Crimp Tubes and Crimp Beads

If you're having trouble with crimp tubes breaking or not closing, you should look at your tools, findings and your techniques. Crimping pliers should be used instead of regular pliers. If you're already using crimping pliers, they could be damaged, so check the surfaces that come in contact with the crimp. Be sure your crimp bead or crimp tube is just big enough for the wire to go through twice. Using too large a crimp bead can cause problems. The first time you squeeze the crimp, put the crimp into the depression closest to the handle that has a "V". Don't squeeze too hard, just enough to meet the other side. Next, place the crimp into the outer depression and squeeze gently. This should fold the two parts over onto themselves. If you still have problems with breakage, you may want to get a better quality crimp bead. Sometimes paying a little more can make the job so much easier.

Bead Board

If you are a beginner, all of the beading accessories out there can be intimidating. Bead boards are a great tool for the beginning jewelry maker and it is definitely something you will need to plan out your bead necklaces and bead bracelets. A bead board is used for quick and easy jewelry beading. A full size bead board has three channels for designing necklaces up to 46" and three straight channels for making bracelets and anklets up to 9". A large bead board has 10 storage bins for organizing beading supplies such as beads, findings and stringing materials. A small bead board comes with three channels for designing necklaces up to 34" and has six storage bins for beading supplies. Don't worry about starting small and building up your bead supply.

Beading Supplies: Organizing for Efficiency

You have your beading supplies and you are starting your home business, now it is time to get organized and stay organized for maximum performance. You may not realize how much time you will waste in a disorganized workspace, time that could be spent finishing products that will reward you with a profit. The key to organizing your workspace is to find what works best for you. Everyone is different and works differently, but here are some ideas that can help keep your beading supplies in order and can be purchased easily through a beading and jewelry supply company.
· Organize your Beads: This includes using bead storage containers, cases, and jars. Use a word program to not only keep track of your inventory, but to record where you purchased them as well.
· Don't neglect your worktable. Keeping your worktable free of debris will allow you to be more productive. Make sure that you have adequate lighting as well.
· Protect your Investment- Make sure that you store your equipment, tools, and supplies in containers that will prevent them from rusting, deteriorating, or fading. This is also true if your workroom is in an area that is subject to humidity.

Buying Beading Supplies in Bulk: Start a Co-op

A co-op is a cooperative effort. For those who are just starting out with their jewelry business, starting a co-op for the purpose of purchasing discount beading supplies is an excellent way to begin building your inventory. You can find other beaders through local community events, classes, and associations. This holds many advantages, first you can purchase large amounts of beading supplies in bulk through wholesale and discount beading supply companies. However, by sharing the cost with your fellow crafters, you will have access to more beads for less cost. This is also beneficial to finding new beads and testing their market value.

Beading Supplies: Mastering Your Art Form

When choosing to enter the market field with your jewelry, you may not know where to begin. Purchasing beading supplies may seem overwhelming and there is an abundance of items to choose from. Try beginning by making one or two pieces only. Master the art of one style earrings, bracelets, or necklaces, and begin by creating a number of different pieces for this one series. After you have mastered that piece, tackle another. This saves on additional beading supplies and helps to build your expertise one piece at a time.

Including Beading Supplies in your Business Plan

If you are starting your own company, your first step should be to develop a well-written business plan. The business plan should contain all of your goals, marketing research, required inventory, beading supplies, and the financial data to keep your business flowing smoothly. You should carefully research the cost of purchasing beading supplies and equipment through your selected wholesale supply company and include the data in your business plan. Every successful business began with a business plan and studies prove that without a business plan, your jewelry making business has a significantly lowered chance of success.

Bead Adhesive

Many online and local bead stores stock all the jewelry making supplies you will need, including any adhesives or glues you might need in your bead jewelry making. The next time you buy beads, stock up on epoxy adhesive. A two-part epoxy adhesive is used to glue cabochons and gemstones to flat findings, such as ear pads or brooch pins. If you want to glue beads to metal, china or glass, consider epoxy resins.

Beading Supplies: Basics for Beginners

If you are new to beading and would like to know how many beading supplies to get, you can purchase a prepackaged kit that will include all of the items that you need. This is a great way to try beading without investing a lot of money. Kits vary in level from child to beginner adult, and even include tools such as scissors and wire cutters. You can typically find a kit that includes beading supplies from a beading and jewelry supply store ranging from $10.00-$50.00 depending upon the complexity of the project.

Beading Supplies: Selling Your Own Jewelry for Fun and Profit

You've been wearing your jewelry for fun and after having a large amount of people admire your handiwork, you've considered making some beadwork to sell. If you are toying with the idea of starting your own business, but would like to test the waters first, then you may want to start acquiring some beading supplies and make a batch of jewelry for marketing purposes. Your gut instinct will tell you which pieces will be big sellers, but now it is time to put the hunch to the test.
Beginning with a small amount of beading and jewelry supply, create your designs and test the waters. Chances are if people in your surrounding environment are interested in purchasing them, others will too. After selling your first batch, try selling them at craft shows or on consignment.

