Want to get started on Bead Stitching? Here’s a simple starter guide to bead stitching with Stringing Tools, Stringing Materials and simple DIY tutorials ideas.

Needles

Needles are a must for getting started. They come in many shapes and sizes, depending on the size of your beads and its hole size. Since many of the beads you will use have small holes, needles for bead stitching are thin and can be used for all small beads. Shop needles in Stringing Tools.

String Thread

• Beading Threads: You’ll need strings/thread to create your bead stitching designs.
  • For intricate patterns, using waxed beading thread like Fireline beading threads are a great material. They don’t stretch and keeps your pattern tight and secured with each stitching.
  • For loose stitching like fringe tassels, use some cotton beading threads They are also a less expensive option that can be used on for fringes but also for all your bead stitching projects.

Stringing Tools

• Looms: Create straight patterns or designs using a loom. Check out how to use the Rick’s Bead Loom.
• Bead Mat: Stop your beads from rolling away with a Bead Mat
• Bead Stoppers: Use the Large, Small or Combo pack of bead stoppers to cinch your thread ends so that your beads don’t fall through.
• Bead Sort Tray: Scoop use your leftover beads with the help of this tool.
• Cutters: You will need a fairly flush cut when you cut the ends of your thread. Some cutter tools you can use are:
  • Thread Clippers
  • Thread Zap II or Beadalon Heat Cord Cutter
  • Flush Cutters or Nipper Tool

Seed Beader Beginners Kit

If you don’t know where to get started, you can simply get the Seed Beader Beginner Kit. You’ll get the basic tools and stringing materials to get your project started. Kit includes beading needles and beading thread, along with some simple tools such as beading mats, thread clipper, bead scoop and bead stoppers. All you need are seed beads and some creativity to get you rolling! Check out the GoodyBeads blog for inspirational designs and tutorials. You will receive 1 of each of the following: A006767, A006587, TL00337, A006980, A021663, and A006770.

Easy Beading Projects

Get started on some simple bead stitching projects using seed beads:

• Cymbal Remata Earrings
• Honeycomb Tassel Earrings
• Spike Drip Earrings
• Honeycomb Jewel Bracelet
• Delica Adjustable Bracelet

Looking for some Leather Wrap Bracelet, bead-stitching ideas:

• DIY Wrap Bracelet with Fire Polish Czech Beads
• Leather Wrap Bracelet
• Leather Bracelet with Swarovski Bicones
• Leather Bracelet with Paisley Beads
• Leather Bracelet with Swarovski Spike Beads

Or even try out some beading options with our Beadable Accessories and Miyuki Delica Seed Beads:

• Bezel Bangle
• Bezel Column Beads
• Diamond Ring & Pendant
• DIY Jewelry with Beadable Components
• Beadable Thread Earrings
• Beadalon Instant Pendants
• Boho Feather Earrings

This week’s tutorial from ImpressArt is a popular trend in Mandala metal stamping. A mandala design is a circular shape with geometric patterns.

Here is what you’ll need to start your mandala designs:

• Mandala Design Stamp Pack: These packs comes with a set of 4 stamps. Combine these stamps endlessly to create intricate jewelry designs. Easily stamp beautiful on-trend mandalas, frames, accents, or borders.
  Here are 4 sets we have: Z018002, Z018004, Z009934, Z009935.
• Stamp Enamel: An acrylic ink used to darken stamped impressions so your design will be clearly seen. We have this enamel pen in Black, Green, Gold & Brown.
• Sticker Book Stamp Guides (Z021582): Stamp Guides makes it easy to space out letters, stamp in a straight line or curve, and stamp Mandalas and other intricate patterns
• 1″ Circle w/ Hole (A019450)

Mandala Necklace Tutorial

Make a DIY necklace with your mandala stamped design!

Check out our other Mandala tutorial!

This week’s tutorial from ImpressArt is all about metal stamp texturing. Texturing adds an extra dimension of design to your metal blanks. It also adds an organic look for your metal stamping needs. Here are some product you may need to get you started on texturing:

• Texture Stamper Hammer (TL00266): This innovative tool creates unique, one of a kind textures using your metal stamps as texture heads. You can also interchange the stamping head with this hammer.

