Glass Beads: A World unto their Own

If you have ever even remotely considered the possibility of designing your own jewellery, you probably know what glass beads are. And unlike most others who view it merely as beautiful, you know the kind of creativity they represent in terms of their correct usage. Also, they are extremely inexpensive. However, if you are like me who likes to get everything down just right and like making your own beads, you are in luck. We will be covering the basics on how to make them and then outline a few more creative ideas.

First comes safety

While the prospect of making your own glass beads might be extremely exciting, you need to understand that creating your own beads is not exactly a walk in the park. So the most important thing here is safety. You will be working with a propane torch, so make sure that you are not wearing anything flammable while working. Also, be sure to have gloves ready, preferably of flame resistant material so that you can handle the extremely high temperature materials you will be working with. Always be sure to work in a brightly lit environment. Get a safety glass. Always have a fire extinguisher nearby in case of emergencies. And last but not the least; do not heat the glass too high. Super-heated glass is not to be trifled with.

Making it

Now that we have the safety points taken care of, let us get down to business.

·         For the glass, you will need, well, glass. So get all the junk you have left over. Broken glass pieces, waste milk bottles and any kind of clean glass is totally usable.

·         Get some thin metal rods (old un-rusted cycle spokes work the best)

·         Heat the glass pieces, holding them at an angle so that the glass can liquefy easily and can be collected somewhere

·         Coat the rod with molten glass

·         Heat the rod uniformly so that the beads become smooth and round

·         Finally, let it cool in the air

Under no circumstances, should you touch it while it is cooling. Also, initially, start with small glass beads. Larger ones crack easily and should only be attempted once you have sufficient experience in handling them. Later on, you can add colour to the beads when they are cooling. This gives a nice hue to the beads once set. 

Versatility

Glass beds are one of the most overlooked, and yet highly used materials in making jewellery. Not only can you make them in different sizes, once you have mastered the art, you can use molds for making different shaped ones as well. While it is true that home-made molds cannot be used for anything too intricate, same fairly interesting ones can always be prepared. And if you get too bored, you always have the option of buying them. From skull shaped glass beads for Halloween to Christmas tree shaped ones for the festive season, the possibilities are endless. And you can virtually use them as almost anything; from a pendant to ear rings.

So get down and get creative.

How to decorate your bedroom with glass beads?

To give an extra sparkling touch to your bedroom, you can give a thought to investing in some glass beads that are available in market at a cheap price. These beads can be used to give a makeover to the appearance of your bedroom and can change the whole allure of your room.

To give a unique look to your rooms, you can consider different home décor projects that use glass beads. You do not need to be an expert to try those projects, anyone can try simple things to decorate anything you want using the beads. Here I am going to share a few ideas that will help you in decorating your rooms with glass beads:

Relight the fire:

You can fill a surface glass bowl with smooth or faceted beads and place a tea-light candle in the center of that bowl. When you light the candle, the flame will produce an array of multi-colors by reflecting off of the glass beads. If you use colored beads, it will provide an even better color effects. Glass beads are inflammable and hence are safe to use with candle placement. Using this decoration piece in your bedroom will provide you with a romantic candlelight appearance. It is safer than using a candle holder for having a romantic candlelight look.

You can make Dream Catcher:

You can make your own dream catcher by using glass beads and some other additional jewelry supplies that you can pick from any craft store. You will need hoops that are flexible yet strong and some twine. There are many tutorials available online that can assist you in creating your own beautiful and unique dream catcher that you can use in your room. Those tutorials will be helpful for you if you want to add beads to its main structure. Once your main structure is completed using threading process, you will be able to proceed using extra colored beads in your dream catcher that will add the sparkle to your bedroom in the moonlight.

Decorate Mirror:

You can decorate a plain mirror frame by using a lot of different glass beads. There is a wide range of beads available in the market that you can use according to the general color scheme that matches your bedroom. You can use tiny seed beads to decorate a mirror and gloss them to protect from any damage or you can go for large sized beads to give your mirror an antique or chunky look. You can use glass beads in a combination with different charms to enhance the allure of your mirror. A total mismatch of different kinds of beads can also give a funky look to your mirror. You can try different arrangement techniques and then stick the beads down on the mirror in the best possible way.

