Creating Magic Items

[pfloyd]

I want to create a new magic item that I don't think is in any of the books. It's primarily for Monks or any other character who tends to fight unarmed/empty-handed.

My primary question is this: How does the level of the magic item relate to the properties and abilities? For
example, a +1 weapon is a Level 1 item, and a +2 is a Level 6 item.
A +1 Flaming weapon is a level 5 item, and a +1 Frost weapon is level 3.

I get where the enhancement bonus depends on the weapon level, if there is a bonus.
Here's my question, and if it's listed somewhere else, I may not have seen it...
How do powers and other attributes affect the level of the item?

This may help me build some artifacts or artifact-like devices as well.

[Matt James]

Artifacts are another animal all-together as they don't follow (and shouldn't) the tradition design method of creation. As for the how and why some items fall into different levels, despite having the same enhancement bonus, it is usually akin to the power of the effect given.