Preventing Nicks on Metal Findings

To prevent nicks or dents on metal findings or jewelry wire (such as sterling), there are a number of options.

If you do a LOT of wire work, there are special pliers with nylon inserts called Nylon Jaw Pliers.

If you need temporary protection (for just one project or attachment) get some of the "blue tape" that painters use to protect trim when painting. A couple layers of the tape will protect your metal items, yet still be thin enough to not affect the operation of the tool very much. When you are done, just pull the tape off - the "blue tape" does not leave any adhesive residue.

You can also make your own version of the padded jaw pliers. Buy an extra set of inexpensive pliers. Glue pieces of ultra suede or any soft rubbery material (old dishwashing gloves?) to the inside of the nose.

Embroidery Scissors

Get the most expensive ones you can afford and have them sharpened often. A clean cut through your thread with a pair of very sharp embroidery scissors will prevent fraying and make threading your needle much easier.

Beading Pliers

One of the essential tools in jewelry making is a good set of beading pliers. There are several kinds and each has its strength in making your bead jewelry. Round-nosed pliers are terrific for bending wire. You'll also need these pliers to form loops to attach ear fittings for earrings and clasps for necklaces and bracelets. Flat-nosed pliers are useful, too, for holding jump rings when you need to bend them. Wire cutters (sometimes called "side cutters") are handy for snipping wire or beading cable. If you plan on using stranded beading cable, Crimping Pliers are an important tool to have. The best way to determine what you need is to decide what kind of necklace or jewelry you want to make and then build your tool collection accordingly.

Stringing Beads

Besides jewelry supplies such as leather and wires, you can string your beads on soft stringing products such as hi-tech braided beading thread, clear elastic cord and clear monofilament cord. Hi-tech braided bead thread is much stronger than silk-based threads, more resistant to fraying and doesn't need to be stretched before using. It is pre-waxed and stronger than silk with a break rating of 20 pounds. You can also string beads on different thicknesses of laces and ribbons. Ribbons look good sewn onto brooch findings and earrings.

Beading Supplies: How Many Beads Should I Get?

When you are new to the business and art form of jewelry making you may wonder how many beads you should purchase. If you are just starting on your first beading project, your pattern will let you know how many beads to purchase, but if you are trying your hand at a new business venture, it can be a little confusing to figure out how many beads to purchase from a wholesale beading supply company. The first rule of thumb is to purchase as many beads as you can, in the style that you like. If a particular bead strikes your fancy, simply purchase as many as you can afford. This is especially true if you are shopping at closeout prices or through specialty bead shops. In this sense, it is better to err on the side of abundance rather than run out of your favorite beads and later discover that you can't find the same beads again. So if it is a vintage or closeout deal, buy as many as you can afford.

Bead Board

A Bead board makes jewelry design and stringing much easier. The board's curved groove lets you arrange beads just like they'll appear around your neck. You can move them around until you are happy with the arrangement. The bead board also has a measuring scale so that you know whether your necklace or bracelet is the right length before you start stringing. Most bead boards also have compartments to hold and sort your beads as you design. Their are several different styles of boards available. Inexpensive but functional boards are made from molded plastic. The best ones have a fuzzy surface applied to the plastic to assist in keeping the beads in the place you set them.

Beading Tools

Invest in good jewelry findings and supplies before starting to make your own jewelry. A good set of tools, including pliers and a wide range of threads and wires will give you the breadth of material you need to be as creative as you want! You do need to maintain your tools and materials if you want them to last. Remember that tools for beads should only be used for jewelry making and beading. When you use your tools for other things you risk damaging them or getting materials on them which can transfer onto your jewelry project later. Consider wrapping your pliers' tips in masking tape when working with wire. You can avoid scratching both the wire (especially important when working with enameled or plated wire) and the tool itself. You can't create a masterpiece without the right materials!

Sequin Tool

A fantastic tool for quick embroidery or adding beads or sequins is a tambour hook. This is a tool that gets its name from the embroidery stand or tambour that holds the fabric while it's being embroidered. It's a needle-like tool with a tiny hook at the end that is often set in a wooden handle to make use easier. The thread is held by one hand on the bottom of the fabric while the other holds the tambour hook. The bead or sequin is slid up to the top part of the hook and the tip is inserted into the fabric. The hook picks up a loop of the thread and pulls it through the fabric and the bead before starting another stitch. This creates a running chain stitch that makes attaching beads or sequins quick. Tambour hooks or tambour needles can be purchased from most companies that sell embroidery supplies. Some beading suppliers also sell them.

Toe Nail Scissors

Yes, toe nail scissors are great for beadwork! They are available just about everywhere. I like them for cutting thread as their curved cutting end allows me to cut the thread very close to the beadwork.