10 Unique Ways to Save Money on Your Beading and Jewelry Making Hobby

[@LolaClark86]

I wrap my fireline pieces around embroidery thread bobbins that come in the storage containers.

[@SpaZpoWner7z]

Hi Gina! Like many others, I probably have more goodies than I'll ever go through in one lifetime :) What has helped me with transparency in cost issues is a Word document I created to inventory my beads, etc. (I realize there are actual softwares, but I'm not a professional/seller so can't justify the cost; rather spend it on beads anyway!) I use the MS/Avery 30-per-page label template and fill each one with info including type, size, material, product code, number of beads/findings/length of wire or stringing material, overall cost and most importantly, cost per item/per foot/per gram. It is sometimes surprising to compare actual prices I am paying for similar items. I then print 2 copies on regular paper; one goes in a binder, where I can add notes about the seller, date, etc. The second copy gets cut into strips which I cover in inexpensive packing tape, trim to tag size and affix to whatever storage I am using: bags, strands, bead tubes, etc. I keep my goodies in small parts hardware drawers I buy from a local store. The label size is perfect for the fronts of these as well. It's quick and easy to calculate the cost of a piece of jewelry when all the components are already priced :) Having one continuous digital document I can search also helps prevent accidental duplicate purchases. I enjoy all your videos, Gina! It's always a treat to see the notification pop up, and I really appreciate all you share with your viewers :) Happy New Year to you and yours!

[@kmm7895]

To add on to the bead swap. You can also swap your finished pieces for materials. There is a craft extange sub reddit. You can find some really unique items that way. I personally know know someone who will trade me sea glass that she collects off the beach any time I need. Also, when it comes to keeping string, I keep anything that is as small as 6 inches. Saves a ton! I think I do everything you said to do. Thanks for another great video!

[@nevachatterson3109]

I wind my small pieces of beading string on bread wrapper closing tabs and write the length on the tab with a marker. That way they don't get tangled up and I can easily tell how long each piece is. They are held together with a key ring to keep them together and neat.

[@BeautifulFear]

@@nevachatterson3109 so smart!

[@t4qjjqdq5y6]

OMG! So glad I didn't toss my crazy jar of mixed beads!!! You're the best!

[@allisonbarry720]

Much needed video these days with everything so high right now.

[@ORCHIDandOPAL]

So true, Allison! Prices are going crazy right now, so every little bit helps! 💜💜💜

[@teller007]

I like to support the bead companies as much as I can because I have learned much. But I do a lot of bead weaving and to keep costs down I purchase my Fireline from Academy sports store in the 125 yds size. In the fishing line department of course. It is generally around $ 16-17 a spool (about half the cost from beading stores)plus I get 10% military discount. The smoke color does not rub off on hands either. Also, I do have to do price comparison and shop sales when available at the various bead outlets. For example, one may have more grams in tube of beads. Another store better price say for 8/0s, another newer colors, another always a good sale. Takes time to comparison shop but can save money or make a project less costly.

[@sheridamiddleton763]

Something to add to this list… I often look for necklaces at thrift stores. I often find beautiful beads and sometimes find vintage pieces too. I bring them home, take them apart and then wash them thoroughly! I only look for glass beads and have found some amazing bargains!

[@ORCHIDandOPAL]

I love it! Thanks for sharing, Sherida! 💜💜💜

[@sarahharing4930]

Wine glass charms, purse charms..

[@patriciamorgan6545]

...bookmarks, mirror hangers...all can use up leftover bits and pieces.

[@jessicagirardo7846]

I used your playlist recently and created my first "bead book"using some mill hill beads I bought that came with 220 colors in 220 baggies. What a great idea!

[@ashadominicafernandes461]

Thankyou so much for this video. I too never throw out anything from my previous projects. Love love love making jewellery a lot. God bless. Tkcare. Just enjoy it .

[@ORCHIDandOPAL]

Thanks so much for sharing !!! 💜💜💜

[@vickygonzales1341]

Thank you for this video. I am new to making jewelry and your tips were perfect and just in at the right time for me. I am reading everyone's comments and I appreciate all of the tips and listening to experts and what they do or suggest. I am learning a lot. 😊

[@Doxymeister]

Great ideas, Gina. We've got a "$1 Aisle" in our grocery store, and I get all my clear plastic containers there. They have a package of tiny little 3"x3" square containers, 6 to a package, that is just the right size to store my leftovers from strands of beads that I haven't used up. Plus the 2-cup storage ones are perfect for me to store all my 8/0's, 11/0's, etc., in. LOL, that "dollar aisle" can be my best friend sometimes.

[@StitchesbySharonH]

Great ideas!! I’m stingy with my Fireline so I try to only cut exactly what I need, but I do save any extra pieces and then add them on if I need more thread to finish a project. It also comes in handy for attaching clasps, as I like to use a separate piece of thread so if it breaks at the clasp, I don’t have to redo the whole project!! I forgot about the swap group!! I rarely use Facebook but I’ll have to try and remember to check the swap group. Thank you for sharing!! 💜

[@kbplus1]

That bead embroidery is stunning

[@ORCHIDandOPAL]

Thanks so much! I love that it came out of bead soup, and I can't wait to make more! 💜💜💜

[@lorrainemacgilchrist4269]

Excellent ideas, especially keeping your fire line or threads. I'm terrible at cutting almost the double amount of fire line I need but have been just throwing it away - NO MORE BINING, and this will help getting rid of junk we find in the sea that kills far too many animals, TFS hope this year brings all the love, joy and happiness xxx Lorraine in Scotland xx

[@annettehough2792]

Great tips. I really did enjoy your series on organizing your beads, findings, and finished pieces.

