Project Idea -- Czech Teardrop Bracelet

Groups of green drops give the appearance of leaf clusters on this cheerful bracelet. Alternate the colors (below right) to make it festive and fun.

Supply List -
24 Czech Glass Teardrop Beads, 9mm, Olivine (04-SW44DP283) or choice
3 Czech Fire Polished Beads, 10mm, Sapphire (04-51-FM6034) or 12mm*, choice
2 Czech Fire Polished Beads, 8mm, Sapphire (04-51-FM2467) or choice
4 Czech Druk Glass Bead, 8mm, Olivine (04-51-FM1316)
12-14 Round Silver Plate Beads, 3mm (06-51-FM1476)
2 Round Silver Plate Beads, 4mm (06-51-FM1474 ), optional
1 Snap Clasp, 9mm (03-51-RT2093 )
2 Wire Guard Cord Protectors, silver plate (03-51-RT0503), optional
beading wire, crimp beads

Tools: Bead Stopper 03-51-RT4406 (or tape), flat nose or crimping pliers , wire cutters, optional G-S Hypo Cement

Please note: I like to start and end most pieces with a 4mm or larger metal bead, not only to taper the design down from the larger beads but because a 4mm bead has a large enough hole to feed the beading wire back through when you are in the crimping process. I feel this makes the design more secure as well as a good way to avoid wire ends sticking out. You certainly can use 3mm beads on the end if no 4mm beads are on hand.

To begin use your wire cutters to cut an approximate 12-14" strand of Beading wire. Add a Bead Stopper or other clip to the end of your wire (or secure with a piece of tape), leaving about 2" of wire in reserve. Start stringing with a 4mm round silver plate bead, then an 8mm Czech Druk bead, and a 3mm silver plate round. Add an additional Druk bead, a 3mm round, then an 8mm Czech Fire Polish Bead and one more 3mm round. Continue by adding six Czech Teardrop beads in a row, a 3mm round, a 10mm Czech Fire Polish Bead, and one more 3mm round.. Reapeat this last grouping twice more (see photo). To bead the end of the bracelet, reverse the first steps by adding one 8mm Fire Polish and two Druk 8mm beads, alternating them with the 3mm rounds. End with a 4mm silver plate round.

Once all the beads are in place, put a crimp bead on the wire end, then run wire through the channel of an optional Wire Guard (see photo at left). Loop the Wire Guard through one end hole of your clasp, and feed wire back through crimp bead, as well as end 4mm bead. Use a flat nose or crimping plier to flatten the crimp bead. Remove Bead Stopper (or tape), and add a crimp bead and Wire Guard to that end, repeating above steps to have both ends of the bracelet secure. If desired, add a dot of G-S Adhesive or other jeweler's glue to the crimped beads. Trim extra beading wire as needed.

* The above directions make an 8" bracelet. To vary size, experiment with using larger or smaller Fire Polish Beads, or add to or reduce the number of Druk end beads. This bracelet also works well with a magnet clasp.

All the supplies on the list above can be purchased in-store at Bead Jam or on our On-line store. Follow link for our store site. Do a search for the exact stock number or to see all choices, or we suggest using all or part of each bold phrase above to search for the particular supply.

Design and instructions copyright of Bead Jam LLC; creation of projects is for personal or gift use only. Feel free to print and distribute projects as long as credit is given to www.beadjam.com