• Ball Pen Texture Stamper Head (TL00313): This hammer head creates an organic, hammered texture look to your metal blanks. It is to be used with the Stamper Hammer.

Texture Bracelet Tutorial

Using last week’s tutorial on Bracelet Bending, texturize the bracelet blank first before bending the blanks to create a bracelet.

We have a fun video tutorial with Beadalon’s Spin-N-Bead, Senior and Junior versions, which will make stringing on beads easier and faster!

Beadalon Spin-N-Bead Senior

Spin-N-Bead Senior Bead Loader with One Curved Rigid Beading Needle (TL00333). String seed beads and other small beads quickly and easily with the Spin-N-Bead Senior. Because the bowl is bigger you can use larger beads, up to 6mm. The speed at which the beads will load diminishes as the beads get larger. This bead loader makes tedious bead stringing fast and easy. Fill the bowl about half-full of beads, then spin. Insert the curved needle into the spinning beads and watch them jump onto the needle. The beads nest all on their own! Rigid Curved Needle included. You can also buy extra curved needles separately with Z001463.

Beadalon Spin-N-Bead Junior

Beadalon Spin-N-Bead Junior (TL00341) is smaller than the Senior version and makes stringing seed beads, liquid silver beads, or other small beads quick and easy! Fill the bowl about half-full of beads, and then spin. Insert a Curved Big Eye Beading Needle into the spinning beads and watch them jump onto the needle! The beads nest all on their own – when ample beads are on the needle, then move them to the connected stringing material and dip the needle back into the spinning beads to load on another few inches. It’s fun to use and an excellent time saver. You can buy curved needles separately with Z001463.

Video Tutorial

Acorns are a symbolism of fall weather, so these pair of earrings are fitting for the season.

What you’ll need for earrings:

• 2 – 12mm Swarovski Pearl (SW000816)
• 2 – Brass Acorn End Cap (A001086)
• 2 – 2mm Brass Headpin (TC01258)
• Brass Ball Chain (A015357)
• Brass Clamshell (Z008788)
• Brass Earring Finding (Z002858)

Directions:

1. Cut ball chain with 10 ball links. Cut two pieces.
2. Cup each end of the ball chain with clam shell end caps.
3. On a headpin, slide on a pearl, an end cap and make a simple loop.
4. Open pearl dangle loop and slide on loop of clam shell. Close loop.
5. Open earwire loop and slide on other end of ball chain loop. Close loop.
6. Repeat steps 3 – 5 to other ball chain link.

Today’s FREE tutorial is wire wrapping Crystal Quartz points and making simple pair of earrings with them! All you need are a few tools and wire to get your started!

What you’ll need for tutorial:

• Crystal Quartz points
• 22 – Gauge Wire
  OR
• 24 – Gauge Wire
• Tools: Round Nose Pliers, Chain Nose Pliers and Side Cutter

Crystal Point Tutorial

Here are some earring examples to using your crystal points!

Crystal Hoop Earrings
We took three different graduated points and slid them over the hoop earrings for an easy pair of earrings!

Items used in earrings: CRY3-36PT, AW00055, Z011592

Crystal Point Drop Earrings

In this example, we chose two points of the same length and dangled one point on either sides of the drop link. And a third point at a longer length at the middle.

Items used in example: CRY3-36PT, AW00055, Y013693, TCZ0077, A002413

Learn how to make easy DIY bracelets using the Half-Circle Magnetic Clasp with round, flat and licorice leather.

The half-circle magnetic clasp really transforms the overall style of any bracelet because it circles around half of your wrist, it is a clasp but also a bold, statement look. The Half-Circle Magnetic Clasp comes in 4 specific styles and works only with a specific leather. It has an end bezel/opening that will only accommodate 5mm round leather, 5mm flat leather, 10mm flat leather or licorice leather. Let’s go through the 4 different clasps AND how to determine leather length for each of the Half-Circle Magnetic Clasp.

