Making a bracelet or necklace out of one material can be quick and easy. Glass beads can be beautiful strung together… in all one color or in a variety of hues. Make a collection of glass beads and follow these instructions to make a simple beaded bracelet or necklace.
For the holidays, nothing’s easier than decorating gift boxes, wreaths, your tree and doors with beaded snow flakes.
MATERIALS NEEDED:
- Glass Beads
- bead stringing wire
- clasp set
- crimp beads
- needle-nose pliers
- wire cutters
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Start with a length of bead stringing wire that is approximately six inches longer than the piece of jewelry you intend to make.
- Slide on a crimp bead, then half of the clasp set. Bend approximately two inches of the wire, going back through the crimp bead, and draw it snug against the clasp.
- Use your needle-nose pliers to flatten the crimp bead against the clasp so that it cannot slide up or down.
- String all of the beads onto the wire (the first few beads should be strung over both thicknesses of wire).
- Slide the second crimp bead onto the wire, then the other half of the clasp, then go back through the crimp bead and several other beads. Pull the wire until all of the beads are snug against each other.
- Then, flatten the crimp bead. Use a pair of wire cutters to cut off the remaining wire as close to the beads as possible.
Now, wasn’t that easy? Sometimes simple can be the most beautiful design. And what better and faster way to make a piece of jewelry if you have a gift to make!
This is a basic piece of jewelry to make, once you have mastered simple designs like this and learned how to make simple beaded anklet you will inevitably want to start making more complex pieces. The tutorial above assumes that all your materials are bought from a retailer or wholesaler. If you are making a lot of beaded jewelry then it is advisable to use eBay to find cheap beads. Then once you have become better at beading you may consider designing and making some of your own beads.
Beads can be made from various different materials depending on your clientele. Fimo bead making is beads made from polymer clay and doesn’t involve that much skill or knowledge. The other type of beads that are more difficult to make, but at the same time will increase the value of your creations are handmade glass beads. It is well worth investing time and effort into learning how to make these if you are going to be making exclusive jewelry for the upmarket clients.
Happy Beading!
Jennifer Thoden shares her love of beads and creativity with beginner beaders and jewelry designers. Her love of color and unique design shows in her bead patterns. Find her bead patterns and tutorials at http://www.beadpatternsonline.com
