| Beading, in all forms, has been a fun hobby for | | | | purchase a kit that will help get you started. If |
| those younger and older alike for many years. | | | | not, the very basics of what you will need are as |
| There are so many projects out there for | | | | follows: a type of thread, beads that you have |
| beading, it is hard to choose just one. The | | | | chosen for your design, and some way to finish |
| materials used in beading projects range from the | | | | off the the piece which usually includes clasps. |
| plain and simple to elaborate and elegant. For as | | | | Threading can be many things such as different |
| many people that are beading, there are more | | | | sizes of wire, multiple kinds of threads of all |
| than that in beading materials. Whether you are | | | | colors, and even yarn. Beads, you have a very |
| just beginning in the beading world, or an old timer | | | | wide range of choices. They can be glass, real or |
| with several years of experience, there will be a | | | | artificial gemstones, foil, ceramic and casting |
| project out there for you to do no matter what | | | | beads. There are also many types of clasps to |
| kind of budget you are on. | | | | choose from to give your piece of new jewelry a |
| Designing Your First, or Next, Project | | | | more finished look. The most common types of |
| The possibilities are endless when it comes to | | | | clasps are toggle, hook and eye, and lobster claw. |
| creating a beading project. You can use every | | | | A pair of craft needle nose pliers and wire cutters |
| color you can find of real gems with even silver | | | | are also a must for more advanced projects. |
| and gold. Of course there are many places where | | | | How You Can Save Money on Projects |
| you can find patterns. But, even then, you don't | | | | There are many ways you can save money on |
| have to follow it point by point. Add your own | | | | various beading projects. When you are just |
| flare to it by changing the bead styles that are | | | | starting out, you do not need to begin with silver |
| used, or try a mixing of different colors. The | | | | and gold materials. These can very quickly |
| easiest of projects to do are simple necklaces | | | | become very expensive very fast since wire is |
| and bracelets. They are large enough for you to | | | | often sold by the inch or foot. Even accent pieces |
| work easily with the materials without feeling like | | | | can add up fast. Also, for gemstones, start out |
| your fingers are cramped if you are just learning | | | | with the synthetic stones. Nobody, except those |
| how to bead. Moving onto more complex projects | | | | with a very good eye, will be able to tell they are |
| will include pins, brooches, earrings, and chandelier | | | | fake unless it is blatantly obvious. When you see |
| necklaces. It is up to you to decide what your | | | | those gaudy pieces of jewelry at the thrift store |
| project will be and how it will reflect your | | | | or garage sale, ask yourself if you could use parts |
| creativity. | | | | of it in your next project. It is very easy to take |
| Types of Materials | | | | pieces apart that you or somebody else is no |
| Even for the most simple of projects you must | | | | longer using. Old coffee mug holders are perfect |
| have materials to begin with. You can even | | | | to display finished items on. |