September 2, 2009

When You Make Beaded Jewelry, You Make Beauty

Making beaded jewelry is not only fun to do; it can be a personally and even financially rewarding activity! When you learn to make jewelry, you can give your work to friends as gifts and even sell them for some extra money – and it’s always great to make a hobby that you enjoy become a profitable one!

Beads are easy to work with and let you make professional looking jewelry of all sorts; necklaces, bracelets and even earrings with ease! You can also make your own jewelry, so that you never have to worry about which piece to wear with that great new outfit again, since you can make the perfect jewelry to go with it all on your own.

One thing a lot of people do when they’re getting started in making their own jewelry is to run out to the craft store and in their excitement to pick up beads, forget other important supplies. The best way to steer clear of this is to make yourself a shopping list which includes all of the supplies you’ll need. This way, you’ll get exactly what you need and avoid buying things which you don’t.

The first step is to decide which materials and tools you’ll need. There are plenty of choices for materials to string your beads on, with Tigertail being one popular choice. This is a very durable material, but does have the disadvantage of being easily kinked. Another material which is a little easier to work with is soft-flex wire. You’ll also most likely want some crimping beads to hold your beads in place as you finish your pieces. A crimping tool is also something you’ll probably want. They are a little more expensive than a pair of garden variety pliers, but they will make the end result so much better that they are well worth paying more for.

Keep in mind that beads come in every conceivable size, color, style and material, so don’t keep yourself limited to just regular old beads! You can choose from a wide variety of beads to make each and every piece you create an original.

It’s always a good idea to have a close look at your beads before you actually string them. Lay them out so you can see how they’ll look. A bead board is a good tool for this and if you don’t have a suitable place to lay out your beads, this is an item you should consider. Unless you’re pressed for time, lay out your beads and let them sit there for the day. If you still like the way t looks the next day, then go ahead and string your beads.

Beaded jewelry allows you the versatility to make any kind of jewelry you’d like to create. The style you make will affect the length of the piece (as well as the needs of the person you’re making it for). It’s important to measure the length of your pieces carefully before you begin. These mistakes are usually only fixed by starting over and remaking the piece entirely.

When you make your own beaded jewelry, you have the opportunity to create a thing of beauty – and you’ll get the satisfaction of a job well done. This jewelry will be loved by whoever you give it to; and you’ll like having these pieces for yourself too. However, you might want to get some detailed directions or take some classes before you start to make sure that you can create high quality beaded jewelry.

Janet has been teaching people about learning how to make jewelry for quite awhile. You can learn more about how to make unique jewelry by visiting her blog.

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Filed under Art And Entertainment by PJ Timbere

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