Category: Beading News

Hey there, fellow bead enthusiasts! It’s your friendly Web Wizard, Travis, and today, we’re diving into the magical world of the One Step Looper. Buckle up because we’re about to turn your wire looping game on it’s head with this nifty tool!

What is the One Step Looper?

Imagine a wizard’s wand for beaders – that’s the One Step Looper! This nifty gadget is here to revolutionise the way you create loops for your jewellery designs. No more fumbling with pliers or struggling to get consistent loops. It’s like having a bead-tying superhero at your fingertips!

Why You Need It:

Efficiency Overload:

Say goodbye to tedious loop-making. With the One Step Looper, each squeeze results in a perfect loop. Efficiency level? Through the roof!!

Consistency is Key:

Achieve uniform loops every single time. Your designs will thank you for the consistency, and your friends will wonder if you’ve secretly enrolled in a loop perfection class.

Time-Saving Wonder:

The One Step Looper is a time-saving maestro. Spend less time wrestling with your tools and more time unleashing your creativity.

How to Master the One Step Looper Like a Pro:

Now that you’re convinced this tool is your new crafting BFF, let’s dive into some tips and tricks to wield the One Step Looper with finesse:

Choose the Right Wire:

Opt for soft wires in medium gauges, like 20g, 22g and 24g. Once you’ve got the hang of it, you’ll be able to step up to precious metal wires like gold-filled or sterling silver. These medium sizes will respond better to the magic touch of the One Step Looper.

Mind Your Tension:

Keep your wire taut but not overly tight. A gentle touch ensures smooth loops without any wire rebellion.

Practice Makes Perfect:

Before tackling your masterpiece, practice on scrap wire. Familiarize yourself with the tool’s rhythm, and soon you’ll be looping like a pro.

Experiment with Bead Sizes:

The One Step Looper can handle various bead sizes, so don’t be shy to experiment. From delicate seed beads to chunky crystals, let your creativity run wild!

Accessorise Your Loops:

Branch out of your comfort zone and try something different! Sdding charms, beads, or jump rings to your loops can make them even more unique. Try creating beaded daisy-chains, beaded lamp shades or curtain tassels. The One Step Looper makes it a breeze to create customised, embellished loops.

Why We Love It:

Crafting Bliss:

Say goodbye to hand cramps and hello to a blissful crafting experience. The One Step Looper turns loop-making into a joyous dance.

Versatility Unleashed:

Whether you’re a seasoned pro like mwa (moi if you’re French), or a crafting newbie, this tool welcomes everyone into the loop-lover’s club. From simple designs to intricate creations, the One Step Looper has your back.

No More Guesswork:

Bid farewell to guesswork and hello to confidence. With the One Step Looper, you’re the master of your loops, every single time.

So where to from here?

There you have it, bead maestros – your fun guide to the One Step Looper! Embrace the loop, unleash your creativity, and let the One Step Looper be your crafting sidekick. Dive into the world of seamless loops and watch your jewellery designs transform into loop-tastic masterpieces.

Where to buy the One Step Looper

Beads N Crystals is the bead shop near you, and we have the complete range of loopers. There are three different loop sizes: 1.5mm, 2.25mm and 3mm, so you can select the perfect loop size. If you’re into fine jewellery, definitely head for the 1.5mm. For heavy tasks, the 3mm has your back. Everyone else will get the most practicality from the medium size 2.25mm tool.

Happy crafting, loopsters!
Travis Out!

Hey, everyone! We’ve got some exciting news for you – we’ve enlisted the help of a new addition to the team in 2024. Please give a warm welcome to Travis, our not-so-average kind-of-work-experience guy. He’s here to sprinkle a bit of chaos, a dash of laughter, and a whole lot of creativity into our digital world.

Travis is not your typical tech genius. In fact, he’s the kind of guy who thinks “Ctrl + Alt + Delete” is designed to give you time to do a little dance! But hey, who needs perfection when you can have a truckload of charm and a heart full of enthusiasm, right!?

We’ve tasked Travis with the important mission of improving our website. Now, before you grab your precious beads and crystals and head for the hills (although we’d prefer the beach – although South Bank is about as far away as we get to go for a day out!), let us reassure you – Travis is a lovable klutz, but he’s got a knack for turning oopsies into “happy little accidents,” as he likes to call them.