[@debkincaid2891]

Great timing: getting ready to set up my bead storage & your bead mix box will be perfect for me.

[@martikabeading]

Gina thanks so much for these tips. I usually use 3/4 of them but I never heard of swap group. I might look into that. HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!

[@cathrynleigh3962]

And here I was thinking I am the only crazy beader who saves scraps of fireline. Glad to see I am maybe not so crazy after all!

[@ORCHIDandOPAL]

We are both the great kind of crazy! Haha 💜💜💜

[@tomhousewright6803]

Cindy here. Super helpful video. Great ideas. Thank you.

[@ORCHIDandOPAL]

I'm so glad this is helpful! Thanks for watching! 💜💜💜

[@SparkleByMonica]

Sparkle-tastic tips, Gina!

[@ORCHIDandOPAL]

Thank you, Monica! 😁

[@VisualClarity]

I reserve my bead soupfor single items and try to organize by type and size. I use Akro Mills draws for organizing most beads and have draws labled pairs, 4,6,8 and then 3,5,7 for small quantity beads that coud be used as accents in necklaces and braceletsor pair up in earings. The odd number beads can work out if you need to make a focal for a necklace but want a set left over for matching earings. Every few months I will go through my main stash to pull out beads that are now in smaller quantities.

[@ORCHIDandOPAL]

Thanks so much for sharing! 💜💜💜

[@LadyB_20]

Garage sales, thrift stores and even asking friends or families for unused jewelry can save on soooo much money.

[@tigerbuchman4099]

I often substitute superduos for things like iris duos.

[@alesiahowington5507]

Thank you for the video!!!

[@ORCHIDandOPAL]

Thanks for watching, Alesia! 💜💜💜

[@mararavenh2o885]

Happy New Year !!! Great ideas and great videos - I love every one of them ... Thank you. Very helpful! You definitely give me new ideas!

[@ORCHIDandOPAL]

I am so glad this is helpful! Thank you for watchig! 💜💜💜

[@debbiesamu6852]

Love your ideas.

[@ORCHIDandOPAL]

Thanks, Debbie! 💜💜💜

[@vickyrushton1783]

Thank you for sharing

[@ORCHIDandOPAL]

My pleasure, Vicky! 💜💜💜

[@fkirby3]

I Have been paying attention to your previous storage hints and just put in to join the bead swap group. What do people do with the small "promotional" bead soup seed beads? At approx. 5 grams, they are not plentiful enough to loom, and the sizes and colors are not conducive to using several on the same item.

[@JennyRush1023]

I tend to use mine as spacers between other beads on earrings. I also will make small simple seed bead flowers and then work those into earrings, bracelets and necklaces.

[@renaeduran8049]

Love your channel

[@ORCHIDandOPAL]

Thanks, Renae! I am thrilled you're here!! 💜💜💜

[@jyotiyadav8534]

Thanks

[@ORCHIDandOPAL]

You're very welcome! Thanks for watching! 💜💜💜

[@jadedbeader2]

Great video TFS 😍

[@ORCHIDandOPAL]

Thank you so much!! 💜💜💜

[@colleensinkewicz1537]

Fantastic idea! I'm going to join your bead swap group.... do you have a regular Facebook group as well?

[@ORCHIDandOPAL]

Hi Colleen! Thank you! I just have the swap group for now. :) 💜💜💜

[@wendymoyer782]

That is an absolutely stunning example of bead embroidery! Edited to ask...how do you keep your scraps of fire line from tangling??

[@teller007]

Hi Wendy, I sometimes save the old spools and reuse. Or a piece of cardboard or card stock for longer pieces. …Or those funky,pink sponge hair rollers work nicely. You can even leave your needle on and stick in sponge and fold clip down over thread to hold.

[@ORCHIDandOPAL]

Thanks, Wendy! They aren't really long enough to tangle, fortunately - at least my pieces never had. :) You could spool them like Teller stated below, though, it's just never been an issue for me. I find Fireline to be pretty tangle resistant in general. :) 💜💜💜 Great question!

[@cherylshiflett4384]

Check the jewelry in thrift shops. Often relatives have to dispose of someones jewelry. More than likely they have no idea what they're donating. I have picked up beautiful gems in outdated pieces and just needed to disassemble them. That can translate to $30 worth of stones for $5.

[@vickygonzales1341]

This brings up a question for me. I have a stash of old jewelry that I want to repurpose into newer pieces, if they need a little TLC, how do we clean them?

[@nataliestanchevski4628]

@@vickygonzales1341 I use an old toothbrush and some toothpaste and water. Toothpaste is great at getting tarnish off silver as well and it's gentle enough that it won't damage stones or glass beads.

[@vickygonzales1341]

@@nataliestanchevski4628 thank you so much 😁

[@kmm7895]

If your thrift store has a craft section, check that too! I got a good 150+ dollars worth of beading materials for under 20. Someone clearly closed up shop and I found it. Glad someone said to check thrift stores, cause I completely forgot!

[@jyotiyadav8534]

Thank u v much

[@ORCHIDandOPAL]

My pleasure! Thanks for watching! 💜💜💜

[@wolfpondstables1]

I love my bead soup

[@ORCHIDandOPAL]

I'm so glad you see the value in it too! 💜💜💜

[@christinarios4438]

Tip # 5 ME!!!!!

[@ORCHIDandOPAL]

💜💜💜