Beading can be a very rewarding hobby craft and even an art form. It can also be very frustrating if you don't have the temperament for it. Beading is a fun and exciting way to express your-self and have fun at the same time. These beads come in different sizes or type of bead. And, it is fairly easy to create these projects!

Types of Beads

Beads - Mineral, gemstone, metallic, ceramic, organic (amber, pearl, bone, horn), glass, plastic.

Crystals, Cylinder beads, Seed beads, Amber beads, Accent beads, Bugle beads, Lined glass beads, Wooden beads, Industrial glass beads, Lampwork beads, Pearls, Hex beads, Semi-precious stones.

Bead Finishes

Transparent, Translucent, Opaque
Metallic, Rainbow, Silver-lined, Colour-lined
Matt, Gloss, Frosted, Ceylon

Tools & Supplies

Flat-Nose plier. Designed for straightening bent wire and also for making sharp bends and ring angles in wire.
Round-Nose pliers. Used for making wire loops, especially in headpins for ear rings.
Split Ring Pliers. Designed for opening split rings and making attachments fast and easy.
Nylon Jaw Pliers. Designed to work with craft wire and for wire wrapping. Nylon jaws protect surface finish of wire.
Mini Twisting Pliers.6 inch tool is used to wrap tight, consistent twist wire lengths. Simple one-pull automatic return twists wire quickly into a strand that will not unravel. Cutting blade in center to cut wire.
Anvil.Miniature steel anvil is 1 1/2 inch by 4 1/3 inch by 1 1/5 inch. It's great for forming wires. It has one round horn and one flat horn with a hole for riveting and bending. Great for making flatted hook and eye clasps.
Wire Shear. Used to cut memory wire or hard temper wire. The Beadalon memory wire shear has hardened 90 degree jaws that slice effortlessly through spring tempered wire leaving a clean, safe to handle straight edge.
Nipper.Designed for cutting wire and Beadalon 7, 19 and 49 and other soft lines. Angled blades shear line without fraying and leave a smooth, clean edge.
Tweezers.Choose from bent or straight tweezers; great for working with small beads.
Locking Tweezers - Many uses, including locking strands of beads or pearls when you do not wish to use a knot in the beading thread.
Crimper. Lower position crimps and upper position rounds off crimped bead for a clean, professional look. Leaves a smooth, round bead and eliminate sharp edges that can result from using conventional methods.
Micro Crimper. You can use the Micro Crimper with our size 1 crimp beads and tubes.
Jump Ring Tool.This tool fits on your finger just like a ring. Use it to separate and hold ah jump ring apart. Cut down on fumbling and frustration.
Flocked Bead Board. Thebeading board has 3 channels for designing necklaces up to 38 inches (97 cm) with 6 storage bins for organizing beads, findings and stringing materials.
Bead Reamers - Hand held reamer/file set. Used for widening and straightening the holes incorrectly drilled into beads or pearls.
Rosary and Jewelry Chain Dispenser will contain up to 50 feet of chain depending on the size of chain being used. In its use it will prevent the chain from knotting and tangling. It will keep the chain visible and clean in the dispenser at all times.
Wire cutter - For cutting jewelers wire or clasp connectors.

Jeweler's Wire - Wire and crimps. And perhaps a crimping tool.
Threading Materials:
Silk thread for beading. Used mostly for pearls or with small mineral or gem beads with extremely small diameter holes; comes in various sizes and colors. Never use with glass beads.
Nylon or other synthetic beading thread. Used for most mineral or glass bead strands; comes in various sizes and colors; withstands abrasion much better than silk.
French Wire - French Wire comes in three sizes: small, medium, and large; gold and silver colors. The purpose of French Wire is to protect beading thread from the abrasive effect of metallic loops or jump rings, which might otherwise eventually cut through the beading thread and destroy a bead strand.
Cordless Thread Burner. Provides instant heat. Pointed tip is controlled by fingertip switch. Perfect for sealing the ends of bead cord to prevent fraying or as an alternative to scissors for cutting bead thread. Works with most types of cord.
Jeweler's 2-Part Epoxy. For making and repairing beaded jewelry and for other crafts. Dries clear, will not shrink, and is unaffected by water, oil, or gasoline. Permanent bond sets in 5 minutes. Can withstand temperatures up to 175°F. Furnished as a kit of two tubes, the sum of which is 1 fluid ounce.
Super Glue Gel. A high performance cyanoacrylate that bonds metals, most plastics, ceramics, rubber and glass. New gel/no-drip formula will bond porous items. Also ideal for adhering vertical surfaces.
Vigor Super Glue. Features a no-drip, no-clog spout that dispenses the adhesive one drop at a time.
Microbrushes. With applicator heads positionable to any angle, Microbrushes are ideal for the precise application of epoxy, lubricant, or flux. Unique synthetic fibers hold material in suspension until applied, avoiding spillage. A great beading tool for applying adhesives.

Other supplies for beading:

Aluminum & Colored Aluminum wire, Colored & Matte-finish copper wire. Used in beadwork when the beads have to hold a particular shape or as a part of the decorative effect.
Scissors and craft knife
Embroidery needles, Beading needles, Knitting needles, Needle threaded, Crochet hook
Ring-size bar
Hemp twine and string, Stretch nylon string, Cotton Cord
Graph paper - helps to drawing the designs of project.
Pencil, Water-soluble marker, Vanishing embroidery marker

Fabrics & Fastenings.

Most fabric is perfect for making bags and clothes for everyone. Generally, you want to use certain type of fabric needed for the certain type of project. Keep in mind, that some fabric can even be hand-washed.

Blanket fabric, Silk, Ribbons, Leather and Suede, Leatherette band, Interfacing Knitting and Crochet yarns.

Metal Findings

"Findings" is a trade term describing the supplies - usually metallic - that jeweler's use. Findings made of base metal (silver or gold colored). For better pieces use gold filled (a layer of gold stamped - not electroplated - over a base metal core) or sterling silver findings. For the best pieces (using the finest materials) use 14K gold findings.
Separators - Disks or other shapes used to separate individual beads from other beads on a strand. Usually smaller than the beads and metallic.
Bead caps. Used as supports for large beads.
Cones. Used for hold and hide the ends of several strings together.
Clasps: barrel, fish hook, lobster claw, round spring ring.
Jump rings. Used to attach the clasps (sometimes).
Pin backs. Used for attaching a pin to the clothing.
Crimp beads. Used to hold the beads securely at each end of a wire or cable and block the ends of nylon stretch strings and thread.
Bead tips. Hide the knots at the end of the cords.
Head pins. For making columns of beads. Regular stands of beads can also be attached to ear posts or hoops to make ear rings.
Ear wire and posts. Used for making earrings.