How to Strengthen Hands and Fingers
How many times have you been working on a beading project, only to have your fingers and hands seize from cramping and fatigue, which force you to take a break?
Essential Resources
Explore Resources
Categories
Jewelry Medium (3649)
Bead Mosaics (29)
Resin & Mixed Media (166)
Polymer Clay (235)
Chainmaille (139)
Bead Stringing (1123)
Metalworking (259)
Seed Beading (614)
Wireworking (885)
Fiber & Textile (233)
Design Style (2853)
Awareness & Causes (22)
Boho (226)
Classic (90)
Décor (145)
Men's (91)
Minimalist (241)
Seasonal & Holiday (1366)
Statement (234)
Trends (124)
Vintage (56)
Wedding Jewelry & Décor (220)
Western (195)
Essential Resources (1138)
Charts (68)
Design Principles (40)
EncycloBEADia® (320)
Gemstone Meanings (183)
How-Tos (338)
Tools & Supplies (265)
Working With Color (27)
Clay Clean-Up
Award-winning mixed media artist Lisa Pavelka shares her polymer clay tip for keeping your finished clay project clean free of surface contaminants and any pesky spots.
Make Your Own Inlay Jewelry Easy as 1-2-3
Inlay jewelry is a beautiful way to display stones without the use of traditional setting techniques. Learn more about this exciting trend.
Tree of Life Jewelry
The tree of life is an ancient symbol that appears in numerous cultures the world over. Learn how to incorporate them into your designs for stylish results.
All You Need to Know About Jewelry Cleaners and Polishers
Keeping your jewelry well cared for and beautiful for years to come is just as important as designing it. All the info you'll need about the different maintenance supplies available to care for your treasures in is this article.
Saltwater Copper Etching
Etching copper with saltwater might sound like a magic trick, but it's actually simple science! Learn how to etch jewelry pieces with this video.
What is Dichroic Glass?
Explore the fascinating history of dichroic glass and learn ways to incorporate this iridescent wonder into your jewelry designs.
Work Hardening Metal
Jewelry-making expert Tammy Honaman explores work hardening metal in this informative article. Learn how to make gold, sterling silver, sterling silver-filled, copper, brass, bronze and nickel metal rigid or malleable to suit your design needs.
A Complete Guide to Turquoise
Learn what turquoise is, types of turquoise gems, typical gemological enhancements and buying tips for this popular blue-green gemstone.
What to Know About Wubbers® Pliers
Patti Bullard has invented a better set of tools to save you time and energy on jewelry-making projects. Follow along as she demonstrates how to use her line of Wubbers® pliers.
Everything You Need to Know About Jewelry-Making Cutters
What type of cutters are for which types of jewelry-making techniques? Nip over to this article to learn more about these essential tools of the trade.
All About Rhinestones
Discover interesting beading facts and new insights into the jewelry making industry with articles from Fire Mountain Gems and Beads. Article: All About Rhinestones
The Psychology of Color and Jewelry Design
Delve into the psychology of color and learn how it can play an important role in jewelry design.
The Benefits of Stainless Steel for Jewelry Design
Explore the benefits and properties of this sturdy and stylish metal. Watch the video and learn the benefits of using stainless steel components in your handmade jewelry.
Selecting the Right Bead Reamer
Bead reamers are an important tool. Use this helpful guide to choose the correct reamer for all your jewelry-making needs.
Turquoise: Then and Now
What do the ancient Egyptians, Native Americans, 1970's celebrities and people today all have in common? A love of turquoise! Explore this gemstone's popularity throughout history.
A Guide to Jewelry-Making Hand Tools
In jewelry making, it's important to have the right tools. Check out this guide to learn the right tool for every job, ensuring a professional finish each time.
Blushing Beauty
Popular fashion is leaning toward blush hues for clothing, handbags and jewelry. Find design ideas and more in this article.
