Challenge..Fit for a Queen ~ Jayne

TIARA - by Jayne Loughlin

I was struggling to think what I could make for this challenge and then I thought a Tiara of course ! I have a Tiara site called Headlough Tiaras and am also in the process of creating pieces for a wedding fair on the weekend ! I can make crowns too but they are too complicated so thought I would make a Tiara based on the last one I showed you previously with a different end result. Fiskars have great wire cutters and pliers so this was an ideal project.

Items you’ll need : Tiara band,  Wire,  Approx 40 glass beads,  Fiskars Cutters ,Fiskars flat nose pliers,

instructions: 1. Cut off approx 80cms of wire from the reel (this makes it easier to work with in smaller pieces) wrap the end around the Tiara base a couple of times, flatten with the flat nose pliers so the end isn’t sharp.

2.Thread a bead onto the wire dont let it fall right down hold it in place above the tiara base and bend the wire down to the base to create a sort of loop bend, the wire should run down the side of the bead and you hold both ends firmly at the base with one hand.

3. Take hold of the bead and wire with your other hand and twist until the whole of the wire stem is twisted making sure you hold the wire at the base. Stop when all the stem is twisted be careful not to over twist the wire as it could snap wire or glass bead. When the stem is twisted wrap around the base a couple of times up the Tiara base and repeat this pattern again and again but make sure the lengths of the twisted beded stems are all different heights.

4. When you get to the middle try and mirror the lengths of wire in the second half a little as this will make a better shaped Tiara. If you run out of wire just Repeat step 1. Don’t forget all lengths don’t have to be perfect they can be tweeked at the end.

5. To hide a messy base or just to add more glass beads start at one end wrap a length of wire a couple of times around the base again like before then flatten with flat nose pliers. Thread a bead onto the wire and place on the base on the front, wrap round the wire to the back and back to the front and thread another bead next to the first one, wrap wire to the back and bring forwards again…repeat this until the end. Wrap wires around the base at the end to finish off  and cut with the cutters. The Fiskars cutters are brilliant as they cut close to the band.

6. A great tip is to run your fingers over the tiara wires and if any are sticking out or are rough, tuck in or flatten with the flat nose pliers. Bend the stems if needed a little to make a nice uniform shape and that is it !