Picture this: Travis, armed with a keyboard, and a mouse packed with a few too many LED’s, ready to conquer the vast realm of cyberspace. He’s got a determined look in his eyes, and his fingers are flying across the keyboard like a caffeinated hummingbird on a mission. We swear, it’s like watching a toddler discovering the joy of finger painting – except Travis is knee-deep in HTML, or SQL, or whatever that tech garble is. Don’t ask us!

The best part? Travis is also a closet beader! A natural-born crafter, not that you’d ever guess that at first glance. Get ready for some of the quirkiest posts you’ve ever laid eyes on. From bead-based life hacks to crystal-themed interpretive dance routines (don’t ask, just enjoy), Travis is here to sprinkle a little joy into your crafting journey.

So, buckle up, Beads N Crystals fans, because you’re in for a wild ride in 2024. Travis is here to make your crafting experience a tad more adventurous, a lot more amusing, and just a smidge less predictable. But fear not! Behind that slightly tousled hair is a guy with a heart of gold and a secret genius waiting to be unleashed.

Stay tuned for the misadventures of Travis, the crafty Web Wizard (sort of) of Beads N Crystals. You won’t want to miss a single click, crash, or giggle. Happy crafting, and may your beads be ever in your favour!

Live, Love, Laugh & Loom a Leather Lariat,
the Beads N Crystals Team

See! We’re not ‘that’ kind of bead shop!

Hey there bead addicts! It’s Travis here, I’m the new techie work experience guy and I’ll be helping clear up a few beading myths and helping to make beading fun!

Ever wondered why your favorite crystal brands, like Preciosa and Swarovski, love to pack things in weird numbers? I mean, why 144 in a box? Sounds “gross” right!? No, it’s not because they’re secretly trying to gross you out – it’s all about the art and science of crystal packaging, and I’m here to break it down for you in a way that’s anything but “gross”!

So, first things first, what exactly is a “gross”? Well, it’s not that weird kid in the back of the class sticking chewing gum under the desk – it’s a unit of measurement, and in the beading and crystal world, it means a dozen dozens, or 144 to be exact. Now, I know what you’re thinking – why not just say 144? Why make this extra confusing with a word that sounds like it belongs in the biology room?

Quick note here, that’s a dozen regular dozens, not a dozen bakers dozens, or a dozen beaders dozens. That’d be just stupid! Not to mention confusing!

Let’s make this whole thing crystal clear (pun intended)! Packaging crystals by the gross isn’t about confusing you, it’s about making the lives of the crystal gods and the end customers a whole lot easier. Think of it as the crystal community’s way of saying, “Let’s keep it simple, stupid!”

Dividing by 12 is a piece of cake or should I say, crystal? (Sorry, couldn’t resist!) There’s a reason we have dozens in many aspects of our lives. It’s easy to count, easy to divide, and it just makes sense. I mean, could you imagine a carton of 11 eggs, or 5 for that matter. It just wouldn’t work.

When you buy crystals in bulk, especially when you’re planning some serious bling for your DIY projects, having them neatly packaged in dozens and gross makes the process a breeze.

Now, here comes the magic of multiplication. If you’ve ever wondered why crystal brands seem to be obsessed with packing small flat back diamantes and bicones in packs of 1440 (which is a gross times 10), it’s because it’s a game-changer! When you’re working on large-scale projects, having crystals in this magical “mass” of 1440 means you can easily calculate how many dozens you need without breaking a sweat.

Imagine this: you’re bedazzling a dance costume, and you need 10 dozen crystals. Instead of tediously counting each crystal, you can just grab a pack, knowing that it contains 1440 sparkly diamantes, and voilà, you have your 10 dozen without the headache. It’s like crystal maths for dummies!

So, the next time you come across crystal packaging boasting a gross or 1440, embrace it! It’s not meant to be “gross” or confusing – it’s a crystal-clear system that simplifies your DIY adventures and keeps the sparkle in your projects. Best part is, they divide evenly down into dozens, sixes and 3’s. Bonus, they’re also even so pairs are a given!

Remember, crystals are all about bringing joy and beauty into your life, not making it grossly confusing. So, here’s to the “not as gross as you think” world of little crystals. Those Czech and Austrian crystal lords are smarter than they may seem!