Above mentioned are some ideas through which you can give an attractive look to your bedroom or any other room of your house. What you need are a creative mind and supplies.

Crafting Ideas with Glass Beads

The festive Christmas season is around the corner again and you will want to have decorations at home. You will definitely have many options at hand for your consideration but glass beads will stand out very well. Any celebration without decorations is not satisfactory and you should put that into serious consideration this festive season. There are very many ways in which you can use glass beads for decorations at home. The following are some of the top ideas you can think about:

• Making wreathes- these are good when hung on the doors to create the best first impression. You can purchase a plain wreathe and then decorate using these beads. Choose the color that matches that of your wreathe to ensure uniformity. It will help you to save on time.

• Making cards- the best gift to send to a friend or loved one during festive season like Christmas is a card. You have possibly been sending these cards each and every year and 2015 needs to be a bit different. That is possible through decorating using glass beads because you can customize as per your needs or those of the people you are targeting. The cards should also have customized messages that reflect the season.

In general, glass beads are very ideal for making decorations when you have a festive season approaching. The decorations vary and you will have the freedom of choosing the one that is in line with your satisfaction. Outdoor hanging décor is yet another option that you must consider for your festive season. This is what will help give your friends and visitors the best impression about your home and preparedness. The décor that you hang outside your house should be colorful and attractive.

It can be hung anywhere that eyes will have an easy time grasping. It can be on a tree or walls of the house as long as visitors will see that as the first thing once they arrive. Don’t place it where eyes will struggle a lot to see. With that, you will have the best use for glass beads as far decorations at home are concerned. When you hang, make sure the decorations are not on the path of wind. You will have nothing to complain about when seeking the best way to decorate for your festive celebrations.

Consider widely

Unless you are not keen on considering widely, chances are that you will easily settle for the best crafting ideas. You have to be creative in the choices you make. One of the biggest advantages of using glass for beads is that they are durable when handled with care. You should not mishandle glass beads because the material can break easily. Durability of glass material is assured but you must make the effort of ensuring that is upheld.

Don’t take anything for granted just because durability is assured. You must be seen to go out of your way in making sure your beads are durable and serve you for long.

Key Properties of Glass Beads

What makes glass beads so popular and a darling of many jewelers? You might have to do a lot of research before getting right answers to that. The truth is that key properties of these beads are the ones that make them unique and adorable. They can easily standout from the rest in the market and that is a reason enough to consider glass beads for your jewelry project. In making your choices, consider the following properties to ensure the choice you make is the right one:

• Size- this is a very critical property that should be given top priority all the time. The size of glass beads varies from one manufacturer to another and you must be aware of that. Also, size can depend on the specific part of the body they will be used. For instance, those for the neck will come in different size from those for the wrist. You must go for beads of a size that you feel will not be a burden to your body. It should match well with your own body size and any other accessories that you have put on.

• Shape- this is another property that must be given due consideration. Do you want rounded, rectangular or triangular shaped glass beads? All these are alternatives that you will get in the market for consideration. Some of the shapes might be difficult to access but you must leave to it that the choice you make is the ideal one.

• Surface- the surface of your beads can either be smooth or rough. Luckily for glass material, its surface is mostly smooth but that does not mean you will never get those with rough surfaces. You will get whatever you are looking for in terms of the surface texture so don’t limit your considerations.

• Chemical- the chemical property of glass material for making beads matters a lot. This is because glass beads seem to be unaffected anytime they are subjected to different environmental conditions unlike many other types in the market. Whether its pressure, temperatures, moisture or light irradiation; the beads remain natural.

• Thermal- this is a property of glass that you need to know about when buying the material for making beads. Glass has very low thermal expansion and that means beads have a very high dimensional stability whenever exposed to high temperatures. They can withstand the pressure coming from heat which translates to durability.

• Hard- naturally, glass comes with hardness thus it can be hard to break unless mishandled. If you handle your glass beads with a lot of care, they will serve you for long without breaking. The hardness assures beads durability and it’s something to think about seriously when making a choice.

