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.