Luna’s Beading Crafts

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.

Technorati Tags: Beading, Beading Crafts, Tools