Floss like a Boss

Yes this post is about ... Dental Floss!

It all started out when a friend mentioned about making a whole chicken but did not have twine and I blurted out non-waxed dental floss!

It worked!

There are many usages of dental floss than actually using it for your teeth. Even for flossing you're supposed to tie the piece of floss into a loop to floss instead of wrapping it on both your pointing fingers!

Dental floss is actually stronger than a lot of strings out there. If I were to pack a Bug out Bag aka survival bag I would definitely pack floss!

DIY:
- sewing - instead of using thread
- beading

KITCHEN:
- cutting cinnamon buns for baking
- sliding it underneath cookies to get them off a baking sheet
- cutting soft cheese
- tying meat for baking like drumsticks of a whole chicken
- tying herbs to throw into a stew or soup

MANLY STUFF:
- using it as a temporary shoe lace
- tying double zippers together to prevent them from opening up (sleeping bags)
- sliding it behind car decals to get them off of cars
- cleaning in between grooves of a bolt or screw 

GIRLY STUFF:
- wrapping it around your finger tightly to get rings off
- nail art
- flossing between makeup compact palettes to get them out to replace them

Adjustable Beaded Bar Bracelet ... or Necklace!

What you will need: 

- wire cutters
- needle nose pliers
- flat head pliers (optional and not pictured above)
- thin thin beading wire - 3inches
- braiding chord - 10 inches
- 1.5 inches worth of beads
- 1 bead of your choice (hole big enough to fit 2 braiding chord through snugly)

Necklace option: instead of the beading chord you will need chain (your desire of necklace length, clasp (instead of single bead), 2-4 O rings (2 to connect the beaded bar to chain and 2 to connect it to a clasp)

Step One: Wire wrapping

 Leave about 1cm of wire.

 Bend it over the needle nose pliers.

 Give it a little pinch.

Wrap the 1cm of wire around the long end with your fingers or with the aid of some flat pliers.

Should look something like the above.

Step Two: Bead and close the wire

Bead 1.5 inches of beads onto the wire and time to get the needle nose pliers again!

Cut off the excess wire and ensure no sharpness on either ends.

The finished portion should be about 1.50 inches.

**** OPTIONAL NECKLACE**** 

Instead of going further you can use the beaded bar portion to make a beaded bar necklace! Not all links of a chain can be opened so in this case you may need to use O rings on either side of the bar to attach it to the chain. SIDE NOTE: The chain method can also be used for a bracelet too instead of beading chord.

Step Three: Bracelet time!

Cut the 10 inch of beading chord in half. Tie one to either side of the beaded bar.

Step Four: Finishing off!

If you are having trouble threading the chord into the bead. Make yourself a threader using some dental floss! Thread a loop of dental floss into the bead.

Then stick the chord into the loop of the dental floss and pull the floss through including the beading chord.

The finished project should look like this! Remember to tie a little knot on either ends of the beading chord so it won't slip out of the bead.

Crimpping101

Beading is easy. Get a piece of string and string beads onto it. Finishing the project especially finishing the project professionally is the tricky part. The easiest form of making a bracelet without using clasps is the elastic stretchy bracelet. Even then there are different ways of completing the project. Some may just tie the ends together and hope for the best. I say hope for the best is because elastic chords over time will stretch out including the knotted part ... then BAM it falls apart.



The best way is to use a crimp bead and some flat crimping pliers.

XXXXX NO NO NO XXXXX:

!!!!!YES YES YES!!!!:

Once the crimp bead is in place properly. Pinch it with the flat head pliers then tuck the left over string into the beads on either side (hiding the lose ends).

Wire Wrapped Pendant Tutorial

Super easy circle wire wrapped pendant! Similar ones like these are selling for about $80.00USD ... well because they are 24K gold. The above pendant is less than $5.00 to make excluding the chain.

What you will need:

- the hoop is called a 'component' they come in different colors (gold, silver, gunmetal, bronze) and sizes (one used is 1.50 inches) purchased for about $2.00 from Country Beads
- very thin gauge beading wire (ensure it fits into the bead hole) - for the 1.50 inch hoop I used 3.00 feet of wire
- small beads (1.00mm to 2.00mm) - ones used are uncut Peridot and cut Moss Agate also purchased from Country Beads (PS: left over beads are perfect for this project because you don't need a lot)
- needle nose pliers
- wire cutters



Step One: Starting off

If using a 1.50 inch hoop cut about 3.00 feet of beading wire. Fold the cut wire in half and thread a bead to the center point. Twist twice to secure the bead.

Step Two: First bead

Place one end of the wire on either side of the hoop and twist the two wires together twice with the hoop between them to secure the bead onto the hoop.

Step Three: Beading onto the Hoop

Now your first bead is secured onto the hoop and you have two pieces of wire going either side. Work one side of the hoop at a time. Going from left to right - the starting point is having the wire under the hoop then thread a bead.

Once the bead is in place, pull the wire over the hoop.

Twist the bead twice securing it onto the hoop. Then pull the wire into the hoop so it is on the bottom again - the starting point. Repeat until you have about an inch of wire left. Flip the hoop over and do the same thing with the other half of the wire until the loop of beads meet!

Step Four: Finishing off! 

Once the two ends of beading meet twist the left over wires together about 3-4 times then cut off the excess and using the needle nose pliers work the end into the beaded area to prevent any jagged edges from protruding.

And you're done!