Wire Wrapped Paper Bead Bracelet

If you saw the paper beads I made last week, and wondered what sort of project they would become – I’m going to show you today!  I dressed the paper beads up with a bit of wire wrapping and offset them with some color and shine.  Today I’ll be showing you how to make connectors to make a bracelet.  The technique will work whether you are using paper beads or any kind of beads you like.

What you will need:

• 18-gauge wire (I like silver plated copper wire)
• Round pliers
• Wire cutters
• Jewelry pliers
• Beads (Paper or otherwise)
• Jump rings (I use 6mm, but really any size would be fine)
• Toggle clasp

First, we need to turn a paper bead into a wire-wrapped connector.  Cut a length of wire about 5-6 times the length of your bead.  Wrap the end around your round-nosed pliers, and take the small end of the wire and wrap it around the main wire.  The photos below show you how.  Then, add your bead.

Next, make a loop on the other end of your bead to match.  Wrap it around your pliers, leaving a long piece of wire.  Now, wrap the wire gently around the length of the bead, moving back to the first end of the connector.  Wrap the end of the wire around the first loop, and nip off the excess wire.

If you are using some other beads that you don’t want to wire-wrap to complement your wrapped beads, the process is similar.  You can start with a length of wire 3-4 times the length of your beaded portion, and make a loop.  Add your beads, and close it off with a similar loop.  You can just cut the excess wire right now.

When you have enough connectors to make your bracelet long enough, you can connect them together with jump rings.

Then, just add a clasp, and your bracelet is done!

This is a really fun way to reinforce paper beads, which can be a little fragile.  And if you did what I did and made your beads from a well-loved book, it’s a creative way of wearing something you love.