Beginner's guide to ideas and materials for beaded jewelry

by Briana
(GA)

Making jewelry can be a lot of fun, and there are some great ways to get ideas and materials when you're starting out.

To get ideas, look at other handcrafted jewelry. See how it's put together, and how the pieces work with each other. Don't copy the designs (especially if you plan on selling them), but look for inspiration.

Once you know the basics of construction, you can go to your local department store, and get ideas from manufactured jewelry or even photos online.

When it comes to materials, you won't want to spend a fortune on fancy bits and baubles before you're really good at working with them. Try getting beads, string and wire at closeout stores or clearance sales.

A fun way to get materials is to go to yard sales and flea markets and look for jewelry you can dismantle. I've salvaged great beads from what looked like ugly pieces when I found them. Don't look at the item as a whole, look at the beads, links and findings individually, and think of what you can do with them.

You can also often get broken jewelry for almost nothing, and salvage the beads, charms and findings. Dismantling broken or ugly jewelry can also give you insight into the way items are constructed. So have fun learning to make beaded jewelry, and always keep your eyes open for reclaimable bits!