Quick recap before you go:

• Dozen = 12
• Gross = 144 (12 dozen)
• Mass = 1440 (10 gross, or 120 dozen)
• All these numbers are even, and they all divide by 3, the beaders magic number!

Get your Bead-Fix and Chill!
Travis out

UPDATED 30/12/23:

Our phone lines have been restored today. We thank all of our customers for their patience during the repairs caused by the recent storms. We’re all back to normal now.

Previous Post:

Hello Bead-lover Family!

Haven’t we been though a crazy few days! We hope you’re safe, well and not too badly affected by this crazy weather we’ve been having. We’re all safe and well with just a minor casualty. Our inbound phone lines are down until further notice. We still have internet, power and a roof, so all is good. We’re processing orders as normal!

Good news! Our post-Christmas Boxing Day sales are still ON, and we’re trading as normal! Despite the stormy weather causing a hiccup with our phone lines, don’t stress! We’re still here and ready to make your shopping experience amazing.

Online orders? No problem! We’re processing and dispatching them faster than ever. So, even if the wind’s howling outside, your orders are sailing smoothly to you.

Our doors are wide open for our Boxing Day sales this Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10am to 3pm, and the welcome mat is out. Come on in and catch some fantastic deals!

Psst, can’t reach us by phone? No worries! For any inquiries, shoot us an email or book a carrier pigeon (just kidding, use email!). We’re here for you, storm or shine.

Thanks for being part of the Beads N Crystals family. We’re making these Boxing Day sales a ripper just for you!

Cheers,
The Beads N Crystals Team

Dear valued customers,

As the holiday approaches, we want to keep you informed about our trading hours during the Christmas and New Year period. Please take note of the following schedule:

CHRISTMAS CLOSURE
Sunday December 24th – CLOSED
Monday December 26th – CLOSED
Tuesday December 27th – CLOSED
Wednesday December 28th – CLOSED

POST CHRISTMAS SALE
Thursday December 28th – 10am to 3pm
Friday December 29th – 10am to 3pm
Saturday December 31st – 10am to 3pm

NEW YEARS CLOSURE
Sunday December 31st – CLOSED
Monday January 1st – CLOSED
Tuesday January 2nd – CLOSED

NEW YEARS WEEK
Wednesday January 3rd – 10am to 3pm
Thursday January 4th – 10am to 3pm
Friday January 5th – 10am to 3pm
Saturday January 6th – 10am to 3pm

We will resume normal trading hours from Monday January 8th:
Weekdays: 9 am to 5 pm
Saturdays: 10 am to 3 pm

We appreciate your understanding and look forward to serving you during this festive season. Wishing you a merry Christmas and a happy new year!

Wishing you and your family all the best,
Beads N Crystals

In the ever-evolving world of jewellery crafting, choosing the right materials is key to creating not only stunning pieces but also ensuring comfort for the wearer. One shining star in the realm of findings is surgical stainless steel, and today, we’re diving deep into its brilliance and the hypoallergenic benefits that make it a game-changer for jewellery enthusiasts.

1. The Stainless-Steel Symphony: A Primer

Stainless steel is more than just a robust alloy; it’s a symphony of durability, versatility, and sleek aesthetics. Comprising iron, chromium, and other alloying elements, stainless steel boasts corrosion resistance, making it an ideal candidate for various applications. In jewellery, its popularity has soared, particularly in findings like clasps, ear wires, and jump rings.

2. The Hypoallergenic Marvel: A Relief for Sensitive Skin

One of stainless steel’s standout features is its hypoallergenic nature. For individuals with sensitive skin prone to irritation or allergic reactions, stainless steel findings act as a gentle saviour. Unlike materials that may contain traces of nickel or other allergens, high-quality stainless steel is known for causing minimal to no skin reactions, making it a perfect choice for those with sensitive ears or skin.

3. Corrosion Resistance: Enduring Beauty

Ever had a favorite piece of jewellery lose its lustre due to tarnishing or corrosion? Stainless steel findings wave goodbye to such worries. Their inherent corrosion resistance ensures that your creations maintain their sheen, even after prolonged wear. This characteristic is especially crucial for items like clasps and earring backs that often come into contact with skin and moisture.

4. Durability Beyond Compare: Jewellery That Lasts

Stainless steel findings are the unsung heroes when it comes to crafting durable jewellery. Their robust nature ensures that your creations withstand the tests of time, resisting scratches, dents, and the wear-and-tear of everyday life. For pieces that are meant to be cherished for years, stainless steel findings provide the structural integrity needed for longevity.

