Materials…

• 20 gauge (0.8mm) copper wire
• 28 gauge (0.4mm) copper wire
• Focal bead
• 2mm copper crimps
• Round-nosed and chain-nosed pliers
• Side-cutters
• Steel stake and chasing hammer
• Crimping pliers
• Metal file

To create…

1 Cut a 150mm length of 0.8mm wire and use your round-nosed and chain-nosed pliers to create a heart shape at one end.

2 Position the heart shape flat onto the steel stake and gently hammer to flatten it.

3 Cut a 100mm length of 0.4mm wire, position the crimp halfway along it and insert the heart pin close to the heart shape. Set the crimp using crimping pliers.

4 Slide your chosen bead onto both wires all the way up to the crimp. Add a second crimp to both pliers and set as before.

5 Wrap the ends of the 0.4mm wire around the crimps up to the focal bead, then snip the ends and squash them between the crimps and the bead.

6 Trim the pin to the desired length (approximately 40mm below the bottom crimp) and use a metal file to shape the end to a gently rounded point.

Project by Judith Hannington. Originally published in Creative Beads & Jewellery issue 2.