Ammonite Inspired

Copper Wire Spiral with Crystal Pearls

Skill LevelIntermediate

TechniqueWire-Working

Time1-3 Hours

Approximate Size1 3/4 Inches

I love the look of copper wire with ivory pearls. This spiraling pendant makes me think of ancient ammonite fossils. author signature

When working with wire, you can create your own shapes to wrap beads around. Cheri created a spiraling form as the foundation for this pendant embellished with crystal pearls. You can easily showcase this pendant at the center of a necklace or make two for a pair of earrings. You'll love how fun and easy this piece is to make. For more wire-working inspiration, check out this Artbeads Cafe episode.

Step-by-Step Instructions Expand All Steps

Cut a length of 18 gauge Artbeads Designer Wire in Antique Copper about one foot long. Smooth this piece of wire out with nylon jaw pliers.

Use round nose and chain nose/nylon jaw pliers to form the spiral shape of your pendant. You can see how this is done in the Artbeads Cafe episode.

Cut about one yard of 26 gauge Artbeads Designer Wire in Antique Copper. Smooth this piece of wire with nylon jaw pliers.

Starting at the top of the spiral form, coil or wrap the 26 gauge wire to the form. We wrapped our wire around the frame several times. Add a 4mm round pearl in Ivory to the wire. Coil the wire once around the frame, and then add another pearl. Repeat until you have added 20 pearls to the frame. Trim and tuck the end of the wire.

Cut another 1-yard length of 26 gauge wire and smooth with nylon jaw pliers. Coil this wire once around the end of the center spiral on your frame. Add a 3mm round pearl in Ivory to the wire and wrap the wire around the frame so that the pearl sits in the center of the spiral. Coil the wire around the frame several times.

When your wire is positioned below the end of the last 4mm pearl you added to the frame, bring your wire up and around the frame the 4mm pearl is wrapped to, coiling around it once. Then, bring your wire back down to the frame you started with, making sure to cross the wire that leads up. Coil your wire once around this frame and repeat bringing your wire up between each 4mm pearl. When you reach the last 4mm pearl, make sure to bring your wire up on the end of this pearl in the same fashion. Then, trim and tuck the end of your wire.

List of Components
5810 3mm Round Pearl Ivory (5810-IVO3, qty 1) (Not available anymore, try 5810-CRMRO3)
5810 4mm Round Pearl Ivory (5810-IVO4, qty 20) (Not available anymore, try 5810-CRMRO4)
Artbeads Designer Wire - Antique Copper Non-Tarnish 18 Gauge (21 ft. spool) (ADW0004, qty 1)
Artbeads Designer Wire - Antique Copper Non-Tarnish 26 Gauge (90 ft. spool) (ADW0056, qty 1)

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Nice choice! All or most of the products needed for this project are shown below with quantities. Sometimes we sell out of components and aren’t able to order more from the manufacturer (we know, it is very disappointing to us, too). Use the opportunity to mix up the design and make it yours by substituting similar products or altering the entire color scheme—it’s up to you!