Retired - Ambrosia Necklace

Note: Components and tools listed within this INSTRUCTIONS box and the printer-friendly PDF, if available, may have been discontinued since this project was published. Refer to the PURCHASE COMPONENTS and TOOLS AND OTHER SUPPLIES sections for current availability.

1. This necklace is basically one big assembly project where you make a number of individual pieces and then attach them together either with jump rings or wire wrappings. Please refer to the diagram photo (with numbers assigned) as you make this necklace. Also start by watching the video: How to Make Wire Components for the Ambrosia Earring Set
2. A couple general notes: After you make a loop with the bail making pliers, in all of the steps below, gently use a chasing hammer and bench block to hammer the loop several times until it is flat. This work hardens the metal and creates a polished professional look. Also, when the instructions say to cut a certain length of 26 gauge gauge wire for the wrappings, you will not necessarily be using the entire length - extra has been allotted for to make it easier to wrap.
3. We are going to start by creating segment number 5 in the diagram. To make this piece, you will need 2 lengths of 20 gauge gold colored craft wire, 4" long each. Also cut 2 lengths of 26 gauge wire, 24" long each. Hold the two 20 gauge wire ends together so the wires are lined up evenly. Start wrapping 26 gauge wire 1 inch away from the end, and wrap the wire in a basket weave figure 8 pattern for 2 inches. Here is a VIDEO on how to do this technique. When finished with the wrapping, snip off excess wire. Next, gently pull apart your wire ends, they should each be 1" long (you should have 4 of them, 2 on each side). On the ones that you deem the bottom (look at photo, this piece will be a horizontal bar), use the 2mm nose on your bail making pliers and create a down facing loop on both bottom ends. Gently curve the ends then so that they match the arc in the photo. On the top bar, wrap wire for the 1/4" closest to the basket weave wrapping on each side (do this just by wrapping a 3 inch segment of 26 gauge wire around the single 20 gauge piece of wire on each end). Now slide an Austrian crystal 6mm bicone in crystal astral pink onto each end. Use your 2mm bail making pliers to to create a loop right after the bicone. Now bend the wires to match the arc in the picture and also bend the middle of this piece a bit too, again to match the diagram of segment 5 in the picture.
4. Creating piece 6 in the diagram. Piece 6 consists of two 4" long 20 gauge wires and a large Austrian crystal 22mm disc bead. Cut your wires and and create a loop at one end of each with the 2mm nose of your bail making pliers. Hold the wires together (non loop side) and slide your Austrian crystal 22mm disc bead in crystal astral pink down until it rests on the loops. Bend both of your wires away from each other so that they create a "V" and then create a spiral facing downwards at both ends.
5. Attaching piece 5 to piece 6. Cut 2 lengths of 26 gauge wire, 6 inches long each. On one of the pieces of 20 gauge wire (from segment 6), wrap wire around it up near the spiral, make 5 wraps. Do not cut your wire but go to the other 20 gauge wire and do the same thing. Now, position piece 6 over piece 5 as shown in the photo and wire wrap them together as seen (just under the 6mm bicone on both sides of segment 5). Snip off excess wire with flush cutters.
6. Creating piece 1 in the diagram. Please watch the video on How to Create Wire Components for the Ambrosia Earring Set. This will show you how to make the horseshoe shape that is piece 1. Make one of these. Set aside. Take a head pin and place onto it an Austrian crystal 14mm twist disc bead in crystal astral pink. Create a wrapped wire loop after the bead and snip off excess wire with flush cutters. Set aside.
7. Creating piece 2 in the diagram. For this section, it will help to watch the video: How to Wire Wrap Beads onto a Form. Cut 2 pieces of 20 gauge wire, 4 inches long each. Make a loop at the bottom of each using the 2mm nose of the bail making pliers. Also cut 2 lengths of 26 gauge wire, 20" long each. On one of the 20 gauge wires, make 5 wraps with the 26 gauge wire, starting 1/4" from the loop. Add 1 Austrian crystal 3mm bicone in crystal astral pink, make 3 wraps around the wire, add another bicone, make 3 wraps, etc... Do this until you have 3 crystal astral pink bicones, 3 fuchsia bicones, and 3 crystal astral pink bicones (in that order) wrapped onto your 20 gauge wire. After the last bicone, make 10 wraps and then snip off excess wire with flush cutters. Repeat this process on your other 4" piece of 20 gauge wire so that the two are identical. To connect the 20 gauge wires together, cut a 4" piece of 26 gauge wire and wrap it tightly around their base, near the bottom loops. Please see photo. Cut 2 more lengths of 26 gauge wire, 4 inches long each, and wire wrap the top wire portions of this piece to segment 5. See photo.
8. Open a 4mm gold jump ring and link it to the one of the loops at the top of the horseshoe shape of segment 1 and one of the bottom loops of segment 2. Close the jump ring. Repeat this on the other side of the horseshoe and the other bottom loop of segment 2. To attach the disc bead, open a jump ring and link it through the loop at the top of the disc bead. Close the jump ring. Now open another jump ring and link it to the jump ring that you just attached as well as one of the bottom loops of segment 2. Close the jump ring. Open another jump ring and link it to the jump ring attached to the disc bead and then also the other loop at the base of segment 2. Close the jump ring.
9. Creating segment 3 in the diagram. Cut two pieces of 20 gauge wire, 3.5" inches long each. Create a loop at one end of both wires using the 2mm nose of your bail making pliers. Now use the 5mm nose of your other bail making pliers and create a loop on the other end of both pieces of wire. Cut 2 lengths of 26 gauge wire, 20" long each. On one of the 20 gauge wires, use the 26 gauge wire to wire wrap around the 20 gauge wire - start 1/4" from the small loop and keep wrapping until you reach the 5mm loop. Snip off excess wire with flush cutters. Repeat this process with your other cut pieces of 20 and 26 gauge wires. To make them arc, take a pill bottle or other round dowel shape that is approximately 1" in diameter and press the wire around it, start pressing from the center of the wire outward. Make sure that your loops are facing in the opposite direction from the direction you are curving your piece in. Attach the two pieces of wire for segment 3 together via their smaller loops. Wire wrap them together using a 4" piece of 26 gauge wire. Attach piece 3 to piece 5 by wire wrapping them together as seen in the photo.
10. Creating segment 4 in the diagram. Cut 2 pieces of 20 gauge wire, 2" long each. Cut 2 pieces of 26 gauge wire, 8" long each. On one of the 20 gauge wires, create a 5mm loop on one end and 3mm loop on the other end using your bail making pliers (make sure that the loops face away from each other). Use the 26 gauge wire to wrap beads onto the the middle section between the loops. See the photo diagram for placement and types of beads used. Repeat on your other cut piece of 20 gauge wire. To attach segment 4 to segment 3, open and link both ends' 5mm loops together using 3 jump rings per side. See photo.
11. Please watch the video: How to Make a Chain and Clasp from Wire. Based upon what you learned in the video, make 18 chain links and the clasp. On one side of your necklace, connect one chain link to the end loop of segment 4 using a jump ring. Now connect another 8 links to that one using jump rings. On the last one, use a jump ring to connect it to one half of your clasp. Repeat this process on the other side of your necklace.
12. Whew! You did!

