavy or prolonged handling.
– Remove rust with anhydrous alcohol and a steel brush.

DO NOTs

– Clean with water.
– Store long-term in anything sealed without controlling the moisture in the container.
– Submerge in water or use any product including water for cleaning.
– Wear while exercising or in environments where the piece will be in contact with a high amount of sweat and moisture. 
At Your Own Risk: Seal with lacquer or acrylic agents. They can alter the appearance of the piece and be difficult to remove. They are also NOT a permanent solution or impervious to moisture.

Blog Post and Information courtesy of Dakota Stones and DakotaStones.com

Shungite is a modern material, the first instance of the name being coined only dating back to 1879. Then, the material could refer to any mineral with shungite inclusions– and at the time, this meant just about any stone with carbon inclusions. Over time, we’ve been able to identify what makes shungite special– which comes from the biological material it comes from. The name is derived from where it was discovered, like many other minerals — Shunga, Russia, has the largest deposits of shungite. Shungite is also almost exclusively sourced from Russia, and the mineral has been illusive in most other places in the world. 

What we do know now is that shungite is almost entirely carbon. Carbon is an organic compound, and an excessively abundant element found in the earth’s crust. Carbon is also found abundantly within our bodies! We do know that because of this, shungite was likely a prehistoric plant or animal of some kind, that remained buried in the earth’s crust for thousands of years, the pressure and age transforming it into a close relative to carbon. We have yet to discover exactly what these organisms were, but they likely came from prehistoric swamps and volcanic ash.

Shungite has a non-crystalline formation, making it brittle in its raw form and very desirable for pigments in paints. Carbon-based black paint has been a new scientific and artistic achievement  in the last decade. These paints create a depthless, abyssal black that absorbs all light. Looking at these extremely dark paints have created scientific opportunities, such as hiding satellites from view in the night sky. For artists and goths, this new black is an exciting opportunity, but these paints have yet to hit the mass market for regular consumption. You may need to wait a little while longer to obtain a piece of clothing that will finally let you become one with the void– but the possibility is definitely within our lifetime. 

Because these shungite beads are highly carbon-based, they are very light in comparison to other black alternatives. Compared with onyx, a dense, chalcedony-based mineral, does provide a rich black. However, shungite has a unique, metallic appearance. One could compare it with graphite, which is made primarily from carbon, since it does have a lusty appearance. These beads could look sleek when paired with crystal quartz for a monotone design. Their dark color could be a nice spacer bead to provide breathing room in more colorful designs. If you’re designing something with our meteorite beads, they could make a light alternative, as meteorite is mostly iron, and tends to be somewhat heavy. 

The metaphysical properties of shungite tend to be very attractive to customers who desire to protect themselves from EMFs. Carbon is an especially conductive material, so it is said that wearing these beads can help direct the flow of unwanted energies through the stones, rather than the wearer. These stones can also aid in pulling negative energy from the wearer in general, which may help you to keep a more positive, focused attitude.

Today’s DIY Gemstone Donut and Deerskin Necklace features three of our favorite brands. Dakota Stones gemstone donuts, LeatherCord USA deerskin lace and TierraCast barrel bead.

Items used in necklace:

• 40mm Dendritic Fossil Ocean Agate Gemstone Donut. – DFOA40DNT
  Try other Gemstone Donut.
• 6mm TierraCast Barrel Bead – TC01543
  Try out Gold or Antique Silver barrel bead.
• 5mm Slate Grey Deerskin Lace – Z011156
  Try other 5mm Deerskin Lace

Directions:

1. Cut deerskin lace in half (if you’re using the 2 meter product item) or cut 3.5 feet of lace.
2. Fold lace in half and slide through gemstone donut and make a lark’s head knot. Make sure the front side of the lace is facing outwards and evening out your lace ends.
3. Slide barrel beads through both lace ends and slide to sit on top of lark’s head knot.
4. Make an overhand knot to both of your lace end to complete your necklace.

Blog Post courtesy of DakotaStones.com

Know Your Dye

With modern advancements in stone cutting and treatment technology, color enhancements and dyes have arrived at the forefront of the beading and natural stone market. Sometimes, a dye is selected for a stone to enhance the color, or to change it all together. These dyes can be synthetic or natural pigments, and are usually applied to a stone after the tumbling process and before any other finishes may be applied.

Dyed stones may appeal to designers with bright and bold taste, as the pigments achieved with dye are unrivaled. They can be useful for designers who want to appeal to consumers with smaller budgets, or for starting-out beaders who want to practice techniques without worrying about possibly damaging costly materials. The most commonly dyed stones are stones with pre-existing transparency, like Crystal and some Agates. A rough, natural look is also favorable, with stones like Jasper and White Howlite that provide different rings of material to add depth to additional color.

Sometimes, a dye is sold to mimic the appearance of more expensive gemstones, and can be so convincing that it flies under the radar of even some of the most knowledgeable consumers in the industry. The problem is not the existence of dyed stones, but rather the dishonesty when a retailer wants to misguide customers. Such is infamously the case with turquoise, which is one of the most heavily copied gems on the market. When dyed stones were a more novel product in the early 20th century, it was easy for scam artists to bank on their consumers lack of knowledge to deceive them. For these reasons, dyed stones gathered an unsavory reputation for being cheap, dishonest alternatives to natural, untreated stones.

As a reaction to this, the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) created the “Enhancement Code” for consumers to refer to when researching materials. “Enhancement” does not just refer to dyeing stones either. This system is used to describe any alterations to a stone that can affect the color, quality, and properties of certain minerals. While some people may argue what makes a stone “synthetic,” the AGTA made sure to reference any alteration in a stone’s chemical of physical makeup.

Fortunately for the process of dying stones, new relevance has spurred up as new techniques have been developed. Heat treatments and finishes have been improved, which has allowed dyed stones a second chance. Today, dyed stones can stand on their own on the market as unique, instead of solely as imitations of other stones. Dyes are also occasionally used to enhance a color to create a more uniform color appearance. Different dyes have also made it possible to make powdery, subdued color stones for designers and customers with more understated taste.

It is important to note that at Dakota Stones, we do not condone any dishonesty regarding the alteration of stones. All of our dyed stones, and any chemical treatments or enhancements are marked accordingly. The process of treating stones with dye has improved leaps and bounds since its infancy, and buyers can rest assured that dyes will not rub off of the stones with excessive wear, or when introduced to natural oils from human skin.

-Makenzie