How to make Berry Patch Angels
Materials Needed
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- Needle nose pliers
- wire cutters
- 24 guage gold or silver wire
- 4 mm pearl beads
- 5 mm pearl beads
- 6 mm pearl beads
- 8 mm pearl beads
- 12 mm pearl beads
- scissors
- 1/8 inch nylon ribbon
- small stemmed flowers
- band aids
Lets get started
- First, cut a piece of wire approx. 5½ feet long.
- Take one end and curl it in on it self with your pliers. This is what keeps the beads from falling off.
- Now you are going to start making the groupings that make up the loops of the angels skirt.
- Starting with your smallest bead, a 4mm or 5mm, put an odd number going small to bigger to biggest back down to smallest repeating the pattern. IE: dddDddd
- Do this 7 times.
- After you have all 7 sets of beads made, it is time to start making the skirt.
- Ok, this sounds kinda gross, but since we only have 2 hands, put the end that is NOT closed in yout teeth.
- Take the other end and find the first set of beads. The set closest to the closed end.
- Make about a 3½ inch loop with the wire, pushing the beads down to the bottom of the loop.
- Repeat until you have used all 7 sets.
- Wrap the 2 tails together and around the loops securing it tightly.
- If an end breaks, that is ok, just adjust your loops to make a tail again.
- Keep your scraps, they will be used later.
- Cut another piece of wire approx. 15 inches in length.
- Curl up one end and thread 15 4mm beads on it.
- Fold that wire in half and make a circle with the beads. This is the halo. Twist the beads 5 or 6 times tightly.
- Open the wires and place them over the seam of the loops.
- Put a 12mm bead on the wire and push it all the way to the top.
- Bend the skirt wires over the head on either side. Then twist the tail from the halo around the skirt.
- Use the pliers to make the connection flat.
- Now we are going to make wings! Yippeeeee!!!!!
- Pinch the wire between your thumb and forefinger and wrap the wire around all your fingers about 7 or 8 times. With your fingers as open as you can get them.
- Take the tails and twist together and around the circle you just made securing tightly.
- if the tails break, just mush it with your pliers.
- With your forefingers, pull the wings to an oval, then close it with a wire scrap making 2 equal sections.
- Spread each section with your first and second finger and push in with your thumb and viola` a wing. Repeat on other side.
- Attach the wings to the side of the angel you want to be the back with a piece of scrap wire cris-crossing the wire around the angel and
wings.
- Use the pliers to ensure a tight fight and twist the tails.
- Now, smush the tails to make sure there are no sharp points.
- Now we are ready to add the Ribbon
- The amount of ribbon you use is totally personal.
- I think it looks better to use 2 ribbons either the same color or complimentary colors.
- I usually make about 8 4½ or 5 inch loops and then wire them in the middle. This takes about 7 feet of ribbon.
- Wrap the ribbon on the front of the angel using either wire or ribbon or both.
- Now, to make a hanger, tie a piece of ribbon in a loop and place under and over the wings so they run next to the body and come up to the top. It should be about 6 or 7 inches long.
- If you wish you can also wire a pin on the back to make a broach or lapel pin.
- Now adjust your angels body, wings and skirt and remember it is handmade and will not be perfect. But that is part of their charm.
There are variations of the skirt, just use your imagination and make it yours.
If you have any questions, email me
Have a good one!
Janice
5 inch angel
3 inch angel