Easy Homemade Jewelry

Homemade jewelry is usually less expensive, and it also allows you to exercise your creativity and give someone a creative homemade gift that is truly one-of-a-kind. Initially, it might seem just a little challenging, but don’t worry you actually don’t require any special skills for this. I’ve learned how to make jewelry fairly quickly and below I will try to guide you through all the tips and techniques.

Purchase jewelry making tools. Depending on what kind of jewelry you plan to make, you’ll probably need some basic tools to complete your project. Some basic tools all beginners should consider having include.

  • A variety of pliers – round nose pliers, chain nose pliers, step jaw pliers, bent closing pliers, and nylon jaw pliers
  • A metal ruler that measures both centimeters and inches
  • Wire cutters
  • Practice wire, to practice bending and shaping you wire before you attempt to bend your more expensive wire for your actual project
  • Peg boards for bending wire

Pick out a specific jewelry project you want to try. Because there is such a variety in possible pieces of jewelry (necklaces, bracelets, earrings), made out of many possible materials (beads, wire, string, resin, paper, etc.), pick out a material and piece of jewelry you want to work on making. Find inspiration by visiting jewelry stores or looking online at social platforms, visual organizational websites, or jewelry retailer websites.

Buy a jewelry kit. For an easy transition into jewelry making, visit your local craft store and buy a jewelry making kit. Jewelry making kits provide you with basic supplies and tools that allow you to customize different jewelry pieces and make them all your own. Most kits come with some basic instructions with different jewelry ideas, but you can use your imagination to create whatever kind of jewelry you want.

  • There are many variations of jewelry making kits depending on what specific kind of jewelry you want to make.
  • For example, there are beading jewelry kits, stringing jewelry kits, and wire jewelry kits, just to name a few.

Purchase handmade jewelry supplies. Handmade jewelry can be crafted with many different kinds of supplies, but there are a few basic supplies that are used on most handmade jewelry pieces. Jewelry kits can provide you with general or project specific supplies, but if you plan to start making jewelry without using a kit, you need to purchase some supplies on your own. Consider buying some:

  • Beads
  • Jewelry wire in common gauge sizes (18, 20, and 22); 20 gauge is best for beginners
  • Clasps and closures
  • Jump rings

Become familiar with basic jewelry measurements. In order to determine how big or small you want your jewelry piece to be, familiarize yourself with some basic jewelry measurements. There are common, standard sizes for necklaces, and bracelets (depending on if the jewelry is for men or women), and how long you want the piece to hang.

  • For example, different necklace styles are certain lengths. Chokers are about 14 – 16 inches in length, princess style necklaces are about 17 – 19 inches in length, and rope necklaces are about 34 inches in length and longer.
  • Necklaces that fall just below the collar bone tend to measure about 17 inches for women, and about 20 inches for men. Common bracelet lengths measure about 7 inches for women, and between 8 – 11 inches for men.
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