• Transparent- you can see through the glass material and it’s yet another top property that makes it good for making beads.

When deciding whether to use glass for making beads or not, considering these properties will be a good starting point. It will help you understand very well what you are going for. 

Different Types of Glass Beads

Glass beads have been around for a long time. If you look back in history, you will find that these beads were in use during the Roman and Egyptian times. Glass is a popular material when it comes to bead making. There are different types of beads made out of glass to choose from in jewelry design. Some good examples of beads made from glass are cat-eye beads, lampwork beads, dichroic beads, and Venetian beads among others.

Cat eye beads

Cat eye beads are also known as fiber-optic beads. These beads are valued by jewelry designers because they capture and reflect light in a special way. When light passes through cat eye beads, it forms a band of light that makes the beads glow just like cat’s eyes. Cat eye beads are available in a variety of colors and shapes, and they make beautiful jewelry pieces.

Venetian glass beads

Venetian beads are also called Murano beads. The Venetian beads get their name from their origin. The first place they were manufactured was in Venice, Italy. However, due to logistical problems, the manufacturers moved the bead factories to an Island known as Murano and the beads started being referred to as Murano beads. Hence, these beads can either be referred to as Venetian or Murano beads. Venetian beads are quite popular in jewelry making because they make striking jewelry pieces.

Lampwork beads

Lampwork beads are beads made from glass that are handmade using a process known as lampworking. In lampworking, glass rods are melted, and the molten glass shaped into beads. The name lampwork comes from the fact that in the past when making lampwork beads the glass rods were melted using heat from lamps. Lampwork beads are available in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors and they make beautiful jewelry.

Dichroic beads

Dichroic beads get their name from the fact that they are two-colored beads. These beads get their name from two Greek words; “di” meaning two and “chroma” meaning color. These beads are valuable because of their multicolored properties with their rainbow swirling patterns similar to what you see on soap bubbles. Dichroic beads make amazing jewelry pieces that are beautiful, affordable and colorful.

Use beads made from glass in creative projects

These are just a few examples of the beads made from glass available in the market. Apart from making jewelry, glass beads can be used in home decor, crafts projects, and embroidery. For example, you can use beads from glass to decorate pull chains. Another favorite way of using beads in décor is on light fixtures such lamps and candlesticks because they reflect light very well. You can also use these beads to embroider pillow cases and clothes.

Buy your beads online

Glass beads are available online at affordable prices.  The advantage of purchasing beads online is that it’s easy as you can do it from the comfort of your workshop or home. There is a wide variety of bead made from glass available online at affordable prices. So why not order your beads today!

Simple Craft - Chain Bracelet with Glass Beads

Happy Tuesday! Today I will share a simple craft, which inspired by this outfit on polyvore,gold chain link charm bracelet with glass beads with you.
These lake blue czech glass beads super-clear and glitter well in gold chain link charm bracelet. You will soon fall in love this beautiful and simple bracelet. Let's start!

The main jewelry making supplies you will need:
12mm Blue Czech Glass Beads
16mm Blue Czech Glass Beads
12mm Brass Rhinestone Beads
0.5mm Copper Wire
Jump Rings
Spring Clasp
Iron Chain
Wire Cutter
Round Nose Plier

How to make a chain link bracelet with glass beads:
1. Make a bead link
Wrap a wire as a headpin, and slide czech glass beads and rhinestone beads alternately as the picture shows below, then make a loop and cut off extra wire.
2. Connect bead link with chains
Prepare 2 pairs of 10cm chains, and use jump rings to attach chains to both sides of the bead link.
3. Finish the bracelet
Connect the two end chains together with a spring clasp and a jump ring.

Woven Bracelet ~ DIY

There's nothing better than a bit of delicate flower on your wrist to get you through the beautiful season. With that in mind, I recently crafted a kind of woven bracelet, which is available to wear everyday.This woven bracelet is simply used glass beads and jewelry wire, you can make it instantly.It also is perfect for making for friends who love delicate jewelry. Read on see how I made it.


You need:
8mm Blue Glass Pearl Beads
3mm Blue Glass Pearl Beads
0.3mm Tiger Tail Wire
Scissors
How to make this woven bracelet with glass pearl beads.

