Small Good Things

Craft Tutorial: Wire Word Rings

Hello friends! Today I have a fun wire project for you. I’ve been seeing a lot of rings with cute little messages (love, believe etc) the past year or so, and always wondered if I could make them myself. The verdict? Yes, I (and you) can!

What you’ll need:

beading wire, about 15cm (I’m using 24 gauge Artistic Wire)
2 jump rings
chain, 4 – 6cm
nail polish (the rid should be roughly the same size as your finger)
pair of flat-nose pliers, round-nose pliers and wire cutters

* The success of this project heavily relies on your tool (or so I think); you’ll need flat-nose pliers (like the blue one in the photo right) that has a thin tip.

** I’m going to make ‘hello’ for the tutorial, but you can make any word you’d like, of course; just follow the photos and you’ll get the idea how to shape any alphabet (I think…).

Instructions:

1) Bend the end of the wire with round-nose pliers to form a small (very small) loop.

2) Let’s start making ‘h’ from here. Make a loop with round-nose pliers.

3) Using flat-nose pliers, make a hard bend.

4) Squeeze the wires together with flat-nose pliers.

5) Bend the wire over the pliers.

Now it looks like this; ‘h’ is done!

6) Bend the wire over round-nose pliers.

7) Bend the wire over flat-nose pliers.

8) Bend the wire over round-nose pliers.

9) Moving onto ‘l’ now. Bend the wire over round-nose pliers.

10) Bend the wire over round-nose pliers.

11) Bend the wire over round-nose pliers for the second ‘l’. If you want your ring to read ‘hell’, you can skip to step 14 :)

12) Wrap the wire over the fat part of round-nose pliers to form ‘o’.

13) Wrap the wire up a little bit.

14) Wrap the wire over the tip of round-nose pliers to form a small loop, and cut the excess wire.

15) Bend the word over the rid of a nail polish so it will fit around your finger.

16) With flat-nose pliers and round-nose pliers, attach a jump ring and a chain to the loop.

17) Repeat the process to attach a jump ring and a chain to the other end of loop. And… you’re done!

I made ‘meow’ and ‘hello’, and they look really cute on me fingers J I’m going to practice a bit more, though, so that I could form words tidier.

Also, I made bigger version with 18 gauge wire (much thicker wire); they came out much sturdier so I recommend using them for bracelets (sturdier the wire, the more difficult it becomes to handle, hence the bigger version).

So… which word would you fancy wearing on a ring? Between you and me, the first words that popped up in my head were quite embarrassing, like ‘kool’ and ‘disaster’. I know. Charming… Hope you enjoyed the tutorial, and have a brilliant weekend!

I’m linking this post on Today’s Creative Blog, Home Stories A 2 Z, Katie’s Nesting Spot, Sassy Sites!, The Shabby Nest and Flamingo Toes; make sure you check them!

Crafts Jewelry & Accessories24 CommentsJul 13 2012

24 Commnents to “Craft Tutorial: Wire Word Rings”

Hello Galaxy! I’m afraid I have no idea where exactly to get these materials in Philippines, but try craft shops rather than hardware stores. You could also try online craft supply shops – I myself buy most of the materials I use online because my local craft shops don’t have much choices :)
December 30th, 2012 | emi
Konnichiwa Emi-san!! I really love this tutorial and Im hoping to create like this in the future. But my problem is I dont know here to buy the materials like the wire, jumprings, chain, eyepins, earring ends and etc.. would these be available in a hardware store?? Please tell me where you buy these materials ^^ I want to make it so badly >.< Thank you and I love your tutorials very much! Please keep on posting!
Love from the Philippines!
December 29th, 2012 | Galaxy
Thanks for stopping by, Laurie! Making letters for gift wrapping sounds such a good idea – I wish I’d thought about that before I finish wrapping gifts!!!
December 17th, 2012 | emi
Wow, ‘always’ sounds really cute, Emily!! And you also made me want to make rings in silver :)
December 17th, 2012 | emi
I had so much fun that I created several xmas related ones to adorn my gifts. Thank you..
December 17th, 2012 | Laurie Whelchel
Thanks for the tutorial! I just made one with the word “always” in silver. :)
December 16th, 2012 | Emily
I’m glad to hear that the tutorial was of any help, bose! I’m sure your daughter would love a bracelet, too :)
December 3rd, 2012 | emi
Thanks for sharing, the instructions were Wuite easy to follow. Mine came out fine though big for my finger, might turn it to bracelet for my daughter. Thank you
December 3rd, 2012 | bose
Oh, thank you so much for the detailed advice, Debby! And I love the idea of mixing wire and rhinestones together :)
November 25th, 2012 | emi
here is a suggestion: go on the internet and find the alphabet printed and written for schools- print it out and practice with it.
I do craft shows and I write peoples names in wire and then wire them to a pin with craft wire and swarovski crystals over the pin itself (crystals on the wrapping wire. People like them.
I made some for my cousins when we had a family reunion in Solvang, Ca. People saw the pins and wanted to know where they could buy one.
November 24th, 2012 | Debby
Hello Tess! My best advice would be to try and draw the words you’re going to make on a piece of paper first, and to do practice run a few times. If you still can’t make the words in a way you wish, you could probably use thinner wire (much easier to handle). Hope these help!
November 20th, 2012 | emi
Hello :) I would love to make this for my friend but although you said we could work the alphabet out I just can’t seem to figure out a pretty way to do her name. Could you possibly draw up some ideas for the rest of the alphabet?
November 19th, 2012 | Tess
Thank you Jillvintage :)
July 26th, 2012 | emi
adorable!
July 26th, 2012 | Jillvintage
Thank you Noreen :)
July 26th, 2012 | emi
These are lovely. Thanks for posting. Very interesting indeed.
July 25th, 2012 | Noreen
Thank you Christina :)
July 22nd, 2012 | emi
These rings are beautiful and whimsical. Love ‘em!
Christina at I Gotta Create!
Wildly Original Round Up party is open!
July 21st, 2012 | Christina at I Gotta Create!
Thanks Bev, hope you enjoy making some!
July 15th, 2012 | emi
Thanks Masha :)
July 15th, 2012 | emi
Wow!! How is it that everything you make I want?? :) These are super cute – and you make it look so easy!! I am definitely picking up some wire to try this!! Thanks Emi!
July 14th, 2012 | Beverly {Flamingo Toes}
great, I love the photos! I didn’t even think of helping myself with a nail polish bottle! :)
July 14th, 2012 | Maša
Thanks Ana :)
July 14th, 2012 | emi
Absolutely gorgeous!!
July 14th, 2012 | Ana