Ever find super glue or Hypo Cement a bit too messy to use on knots when you’re finishing off jewelry? Try using a small of clear nail polish instead! It’s clear, dries just as fast as glue, and it’s easier to remove if you accidentally get some onto your fingers or work surface. I’ve found a cheapie $0.99 bottle of Wet N’ Wild Clear Nail Protector is just as good as my $4.99 tube of Hypo Cement at reinforcing knots.

This is a quick and easy tip for those of you who are into beading or bead weaving. Ever find it really annoying when you’re trying to thread your needle and the end of your thread is frayed? Put on a bit of chapstick, take an end between your lips and pull out slowly and gently. The chapstick will “wax” your thread for you and you should be able to thread the needle easily.

Like its cousin, the needle-nose pliers, bent-nose pliers are also handy when you’re doing wire-wrapping. They look just like needle-nose pliers, only the tips are bent up at a 90 degree angle. They are most commonly used to tuck the end of metal wire in after doing a wire-wrap and could also be used to open and close jump rings. The bent tip makes it easier to maneuver your wire. Again, choose a pair with smooth inside tips and double leaf springs to better control of your pliers.

Have you ever gotten to the end of a project only to find that you don’t have a crimp bead?

Here is a simple solution to the problem. Tie a knot in the thread and add a small drop of glue to it. When it dries just tug the knot in to the bead to lock it in place.

Every jewelry maker should have a few basic tools to help create gorgeous pieces. Here are the four basic tools you need to get you started in jewelry making:
needle-nose pliers, bent-nose pliers, round-nose pliers, and wire cutters. They will be discussed in the next few Wednesday Tip of the Day.

Let’s look at needle-nose pliers first. They are also sometimes called chain-nose pliers, but no matter what they’re called, they all look pretty similar: smooth jaws, tapered tips and rubber grips. Needle-nose pliers are used to open and close jump rings, make right angles in metal wire, and to flatten crimp beads. They’re also excellent for holding small pieces of wire when you’re doing wire-wrapping.

It’s important to find a pair with smooth inside tips. This keeps your wire from getting funny lines or indentations on them. It’s not necessary, but purchasing a pair of pliers with double leaf springs (the two funny metal pieces protruding at the top of the inside of the handles) allow you to open and close your pliers smoothly and easily. Those two little leaf springs make a world of difference when you’re trying to hold a delicate piece of wire and accidentally apply more pressure than necessary.

If you get a knot in your thread, don’t pull on the thread! Set the project down and use two needles and separate on the knot on the table; use them like chopsticks and gently pull the knot apart.

The same process can be used for tangled chains!

Every jewelry maker and beader needs a bead design board. They’ll help keep you organized and provide you with the perfect space to visually test out your designs.

There are many brands of bead boards out there, but they usually have three major things in common: a flocked surface, recessed pockets or sections, and channels. The flocked surface (feels almost like rough velvet) helps keep those beads and crystals from rolling everywhere. The recessed sections are the perfect place to store beads you’re currently using, or they’ll provide a safe place to sort your findings. The channels allow you to lay out your beads and play around with them to get the design you want before getting to work. Most channels on bead boards have inch, half-inch and centimeter markings. Those are really handy in helping you measure how long a piece you’re working on is or help with bead placement in designs.

Having a bead board also means your projects become portable. They give you the freedom to create your jewelry just about anywhere!

I soak freshwater pearls in milk to help bring out their luster. I do this about a week before I start making the jewelry. The pearls come on a temporary string and should be kept strung together until they’re ready for use. I clean them by washing them with some dish washing liquid soap, then dry them. Next, I put them into a container and pour in enough milk (from experience, fat-free milk doesn’t work as well as whole or 2% milk) to cover them. I pop a lid on the container, then stick it into the refrigerator for a week. Remember to stick them into the refrigerator.

After a week, I remove the pearls and give them a good cleaning, again with the dish washing soap, and a gentle scrubbing with a soft toothbrush. Dry them and lay them out on a paper towel to dry overnight.

Once they are dry, you’re ready to remove them from their string and turn them into something beautiful!

Have you ever dumped a pile of beads on the floor and wonder just how long it was going to take to pick them up? Give this a try the next time it happens.

Grab a small hand vacum, or even your large home vacum, and place a thin cloth over the mouth and secure it with a rubber band or piece of tape. Turn on the vacum and start picking up those beads in nothing flat.

Have you ever wanted to make your own jewelry? Beading is a great way to express your design talent and can even be a great way to make a little money on the side making beaded jewelry for friends and for sale. But where do you start?

About.Com has a series of weekly email newsletters that take you through the various processes of making beaded jewelry. You can learn for free via email while you experiment with your own designs.

Head on over to About’s Free Beading Classes and then come back here and show us your work!