A Guide to Metals
What does your choice of metal say about you? This article explores the meaning of different metals in jewelry designs to help you learn what your jewelry is saying.
Crystal (Glass)
A material made by adding lead oxide to molten glass. Crystal glass has high density and refraction, creating brilliant sparkle. Also leaded crystal or glass.
Acrylic Resin
A form of plastic which can be molded into a variety of shapes, including beads, components and findings.
Crow Bead
A bead cut from a tube of glass or plastic, then tumbled and polished to smooth the edges. Used on cornrow braids, fringe and in Native American styles.
Carat
The unit of weight used for precious stones. One carat equals one-fifth of a gram. Also a measurement of fitness in gold. Pure gold is expressed as 24Kt.The term ''carat'' dates back to the traders of the ancient world.
Crimp Tube
A metal bead or short metal tube used with all beading wires and some beading cords to secure the beginning and finish the end of a strand.
Crimping Pliers
Pliers with a grooved opening for folding, rolling and smoothing crimp beads and tubes. Crimping pliers create a smooth, rounded or curved crimp.
Crimp Clasp
Has structural crimps for attaching to the end of beading wire or cord with Crimping Pliers. Can include Hook-and-Eye, Lobster Claw and Magnetic Clasp styles.
Crimp Bead
A metal bead or short metal tube used with all beading wires and some beading cords to secure the beginning and finish the end of a strand.
Crimp
A metal bead or short metal tube used with all beading wires and some beading cords to secure the beginning and to finish the end of a strand.
Cord Coil
(see also Coil End) A wire coil bead with an end loop.
Cord
A thin, flexible length of twisted fibers.
Curb Chain
A form of chain with oval links that have been twisted, so that the entire chain lays flat.
Ice-Pick Bail
Similar to a prong bail, it will create a loop to attach a chain to when the prongs are closed into a cross-drilled pendant.
Cane Glass
Beads resembling old-fashioned candy sticks. Small canes of colored glass are fused together to create a larger rod, then coated with clear glass and fired.
Cone
Necklace terminator or beading finding used to bring multiple strands together at one point to attach a clasp or be part of the design.
Component
A smaller, self-contained part used in jewelry-making and beading.
Cameo
A carved gem or shell, in which the carved design stands out against a background of a different color.
Cultured Saltwater Pearl
Pearls created by a farmer, who inserts a "seed" of mother-of-pearl into a saltwater oyster. The oyster coats the seed with layers of nacre, creating a pearl.
Pearl, Cultured Freshwater
Pearls created by a farmer, who inserts a "seed" of mother-of-pearl into a freshwater oyster. The pearl oyster will coat the seed with nacre, creating a pearl.
Clasp
A fastener that connects two or more ends of a piece of jewelry together. Clasps can be utilitarian and purely functional, or embellished design elements.
Cloisonne
Enamel with surface decorations set in hollows formed by strips of wire welded to a metal plate.
Coil End
(see also Cord Coil) A wire coil bead with an end loop.
Celluloid
Thermoplastic material that was commonly used in jewelry before the invention of injection molding. Now used to simulate tortoiseshell.
Coil Bead
A bead created using coiled wire. Some styles can be pinched like a crimp bead.
Chevron Beads
Learn about chevron beads (also called rosetta beads or star beads). Explore their origins, evolution, and cultural significance in this enlightening article.
Chaton
A particular shape of cut glass or crystal, most commonly known as Crystal Passions® rhinestones. A chaton has a faceted, pavillion-shaped (pointed) bottom.
Chatelaine
A chain, pin or clasp worn at a woman's waist, to which trinkets, keys or other articles are attached. Also used for pins with two figures linked by a chain.
Charms
Small ornaments worn as pendants or on bracelets.
Chain Tabs
A small, flat metal finding that is often hung on a piece of precious-metal jewelry and stamped as a "tag" identifying the precious metal content.
You supply the creativity, we supply everything else! ®