Tutorial: Beaded Bookmarks

Since posting a photo of the beaded bookmarks I made for the kids’ teachers at the end of this past school year, I have had several requests for a how-to. So, here goes:

What you’ll need:

The basics.

.30 mm beading wire, crimp beads (I use 2mm round), assorted glass seed beads and bangles, assorted larger glass beads, spacers, and charms.

As for tools, at the very least, you’ll need a crimping tool. Wire cutters are also useful, as is a bead palette for keeping beads together and facilitating clean-up.

The Bead Palette ready to go!

You should find everything you need at Michael’s, AC Moore, or Hobby Lobby. Don’t forget to stock up on coupons before you head out; the supplies can add up quickly, especially if you find lots of fun charms and colorful beads you just have to have! Wal-mart carries some beading supplies, but I have not been able to find seed beads or bangles there lately. One thing Wal-mart is great for, though, is clear film canisters. Just walk up to the photo counter and ask if they have any empty clear film canisters. These are great for storing the seed beads, glass beads, crimp beads, charms – all of it – and best of all, they are free! (Thanks for the tip, Danyel!)

To start, cut a length of wire; mine measured about 21 inches. Thread one crimp bead, one seed bead and one charm onto one end of the wire. Then loop the wire back through the seed bead and the crimp bead – and crimp to hold. The seed bead between the charm and the crimp bead is not necessary, but I think it helps the crimp bead blend in a little better. You’ll just have to be careful you don’t crimp the seed bead – it is glass, and it will shatter if crimped – I speak from experience. I find the crimping to be the most difficult part of this project, so for step-by-step direction, you may want to look here. Sometimes it takes a couple of tries to get the crimp bead to hold. Give the wire a tug to be sure it is secure.

Once the crimp bead is secure, add a selection of glass beads and spacers. There’s no rule as to how many beads or spacers to use; just do whatever looks right to you. When I make the bookmarks, the charm, glass beads and spacers usually measure about 2.5 to 3 inches on each end.

Next, add seed beads and bangles until the bookmark is about three inches short of your desired length (remember you are going to add more glass beads, spacers, and another charm on the other end). I use a pattern of 5 seed beads to one bangle bead and continue for about 12.5 inches, but this is just my preference.

At the other end, add your glass beads and spacers, then the crimp bead, seed bead and charm. As with the start end, loop the wire back through the seed bead and crimp bead, as well as several of the glass beads, and then crimp to end.

The finished bookmark, ready for giving.
This one’s already in the mail.

These bookmarks are so easy to make, once you’ve mastered the crimping. Have fun! Again, thank you to Eden who made me my first beaded bookmark, thus introducing me to yet another crafty way to spend my not-so-abundant free time. Now that I’ve mastered the beaded bookmark, I’m ready to try my hand a jewelry making. I’ll be sure to post the results here when I actually get around to completing my first project.