| Jewelry making is an ideal way to start | | | | shears. These are designed to make clean |
| earning a little extra money from home. | | | | cuts on tough memory wire, so can also |
| You don't need to spend a lot to get | | | | be used for softer wires. |
| going. Initially your circle of friends | | | | 2. Chain-nose pliers (sometimes called |
| will be your customers. Your friends | | | | needle-nose pliers) - Very versatile for |
| will tell their friends, who will tell | | | | picking up and grasping small items, |
| their friends, and so on and so on. | | | | bending eye pins, closing jumps rings, |
| Though you may start with a kit or two | | | | even closing crimp beads. |
| for the learning experience, you can't | | | | 3. Round-nose pliers - Used for creating |
| rely on kits if you want to make money | | | | loops on beaded head and eye pins. Can |
| selling your work. People will pay more | | | | also be used for winding your own jump |
| for one-of-a-kind pieces. Plus, the | | | | rings and as the second pliers you'll |
| mark-up on kits is quite high because | | | | need for closing jump rings. |
| another artist has done the design work | | | | 4. Optional pliers - Wire-looping pliers |
| for you. In other words, you can both | | | | which have several graduated |
| charge more and keep your costs lower if | | | | circumferences to allow you to form |
| you design your work yourself. This is | | | | perfectly uniform jump rings and loops |
| how to maximize your profit. | | | | (in place of the round-nose pliers |
| A good place to start is by flipping | | | | mentioned above). Crimping pliers which |
| through magazines and catalogues. Clip | | | | have little notches to allow you to both |
| jewelry photos that appeal to you, along | | | | flatten a crimp bead and then bend it to |
| with price information if available. Get | | | | form a rounded finished look (instead of |
| a notebook and fill it with the | | | | the flat crimp you get using the |
| pictures. | | | | chain-nose pliers). |
| You're not going to copy them. This is | | | | As for materials, I recommend some |
| just to give you ideas and get your | | | | assortment packs of beads in |
| creative juices flowing. The pictures | | | | coordinating colors, some decorative |
| will also come in handy when you can't | | | | metal spacers, seed beads in both silver |
| quite figure out how to do something you | | | | and gold (These can serve as spacers and |
| have in mind - kind of like your own | | | | beautifully set off your other beads.), |
| illustrated how-to book. | | | | tube-shaped crimp beads (Buy the best |
| There are two easy to learn jewelry | | | | you can find - these are what hold it |
| making methods to consider: beading and | | | | all together!), head and eye pins. |
| wire sculpting, also know as wire | | | | Other than that, let your choice of |
| wrapping. | | | | project be your guide. You might want |
| Beading requires little skill other than | | | | some silver or pewter charms. For |
| a good sense of design and the materials | | | | earrings, you would need ear posts or |
| are inexpensive. | | | | wires or clip-on bases. For bracelets, |
| Wire sculpting or wire wrapping is not | | | | you need memory wire or stretchy cord or |
| that much harder to learn, but since you | | | | beading wire and clasps. For necklaces, |
| are dealing with gold, silver and | | | | memory wire or beading wire, clasps and |
| genuine gemstones, the materials cost a | | | | perhaps pendants. |
| bit more. But the markup is much higher. | | | | A bead board is a good idea too. Its |
| Tools and Materials | | | | ruled tracks help you measure and lay |
| Here's a list of tools you will need to | | | | out designs for bracelets and necklaces; |
| start: | | | | as well as to corral the beads you are |
| 1. Jewelers' wire cutters - If you can | | | | working with at a given time. |
| only afford one pair, get memory wire | | | | |