Retired - Falling Leaves Napkin Rings, Set of 6

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. Note: For this project you will also need to purchase some clear matte acrylic spray sealer. Mod Podge puts out such a product. You can find this at most art stores and some hardware stores.
2. To begin, find all your leaves and spread them out on a table. Separate them into 3 piles - 6 red, 6 yellow, and another pile of 6 yellow. We are going to apply African bronze Gilders Paste to the leaves. Please see this video here on how to apply Gilders Paste without a paint brush. Following the techniques you learned in the video, apply a light, dusting coat of paste to the red leaves and one pile of yellow leaves. I just brushed the edges of the yellow leaves with my finger. For the second pile of yellow leaves, apply a heavier coat of paste so that you actually turn the yellow leaves green. I applied the paste unevenly so the color of the lucite still showed through, creating depth.
3. To seal your leaves, spray a coat of clear matte acrylic spray sealer evenly over both sides. Let dry. Repeat with another 2 coats, letting each coat dry thoroughly between applications.
4. Cut 18 lengths of 24 gauge wire, 3 inches long each. Please watch this video on how to make a decorative spiral head pin. Make a spiral (approx 2 - 3 coils) at the end of each of your 18 lengths of wire.
5. Take one of the lengths with the spiral on the end and press it into the center of one your leaves (spiral resting in the middle of the leaf). Thread the wire end without the spiral through the hole in the leaf, around the back and loop up to the front and through the hole again. Pull the wire tight and upward. Next, thread onto the wire 1 Delica 11/0 seed bead in opaque cranberry, 1 Austrian crystal 4mm round faux pearl in copper, and another Delica 11/0 seed bead in opaque cranberry. Create a wrapped wire loop after the last seed bead. Cut off excess wire with flush cutters. Repeat this entire step with the other 17 lengths of wire and 17 leaves.
6. Thread onto a 2" brass eye pin 1 Delica 11/0 seed bead in opaque cranberry, 1 Austrian crystal 4mm round faux pearl in copper, 1 Czech fire polished glass 8mm round ruby red bead, another Austrian crystal 4mm round faux pearl in copper, and another Delica 11/0 seed bead in opaque cranberry. Create a simple wire loop after the last bead and cut off excess wire with flush cutters. Repeat this step with another 5 eye pins.
7. Taking one of the eye pin segments from above, open one of the simple wire loops the same way you would open a jump ring. Thread onto the open loop the wrapped loops at the top of 3 of your leaves - 1 red, 1 yellow, 1 "green". Close the loop back up. Repeat with your other 5 eye pin segments, thus connecting all your leaves.
8. Cut a 2.5" length of 24 gauge wire. Create a spiral on one end (approx 2 coils). Press that spiral against the copper faux pearl which is at the top of one of your segments from above. Wrap the wire around the copper pearl, ruby red Czech bead, and the other copper pearl - make sure the wire feels secure, and if need be, wrap around the last bead again. Create a spiral out of the remaining wire tail. Press it up against the beads. Repeat with your other 5 segments from above. Put all these aside for right now.
9. Cut a 15" length of 24 gauge wire. Thread onto the wire 1 Austrian crystal 4mm round faux pearl in copper, 1 Czech fire polished glass 8mm round ruby red bead, another pearl, another Czech bead, another pearl, another Czech bead, etc..... You want to end up with a total of 10 of each threaded onto the wire, alternating between each other. Slide all these beads to the middle of your wire length. Cross the wire tails right up against the beads and make 1 twist. Your beads should now form a circle. Make sure the circle is tight with no large wire gaps. Now take each wire tail and wrap it around the beads in the circle - each going in a different direction along the ring. Just up and over and around. Try to pull taught, especially in the areas where the beads meet, that little gap is perfect to settle the wire in. Keep wrapping until your wires meet. At this point, cut your wire ends and press the wire edges into the bead work. Make a total of 6 of these beaded and wired "rings".
10. Now to the fun part! We are going to attach the decorative spirals which radiate from the beaded ring and fasten our beaded falling leaves dangle to each of the rings. Let's do 1 ring at a time. Cut 5 lengths of 24 gauge wire, varying from 2 - 5 inches. Create a spiral on each wire end except for 1 (so 9 spirals total). Vary the number of coils in the spirals, you want these to end up somewhat uneven. Take the length of wire which only has 1 spiral on the end. Thread onto it the loop at the top of one of your beaded falling leaves dangle. Create a spiral now at the end. Press the middle of the wire up against the beaded ring. Position the beaded dangle so it is hanging downward and wrap the wire up and over and around the beads. Make sure that you loop the wire in both directions so that the dangle is secure. You can choose if you want to the have the dangles stick out further from the ring or if you want them to be closer to the ring. Now take the other 4 wire lengths with spirals on the ends and wrap them around the beaded ring, spacing them approximately equal distance apart.
11. Complete your other 5 napkin rings following the instructions in the previous step.
12. Enjoy! May you have many wonderful parties using these fun and festive rings!

• WCR-4348 - Vintaj Brass Bronze Colored Copper Wire 24 Gauge 90 Feet (1 Spool)
  Project uses 1 package. You will need 1 package.


• BCP-3820 - Czech Fire Polished Glass Beads 8mm Round Ruby Siam Red (25)
  Project uses 66 pieces. You will need 3 packages.


• SWP-4055 - Austrian Crystal, 5810 Round Faux Pearl Beads 4mm, 50 Pieces, Bronze
  Project uses 90 pieces. You will need 2 packages.


• XTL-1101 - Baroque Art Gilders Paste - Highlight Metal, Wood and More! 'African Bronze' 1 oz
  Project uses 1 package. You will need 1 package.


• DB-654 - Miyuki Delica Seed Beads 11/0 Dyed Opaque Cranberry DB654 7.2 GR
  Project uses 48 pieces. You will need 1 package.


• BCP-4311 - Lucite Maple Leaves Matte Autumn Gold Topaz Yellow Light Weight 19mm (6)
  Project uses 12 pieces. You will need 2 packages.


• BCP-4312 - Lucite Maple Leaves Matte Ruby Red Light Weight 19mm (6)
  Project uses 6 pieces. You will need 1 package.


• FHP-6281 - Antiqued Brass Open Eye Pins 21 Gauge 2 Inch (x50)
  Project uses 6 pieces. You will need 1 package.

• XTL-5514 - Beadsmith Jewelry Fine Round Nose Micro Pliers
• XTL-5600 - Xuron Sharp Flush Cutter Pliers - Wire/Soft Flex
• XTL-5511 - Beadsmith Jeweller's Micro Pliers Chain Nose Flat Nose