Sterling Silver Jewelry Findings Made Simple

Sterling Silver Jewelry Findings give you options in your jewelry making. You know by making or buying your own jewelry findings that you're not going to see your necklace on every other person you meet. It will be your own unique design and creation.

The Chain Nose pliers will help you get into tight spots and help close and open rings. The Round Nose pliers are for making loops. You will also want a good pair of Flush Cutters this tool will help you make clean cuts for your jewelry.

Pliers

You will want a good pair of pliers. Pliers for jewelry findings come in many different styles. The style you use will depend on what you need.

The Chain Nose pliers will be the most used pliers in your tools for jewelry making. It tapers to a fine point, great at getting into tight spots and opening and closing jump rings. Round Nose pliers are great for making loops in the wire. Nylon Jaw pliers allow you to straighten your wirer. Flush Cutters will keep your wire cuts where you want it. Make sure you get a good quality pair of each to meet all of your wire needs.

Stringing Wire

This is more of your choose. There are plenty of wire types you can use to make your jewelry. It will depend on what you want, more than anything else. You will need to make sure the wire is small/big enough for the pieces you choose to make. You will also want to consider the different wire strengths for your jewelry. If you are going to use heavier pieces, you will want to consider using a strong wire to string your beads. However, there is a cheaper way to go, fishing line. Fishing line is a high strength sting for making jewelry. There is a downfall to using fishing line. Over time, it will stretch out of shape.

Clasps

Here you will have plenty of choices. The clasp is what connects your jewelry together. You will want to make sure your clasp is of good quality. Nothing could be worse than finishing your jewelry and watching it fall apart the first time you wear it.

Ear Wires and Post

If you want to make your own earrings, this is an important and necessary material. The Ear Wire is the base of the Ear Ring. It goes through the piercings in your ear. There is a loop at the bottom to put your jewelry findings on. For beginners, you can buy pre-made Ear Wires. There are plenty of styles to choose from. The post is what will keep your Ear Ring safe and secure.

Head Pins

Come in many lengthens and thicknesses. These are mainly used for ear rings and pendants. You can add your beads and things to your head pin. Then make a loop at the top and attach it to your ear wire. Now you have a custom made earring!

Finding the right beads and materials is pretty simple to do! Understanding the difference between the metals and other materials used to make Jewelry Findings is more challenging.

Over time, you may find that your materials don't last as long as you expected. They might be easy to break. It can be an expensive and time consuming task to keep remaking and fixing your jewelry. Sterling Silver Jewelry Findings are much more cost effective in the end because of their increased durability. It also has a better look and feel.

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Stringing Seed Beads - Tips on Sizes, Needles and Bead Spinners

Since they are tiny, stringing seed beads often seems to be a daunting task, but it doesn't have to be. Here's some basic seed bead stringing info to get you started:

1. Bead Sizes:
Seed beads come in sizes ranging from 5/0 to 28/0. The smaller the number, the larger the bead. 28/0 beads are really tiny and very hard to bead with! 11/0 is the most commonly used size. In an 11/0 size, you need to string about 16 or 17 beads to make an inch. Seed beads in the 6/0 size (about 4mm wide) are also called "E beads" and are often used in knit and crochet projects.

2. Beading Needles:
Beads and beading needles use a similar gauge (the smaller the number, the larger the bead or needle). A good rule of thumb to follow in selecting a needle is to buy at least one size smaller than the seed bead size. For example, if you're working with beads with holes that are equivalent to 11/0 seed beads, then use a #12 needle.

3. Options for stringing materials:

• Nymo, the most popular thread for stringing seed beads, is a colored thread that looks like dental floss.


• Another popular thread is Silamid. It comes prewaxed (for easy threading) and is stronger and less stiff than Nymo.


• You can also buy elastic nylon thread for creating quick and easy projects.


• Flexible beading wire, also called beading cable, consists of several strands of fine steel wire coated with nylon. These wires come in a variety of gauges (widths).

4. Stringing pre-strung beads:
To string the beads quickly, buy them already temporarily strung. Keep them on the string but feed your own wire/threaded needle through the holes transferring them onto your string while removing the temporary string. This way you can pick up lots of beads at one time.

5. Stringing loose beads:
To string loose seed beads, take a small, shallow bowl (sushi sauce bowls work nicely) and pour your loose beads into it. Run your threaded needle or wire repeatedly through the seed beads, and they will be picked up on your needle or wire.

6. Using a bead spinner:
To use a bead spinner (a stringing tool that consists of a spinning bowl on a spindle), place the seed beads into the bowl, insert your wire or threaded needle into bowl, and spin. The beads hop right on.

Don't let those little beads intimidate you! Stringing these tiny beads just takes a little bit of patience, and the next thing you know, you'll be achieving delightful results.

Do you want to learn more about bead spinners? Get more information here: Bead Spinner

You can also find everything you need for beading projects. Click here: Beading Supplies
Merrilee Gasaway writes full time in the crafting industry.

Bead Stringing Techniques - Beyond the Basics

Basic bead stringing isn't hard. Just pick your stringing material, beading method, a needle if needed, and a surface to work on. But first you have to get yourself some great beads.

For more efficient and professional results, incorporate these 10 bead stringing techniques into your beading regime:

1)Use the largest size stringing material that fits inside the hole of the smallest bead in your project. The added strength will help retard wear and fraying.

2)Leave a little space between the beads in your design for less wear on your stringing material.

3)Give the beads you're working with a critical once over before you begin stringing to check for rough edges that might cause your stringing material to wear or fray.

4)Try leaving the string attached to the spool when stringing your beads for a quick bracelet (or when you're working on a design while riding in the car). You won't have to worry about your beads falling off the unsecured end.

5)For a simple bead stopper to put on the end of your string while you slide on the beads, just wrap the end with tape or tape that end to your work surface.

6)Having a little trouble getting the string through a bead? Try a bead reamer to enlarge, straighten, or complete the hole in the bead.

7)Nobody likes it when the string breaks and beads go rolling in every direction. Use the best stringing material you can for your project. Never use fishing line, dental floss, or plain sewing thread if you want to create a professional looking design that wears well.

8)Needle threading woes? Color the tip of your thread with a permanent marker. Let it dry and thread your needle. The ink stiffens your thread and helps it slide through the eye of the needle.

9)When cutting your stringing wire, observe the proper safety measures. Point your pliers away and down from you. For extra security, wear safety glasses. It is important to protect yourself from bits of wire that might be flying around.

10)Need some bead stringing inspiration to get you started? Make yourself some "bead soup." That's just a collection of leftover beads from previous projects all mixed together. Take out a handful, team the beads up with your favorite stringing material, and challenge yourself to create something wonderful.

Hope these bead stringing techniques help you achieve the beaded designs you're dreaming of!

Do you want to learn more about how I do it? Get more information here: [http://www.theleisureboutique.com/default.aspx?PageID=1390&CategoryID=157&ProductID=25269]How To String Beads
You can also find everything you need for beading projects. Click here: [http://www.theleisureboutique.com/default.aspx?PageID=60&CategoryID=8]Bead Supplies
Merrilee Gasaway writes full time in the crafting industry.
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