How to Get Jewelry Making Supplies Free or Cheap

A variety of beads

This article will tell you some great ways to get supplies for making jewelry, and spend little or no cash doing it.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Time
• Patience

1. Ask friends and family for broken jewelry or crafts. You can salvage bits of chain, links, clasps, ear wires, beads, buttons, sequins, and all kinds of things. Depending on the kind of jewelry you make, kids jewelry, shirt buttons, watches, and other items can be of use.

2. Jewelry made by me from salvaged chandelier beads.

   Look for broken chandeliers and lamps. Sometimes you can get great glass, crystal, or acrylic beads off lamps and chandeliers. I have gotten some great beads this way.

3. Scope out yard sales for old costume jewelry, broken jewelry, and other bead-bearing items. if the item is damaged or broken, you can often get a great deal. Lots of people sell old jewelry at year sales and flea markets. Look for beaded purses and whatnot too. If they are damaged, you can get a low price and just pull off the beads for your own use.

4. Choker I made using salvaged mardi gras beads.

   Watch dollar stores and department stores for sales in the craft area. Close-outs and clearances can be a real boon to a crafter. Check the fabric department for remnants of cord and ribbon for necklaces. Check the clearance aisles after holidays. Cheap costume items can be dismantled and turned into beautiful jewelry.

5. If you buy cheap beads, keep the ones that have no holes or are misshapen. They can be glued onto other large beads or items as decoration.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep your eyes open. All kinds of things can be turned into jewelry, like shells, stones, bones and lots of other things.

• Buy your wire in the hardware department. It is often cheaper and more durable than the wire sold in the craft department.

• Buy lengths of chain from a hardware store. It is often cheaper and more durable than craft store chain.

• Before throwing away old clothing, salvage all buttons, beads, cords, zipper pulls and ribbon. They can be useful!