https://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/cowrie-shell-bead-hair-clip • Posted by Lulu M.
A friend of mine was going for a traditional wedding and wanted something to hold up her hair. Cowrie Shells were used as money long ago in Africa. I thought it would be cool to bling her old school style! Have fun making it. *Use wood or metal beads instead of cowrie shells if you'd like.*
A friend of mine was going for a traditional wedding and wanted something to hold up her hair. Cowrie Shells were used as money long ago in Africa. I thought it would be cool to bling her old school style! Have fun making it. *Use wood or metal beads instead of cowrie shells if you'd like.*
These are the things you will need to make the Hair Clip. You might need more or less shells depending on the size of the clip. At least one of the shells should be a full one with 2 small holes drilled into it. The rest should be cut Cowrie Shells. (You can find the Cowrie Shells cheaply on Ebay or a Flea market.)
After cutting your 5 pieces of Beading Wire insert them through the two holes on the full Cowrie Shell. One at a time making sure they are level(Half & half). Using the flat nose pliers twist the wire, securing it before adding another wire. Repeat the same twist to secure all 5 pieces.
Insert beads on to the wires and finish them at the ends with a smaller looking cut Cowrie Shell. Twist the end of the wire around the base of the Cowrie Shell (where it meets the beads.Use the Flat nose pliers to help you tighten this stage. Neatly tuck in the ends into the twist.
Once all 5 Beading Wires are beaded, this is how they will look.
Use the sand paper to roughen the Hair Clip so that the glue can adhere to it better.
Heat your glue gun ready for the gluing stage. (I did this while I sand papered the Hair Clip.)
Glue the beaded cowrie shell onto the Hair clip. Add a bit more glue underneath the shell to fill any spaces.
Glue on the cut Cowrie Shells next to each other and all facing in one direction. Stop attaching the cowrie shells once you get to the end of the two stems of the hair clip. (Remember to switch off the glue gun while you work the next stage.)
Take your piece of Tiger Tail and fasten it with a clamp bead.
Cut the excess short tail. (*You can glue down the Clamp Bead if you don't want it moving around.*)
Add the beads on to the Tiger Tail strand. *I found this cute Beading machine in the USA at a craft shop...cuts the beading time by two-thirds!*
Wrap the strand of beads around the Hair Clip, in between the teeth. Push the beads tight to get rid of any spaces. After 6-8 lines, insert a Clamp Bead then wrap the Tiger Tail around and into the Clamp Bead and clamp it cut once the wrap is tight. Cut the excess Tiger Tail.
Heat up your Glue Gun. Lift the beads slightly and spread a little glue under them. Securing them. Finish gluing the rest of the Cowrie Shells.
Here is the finished Cowrie Shell and Bead Hair Clip.
The Hair Clip on her hair. It looks like a cute sea creature!