Sterling Silver Alphabet Beads

I have recently just fallen head over hills in love with sterling silver alphabet beads.

In today’s world of jewelry accessories, sterling silver alphabet beads are so versatile, yet bracelets made of silver and gold alphabet beads remain a timeless classic.

Alphabet beads are used in jewelry, crafts,  key chains, wine glass charms, necklaces, cellphone straps, hatbands, scrap booking and much, much more.

I used to think the only use for alphabet beads was the ever popular alphabet beads bracelet.  The beads can be crafted from many different materials like wood, plastic, pewter, or ivory, but the really stunning ones are made of gold or sterling silver alphabet beads.

Alphabet beads are used not only to spell out your own name, but they also can be used to spell out your boyfriends name, the name of  your sport, the name of  your favorite cause, your baby’s name, or the name or number of whatever your wanting to call attention to.

These beautiful jewelry pieces made primarily of alphabet beads often  include colorful crystals that add a definite ‘bling’ to the creation, or, depending the individuality of the wearer, a plethora of other charms could also be added.

The sterling silver alphabet beads are usually strung on either some kind of  snake chain bracelet or black cording.

Personalizing cellphones is something that is wildly popular in Europe, but it is only minimally popular in the United States.  Regardless of where you live, sterling silver alphabet beads are a terrific way to personalize your cellphone.

It is so easy.  You can buy what is called a cellphone finding.  A cellphone finding is a simple black heavy duty thread like material that makes a loop.  You simply add the the alphabet beads, and, if you like, the bling crystals, and any additional charms to the  cellphone finding and there you have it…a personalized cell phone!

There are a few different sizes and shapes of alphabet beads.  They come in a square shape, round shape, heart shape and oval shape.  In addition to the different shapes and sizes, you will need to pay attention to the inside diameter of the hole.  The inside hole typically ranges anywhere from a 1.6mm hole to a 4mm hole

Another really creative and popular ways to use alphabet beads is to use them in your arts and crafts projects.  For arts and crafts, you probably wouldn’t want to use expensive sterling silver alphabet beads, but you could use the more cost effective pewter alphabet beads.

The quality of pewter beads isn’t as good, however, the price is substantially less.  Consider pewter beads, especially when working with projects for children, pewter is durable and will still look just fine.

There are lots of places to buy silver beads online.  Just do a search for either alphabet beads silver or sterling silver alphabet beads, and google or whichever search engine you use will return a healthy list of sterling silver alphabet beads websites.

When buying sterling silver, be sure to know what you are buying.  Often, inexpensive imported sterling silver from China contains dangerous levels of lead.   Make sure that your sterling silver alphabet beads and charms are both lead and nickel free.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

These bracelets and necklaces are really neat for many reasons. One big reason is you can customize them. Secondly, you can make something that looks great and have little jewelry making experience.

They can have your name, your loved ones names, awareness themes, deployment bracelets, you name it.. and you can make it!

As I said, you can make them any way you want, but they all contain some basics:

* The  Alphabet Beads spelling out your name, your loved ones, or a specific cause.

* Some kind of clasp to connect it to

* Some kind of cording or chain to string the beads.

Additional items you might want to add to your bracelet or necklace:

Alphabet Charms Galore

Jewellery Findings You Need

Basic Information On Alphabet Beads

Basic Info On Sterling Silver Findings

Letter Beads For Jewelry

Gather all of your supplies together before you start:

1. Measure the length of the bracelet you are creating to get the right
size, or use a piece of string around the wrist to mark and measure. Make sure
that it is a little loose. You don’t want it too tight.

Cut a length of stringing wire that is the desired
bracelet length plus at least 2″ extra. (If you want a finished bracelet that
is 8″, you’ll need to start with a 10″ piece of wire.)

