How To Make Simple Jewelry
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Czech Glass Flat Smooth Oval 8mm X 6mm Cobalt Blue (25 Beads)
Price: $1.89
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Rose Quartz Gemstone Round Pink Beads 4mm 15 Inch Strand
Price: $2.19
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Gemstone Bead Mix 8mm Rondelle Beads/15 Inch Strand
Price: $4.50
List Price: $9.99 |
If you go to the department stores you will often see that jewelry is overpriced, but would not cost a lot of money to make. I am not talking about diamonds and gold, but rather the cute beaded bracelets they charge twenty-eight dollars for at Macy's. I have been duped into paying a large amount of money for jewelry made of inexpensive materials, but I decided one day last year I did not want to do this anymore. I love costume jewelry and inexpensive jewelry because it is fun, bold, and I do not feel bad if I lose it. I would feel horrid if I lost a beautiful diamond bracelet, but if I lost a simple bead necklace I would just mostly be disappointed. Glass beads come in very many beautiful shades in colors, as do acrylic beads and many other affordable beads. One of my favorite hobbies is going to the crafting store to buy bead, pendants, and finding that are inexpensive. In this hub I will show you how I make sever simple piece of jewelry. These are the types of crafts you can do with children because they are simple and easy. This is the first part of a two part series on how to make simple jewelry. The second portion is about How To Make A Necklace And A Matching Bracelet.
A Simple Bracelet Made of Glass Beads
Glass beads are fun and inexpensive to use in making bracelet. Decide on the color you would like to put on your bracelet and the type of stretchy cord you would like to use. I prefer stretchy cord, but you can use whatever supplies you prefer.
Step One: Gathering Your Supplies
Step Two: Decide What Type of String You Are Going to Use
Step Three: Make a Pattern With the Beads
I like to make a pattern using smaller and larger beads, but if you prefer to mix all the beads up that is fun too. Sometimes I have leftover beads from different projects and I make a multi-colored bracelet. Here I am using blue colored beads that were on sale for a dollar fifty, which are similar to ones I saw on a bracelet for twenty dollars at the mall.
Step Four: Continue The Stringing Beads Until The Desire Length is Reached
The Finished Product
Tying off the stretchy string is easy and simple. There are many different shapes, colors, and styles of beads you can use. I have made green, blue, and even red bracelets. The possibilities are endless with beading.
Use Old Jewelry Cases For Gifting Handmade Bracelets
Other Types of Bracelets and Earrings That Are Simple to Make
Use a Wire Chain to Make a Simple Necklace
For this project I used a wire necklace that had magnetic clasps, which are easy to use, do not get caught in the back of long hair, and which screw off easily. The pendant and beads I used for this project are made out of magnetite, but they almost look like black pearls from a distance. Who said cheap beads cannot be beautiful?
Step One: Position the Wire Chain
Beading wire is one of the ideal ways to string a necklace or a bracelet. This particular beading wire is ideal because it has a magnetic clasp that screws off on one end. I enjoy the shape of beading wire and recommend it highly.
Add Half of the Magnetite Beads and the Pendant
The Completed Necklace
The supplies for each of these pieces of jewelry cost less than five dollars, which is about fifteen-twenty dollars less than you would pay in the store. Beading is fun for children and it allows them the creativity to make their own jewelry. I enjoy going to the sale aisle at crafting stores and you can find some very good deals on beads. Good luck and I hope you enjoy making your own beaded necklaces, bracelets, or whatever type of jewelry you choose.
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Pretty Green Donut Banded Agate Gemstone Pendant Bead
Current Bid: $2.99
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70Pcs Pretty Picasso Jasper Abacus Bead Gemstone 6*10MM
Current Bid: $8.39
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14MM New Pretty Conch Shell Round Loose Beads 16"L D014
Current Bid: $7.99
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25MM Pretty Coral Rose Flower Pendant Beads B0011
Current Bid: $2.99
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Comments
I think you should get into it again. Thanks for stopping by C.S. Alexis!
Great pics and explanations for starting to do this. I might have a go at it thanks.
I hope you enjoy it if you do try it Eileen. Thanks for stopping by!
