A toggle necklace is a beaded necklace that has the toggle in the front of the piece as a dramatic focal point. Follow these easy step by step instructions to make a beautiful glass beaded toggle necklace.

MATERIALS NEEDED:

Glass Beads
bead stringing wire
toggle clasp set
crimp beads
head pins or eye pins
jump rings
needle-nose pliers
wire cutters

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Start with a length of bead stringing wire that is approximately six inches longer than the piece of jewelry you intend to make.

2. Slide on a crimp bead, then the loop end of the toggle.

3. Bend approximately two inches of the wire, going back through the crimp bead, and draw it snug against the clasp.

4. Use your needle-nose pliers to flatten the crimp bead against the clasp so that it cannot slide up or down.

5. String all of the beads onto the wire (the first few beads should be strung over both thicknesses of wire).

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Trying to find a beading project that requires no wire wrapping and as little crimping as possible?

Then make a bracelet with stretch magic... or any other elastic material designed for threading beads.

This bracelet project can be as simple or as elegant as your skill and imagination allows. If you want to make a beautiful gift, consider crystals and marcasite. If it's for a child, consider pony beads.

When you're ready...

What you need:
--> 1 Pack of Stretch Magic
--> Assortment of 6mm and 4mm beads (crystal, marcasite, bicones)
--> 2x2 Sterling Silver Crimp
--> Crimping pliers
--> Wire cutter

Instructions:
1. Decide on the length of your slip-on bracelet.

2. Add approximately four inches on both ends of your desired length.
* Use the wire cutters to cut the Stretch Magic.

3. Slide on all of your beads in the desired bead pattern.

4. Slide on the crimp bead

5. Center the crimp bead on your finger and pull the Stretch Magic tight to make it thinner inside of the crimp bead

6. Slip the other end of the Stretch Magic through the crimp head in the opposite direction

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If you're a beginner, it can be overwhelming with all the choices presented before you to make a piece of jewelry... or any bead project!

One of the things you need to know to have a successful project is the type of wire to use for your beading project.

Here are few tips to help you make the right decision:

Use 14 to 16 gauge wire (very thick and heavy) if you are going to make a bracelet, free-form shapes, neckwires, lampshade forms, and napkin rings.

Use 18 gauge wire (thick) if you are going to make your own clasps, string ethnic glass beads and other large bone, wood, or ceramic beads with large holes or wire wrapping candlesticks and chainmaking.

Use 20 gauge wire (Medium) if you are going to make earwires, headpins and small wire clasps and stringing glass beads.
Most base metal headpins and earwires are made from 20 gauge wire.

Use 22 gauge wire (medium thin) when 20-guage is too thick. It is good for stringing Austrian Crystals or transparent semi-precious beads including amethyst, quartz and fluorite.

Want to learn how to use 24, 26, 28 and 30 guage wires?

Click here to read part 2 in "Choosing the right wire guage" series...

Article Source: http://www.beadprojectsonline.com