How to Make Bracelets

Your jewelry can make or break your outfit and learning how to make bracelets can definitely have a dramatic impact on your personal style. Having the right accessories in your collection is really something that you want to do to try to be as stylish as possible. However, trying to put together a great collection of accessories can be very expensive. One way that you can reduce that cost while also infusing your jewelry collection with personality is to make your own beaded bracelets. Not only is it fun, but it will really allow you to display your personal tastes on your arm.

Making beaded bracelets is really fairly easy, but the first thing that you need to do is to make sure that you have all of the right supplies. To begin jewelry making you will need to purchase special beading thread, clasps, bead tips, beading glue, scissors, long straight pins, and perhaps most importantly beads! When selecting the beads to buy have fun! Additionally you will want to have a flat work surface to make your jewelry on, and you should pull out some towels, scissors, and flat nosed pliers from around your house.

Once you have all of your supplies you are ready to get jewelry making. You need to decide how long you would like your bracelet to be. Typically, most bracelets are about seven inches in length, but if you are making an ankle bracelet you will want to add a few inches to that length.

From there you need to decide which beads you want to make your bracelet out of. This is really the creative part, and there are no set rules to this. A good rule of thumb is to space out some of the larger beads with smaller or “spacer beads” in between them. Additionally, you will need to choose which clasp you would like to use as well as the bead tips that you are going to use in your bracelet. You will need one clasp and two tips per bracelet.

To get started you will want to set your beads out on your workspace so that you can play with their order. Take the time to plan so that you are not frustrated later with things not working out the way that you had envisioned them.

Once you have your design laid out you need to get out your bead thread. Make a knot at the end of your bead thread and trim any excess. From there you will start to thread the bead tip onto the thread. After you get the first bead tip threaded you will want to pull out your glue so that you can place a small dot onto the knot that is resting against the opening of the bead tip. Once the glue has tried use your piers to press the open edges closed.

Now you are really ready to get started. Continue by threading your beads onto the bead thread. Once you have all of the beads on you will want to string on the remaining bead tip. Tie a knot and use your straight pin to move the knot into the open bead tip. Once it is set cut any excess thread and use those piers to again close the bead tip as you did the first one.

All that you have left to do is to affix the clasp. Take one side of the clasp and hook it onto a bead tip. Use your round nose pliers to secure it. Then do the same to the other side, and voila! You have learned how to make bracelets!

How to Make Jewelry - Supplies Storage

Learn How to Make Jewelry - Organizing Jewelry Making Supplies First

So you have decided that you want to learn how to make wire jewelry as a hobby. This may be just to fuel your creative juices that you have inside or perhaps you want to make a little extra money by selling some of your handmade jewellery on the side. While beading is a very rewarding hobby you want to make sure that you have all the proper tools in place before you begin or frustration will definitely sink in.

Where to Start

Your first thought when you are learning how to make jewelry by beading might be, how could I run out of storage space? Beads take up so little space so it shouldn't take up so much space to make beaded jewelry. Surprisingly, though, the storage bins of tools, thread, string and beads can add up quickly. Before you know it, you can no longer get into your project room. Another significant downside to an unorganized project space is that will begin to take you sometimes two and three times longer than it should to design new bracelets or necklaces because you will spend your time hunting down your beads than actually stringing them together.

Now don’t jump ahead and buy a bunch of new bins from Michael’s or some other crafts store. That is something that is later on in your organizational strategy which will make your journey of learning how to make jewelry much more rewarding and stress free.

The first priority is putting together a game plan for sorting your beads. When you start out you may only have one type of bead and one type of string – the sorting will be easy at this point – however once you find your comfort level with one set of materials, there will be a significant increase in the assortment of beads and other materials.

As I said, the first step in keeping an organized beading space is to begin sorting. Now, I’m not going to tell you exactly how to sort because it will be your choices of projects that dictate what sorting method will be most effective for you.

This could be a simple sorting of the types of beads – an example being by seed beads, glass, Milagros, gemstone, etc. Then again, you may want to sort by the sizes of the beads, their type or bead color. The key is to make sure that you start with a strategy and don’t veer from it because your workspace will soon turn into an area that looks like a tornado hit your room!

