Use Gems in Jewelry

     There is a saying that diamonds are girls best friends, but I feel girls enjoy all kind of gems and all kind of stylish jewelry made with those gems. Making your own jewelry with your own taste is just cherry on the cake.

     I come across many beads/gems which are so pretty but they do not have holes in it to thread into the jewelry. I am sure other people face the same issue.Today I am going to share some ideas that you can try for Gems or beads without holes

   

1. Drill a hole: If bead is thick enough or has a big surface like leaf shaped you can take a thinnest bit of the drill and make a hole in it and use. You can also look for bead reamers which are specially designed for beads. Some people use even stones they have collected from beach or sea glasses by drilling holes in those. You might find this video helpful for hole drilling.

Source :http://www.eternaltools.com/blog/how-to-drill-pebbles

2. Create a beads bezel : If bead is too delicate that you can not drill hole or you have ideas to reuse it in some other ways in future, you can go with the option of seed beads and make a frame around the Gem. A nice tutorial is in the link under picture

                            source: http://www.aroundthebeadingtable.com/Tutorials/PeyoteBezel.html

3. Create a bead bezel around irregular shape bead: If the shape of the bead is not regular eg a leaf shaped bead then you can stick the bead to a felt piece and make a bezel around it.Tutorial is in the link below pic.

Source: http://www.artbeads.com/seed-bead-peyote-stitch-bezel.html

4. Create a bezel using wire: Getting lazy or not too good with the bead work/needle work then there is another option. You can use thin jewelry wire to make a frame for Gem.

Source: http://eatbreathedesign.com/2011/04/20/wire-wrapped-bezel-for-cabochons/

5. Create a crochet bezel: Still did not find the perfect option suitable for your needs. don't worry we are not quite out of ideas as yet. If you don't have seed beads, you are not good with jewelry pliers still have a stone/shell you picked up from the beach and want to save it in the form of jewelry as it is very close to your heart, you can do the crochet around it make a frame and add a jump ring or make a crochet chain to it to add to you neck piece. I took the below pic from Pinterest and do not have pattern for it but I am sure the crochet lovers got the idea.

Crochet a stone

                                                crochet a sea glass or odd shaped beads
If you can not make your own pattern the you can buy the below pattern using the link http://framestr.com/online-video-tutorial-and-pdf-yoolapotion-charm-necklace-wire-crochet-cabochon-wire-jewelry-tutorial-yoola-bezel-pattern.html

I hope you got many ideas to use that basket full of gems/stone/sea glass you were saving for long time. I feel these ideas add so much character to the bead and to the finished jewelry bead that I can do it for the beads with the hole also.

Please share you stories in comments. Also let us know other ideas for using gems in your jewelry for the benefit of other readers 

Enjoy Naisha crafting!!!!