How to Make a Watercolor Paper Bracelet: Integrating Wire with Watercolor Paper

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In this video, "How to Make a Watercolor Paper Bracelet: Integrating Wire with Watercolor Paper," I demonstrate how to make beautiful bracelets using an original method of construction that I have developed. The video presents this unique construction process in easy to follow, step by step instructions.

The process can be used to integrate either watercolor paper or rice paper with wire, and the bracelet that you will watch me create in the video incorporates 140lb, cold pressed watercolor paper with 16 gauges, nickel silver wire. Using watercolor paper results in a final piece that resembles enameled metal. The combination of rice paper and wire produces bracelets that embody a beautiful translucency.

The integration of wire and paper is an ideal combination of materials for bracelet construction. The wire forming the bracelet not only functions to give the bracelet its shape and structural support, but having work hardened the metal by hammering it on a steel mandrel, the wire develops a resilient, spring like quality ideal for cuff bracelets.
It is this spring like flexibility that allows the bracelets to be easily worn. This flexibility of the wire armature permits the bracelets to be widened slightly, making it easy to slide onto one's wrist. Additionally, when the paper is varnished, its strength is significantly enhanced and the paper is transformed into a very durable material. The construction of the bracelet requires the use of a variety of jewelry pliers that include round nose pliers, bent nose pliers, chain nose pliers, side cutters. In addition to the pliers I also use a few different types of jewelry hammers to harden and shape the metal wire on a bracelet mandrel.

One final note, the jewelry objects that you see created in my videos are original designs by me, Ross Barbera. These designs may be copied for your personal use only, but may not be offered for sale or exhibition without written permission from Ross Barbera.