This is an example of a handmade beaded bracelet. Although this one is made of glass, gemstones can also be used instead to make jewelry.
Beads have been worn since the Stone Age, either as charms or decoration, and nowadays many beads are made of gemstones. Anyone can learn the skill of bead making, and it is fairly cost efficient---depending on your gemstone preference. For crafty people who love wearing precious stones, gemstone bead making is the perfect amalgamation of gems, beads and jewelry.
Gemstones
Gemstones are sold online, in bead stores and in craft stores such as Michael's, Tall Mouse and Jo-Ann Fabric and Crafts. Many of these craft stores offer jewelry-making classes. However, you can buy beads for much cheaper at the Gem Faire. There are fairs held every weekend all over the country; check the Gem Faire website (see Resources section) to see when there is a fair near you.
The Gem Faire sells semi-precious stones such as amethysts and garnets, and precious stones such as emeralds, sapphires, and rubies---though the precious stones are generally tiny beads.
Materials Needed
You also need crimping beads, wire, a pair of pliers and a wire cutter. If you are making a necklace or bracelet, you need either a toggle---a device to secure your beads---or a clasp to use as a closure.
Crimping beads are used to hold the jewelry piece together. After cutting the wire to the length you want, crimping beads are the first thing you should string onto your necklace or bracelet. These beads are either tube or round shaped, but if you are new to beading, it may be easier to use the tube-shaped crimping beads.
Wire comes in all different colors and sizes: gold, silver, pink, green or even purple. Use thinner wires for smaller beads and thicker wires for heavier beads. A good size to start with is either 19 or 21, which is considered medium size. The numbers 19 and 21 refer to the number of stainless steel strands in a string of wire, and the higher the number, the thicker the wire.
Turning Gems Into Jewelry
The simplest way to make gemstone jewelry is to thread beads onto a single strand of wire. If you want to see what your necklace or bracelet will look like before you string it, then you may want to invest in a bead board. Bead boards have grooves in them that hold beads, clasps and wire. A bead board is very handy because not only does it allow you to design your piece of jewelry, but it also lets you easily change your bead choices without having to restring any beads.
For necklaces and bracelets, you need to attach a clasp. To do this, first string a crimping bead onto the end of your wire, and then string the clasp. Next, loop the end of the wire back through the bead. Lastly, use pliers to flatten the crimping bead and cut off the excess wire.
To enhance your piece of jewelry, you can make dangles. One way to make a dangle is to fasten a charm on a chain, and then attach the chain to the front of the jewelry piece. You can also string beads onto an eye or head pin, and then twist the end of the pin around the necklace or bracelet. Eye pins have looped ends, which let you attach both ends of the pin together, and head pins have flat ends, which prevent the beads from falling off.
If you want to make earrings, you will need to use either eye pins, head pins or fishhook earwires. A fishhook earwire has both a hook and a loop, and it is the most versatile type of wire to use for earrings.
The first step in fashioning a set of earrings is to form a loop at the end of the wire. To do this, first use your pliers and bend the wire at a 90 degree angle. Next, grip the end of the wire and twist it downward so that it forms a loop. Now all you have to do is string your beads onto the pin.
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