Believe it or not, I regularly receive email requests for tiara instructions. Lately, the tiara craze is an important bridal accessory is more popular than ever and some jewelry artists and designers work exclusively in the business of making accessories for brides. This eventually urged me to get out my tools, wire, and beads and make a few tiara designs. This project is a basic design and is a good way to learn the basics of creating a tiara, whether you are a future bride or just want to be queen for the day.
You'll need the following:
Approximately 6 feet of 24 gauge copper wire
*Nylon nosed pliers are really helpful with this project because you are working with long lengths of wire, which can become easily kinked. Thought it's not 100% necessary to have a pair of these, if you got them, use them.
1. Begin by cutting about 3 feet of copper wire, and folding it in half.
2. Place the nose of your round-nosed pliers in the center of your wire, and twist a few times so you have formed a loop in the middle.
103 - 4mm light blue Czech crystal beads
15 - royal blue teardrop Czech crystal beads
1 gold colored head pin
round-nosed pliers
wire cutters
flat-nosed pliers
*nylon nosed pliers
Now that you have made the frame of the tiara, you are ready to decorate it.
5. You'll notice that you have 7 sections of 4mm beads. Locate the 10 - 4mm beads that are in the center of your circle. 6. Cut about a foot of wire and wrap one end of the wire, leaving a few inch tale, in between the larger end of the royal blue teardrop bead and the first 4mm bead in the section you located in the previous step.
10. Take your head pin, slip a teardrop bead onto it, and make a simple loop on the end.
13. Create about 1/2 inch - half circle of wire over the teardrop, 4mm, teardrop section of beads, and wrap the wire down and around in between the teardrop and 4mm bead.
15. At one point in your half circle wrapping, you are going to get to section where you connected the two ends of your tiara frame. When you do, add some extra wraps around it in order to secure the area some more.
17. Finally, finish by wrapping the last part of the wire in between beads.
Here's a picture of the finished tiara. I've flattened so that you can see the whole finished piece, but of course, you want it to stay round so it sits on your head. The wire is pretty malleable, which will help secure it to your head. Just use a few bobby pins, and then you're off to the ball!
