Last Minute Gift Ideas – Beading Crafts
December 23rd, 2008 | Posted by Luna | Category: Beading Tips and Hints | Tags: Beading Crafts, Gift Ideas | No Comments
Shopping for the crafty person in your life doesn’t have to be intimidating. If you haven’t figured out what to buy yet, why not try some beading crafts gifts? Crafters love to make their own jewelry and there are a myriad of inexpensive last minute gift ideas such as these……
Beading Crafts Basket
Create a beading crafts gift basket. Your local craft store should have everything you need. For the beginner, tools including round nose pliers and wire cutters, a beading board, memory wire or silver jewelry wire, clasps and findings, a storage box and an assortment of beads would make a fantastic last minute gift.
For the more experienced beader, new supplies are always appreciated. Create a basket including an assortment of beads, jewelry wire and some patterns or advanced beading books. You’ll make someone a very happy crafter!
Themed Fantasy Bead Box
Enthusiasts of beading crafts would love to have a storage box filled with unique beads. Pick a theme and head off to your local craft store. For example, if the person is interested in parrots, you could find beads in bright, tropical colors, tiny birds, exotic rainforest beads, etc. Organize them into a storage box and top with a bow for a fantastic last minute gift. If you wanted, you could add colored cording or other beading crafts supplies that correspond with your theme.
Beading Kits
If you aren’t very good at compiling themes, try a beading kit that is already put together. For example, Bead Bazaar offers fantastic themed beading kits that include a variety of glass and ceramic beads, string, findings and instruction book. Try Bead Bazaar Bead Symphony Bead Kit - Rojo Alegro
Beading Crafts Gift Ideas for Kids
For the young beading enthusiast, try one of the many beading kits made just for kids. Melissa & Doug make fantastic kits that include beads, laces and storage box. Try the Sweet Hearts Bead Set
Whatever the circumstance, beading crafts offer some wonderful last minute gift ideas that kids and adults alike are sure to love. Happy holidays!
7 Essential Tools for Beading Crafts
December 21st, 2008 | Posted by Luna | Category: Beading Tips and Hints | Tags: Beading, Beading Crafts, Tools | No Comments
Before you begin beading, there are several craft tools that you’ll need. These tools are essential for most beading crafts and will help you get the most out of your crafting experience. Although there are hundreds on the market, you really only need these 7 all-purpose tools to get started. Keep in mind that specific beading crafts may require more specific supplies.
Round Nose Pliers
Round nose pliers are the most essential tool you’ll need in beading crafts. They will be used frequently for bending and shaping wire. They can be found in hardware stores or hobby shops. To guarantee you get the best quality, it is recommended that you purchase a pair made specifically for jewelry making.
Flat Nose Pliers
Like the round nose pliers, flat nose will also be used extensively in beading crafts. Again, try to find them at a jewelry store or in the jewelry making department of craft and hobby stores. These will be used for more intricate beading crafts in which round nose pliers are too large.
Wire Cutters
Wire cutters are used in beading crafts to trim wire, specifically in jewelry making but you may find many other uses for them as well. Find the smallest pair you can get, as beading crafts require you work with small pieces. If your wire cutters are too large, you will find them very difficult to work with.
Tweezers
Tweezers are essential for beading crafts using very small and delicate beads. They will help you pick up tiny beads that may be difficult to handle with your fingers. Any pair of all-purpose tweezers will work just fine.
Findings
This is a rather broad term encompassing items such as clasps, crimps, earwires, head pins and eye pins. You can begin with just a few or even one of these, depending on what beading crafts you’ll be making. If you know you want to begin making earrings, for example, you might want to get earwires and head pins, then buy more specific supplies as you go.
Stringing Material
You’ll need some sort of bead stringing material for your beading crafts. If you want to begin with something easy, try stretch material or memory wire. These materials can be used to make necklaces and bracelets. There are many other things you could use, including cord or wire. Choose depending on the type of beading crafts you are interested in and your level of experience.
Beads
Last, but not least, you need beads! Pick up beads as you find them to use in your beading crafts. Believe me, you can never have too many. You can find beads very inexpensively in many different shapes, sizes, colors and materials. Typically, glass and plastic beads are good for the beginner because they are abundant and low in price. The bottom line, however, is to use what you like and what you can find.