Fun, Back to School Beading Projects for Fall

Now that the kids are back to school it is time to get your creative juices flowing. The after school projects will be in full swing before you know it. But the great part is, with the kids back in school, it gives you some free time back to start working on some projects during the day. With October being “Visit Your Local Bead Shop Month” there are bound to be some great deals for your crafty ideas.

If you are looking for a craft where your kids can participate with you, a great idea is to personalize their lunch box. You can use stickers, beads, and pre made embellishments to make their lunchbox the coolest one at the table.

When beading, the first thought that comes to mind is that most beads are round. That is true, click here for some great ideas for designing with round beads. It has everything from creating a very simple strand design to more complex ideas.

Although the main thought when being crafty is to make jewelry, there are other fun ideas to make crafts for your garden. One of our favorite finds is here at craftbits.com. This great sea glass and driftwood chime will look great glistening in the sunlight.

If you are a teacher and looking to recycle some old school supplies, or even make a great craft for your new students this school year check out these 2 great ideas from squidoo.com.

If you live in or plan on visiting the Scottsdale or Phoenix AZ region, stop by our shop.  We always have great classes scheduled each month.  We offer everything from stringing to stitching, and crocheting and weaving.  We hope to see you at one of our upcoming classes!

Wedding Shower Ideas: Beading and DIY Parties!

Are you in the process of planning your wedding right now? If so, congratulations on your engagement from all of us at Cosmopolitan Beads! Planning a wedding is very hectic and stressful from choosing the perfect dress, church, DJ, flowers, and reception hall. One thing that many brides don’t think about during the planning process is how well your bridesmaids know each other. 

Oftentimes you have family members, a longtime friend, or new friends from work stand up with you. These ladies will be spending a whole lot of time together over the coming months so we suggest doing some activities that will help break the ice and get everyone a bit more acquainted with each other. 

“Beaded Weddings: 75+ Fabulous Ideas for Jewelry, Invitations, Reception Decor, Gifts and More” by Jean Campbell is a great find for a bride on a budget. (It is only $24.95 if you click the link above.) This book offers great ideas for the DIY or crafty bride. The misconception that many people have with beads is that you can only use them in jewelry. Beads can be a great accent to your centerpieces, invitations, gifts, thank you notes and more! 

Beaded Weddings gives you step by step instructions on how to make each of these projects. With having the helping hands of your bridesmaids you will be able to make a great assembly line and you will be able to mass produce whichever items you wish, all while having a great time bonding.

Beading is making a Comeback!

For every kid that has a beading birthday party, or every bride that has a beading DIY party, a few new people leave wanting more. The love for beading is spreading like a zombie virus and we couldn't be more excited! Beading is making a comeback!

For starters, its start-up costs are next to nothing. You need cutters, needle and thread, and of course wiring for the more intricate projects. For another thing, it's a DIY project with a quick reward, which makes it addicting to newcomers. You can make two or three bead pieces in a day whereas quilting or crocheting blankets takes weeks or months.

Another attractive thing is that supply shopping is most of the fun. Hunting for the right beads and finding must-haves along the way is exhilarating and it delivers yet another quick reward.

Beading is definitely perfect for those who need instant gratification, and it’s been helping people in a number of ways for years.

Beading parties bring people together, and your guests leave with a fun memory as well as a new skill and maybe even a new hobby!

If you’re getting started, welcome to our special corner of the world. Check out this graphic art showing a few different beading styles, it will give you a great idea of where to start.

How to Size and Organize Beads for DIY Projects

Making a great beading project comes down to having the right materials, and having the right materials always boils down to organization. Maybe you found the perfect charm or accent for your piece, but you have no idea where you put it. The first thing you need to do, is separate your beads, and organize them according to shape and size. In order to do that, you need to understand how to size and identify beads.

When you go to pull the piece, you'll be able to tell right away if it will be the right size or shape for your project, and that is how you can make your life a lot easier.

Here's how you size out a bead - 

1- compare its length to inches, and you have to have a general understanding of bead sizing. Smallest beads are 2mm, and larger ones are often 25mm. 

2- you can use a long strand, preferably about 15 inches.  You can put varying sized beads next to each other to see if they will work or if you need to change them out. 

Separate the ones that work well together, so that when you go for a bead of a certain size, you have more to choose from. This is how you can get attractive projects done in a timely, organized fashion.

Five Hot Trends to Include in Your Beading Projects

When looking for new styles and inspiring ideas, consider the three biggest trends of the summer, along with a touch of the mid 90's for an awesome popular project.

