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Sterling Silver and Swarovski Pearl Bunny NecklaceBy Lorraine Sanderson, Burning Gecko Designs

Add some bounce to your Spring with this beautiful bunny necklace.

Level ofdesign:

Beginner to Intermediate

What you’ll need:

Sterling Silver 1.0 mm Wire HSA 100 (20 cm Required)

Sterling Silver 0.4 mm Wire HSA 040 (20 cm Required)

Swarovski Crystal White Pearl 8 mm 625W P605 (x1)

Sterling Silver Spiga Necklet 18 inches VVP BHA

Wire Cutters 997 XU08

Flat/Round Nose Pliers 997 V004

Round Mandrel 997 107W

Bailing Pliers 997 V006

Tools:

Small Hammer 999 609

Metal Block 997 V001

Sand Bag 999 092

Emery Stick File 999 FAG3

Step 1 Make the Silhouette

Trace / print the Bunny silhouette at 100% size (30mm x 10mm) or draw your own.

Call: 0345 100 1122 Click: cooksongold.com Visit: Birmingham + London

Step 2Create the hole

Using a round mandrel make a 1 cm bend in the centre of the 1.0 mm wire. This will accommodate the pearl and give a small gap in which to wire wrap.

Step 3Follow the Line

Carefully bend your 1.0 mm wire around the outline of the Bunny. The key is to go slowly and hold in place with your fingers. Use the pointed tip of your round nose pliers to make the sharp angle bends.

Leave the two straight ends of wire at the top of the Bunny’s ear to form the bail of the pendant.

Once the Bunny outline is made, I chose to lightly hammer the wire to work harden it, this is your choice.

Step 4 Create the Shape

With the straight wires parallel grip in the bailing pliers and form a loop large enough to accommodate the clasp on the end of the necklet.

Once the first coils have been made, work on each side individually. Wrap a further two times around the bailing pliers. Remove from pliers and repeat on the other side. This should give you a three coil wrap on each side of the Bunny’s ear.

Trim the excess wire, making a neat cut at the back of the pendant. File the ends smooth with an emery stick if required.

Call: 0345 100 1122 Click: cooksongold.com Visit: Birmingham + London

Step 5Thread the Pearl

Thread the Swarovski pearl onto the 0.4 mm wire and wrap three times onto one side of the bottom of the Bunny.

Using the other end of the wire, wrap three times around the other side of the Bunny’s bottom.

Feed the free end of the wire carefully back through the drill hole of the pearl and bring out on the other side BELOW the previous three wraps.

Continue wrapping now to fill in the gap on the bottom curve of the Bunny’s bottom. This will help anchor the pearl in place as well as looking good.

Step 6Finish Up

To complete your pendant, either make a jump ring of approximately 6 mm, or use a ready-made one to place under the bail and hold the two sides of the ear together. This part is fiddly, so be patient and work slowly to avoid slipping and marking your wire.

You may need to re-adjust the jump ring to fit snugly around the wires to stop movement.

Step 7Add the chain

Add the Spiga Necklet through the bail.

Tah dah! You now have a super cute Bunny necklace.

You could also use leather or satin cord to thread your pendant onto if you wish.