Once you have decided how things will be sorted, the next task at hand will be to choose how to store them. You have options here too, but the most basic concerns for beaders are typically whether to choose storage bins that you can see into – an thus aware of what stock you have, or just some solid colored bins. The beader can choose a bin with many small drawers or ones with just a few.

And you thought that learning how to make jewelry; specifically beading was simply a string and clasp job and you’re done! In all seriousness, beading is an enjoyable hobby and can continue for many years as such; as long as you properly organize your jewelry making supplies from the get go.

Unused Bulk Beads, Making Jewelry with Unique Design Ideas

There comes a time for everyone who is in the habit of producing creative material-- regardless of whether your creative energies involve beads, making jewelry pieces or even creating a blog post.

When you first get started in learning how to make wire jewelry or other pieces of jewelry, there are going to be a lot ideas or themes that you will want to create. After some success with the smaller projects you begin to expand your operation. You get extremely ambitious in your endeavors and begin to stock up on your supplies -- from bulk jewellery to bulk beads -- making plans for the great designs and pieces that you will create!

Then it happens....

You're sitting at your desk and NOTHING is coming to you. What are you going to make next. When this happens you should look no further than your bedroom closet.

Look at that new top you bought last week at the mall. You know the one you got for a "steal" off the clearance rack!! No I won't tell your significant other that you raided the rainy day fund for it! :-)

Fashion can be a very inspirational outlet to help you grind out more unique and fantastic pieces

So where do you get your inspiration for your beads making projects? If you have a unique piece of jewelry posted on the internet, please let me know and I will promote it here!

Genuine Troll Beads & Books to Help Create Jewelry with Them

Tutorials for Jewelry Making

Well after a long holiday break from updating my how to make wire jewelry blog, I have returned to give all of you the opportunity to find out more about troll beads and the beading hobby by giving you a list of the books that have helped me to become familiar with beading, finding the right tools and workspace...of course in the most economical fashion possible. 

Cause if you're like me, you want to find fun hobbies to do, but really don't have that trust fund to fall back on to pay the bills. So without any further delay here is the list of four books that really helped me:

1. Jewelry Making and Beading for Dummies 

I have always enjoyed the "for Dummies" series of books, due to the simplification of all of the tasks. This one in particular has step by step instruction for beginner projects all the way to the more complex ones that involve things such as wire wrapping and knotting. So whether you want to use trollbeads for making necklaces, key chains or wine charms, you're sure to find the steps to guide you on how to make jewelry on your beading project.


2. The New! Beader's Companion by Judith Durant

Personally, I consider this my beading reference book! This was the second book that I purchased and after getting the basics down, "Beaders Companion" is just that, a companion to provide you with all of the terminology and reference for a huge list of beading techniques. I definitely recommend getting this book after reading a more introductory-type book like the book listed at #1.


3. Bead on a Wire: Making Handcrafted Wire & Beaded Jewelry by Sharilyn Miller.

Now we have ventured into the arena for the more experienced beaders. After you have done about 3-5 projects of beading together trollbeads, this book will provide you with the information to create more complex jewerly. Sharilyn has a wonderful way of elaborately describing and detailing all of the advanced techniques. Once you've done a few of the ones illustrated in this book, you will be a pro!!!


4. Marketing & Selling your Handmade Jewelry: The Complete Guide to Turning your Passion into Profit by Viki Lareau

This final book is being listed because, after creating several works of art (IMHO!!), I ran across this book at Barnes & Nobles. I thought to myself, what the heck?!! I enjoy making these pieces of jewelry, why not see if I can make some extra spending money. Viki takes a very good approach to describing all of the skills and factors that come into play in presenting, pricing, marketing and ultimately selling your handmade pieces of jewelry. Now this book may not be for everyone, especially those of you who enjoy beading as a simple hobby to relax after a long week! If you want to pad that emergency fund with some extra cash, this might be the way to go.