2. Next, make a loop with the wire. String a crimp bead on the piece of cut wire.
Slide the wire through a wire guardian. Take the end of the wire as it comes
out of the guardian and slip it though the crimp bead as well. Pull to tighten
so that the crimp bead is tight against the wire guardian, and you don’t have
excess wire hanging out of the crimp bead. Use the beading pliers to squeeze the
crimp bead closed.

3. Begin stringing your beads. Be sure to lay out your design before you begin. You can put spacer beads, Swarovski crystals, or group all the sterling silver alphabet beads together.

4. Once you’re pleased with the design, place the second crimp bead after your last
decorative bead (you should have approximately 2″ of wire left) and then slide
the second wire guardian on just like before. Carefully take up the slack, being
sure not to pull the wire too tight, so the bracelet can move and bend, but also
not so loose that you see the wire between the beads. Now squeeze the crimp bead
closed and then trim any excess wire away.

5. The last step is to attach the clasp either a lobster or toggle clasp to the right side of the
bracelet using jump rings. You can also attach a 1″ extender chain on the left
side to adjust the bracelet for comfort.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kathy_Hickok
http://EzineArticles.com/?Personalized-Name-Bracelets—Make-Your-Own-Mothers-Day-Gift&id=1087680

Your finished! See that wasn’t that hard, was it? Now you know how to make personalized bracelets with and you know how to use an alphabet bead for something other than spelling.  One last tip, alphabet beads can come as gold alphabet beads or sterling silver alphabet beads, which offers you even more opportunities to create something incredible.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

I ran across this article… I had never heard of anything like it!  To be honest, when I first skimmed it, I thought it meant to give the expectant mother a single charm bracelet for her baby shower!  I am like, huh?  I thought,  if I was given a baby shower and I left with a charm bracelet and nothing else, MAD would not even begin to explain how I felt!

So, I thought this must be a joke or this person has lost there mind!  I re-read it, and to my chagrin, it is a fantastic idea.  Now I know why the baby shoe charm is so popular!

Baby Shoe Charm Shower – What is This New Baby Shower Craze?
By Kathy Hickok

The latest trend sweeping baby showers is the Baby Shoe Charm Shower. They are fun, exciting, and memorable. What exactly are they? They are a wonderful combination of all the traditional activities of a baby shower with the unique addition of baby charms and baby shoe charms.

Always keep in mind first and foremost that the overriding purpose of any baby shower is to “shower” the expectant mom with baby gifts, love, and support; and to join with her in celebration of the precious new addition to her family.

Typically, there is a theme and it can be anything. It can be based upon things the baby will have in the nursery or items the baby will use in the kitchen and car. The theme can be as specific as just clothing for the baby or as broad as anything for baby!

A baby shoe charm shower allows the flexibility of choosing a theme, such as those suggested above, but it also features the additional benefit of giving a gift specifically designed for the new mom.

Each guest either buys a baby charm or gives a set amount of money to the hostess for a group baby charm bracelet. This bracelet can have different kinds of baby charms or just feature baby shoe charms. The hostess can decide on the bracelet theme.

The advantage to the hostess collecting money for the charms ahead of time is that all the charms can be purchased together and soldered to the bracelet at the same time to make a beautiful and uniform finished bracelet.

After all the punch, the light appetizers, the games and the gifts, the hostess presents the mother to be with this special baby charm bracelet. Regardless of the type of charm bracelet selected, this is a piece of jewelry that will be treasured for the rest of her life. Why? Because it represents all the things the baby shower represents, love, support and celebration of the arrival of the new little one.

I’ve discovered a great new site which is chock full of even more ideas on how to host a terrific and memorable baby shoe charm shower.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kathy_Hickok
http://EzineArticles.com/?Baby-Shoe-Charm-Shower—What-is-This-New-Baby-Shower-Craze?&id=2235534

Additional Ideas For Baby Charms

The Most Unique Baby Bootie Charm

Why The Baby Shoe Charm Is So Popular

The Baby Bootie Charms Everyone Is Looking For

Baby Shoe Charms Are Popular Baby Gifts

Bookmark It

Hide Sites