Use this free jewelry tutorial to make a heart shaped wire frame for a Valentine's jewelry DIY. You can use it to make your own pendants or earrings - and embellish the wire heart with beads.
DIY Wire Heart for Jewelry Making
I have some store bought heart shaped wire beading frames (on the left) that I used as a template to make my own for Valentine's Day jewelry making projects. You can do the same by printing the outline of a heart as a template.
These heart shaped wire frames are perfect to add beads to, either with wire or by weaving on the beads with thread. My wire heart is about 20mm wide and high, but once you get the hang of making these, you can make them any size you want.
I used 18 gauge copper wire to make my wire heart frames. If you want to use this as a charm without any further embellishment, you could use 16 gauge wire to make the frame a little heavier.
You can use any round nose pliers that are large enough to make the arc of the heart, but I always find it easiest to use bail making pliers or step pliers so you are always wrapping around a consistent sized mandrel. The links above will take you to Amazon to see the products. If you make a purchase, I will receive a small commission at no cost to you.
Read this article to see why I recommend six step bail making pliers to make consistent sized loops, especially for beginners.
If you don't have bail making pliers, you can shape the wire around a sharpie or similar round object of the right size.
If you don't have bail making pliers, you can shape the wire around a sharpie or similar round object of the right size.
Make a Heart Shaped Template
Start by making a heart shaped template to use as a guide for shaping the wire. This will make it much easier to get the proportions and size correct for your finished jewelry.
I traced the heart frame on the inside and outside just so I could make a heart that was even and a similar size. If you are particular about how the heart comes out, this is a good way to ensure it comes out the size and shape you want.
The 7 mm barrel of my step pliers
provide the perfect size curve when I compared it to the sample heart frame and my template. Using a little over 3 inches of 18 gauge wire, make the top curve of the heart using the bail making pliers.
Use the pliers to form a U shape in the wire. I used the middle sized barrel of the step pliers, which is a 7 mm mandrel.
Use the pliers to form a U shape in the wire. I used the middle sized barrel of the step pliers, which is a 7 mm mandrel.
Then I compared it to my template and marked the spot where the top center angle of the heart should be on the wire using a sharpie.
Make the bend in the wire on the mark with chain nose or square nose pliers so you can get a sharp bend.
Use the chain nose pliers to push the two sides of the wire close together until they are touching.
Comparing the shape of the wire to the template again, I can see that I have to separate the two sides of the wire in the center to straighten it and then make the second loop of the heart.
Comparing the shape of the wire to the template again, I can see that I have to separate the two sides of the wire in the center to straighten it and then make the second loop of the heart.
After unfolding the wire in the center a bit, use the same barrel of the step pliers to make a curve that matches the first one. Tuck the pliers right into the angle to get as close to the center as possible.
When the wire heart shape looks like you want it to, the next step is to trim and tuck the wires on the end.
Shape the wire heart just how you want it to be before trimming any of the wires at the bottom. Trim the first wire so the end is flush with the other wire.
Shape the wire heart just how you want it to be before trimming any of the wires at the bottom. Trim the first wire so the end is flush with the other wire.
The long wire end will be trimmed and wrapped over the end of the cut wire to secure the heart shape.
I flatten the part of the wire that will be wrapped over by smooshing it (technical term) in the jaws of my flat nose pliers. It will only smoosh if you put the wire close to the hinge - and you should use your crappy pliers to do this since it could loosen the hinge. This isn't a required step, it just makes the wire fold a little flatter.
Bend the wire around the wire that you trimmed and then cut it so it is just long enough to hold the first wire in place.
Press the wire flat using your chain nose pliers and adjust the wires so everything is neat and looks how you want it to.
You can hammer the wire frame to work harden and flatten it a little. If you have a rotary tumbler, you can also put it in the tumbler to polish and work harden the wire shape. This is also optional, but it is a great way to finish several wire frames at once.
When the wire heart frame is done, you can put it directly on a chain to see how it hangs.
You can also add a jump ring to the heart shape.
Once you have mastered the basic frame technique, learn how to make four of these frames at one time. This can be a real time saver, but it is more difficult and you still have to finish the wire shapes individually.
And here are some ideas to add beads to the heart frames: Wire Heart Jewelry Designs
I also have a free tutorial for a wire heart clasp to add to your jewelry making projects and a free tutorial for a simple wire heart ring or learn how to wrap beads to a wire heart bead frame.
This heart pendant is one of my all time favorite jewelry designs. Make the heart frame the same way as in this tutorial, but instead of folding the second piece of wire over, make it into a decorative spiral at the end. It's so easy and soooo pretty!
Bend the wire around the wire that you trimmed and then cut it so it is just long enough to hold the first wire in place.
Press the wire flat using your chain nose pliers and adjust the wires so everything is neat and looks how you want it to.
You can hammer the wire frame to work harden and flatten it a little. If you have a rotary tumbler, you can also put it in the tumbler to polish and work harden the wire shape. This is also optional, but it is a great way to finish several wire frames at once.
When the wire heart frame is done, you can put it directly on a chain to see how it hangs.
You can also add a jump ring to the heart shape.
DIY Wire Heart Pendant Ideas
And here are some ideas to add beads to the heart frames: Wire Heart Jewelry Designs
I also have a free tutorial for a wire heart clasp to add to your jewelry making projects and a free tutorial for a simple wire heart ring or learn how to wrap beads to a wire heart bead frame.
Do You Love Free DIY Jewelry Making Projects?
Did you find this DIY wire heart tutorial helpful? If so, I'd appreciate it if you share with your jewelry making friends on social media such as facebook or Pinterest.
And if you want to learn more wire jewelry making techniques, buy my book Wire Wrapped Jewelry Making for Beginners: Step by Step projects for beaded designs.
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Make it, love it or give it away. Thanks for the tutorial!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! Beginner here, learning along with my 12yr old daughter!
ReplyDeleteYay! Love to hear when kids are learning jewelry making. My own daughter dabbles but never commits. She'll get hooked someday... I know it.
DeleteDarling pendant! I have no jewelry making experience at all and this would be a nightmare if I tried to make it. I would like to buy it ready made! ;)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful tutorial! An alternative is to make the sharp bend first and then the top curves : )
ReplyDeleteWow. Thank you for your amazing tutorials! Just found you, and hope to learn so much.
ReplyDeleteI saw a tutorial where she taped 4 wires flat together, then bent them all at the same time to create 4 square frames at the same time. Would that work with the heart?
ReplyDeleteLove it!!
ReplyDelete