Sweetiepie,
You did a great job on this article. I have hords of beads in my craft room. I'm a real arts and crafts person - taught classes at Michaels.
Wow your classes sound really fun! Thanks for sharing Karen!
I enrolled my daughter in a beading class last school holidays and now she would like to sell the jewelry she made....
Wow that is really good MM Del Rosario! I have never sold jewelry myself, but two other ladies here have commented that they sold jewelry and taught classes on beading. I think they would be good experts on how to get started :) Thanks for stopping by :)
You are right about being able to make beautiful jewelry very affordably. We offer custom handmade wedding jewelry for the bride and as bridesmaids gifts at silverlandjewelry.com and I even uploaded a crude video to utube showing how to make some of the jewelry.
If someone can see that I can make it with my clumsy hands and lack of artistic skill-they should be very confident of doing it themselves.
Just for the record-I don't make much of our jewelry-typically a few earrings or a simple necklace with a drop every now and then for a rush order. Nearly all the jewelry is made by experienced local jewelry makers.
You ought to add a few of your favorite creations to your other products.
Seabastin,
Thanks for sharing all your knowledgable experiences with jewelrymaking. Right now I am not selling any jewelry, but I might in the future so thanks for the suggestion.
Great, helpful tutorial. It's amazing what treasures you can make with a few beads and some simple tools. It's also helpful to have a five year old around the house when making beaded jewelry - he's low-to-the-ground, so he can easily find all of the beads that I drop.
Thanks for the wonderful comments and insights Lisa.
Nice, I just come across this hub. I always like to see and hear about jewelry making/designing being it's a form of art....Interesting :)
I started making my own jewelry last year when I realized how expensive jewelry is at the department stores. I would see a simple bracelet made of glass beads on sale from $25 dollars, but I learned people can make something just as pretty, if not better on their own. That is one of the reasons I always comment that I like the jewelry women wear on your hubs because whenever I see a piece it gives me ideas. Thanks for stopping by weblog.
Nice to know. Yes, I try to post something different, as you said you never heard of Minka Kelly, even I don't know her for long. And, I'm trying to be different these days, so I'm posting some celebs who are not so popular.
About the jewelry of Indian women, I have great taste of it. I almost always analyse movies technically and especially I look keen about costumes, make-up and jewelry in movies - aesthetic!!!
I love Indian jewelry and clothing. Actually some of the most pretty tops I have were made in India with an Indian style to them. I always receive compliments when I wear these. I have also found some really pretty beads and shells made in India.
That's nice. Although I post sexy pics of celebs, personally I don't like too much of skinshow/exposure in Indian movies. I'm not orthodox, but glamour is overshadowing everything else in our movies(especially in north - bollywood), thats what I feel. And, also I wonder how our actresses wear too much of exposing dresses in public (like you have seen pics of Shriya in award function). But, otherwise their dressing sense and jewelry are very good. I just want them to show more in acting, along with glamour(as it is unavoidable).
Personally I was never offended by your sexy pics weblog. Humans are beautiful creatures made by God and I do not think you post bad pictures on your hubs. At least you care about the acting ability and that is really good. I think American celebrities such as Britney Spears have pushed the envelope too far when it comes to wearing short skirts and no underwear. Britney is actually a good singer and actress if she would not focus singing songs about being not that innocent. She seems to have fallen down a path that many American celebrities have gone with the following paparazzi them all over the place. I refuse to watch the American show TMZ here in the USA because it is basically about the paparazzi stalking and making fun of celebrities for a profit. The other day they were poking fun at Candace Cameron saying her name was funny, but I think they just did not like her because she is a good girl that does not go drinking and driving.
Thanks for understanding. I always think of celebs' personal life becoming hot topic and press/media almost always poking into celeb's private things too much. Sometimes I even think media has lost it's ethics. On the other side, most of the celebs are giving room for controversies. I know some Indian celebs who make publicity stunts that they feel worth to become more popular.
