Beading on a Budget
One of the reasons why I eventually came to love beading and jewelry making is because it saves money. When I was in high school, I used to frequent a very popular chain store of fashion jewelry. I would buy damaged pieces on sale and re-use the beads and findings in my own creations. With this strategy, I always had new jewelry, even if I didn't have much money. This is only one of the ways that you can bead on a budget. Below I explore a few other ways you can use a little creativity and resourcefulness to make your hobby more affordable.
Shopping at Yard Sales and Flea Markets
Yard sales are great places to snatch up bargains, and it seems that they are growing in popularity both with sellers and buyers. If you're going to shop at yard sales, it's best to wake up early. Yard sales start up early in the morning and usually end in the early afternoon. The following tips also apply to purchasing materials at flea markets.
One of the greatest aspects of shopping at yard sales is that you can bargain with the seller and get better price. Most of the items sold at yard sales are things the seller is planning on getting rid of anyway. Most people would rather sell an item at a lower cost than have to take it back inside the house or find something to do with it later.
When shopping for beads to recycle, it's important to think creatively. You will mostly be looking for jewelry, but there may be other objects with potential. A friend of mine once purchased a used evening dress just for the beads. Clothes and some home accessories may sometimes have great beads for recycling.
You will also want to have some idea of the material a piece is made of. Acrylic jewelry has a tendency to feel light even if it's made with larger beads. Look for occasional protruding pieces and air bubbles that could also indicate that a bead is made from plastic. Sometimes plastic beads will also have a "seam" around the diameter. If a piece has any or all of these qualities, it's usually plastic and not very high quality. You can usually "feel" the lack of quality as you handle a piece.
Some acrylic beads are higher in quality. Resin and lucite are among some types of acrylic that you might want to look for. You may even find some vintage beads if you're lucky. These are great beads because they are lightweight even if they're big.
Glass can be transparent or opaque and can come in various finishes. Glass is generally smooth, although you may occasionally come across frosted beads which have a satin-like finish.
Sometimes it may be difficult to tell if a bead is glass or stone.
A way to tell the difference between a glass bead and stone bead is to rub the bead against your teeth. If the bead is smooth against your teeth, it's glass. If it's a bit rough, it's stone. Because this method may not always be very sanitary, especially if the beads are bit grimy; sometimes it's better to leave things to chance and check the beads after you've purchased and cleaned them.
Once you bring your beads home, you'll want to clean them before you use them. Most beads can be cleaned with soap and water, but with certain beads you may want to try other methods. If the beads have painted coatings. These might be better cleaned with a damp cloth to prevent the paint from chipping.
Aside from beads, there are other objects you may come across at a yard sale or flea market that can be used to make jewelry. Some jewelry artists make jewelry from scrabble tiles and dominoes. There are even people who make jewelry from damaged china and silverware. There are really no boundaries and it's great to keep an open mind when scouting for possible jewelry-making materials.
One of the greatest aspects of shopping at yard sales is that you can bargain with the seller and get better price. Most of the items sold at yard sales are things the seller is planning on getting rid of anyway. Most people would rather sell an item at a lower cost than have to take it back inside the house or find something to do with it later.
When shopping for beads to recycle, it's important to think creatively. You will mostly be looking for jewelry, but there may be other objects with potential. A friend of mine once purchased a used evening dress just for the beads. Clothes and some home accessories may sometimes have great beads for recycling.
You will also want to have some idea of the material a piece is made of. Acrylic jewelry has a tendency to feel light even if it's made with larger beads. Look for occasional protruding pieces and air bubbles that could also indicate that a bead is made from plastic. Sometimes plastic beads will also have a "seam" around the diameter. If a piece has any or all of these qualities, it's usually plastic and not very high quality. You can usually "feel" the lack of quality as you handle a piece.
Some acrylic beads are higher in quality. Resin and lucite are among some types of acrylic that you might want to look for. You may even find some vintage beads if you're lucky. These are great beads because they are lightweight even if they're big.
Glass can be transparent or opaque and can come in various finishes. Glass is generally smooth, although you may occasionally come across frosted beads which have a satin-like finish.
Sometimes it may be difficult to tell if a bead is glass or stone.
A way to tell the difference between a glass bead and stone bead is to rub the bead against your teeth. If the bead is smooth against your teeth, it's glass. If it's a bit rough, it's stone. Because this method may not always be very sanitary, especially if the beads are bit grimy; sometimes it's better to leave things to chance and check the beads after you've purchased and cleaned them.
Once you bring your beads home, you'll want to clean them before you use them. Most beads can be cleaned with soap and water, but with certain beads you may want to try other methods. If the beads have painted coatings. These might be better cleaned with a damp cloth to prevent the paint from chipping.
Aside from beads, there are other objects you may come across at a yard sale or flea market that can be used to make jewelry. Some jewelry artists make jewelry from scrabble tiles and dominoes. There are even people who make jewelry from damaged china and silverware. There are really no boundaries and it's great to keep an open mind when scouting for possible jewelry-making materials.
Buying in Bulk
Another great way to save money on jewelry-making materials is to buy beads and findings in bulk. Many companies offer discounts for buyers who make large purchases. This doesn't necessarily mean that you have to spend a lot of money on a huge purchase, though. If you have other friends who like to make jewelry, everyone can benefit by splitting a bulk order. This would help everyone get a discount on their materials and also save money on shipping costs.
Trading Materials
Another option that you have is to trade beads and findings with others. Lets say that you complete a beading project and have many left over beads in a particular color that you have no use for, you could then trade these beads with someone for new beads. Certain beading forums may have threads dedicated to bead trading where you can post pictures and find someone to exchange beads with. This not only helps you make new friends, but acquire beads in the process.
Making Your Own Beads
At first, the idea of making your own beads might seem somewhat intimidating, but there are many simple ways you can go about making your own beads. One of the simplest and most budget-friendly techniques is making beads from paper. The process costs next to nothing since all you really need is paper, glue and a toothpick. With this method, you can turn your junk mail into beads. Leare more about making your own beads