Tools

In making jewelry there are certain tools you will need. Different sets of pliers, cutters, benders and crimp beads.

Now because theres about fifty different kinds, you may get a little lost when you go to the store. I highly suggest these few basic pliers that you can do just about everything with.

Rosary, Flat Nose, Crimping and Wire Cutters.

With Rosary pliers, you can bend wire, jump rings and pins.

Flat nose can help you hold onto items as you work with them and you can also close and straighten your jump rings and loops.

Crimping Pliers are for Crimp beads. When you are working with wire or a bead that you don't want moving around you can place a crimp bead on each sid and then smoosh it with the crimp pliers so that it doesnt move.

The cutters are pretty self explanatory. You can cut chain, wire, eye pins, and many other hardware products so that you get the exact size and length you need.


You'll find all of these items at Walmart, Michaels, AC More and several other arts and crafts stores.

Introduction to Materials!

To make jewelry, you will need more than just beads. Hardware, Tools, storage and scraps. Today's chapter into materials will be talking about hardware. I should probably go in order like storage, tools, materials and scraps. BUT...that's not how I DO things!

You will need some of these items in starting out on your journey of making your own jewelry. There are several different kinds of hardware but I'll list them when I use them. These are the basic four that I will be using. :) Head pins, Eye Pins, Jump Rings, and Fasteners.

Okay, so first on our list is Fasteners. What you need to end your necklace or bracelet with. There are all sorts of kinds, styles, different metals and materials making these. If you use wire or string, you can use different sorts of fasteners. I use these two most often. A basic clasp. The clasp is on a lot of store purchased necklaces and bracelets. However, the other fastener is getting widely popular. They are easier to use whether you have small hands or large hands, shaky hands or steady hands. Kids can use them, elderly people, etc. They are called toggle clasps. Toggle clasps is a circle on one end of your chain, and a bar on the opposite end. You pull the bar through the circle, and your necklace or bracelet will not fall off.

  Then, there are Jump Rings. They also come in different sizes and different metals and thicknesses. Jump rings are used as decoration or linking items together. they come slightly open, but not enough to loop anything into them. So, take two basic beading pliers and open them slightly larger. When you are done, bend them back and forth two or three times before closing them. This makes them stronger, and more unlikely to open back up once the jewelry is being worn.

 

Next are eye pins. Eye-pins are what you thread your bead on. You can buy these in different lengths, or make them yourself with metal wire. I suggest a thick wire if you are to make your own. 

One end has a loop, and the other is left open for your beads. Once you have the right amount of beads you want, you loop the other end using regular beading pliers. Pliers will be another chapter on another day. 

Head pins are practically the same as eye-pins, but they are for ear rings. One end is flat, so that the bead rests on it, and can dangle.

 This last picture is two bracelets that I have finished recently. It is showing how they are clasped together, and you may spot the headpins used to link the beads together. I hope you have enjoyed this first chapter on basic materials.

They're on your ears, around your neck, wrists and clothes!

This blog is for people who want jewelry they Love. Jewelry you want but can't find exactly what you are looking for. Jewelry you can make yourself, easy and affordable. I'll be posting ideas, pictures of items i have made myself, and where to find the materials.