I am fine with people being interested in celebrities because of course they are glamourous in the public eye, but I think the current paparazzi behavior fuels the fire. In the days of Bette Davis celebrities would grant interviews and it was all very refined, but now it is about the paparazzi chasing celebrities on the freeway. Recently a mom who was not celebrity, but who maybe looked like someone famous, was chased on the freeway by the paparazzi and she was very scared. Princess Diane was killed because of a paparazzi chase, which shows how traumatic the entire thing can be. Also, I do not like the idea of people hanging outside of a a famous person's house and taking pictures, it is just plain boring. Even here celebrities do things to draw attention to themselves, but it is sad we are not spending more time concentrating on good roles and good acting. I am more interested in hearing about movies such as The Kite Runner, which was based on the great book by Khaled Hosseini as opposed to what type of coffee Paris Hilton likes to drink. However, I still do admire nice outfits and jewelry that celebrities wear because it give me ideas.
Hi SweetiePie, it was 3 am here when I left the last comment here, then I went to sleep. Celebs have personal life, we should respect. Paparazzi is going wild, I felt sorry for Diana when it happened...still I get disturbed on recalling.
Yes, I agree with you. Celebs have their rights to decide their outfits. But, culture differs nah. Aishwarya Rai wore such a nasty exposing costume in her first cannes appearance. People there could have taken it normal, but Indians felt bad because it gives wrong impression about Indians. She could have wore Saree or some other North Indian traditional wear, Saree can show much sexy, but not awkward.
That's what I expect from our celebs(female). Many other bollywood babes did the same following Aishwarya, recently it was Shriya at IIFA awards at Bangkok.
When I like celebs outfits I meant more clothed ones like Anne Hathaway. I also agree Indian celebs should be respectful of traditional Indian dress. Sarees are very beautiful and I am surprised they do not want to wear these to events. One of my old roommates lives in America, but here and her family are constantly wearing sarees at some events, even though they wear modern clothes too. Balance is a good thing.
That's it. They can wear any costume in movies(character sketch decides it). But, what I feel is that they must be aware of how their outfits get good/bad impressions in public. Thanks for understanding.
I do weblog. Actually most of the people I went to school with were Asian and Indian, so I saw many Hindi girls that wore sarees quite often. My former roommate still does I noticed on her facebook messages.
Actually, I believe saree is as good as any other costume that is sexy and hot. Low-hip(navel show!!) Saree, if combined with sleevelss, low-neck blouse(cleavage show!!) can be much more sexy. Our actresses know that well as they wear in movies. Especially, I love Aishwarya Rai(bachchan) when she is in saree better than in any other costume. I hope you know her, she is doing in hollywood too.
I know her know through your hubs, which are teaching me many things.
It's my pleasure friend :)
Nice friends like you are even more precious than jewels.
Well, did you read the recent hub of Jenny? It is about understanding google adsense reports, helpful hub for me.
Hi SweetiePie - I am glad that I discovered your hub on this topic. I have tons of beading supplies and have meant to get into the hobby, but didn't take a class or anything. Your hub makes it look very easy and fun. Time to get going on this! My daughter will enjoy working with mom on these projects (she is 5). Steph
You are very creative. Great hub with easy to follow instructions.
Steph,
I love making jewelry and it can be very easy and fun. I have seen more complicated necklaces to make, but with the right beads the simple ones can look just as nice. I get many compliments from people that come into my job about these simple necklaces, so I really believe in making simple jewelry now. Thanks for stopping by and leaving nice comments.
Sirdent,
You are very sweet. Thanks for commenting.
I tried to post this hub link at mixx and I found it was already there. I guessed it must be you submitted there. I've left you a mixx mail simply :)
Yes I already had submitted it to mixx. I prefer mixx over digg.
Digg bans some users for no valid reason, I think you were talking about it in forums. I had bad experiences with Digg, Mixx don't get as many visitors as Digg provides in few minutes. But, Mixx is simply seems to be good environment. I love the communities, groups and tags - there are so many features in mixx that we don't find in Digg.
Try Craigslist and you can advertise you hub in the general category as an article of interest. Also, you can participate in the Craiglist forums and have one link to a favorite hub in your rofile. Another thing you could do is join Facebook and you can let people know about your hubs this way.
Fine. Thanks for the idea, I thought craigslist is only for business promotion. I have never been there. I knew about facebook, but yet to try seriously.
Yes you are able to advertise on Craigslist. Funnebone wote a hub about this if you are interested.
Good hub. My wife is a pro stringer (pearls etc).
