Bead Ideas

 Have a new lampwork bead or bottle and not sure what to do with it now?  Here are some ideas we've come up with!

• Slide your new lampwork bead over your favorite chain or bracelet for an instant focal point

• Loop your bead(s) through your shoe laces

• String it on some ribbon and tie it to anything that needs some decorating.  Try a cluster of beaded ribbons for greater effect!

• String your bead on pretty cord and tie it to your keychain, or use it as a zipper pull

• Hang your new beads from your rear-view mirror

• Add your bead to ribbon and use it as a bookmark, or add to your current favorite bookmark

• Slip your loose beads on your favorite pair of loop earrings to make your own custom changeable earring sets

• Our large hole beads fit over popular charm bracelets such as Trollbeads© and Pandora©

You can easily string your new beads on almost any chain, ribbon or wire, but if you would like to turn your bead into a charm, and maybe add your own accent beads, we have added simple loop instructions.

Simple Loops:

STEP 1

If you are using a head pin, slide your bead onto the wire.  For some of our larger hole beads, you can use smaller beads inside our bead to act as a 'filler' to keep the bead from wobbling. Use round or chain nose pliers, grip the wire of the headpin just above the last bead added. Bend the wire to a 90° angle. Using wire cutters, trim the wire to 3/8”. Regular needle-nose pliers can be used however, the hole won't be as round.

STEP 2

Grip the end of the cut wire with the tip of the round nose pliers; have very little wire peaking through the barrels of the pliers.

STEP 3

Rotate your wrist away from your body, while pushing, with your thumb of your other hand, on the wire below the forming loop; turn the wire into a loop.

STEP 4

If necessary, adjust the loop so it is centered. If you are using a length of wire, you can slide your bead onto the wire, along with any accent beads you have chosen. Bend the wire at as close to the last bead as possible in a 90 degree angle, and repeat the process on the other end to secure them ~ Now you have your very own charm waiting to decorate anything you would like.

 (How to make Adjustable Knots to finish off a necklace made with a thicker cord, without using a clasp)

After sliding your beads onto the cord:

• Overlap the cords ends about 4" as in the image above.

• Pinch one side of the overlap so there is about 1" of cord end available.

• Tie an overhand knot with that end piece around the adjacent portion of the cord. In this image #3 above, you can visualize how this knot will slide up and down along the cord it's tied around.

• Repeat with the other cord end.

• Slide the knots back and forth to make sure you tied them so that they will slide.

• Adjust the cord to the length you want it.

• You may want to adjust your knot tension, if it feels too loose or too tight.

you can easily use ribbon or cord to hang your beads also. 

Using the above loop, you can now thread the ends of the loop thru your beads and simply tie a knot in the end!