Basics of Jewelry Making - Fashion Jewelry, Handmade Jewelry

Want to learn jewelry making?  Making beaded jewelry is the easiest way to learn the basics of jewelry making.  Read on to find out how to make handmade jewelry at home.

Here's a list of things to purchase in order to learn the basics of jewelry making: beading wire, some different kinds of beads in different shapes and colors, some jewelry spacers (decorative silver or gold beads that usually have some design on them, jewelry pliers, a jewelry board (wooden or plastic board that has grooves in it so you can design beaded jewelry on it), and findings such as crimp beads and clasps to hold the necklace or bracelet together.

A regular length for a handmade beaded necklace is about 17 inches (the bead board is usually marked with inches so you know how many beads to place on it).  Start with one large bead or pendant in the center at the bottom of the bead board.  Put spacers on each side of the center pendant, and then start adding beads in a pattern (it should be the same on both sides of the pendant).  Add a spacer or two, and continue the design, keeping it the same on both sides.  You can put different colored beads next to each other or several of the same beads and then a different one, etc.  You are designing the necklace. 

Once the necklace is long enough, string it onto wire that you have cut.  Make the wire long enough to hold the beads plus a couple of inches on each end.  I usually put a piece of tape on one end of the wire as I bead so the beads can't run off the other end of the wire.  When you're ready to add the clasp on (after all the beads are on the wire), put a crimp bead on the end, and then add one part (either the male or female end of the clasp) on after the crimp bead.  Curl the wire back around and cut the wire so that it is long enough to create a small loop and end in the crimp bead.  Put the wire through the crimp bead again (this secures the end of the wire so nothing can slip off).  Using the pliers, squeeze the crimp bead down on the wire to secure it (the wire should have gone through the crimp bead twice (once when it was beaded onto the wire and a second time when it was curved back around and put through the crimp bead from the opposite direction).  You should leave as little space between the beads, the crimp bead, and the clasp as possible so that the beads can't slide back and forth on the wire.

Do the other end of the necklace as well - put the crimp bead on after all the beads, then bead the other part of the clasp, turn the wire back around and put it through the crimp bead again and cut it and crimp it.  You now have a beaded necklace with a secured clasp.  You're done!

The hardest part is doing the clasp and the crimp bead, but you'll get it with practice.

You can make a bracelet by doing the same process but making it only about 7.5 inches long.

Article on Jewelry Making Supplies: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/177265_jewelry-making-supplies

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