Neon
You'll see neon everywhere this year. 90's inspired designs and bright neon colors are a big hit. Maybe because many trendsetters now are 90's kids, or maybe it's that bright colors make us happy. Either way, neon has joined the party.

Look up some fun patterns like the crisscross bead bracelet, or safety-pin bracelet, and choose bright colored beads for the project. They'll go with anything you wear and make fun DIY projects.

Animal Prints
The animal prints came back last year, exploded, and still remains a fashionista staple. Add a sassy feral touch to your project with animal printed leather straps or beads.

Leather
Leather is trending everywhere, particularly in jewelry and wrist cuffs. Hand painted, unique leather cuffs are huge right now, and you can find many DIY ideas on Pinterest.

Studs & Spikes
Studs and spike accents crate a “chic rock” look; studs are showing up everywhere on clothes, leggings, purses, and belts. You can do this to anything you create by adding studs to a bead or leather bracelet.

Geometric Shapes
Use spike pins in beaded jewelry to create a rough looking cliff for those with an edgy style. You can add geometric charms for funky, unique geometric bead bracelets. A lot of jewelry this year will include shapes like hexagons, triangles, and rectangles, so those shapes will make a great addition to any project as well. 

Beading Parties and Classes are perfect for Weddings & Birthdays

The benefits of beading are inimitable, and the benefits of beading with friends are even better. If you are an avid beader, or are just starting out, then this post is your new best friend.

Take your beading hobby to the next level by sharing it with friends; simply suggest it as an activity for an upcoming event. Beading is a relaxing way to spend quality time with others. It is a break from the business of a technologicaly-heavy life, a respite from stress. Finding others who love to bead, and teaching your loved ones something you love will build lifelong friendships. This connection will allow you to bond with others on a deeper level while sharing moments of your life together; it’s a great way to get your kids or friends talking.

Is there a wedding coming up? Make a beautiful wedding themed creation for the bride and groom. Use white beads to bring the theme of the wedding into your creations. Beading parties are great for any part of the wedding as well. Bridesmaids often get together to create jewelry for the wedding party on the special day, but they're also the perfect setting for wedding showers. If the bride has a romantic theme, beaded accessories and centerpieces will complement the venue perfectly, so a beading class could be a great way to cut costs and add fun.

Attend Beading Workshops & Classes to Improve Technique

Improve Techniques with Beading Workshops & Classes

Store bought pieces are pricy and common, but constructing them on your own can feel a bit intimidating if you are new to beading. Attempting to bead without instruction has the potential to be extremely frustrating. However, with the right tuition and technique, you will find beading enjoyable and invigorating! 

This is exactly why we suggest a beading workshop, or even a beading party. With our support system, you get honest and helpful feedback while expanding your pool of ideas. Take the skill you learn in our classes with you into your future for handy skills through many of life’s snags! You will then know various tactics and tricks for creating beaded accents or for repairing common issues with jewelry! Think about it- It is difficult trying to replace a rare necklace, and impossible to replace a sentimental one. Knowing the structure of your necklace may be just what you need to save it!

Check out some great pieces from our workshops! 

  

Post by Lynda Orescanin

 

DIY Beading Projects - Jewelry & Home Decor

DIY Bead Projects: Jewelry & Decor

Designing home decor or jewelry with a collection of unique beads is a great way to stand out from mass produced store products. Not to mention, the bragging rights when a guest or friend asks you where you obtained the item. Beads used to be a symbol of your social status, or a form of currency in some areas- so bring that elegance to your home. Use these unique tips and tricks for crafting gorgeous pieces of art that add a bit of history to your look or home.

Necklaces

Beaded necklaces are very specific to the wearer, and set the frame for the view of your face. If someone created a beaded necklace for an older woman of a larger build, it certainly would not look at its best on a say… petit, teenager. View different patterns and select beads and designs that are right for your style, and you will create beautiful jewelry that fits your look perfectly. By using beads and specific designs, you are adding a touch of elegance to your look, and tying your outfit together.

Decor

You can use beading projects for a number of different projects around the house. Our recommendation is 3D beading. 3D Beading is very challenging and intricate, which means they are less competitive and each project is unique. Constructing 3D beads of animals or favorite items, and then placing them on glass dramatically increases the aesthetics of a room. Your accessories and crafts sill surely become the topic of discussion, and they will make amazing gifts!

Post by Lynda Orescanin