Beading Ideas – Beyond Jewelry

Once you’ve adopted a beading hobby it’s easy to find yourself up to your neck in earrings, bracelets and necklaces. Your jewelry box is full, your friend’s jewelry boxes are full and yet you still have the desire to create beautiful objects with beads. No matter where your interests take you, there are amazing items to be created with beads.

Accessories. Belts, handbags, and hair accessories all deserve a little embellishment. Handbags and belts can both be made entirely of beads or you can find a pattern to sew onto your favorite accessory. Crystal beads, gems, and metallic beads are an excellent choice for an evening bag. Smaller beads and beads with an ethnic flair work very well for belts. Hair accessories, headbands, bands, barrets and the like can be made entirely of beads using elastic or hot glued to give a plain band a festive shine. Accessories are also an excellent place to use those extra beads you have lying around.

Fabric and paper art. Grab a needle and thread, a piece of elegant paper, silk or other fabric background and create a masterpiece. Patterns can be found online or you can create your own pattern or design.

Home accessories. Vases, candle holders, baskets, cabinet knobs and much more can be adorned with beads. Grab your hot glue gun, a collection of gems or crystal beads and create unique accessories. Napkin holders are often decorated with beads or made entirely out of beads. And picture frames are the perfect foundation for glass beads. Use this project to create a one of a kind gift for a loved one.

Holiday decorations. You can use beads to decorate an entire holiday tree. Beads can be used to make snowmen, angels, snowflakes, Santa clause and much more. Hearts can be created from beads and displayed during Valentines, St. Patrick’s, Earth day etc…Any holiday can be a reason to create a beadwork masterpiece.

Create real, usable pieces or art. Bookmarks can be created with beads. Lamps adorned with or made from crystals can hang from the ceiling. Vases and candle holders can be created from beads and wonderful figurine project ideas, including some truly magnificent bugs, can be found online.

Stepping outside of jewelry with beads can take your hobby farther than you imagine. It’s amazing to watch small glass beads evolve into major works of art. Grab your favorite beads and start exploring non-jewelry options today.