Beady Babies
These cute little folks can be used for zipper pulls, pendants, cell phone charms -- anywhere you'd like to add a smile!
Level: Medium
Materials
2 pieces of 24 or 26 gauge craft wire, one about 8 inches long, one about 4 inches long
Assorted large and small beads
Charms (optional)
Small diameter (2-3 mm) rod such as a thin knitting needle or similar, made from a hard material
Take the longer piece of wire and gently fold it in half over the rod you are using, then bring both ends back around and over the rod, creating a full circle in the middle of the wire. This will the the top of your "baby". (Note: do not use a soft material rod, such as a bamboo skewer, for these loops — the wire will bite into it and make it difficult to remove the rod.)
Holding the loop, string a large bead onto both wires and push it up to the loop. This will be your baby's head. If desired, create a collar or neck, or both, with smaller beads and/or decorative bead caps.
Next, string beads for the body of the baby, again over both wires. This may be a series of medium beads, a single very large bead, whatever you desire. Be sure to leave enough wire to create the legs!
After creating the body, pull the two wires apart from each other at about a 45 degree angle. On each separate wire, string beads to create legs. Remember, anything goes!
At the end of each leg, hold your rod or a small round-nosed pliers tightly against the last bead and loop the wire around it two times, then clip the excess. The loop will now resemble a split ring and will be much more secure than a single loop.
Wrap the middle of the shorter wire into a loop large enough to slip over the head of the baby. Do not bend it, loop it. Making sure that the loop is to the front of your work, slide this loop over the head of the baby, and into place where you want the arms to be, depending on whether or not you created a neck. Pull gently to tighten the loop. I then take two pairs of pliers, grasp the ends firmly and pull the wire tightly into place between the beads.
On each side, string whatever beads you desire for the arms. At the end of each one, finish off each arm the way that you did the legs, with a double loop over your rod. If desired, you can hang a charm or dangle from one of the "hands". You can also bring both hands forward, slip a jump ring between both of them, then hang a dangle or charm from that.
Gently bend the wires into a desired overall shape for your baby — arms upraised in a cheer, spread widely, legs in a running position, etc.
To attach your baby to a necklace or zipper, attach a jump ring or split ring to the top loop and hang from your chain or zipper tab.
