Bead Jewelry Guide

Bead jewelry making is a hobby that results in a beautiful collection. Learning how to make beads is simple. You need to refer some books or information from Internet. There are even classes at a local craft store for the art of making bead jewelry to help the novice. While at the craft store you'll notice that there are different types of beads and beading supplies like glass bead making supplies, glass bead making kits, paper bead making supplies and more. It is a hobby that will help you to get lots of benefits in jewelry collection. It is a source of gift for friends and family members.

What is Bead Making?

Making bead jewelry is a simple process. It requires you to learn the basics and get used to the practice. Bead making involves the art of creating beads from glass, paper, clay or other materials. People who make beads will use them to make jewelries like necklaces, bracelets, anklets, earrings, finger rings, toe rings, belly button rings and more. However some people will make beads for the purpose of decorating items like keepsake boxes or journals or perhaps to give or sell to others. Still others may not make anything with their treasured beads and instead collect them for their own amusement or as a hobby.

Different types of Decorative Beads

There are different types of decorative beads that one can choose. One example popular bead type is clay bead which can be made from different types of clay and in various ways. Some of the most popular of the bead making clays are self-hardening, and cookie-cutter pre-shaped. Self-hardening clay is nice to use because it doesn't require an oven but heat-requiring clay turns better results and is more flexible. Cookie-cutter pre-shaped clay contains a design in it which is cut into bead shapes by the bead maker. It also makes use of the one which is already cut into designed and shaped beads and which usually requires cooking to have it set into beads.

Lampwork bead making another type of decorative bead making require a bit more expertise as fire is involved, but the results are phenomenal. To make lampworking beads the artist takes a thin rod-shaped piece of glass and heats it with a flame thrower or other heating device hot enough to melt glass. Then the melted glass is wrapped around a mandrel, a long skinny piece of steel, which establishes the inner whole inside the bead for future beading purposes. While the glass is cooling on the mandrel the bead making artist will twist and turn the piece to make interesting designs in the bead. For more added design the bead artist may choose to dot the bead with hot melted glass of other colors applied with a lampworking bead tool.

What Tools and Supplies are needed to make Beads?

Some tools and supplies are needed. Most of the tools used for jewelry can be put to use. Unless one is participating in lampworking in which a flame thrower and other various tools are often used bead making requires few tools. For instance in using clay for bead making, one only needs the clay and perhaps a small, sharp, precise knife to cut bead shapes. However, beads can also be made from clay and hand rolled into the desired shapes. Unless the chosen clay requires heating to have it set the bead maker doesn't even need to use an oven to create bead masterpieces.

For the individual who wishes to create jewelry and other items from the beads she or he can make use of a pair of pliers for various aspects of the jewelry or other item making process. Beading needles require various wires for stringing and crimps for securing the beads. If the bead making process interests you , then you need clay, seeds, paper, fabric and some adhesive elements to solidify the beads made from the softer products such as paper.

Tips and Techniques for Bead Making

There are different jewelry bead making techniques and tips to help the beginner to excel in art form. One tip is to buy supplies in bulk and in advance. In this way the bead making individual will save money because the items can be bought in bulk and less expensive. The bead maker will also find that she or he can start up a project any time the mood strikes because the tool kit is always prepared.

Another bead making tip related to keeping a fully stocked selection of supplies is storage. There is no need to go out and spend tons of money on a specialty bead making kit or storage container. Instead an old tackle box can be used. A tackle box has separate divisions differentiate between the different bead making supplies such as glass bead making supplies versus clay bead making supplies. Additionally, if the tackle box is large enough there should be enough storage for the beads that have already been made but have not been utilized yet. Or the bead maker might find that she or he would prefer two separate tackle boxes, one for bead jewelry making supplies and one for organizing the finished beads.

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