Cards
Bead-Dazzle Your Cards!
By Lianne Vigil
Apr 15, 2005, 22:26

  

Using beads on your cards is a great way to add a little sparkle and three-dimensional interest into your designs.  You won’t even need extra tools to get started when you use some of these simple ideas.  Try attaching a pretty bead to your card with glue dots, or use a glue pen to apply micro beads into a shape defined by your rubber-stamped image.  Beads also look great when attached to the ends of ribbon or other fiber at the end of a knot or bow.  Sometimes just a couple of beads are all you need to give your project just the right touch!	Beads look great strung on hemp fiber through eyelet holes.
If you’re feeling a little bolder, grab a needle and some thread and sew the beads directly onto your paper, or string them into loops or straight lines for added interest.  Add a pretty loop of beads underneath your main stamped image to look like a fringe.  If you want extra sparkle, a sequin can be placed underneath a seed bead and sewn onto the paper.  If your beads are especially tiny, you will want to purchase a beading needle, which is specially designed to fit through the small bead holes.	Beads make colorful and fun flower centers when sewn onto a stamped image.
One of my favorite beading techniques involves making bead “dangles”.  To make a dangle, string the beads onto thread, wire, an eye pin, or a t-pin.  These are inexpensive and easy to purchase at your local craft store.  You can use little metal circles, called jump rings to attach the dangle to your project, or just sew it on directly if you like.  You can make separate dangles for each jump ring, or make a cluster of 3 or more that attach to the same ring.	Beads are strung onto eye pins and then connected to the mica with jump rings.
Use just a little imagination and an assortment pack of beads and you will be surprised at how creative you can be!	Beads are strung onto eye pins and then connected to the jewelry finding with a jump ring.

Tips:

1. Place a small piece of contrasting felt on your worktable.  This will help keep the beads from rolling onto the floor.  A saucer is another useful “bead holder” to use while you are working.
2. Try using different fibers to string your beads.  Hemp, twine, tatting or crochet thread, wire, clear monofilament or plain thread all give a different look to your work.
3. If you are having trouble getting the fiber through the bead, see if you can separate the strands to make it thinner.  An old-fashioned needle threader may help as well.
4. When working with jump rings, open it by twisting it apart side-to-side, instead of pulling the ends away from each other, which will weaken the metal.  It is also easier to close the ring when you are done if you use this method.
5. If you are having trouble getting a pretty round end when using eye pins or t-head pins, consider purchasing an inexpensive pair of round-nose pliers to use instead of your regular needle-nose pliers. 
6. If you spill your beads put a knee-high stocking over the nozzle on your vacuum and vacuum them up!  The stocking prevents them from getting sucked into the machine.

Credits:

1. Stamps by Stampin' Up.  Beads by Westrim Crafts.  Card Sketch #13 by Christine Smith.
2. Image stamp from Club Stamp.  Sentiment from Purple Onion Designs.  Cardstock from Bazzil and Club Stamp.  Beads from Club Stamp and Bead Heaven.
3. Patterened Paper by Anna Griffin.  Transparent text overlay by K&Co.   Heart stamp from Stampin' Up.  Beads from Club Stamp and Bead Heaven.
4. Image stamps from Stampin' Up and All Night Media.  Sentiment from Purple Onion Designs.   Beads from Club Stamp and Bead Heaven.