Pliers are crucial to making your jewelry. A good pair of pliers will make all the difference. Once you get your pair of pliers, make sure you keep them in good condition. Read the manufacturers care instructions and only use your pliers for jewelry making.
When you first get started in Jewelry Findings, you may notice there is a lingo to it. Listed below are a few examples of the most common lingo in Jewelry Findings. Once you have the lingo down and understand the tools, the rest is simple. All you have to do then is put your style into action.
Pliers
You will find that a good pair of pliers will help you in making your jewelry creations. This would not be the place to skimp on cost.
The Chain Nose pliers will help you get into tight spots and help close and open rings. The Round Nose pliers are for making loops. You will also want a good pair of Flush Cutters this tool will help you make clean cuts for your jewelry.
Stringing Wire
There are several different types of stringing wire. You will want to consider many things when choosing your wire. For example, if you are using heavy beads fishing line shouldn’t be your first choice. Fishing line is the least expensive type of stringing. However, it is also the most likely to stretch with heavy beading.
Clasps
This is a key component for your jewelry. You will want your clasp to be easy to manipulate and securely hold your jewelry together. Getting a good quality clasp, will save you time and money in your jewelry collection.
Ear Wires and Post
Ear Wires can either be bought pre-made or you can make your own. The Ear Wire is the base of your ear ring. The post is what will hold the ear ring onto your ear. Make sure you buy a good quality post. This will help ensure you don’t lose your new earring!
Head Pins
Come in many lengthens and thicknesses. These are mainly used for ear rings and pendants. You can add your beads and things to your head pin. Then make a loop at the top and attach it to your ear wire. Now you have a custom made earring!
Making your own jewelry can be very fun and very rewarding to the creator! When you first start off, you may chose to go with plastic beads and other findings.
Sterling Silver will ensure your jewelry will survive the wear and tear, over time. It is less likely to break or fall apart and will bring you years of enjoyment.
Filed under Crafts by Steve James
Sterling Silver Jewelry Findings give you options in your jewelry making. You know by making or buying or your own jewelry findings that you’re not going to see your necklace on every other person you meet. It will be your own unique design and creation.
First thing first, you will want to understand the lingo and basic materials for silver findings. The lingo is not too complicated, but there are a few definitions to help you get started in your jewelry making. Once you understand the basic information, all you need is to put forward your vision of style into your new jewelry.
Pliers
You will find that a good pair of pliers will help you in making your jewelry creations. This would not be the place to skimp on cost.
The Chain Nose pliers will be the most used pliers in your tools for jewelry making. It tapers to a fine point, great at getting into tight spots and opening and closing jump rings. Round Nose pliers are great for making loops in the wire. Nylon Jaw pliers allow you to straighten your wirer. Flush Cutters will keep your wire cuts where you want it. Make sure you get a good quality pair of each to meet all of your wire needs.
Stringing Wire
You have several options to choose from. This is a little more than just a preference. You want to make sure the string you use will be able to hold your beads and not stretch out. One of the types of wires you can choose from is made of sterling silver. This will make sure your wire matches your beads. This wire will also last and uphold the wear and tear jewelry takes.
Clasps
Several types of clasps are available to hold your jewelry together. You will want to make sure you get a good clasp that will last and hold your jewelry together securely.
Ear Wires and Post
Ear Wires can either be bought pre-made or you can make your own. The Ear Wire is the base of your ear ring. The post is what will hold the ear ring onto your ear. Make sure you buy a good quality post. This will help ensure you don’t lose your new earring!
Head Pins
These come in a variety of lengthens and thicknesses that will allow you to choose the style that fits you. Head Pins are most used for Ear Wires and Pendants. The Head Pin is a straight pin you use to put your jewelry findings designs on. You make a loop at the top to connect it to your Ear Wire. Then you make it into an Ear Ring.
Making your own jewelry can be very fun and very rewarding to the creator! When you first start off, you may chose to go with plastic beads and other findings.
Sterling Silver Jewelry Findings are by far the best. Using sterling silver jewelry findings to make your jewelry collection can mean the difference between jewelry that lasts a few months and jewelry that can survive years to come.
Filed under Crafts by Richard Rockman
July 9, 2009
Home Based Craft Business Tax Advantages
In the United States numerous people operate home based businesses just to take advantage of the many tax deductions. You understand how good it can be to work from home, but do you comprehend how many home based business tax compensations exist?
To receive many and large deductions on your tax return, claim the use of your home in your business. It is obligatory to meet certain requirements of the Internal Revenue Service. To obtain more information on this, the IRS has pamphlets or downloadable information.