Determining Leather Length

Before we start on the different types of clasps, let’s determine the length of leather you want to approximately use. This will depend on your wrist length and the amount of wraps you want.  These are approximate measurements, so make sure when you order or cut your leather, to give yourself an inch or two to test out your leather clasp. Always test out your leather length and clasp by assembling them together and carefully put your bracelet on. Cut excess leather if you need adjusting before finalizing with glue. There will be a bit of math involved, but don’t worry we aren’t testing you.

• Single-wrap bracelet: Take your wrist length and subtract 2.75 inches. (i.e. for a a 6.5″ wrist, subtract 2.75 for a length of 3.75″ piece of leather.)
• Double-wrap bracelet: Take your wrist length, multiply by 2 and take that total and subtract by 1.75 inches. (i.e for a 7″ wrist, you will get a total of 12.25″ of leather)
• Triple-wrap bracelet: Take your wrist length, multiply by 3 and take that total and subtract by 1.5 inches. (i.e for an 8″ wrist, you will get a total of 22.5″)
• Quadruple-wrap bracelet: Take your wrist length, multiply by 4 and take that total and subtract by 1. (i.e for a 6.5″ wrist, you will get a total of 25″)

Quick Tip for Leather Bracelets

• Make sure to check out our Cutter Tool and Adhesive blog for the right tools to cutting your leather
• Make sure when you make multi-wrap bracelets to work with the natural curve of your leather. When you gluing in your leather pieces, keep your magnetic clasp closed. Glue one side of your leather in your clasp with Super New Glue. Then mimic the wraps with your leather and then glue in the other end into your clasp.

5mm Flat Leather

When using 5mm Flat Leather you will want to use these half-circle magnetic clasp options because they are made specifically for 5mm flat leather.

• Silver – Z001190
• Gold – Z001004

With our two examples, we created a two and four wrap bracelet.

Items used in 6.5″ wrist bracelet example: CH00834 (12″) & Z001004.

Instead of using leather, we are using this bright neon orange synthetic flat leather. Make sure to try out the Neon Yellow and Green!

Items used in 6.5″ wrist bracelet example: A019004 & Z001190.

10mm Flat Leather

There is only one option for the 10mm Flat Leather and it’s the popular silver half-circle magnetic clasp: A007209 You can make a single wrap bracelet or multiple one. In our example, we went with the 10mm Pale Turquoise Flat Cork Cord.

Items used in 6.5″ wrist bracelet example: CH00438 (11″) & A007209

5mm Round Leather

When using 5mm Round Leather, you’ll want to use these half-circle clasp in four color options:

• Silver – Z006715
• Gold – Z006785
• Antique Copper – Z006746
• Antique Brass – Z006715

One thing to remember when using 5mm round leather on this clasp is the stiffness of the leather. It is rigid enough to hold its curve shape wonderfully but when making more than one wrap, the curves will be irregular. So when using the 5mm on this clasp, we suggest that you only make a single wrap bracelet.

Items used in this 6.5″ wrist bracelet: CH00605 (4″) & Z006715

In this example, because there wouldn’t be an issue with stiffness we made a double-wrap bracelet using 1.5mm leather. We’ve cut 5 strands of 1.5mm leather and insert the bulk ends to each end of your clasp.

Items used in bracelet example: Z006785 & Z019114

Licorice Leather

When using Licorice Leather, pair it with one of these Half-Circle Magnetic Clasp:

• Antique Silver – A019017
• Antique Brass – A019018
• Gold – Z009813

Just like 5mm round leather, Licorice Leather has a stiffness to it, so making a simple wrap bracelet with this clasp is highly suggested.

Items used in bracelet example: A015302 & A019018

Get lost in this mesmerizing DIY necklace with DakotaStones Gemstone Ladder Pendant set and Adjustable Necklace Sliding Clasp.