I wanted to say congrats on your profile being sent out. Two thumbs up!
Thanks for the comments Talford. I am glad to hear your wife enjoys stringing pearls and maybe she should write a hub about that. I really appreciate it :).
These hubs about jewlery making are very cool, i want to learn to do this someday
Blogging about this :)
Thanks torino! I am glad to see you finally added an avatar.
I appreciate it weblog :).
SweetiePie, your hubs are as good as your Avatars!!!
Thanks webismine!
Hi Sweetiepie,
Just caught up with this Hub (only joined a few days ago and I am still getting sorted) As luck would have it I've just come home from a jewellery class I'm taking making chain maille. I sure do like your Magnetite Necklace and if I can locate the bits and pieces in Australia I'll make one for my wife.
This is a great hub and I will refer back to it in the future.
Regarding your comments on Brittney Spears you might like to have a look at what I wrote a few months back at; http://greypowertimes.blogspot.com/
Keep up the good work.
Thanks for your lovely comments once again agvulpes. I hope you can find some beads you like, but I would imagine magnetitie beads are easy to find there too. I will check out the blog you are speaking of. Thanks for commenting.
Thanks for the great site showing how to make jewelry. You made it easy for others to make jewelry. I make the traditional jewelry using wire or silk. This is much easier for those learning to make jewelry and using stretch cord is becoming the fashion.
Thanks for your comments chrmann. You should sign up and write about your expertise here at hubpages since you know a great deal about this topic.
when I saw this web page, all I could really say is WOW! I never thought jewelry could be so easy. When I made this jewelry and brought it to school, everyone asked where I got it. I was very amazed that nobody knew that I made it at home. I've even sold 12 of them and made 40$! Thank you for being helpful so I could get a few dollars.
Glad to know you were able to make some money this way anne lov. Maybe you should write some hubs here at Hubpages so you can share some of your ideas with everyone.
yeah, maybe I should. Anyway, I spranged my ankle pretty bad. The only thing I can do is play on my cumputer. It's tiring but it's the only thing I can do. I'm not going to school for a few days.... I just finish another peice of jewelry yesterday. It's my best yet, so I think it's a keeper. I'll be here all day tomorrow, so talk to me any time, and if I don't answer, I'm prabably sleeping.
Anne Love,
Sorry to hear you hurt your ankle. I am sure your jewelry looks very pretty and that it is good you have sold some to your friends at school. If you are going to be at the computer anyway you could write articles about anything you like here at HubPages, it does not have to be about jewelry. For example, if you know how to make a certain recipe you could share something like that. I hope you ankle is feeling better soon. Take care :).
Hey Sweetiepie, its weird for me to call you that, you know? Ah well, i will call you by your name in our letters. I am thinking of making Jewelry this year for Christmas presents. I just have to figure out some of the families favourite colors.
You could just call me SP on here. I just do not want to put my real name on the net :). I am sure you could make some beautiful jewelry. Hope you make a hub about it if you do. I hope you are having a nice day up there :).
Your hub is great! very helpful and easy to follow! thumbs up!
SweetiePie,
I am bookmarking these for later research. Glad you were so busy making such informative hubs about jewelry making.
C.S. Alexis,
Thanks for bookmarking my hub, I appreciate it. I really am into making my own jewelry these days, although it has been a month since I made any. Right now I am working on a drawing, but I will be getting back into jewelry making as soon as it is done.
Damn, I could have saved a small fortune this christmas if only I'd visited your hub earlier. I bought my wife a couple of expensive jewelery items and then regretted it quite frankly especially as she has a habit of losing them.
Anyway I could make a nice bracelet for her anytime, so cheers for this hub!
Hi Waynet,
The great thing about making your own jewelry is you can use less or more expensive beads, and still create fashionable jewelry for a fraction of the price.
I have a nice array of polished rock and stones. Do you have any ideas for making jewelry, perhaps wrap them wire and attach a chain? I know NOTHING about making jewelry or crafting, and I am not very creative, either!
Hi, Sweetie-I make some of my own jewelry, too. Sometimes from actual materials I buy, or sometimes from old jewelry pieces. Why not? :) We agree about wearing diamonds and things like that. Who needs it?
mariannette,
Maybe you can try drilling holes in the stones and putting them on chains as you suggested. I want to eventually start polishing some of my own stones.
