Button and wire charm necklace

So, here is the tutorial for the piece that I made for Michelle Mach's button-swap party.  I received this terrific bronze-colored button from my fabulous partner, Lody Steward, and I promised you the how-to.  This time it didn't even take me months to write it up!

Materials and Tools

Large button with pierced shank
10 inches of 20 gauge bronze wire
Brass head pins
Charms
Jump rings
Short strand of vintage facetted glass beads
24 inches of medium weight (0.019 in) SoftFlex
4 small brass rounds
2 black crimp beads
4 inches of brass chain
Brass lobster claw clasp
1 brass saucer bead

Chain nose pliers
Round nose pliers
Wire cutters
File
Ball-peen hammer

 

1. Loop the wire through the shank of the button.  Flatten the charm loop slightly with your hammer.

2. Twist the wire ends together and use round nose pliers to form a double bail.

3. Wrap the shank of the bail with both wires.  Clip the ends close and file them smooth.

4. Add charms and beads to the charm loop.

5. Use SoftFlex beading wire to string the necklace, adding a bead to the center of the bail too.

6. Cut the chain into two pieces, 1 inch and 3 inches.  Use crimps to attach the chains to the ends of the necklace.  Create a wrapped loop to add a dangle to the long end of the chain.  Add a lobster claw clasp to the short end of the chain.

Copyright 2011 Cyndi Lavin. Not to be reprinted, resold, or redistributed for profit. May be printed out for personal use or distributed electronically provided that entire file, including this notice, remains intact.

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