The use one room or a portion of a room specifically for your business and you are eligible to get significant home based business tax deductions. This includes home improvements to this room as well as a portion of your utility bills specifically related to this area of your home.
The use of office services can provide you with a key home based business tax deduction. This includes your telephone. If you use a separate phone or a cell phone exclusively for your business, then the costs associated with these phones may be a tax deduction.
If you use telephone equipment or services for both personal and business, it is more difficult to ascertain a tax deduction. You must meet some fairly strict requirements and maintain good records to do so.
Another excellent business tax deduction can be the use of your car in your home based business. In order to deduct mileage and car-related expenses that you acquire while conducting business very good records must be kept. Incidental costs may happen with your business.
Other expenses such as office supplies, postage and advertising materials may also be used as tax deductions. By hiring your children or spouse to work as employees for you the opportunity exists to deduct even more. Doing this allows you to deduct health typical employee-related expenses including health insurance premiums.
With proper advice and good record keeping, your home based business can become even more successful. Consulting an experienced tax advisor or an accountant, you will be able to find out about the many home based business tax deductions available to you. Tax savings will raise your profit and confidence in your home craft business.
Filed under Crafts by Ethan O. Tanner
July 8, 2009
The Best Ways to Buy Leather
People purchase leather for many reasons. The most common basis for purchasing leather is to complete a variety of leather craft projects. If you are working on a leatherworking task, it is essential that you make certain the leather is correct for the task that you wish to complete. Here, you will find many useful guidelines on how to select leather by weight and type.
The most important factor that you should settle on when selecting leather is exactly how much leather will be considered necessary for your leatherworking project. It is important to understand that most leather is sold by the square foot. Of course, if you purchase leather from a thrift store, or a flea market, or ebay you may find that it is sold by the hide rather than by the square foot. You should also settle on the weight of the leather that will be necessary for your project. Choosing the wrong size and thickness of leather can make or perhaps break your leather craft job.
There are certain types of leather that are referred to as vegetable tan. This type of leather is useful for leatherworking projects that require the leather to be stamped. If the leather needs to be tooled, this is the type of leather that you should select for your leatherworking project. This type of leather makes a wonderful selection for projects such as book covers, belts, and leather purses with designs. The color is often a natural color and it makes a wonderful type of leather to select when choosing to dye the material.
If you are looking to opt for leather that is sturdier and makes a great type for the larger projects, such as saddles or various types of furniture, you should in all probability go with oil leather. Selecting this type of leather gives you flexibility and a type of material that is stiff all in one. This is tanned leather that is usually darker in color. You should select this type of leather if you are looking for a even and wax-like appearance in the leather you require for your leatherworking project.
If you are creating a simple leather craft project and prefer to select leather that is relatively inexpensive you should select chrome leather. It is imperative to understand that this particular type of leather does not hold dye very well. The products that are used to create the leather are low in quality and are not suitable for dye. In addition, it is often white on one side of the leather, and a variety of colors on the other side. If you want dyed leather that you do not want to have to dye yourself, this is the type of leather that you should select for your leatherworking job.
There are numerous types of leather that you can select; however, you must make sure that the type of leather that you select matches the needs as set forth by the leatherworking project that you desire to create.
The following is a average weight and use guide for light weight leathers. 2 to 3 oz. (.8 – 1.2mm) A lighter weight leather ideal for lining, wallets, personal leather goods and in a softer temper for use with garments. 3 to 4 oz. (1.2 – 1.6mm) This weight is suitable for wallet backs, linings and gussets. In a softer temper this weight leather is ideal for vests, chaps, handbags or shoes. 4 to 5 oz. (1.6 – 2.0mm) A medium thickness leather perfect for chaps, hats, straps and shoes or boots. 5 to 6 oz. (2.0 – 2.4mm) This middle weight leather is ideal for straps, lace, tool pouches, hats and boots. Here is a standard description for heavy leathers and their uses. 6 to 7 oz. (2.4 – 2.8mm) An ideal weight for handbags, belts, straps, tool pouches and sheaths. 7 to 8 oz. (2.8 – 3.2mm) This leather thickness is perfect for belts, sheaths, holster, collars, straps and saddle bags. 8 to 9 oz. (3.2 – 3.6mm) Ideal weight for wider belts, sheaths, holsters and motorcycle bags. 9 to 10 oz. (3.2 – 3.6mm) A heavier leather for wide belts, saddlery and harness items. 10 to 13 oz. (4.0 – 5.2mm) A very heavy leather perfect for belts, collars, saddles, stirrups, reigns and bridals.
Filed under Crafts by Ethan O. Tanner


