Tree Pin with Gem Chips

Skill Level: Intermediate

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

• 22 ga Round Soft Wire

• 28 ga Round Soft Wire

• Gem Chips

• Back pin

Tools

• Chain nose pliers
• Wire Cutters
  

Instructions:

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.
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2. Cut 6" (15cm) 22 ga wire. String one gem chip on the middle of the wire.
   
   
3. Twist the wire 5-7 times forming a "twig" according the pattern (sketch).
   
   
4. String another chip placing it on the distance of "a twig".
   
   
5. Twist the wire as described in step 3 until two wire ends meet each other.
   
   
   
6. Twist the wire ends forming the "a branch".
   
7. You can check the size of the branch with the sketch.
   
   
8. Make the third "leaf" as shown in Steps 4-5.
   
   
9. Finish the second branch twisting the wire ends.
   
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.
11. Using the same technique, make another part of a tree (base).
    
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).
    
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”.
    
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.
    
15. Wrap in the same manner two other branches.
    
16. Attach other branches to the base wrapping them together.
    
17. Attach the second branch and slightly wrap the rest part of a pin until you reach a pin's bottom.
18. Wrap the pin coiling to the end of the hinge.
    
19. Now,attach a pin back wrapping it as shown.
    
20. Wrap up until you attach the whole pin back.
    
21. If necessary, wrap more along the “tree trunk”. Actually, your tree pin is ready, but...
    
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.
    





Congratulations! You've made your first Tree Pin!

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