Auntie's Beads Blog – Beading & Jewelry Making

As a long time beader, I have gotten a little smarter in the beading department. So I, along with the help of the rest of Auntie’s family, have decided to develop a helpful list of beading tips that will hopefully save you time and money, spark some creativity and improve your overall beading experiences. Here is a sample of our upcoming 101 Beading Tips category, which will go live sometime in the near future in our Learning Center. And feel free to leave a comment regarding any interesting and useful beading tips you may have…

 1.   To get an antique look to your silver or other metal, you must oxidize your piece. For a cheap way to add this look, use a hard boiled egg. Remove the shell, cut the egg into quarters, place in a sealed container with your earrings, etc. and remove when adequately oxidized.

2.  To  keep your beads from falling off your wire while working on a necklace or bracelet, use a bead stopper. If you drop your beads, they stay on and you don’t have to start over. If you do not wish to purchase a bead stopper, you can simply use masking tape, taping it to itself to make sort of a tab.

3.  When showcasing your jewelry at a show, find out which way the flow of traffic is coming from. If it’s mostly left to right, place your least expensive items on the left and most expensive on the right. You want their eyes to see progressively better items as they scan and hopefully you’ll have reeled them in with the last pieces, the high-end ones.

4.If you give away earrings to family or friends, give them away in three’s rather than pairs. One will inevitably get lost and they will be grateful that you gave them a third.

5. To aid in getting your bracelet noticed, try using a fairly heavy toggle to give weight to the bottom of the bracelet. The lighter side of the bracelet will naturally stay on top of your wrist with your centerpiece or focal point where it gets the most attention.

6.  Even if you don’t weave or do intricate bead work, always keep seed beads in basic colors on hand. They make great (and inexpensive) spacers when working with a monochromatic color pallet.

7.  To prevent scratches on wire jewelry, wrap masking tape around the ends of your pliers. A couple of layers and you’re scratch-proof!

8.  Invest in a color wheel. It will help you think outside the box when it comes to color dyads and triads. You will never feel as though you are in a color rut again!

9.  If you find yourself in a bit of a creative slump, try working with a specific kind of bead as to limit your options. This will help focus your mind.

10.  To keep your sterling silver wire from tarnishing, apply some VO5 hairdressing cream. Rub it in with your fingers and wipe off with a soft cloth.