Whenever Product Manager and Education Director, Wyatt White, joins us for Facebook Live it's always a fun time! This Facebook Live is full of tips, tricks and ideas for ways to take finishing your jewelry to the next level.
We featured lots of products including Bead Bumpers, EZ Crimp Ends, and Memory Wire. We're offering a special coupon code for 20% off of our featured tool kit (and my current favorite!) the Shimmer Pliers until Wednesday, November 20, 2019.
Bead Bumpers were originally introduced to help reduce the abrasion between pearls and beads for people who preferred stringing rather than knotting. There are three different varieties - small oval 1.5mm, large oval 2.0 mm, and square 1.7mm; and 5 colors - black, white, satin silver, satin gold, and clear. As with so many of our products, the more we used them, the more uses we figured out for them!
One of the most important advantages of Bead Bumpers is that they allow you to string your bracelet or necklace snug, but not tight, so you don't see any extra wire at the clasp. When you string your necklace or bracelet too tight, you run the risk of putting extra pressure on the wire that can cause the wire to lose it's structure and even break. The squish of Bead Bumpers alleviates that pressure and helps make designs more structurally secure.
Stringing Bead Bumpers onto the Wire takes a little patience, but I promise it's worth it! To string the Bead Bumper onto the Wire, put it on your finger and pierce it with the wire (make sure you can see!)
Bead Bumpers aren't only for function, they can also be decorative. You can add them in between beads on a headpin for a really pretty earring design.
We also used the EZ Crimps to finish off our necklace. The EZ Crimps are a great finding to use if you struggle with crimping, or if you like an extra design element for your finishing. They are available in two styles, two finishes, and with or without a lobster clasp attached.
To make an S-Clasp:
1. Take two Headpins and line them up with one ball on one side, and one on the other.
2. Cross them in the center and twist them together.
3. Use a Pliers to tighten the twist.
4. Trim the end (without the ball) flush with the twist.
5. Use your fingers to bend it into an S shape.
6. Use a Round Nose Pliers to bend each end into a small loop.
*You can do this technique with scraps of wire as well!*
Bead Bumpers are also great for working with Memory Wire. Not only can you create stations of beads that are held in place, you can use Bead Bumpers on the ends to hold your beads in place before turning a loop. And speaking of loops, have you ever thought to turn a loop in the MIDDLE of the Memory Wire? Another brilliant Wyatt idea - that way you have a perfect loop in the middle to hang a charm off of!
We only scratched the surface for advanced finishing techniques! Keep joining us on Thursdays at 2:00pm EST to learn more tips and tricks on the Beadalon Facebook Live. The Jewelry Making with Beadalon Facebook Page is another great resource for learning more beading techniques. Be sure to join us there to continue the fun.
Until next time....happy beading!
Meredith
We featured lots of products including Bead Bumpers, EZ Crimp Ends, and Memory Wire. We're offering a special coupon code for 20% off of our featured tool kit (and my current favorite!) the Shimmer Pliers until Wednesday, November 20, 2019.
Bead Bumpers were originally introduced to help reduce the abrasion between pearls and beads for people who preferred stringing rather than knotting. There are three different varieties - small oval 1.5mm, large oval 2.0 mm, and square 1.7mm; and 5 colors - black, white, satin silver, satin gold, and clear. As with so many of our products, the more we used them, the more uses we figured out for them!
One of the most important advantages of Bead Bumpers is that they allow you to string your bracelet or necklace snug, but not tight, so you don't see any extra wire at the clasp. When you string your necklace or bracelet too tight, you run the risk of putting extra pressure on the wire that can cause the wire to lose it's structure and even break. The squish of Bead Bumpers alleviates that pressure and helps make designs more structurally secure.
Stringing Bead Bumpers onto the Wire takes a little patience, but I promise it's worth it! To string the Bead Bumper onto the Wire, put it on your finger and pierce it with the wire (make sure you can see!)
Bead Bumpers aren't only for function, they can also be decorative. You can add them in between beads on a headpin for a really pretty earring design.
We also used the EZ Crimps to finish off our necklace. The EZ Crimps are a great finding to use if you struggle with crimping, or if you like an extra design element for your finishing. They are available in two styles, two finishes, and with or without a lobster clasp attached.
Wyatt is full of surprises! I put out some Ball Headpins for him to show how to use the Bead Bumpers to mimic the look of knotting for earrings. He used them to make a fabulous S-Hook by putting two together, ends on opposite sides, and twisting them together.
To make an S-Clasp:
1. Take two Headpins and line them up with one ball on one side, and one on the other.
2. Cross them in the center and twist them together.
3. Use a Pliers to tighten the twist.
4. Trim the end (without the ball) flush with the twist.
5. Use your fingers to bend it into an S shape.
6. Use a Round Nose Pliers to bend each end into a small loop.
*You can do this technique with scraps of wire as well!*
Bead Bumpers are also great for working with Memory Wire. Not only can you create stations of beads that are held in place, you can use Bead Bumpers on the ends to hold your beads in place before turning a loop. And speaking of loops, have you ever thought to turn a loop in the MIDDLE of the Memory Wire? Another brilliant Wyatt idea - that way you have a perfect loop in the middle to hang a charm off of!
We only scratched the surface for advanced finishing techniques! Keep joining us on Thursdays at 2:00pm EST to learn more tips and tricks on the Beadalon Facebook Live. The Jewelry Making with Beadalon Facebook Page is another great resource for learning more beading techniques. Be sure to join us there to continue the fun.
Until next time....happy beading!
Meredith
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