Albina Manning's Tree Pin with Gem Chips, Contemporary Wire Jewelry. Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry. This tutorial shows how to make a Tree pin using gem chips and wire.
Tree Pin with Gem Chips
by Albina Manning
  • Category: Contemporary
  • Technique(s): Wrapping
  • Skill Level: Beginner
This tutorial shows how to make a Tree pin using gem chips and wire. It will take not more than an hour to make it!

Materials

Picture Jasper Chip Beads
A2-704
  • Lesson Quantity: 10.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $29.95
  • Gold Club Price: $22.46
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22 Gauge Round Dead Soft .925 Sterling Silver Wire
H8-22D
  • Lesson Quantity: 4.00 feet
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 5FT
  • Price: $7.87
  • Gold Club Price: $5.90
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28 Gauge Round Dead Soft .925 Sterling Silver Wire
H8-28D
  • Lesson Quantity: 10.00 feet
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 10FT
  • Price: $4.05
  • Gold Club Price: $3.03
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Tools

Chain Nose Wire Pliers
G2-508
  • G2-508
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $32.95
  • Gold Club Price: $24.71
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C.H.P Milano Italian Flush Cutter, 5 1/2 Inches
PLR-487.00
  • PLR-487.00
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $16.97
  • Gold Club Price: $12.73
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Instructions
Step 1
First, it is a good idea make a sketch of the pin. Usually, I draw a "tree" in real size placing gem chips as leaves. In this example two right branches will be made from two separate wire pieces.
Albina Manning's Tree Pin with Gem Chips - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Sketch plans for the pin.
Step 2
Cut 6" (15cm) 22 ga wire. String one gem chip on the middle of the wire.
Albina Manning's Tree Pin with Gem Chips - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Cut 22 gauge wire, string gem.
Step 3
Twist the wire 5-7 times forming a "twig" according the pattern (sketch).
Albina Manning's Tree Pin with Gem Chips - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Twist the wire.
Step 4
String another chip placing it on the distance of "a twig".
Albina Manning's Tree Pin with Gem Chips - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, More stringing.
Step 5
Twist the wire as described in step 3 until two wire ends meet each other.
Albina Manning's Tree Pin with Gem Chips - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Twisting the pieces together.
Step 6
Twist the wire ends forming the "a branch".
Albina Manning's Tree Pin with Gem Chips - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Forming the branch.
Step 7
You can check the size of the branch with the sketch.
Albina Manning's Tree Pin with Gem Chips - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Checking sizing.
Step 8
Make the third "leaf" as shown in Steps 4-5.
Albina Manning's Tree Pin with Gem Chips - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Next leaf being added.
Step 9
Finish the second branch twisting the wire ends.
Albina Manning's Tree Pin with Gem Chips - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Twisting the wire ends.
Step 10
Cut 22 ga wire 1 ft (30cm) long. For a top of a tree string two gem chips instead of 1. Twist the wire.
Albina Manning's Tree Pin with Gem Chips - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Cutting 22 gauge wire and twisting.
Step 11
Using the same technique, make another part of a tree (base).
Albina Manning's Tree Pin with Gem Chips - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Making another part.
Step 12
Put together all wire ends. Bend the wires either with your hands, or with pliers according the sketch determining the length of the pin. Trim the wire ends approximately under pin's head (red arrow).
Albina Manning's Tree Pin with Gem Chips - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Put together all wire ends.
Albina Manning's Tree Pin with Gem Chips - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Put together all wire ends.
Step 13
Take a piece of 28 ga wire (you can work from a wire spool). Fold the wire in 1 inch (2.5cm) and place it between the first two “leaves”.
Albina Manning's Tree Pin with Gem Chips - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Folding the 28 gauge wire.
Step 14
Using the long piece of wire (from a spool), start wrapping down. Wrap until you reach the place where the first branch attaches the base.
Albina Manning's Tree Pin with Gem Chips - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Wrapping.
Step 15
Wrap in the same manner two other branches.
Albina Manning's Tree Pin with Gem Chips - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Wrapping in the same manner.
Step 16
Attach other branches to the base wrapping them together.
Albina Manning's Tree Pin with Gem Chips - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Wrapping together.
Step 17
Attach the second branch and slightly wrap the rest part of a pin until you reach a pin's bottom.
Albina Manning's Tree Pin with Gem Chips - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Continued wrapping to the bottom.
Step 18
Wrap the pin coiling to the end of the hinge.
Albina Manning's Tree Pin with Gem Chips - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Wrapping to hinge.
Step 19
Now,attach a pin back wrapping it as shown.
Albina Manning's Tree Pin with Gem Chips - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Attach pin.
Step 20
Wrap up until you attach the whole pin back.
Albina Manning's Tree Pin with Gem Chips - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Wrap the whole pin.
Step 21
If necessary, wrap more along the “tree trunk”. Actually, your tree pin is ready, but...
Albina Manning's Tree Pin with Gem Chips - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Wrap more if necessary.
Step 22
You can lift some the gem chips at 90 degree angle as shown (red arrow). This will give 3-D effect to your pin.
Albina Manning's Tree Pin with Gem Chips - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Arranging the gem chips.