• WNT-2633 - Beadsmith Tarnish Resistant Gold Color Copper Wire 26 Gauge 34 Yards (31 Meters)
  Project uses 1 piece. You will need 1 package.


• WCR-2033 - Artistic Wire, Copper Craft Wire 20 Gauge Thick, 6 Yard Spool, Tarnish Resistant Brass
  Project uses 1 piece. You will need 1 package.


• FJR-3914 - 22K Gold Plated Open Jump Rings 4mm 20 Gauge 22k Gold Plated (100)
  Project uses 31 pieces. You will need 1 package.


• FHP-5220 - 22K Gold Plated Head Pins - 21 Gauge - 2 Inches (50)
  Project uses 1 piece. You will need 1 package.


• SWBB-13306 - Austrian Crystal, 5328 Bicone Beads 3mm, 25 Pieces, Crystal Astral Pink
  Project uses 16 pieces. You will need 1 package.


• SWBB-1384 - Austrian Crystal, 5328 Bicone Beads 3mm, 25 Pieces, Fuchsia
  Project uses 8 pieces. You will need 1 package.


• SWC-0751 - Austrian Crystal, 5621 Twist Bead 22mm, 1 Piece, Crystal Astral Pink
  Project uses 1 piece. You will need 1 package.


• SWBB-16306 - Austrian Crystal, 5328 Bicone Beads 6mm, 20 Pieces, Crystal Astral Pink
  Project uses 2 pieces. You will need 1 package.


• SWC-0704 - Austrian Crystal, 5621 Twist Beads 14mm, 2 Pieces, Crystal Astral Pink
  Project uses 1 piece. You will need 1 package.

• XTL-5600 - Xuron Sharp Flush Cutter Pliers - Wire/Soft Flex
• XTL-0030 - Wubbers Bail Making Jewelry Pliers - Small 2mm And 2.5mm Size
• XTL-0031 - Wubbers Bail Making Jewelry Pliers - Medium 3mm & 5mm Size
• XTL-5514 - Beadsmith Jewelry Fine Round Nose Micro Pliers
• XTL-5511 - Beadsmith Jeweller's Micro Pliers Chain Nose Flat Nose
• XTL-0258 - Mini Rubber And Steel Bench Block For Metal Working And Wire Hardening
• XTL-2152 - Beadsmith Jeweler's Chasing Hammer - 1 Inch Head - Metal Smithing