Butterfly Bracelet

If you can make a loop with round nose pliers, you can make a butterfly bracelet. All you need is a few paper clips.

For tools you'll need:
Cone nose pliers
Flat nose pliers
Diagonal cutting pliers
File

Step 1: Shape the head

Extend a paper clip and work out the kinks with flat nose pliers.

For the ease of use I filed a tiny grove into one of the cones of my pliers. You can see this in the second picture. The groove helps show me where to place the wire so I get consistent circles.

Place the center of the wire into the cone pliers and form a small loop. Bend one of the free ends away from the loop as shown in the pictures. Reposition the pliers and bend the other free end away from the loop.

You should now have an overlapping lollypop looking thing. Use the flat pliers to adjust the loop so the free ends are side by side and not overlapping. See the pictures.

Comments

[Mistwalker]

I saw this when it was featured in the instructables email, and decided to make one for my girlfriend. Didn't quite have the proper tools, but I managed to make due. It's far from perfect, but I think I did ok for a first attempt. Great instructable, by the way.

[Mrballeng]

I love it! Great job. I hope your girlfriend liked it.

[Mistwalker]

She did indeed like it. I knew that when the kids saw it, they'd want some, too. So, I made two more, except this time, with red beading wire, which was much easier to bend into shape than the paperclips. It's perhaps a little more fragile, but as long as they're treated with care, they should hold up fine. I also got them far more consistently shaped than the first one.

[Mrballeng]

This is awsome in a bunch of different ways. I made a bracelet sitting on my back patio and then that same bracelet shows up perhaps in a place I've never been by a person I've never met.

Most often I only get to see these ideas photographed on my own hands. I get a big kick out of seeing someone else try their hand at it.

The red wire looks great. Good job!

[Mistwalker]

Did one more. Probably my last for a while. My girlfriend likes brightly colored jewelry in repeating patterns, so I used several different colors of wire to make a choker necklace using your butterfly design. We had all this wire here anyway, as she does beading, and makes necklaces and bracelets. She absolutely loves this one, by the way. I used a small silver lobster claw clasp for this one, which is necessary as the wire one would make it too loose to be a choker.

[Rowen27]

for the record you can 'work harden' (stiffen) soft wire, by rolling it back and forth between two smooth flat pieces of hard wood or metal (this will also straighten it), but take care, as this may also scratch or scar the metal...

[mcshawnboy]

Pretty nice & simple Brent! I subscribe to a chainmaille email from an English lady last name of Corvus on Ning. She tightens up the slack of this project I just finished a bracelet & earring in silver filled wire from an eBay seller Cigar Box Wire. Egyptian Coil Bracelet by hay_jumper I've got a little time to look at more of UR old projects. :)

[mclare50]

Are you going to be selling these anytime soon?!?! I'm very very confused!! Great instructable though.

[mickbead]

really cool...I love butterflies. Thanks for sharing.

[LouevilBelle]

Hi. I have been trying so hard to make this. My main problem is that I am lacking "cone nose pliers." I've searched everywhere online and I cannot figure out where to find a pair. Could you suggest a brand? Or maybe they are also called something else? I really want to make one of these! Thank you for posting these instructions *^_^*

[Mrballeng]

Try searching "round nose pliers" they're about $7.

[marshaecleveland]

I really like your instructable... I plan to try this as soon as daylight breaks... I don't know why but I like paper clip projects... Thanks for the butterflies... :D

[jennybotha]

VERY clever. Would love this made into a chain necklace. Doubt if I could do it--- I'm not strong enough, but thanks for sharing -- it's lovely

[snoopindaweb]

That notch in the round nose plyers helps in flattining the barbs on fish hooks, fly tying, etc. P.S. now there's an instructable within anybodys reach. "At the Office"..HAR.!

[stumitch]

excellent! i have 3 classes of gr8 jewelery making next term and i think they will love this! thanks for all of the great ideas.

[diylesson]

Hello there Brent :)

This is really a cool tutorial! I'd like you to know I featured it on my blog. You can check out the link here: http://www.handmade-jewelry-club.com/2012/10/diy-bracelet-tutorials.html Your creations looks cool!

Cheers :)

[Mrballeng]

Awesome! Thanks for featuring me and for sending me your link. Good looking blog you have set up. Thanks for collecting and sharing like you do. Brent

[lothoth]

This is awesome.

how do you do not to scratch the wire with the pliers?

[ladyxan]

These are jewelry crafting pliers... they have no teeth. They are smooth =)

[Mrballeng]

At first I was scratching the wire. Then I figured out to use pliers without grooves cut in the jaws.

The pliers I'm using came from an inexpenxive set at the craft store. Some thing like 6 pliers for 10 dollars. There's nothing fancy about them.

[ladyxan]

I am looking, but cannot find those 'inexpensive' ones. Hehe Went to Lowes and bought the wire cutters though. Now to find that cone shaped pliers. =) Should look in the bin near the counter at the auto stores =D

[SprklPlentE]

Do you have a Michael's craft store or Walmart near you. You can find lots of inexpensive jewelers tools at either. Good Luck

[flammaefata]

Beautiful and elegant! I think it'll be very pretty with different colour paperclips too (like the guy with the beading wire did). I'm wondering if you straighten out the wings and make them even-sized if it'll be easy to make dragonflies as well?

[flammaefata]

Oh, i see cannibal_hect0r already did an 'ible on the dragonflies! Yay!
(silly of me to only see it now...)

[amolengko]

Awesome.....

[ninjasamurai]

WOAH... I really liked the idea and it seems a bit hard, but your picture qualities were EPIC! I can see your fingers VERY CLEARLY!... psych, really good idea. :)

[WWC]

I always wondered how that kind of stuff was made. Very nice!

[ashbegash]

CUTENESS!!

[Neon Panda]

I am going to try this! Thanks for the 'ible!

[fierce_benn]

Hi there!

This is an amazing instructable, I can't wait to try it. I was wondering where I can buy cone nosed pliers?

Thanks!

[Mrballeng]

I've learned since they're really called "round nose pliers". You can buy them any place craft items are sold. Thanks for the comment.

[emilyvanleemput]

OMG! This bracelet is just perfect!

[MicioGatta]

Great idea, beautiful tutorial. I've done my first butterfly, I've got some problem in keeping the tails together, but I'll practice :D. Thank you!

[pattibradford]

I love this tutorial! Your instructions are so precise, it make it hard for us to make a mistake. Thank you )

[hfuller]

I attempted this.....sooo looks nothing like the one's you or the other people made

[Nekro]

Excelente! Este es el primer instructable que hago de Jewlery y hasta un inutil como yo pudo hacerlo :)
Gracias!

Excellent! This is the first jewelry's instructable that i made and even a useless as I could!
Thanks!

[Mrballeng]

Buen hecho! Por que no pones los fotos?

Good job! Why don't you post the photos?

[Nekro]

Lo prometido es deuda! Acá está la foto!

A promise is a promise! Here's the pic.

[Mrballeng]

Bien hecho! gracias!

[Nekro]

Cuando pueda robarsela de la muñeca a mi novia, sacare fotos. :)

When I can steal it from my girlfriend's wrist, i'll take pictures. :)