by Miriam Baker

Created on: June 21, 2010

Making your own jewelry is satisfying and addictive. Anyone who's ever spent an hour in a bead store, sifting through hundreds of shapes, sizes and colors, will recognise the temptation to buy just one more bead, one more reel of shiny colored wire. Here are five simple ways, then, to save yourself a bit of money on supplies, so that you can afford to splash out from time to time.

Recycle - break up old necklaces. Yes, rip them up. If you don’t like them, why hold on to them? Those tiny gold spacers can be used to create something you’ll actually wear. Beads and fittings from old necklaces, bracelets and earrings can be used together with beads from your existing collection to make new pieces of jewelry. You can even buy cheap necklaces just for the beads, and take them apart (the horror!). Breaking up old jewelry is also a great way to build up a collection, if you are a beginner.

Be inventive. Why just use beads? A Coke can, carefully cut and spiralled into a flower, can make a striking brooch. Almost anything that can be pierced with a hole can be threaded onto a necklace. Try threading with seed pods or shells for a natural look, or buttons and guitar picks for a modern, quirky style.

Use the Internet. Buying in bulk, and from online stores, is cheaper, and there is less of a temptation to buy beads one-at-a-time. Ebay is good for mixed bags of beads, fittings and display boxes, as well as for tools such as beading pliers. Many sellers offer clear, close-up photographs of beads that look good enough to eat. Whatever you’re after, a half-hour of careful internet research should find supplies cheaper than in your local craft store. Then, there’s the joy of a brown-wrapped package of beads arriving in the mail. Bliss.

If you don’t fancy trawling the internet, wait for sales in the craft store and then dive in. Sometimes beads are sold off at low prices to get rid of old stock. Another thing to look out for are mixed bags of beads, fittings and threads, which are often sold cheaply. These lucky dips can be treasure troves for spontaneous jewelry enthusiasts.

Finally, be strict with yourself. Try not to buy too much without a project in mind, or you’ll end up blowing your budget on three or four expensive beads which don’t match and no pairs for earrings. Jewelry-making can be an inexpensive hobby if you keep a look out for bargains and build up your bead collection slowly. Swap with friends, or pool supplies together. With a bit of ingenuity, you can save money and bring a real buzz of individuality to your work.

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