Easy Beading Projects
All the beautiful glass and metal beads shown in this morning's
craft segment are by Blue Moon Beads. **See specific projects for
color, name and stock number of beads used! You can purchase
these at your local craft or bead store. To view the entire
bead and findings collection online, visit their website:
Making Book Thongs
**Pink book thong beads: 1 Glass bead w/ Rhinestone 12mm Round
white (item #75697); 1 Glass bead w/ Rhinestone 8mm Round
pink (#75267); 2 Cast metal silver #4 (item #65316); 1 bead from
Pink Lampwork Glass Bead Mix (#57265); 1 clear bead from
Czech glass bead mix (#32423); 1 clear 4mm glass cube Toho
bead (#68386); 1 Czech glass seed bead (#51695); 1 Cast metal
silver plated clasp-used as charm (#55445)
(Periwinkle Blue book thong beads listed below)
**Lavender Rose book thong beads: Amethyst Glass Lampwork Mix
(#47024); 2 clear 4mm glass cube Toho bead (#68386); 2 Amber
Czech beads from Topaz bead box mix (#51995); 2 Silver
metal tube beads (#55405)
**Photo book thong: 1 Silver photo frame charm #3 (#62196);
Blue Lampworked bead mix (#47014); 2 Glass bead w/ Rhinestone
8mm Round white (#75277); 2 Czech black glass from
Jet glass bead box mix (#67366)
Instructions:
1. Cut a piece of waxed cord at an angle, to 16" long with scissors.
2. Tie a double knot in the straight (not tapered) end of cord
and clip excess tail. See diagram above.
3. For an end with beads only (no charms), thread a small crimp
bead and slide down to the knot.
4. Crush the crimp bead placing it in "step A" portion of pliers.
This forms it into a kidney shape. Then gently crimp again to
round the bead in "step B" portion of pliers. Or, simply flatten
with flatnose pliers.
5. Thread chosen glass or metal beads, then end with a final small
crimp bead. Crush crimp with pliers.
6. Repeat steps 3 and 4 above for remaining end of book thong
if using beads only, or follow instructions below if
adding a charm to the remaining end.
Book Thongs with Charms
NOTE: This type of design requires at least one glass or metal bead
that has a hole large enough to have two thicknesses of waxed
cord easily threaded though it, and one larger crimp
bead also fitting two cord thicknesses! Position this bead
last, just before the last (large) crimp bead.
**Periwinkle book thong beads: 4 beads from Natural Purple Lampwork
Bead Mix (#57225); 2 cast metal Silver tube beads (#55405);
2 Silver plated bead caps (#57715); 1 Silver plated charm (#62166)
1. One end of my book thongs usually have beads only, but this must
be done first before making your end with the charm! Just follow
steps 1-4 above of "Making Book Thongs", for first end.
2. CHARM END: Thread a small crimp bead onto waxed cord, followed
by your glass and/or metal beads.
3. Thread a large crimp bead then your charm. Thread the cord up
through the same last crimp bead, leaving a 1/2 tail.
See photo above!
4. Slide crimp bead all the way down to the charm loop and crush
with crimping pliers to secure. Clip the tail to 1/4" long
with scissors, and push last bead down over tail so it's
hidden inside the bead. Slide remaining beads down and crush
small crimp bead.
Easy Beaded Bracelets
**Burgundy & Green Bracelet beads: 2 pkgs. Pink/Green Art Glass
beads (#68166); 7 cast metal Silver tube beads (#55405);
4 clear beads from Czech glass bead mix (#32423); 4 Czech
glass seed beads (#51695); 2 Green glass bead mix disc beads
**Black, White and Silver Bracelet-Glass beads w/ Rhinestones:
12mm Cube black (#75597), 12mm round white (#75697),
10mm Cube black (#75317), 10mm Round white (#75417),
8mm Cube black (#75177), 8mm Round white (#75277);
Cast silver nested spacer beads
**Plum Leaves & Spirals Bracelet: Burgundy sage leaves,
round (#69186); Amethyst Glass Lampwork Mix (#47024);
Silver large spiral dangle (#57895); Silver metal bead square
(#77857); Clear Czech glass seed beads (#51695)
TIP: Lay beads out to form your design on a bead board (or
piece of felt), before you do any stringing. This will
save you lots of time re-stringing till you get it just right!
1. Cut a 12" piece of elastic cord and fold tape around
cord, near one end.
2. Measure your wrist and add 1". This length is how long you
will make the beaded area of bracelet. (Example: If your wrist
measures is 6 1/2" around, plan enough beads to make a
7 1/2" long bracelet. The thickness of the beads takes up space,
and you'll want the bracelet to move freely on your wrist.
3. Thread all beads, then before picking the bracelet up, fold a small
piece of tape over the opposite end of cord. Place bracelet
around wrist and see if the length is good.
4. Tie ends of elastic cord together with several knots and
clip excess cord leaving 1/4" tails.
5. Adjust elastic so that the knot and cord tails are hidden inside
an adjoining bead. That's it!
Photo Charm Bracelet
**Blue Moon Beads & Findings you'll need: One 7" silver charm
bracelet; Assorted small blues and clear glass beads; Silver
metal beads: 13 x 8 tube (#52725) and metal tube (#55405);
2" long head pins; 2 pkgs. (3 pieces each) Silver photo frame
charm #3 (#62196); silver jump rings; 5 Silver small spiral
dangle charms (#57885); Mini photos
1. Reduce your favorite photos on a color copy machine or
in a computer photo program to the charm frame opening size.
2. Print photos. Lift clear sheet and image from frame with
tip of scissors. Cut out photos.
3. Secure photos into charm frames by slipping into corners.
Replace clear sheet to protect photo.
4. Using 2 flatnose pliers (one may be needlenose), open jump
rings twisting the ends in opposite directions (do not
spread them apart!).
5. Connect the frame charms to the chain with jump rings, adding
additional charms in between using jump rings as well.
TIP: Links in chain need to be flat so all charms hang correctly.
Tape down both ends of bracelet chain onto work surface
before adding items.
6. You may also add color by threading beads onto 2" head
pins. Clip pin leaving a 3/8" long area. Bend pin to a
90o angle, fairly close to last bead with roundnose pliers, and
form a loop in pin with round nose pliers.
7. Open loop if needed, secure hook onto chain and
close loop with pliers.
