The Handicrafter

 Once you’ve adopted a beading hobby it’s easy to find yourself up to your eyebrows in earrings, bracelets and necklaces. Your jewellery box is full, all of your friends’ jewellery boxes are full and yet you still want to create beautiful objects with beads.  Not to worry, there are other wonderful items that can be created with beads.

Accessories

Belts, handbags, and hair accessories all just beg for a little embellishment.  Handbags and belts can both be made entirely of beads or you can find a pattern and sew it onto your favourite accessory.  Crystal beads, gems, and metallic beads are excellent choices for an evening bag.  Smaller beads and beads with an ethnic flair work very well for belts.  Hair accessories, headbands, bands, barrettes and the like all can be made entirely of beads using elastic or else hot glued to give a plain band a festive shine.  Accessories are also an excellent place to use those extra beads you have lying around.

Fabric and paper art

Grab a needle and thread, a piece of elegant paper, silk or other fabric to use as a background and go on to create a masterpiece.  Patterns can be found online or else you can create your own pattern or design. 

Home accessories

Vases, candle holders, baskets, cabinet knobs and much more can be adorned with beads.  Grab your hot glue gun, a collection of gems or crystal beads and create unique accessories.  Napkin holders are often decorated with beads or made entirely out of beads.  Picture frames are the perfect foundation for glass beads.  Use this project to create a one of a kind gift for a loved one. 

Holiday decorations 

You can use beads to decorate a holiday tree.  Beads can be used to make snowmen, angels, snowflakes, Santa Claus shapes and many, many others.  Hearts can be created from beads for Valentine’s Day, and four leaf clovers or shamrocks for St. Patrick’s Day. Any holiday can be a reason to create a beadwork masterpiece.

Create real, usable pieces or art.  Bookmarks can be created with beads.  Lamps can be adorned with or made from crystals that can hang from the ceiling. Vases and candle holders can be created from beads. Wonderful figurine patterns, including ones for some truly magnificent bugs, can be found online. 

Stepping outside of beaded jewellery can take your hobby farther than you could ever imagine.  It’s amazing to watch small glass beads evolve into major works of art.  Grab your favourite beads and start exploring non-jewellery options today.

Ever catch a glimpse of a beautiful bracelet, earrings or necklace and compliment the wearer on it only to find out they had made it themselves?  People can make amazingly gorgeous jewellery with only a few beads and some wire.   

Now here’s the surprise. You can too!  Here’s how you get started. 

It’s fairly easy to get yourself into a crafting mood. Simply head out to your local bead store. Then spend gobs of money. Get your purchases home and realize you do not know what to do with what you just bought.   

So, instead of going to the bead store and buying everything that looks good, like a kid in a candy store, consider going with a project in already in mind.  An example of an easy beginner’s project is a beaded bracelet. 

You’ll need to have a design in mind. You may need to do a bit of research at the library or on the web. There are many simple and free patterns available to you online.  Most of the online bead stores will offer free instruction and patterns for beginners. 

A power bracelet is a simple and easy project to start with. Make a list of what you’ll need.   

Power bracelet supplies include:*  Elastic Cord *  Beads  (make sure the holes in the beads are large enough for the elastic cord to go through)*  One Bead With Three Holes*  Scissors 

String the beads onto the cord. If you have purchased different coloured beads you can make a design with the colours.  The final step is finishing the bracelet. Make sure the beads don’t fall off the moment you slip the bracelet onto your wrist.  With a three holed bead the process involves pushing the cord through both sides of the three holed bead and then up through the top.  Tie an overhand knot, trim the ends and voila, you have your new bling!   

Other beading project options are wire jewellery, hemp jewellery and earrings of all shapes and sizes.  Once you have decided on a project and made a list of supplies, then it’s time to head out to the local bead store.  Some supplies, like the three holed bead, can be difficult to find.  There are many online venues to locate those hard to find supplies. If you’re determined to make your project right away and are willing to compromise on some of the supplies then your local shopkeeper can suggest substitutions that might work.   

For example, using the power bracelet supply list if the three holed bead is unavailable a two holed bead can be supplemented using an alternative tying method.  It’s done by looping one of the cord ends through the end bead and then pulling it up and through another bead before making a knot.  It leaves the string exposed so choosing a string that matches your beads is recommended. 

Once you get started creating beaded jewellery it’s hard to stop.  There are so many beautiful projects to create and a seemingly endless supply of stunning beads.  Start small, plan your projects well and be willing to ask questions and make adjustments as you go.  Enjoy!