Beadalon Blog

Some of my favorite Facebook Lives are when I have guests teach me a technique that they have developed. These beaded tassels work up quickly and easily using the Beadalon Tin Cup Knotter Tool and the Spin-n-Bead. My favorite part was learning that you can bend the end of the needle that's attached to the Carded Silk Cord to string up seed beads with the Spin-N-Bead. I'm not usually one for all caps, but this tip is a GAME CHANGER!

Beaded Tassels by Emily Scott
A quick and easy method for fabulous beaded tassels

Materials:
Beadalon Carded Silk - Size 6 silk thread works perfectly with 12/0 Seed Beads
Beadalon Spin-N-Bead
Beadalon Tin Cup Knotter Tool
Beadalon Artistic Wire, 20 Gauge
Beadalon Bead Stringing Glue (optional - All knots are doubled, or you can single knot with a tiny dab of glue)
Size 11/0 or 12/0 Seed beads
Tassel Topper with hole in top

Instructions:
STEP 1 - Prepare Your Wire
- Cut about 6” wire. Make a large, single wrapped loop. Test to make sure this fits inside…

I've been using Beadalon Rubber Tubing in my designs for years, but not until I met Deb Floros in Tucson this year did I ever think to use paint to decorate it. The Patina Paints and Dylusions Paint Pens from Ranger Ink work so well to take the Rubber Tubing to the next level.

Deb gave us so many ideas, tips and inspiration to use this technique in beading designs. She makes painted Rubber Tubing components, strings them on either Memory Wire or Bead Stringing Wire, then adds beads to complement.

It was so generous of her to share her designs with the Beadalon community! Here are some of the great tips that she shared on Facebook Live.

1. Use a texture pad. Use a paintbrush to paint onto a texture pad. Holding the ends of the Rubber Tubing, roll it across the texture pad to pick up the design.
2. Use Paint Pens. Fill in any spaces left by texture pads with dots or doodles with Paint Pens.
3. Use a clothespin to hold the tubing in place while you work, and to prevent it from rolli…

Trends always seem to come back around, and these '80s inspired Feather Earrings are a great way to honor that decade! 
Materials: Loop Crimps  Ear Wires Oval Jump Rings Feathers
Tools: Micro Crimper Tool
Instructions: 1. Place the ends of the feathers into one Loop Crimp and use the tip of the Micro Crimper Tool to crimp the middle down to hold the feathers in place. Larger feather ends might require multiple Loop Crimps. 2. Attach the top of the Loop Crimp to the Ear Wire using an Oval Jump Ring. 3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 to make a second earring.
It's as simple as that! What a great gift to give. I'm going to make a bunch just to have on hand. Have you used feathers in your jewelry designs? Post photos in the Jewelry Making with Beadalon Facebook Group and be sure to set your notifications to catch us live!
Until next time, happy beading! Meredith

I'm so excited that we were able to do a joint split screen Facebook Live with Wyatt White, and the inventor of the Conetastic Tool, Cone Mandrels and Bead Cap Mandrels, Sandra Lupo! It was wonderful to have Sandra join us to explain step by step how to use the tool and mandrels. We made a gorgeous coiled wire bead cap to embellish a Jesse James Bead, but I also like using this technique to make tassel toppers. The video is filled with tons of tips, techniques and inspiration for using this tool to add to your beaded and wire-worked designs.

To make a Tassel Topper:

Materials
22 Gauge MultiColor Artistic Wire
20 Gauge German Style Wire
Professional Deluxe Coiling Gizmo
Conetastic Tool
Conetastic Cap Mandrels
Ribbon

1. Use the smallest mandrel from the Professional Deluxe Coiling Gizmo to make a coil of 22 Gauge Multicolor Artistic Wire about 10 inches long.


2. Gently pull the coil off of the mandrel, and snip the ends flush. Working from the spool, thread the coiled wire onto 20 Gauge…

Decorate for Easter with a fluffy tail bunny! The oval shaped wooden plaque inspired an Easter egg, and it was fun to do a "dirty pour" paint technique with vibrant colored acrylic paints. It's super easy to do, and so gratifying! The bunny silhouette was the cutest especially embellished with a Pom pom! 
SUPPLIES Artistic Wire - 26 gauge, White
Wire Cutter
Wooden Plaque - Oval Shaped 
Acrylic Paint
Nails
Hammer
Pom pom
Glue
Bunny outline image




Step 1:Paint wooden plaque as desired with acrylic paint and let dry. Follow outline of image and hammer nails about 1/4” -1/2” apart.

Step 2: Once all nails are in place, remove the paper outline. Use chain nose pliers to remove an excess pieces of paper left behind.


Step 3. Working directly from the spool of Artistic Wire, wrap the end of the wire around a nail several times to secure it. Continue to wrap around nails in random order until the outline is filled.


Step 4: Glue pom pom as the tail and decorate your home with a festive wire strin…

Do you find traditional crimping to be challenging? If your design uses light beads, I have a great technique for you to try! Bead Tips are a great alternative way to finish off designs strung on a variety of materials - including Beadalon Bead Stringing Wire, Silk Cord, and more! They are easy to use, and provide a neat finish to your design. For this project you will need:

Materials:
1 strand of 2-4mm beads
(4) size 11 Seed Beads
(2) Bead Tips
(2) Size 1 Crimp Tubes
49 Strand .015 Beadalon Bead Stringing Wire
(4) Ball Chain Ends
Diamond Cut Ball Chain
(2) Jump Rings
Lobster Clasp

1. Begin by stringing one size 11 seed bead, a bead tip, one size 11 seed bead and a size 1 Crimp Tube on a 20" length of .015 Beadalon 49 Strand Wire.

 2. Even though we always say NEVER flatten your crimp tube, in this case, I'll allow it. After you've flattened your crimp, snip the end of the wire as close to the crimp as possible.

3. Use the tips of Chain Nose Pliers to gently close the clams…