This year we’re getting smart with our jewelry making and giving ourselves a little geometry 101. As our math professors promised, there are endless possibilities, so we tried our hand at creating a few of these geometric designs in the form of statement necklaces, pendants, bracelets and earrings. Join us on this DIY journey and grab a Geometric Jewelry Kit from our shop, available in gold or copper.
For $35, we give you all the materials and tools you need to create two necklaces, one bracelet AND a pair of earrings. Gift some to your friends or hog them all to yourself (it’s ok.. we totally did) and watch as the compliments roll in!
Materials:
– gold or copper tube beads
– jewelry wire
– earring hooks
– jump rings
– lobster clasp
– 2-in-1 plier/cutter
Optional Materials (not included in kit):
– nail polish
Instructions:
1. Cut a long piece of wire using your plier/cutter.
2. Loop one end of wire around an earring hook or jump ring, and twist the wire around itself to secure.
3. String on one tube bead at a time, and bend the wire after every bead to hold it in place.
4. Keep stringing beads and bending wire to create your desired shape.
5. Wrap wire around itself to create hinges and joints.
6. Once your shape is complete, trim off excess wire and bend the sharp end inwards using your plier/cutter.
7. Repeat for a total set of two necklaces, one bracelet and one pair of earrings.
8. Optional Step: Add a touch of color to your jewelry pieces using one-two coats of nail polish and let dry.
Let’s get started on this jewelry-making sesh!
This first design falls on the easier side of the scale and teaches you the basic steps that start and finish all of our designs.
2D PETAL EARRINGS
First cut a length of wire – approximately 12 inches for earrings – using your 2-in-1 plier/cutters.
String one end of wire through an earring hook, twist the wire around itself and then string on your first bead!
Hold your first bead tight against the earring hook and bend your wire to the side to hold the bead snug and in place while you string on the next bead. Repeat this for every new bead.
Once you’ve made a four-sided diamond, tightly twist the wire around itself at the top of the earring to close off the shape.
Pull the wire straight down and string on three more beads to form your second shape, a triangle.
Twist the wire around itself just as you did before to close off this second shape.
Once you’ve twisted your wire around a few times, snip off the excess wire using the cutting portion of your 2-in-1 plier/cutter.
Bend the small end of wire inwards and around the wire coil so it doesn’t snag on your skin or clothes.
Repeat for the second earring and admire your work!
To make these subtle pyramid earrings, follow the directions below and take your beading skills from 2D to 3D.
3D PYRAMID EARRINGS
This next design starts the same way, with a four-sided diamond shape.
This time you’re going to bend your diamond in half and then string on another bead. Connect this bead to the bottom point of your original diamond shape by looping the wire around the hinge a couple times and pulling tight to secure.
To finish the last side of this pyramid shape, thread the wire back through one of the beads. Note: gold beads are slightly wider and allow you to thread back through, but copper beads are too skinny for this.
Carefully pull the wire through and string on your last bead. Complete the pyramid shape by tightly wrapping the wire around at the hinge two to three times.
Snip off the excess wire using your 2-in-1 plier/cutter.
Bend that last bit of wire around the coil and inwards to prevent any snagging.
Repeat for a second earring and you’ve got a perfectly equilateral pair.
Now that you’ve tackled a basic 3D shape, these flexible 2D pieces should be no problem at all.
FLEXIBLE 2D EARRINGS & NECKLACE
Use the same techniques you learned earlier to create a diamond shape and then thread back through one of the sides.
Continue adding triangle sections by wrapping the wire around at the corners and stringing on more beads.
Once you’ve reached the end of your design, snip off the excess wire and bend inwards, just as you did before.
Flexible 2D shapes like these can be bent in all different directions to create a 3D look, so don’t be afraid to play around with your finished pieces and give them some dimension.
Necklaces and bracelets can be created the same way, except instead of twisting wire around earring hooks, simply twist it around a jump ring to start and finish your design.
To attach chain to a necklace, open up each jump ring with your plier/cutter, string on your chain, and close the jump rings back up. Note: this kit comes with two lengths of chain. The 15” chain makes a statement necklace that sits higher, and the 30” chain is best left for long pendant necklaces.
Once you’ve attached your chain to both sides of your shape, cut your chain in half at the middle point using your plier/cutter.
Attach a jump ring to one side, just as you did in the previous steps. Then on the opposite side, attach a jump ring AND lobster clasp to your chain.
Check out that geometric masterpiece!
3D CHARM PENDANT NECKLACES
Remember those pyramid earrings? Make similar 3D pyramids and diamonds attached to jump rings instead of earring hooks.
These charms use the same technique, but add a 3D diamond shape to mix it up.
String these charms onto your 30″ chain for a long pendant necklace.
Attach jump rings and lobster clasps to the ends and you’ve got a finished piece!
And if you’re feeling really ambitious, go ahead and tackle one of these bad boys. This icosahedron has 20 sides – all equilateral triangles. If you look at it from the top, you see five triangles meeting at a point in the middle, and it uses all the same techniques as before!
Wear this one long for a pendant that packs a serious punch.
Here’s another simple design, with triangles jutting outwards from a straight strand of beads.
CROWN NECKLACE & BRACELET
Attach wire to a jump ring and string on 12-13 beads, leaving a small amount of space in between each bead.
Attach your second jump ring at the end, twist the wire around itself and prepare to work backwards with your triangle points.
For each triangle, add two more beads and wrap the wire around itself in between beads on the main strand.
As you work back along the strand, you’ll be glad you left a bit of extra space in between beads!
Once you’ve finished all the triangles, attach the shorter 15″ chain for a simple statement necklace!
This design can go two ways. Instead of adding chain, simply attach a lobster clasp to one end for a killer bracelet.
Remember, many of our statement necklaces can be turned into bracelets. Just make sure they’re long enough to fit around your wrist!
Add a splash of color with your fave nail polish! Paint on oe or two coats and let dry.
ADD COLOR WITH NAIL POLISH
Your plier/cutter makes a perfect drying rack. Place it on top of a Brit Kit box or stack of books and letting your pieces hang over the edge until they dry.
To color dip or not to color dip? We left this last bit up to you to decide.
Time to wear these beauties around town! With this much class, no one will believe you made these yourself.
Check out these copper versions of our gold designs! Note that the copper beads are longer than the gold ones, making for larger, bolder pieces than their delicate gold counterparts.
For all you bold cuff lovers out there, these easy breezy lightweight pieces stay up on your arm all night, no re-adjusting required.
We’re channeling Where the Wild Things Are with this crown-inspired cuff. RAWR.
These smart pieces are perfect for girls’ night, date night, and even that classy work function! Grab a Geometric Jewelry Kit of your own, in your choice of delicate gold or long copper beads. We’ve included 100 beads in each kit to give you the freedom to make four simple or intricate pieces and still have extras to spare.
What other geometric shapes would you tackle for this DIY? Share your finished creations with us on social media using hashtags #britkits and #iamcreative — we’re psyched to see what you can come up with!
