Guest Author - Debbie Witenski

Jewelry is measured without the clasp. And earrings are measured without the ear wire-----measure the dangle part only. Depending on the clasp or ear wire, your finished size would be different. If you want to increase the length, add more beads to each end. If you want to decrease, remove a few beads. Always be sure to measure twice and crimp once, that way you won't be breaking your crimp beads.

A lint roller will quickly pick up seed beads, crimp beads, and any other bits and pieces you want to clean up. Remove what you want to keep and throw away the rest.

If you finish your necklace or bracelet and it ends up too short or too long, there are some ways to fix it without having to restring your whole project. You can add jump rings at one end to add some extra length OR switch to a smaller clasp to shorten it.

Never use regular scissors to cut flexible wire. It will ruin them. Use a wire cutter instead.

There are different glues you can use when making jewelry, E6000 is a highly recommended glue to use. Also, be sure to have a quick glue ready to use. Crazy glue is great for using on knots, I use this often.

Sports/card pages are a great way to transport and display your earrings for sale. Close the top of the packets with double-stick tape to keep the earrings secure while still allowing people to remove them to look at them better.

Do you have a broken clasp? You just may not have to restring it. Place a split ring or jump ring through the loop at the end next to the crimp. Then you can safely cut away the broken clasp and secure the new clasp to the split/jump ring.

Bugle beads can have sharp edges that will cut some types of stringing materials. You can use something you probably have on hand already, which is clear nail polish. Put some on the edges to prevent them from fraying your thread. Also polish is good to coat your ear wires, especially if you made them yourself.

A sticky-note folded adhesive-to-adhesive, serves as a good, inexpensive scoop for tiny beads. Then when you're done just throw it away. Another use for sticky-notes is to use it to read peyote stitch graphs and such.

If you need a matte finish on a shiny bead, simply soak it in "Glass Etch", a product found in arts and crafts stores.

An easy way to age sterling silver is to use bleach. Dip it quickly into the bleach and then rinse it well. The longer you leave it in the bleach, the darker the sterling will get.

For a good storage box that is cheaper than those specialty organizer boxes, you can get a fishing tackle box or a tool box for alot cheaper. I prefer the plastic tool box because it is cheaper and alot better.