How to Make a Stone Bead Necklace

Supplies Needed:  Stone Beads, "Tiger Tail" or Softflex Wire, Pliers (crimp or long nose), crimp beads, clasp (jump ring needed with "C" clasps), and adhesive.

1.      Cut a length of "Tiger Tail" or Softflex long enough for your necklace, plus about 8" (4" on each end to work with).  Be careful not to put any kinks or bends in your wire.  The "Tiger Tail" especially, will not hang well with kinks or bends, and will eventually break at the kinks.

2.      String your Beads.

3.      Add two crimp beads to one end of the necklace.

4.      Put the wire through one end of the clasp, and back through both crimp beads.  Slide crimp beads and clasp together.  Smash crimp beads with pliers.  Add a drop of adhesive to crimp beads as insurance.  String wire back through last few beads and snip the extra length.
  

5.      Dangle strand from the unfinished side.  Allow beads to snug up to the finished crimp beads.  Add two crimp beads to unfinished end.  Loop necklace as if it were being worn, and thread wire through other end of clasp.  (For "C" clasp without tab, loop wire through a jump ring.)  Keeping necklace in loop shape, finish this end the same as the other.  By keeping the necklace in a loop shape, the beads will have the proper spacing.

6.      Allow adhesive to dry.

7.      Don't be afraid to re-string these beads into something else whenever you're ready!

Featured Article:  Using Findings to Make Tumbled Stone Jewelry

Using findings to make tumbled stone jewelry is fun and easy for adults and kids.  Findings are available to make bracelets, earrings, necklaces, tie tacks, broaches, bolo ties, and more.  The finished results can look amazing. 

Findings are usually metal castings that are shaped to hold stones, beads, and cabochons in jewelry.  The metal can vary from nickel, chrome, silver, gold, and combinations such as plated.  The basic procedure is to bend prongs around the stone and glue it in place.  In many jewelry items multiple findings are assembled into more involved pieces.  For example, when making earrings a stone can be glued in a bell cap.  Then the bell cap is attached via a jump ring to an earring hoop.

Here is a list of basic terms for findings:

Bell cap:  the multi-pronged piece that is glued on "top" of the stone 

Jump ring:  the small ring that goes though the hole on top of the bell cap to attach the cap to any other finding

Ear Hoop:  the earring piece for dangle earrings

Earring Post:  the earring piece for post earrings

Bolo Back:  the piece you glue a tumbled stone to that the cord loops though

Bolo Cord:  the cord that goes around your neck to hang a bolo back on

Bolo Tips:  the metal pieces glued onto the ends of the bolo cord

We carry findings to make jewelry with tumbled stones and beads!  Check out our current selection in store or at www.erockshop.com.

How to make a Tumbled Stone Bracelet Using a Bracelet Blank Finding

4 Step Process

Difficulty Level 1

Materials Needed:

1- 1 Bracelet

2- 11 Small Tumbled Stone

3- Hot Stuff Adhesive

Step One:

Make sure each link or pad of the bracelet is washed and clean.

Step Two:

Drop Glue (Bond 527) onto the first pad.

Step Three:

Lay the first stone on the pad and allow it to dry for several hours before wearing.

Step Four:

Repeat steps 1, 2, & 3 until each pad is filled.