Bead Barmy

A lovely how to for our Wedding Belles! A tiara is the crowning glory for any bride’s outfit. Learn how to make a pretty clematis tiara in 5 easy steps.

As part of our Wedding Belles series, I’d like to show you how to make your own tiara. Simply choose your colours and unleash your creativity!

You will need -

1 x silver plated tiara base, 4 metres x 1.0mm silver plated wire, 20 metres x 0.4mm silver plated wire, 1 packet mixed glass pearls or 30 to 40 beads of your choice to match your outfit.
You will also need a pair of flat nosed pliers, round nosed pliers and cutters.
All the items for this project can be found at Beads Unlimited.

Stage 1 – making the large clematis

Stage 1 – making the large clematis

To make the large clematis cut 80cm of 1.0mm wire. Push a bead onto one end. Using round nosed pliers curl the end over to secure the bead and neaten. Directly underneath the bead bend the wire at a right angle and curl into a spiral of 4 or 5 coils. Bend a petal shape as shown. Then bend 5 more in the same way.

Stage 2 – finishing the large clematis

Stage 2 – finishing the large clematis

Cut 30cm of 0.4mm wire. Wrap the wire several times around a petal at the end closest to the spiral. Then pass the wire along and wrap around the next petal. Continue until you have closed the ends on all petals. Snip off any excess wire.
Make two small flowers like the big one but use 50cm of wire for the flower base. Make two leaves by making a spiral with one petal shape.

Stage 3 – making twirls and decorating petals

Stage 3 – making twirls and decorating petals

Twirls – Cut 20cm of 1.0mm wire. Add a bead to one end and curl over. Make several kinks under the bead.
Petal Decoration – Cut 100cm of 0.4mm wire. Wrap around one side of a petal and then wind along about 1cm. Pick up a bead and pass the wire across and continue along the petal.
To attach a twirl, place the stem next to the petal and wind 0.4mm wire around it until secure. Continue decorating the petal.
Repeat on all other petals.

Stage 4 – attaching items to the tiara base

Stage 4 – attaching items to the tiara base

To attach items to the base cut 100cm of 0.4mm wire. Pass through the small hole on one side at the end of the tiara. Wrap your wire along the base very closely and neatly. About 4cm along add your first leaf by wrapping wire in between the spiral and the leaf shape. Continue wrapping along the base until you are ready to add your first small flower. Attach in the same way by wrapping your wire around a suitable petal and the base. Continue along until you have added all your made items.      

Stage 5 – finishing off

Stage 5 – finishing off

Using small pieces of wire attach the petals to each other at various points to secure. For a really intricate look add more twirls in between the petals.

Posted by: JoBlogsIt