Take a Make Break – Quick and Easy Jewellery Making Projects

If your busy life is leaving you little time for your creative hobby, we can help! We know that being creative is a way of life, a relaxation, a treat. But we all have so much to manage in our lives: work, family, friends, kids, housework, pets… the list goes on. This often means that we put our hobbies and treats to the bottom of the pile. And we think that’s a crafting tragedy! You might have seen Heston bringing back the tea break. We’ve taken it further: Introducing the “Make Break”!

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Neon Brights

Neon is one of 2012’s biggest trends, the perfect shades to really put you in that summery mood. Neon finishing touches such as belts and headbands are brilliant for embracing the trend, so why not create some jewellery to do the same. The colours can really brighten your mood and raise your spirits, and let’s face it; neon is always so much fun to wear. Mix neon’s with sorbet shades to add your own twist, whilst still keeping your piece on trend.

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Linked Friendship Bracelet

Download the PDF instructions

Friendship bracelets are back in fashion due to popular sites like Pinterest. What used to be for the brownies now has a cool, modern twist as the cords are mixed with chains, bars and beads! One of the big trends for summer 2012 is wearing a stack of 3 bracelets. Why not try adding in a friendship bracelet as part of your stack.

The bracelets range in their difficulty, from simple plaits to more complicated knotting techniques. A variety of cords can be used when creating these bracelets. Thin leathers and cords like our 1mm Shamballa style cords produce smaller, delicate bracelets. Whereas thicker leathers and suede cords, like our 2.5mm beach bead suede cords, give a thicker and more noticeable braid.

I have loved making friendship bracelets for ages, so for a new challenge I decided to figure out the techniques required for a new style of bracelet that uses all my left over Shamballa style cord and bars that look like tiny little weights!

Four strands of one colour or two stands of two different colours creates a gorgeous bracelet, and adding an 8×8 Shamballa style slider bead adds a fab finish and allows the bracelet to be worn with ease. A four strand plaiting technique is used for making the ends and a knotting technique is used around the bars! A while was spent attempting to figuring out the lengths and the knotting but eventually a final bracelet was complete.

Having made several now, each one gets neater as practise makes perfect! I love experimenting with different cord colours, and although making the bracelets is a little time consuming, it is addictive nonetheless. If you would like to have a go at making one of Read More

As you know we’re excited to be stocking Shrinkles shrink plastic here at Beads Direct. Shrink plastic is a fantastic craft product, with various uses from cardmaking and papercraft to jewellery making and beyond. You can draw, stamp and colour on to shrink plastic and shrink it in the oven or using a heat tool. This makes it shrink 7 times smaller and thicker, leaving you with a more robust, useable charm, motif or pendant. Shrink plastic is fun to use for kids and adults alike!

We wanted to share a this cute shrink plastic project by Natalia Colman, author of the new book ‘Fantastic Shrink Plastic‘ available exclusively at Beads Direct!

Shrink Plastic Keyrings

Hello Kitty Inspired Charms Made with Shrinkles Shrink Plastic

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How to make a Beach Bead Bracelet.

Beads Direct’s exclusive Beach Beads are inspired by the beauty of the beach and its surroundings, from oceans to landscapes. The beads come in a wide range of colours and patterns that will put you in the holiday mood.

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I caught up with Natalia Colman so she could introduce us to her brand new, hot off the press book ‘Silver Clay with Style’. This is an excellent book for those who want to make jewellery from silver clay! There are plenty of hints and tips as well as new tecniques and jewellery projects. Here Natalia tells us more……

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So Wimbledon is over, and Novak Djokovic won his first ever Wimbledon title, beating Rafael Nadal. But for some of us it wasn’t the Wimbledon tennis that really mattered. At the same time, the all important Beads Direct Wimbledon was running! Our facebook wall was flooded with some fab designs using the Wimbledon purple and green shades, or playing on other Wimbledon tennis themes – including the ever-present rain! But there could only be one winner….ok, except in the case of a tie! Read More

I’d like to show you how I made my Purple Elegance bracelet for our recent Glitz & Glamour advert in Make Jewellery magazine.

Purple elegance right angle weave bracelet

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I’d like to show you how I made my Purple Elegance bracelet for our recent Glitz & Glamour advert in Make Jewellery magazine.

Purple elegance right angle weave bracelet

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I’m going to show you how to make my bright and chunky necklace design using semi precious beads.