Welcome to Bead Realm your source for handmade Lampwork glass beads, Swarovski Crystals, Preciosa Crystals, Furnace Beads, Glass Beads, Beads, Beading, Dichroic glass beads, glass flower beads, and more

Categories

Sizes

Shopping Cart more
0 items

Information
Resources
Tips
Shipping & Returns
Privacy Notice
Contact Us

Sign up for emails
Our newsletter has beading secrets, coupons and specials!
Name:   
Email:   

Articles
Dichroic Beads, how they appear in normal and bright lighting.
Designing to meet Fashion Trends
Bead Color as a Design Element
What is Dichroic Glass, how is it made?
All About Preciosa
New Articles, All Articles

Bestsellers
01.Lampwork Round Bead, Bumpy, Smoky Black, Silver Dots, 12mm Pkg 9
02.Handmade Round Bead, Green, Aventurine, Dots, 11mm, Pkg 12
03.Handmade Round Bead, Red, Aventurine, Dots, 11mm, Pkg 12
04.Lampwork Round Bead, Blue Aventurine White Pink, Flowers 12mm
05.Handmade Round Bead, Lt. Amethyst, Aventurine, Dots 11mm, Pkg 12

Home » Catalog » Resources

In Resources:

Color is one of Your Most Powerful Tools
Designing to meet Fashion Trends
Dichroic Beads, what to expect in terms of color and transparency.
Make your own "Adjustable Sterling Silver Bling Ring"
Measuring for a Bracelet

 

Make your own "Adjustable Sterling Silver Bling Ring"

 
 

Sterling silver adjustable 11 loop Bling Ring with 22 Dichroic 5mm round beads.

Materials

 

First lay out your design or create a free flowing design. A small round container or a piece of felt is handy to keep the beads from rolling. Move the beads around until you find a pattern that pleases you.

Place a bead onto a head pin. Using your round-nose pliers make a hook at the end of the headpin and pass the hook through the loop on the Bling Ring, working from the bottom of the loop towards the front in a left to right (right handed), or right to left pattern (left handed).

Now using your chain-nose pliers hold the end of the wire and complete the loop, continue turning the loop so it forms a second loop next to the first, similar to what you see on a key chain ring. While your forming this second loop, keep it close to the first one and make sure it passes through the loop on the Bling Ring. The double loop provides extra strength and peace of mind knowing you won't easily loose any beads.

Keep filling the loops with a one bead per headpin, making sure to add two beads per loop for a total of 22 beads on the 11 loop sterling silver Bling ring.

Enjoy your beautiful Bling Ring.

Back to the top


Measuring for a Bracelet

When making a bracelet we all want a perfect fit the first time. The diameter of the beads you use play a significant role on the inner circumference of your completed bracelet - by compensating for the bead diameter you will can make a perfectly sized bracelet every time.

  1. Measure the wrist of the person the bracelet is being made for, or if they are not available have them measure their wrist with a soft flexible measuring tape or piece of string - ribbon and have them measure it against a ruler adding a little for a comfortable fit.
  2. Subtract the measurements for the toggle - clasp and rings from the overall measurement to give you the bead length for your bracelet.
  3. For the finished bracelet to fit correctly you will need to compensate for the diameter of your beads. For round beads you would add three beads to the measured length of your strand. For other bead shapes you would triple the diameter of a bead and add the appropriate amount of beads to equal the tripled diameter.

Example:

Using a rondelle bead with a 16mm diameter and a 8mm length you would need to add 6mm to the length of your bracelet to accomodate for the diameter of that bead: 3 x 16mm = 48mm. Divide 48mm by the bead length - in this case 8mm - and you have 6mm. This applies for each bead you use in your design.

If I use 5 of them, I would add 30mm (5 x 6mm) to the bracelet length to compensate for the diameter of those particular beads- giving me a great fit.

Back to the top

© 2005 - 2008 Bead Realm | All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy | Contact Us