The Jewelry Maker Blog
How-to and DIY articles about everything from wire wrapping to jewelry care.
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How to Make a Rosary: Beads, Sizes and Supplies
What you need to make a rosary: the 59-bead layout, bead sizes and strand counts, 3 ways to string it, and a free calculator for any bead size....
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Which Stones Can Get Wet? A Water-Safe Guide for Gemstone Jewelry
Which gemstones can you rinse, which need a damp cloth and which must stay dry? A stone-by-stone chart, plus how water affects cord and how to clean jewelry...
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How to Make Beaded Earrings: A Beginner's Guide
A beginner tutorial for beaded drop earrings: materials with quantities, simple and wrapped loops, opening ear wires, 2 variations and tips on weight and metals.
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Large Hole Beads and Spacer Beads: A Complete Guide
What fits through a 2 mm to 2.5 mm large hole, how our half strands work, and how to choose, size and pattern spacer beads, with a spacer...
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How to Make an Adjustable Sliding Knot Bracelet with S-Lon Cord
Step by step instructions for the classic macrame sliding knot closure on S-Lon cord, with cord lengths, bead and cord sizes, and finishing tips.
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How to Knot Pearls with Silk Cord
A step by step guide to knotting pearls on Griffin silk cord, from choosing the silk size for the pearl hole to gluing the last knot.
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How to Make a Lava Bead Essential Oil Diffuser Bracelet
A step by step guide to a stretch bracelet of lava beads that holds a drop of essential oil, with materials and bead counts for a 7 inch...
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How to Use Crimp Beads and Crimp Covers
Step-by-step crimping with a 2-notch crimp tool or chain nose pliers, a crimp size chart by wire diameter, and how to finish with crimp covers.
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How Many Beads Do I Need? Bead Counts for Bracelets and Necklaces
A bead count chart for bracelets, necklaces and strands from 2 mm to 12 mm, plus standard jewelry lengths and how to count rondelles, chips and knotted strands....
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Beginner's Jewelry-Making Supplies Checklist
The beads, stringing materials, findings and tools a beginner needs, a project-by-project shopping table, and what you can skip at first.
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How To Choose The Right Elastic Cords For Jewelry Making
Which elastic cord to use for 4mm, 6mm, 8mm and 10mm beads, standard cord vs Elastic Floss, how to pre-stretch, tie and glue so your stretch bracelets last....
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How To Make A Mala Necklace | Mala Guide
What you need to make a mala: bead sizes and strand counts for 108 beads, cord choices, tools, the guru bead, and how to knot and finish it....
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Beading Needles: Choosing The Correct Type Of Needle
Collapsible eye, big eye, hard and twisted wire beading needles: what each is for, how the sizes work, and which to use for your beads and cord.
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How To Care For Pearl And Amber Jewelry
Pearl and amber are soft organic gems. How to clean, wear and store them, what damages them, when to restring pearls, and how to spot fake amber.
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How To Choose The Right Bead Stringing Wires
Beading wire explained: 7 vs 19 vs 49 strand, which diameter fits your beads, and the crimp to use with each size. Size chart included.
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Everything You Need To Know About Jewelry Wire
Jewelry wire explained: which gauge for ear wires, loops and wrapping, dead soft vs half-hard, the metals and finishes, and the tools to work it.
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How To Tie A Stretchy Bracelet Using A Surgeon's Knot
Step-by-step video and instructions for tying a stretch bracelet with a surgeon's knot that won't come undone, plus glue, trimming and hiding the knot.
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Naturally Enhancing The Color Of Matte Gemstone Beads
A quick and easy method to revitalize matte finish beads. Requires only a rag, some mineral oil, and a few minutes of your time!
