Tips on How to Bead:

• Whether you're a pro or you're just learning how to begin to bead, you will undoubtedly spill beads on the floor. To pick them up, pull nylon over the end of your vacuum cleaner hose and use the hose to suck up the beads. They will be trapped into the nylon and you will be able to retrieve them much easier.
• We have a great way to mark your beading and jewelry tools so they aren't accidentally mistaken for somebody else's: super glue a small rhinestone with a flat back, sequin or tiny button to the hinge of your scissors, pliers and crimpers. It adds flair to your tools and lets everyone know who they belong to.
• To make sure your beads are secure while crimping, follow these simple beading instructions: take the wire through the clasp, bring it back through the crimp bead, and through three beads on your string. Next, slip the end beads back just a little, add beading glue to the wire, and push the beads back up near the clasp. Now your strand is set and it won't fall apart.
• For easier threading of your beads or jewelry, coat beading thread with beeswax prior to stringing or following other craft instructions.
• Using mini re-closable bags is a great way to store small, easy-to-loose beads, findings, cords, charms, or other small beading items. Slightly larger bags can also hold loose leaf beads and beading craft instructions.
• To open a jump ring, do not distort or weaken the ring by pulling it open in a side-to-side motion. Instead, pull one side toward you and the other away from you using needle nose pliers.
• When threading a beading needle, tie an odd bead to the loose end to prevent the thread from pulling out. Be sure not to cut the cord. You will be pulling more cord from the spool through the eye of the needle as needed.

Cord & Wire Tips: How to Bead Without Frustration

• When making spirals on wire ends, be sure to keep the end of the wire close to the tip of the round nose pliers and turn the wire slowly. When you have the first loop created, reposition the pliers to the outside edge and turn the same wire in again. Note: It helps to practice on scrap pieces of wire first before working on a finished piece.
• When using stretchy cord for a jewelry piece, hold both ends of the cord together and pull them through at the same time into a loop (instead of tying them as if you were tying your shoes). To secure the knot once it is tied, a dot of clear nail polish or super glue will do the trick.
• Use wire cutters to cut Beadalon. This prevents frayed ends, ruined scissors, and frustration on your part.
• If you struggle at times with your wire wrapping or if the finished product isn't as nice as you'd like it to be, use a bead that matches the color of the wire you are using to mask the work. The matching bead and wire will blend very well together which will take attention away from this area if you struggle with it.

Stringing materials come in a variety of jewelry-making cords for the many requirements of multiple styles of jewelry design. Below is a list of stringing materials and what they are best used for.

• Beading thread is available in polyester, nylon, cotton, silk, and blends. It is best used for woven projects or lightweight designs.
• Beading wire, also called Tiger tail is a collection of coated wires that are multi-stranded, which provides for its great strength.
• Stretchy cord is also called jelly cord. This cord is pre-stretched for best results and it is great for bracelets and anklets. There is no need for closure with this cord, so it works well for beaders who are not adept at wrapping in wire ends.
• Monofilament is a clear fishing wire. It is best used when you want the cord to remain invisible through your beads.
• Hemp and leather cords are generally used in projects with simple or knotted designs.
• Memory wire is tempered wire that can be coiled into a shape. It quickly returns to its original shape after opening or pulling.

Tips on Tools: Selecting the Perfect Tool

• Chain nose pliers have tapered tips that can reach into small spaces. They are perfect for twisting, squeezing, and shaping wire for your bead work. They are also called long nose pliers.
• Round nose pliers (also called internal pliers) are great for twists, coils, and loops.
• Wire cutters (also called side-cutter pliers) are suitable for cutting and trimming wire that measure up to 1.6mm. It is also useful when working with jewelry findings and head & eye pins.
• A 3-in-1 Combination Tool is a great tool for twisting coils and loops. The groove tool helps to close coils and bend wires at right angles. The cutting tool trims wires, findings, and more.
• Crimping pliers have two grooves which are used to close and finish crimp beads in various beading projects.
• A Bead Reamer is best used to clean out clogged holes in beads. Another method is to use beading needles to accomplish the same task.

Tips for Using Beading Accessories

• Jump Ring Tools fit over your finger for convenient support when opening or closing jump rings.
• Bead Stoppers prevent beads from slipping off the cord while you're working on a project.
• Bead Boards are superb tools for laying out bead patterns.
• Bead Looms are compact frames that are perfect for simple bead weaving.

Tips for Using Connectors

• Eye Pins are ideal for making chains. Thread your beads on a pin leaving about 1/4" of pin bare. Form a loop at the open end of the pin, using round nose pliers. Then, add to another eye pin to make charms, earrings, necklaces, and more. Repeat the pattern to fit your design.
• Head Pins are perfect for creating charms. The steps to making great charms from head pins are the same as making chains from eye pins. Connect and enjoy!
• You can connect two loops using Jump Rings, Double Rings and Split Rings. Simple to use, they slip on your jewelry like a key ring.

Tips for Using Endings

• Crimp beads and tubes are ideal for ending a strand of beads. Start by threading your stringing material back and forth through your crimp bead and close the project. For best results, flatten the crimp bead then round it by using crimping pliers.
• Double Cup Connectors are also called bead tips. These are used for hiding knots and connecting to closures.
• Cones are used for connecting all the ends of a multi-strand project. Additionally, the cones can hide the knots in your project.
• End Crimps (or End Connectors) are commonly used with hemp, leather or ribbon cording for knotted projects. Fold over the ends and apply a dab of glue to hold the cord in place.
• Crimp Coil Necklace Ends are excellent for projects using leather cord since the crimp springs in place to hold on to the cord.

Additional Tips for Special Findings

• Spacer Beads are any bead used in between focal beads. Coordinating colors will give your projects a professional look and clear beads won't take attention away from the focal beads.
• Spacer Bars are used to hold multi-stranded bead projects in place.
• Bead Caps are ideal for surrounding a bead for a little extra flair.
• Pin Backs provide a secure pin base for pins and broaches without the tricky clasps.
• Chain Extensions easily extend the length of a necklace for comfort or design. They are easy to add and remove.
• Magnetic Clasp Converters change regular clasp necklaces into magnetic clasp necklaces for ease in taking jewelry on and off. These are perfect for people who have a hard time with traditional jewelry clasps.