5. Budget-Friendly Elegance: Affordable Luxury

Creating exquisite jewellery doesn’t have to break the bank. Stainless steel findings offer an affordable alternative to pricier materials without compromising on elegance. Crafters can indulge in the luxury of creating high-quality, budget-friendly pieces that radiate sophistication.

6. Design Freedom: Versatility Unleashed

Stainless steel findings open up a world of design possibilities. Their neutral and timeless appearance complements a wide range of materials, from gemstones to glass beads. Whether you’re crafting a classic necklace, bohemian earrings, or a modern bracelet, stainless steel findings seamlessly integrate into diverse design aesthetics.

7. Environmental Friendliness: A Green Choice

For eco-conscious crafters, stainless steel findings present a sustainable choice. The durability of stainless-steel means less frequent replacements, reducing the environmental impact associated with disposable or short-lived jewellery components.

In conclusion, stainless steel findings emerge not only as durable and visually appealing but as champions of hypoallergenic jewellery crafting. Elevate your creations with the resilience and elegance of stainless steel, ensuring that your masterpieces not only dazzle the eye but also comfort the skin. Embrace the brilliance – stainless steel findings are here to redefine your jewellery-making journey.

Important Christmas Delivery Dates: Plan Ahead to have your gifts delivered in time!

Christmas is fast approaching, and to ensure a seamless and festive experience for our valued customers. We want to remind you of the crucial cutoff dates for Christmas deliveries. Planning ahead is key to receiving your orders in time for Christmas day, so let’s dive into the details.

Regular Delivery to Most Metro Areas:

For those in most metro areas, mark your calendars for Sunday, December 17th. This is the cutoff date for regular delivery, ensuring your packages arrive in time to be placed under the Christmas tree.

Express Post for Last-Minute Shoppers:

If you find yourself in need of a little more time, fear not! Our express post option extends the deadline to Wednesday, December 20th. Choose this speedy delivery method to have your gifts in hand just in time for the big day.

Special Considerations for WA and NT Metro Areas:

For our customers in Western Australia (WA) and the Northern Territory (NT) metro areas, please take note of the adjusted cutoff dates.

Regular Post to WA and NT: Your deadline is Wednesday, December 13th. Make sure to finalise your orders by this date to ensure timely delivery.

Express Post to WA and NT: If you opt for express post, the cutoff date is Tuesday, December 19th. Give yourself that extra day for peace of mind and a stress-free holiday.

Attention: Orders with Glues, Gels, and Chemical Products:

We want to make a special mention for orders containing glues, gels, and chemical products. These items may require additional processing time. If you’re looking to expedite your delivery, consider checking out without these items. This will help ensure that the rest of your order reaches you without delay.

Important Note: Aus Post and Couriers Offer No Delivery Date Guarantees

While we strive to provide accurate cutoff dates to enhance your Christmas shopping experience, it’s crucial to note that both Australia Post and courier services do not offer delivery date guarantees, especially during the busy festive season. External factors, such as unforeseen weather events or unprecedented volumes of packages, can impact delivery schedules. We recommend placing your orders well in advance of the specified cutoff dates to allow for any potential delays.

Our team is committed to processing and dispatching orders promptly, but we appreciate your understanding of the unpredictable nature of the delivery process during this time of year. Rest assured, we are here to assist you with any inquiries and tracking information to ensure a smooth and enjoyable shopping experience. Thank you for your understanding and patience as we work together to make this holiday season special for you and your loved ones.

Please ensure you place and pay for orders before midnight on the night of the dates advised above and we will have your order dispatched on time to meet the deadlines set by Australia Post.

As the Christmas holiday season tends to get busy, we encourage our customers to plan ahead and take note of these cutoff dates. By doing so, you’ll be able to sit back, relax, and enjoy a jolly Christmas surrounded by your loved ones and the thoughtful gifts you’ve chosen. Thank you for choosing us as your Christmas holiday shopping destination, and we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Looking for the best Christmas gift ideas? Never fear! We have the whole family covered with an exceptional range of presents from under $10 to over $100. Check out our comprehensive Christmas Gift Guide now for our biggest gift range ever at unbeatable prices. Together with flat rate shipping Australia wide, and free postage on orders of $100+.