What you’ll need to make Gemstone Ripple Necklace:

• Silver Necklace Memory Wire (WR00134)
• Adjustable Necklace Sliding Clasp (Z011945)
• Gemstone Ladder Pendant Set: MLTPYR15-38-LAD-PEN
• 20 Gauge Artistic Wire (AW00007)

Directions:

1. Cut necklace memory wire at 1/3″ of a coil with Memory Wire Shears.
2. With Memory Wire Finishing Pliers, curl one end of your memory wire inwards, towards curve of your memory wire to make a simple loop.
3. Slide on the sequence of your gemstone ladder set.
4. Make another simple loop to the other end of your memory wire.
5. Center gemstone set in the middle of the memory wire.
6. With the 20 Gauge Artistic Wire, wrap 4 coils around the memory wire, on each end of the pendant set. Cut excess wire.
7. Use crimping pliers to crimp the coils in Step 6 to keep coils and pendant set in place.
8. Open jump ring on necklace sliding clasp and slide through one loop of memory wire. Close jump ring. Repeat to other jump ring and other memory wire loop.

Design necklace with these other 11 Piece Gemstone Ladder Pendant Sets. 

Pendant Set Item Numbers: LAPLGIM15-38-LAD-PEN, PPLBRZ15-38-LAD-PEN, RCJ15-38-LAD-PEN, ORIM15-38-LAD-PEN, LAPBRZ15-38-LAD-PEN, TQSBRZ15-38-LAD-PEN, MLTPYR15-38-LAD-PEN, PKBL15-38-LAD-PEN, MGI-FAN-PEN-11

Liven up your summer with these DIY earrings with Straw and Tassels!

Summer jewelry should be fun, colorful and fashionable, just like our Straw & Tassel Earrings. Designed with our NEW straw shapes and tassels, these pair of earrings should be a part of your memorable summer!

What you’ll need for earrings:

• Straw components
• Tassels
• Jump Rings
• Ear Wires
• Bead Reamer or Awl

Beachside Coral Earrings

Directions

1. Using an awl, bead reamer or a solid point like your round nose, poke a hole in between the outer two rings of your straw. This will be where you will add your jump ring.
2. Poke another hole in the opposite end of the hole you made in Step 1.
3. Open jump ring and slide through hole you made in Step 1 or 2 and through the loop of the fan tassel. Close jump ring.
4. Open another jump ring and slide through the other other hole in the straw. Close jump ring.
5. Open small 3mm jump ring and slide through jump ring from Step 4 and loop of ear wire. Close jump ring.
6. Repeat all steps for other earrings.

Specific items used in earrings: A011525, Z007702, Z007861, TCZ0139

Summer Sky Earrings

Directions

1. Using an awl, bead reamer or a solid point like your round nose, poke a hole in between the outer two rings of your straw, at one corner. This will be where you will add your jump ring.
2. Poke another hole in the opposite corner of the hole you made in Step 1.
3. Open large jump ring and slide through hole you made in Step 1 or 2 and through the loop of ear wire. Close jump ring.
4. Open another large jump ring and slide through other hole on straw component. Close jump ring.
5. Open small jump ring, slide through large jump ring from Step 4 and through loop of cone tassel. Close jump ring.
6. Repeat all steps for other earring.

Check out our Facebook LIVE Videos on Tory doing a quick demonstration using these components! Tutorial starts at 9 Minute mark!

Candie Cooper came by the GoodyBeads Mezzanine to show us how to make an easy DIY wrap bracelet with flat memory wire and gemstone beads. Watch the video today!

After the Spring Twin Cities Bead Bazaar, Candie stopped by to demonstrate how to make a classy and chic bracelet using 4mm faceted coin gemstone beads, wire wrapped around flat memory wire.

What you’ll need:

• Flat Memory Wire (Silver/Gold)
• 4mm Faceted Coin Gemstone Beads
• 24-Gauge Artistic Wire (Silver/Tinned Silver/Gold)
• Tools: Memory Wire Shears & Memory Wire Finishing Pliers

Video Tutorial

One the newest additions to GoodyBeads is the Cymbal Components. Here are three projects, with patterns; using the Cymbal Soros.

