When it comes to stringing beads the most important thing is the stringing material. This is determined by what you are stringing and what you want the finished piece to look like.
Wire Worked Candle Wreaths
November 21, 2017 By Leave a Comment
For every holiday I enjoy putting together a special table display. It ties together the feel of the holiday and gives everyone something special to look at while we gather around the table. This year for my Thanksgiving table I have made some wire wrap wreaths to put around candles. Learn how to make wire wrapped candle wreaths for your own Thanksgiving or any other celebration.
Got Beading Wire? Four Necklace Ideas with Beading Wire
October 26, 2016 By 1 Comment
This post brought to you by BEADALON. Thanks Beadalon for helping me to keep the lights on at my work bench. All opinions shared here are my own.
Got Beading Wire?
So after the post that explains all the ins and out of how to choose wire for beading, I thought it might be helpful to share some jewelry projects that actually use beading wire. Here are 4 of my favorite DIY jewelry making projects that use various beading wires. All four of these necklaces can be made using Beadalon’s selection of beading wire.
The quartz layering necklace. This jewelry piece has been a staple in my wardrobe with it’s neutral tones and exotic nature.
The illusion style necklace with .024in diameter gold, nylon coated wire.Quartz layering necklace–I wore this thing until it fell off!
Big chunky beads with Czech glass for the win in this fun necklace!
And the multi-strand gemstone Eden necklace to top this post off.
What in the Wire?! Beading wire explained
May 11, 2016 By 53 Comments
This post brought to you by Beadalon.com. Thanks Beadalon for sponsoring this post and helping me to share my love of DIY jewelry making.
It’s one of the great mysteries of the universe.
Well….the jewelry making universe anyway.
Beading wire.
This is nylon coated beading wire we are talking about. It’s flexible and used for stringing beads of all shapes and sizes. Beading wire is not used for wire wrapping stones. That’s a common confusion I’ve found.
There are so many different ones available and it can get really confusing. That’s why I created this post to help you understand the different types of beading wires used in jewelry making.
7 strand, 19 strand, this diameter, that diameter, but what if I’m stringing chunky gemstones or making an illusion necklace? So many jewelry design ideas, but where to start?
The first thing I ask myself is what am I stringing? Seed beads or heavy gemstones? I pulled this image from the Beadalon website so you can see what wires are good for what beads.
You can click on this image to make it bigger. From left to right:
Virtual size is the thickness of the wire.
Wire diameter is just that–I usually speak in millimeters here on the blog (i.e. .018)
Strand count is how many tiny wires are twisted together to make the single wire. More strands equal more flexibility.
More wire diameters–those are simply recommendations for the type of bead you are stringing. For example, Beadalon recommends .010 diameter wire for seed beads.
Before I forget–did you know Beadalon wire is made right here in the USA?! I love that so much.
Ninety percent of my jewelry uses 49 strand beading wire because it’s my fave if you can’t tell. It’s also the most expensive. And while I get mine for pretty much free from Beadalon–I’d still use this or 19 strand in my jewelry projects because I want it to last. You can see I have a few different diameters here.
If you’re just getting into this DIY jewelry making world I suggest starting with 49 or 19 strand .018 mm diameter. It’s a great all-purpose choice for your first jewelry making projects.
Beadalon wire also comes in a huge array of colors from neutrals like these to ones found in the rainbow. You can shop their site to see all of them.
Lastly, one really important thing to pay attention to on the package is what size crimp bead or tube to use with that particular beading wire. Crimps secure the clasp and beads to the wire in DIY jewelry. See the #1 or #2? These numbers vary according to the wire diameter. There are #3 and #4 crimps as well. If you would use those with this wire, your piece would most likely fall apart because they are too big for this wire.
I hope this post has solved some of the mystery. The more you make, the more you learn…sometimes the hard way, I’ve found! Haha!
Special thanks again to Beadalon for keeping me locked and loaded on beading wire and sponsoring this post.
Easy Necklace Making
April 7, 2015 By 1 Comment
This post brought to you by Beadalon!
Day 3 of Spring Beadalon Break and I wanna here a heck yeah if you love easy jewelry making!
Picture me “raising the roof”…
Or playing a tambourine?
Don’t ask.
But, I know you’re curious…
My mom and I share a creative space in which she has a small music studio and sometimes when she’s not there, I use her instruments as props. That’s all.
Ok, let’s get to it!
Recently Beadalon sent a spool of their .024 diameter 49 strand gold beading wire for me to try out and let me tell you—I’m in LOVE! It’s so thick and glorious. It looks amazing all by itself!It comes in different colors too!
Can I get another heck yeah?
It only takes a few ingredients to make this simple necklace. Other than the .024 Beadalon wire, the key item is a donut pendant. Do you have a pile laying around like me? Let’s use em’ up! You’ll also want some #3 crimp tubes for the thicker wire, your basic jewelry making tools set, some beads and a clasp.
String the donut bead onto the heavy wire and determine how long you want your necklace. Trim the end from the spool and slide a crimp bead over both ends of the wire.
Flat crimp the crimp tube with chain nose pliers by smooshing the crimp bead.
Smoosh it. Smoosh it good.
String the beads onto one side of the wire and separate each bead with two crimp beads. Use a tool of some sort to help create equal distance between each crimp bead–I’m using a tiny ruler.
Flat crimp again.
Then slide your first bead against the crimp bead. Crimp the next tube so it keeps the bead in place along the wire.
Use your measuring tool again and flat crimp the next crimp tube.
Repeat, completing both sides of the wire.
To finish the ends with a toggle clasp, we will use the traditional crimping method. Slide a crimp tube onto the beading wire followed by one half of the clasp. Thread the tail of the wire back through the crimp bead, snugging the tube up against the clasp, but not so much that your clasp cannot move freely.
Put the crimp tube in the “U” shape opening on the crimping pliers and crimp.
Turn the crimp tube 90 degrees and place in the outside opening to roll the crimp bead into a tight C or shut.
I created this necklace to match this unique chain. 
Here’s another version with a handmade glass donut bead. With a focal piece like this, it’s nice to highlight the beauty of it with minimal stringing work around it.
Hi, I’m Candie. I design jewelry and crafts, author books, teach classes and host television programs. I thrive on simple ideas that anyone can achieve. I also love projects made from unexpected materials that stand the test of time. Join me as I lead a creative life! 