Happy crafting! xoxo

When I meet these multistrand necklaces

Hi everyone, I've found these gorgeous necklaces while browsing on pinterest coz they are so admirable!! I couldn't be happier to meet these necklaces. They are lightweight, beautiful and unique! When I meet them, I thought it would be fun to make a similar one out of them.

Main Materials below:
The red multistrand necklace Materials: Monofilament, seed beads...
The green grassy necklace Materials: Czech glass beads, seed beads, denim thread...
The golden multistrand necklace Materials: Monofilament, glass beads, seed beads, supplies...
The Turquoise mulistrand necklace Materials: Monofilament, turquoise, seed beads, turquoise natural stone, jewelry making supplies...
If you are interested in knowing more about these necklaces you can click here.

Know the Basics of Jewelry Making Supplies: Present Yourself in a Unique Way

The decision of purchasing anything depends upon your personality and looks. Your personality becomes more important when you are going to purchase something related to your dressing. When it comes to jewelry, you must spend some time to go through the details of each component. In order to design the best suitable piece, you must acquire knowledge about the jewelry making supplies. You may refer to pandahall for more information.

First of all you should learn about the art of jewelry making. You need to know the basics at least. Today, different local community centers, fashion designing institutes and universities are offering the opportunity to learn this art. This article will help you to know about some basic items involved in jewelry. Following is the basic information about the most important items.

Beads

Gems have impressed the human beings over a long period of time. People have been using them for more than 3,500 years. Today, beads come with various types depending upon their size, color and appearance. They are available in local stores as well as on the online stores. Gemstone, glass beads, pearl and clay are the most popular types of beads. Most of the people love to use crystal beads. They are a processed form of glass beads with a great ability to reflect the light. People like crystal beads due to their impressive design and attractive geometrical shapes. Beads are the most common ingredient of jewelry making supplies.

Stringing Material
The selection of the stringing material depends upon the particular design and item you want to make. Nylon thread is recommended for necklaces. You need to have a coated beading wire which comes in a variety of colors.

Wire
The wires are needed when you are making a wire wrap jewelry item. It is available in different shapes, colors and texture. It is made of different metals which determine the hardness of the wire. 

Metal Clay Findings
They are fire resistant and protect your jewelry item featuring metal clay. They are made of silver.

Metals
When talking about jewelry making supplies, you cannot forget the importance of metals. Normally I prefer to keep sterling silver metal. You can also consider a bi-metal sheet featuring a 22K gold coated over sterling silver.

Purchasing the Items


Just a couple of decades back, people did not have enough options in order to find the product of their choice. Thanks to the online stores, now you can easily purchase different jewelry making supplies after searching from the Internet. Most of the stores offer almost every kind of supplies that you need.

It becomes hard to work on the beads in order to customize them according to your needs. The tools which are needed to work on the beads are not easily available in every locality. Now it has become easy to purchase those tools due to the online jewelry stores.

People always like to have something unique to wear or present. Jewelry making supplies allow you to create any design according to your choice. Visit pandahall.com in order to know the basics of different designs. It gives you the freedom to create something entirely different from the conventional jewelry products.

Pink Glass Beaded Bracelet!

An easy beadweaving project starts from this one! First weaving the glass beads with easy pattern, then wrap the seed bead strands around the basic pattern, and you will get the special beaded bracelet, great accessory for any outfit.

You will need: 

12/0 Glass Seed Bead
Gemstone Bead
Abacus Glass Bead
Bicone Glass Bead
Crimp Bead
Brass End Piece
Brass Lobster Claw Clasp
Iron Bead Tip
Tiger Tail
Nylon Wire
Side Cutting Plier
Wire-Cutter Plier

1, prepare 100cmm long tiger tail wire;
2, string 2 bicone glass beads to the center, add two 12/0 glass seed beads on both sides respectively;
3, cross both ends through 1 pink gemstone bead;
4, repeat the procedure to get the basic beaded bracelet;

5, string the seed beads on the wire and lead the wire through the adjoining pink gemstone bead, and repeat to the last pink gemstone bead;
6, add jup ring and lobster claw clasp for closure.

So easy, right?