Cymbal Components are bead endings, bead substitutes and side beads that give your bead stitched patterns a cleaner, finished ending. The Cymbal Soros Bead Ending, in Silver and Gold, is noted to use with Miyuki Tilas and 1/2 Tilas. But the wonderful thing about using the Soros is how versatile this bead ending is. In these three bracelets, you will notice how similar the bead stitching patterns/sequence. One pattern will show how to incorporate Tilas and 1/2 Tilas, while the other two mixes up different beads like SuperDuos, Tilas, seed beads and even two-hole Swarovski Spike Beads.

Playful Tila Bracelet

What you’ll need for this bracelet:

• Miyuki Tila Beads
• Miyuki 1/2 Cut Tila Beads
• Cymbal Soros (Silver or Gold)
• Beading Thread and Needle
• Choice of jump rings and clasp
  AND
• Playful Tila Bracelet PDF Tutorial

Items used in bracelet below: SB00870, SB01934, Z012249, A006588, A015211, A011535, Z011500, X003062

Tila Stripe Bracelet

What you’ll need for this bracelet:

• Miyuki Tila Beads
• Czech SuperDuo Beads
• Miyuki 11/0 Seed Beads
• Miyuki 8/0 Seed Beads
• Cymbal Soros (Silver or Gold)
• Beading Thread and Needle
• Choice of jump rings and clasp
  AND
• Tila Stripes Bracelet PDF Tutorial

Items used in bracelet:SB00870, SB01406, SB00107, SB00402, Z012250, A006588, Z007861, Z011522, A015211

Elegant Spike Bracelet

What you’ll need for this bracelet:

• Czech SuperDuo Beads
• Miyuki 11/0 Seed Beads
• Miyuki 8/0 Seed Beads
• Cymbal Soros (Silver or Gold)
• Swarovski Two-Hole Square Spike Crystal Bead
• Beading Thread and Needle
• Choice of jump rings and Clasp
  AND
• Elegant Spike Bracelet PDF Tutorial

Items used in bracelet: SB01406, SB00107, SB00423, A006588, Z012250, A015211, SW01715 (23), Z007861, Z001925

Make adjustable necklaces with Artistic Wire Findings Forms Necklace Jig. Accompanied with a video tutorial from Beadalon® and Artistic Wire.

Make trendy choker necklaces with the Adjustable Necklace Jig, using Artistic Wire and basic tools.

Here are things you’ll need to make adjustable wire necklaces:

• Adjustable Necklace Jig Findings Forms (TL00332)
• 18 to 22 Gauge Wire
  

Tools:

• Bent Nose Pliers (A013730/ A07370)
• Memory Wire Shears (TL00206)
• Memory Wire Finishing Pliers (TLZ0207)
• Wire Straighter Tool (TL00208)

Video Tutorial

1. Straighten wire with Wire Straighter Tool.
2. Bend the wire around the top of the jig.
3. Bend one end of the wire around the top peg.
4. Wrap the wire around the jig one and a half times. (Turn the jig to wrap the wire.)
5. Wrap the wire around the other jig  peg.
6. Remove the wire from the jig.
7. Cut the tail end with flush cutters, leaving a small hook. Cut the other end leaving a small hook.
8. Optional: If you’d like the necklace to be smaller, just a small cylinder to adjust wire.
9. Use the Memory Wire Finishing Pliers to turn a loop. (Use larger peg of plier.)
10. Use Bent Chain Nose Pliers to bend wire 90° down.
11. Repeat Steps 9 and 10 to other wire end.
12. Use pliers to open loop. Latch the loop onto the necklace and close it.
13. Repeat step 12 to other end.

Finish off your necklace with a dangle charm. Or if you want to add beads to your necklace, string on beads before completing step 11.

Get your Sizzix Big Shot out and learn how to use Framelits Die and Embossing in this video segment with Candie Cooper and Tory Vezina!

Today’s blog post will feature Sizzix Framelits and Embossing Folders. Use Framelits to cut fun shapes to display your earrings or even use it for your scrapbooking needs. And use Embossing Folders to add a 3D texture to paper, fabric or even thin copper/metal pieces.

Embossing Folders

The first important rule when using Embossing Folders with the Sizzix Big Shot is the Extended Platform (SZ00053).

