8 Fun & Creative Ways to Make Your Own Jewelry

The right jewelry can really complement what you wear. It can help complete an outfit, and it can make a statement about who you are and what you like.

But buying jewelry can become a strain on your budget. If you'd like to add to your collection without subtracting from your bank account, try making your own jewelry. It's not that hard, and some methods don't require a lot of supplies or equipment.

Here are a few of the many different ways you can make your own jewelry.

Bead stringing
Stringing beads is just about the easiest way to make jewelry. All you need to start are beads, stringing material, and a clasp, and in as little as a half hour you can have a new necklace, bracelet, or anklet. If you enjoy this method you can get more supplies later, and that might bring on the hardest part of the whole process-deciding which beads to buy!

There's a lot of free information on bead stringing available online. Here are a couple of sites to get you started:
http://jewelrymaking.about.com/library/blneck.htm
http://pmegio.com/instructions/index.html

Wire jewelry
This sounds complicated, but it doesn't have to be, especially when you're starting out. You can make simple designs with a spool of wire, a couple of pairs of pliers, and wire cutters. You can add beads or use the wire alone. And if you don't like working with pieces of wire, you can always stick with jump rings and connect them in lots of different ways to make your own chain mail jewelry! Chain mail has come a long way since it was used for armor in the Middle Ages.

Check out these sites for information on making your own wire jewelry:
http://jewelrymaking.about.com/od/wirework/
http://www.bellaonline.com/subjects/4777.asp

Macrame
Yes, it's true-macrame has grown up, and also scaled down. It's now possible to use the same knots that were used for wall hangings 30 years ago to make necklaces and bracelets. The big difference is in the cord. Thinner cord makes smaller knots, and because the cord is also softer the pieces made with it will be more flexible and comfortable for wearing. And as with wire jewelry, you can add beads if you like.

Macrame for jewelry-also called micromacrame-is a relatively new area. However, some people are now starting to write about it. Try these sites:
http://jewelrymaking.about.com/od/fiberjewelry/ss/052205.htm
http://www.knotingwork.com/Pages/jewelry/jewelry_home.html

Chinese knotting
This technique isn't well known outside of China, but it is being used for jewelry making, and there's no reason you couldn't try it too. You can use the same types of cord used for micromacrame. The following site has instructions on the basic knots:
http://www.ezlearnchinese.com/knotting.html

And there's a very helpful book written by an accomplished Chinese knotmaker that contains both instructions for making many different knots and suggestions for how to use these knots to make items, including jewelry.
Chinese Knotting by Lydia Chen

Polymer clay
This is a clay made from plastic that can be kneaded and formed into just about anything-including beads and pendants. It comes in little packages in a wide range of colors that can be mixed together or used alone. The best part may be that, unlike the clay used for traditional pottery, polymer clay can be "fired" or cured in a regular oven at fairly low temperatures-just under 300 degrees F.

Polymer clay can be used as is, or you can decorate it with paint, mica powders that give it a metallic look, or glitter. And once it's cured, you can even carve it!

There's a wealth of information available both online and in books and videos about this amazing material. Here are a few examples:
http://www.jaedworks.com/clayspot/polyclay-faq/jewelry.html
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/cr_clay_jewelry/0,1788,HGTV_3238,00.html

Paper
Yes, you can make beads with paper! And no, they don't have to look like a child made them-unless that's what you want.

People have been making paper beads since Victorian times, using the printed material of the day-mainly catalogs. You can do this too, or you can use fancier paper like gift wrap. You can also use plain text weight (copier) paper that you embellish with paint or glitter after the bead's been made.

And paper beads are a lot sturdier than you might think. Some of the ones made a century ago still look great. Plus, they're lighter than glass beads, so they're perfect for someone who doesn't like heavy jewelry.

Try these sites for basic instructions and examples of paper beads:
http://www.thebeadsite.com/CHI-HOM.html
http://www.thebeadsite.com/MUCHP-1.html
http://www.stampersmall.com/classes/paper_beads.asp

Knitting and crocheting
Well, why not? If you already know how to knit or crochet, it's a simple matter to adapt some of your techniques. You may just need to use different materials. For example, instead of yarn you could use crochet thread or even the same cord you would use for micromacrame or Chinese knotting. And some people produce beautiful jewelry by knitting or crocheting with wire, although this is definitely not for beginners. It's also possible to crochet gorgeous pieces with beads.

Here are some suggested resources:
http://knittersreview.com/article_how_to.asp?article=/review/profile/020509_a.asp
http://www.knittingpatterncentral.com/directory/jewelry.php
http://www.crochetpatterncentral.com/directory/jewelry.php
http://home.inreach.com/marthac/jewel.html

You don't have to try all these ideas; there are so many different directions to go within each area that you might never get anything finished! Just pick a method that appeals to you and try it out. No matter which technique you choose, you'll be able to add to your jewelry collection with pieces that are unique and beautiful-and exactly right for your style.