MAKE IT FUN!

  Have you got bits and pieces of leftover beads that you don’t know what to do with?
  Do you like things that sparkle?
  Do you enjoy blending amazing colours together?
  Do you need something soothing to do at night to wind down from a tense day?

Imagine sitting back, relaxing with a nice cup of tea and surrounding yourself with the gorgeous delights of beading colour. Then blending the beads together to create a beautiful Decorative Suncatcher. This to me is one of my favorite things to do.

My own favorite items are:

• Glass Dragon Tear Spiral Raindrops
  
• Delicate little Filigree Butterfly Craft Charms
  
• Crystal Octagon Prisms to add loads of colour
• And these Chinese Glass Beads & Butterfly Beads are absolutely perfect for decoration.
  

The list goes on.  Imagination is all you need!

Over the years as my hobby became my business, I have gathered tips and tricks to work designs into precious keepsakes for friends and family. They are great gift giving ideas and more importantly, they are handmade by you.  People love it when the thought and time is put into the gift they have received.  I would like to share these ideas with you.

A few handy hints to get you started:

• I always place the suncatcher component / beads in front of me and move them around in place, before I string them.

• I like to use different beads and colours to create an effect.

• Often I go wild and use vibrant colours as this brightens up my mood.  If  I’m feeling mellow, I love subtle colours - ones like blues, greens, turquoise. You will know what colours you want to work with, as it often depends on the emotional mood that our body, mind and spirits are in.
  

• When you're happy with the layout, then go ahead and thread with your beading wire.

 

You will need these essential materials:

Tigertail - the beading wire used to thread your beads and crystals. I use a smooth, silver nylon coated thread, that doesn't kink. My favourite brand is Beadalon.  Yes, we have stock available for you.  And you don't need to order a big reel of it either.  You can order it by the metre to get you started.

   

When you have your crimp in place, you compress it with Crimping Pliers, which curls/bends the crimp bead and seals the connection. Alternatively, if you don't have Crimping Pliers, you can use Flat Nose Pliers.  The difference is that the Flat Nose Pliers wont curl the crimp around the wire, instead your crimp will lay flat.

   

  Suncatcher Glass Beads to add some colour and decoration.  

  Crystal Octagon Prisms - to add your sparkle.

  Crystal Prism Drops - this is your featured component.

 

  Filigree Craft Charms - If you would like to add a little bit of character.
  

   Glass Dragon Tear Rain Drops are available in assorted colours & sizes.

If you're just getting started, why dont you take a look at our "Seconds".  This stock has arrived to me from the factory, slightly damaged, chipped or has minor defaults.  The stock has never been used.  Sometimes these defects occur in transit during the shipping process.  It cant be helped.  It has been heavily reduced in price and is a great economic alternative if you've just starting beading.  Just to get the feel of it all, without spending all your dollars at once.  This category is updated regularly and they sell out very quickly.  So keep this page bookmarked in your favourites!

Have a look at a few of our designs here

Crystal Suncatchers are the ideal handmade craft to create and sell at your local market stall too!

It's really as easy as that.  There is absolutely no right or wrong way to make a Decorative Suncatcher, and anyone can make them.  Its an Easy Craft Idea for kids, mums or dads, grandparents, anyone!  And more importantly, its enjoyable and relaxing.

Happy Beading!