Combs and Tiaras

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Combs and Tiaras

Needle-nose pliers

Round-nose pliers

Wire cutters

Wire straightener

Ruler

Pair of 10 to
18-pronged silver
tone combs

1 Tiara

Step 1
Begin by cutting
your 28- or
30-gauge wire into
24" lengths. Use a
wire straightener to
smooth out wire
tangles.

Step 2
Study your comb.
One side is bowed
like a mountain. The
other like a valley.
All the beads must
rest on the
mountain, or front
side of the comb.

Step 3
Hold one end of the
wire on the edge, or
spine of the comb.

Step 4
Adjust the wire's end
so it does not extend
beyond the comb's
width.

Step 5
Take the longer end
of the wire and wrap
it between the first
five prongs and
around the spine of
the comb.
Note that you have
also fixed the short
wire to the comb's
spine.

Step 6:
Slip a bead onto the
long wire.

Step 7:
Begin wrapping the
long wire with a bead
around the comb¡¯s
spine and between
the prongs.

Step 8:
Check to make sure
the bead rests on the
front of the comb.

Step 9:
Repeat steps 6-8,
alternating bead
sizes and colors as
needed to create a
comfortable fit.

Step 10:
Fill the beads in
evenly, until the
twisted parts of the
comb's prongs are
no longer showing.
You may have to
backtrack.

Assortment of
rhinestones

Assortment of
crystals in all
sizes, shapes in
your favorite
color palette.

1 Hypo-tube
cement for
floating
rhinestones.

48" Of sterling
silver round
wire, 28- or
30-gauge.

Step 11:
Choose the position
above which you
would like to float a
bead.

Step 12:
After slipping a bead
on the wire, hold it at
least 1/4" away from
the spine of the
comb.
Helpful Hint For a
spontaneous effect,
vary the distance of
the floating beads.

Step 13:
Twist the floating
bead on its wire
stem. Pay attention
to the tension of the
twist. If you twist
too much, it will
break off.

Step 14:
Continue wrapping
more beads onto the
comb. Insert the
floating beads where
you like.

Crowning your comb with Beads

Step 15:
a) Choose the
position above which
you would like to
float a rhinestone.
b) Use the end of
your round-nose
pliers to grab the
wire at this position.

Step 16:
Twist the wire into a
stem. Allow a round
loop to form around
the tip of the rosary
pliers.

Step 17:
Once you have
finished the comb or
tiara, apply the
hypo-cement onto
the loop.

Step 18:
Set the rhinestone
into the loop with
glue.
Helpful Hint
Glue all the
rhinestones at once.
Allow 1 hour for the
glue to completely
dry.

Crowning your comb with Rhinestones

Step 19:
To lengthen the
wire that you are
using, lay it
side-by-side with a
new piece of wire.

Step 20:
a) Pinch both of the
wire ends together.
b) Twist wires
together a full five
turns.

Step 21:
Hide the twist in
the beads.

Can't see the twist
in the photo?
That's because we
hid it so well!

Step 22:
Make sure the
twist's sharp ends
do not stick out.

Can't see that
either! Which is as
it should be.

Step 23:
Continue beading
with your new wire
until you've filled
in the comb.

Now you are ready
to make your
second comb. See
you at Step 1!

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