My sister ask my to come up with an unique and inexpensive gift that she could give her girl friends who where putting together a big birthday party for her (one of those birthdays with a big number)! I came up with the Circle of Friendship beaded charm. It’s a wire ring wrapped with seed beads that you slide onto your favorite chain and I found a beautiful friendship poem to put with it.
I wish I could give credit to the author of this beautiful poem, but I do not know the author.
Materials:
- Seed beads
- 26 gauge wire like Darice brand permanently colored copper wire
- Small metal ring or washer
- Wire cutters
I had an old circle chain from another project and liked the larger size ring, but any solid ring will work. Cut about an 18″ long piece of the 26 gauge wire ( if the wire is too long it’s hard to work with and you can always add more) wrap a few times around the ring, then start stringing on some seed beads (not too many) on the wire and start wrapping around the ring. You may need to use your fingers to hold the beads in place while wrapping. I like to go all the way around one time then go back in the other direction one time.
The more times you go around adding beads the larger/thicker the ring will become. If you use a washer that is already thicker, you will have a different look.
The ring I’m using is only about 3/4th of an inch!
When you have all the beads on, wrap the wire (with no beads) around a few times pushing it down into the beads and cut off what you do not need, pushing cut end down into the beads (making sure the sharp end is not sticking out). It takes me about 20 minutes to make one charm, making this a fast, inexpensive and unique gift!
Now your Circle of Friendship charm is ready for you to slide onto your favorite chain/cord or give a gift to a special friend.
The 26 gauge wire comes in a lot of colors, it’s by Darice in a 30 yard roll for $2.50 (no coupon) and the seed bead comes in all colors, you can get small packages for $1 to $1.50 (no coupon). If you are like me and love the 40% off craft coupons from Jo Ann, this project would be under $3.00 (using coupons) and you could make about 10 charms!!
Each charm is different, unique, and worn close to your heart, as each friend is special in their own way and always close to your heart!
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