Cluster Beaded Ring Tutorial

Today’s DIY jewelry project is a fun way of adding just a little color to an outfit in a really inexpensive way.  Making your own beaded rings is fun, and because it’s such a small piece, supplies go a long way.  You only need a few beads to make up this fun cluster beaded ring!

Supplies needed to make your own cluster beaded ring:

• Silver Beadable Ring Blank
• .8mm Stretch cord
• Scissors
• 4-6mm Beads (I used 4mm cream, 4mm teal blue, and 6mm teal blue glass pearl beads)
• Bead Reamer (optional)

We will basically be using stretch cord (because it’s clear and not so noticeable) to “sew” a few beads onto the ring blank by hand.  Don’t worry, you won’t need a needle, and it’s not difficult!  To start, cut a length of cord about 18 inches, and string it through one of the outer holes from the bottom.  Add a bead, and wrap the cord around the blank, and pass the cord back up through the bottom.  4mm beads are larger than the hole spacing, so you will want to skip over one hole each time you add a bead.

Fill in the outer ring with small beads.  You will be able to fit 6 or 7.

Next, fill in the beaded ring center with an accent color bead (this is optional – you CAN just use the same color).  As you work with the beads, you may find some holes you can’t quite pass your cord through.  If this happens, you can poke the bead hole with a bead reamer to clear the path.

I used one larger bead and a few smaller ones.  This is totally up to your taste, though!

Once it’s filled in, pass you cord back to the bottom, and tie a double knot (a square knot) to secure it.  You may also want to add a dot of craft glue to be sure it stays.  Cut off the tails from the bottom of the beaded ring.

Adjust your beads as necessary so you can’t see the holes.

And that’s it!  Just wear your beaded ring and enjoy!

Are you making any of your own accessories this fall?  What trends are you loving right now?

Adrianne

Adrianne is a writer, artist, designer, wife, and mom of 2 kids. She blogs at happyhourprojects.com where the theme is tutorials and recipes that can be made in an hour or less. Her favorite projects are jewelry-making, paper crafts, and recycled crafts. She participates annually in ArtPrize, an international art competition, and she’s the author of the book DIY T-Shirt Crafts: 50 Ways to Recycle a T-Shirt (August 2015).