Simple Tips - Fire Mountain Gems and Beads

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Beading Resources > Simple Tips

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When threading a small needle for beading seed beads, the one thing that I find works is to take a small drop of clear fingernail polish and dab it on the end of the thread. Then take your forefinger and thumb removing the excess polish and making a fine point tip on the thread.

- Yvonne

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I was at a festival today and saw a wonderful way to display earrings, using a small mesh garbage can inverted on a turntable. It allowed for a very classy rotating display with a space on top for a larger piece or price tags.

- Matthew

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I use plastic shrink tubes used to cover electrical repairs which are easily found at hardware stores to cover my needle and bent-nose pliers. I cut a small piece for each tong and blow dry it to fit snug. They last for a project and can be easily removed. They are also very inexpensive.

- April

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To help in picking up small beads use finger cots. You can get these at your local pharmacy. They are used to protect finger wounds. Put one on your index finger and thumb.

- Lynn

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When I have a project that I have decided to make, I gather EVERYTHING I will need, and I mean EVERYTHING and put it ALL in a gallon plastic bag, including the pattern, if using. I mark the outside of the bag, which project it is, and if I will be needing to order more from Fire Mountain before I start. That way when I have decided to work on the project, I can pick up the gallon bag and it is all ready to go. I find I work on a few projects at a time, and this makes it easier to find, and keeps me organized!

- Lisa

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I use the clear plastic egg cartons from the grocery store to store my beads and findings in. I then just stack them up on my work table and can easily find what I want.

- Sheryle

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I like to use an old coaster with cork lining to hold my seed beads. It has just enough of an edge the beads don't run off. A nice mini beading board.

- Anna

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My grandma gave me a padded lap desk with a light, cup and pencil holder. I am planning to apply VELCRO® to the top surface and attach the other side of the VELCRO to a deviled egg platter for organizing beads while in use. For storage, I like the spice racks and baby food containers. I would like to build a rack that holds rows of 7 to 10 baby food jars with 4 to ten columns in a spice rack style for mounting to the wall above my desk. If anyone has made racks like these, please let me know!

- Julia

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Magnetic clasps on bracelets--I've found that when your clasp comes into contact with metal, i.e. shopping carts, etc. that it will come off and stick to the item and you don't feel it come off. I solved the problem by attaching a two-inch safety chain with a jumpring on each end and attaching the jumprings to the two jumprings on the clasp. The bracelet won't come off of your wrist.

- Sydney

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I have a domed iron pot rack that has two shelves, 7 hooks on a dome rim and 5 on a lower wall brace. Great way to store and arrange my necklaces when preparing for a sale. Beautiful camera prop to capture cover invite image.

- Monika

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As a stay-at-home mother of a 3-year-old little girl I find myself having to store away, hide, and move my jewelry supplies around often. I store the majority of my supplies neatly in clear plastic boxes up high on a shelf in my closet, along with finished projects waiting to be sold. Then I pack a sturdy picnic basket full of projects I want to complete throughout the week. The picnic basket is amazingly portable, easy to pack my supplies in quickly, and most importantly--it can be set up on top of the refrigerator, away from little hands. I have clear plastic containers inside so I stay organized and because of this I'm able to pack everything away in a matter of minutes--just in case a nap ends sooner than I expected.

- Destenie from New Hampshire

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Before reusing those plastic bags your beads come in, you can remove the "MADE IN ..." printed on the outside by dipping a cotton ball or a paper towel in acetone (as in fingernail polish remover). You have a clean bag for storage or use for customers.

- Beverly from Georgia

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I shop thrifty stores for bargains. Look for jewelry grab bags--they are lots of fun. I found a wire sign holder and use it for a jewelry display--I love it. Be creative and keep on looking. Plus don't forget garage sale time is upon us and keep your eyes open for bargains.

- Angela from Kentucky

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I laid out one of my favorite necklace/bracelets on my beading board. With a black Sharpie®, mark where they ended. All I do now is design knowing it will be the correct length. Also, if you have any cafeteria food trays, these work GREAT for beading. I covered mine with black felt and it can hold lots of beads and the bead board. One of my favorite bead organizers is a "change" drawer from a money box. Holds beads, tools, bad beads, wire, etc.

- Judy from Texas

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I use the amber bottles that medicine comes in. I take off the medicine label and place the label that comes with the beads. I also use a binder with the clear pockets in it to hold any of my bead books that fall apart.

- Karren from Maryland

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Prescription bottles make great storage containers. I also peel the label off the bags and attach them to the prescription bottle. The plastic bags that the order is shipped in are used to ''stage'' a customer's order and also to ''stage'' materials for a project. Everything gets used!

- Lesley from Pennsylvania

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I have another suggestion for Terri, who asked the experts on Tuesday, about using a broken briolette. I had one and I glued it to a silver bead cap. Before I glued it, I used a head pin to make a wrapped loop out of the top of the cap and then glued the broken tip of the briolette into the cap. It is now beautiful, the broken edge doesn't show and I don't have to worry about stressing the repair.

- Sandy West

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I purchased several old lunch trays like those used in school cafeterias. When working on projects, I put everything I need in the various cup/dessert/vegetable areas and put a bead mat in the middle. I can work on several projects without confusion and just stack them when I can't :( bead.

- Suzanne from Michigan

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I used to work at Ritz Camera and was able to take home a good amount of Fujifilm canisters to store my beads in (my husband uses them for his chain mail too). Each canister can hold about a hank of beads and the Fuji brand is nearly clear so you can see the beads' color. Then, I printed out labels on my computer to put on the canisters with a description of the contents. An added bonus to these canisters is that the lid can double as a little sample palette when working on a project. You can go to any place they develop film and ask for their canisters, they'll give them free because they're usually thrown away anyway!

- Amanda from Maryland

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I purchased a toothbrush holder to hold my tools upright. It's not a totally closed container, but just enclosed enough to hold the center portion of the tool. Turn the handles upside down and insert one handle into the slot.

- Christine from Washington

283 Item(s) Found.

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