You will need the Extended Platform, which is included with Sizzix Big Shot Machine; to place your Embossing folder on to run it through the Sizzix Big Shot, instead of using the Movers and Shaper platform you would usually use to place your Dies on. There will be a visual on the Platform on how to use it with your Big Shot.

The Process to running the Embossing Folder through your Big Shot is to place the Extended Platform down, put your paper or thin piece of metal inside your Embossing Folder, put the Embossing folder on the Extended Platform and place the Cutting Pad on top. Run the whole thing through the machine and you will get a textured piece of paper or thin metal!

Make sure to check out these fun Embossing Folders to creating your own designs:

Embossing folders: SZ00075, SZ00074, SZ00073, SZ00072, SZ00070, SZ00071

Sizzix Framelits

The next important rule to cutting shapes using Framelits is the Extended Thin Die Adapter you will need to accompany the Extended Platform in using Framelit Dies (SZ00046 & SZ00048).

Framelits are dies with intricate and detailed designs best used with paper, fabric or thin pieces of metal or copper. Do not use Framelits with thick pieces of leather.

The process in running the Framelit Dies through the Big Shot is to place the Extended Platform down, then place the Extended Thin Die Adapter on top, followed by a Cutting Pad, Framelit with the form side facing up, your piece of paper and another Cutting Pad. Run all parts through the Big Shot for an intricate cut out piece of paper!

Video Tutorial

Candie and Tory will show you how easy it is using the Framelits Dies and Embossing Folders in this video tutorial!

Make an impression with Mandala Stamp Packs and creating Mandala designs.

Mandala is an abstract and geometric pattern, usually in a circular form. Here are some tips, tools, and techniques to help you create your mandala designs!

Stamping Tools

Tools you will need:

• Mandala Design Stamp Pack (Z009934/Z009935/Z018002/Z018003)
• Stamping Blanks
• Stamping Hammer (TL00235/TL00277)
• Bench Block (A014415)
• Polishing Cloth (A002371)
• Stamp Enamel Marker

A helpful supply to have when creating your circular shape is getting the ImpressArt Stamp Guides. These guides are stickers that you peel off and lay over your stamping blank. Once your design is stamped these stickers are easily removable! They also have markers to help you evenly space out your stamping, especially if you are using letter stamps.

But for Mandala there is a circular, see-through sticker guide with diagonal lines to help space out your stamps.

A tip when stamping is to stamp from the center out. And when stamping from the center out, stamp closer to you and rotate to keep the stamping even. Once your design is complete peel off the guide. There will be small patches still stuck within the stamped areas, so make sure to remove it all before adding your enamel or brushing it over with a Sharpie to make your designs stand out. Rub your polishing cloth of the surface to remove excess enamel or markings.

Mandala Stamp Samples

Each set ImpressArt Mandala Stamp Pack are sold at GoodyBeads with four different stamps. When combined can create an endless mandala design. See how ImpressArt using these stamp sets. Each set can be bought at GoodyBeads. (Images courtesy of ImpressArt)

A018004 – Mandala Design Stamp Pack

Z009934 – Southwestern Mandala Design Stamp Pack

Z018002 – Mandala Design Stamp Pack

A009935 – Henna Mandala Design Stamp Pack

The Endless Loom from BeadSmith, designed by Deb Moffett-Hall, is a versatile tool to help create elastic band bracelets and even leather wrap bracelets. Read through to download step-by-step instructions to help you get started!

Check out our previous Endless Loom blog post to watch an introductory video.

Groovy 6 Stretch or Clasp Style Bracelet

Download Stretch Bracelet Tutorial HERE.

This first tutorial uses 0.5mm Elastic to wrap around the Endless Loom. You can also have the option to add a Tube Magnetic Clasp (Y004709/Y003008/Y004707) to your bracelet.

Leather Wrap Bracelet

Download Leather Wrap Bracelet Tutorial HERE.

Even try out making a leather wrap bracelet using the Endless Loom. Coiling leather strands around the Endless Loom will help tame your cords and help you stitch even and straight rows. Check out the tutorial for easy tip and tricks to get your leather wrap bracelets started!

(Tutorial courtesy of BeadSmith and Deb Moffett-Hall)