Glass beads project: How to Make Earrings of Lampwork Beads?

Hello friends! Today, I present you an exciting tutorial of crafty lampwork beads that are so dear to us. It is indeed a pleasure in making handcrafted jewelry and now we are getting ahead with subtle designs and other combinations of jewelry.

It is a pretty easy project to pursue if you are a beginner. I would say, spare about 30 minutes of your time and approximately $20 from your pocket money. You will need to collect some supplies and cost of each varies from store-to-store.

Following are the materials you require to handcraft your beautiful earrings:

·         *Lampwork beads – 2x, round in shape, medium size, red colored

·         *Earring components – 2x, leverbacks, posts or French hooks

·         Sterling silver or 14 Carat Gold wrapping wire

·         Headpins – 2x

·         Daisy spacer beads – 2x

·         Nylon-jaw pliers

·         Round-nose pliers

·         Flat-nose pliers

*I personally like red lampwork beads, so I mentioned them to use here. You can also choose gold or silver if you like.

*Leverbacks are generally practical with longer or heavier jewelry designs. If you prefer French hooks then fix a rubber stopper to them in order to prevent them from sliding down. You know the drill!

Start by creating the frame with lampwork beads: grab a headpin and string your beads and one daisy spacer. Followed by, form a basic type of loop.

Now, take your gold or sterling silver wire and work about 6” of its length. Use your nylon-jaw pliers to straighten the bent shape of your wire. Do it gradually and neatly; you do not want your wire to deform or break into pieces. Wires are delicate, do remember.

Then, about one end of your wire, form a loop and fix one bead into this loop. Work with your round-nose pliers, carefully form a squiggly design of your wire by bending it back and forth neatly – it should be fun.

The length of this squiggle depends on your preference; make few squiggles for a short length or many for a longer length. As a general recommendation, I say you keep your wiggles about an inch long.

Use your flat-nose pliers and bend your wire on the opposite ends about a right-angle shape. Create another loop as you did of the other end of your wire. You can choose to stern your wire slightly by squeezing your squiggled wire component neatly and gently using your nylon-jaw pliers, but this is not a hard-and-fast rule. Repeat the same squiggling and forming loop for your other piece of earrings.

Now fix this finished piece to your earring component that you choose with the help of flat-nose pliers. Your earrings are ready!

That was surely it. You must be pleased how simple and comprehensive every detail was about each step. I understand certain processes require practice, but who said you could be an expert on your first attempt? No one ever!

These lampwork beads earrings are a splendor to wear; fun and amusing for others to spot. Stay tuned for more exciting jewelry tutorials.

How to make a bracelet using lampwork beads?

Hi friends! I am back with another crafty tutorial this time, using our dearly tendered glass beads. I generally recommend using lampwork beads because they simply are more attractive than any (in my opinion). So, let us stop talking now and begin!

First of all, make sure you check listed all the supplies mentioned below:

·         Lampwork beads

·         Beadalon wire – 19 strand

·         Toggle clasp

·         Jump rings – 2x, 5 to 6mm

·         Calottes – 2x

·         Swarovski crystal beads (optional to use) – blue

·         Bali Spacer beads – (optional to use)

·         Crimp beads

·         Crimp pliers

·         Chain-nose pliers

·         Wire cutters

Step 1: Grab your cutter and cut out a wire piece around 1” longer than your bracelet’s actual length. Followed by, string a crimp bead onto the ending point of your wire. Compress your bead using crimp pliers. Then, slide your calotte onto your wire and reach the middle of your calotte with it. You do not need any parts sticking out, so trim away the wire part in excess on the side of your crimp bead.

Step 2: Followed by, close your calotte using your flat-nose pliers or your chain until it is absolutely closed.

Step 3: Afterwards, open your calotte’s loop using the chain-nose pliers and put a jump ring into it. Then, close it using chain-nose pliers again.

Step 4: Now, fix a jump ring by opening your calotte’s loop using the pliers. Open the jump ring and then put your toggle clasp’s bar. The same way as you opened the jump ring, close it.

Step 5: Time to string your lampwork beads! I would recommend you follow my order, but you are absolutely free to go for your own: Swarovski beads, lampwork beads, Swarovski beads again, bali beads, Swarovski beads again and finally lampwork.

Step 6: Get the desired size of your bracelet’s length. You need to keep in mind that your toggle clasp will have a jump ring & a calotte eventually. Insert your calotte once you have reached the perfect length and then the crimp bead. Do not open your calotte too much; relax and open it slowly. I come from an experience of breaking my calottes and then frustrating myself. I would strictly advise you not to use crimp pliers for this particular crimp bead because they will break. You can use bent-nose pliers or a chain. Put the wire in one hand of yours and then use your chain-nose pliers in order to compress your crimp bead.

Step 7: Trim the extension of your wire away using wire cutters. Now gently close the sidings of your calotte using flat-nose pliers or a chain.

Step 8: Followed by, open up the loop of your calotte and put the next jump ring. Now close the loop. In order to insert the ring of the clasp, open your jump ring. Close the jump ring now, and your lampwork beads bracelet is all done!

That is all! I hope you enjoyed this lampwork beads tutorial. Stay tuned for more guided tutorials on my blog.

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!