I hope that you go out and enjoy these excellent books, but more so that you find the passion for creating one of a kind pieces of jewelry with troll beads. You will be creating items that you can't just go down to the local jewelry store or mall outlet to find!!

Stay tuned for the next upcoming post that will include a beginner's level beading project for you. In the meantime, if you want to pick up some beads to get ready to do some beading be sure to follow the link above!!

Genuine Troll Beads Make Great Gifts

Earlier in the month I wrote about how you can be quite selfless by creating heartfelt jewelry made from troll beads and donating them to sick children. Let me ask you if there has ever been a time...usually after watching a Kay Jewelers or Jared's commercial for the millionth time that you wish provide more meaningful gifts for your family and less time trying to track down the new iPhone or a new Lexus?

Starting a new hobby by learning how to make wire jewelry with your family, even if its just one night a week, can help tremendously to build the bond with your kids. Beading is quite a simple and even addicting hobby to start.

When you can make outlandish or pieces of jewelry that stand out, you will capture the imagination and enthusiasm of your kids. Even in an article by Kim Mitchell for GO! Magazine there is mention.
"Glitter and glam could be just the thing to get your girls interested in making Christmas gifts, Riall said.

With so many options in the jewelry isles, Riall said the time consuming part won't be the making, but the selecting."

So start by getting involved with your kids with you, clear off the kitchen and start putting troll beads onto your jewelry pieces. And if you're so inclined, give them as gifts to those your care about!

If you want to read the whole article from Kim click here

Spend Time With Family Making Jewelry with Troll Beads

Have you recently used any troll beads to create jewelry? If not you should begin to consider it. Now you may be asking me, "why do I even care?" when you're just starting out learning out how to make wire jewelry. That is an excellent question!

The reason why you should care is because if you have ever wanted to pass the time with a new hobby, spend a weekend bonding with your kids, or even make a little extra money to add to the vacation stash....jewelry making most definitely is the way to go.

According to Debbie Albritton, the owner of Charmed, a jewelry making business, this past time is growing in popularity by an astounding pace. She said, "It's right behind scrap-booking which is number one".


That alone should at least get you interested enough to investigate...That's what I did. That is when I found out how much fun it is to decide on a charm or jewelry design and then choose from a wide variety of beads including troll beads, Pandora beads and the list goes on.


Turn that tv off, clear off the kitchen table and have a fun night with your family!

Troll Beads give your Jewelry & Accessories more Life

The other day I was thinking of the many ways that troll beads can be used to enhance your jewelry collection, when I couldn't help but think of how my sisters are obsessed with accessorizing everything that they own! Typically when you are learning how to make wire jewelry, these beads can be perfect for giving them a unique look to them. How ever, they were using them in completely different ways than I had even considered. When I visited them in July, all of their jeans, purses and even their shirts were "personalized" with their own artistic graffiti! Troll beads are so unique that they are something that can enhance anyone's clothes. Oddly enough, I found an article that was speaking on the same thing explaining that "beads add pizzazz to designs by giving sparkle and depth to the finished pieces. It's fun deciding where to place them on a design, like in a flower center."
There truly is so many different things that can be done with these beads; if you are an animal lover, there are complete collections of different animal troll beads that you can buy to attach to your purse or new jeans that you bought for a great deal off the discount rack!

You can find the whole article here

Give Homemade crafts and jewelry a unique look with Troll Beads!

It is very rare when items as small as troll beads can create such a one of a kind flair and increased interest in jewelry creation and similar crafts. They are a wonderful complement to the various beads you incorporate when you are learning how to make wire jewelry. A lot of this interest can be attributed to the individual personality that each bead is created with. Troll beads also give a nod to fantasy and astrology as explained by How to Rama:


"Each bead tells its own history that is inspired greatly for one by mythology since trolls are actually fairies believed to possess magical powers that help fulfill your wishes. The troll beads, additionally, are inspired by astrology - each of us lives in our own fate that is predetermined by astrological conditions. Aside from these, troll beads also take inspiration from fauna, flora, fairy tales, cultural diversity, and the typical things we see in everyday life."
To see the whole article click here
Remember these beads the next time you are creating handmade jewellery.