Ribbon Glass Beads and Crafts

Old hair ribbons can be made into glass bead and ribbon jewelry.

Some people may still think of bead crafts as child's play. Glass beads and ribbon, however, are used to make an elegant alternative to the brightly-colored plastic pony bead necklaces you remember from summer camp. Ribbon and glass bead jewelry are an alternative to classic jewelry for girls and women of all ages and can be purchased or made as a craft project.

Skill Level

There is no pre-determined skill level necessary for ribbon and glass bead jewelry making. Because of the knots required to hold the beads in place on the ribbon, a young elementary school-aged child may have difficulty completing the projects without the help of an adult, however many children quickly learn to tie these knots and can make beautiful jewelry from ribbon and glass beads. In addition, many adults enjoy the craft, and there are people who design, make and sell ribbon and glass bead jewelry for a career.

Projects

Necklaces and bracelets are common glass bead and ribbon crafts. The jewelry is made by slipping beads onto a ribbon and tying knots to secure the bead or beads in place. This is repeated at intervals along the length of ribbon. There are simple glass bead and ribbon projects that consist of only one strand of ribbon, and more complex projects which tie several strands of various patterns together. Glass bead and ribbon jewelry can be made from project kits sold at your local art supply store or by using your own creativity to create a pattern.

References

• Wardrobe Review: Glass-bead Ribbon Necklace Instructions
• Craft Critique: Bead & Button, Ribbon & Felt Jewelry