For best placement of the holes, make a template: Trace the outline of the paisley on a piece of paper (a Post-it® works great!), then use a pencil to sketch a line 1/16" (2-3mm) in from the edge. Put a dot on this line at the point of the paisley, then use a ruler and put a thin pencil line every 5mm all the way along this line. When you're happy with the spacing on the template, cut the piece of paper to fit, and stick it to the top of the brass paisley.
Following the safety tips in the Crafted Findings riveting system technique sheet, use the cutting end of the Crafted Findings riveting system to cut a 1/16" hole at each line. A side benefit of the template, is that it keeps the top of your design from getting scuffed.
If desired, drop the paisley into a tumbler for about an hour to remove any scratches or rough spots. (Remove paper first.)
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To keep a bright finish, seal surface with Renaissance® wax before continuing.
You can add the bar pin either before or after adding beads to the outer edge: Open the bar pin, and place it on the back of the paisley. Place a dot where you'll pierce the first hole. Pierce using the cutting end. Select one of the longer rivets from the assortment. Place it through a flower bead (see technique sheet below if it doesn't fit through the bead), then through the paisley, and through the bar pin. It should protrude approximately 1mm. If not, try another rivet length. Rivet, following the Crafted Findings instructions.
Straighten the bar pin if needed, and repeat for other hole.
To begin the wire stitching, cut a piece of wire approximately 36" long. Smooth/straighten it by running flat-nose nylon-jaw pliers along the entire length. This helps prevent kinking the wire.
Run the wire through the first hole (the bottom left green bead in this image). Keep an approximate 4" tail on the back side of the paisley. Using the 4" tail, loop through the 1st hole. Pull tight, being very careful not to kink the wire. Using the tail, loop through the 1st hole 2 more times, keeping your wire neat and pulling tight each time.
Any time your wire becomes lumpy, smooth/straighten it by running/pulling the flat-nose nylon-jaw pliers along the length.
Secure your wire: Using the short tail, go under the wires on the back side of the paisley (see back side in extra image). Pull tight. Loop around the wires 3-5 times, pulling tight each time. Trim excess tail with flush cutters.
On the front, add your first bead, then loop around to the back side of the 2nd hole and come out the front. Pull tight, then loop through the 2nd hole again. For those of you that sew, I've been told this is basically a whip stitch.
Repeat for all the rest of the beads. Pull tight each time, being careful not to kink the wire. If you mess up, you may be able pull the stitches back out, smooth the wire, and continue.
After adding the last bead, loop through the hole again, add a charm if desired, then go through the last hole and the charm 3-4 times, and secure your wire on the back, just like when you started.
Decide where to place the final riveted flower bead. Punch a hole, select a rivet roughly 1mm longer than the combined parts, and set rivet. (Yes, with the Crafted Findings riveting tool, you can safely set a rivet after adding the crystal beads.)
Suggested Supplies Note: The original bead colors used, were Swarovski crystals (now out of production). Similar Preciosa subs are listed below now, too.
