When I saw the silver flower-and-leaf beads that Erin Prais-Hintz had selected for April's Pretty Palettes challenge, my first thought was that they were the exact right width for a barrette! If you've ever met me in person, you might notice that my hair is almost always pulled back in a ponytail or bun. So it understandable that I'm a bit obsessed with hair jewelry.
Beads and Materials
I used the same metal flower-and-leaf beads and sapphire glass beads Erin chose, but chose a smaller size (3x2mm) of the amethyst glass rounds. I decided to add a couple of metal daisy spacers on each end. The metal barrette finding comes in a range of sizes; the one I chose was the largest. (Go big or go home, right?)
How to Make the Barrette
To create this barrette, I strung three strands of beads on white WildFire beading thread. This thread is quite strong and unlikely to break. It's also more flexible than steel beading wire. I used super strong double-sided adhesive tape (the kind you find in the scrapbooking section) to adhere the strands and the daisy spacers to the metal barrette finding. Because this is the kind of item that will be handled frequently, I also wrapped black beading thread in between each of the flower bar beads. The knots are hidden under the beads.
Other Design Options
What I love about this type of project is that there are so many ways to do it. Other options for attaching the beads to the barrette include 24- or 26-gauge wire, a strong glue such as E-6000, or knotted cord.
You could also mix techniques. For example, you might wrap ribbon around the metal barrette finding and then wrap the beads around the ribbon.
You also don't have to make orderly strands like I did. I've seen some great beaded barrettes where the beads are wired randomly around the barrette finding.
If you choose glue, you may want to clamp your barrette to help the beads stick to the metal as the glue dries. For wire, your main concern should be tucking in the wire ends so that there aren't any sharp pieces sticking out. No matter what technique you use, make sure that the underside of the barrette doesn't get too bulky with extra materials or it may not close properly.
P.S. Did you see the book giveaway yesterday?
I'm giving away a copy of Simple Soldered Jewelry and Accessories. If you've ever wondered how to make soldered jewelry, see my blog post from yesterday for details on how to win. Good luck!