Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Bead Cap Tutorial

I've created a video tutorial showing how to make your own bead caps.  They are so easy, you can whip up tons of them in no time flat! 

Check out Ornamentea for the 1/2" brass disks, earwires and chain used in the earrings. Earrings shown with polymer clay branch disks from Humblebeads.

Tools you'll need: bench block, ball peen hammer, 2-hole punch, doming block & punches. 
Optional: brass texturing plates, Phillip's head screwdriver, silver/black solution, steel wood.


Here is the direct link to the video.  Feel free to share it!

18 comments:

Lorelei Eurto said...

WOW! This was so great, thanks for sharing this Heather. That looks so easy! I'm gonna try it!

Mary Harding said...

Love it that you used a video to make a tutorial for ABS blog. And the tutorial is great. Wonderful idea for making bead caps. And I have been using them lately so this is especially great for me. Thanks so much Heather.

Azure Accessories said...

That is great...it does look easy!
Cheers

Unknown said...

So cool! Thanks for sharing:)

norma said...

I agree with Lorelei! I am headed down to Harbor Freight after work. What size disc did you use in the demo? The bead caps really add zip to a design. Thanks for sharing this wonderful video.

SummersStudio said...

Fantastic! Thanks, Heather.

Heather Powers said...

Thanks everyone! I need to use my flip camera more, it's so easy to whip up a video.

Norma - the disks were 1/2" from Ornamentea.com.

DVArtist said...

This is a great tut. Thanks for sharing it with all of us.

Nicole/Beadwright

Beverly Herman said...

Great video Heather! The flip is a handy gadget.

beautifullybrokenme said...

Thanks Heather - great video! I don't know why I don't make my own bead caps, but I surely will be doing so now!

:-) Molly

Cindy said...

Heather...what a great little video! It was really neat to see you at work! :-)

Overlooking Mississippi said...

That was so helpful! Thanks for sharing..have a lovely day :)

Jen Judd said...

Great minds must think alike! Jeanette Blix posted a similar tutorial, although without the cute video, on her blog...she has all the tools you could ever need for dapping. I've always been a big fundametals fan so check this out: http://jeanetteblix.com/making-your-own-beadcaps-with-your-dapping-block-and-hole-punch-pliers-or-drill/
I can't wait to go try making some myself!!! Thanks for sharing!
Jen

platform bed said...

This one looks so easy! Thanks for posting. This is a great help for an aspiring designer like me.

Erin S said...

love these! But where do you get those brass texture plates?

Melinda Orr said...

Thanks! This post inspired me to create a cool enameled necklace! Forgot about my dapping block!

Jane Chew said...

thanks for the video. i have shared your video at www.handmade-jewelry-club.com. Cheers

Perfect Home Theater Seating said...

Looks so easy. Thanks for this tutorial.