How to Design Jewelry With Glass Beads
Glass beads make exquisite jewelry. With their vast array of colors, shapes and sizes, they can be used to make everything from delicate, dainty rings to bold, chunky necklaces. As pretty as any precious gemstones, glass beads are luminous and sparkling, as well as relatively affordable. Because their varieties are so numerous, and their potential uses so plentiful, the creative possibilities when working with glass beads are truly endless. But before sitting down to assemble a piece of jewelry, it is helpful to have a clear design in mind.
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Instructions
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Become familiar with varieties of glass beads. There are beads made of recycled glass, hand blown glass, Czech glass, Italian glass, antique or vintage glass, and more. Some are as small as grains of sand, while others make a statement with their size. Knowing what you have to work with will help you develop dynamic and varied designs.
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Understand color and how it works. When you develop a design for a piece of jewelry, create a palette of colors you want it to include. Some may be harmonious, or in the same family, while others may be complementary, or opposite. Examine a color wheel, a circular diagram of colors used in color theory, for inspiration.
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Experiment with texture. Any type of beaded jewelry lends itself well to creating interesting textures. Layer smaller beads over larger ones, or combine textiles such as yarn and fabric with the glass beads, for interesting textural effects.
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Look to jewelry in your wardrobe for inspiration. Chances are, you have several pieces of jewelry that you might like to replicate using glass beads. For example, an old-fashioned silver charm bracelet can be the inspiration for a bracelet made of petite glass beads with an assortment of hand blown beads in different shapes dangling from it.
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Study the natural world. Flowers, plants, insects and animals make great inspiration for jewelry designs. It is possible to use tiny glass beads to make birds, roses, spiders and more.
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Subscribe to jewelry supply catalogs. Generally full of beads as well as design ideas, these catalogs can be a valuable resource to any jewelry designer. They make it possible for inspiration to come right to you through the mail, sometimes brightening your day when you least expect it.
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Keep a journal. A blank sketchbook is an ideal place to sketch design ideas or write them down, as well as press leaves and flowers whose colors or shapes inspire you.
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Tips & Warnings
Store your jewelry making supplies in a portable case with divided sections inside. Having everything tidy and organized will make it easy for you to turn a design idea into a reality when inspiration strikes.
