Jewelry-Making Techniques

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Paper Clips Made of Wire

Design and Instructions submitted by Moira McEvoy
A16H

Spiral Paper Clips

These are simple, fun paper clips you can make with a minimum of materials, and they're a great project for using up scrap wire. I've used them for a lot of fun things: a creative touch to letters and scrapbooks, I've used sterling silver and gold-filled clips for attaching gift tags to presents, and I've used them as part of a beaded desk set. They literally whip up in a few minutes. It's also a great way to practice making spirals, and hammering them.

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STEP 1

Using the round-nose or rosary pliers, make a small loop at one end of the wire. Hold the loop firmly in the middle of your chain-nose pliers and with your finger, push the wire upward to wrap it loosely around the first loop. Reposition the wires and continue about 2-1/2 times around the original loop.
STEP 2

Starting at the other end of the wire, make another simple loop. This loop should point in the SAME DIRECTION as your original spiral. There should be about a 1/2 inch to 1-inch of straight wire between your spirals.
STEP 3
Hammer both spirals, but don't hammer the straight wire connecting them.
STEP 4
Using your fingers, push the two spirals together, curving them inward and toward each other, until they overlap. Once the top piece is centered over the bottom piece, you can give them a light tap with the hammer to push them closer together, but don't overdo it!

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