Lita,
You are very artistic, so I am sure your jewelry looks beautiful. Yes diamonds are way too expensive in my opinion, and other stones and glass beads look just as pretty.
very well illistrated. i occasionally make my own jewelry as well. love the necklace.
Sweetiepie - I was just thinking last night that I would love to start making necklaces and I've looked at a few books and supplies online. I've never been 'crafty' but I think this is something I could do. Like you, I am tired of paying too much for something I think I could make myself. Do you have any suggested sources for wholesale beads online? Your pics were great and I really enjoyed your hub!
Hi Susan,
I would look at amazon and ebay because these places tend to have really good deals. Personally I go to Jo'Ann's and Michael's and buy large packages of beads there for reasonable prices. I have so many beads left over from other projects, so what I have bought is not expensive at all.
Sweetie Pie,
You have nicely written the hub embedded with videos. descriptions are nice and videos ilustrate very well. I appreciate you as a Jeweler.
Jyoti Kothari
Thanks Jyoti!
Nice hub
Octamens,
I am glad you enjoyed this hub.
I liked the beads you used...where did you get them?
Great Hub, I am going to show it to my daughters. Thanks for the ideas and tips on how to do it.
tdarby,
I think your daughters will enjoy making their own jewelry.
Great hub! Thanks for the good ideas! :) Now I have to get started...
Beading_Octopus,
I hope you have a fun time making jewelry. Bracelets are a great project for beginners. Some remember to buy lots of beads and stretch magic.
I have never been brave enough to branch out and make my own jewelry. I should try because I don't have any and I love jewelry. I need super-cheap supplies right now. The craft store in the clearance aisle will be my first step. I like your idea of the magnetic necklace so that I don't have to buy the special tools. Thanks Sweetie Pie. Love your articles. :)
Hi Cailin,
I definitely would suggest trying to make your own jewelry because it can be fashioned anyway you like. Some of the pendants I bought at the craft store look more expensive than these really are, and people are surprised when I tell them how little I really spent. I really enjoy your articles too Cailin :).
Nice job :)
Thanks Karpouzian.
I want to get into it because i love working with my hands and i need a hobby and who knows it might be something i would want to do more often
Stephanie,
You should definitely try making some of your own jewelry because it is more affordable, and really fun!
Hey sweetie pie my name is Courtney and i really like to make jewelry i make it for everyone but especially for my mom and i was wondering how do tie stretch magic tight so the beads wont fall off cause ive used stretch magic before and my beads just fell right off please right back
Courtney
Courtney,
What I do is cut off about twice as much stretch magic as needed to go around my wrist. I need about eight inches to go around my wrist, so I cut off sixteen or seventeen inches of stretch magic. Next, I tie a knot on one end and then string on the beads. Once I have reached the desire length of about eight inches of beads, I move all the bead to the center and tie a knot. The first knot has to be really tight so the bracelet is then formed. Next, tie over the first knot several times until it is really secure. This way you know have a secure bracelet that will not break.
thanks a lot sweetie pie and one more question is it a good idea to get a crimping tool??
Hi Courtney,
What do you want to use the crimping tool for? Some people like to attach necklaces to the barrel using a crimp bead and a crimping tool, but I really find that complicated. I just knot the beading wire to the clasp, which is secure and easy. For making bracelets with stretch magic I just use the beading technique I was talking about, which is the easiest way I can think of. I have written some other hubs on jewelry making, and you are welcome to check these out. I hope you sign up for Hubpages show us some of the jewelry you plan on making.
hey um.. is it safe if i sign up because im only 12 and i dont want to do something im not supposed to do..
Courtney,
I did not know you were that young. Yeah you have to be eighteen, but you can comment on and read hubs when you are under eighteen. People monetize their hubs here, that is why you have to be eighteen to sign up for Hubpages. Maybe your mom can sign up and write if she likes Hubpages.
thanks sweetie pie
C.S.Alexis says:
2 years ago
Nice Hub SweetiePie. I did this many years ago and actually use to make gas money selling my work. I picked most of my beads up from garage sales back then. Really saving money! Good job.