Tools and Materials
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Bail Findings
These glue on bail findings are great for transforming special objects and trinkets into pendants. All you need is one of these bad boys and some glue!
Here are some ways you can use glue on bail findings:
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Pins and Brooches
Pin findings are pretty cool and versatile. Here are some of the ones I use.
Small lapel pins
These are similar to flat bed stud findings where you can glue charms onto the flat bed of the pin. You can then poke them through the lapel of a tired jacket to sharpen it up!
Pin Findings
Like the lapel pins you can glue these onto different charms. They are a little larger than lapel pins so you can attach larger charms to them.
Here is a pin finding tutorial
Charm loop scarf pins
These pins include charm loops that you can attach beads and charms to. Perfect for closing chunky scarves and sweaters.
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Glasses Holders
These findings are great for attaching to chains to make useful glasses holders. Great for making sure that you don’t lose your glasses during fun summer activities.
Here are some glasses chain tutorials:
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Ring Findings
Here are some examples of pre-fabricated ring findings that you can use to make DIY jewelry. You can customize these findings to make your own rings by attaching the decorations of your choice in different ways; by attaching beaded head pins (the silver ring) or gluing decorative elements in place.
This ring is made using a ring finding to which an array of glass beads are attached using head pins. Learn how to make a beaded ring like this one in our how to make a beaded feature ring tutorial.
This ring was made by gluing a range of decorations to an existing ring finding. Here are some ring tutorials that use ring findings:
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Crimps
Crimp Beads
Crimp beads are small metal ‘beads’ that are attached to the end of your DIY beaded necklaces, bracelets or anklets and squashed using pliers to keep your beads securely in place. You can learn all about how to use crimp beads for making DIY jewelry in my beaded necklace and beaded charm bracelet tutorials!
You can buy some here:
Pinch Ends
Pinch ends are an alternative to crimps. They are gently ‘pinched’ around the ends your beaded strands and feature a loop that can be used for attaching clasps or charms.
Flat crimps
These are great for adding ribbons to your jewelry designs.
Here’s where you can buy some. They come in different sizes too!
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Pliers
There are a number of different pliers that can be used for making jewelry, but these three pliers are really the only ones you need to make DIY jewelry. You can see these tools in action in our DIY jewelry making tutorials.
Round Nose Pliers
Round nose pliers are your best friend when it comes to making DIY jewelry. You will use these pliers to make looped ends for beaded charms and to help you squash crimp beads to secure the ends of bead strands.
Cutting Pliers
Cutting pliers are used to cut and trim lengths of wire and pins.
Flat Nose Pliers
Flat pliers can be used to help you open jump rings, manipulate wire and squash jump rings. It should be noted that some flat pliers come with a texture on them that can mark your metal findings.
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Shell Beads
Shell beads often come in beautiful mother of pearl finishes, they can also be made when small holes are drilled into whole shells. Using shell beads in your DIY jewelry designs gives them an extra unique quality.
These earrings have been made using polished Paua shell attached to earring posts. 
These pretty shell beads make for simple but stunning drop earrings. 
This star shaped charm is made from colored shell. Here are some tutorials that show you how to use shell beads in your DIY jewelry:
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Wooden Beads
Wooden beads are often larger in size and have larger holes than beads made in other materials like glass or gemstones. They are usually available in natural or lacquered finishes. Wooden beads are great for DIY jewelry making. DIY Necklaces and bracelets made with wooden beads look lovely and stylish when they are layered with other jewelry.
Here are some tutorials that use wooden beads:
- Shell earrings with timber beads
- Simple pendant necklace
- Leather bracelet with bead cluster charms
- 2 in 1 leather and wooden bead wrap bracelet/necklace
- Charm connector bangle
- Pompom earrings with timber accent beads
- Timber bead choker necklace
- Beaded loop necklace
- Timber and silk dangle earrings
- Timber bead glasses chain
- Statement earrings with wooden beads
- Necklace made with timber beads and recycled headphone cord
- Wooden bead lariat
- Wooden and glass bead circle pendant
- Love heart earrings
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Gemstone Beads
There are many beads available in different semi precious materials and shapes. Using gemstone beads and baubles is a great way to ensure that your DIY jewelry designs will stand out in a crowd. The gemstone beads in the image above are made from quartz, garnet, lapis lazuli, turquoise, agate, amethyst, jade and coral.
A necklace made with glass seed beads, lapis lazuli tube beads and an agate druzy charm. Have a go at following our beaded necklace tutorial and make your own necklace with gemstone beads. Our necklace features three bright and beautiful turquoise beads.
Here are some tutorials that use gemstone beads:
- Gemstone ear jacket earrings
- Double strand necklace with a gemstone pendant
- Gemstone cluster earrings
- Ribbon necklace with a gemstone cluster pendant
- Gemstone crystal choker
- Basic beaded gemstone necklace
- Gemstone drop earrings
- Ladder bracelet with round gemstone beads
- memory wire necklace with gemstone crystals
- Gemstone top tassel earrings
- Long chain gemstone earrings
- Gemstone triangle pendant necklace
- Diamond shaped chain and gem earrings
- Crystal gemstone ladder necklace
- Double strand gemstone bracelet
- clip on gem charm
- leather and rose quartz gemstone earrings
- pearl gemstone threader earrings
- gemstone crystal tassel necklace
- rose quartz crystal gemstone bracelet
- gemstone crystal beaded tassel earrings
- peridot gemstone bar charm necklace
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Metal Beads
This bracelet features metal bead spacers. Metal beads are available in a range of shapes, sizes, colors and materials. You can use them as spacers between other beads or as feature beads in your DIY jewelry designs.
Here are a couple of links to get you started using metal beads:
