Saturday, June 18, 2016

What Types of Metal Beads Are Attractive And Available

 Metal beads are one of the best jewelry making items to buy, for a variety of reasons: they are strong, versatile, heavier than plastic beads, they can be plated and they come in a wide range. Here is a guide to some of the different types of metal beads which are available to buy.


Silver plated:
These metal beads have been treated in a special way, so that they are coated in a very thin layer of real silver. Although they look like solid silver beads, they are actually just covered in one layer of it. This means that although the beads look and feel like they are made completely of silver, they do not cost as much as beads which are solid silver. Because of this, silver plated items are great value for money. They are available to purchase for far less than solid silver items are, but will still add a touch of class to all of your homemade jewelry.

Gold plated:
It is also possibly to use real gold to plate metal items using the same techniques needed for silver plating. These items are a great value alternative to buying solid gold alloy items. Buy these to add a touch of bling to your jewelry making, or to create classy items for eveningwear or special occasions. Gold plating can be used with different types of gold, such as white gold and rose gold, so if you want to choose gold beads, then your available options are even greater!




Matt:
Metal can be given a frosted effect, instead of the shiny polished alternative. Matt-effect metal is a great alternative for those who are looking for the benefits of metal (weight, strength etc) without the shine that polished metal offers. Matt-effect beads are also less smooth than polished ones, meaning that they are more suited to some sorts of jewelry than others.

Polished:
Polished metal beads have been polished and buffed to give the beads a spectacular smooth finish and brilliant shine. These beads are eye-catching and will reflect the light in a way that gives a gleaming finish.








Unusually shaped trinkets:
Although many metal beads are round, ovoid or cylindrical, metal is a very malleable material for bead makers to work with, and therefore they are able to create a lot of different, brilliant and unusual shapes, which move away from the norm. These beads (or charms) are sometimes available singularly, as a set of identical beads or part of a variety pack. They can be used to express the wearers individuality or as a reminder of a special time or place in the wearer's life.

These different types of beads are not mutually exclusive, for instance, it is possible to get silver-plated, unusually shaped charms, or polished gold beads. It is even possible to find beads which have some polished sections and some matt sections! There are so many different types of metal beads available, that the list of jewelry designs that you can make with them is endless!



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7991631

Saturday, June 11, 2016

Use Attractive Crystal Beads to Create Dashing Jewelry Pieces


It's quite straightforward to produce your own custom-made jewelry patterns using Swarovski crystal beads and clear flexible beading wire. You can fetch these crystal stunners at your neighborhood art and craft shop or from online bead providers. Insert a crystal prism for a dazzling necklace or hang down teardrop crystals on vibrant beaded earrings. You can generate these uncomplicated design modes effortlessly and speedily, with no prior experience in making jewelry required.
Unite a teardrop gemstone prism and Swarovski crystal chaplet to create a necklace that fits very well into different situations, whether an outing in the evening or a day at the workplace. You'll feel the necessity of a lucid flexible beading wire, more for clearness than suppleness. Think about interchanging the chaplet with dual tones, vogues and sizes, besides the sparkler prism pendant. Both 4 mm and 6 mm beadings suit well for a necklace strand with crystal chaplet. To create an 18 inch necklace, cut 22 inches of wiring and wind the prism to the middle. You can craft both ends of the necklace at the same time by sewing the beads one after another on one end and then the other.

crystal beads
Interchange the beadings, starting with your darkest tone next to the prism in the middle, till both sides are made full up to 2 inches from the endpoints of the wire. Affix a magnet clasp for doing on and off quite easily; wind a crimp bead to begin with, after that the clasp. Wind the wire back down through the tucked bead and the opening few beads at the last part of the thread prior to the closedown of the crimp bead using a pinching pair of pliers.

You can also create plain earrings out of crystal beads using French wire collection of tools, headpins and round-nose pliers. Interchange 4 mm beads with complementary seed beads in line with the length of the headpin. Form a ring at the finishing point of the pin applying round-nose pliers and clasp them on top of a French earwire. This straightforward pattern is well-suited for a 1 inch headpin; however you can also create more extended drooping with both lengthier headpins and ending beads with side holes to hang at the finish of your headpin. It is easy to produce the dropping; just wind the headpin through the side of your end bead and after that twist the headpin in a perpendicular angle before winding more number of crystals.

Moving forward, you can make a crystal bead bracelet with 3 strands using interchanging 6 mm rondelles and 4 mm rounds from the Swarovski ensemble. Opt for complementary shades of the same color for this crystal beadwork, such as lilac and purple or fuchsia and pink. You can form an outstanding dissimilarity with black and white or sky-blue and opal. Compute the length of lucid flexible beading wire you require and make three strands out of it. Keep in mind to add extra 2 inches, so you can attach the strands to the three-opening clasp. Wind two strands precisely the same, starting and finishing with the 6 mm crystals. These will be your strings on the sides. For the middle strand or string, start and finish with the 4 mm crystals. You can make use of tucked beads or knots to affix the strands to the clasp firmly and tightly.
 Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3682409