Retired Beads Store » Articles

How To Make Your Own Designer Jewelry Beads

admin — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 19:07:51 +0000

Trollbeads are great, but let's admit it, they're not cheap. And although, we will keep adding Trollbeads to the collection, sometimes we want to have our own custom made beads to give our charm bracelets their own unique look and style to match our fashion and personality. Their are many ways to do that, but by far the easiest way is using a clay called polymer clay. It is very cheap, but durable, and bakes right in your oven.

What you will need to make your own beads are first, polymer clay. The best brands are Sculpey, Fimo, and Prosculpt. If you want lots of colors, usually Fimo or sculpey is best, but if you want a cheaper clay you can by Sculpey(white) or Super Sculpey(skin color), and then paint it the color you want. These clays can be picked up at most art and craft stores and are only a couple bucks for enough to make quite a few beads.

Second, you will need some tools to shape the clay, a sewing needle, and preferably a pasta machine to flatten the clay. The best tools I use are knitting needles, and the back ends of paintbrushes, but there are many you can buy also.

Next, I recommend leaching Sculpey, because sometimes it can be too soft or too sticky to work with especially in humid-hot areas. Leaching is simply flattening the clay to about 1/8th inch thick and then placing it between two pieces of paper. Add 10-20 pounds weight on top of the clay(books work best) and leave for several hours. Once done pull the clay out.

Next, mold your shape. This is left up to your creative juices but one method to consider for beads is called millefiori and involves placing different colors of clay together to form images in the clay. Google it for more information.

Finally, poke a hole through your bead with a small knitting needle or sewing needle. To get a more perfect hole heat up the needle with a lighter before poking the hole. You may need to patch the sides around the hole. Place talcum powder inside the hole and on the needle and push the needle back through the hole, and leave it there. Make sure it is slightly loose, but just enough that the hole doesn't mis shape during baking.

Then bake the clay according to package instructions, pull out and string it to your favorite charm bracelet!

PUGSTER MILLEFIORI GLASS CHARM BEAD FOR BRACELET K42
US $.99

PUGSTER® BEAD MILLEFIORI GLASS CHARM FOR BRACELET B54
US $.99

10pcs millefiori glass pendant bead set A0041653
US $.99

2 Row Lampwork Millefiori Glass Crystal Beads Bracelets
US $.99

10cps Millefiori Square Bead fit Charm Bracelet 32
US $.99

12mm Blue Millefiori Glass Flower Loose Beads 15" Str.
US $.99

Goldsand Lampwork Millefiori Glass Loose Beads Bracelet
US $.99

Free ship 16pcs millefiori glass round spacer beads 8mm
US $.99

6mm Mixed Millefiori Glass Flat Heart Loose Beads 14.5"
US $.99

12mm Black Millefiori Glass Star Loose Beads 13.2" Str.
US $.99

Colourful 20mm Millefiori Glass Heart Loose Beads 13.7"
US $.99

Colorful Lampwork Millefiori Glass Loose Beads Bracelet
US $.99

24PCS Black Millefiori Glass Square Loose Beads 12mm
US $.99

12mm Yellow Millefiori Glass Flower Loose Beads 15" Str
US $.99

Black Millefiori Glass Rectangle Loose Beads 14x10mm15"
US $.99

wholesale 30pairs millefiori teardrop murano glass bead dangle earrings gifts
US $.99

Hot sell 35x Blue Millefiori Round Glass Loose Beads Fit Bracelet 10mm B776
US $5.96

200pcs mixed color millefiori glass spacer beads~4mm
US $2.25

Information About What Trollbeads Are

admin — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 10:44:43 +0000

Trollbeads was started in the 70s by a Denmark Designer. The original name was Troldekugler, which is Dutch for trollbeads and got that name from the beads looking like troll facers.

Trollbeads are claimed to be the original charm bracelet makers, but they have a unique concept that is more than just charms strung on a bracelet. Trollbeads are designer beads for jewelry, intended for charm bracelets are used for more and sold in medium to high end stores.

Trollbeads are sold all over the world and even have storefronts dedicated solely to the bead.

The unique concept surrounding them are that each bead is designed by a well known artist and made in limited quantity, so literally each piece is a work of art. Due to the limited edition runs, many beads are "retired" which means they are no longer made.

There are many imitators, but Trollbeads are the original charm bracelet bead. Their quality is high with silver, gold, and diamonds used in many designs. Trollbeads are the originator, the rest imitators.

New Original Trollbead Bracelet 15222 20cm Sterling Silver Bead Charm
US $47.32

New Original Trollbead Bracelet 15218 16cm Sterling Silver Bead Charm
US $47.32

Authentic 6.7 Inch Troll bead Charm Bracelet 7 beads
US $75.00

What is a ‘retired bead’?

admin — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 19:02:31 +0000

A common question asked is what is a retired bead. Or what is a retired trollbead. A retired bead is simply a bead that is no longer in production by the company trollbeads. Trollbead is a brand of designer beads for jewelry that comes from Europe. Being that the trollbead is made in limited quantity some trollbeads are worth more than others. Trollbead has gone as far as making the production run as little as 6 beads, as a marketing gimmick in the mid 2000s. Some rare trollbeads include the Kyang and Bead Dots.

Retired Clown Troll Bead
US $50.00

Authentic Retired Trollbead Chocolate Parrot
US $24.99

Authentic Retired Trollbead Brown Stipe
US $24.99

Trollbeads Limited Edition Lavastone Lava stone LE Gemstone retired rare *New*
US $94.80

Rare Retired Museum Authentic Trollbead Tiger
US $450.00

RETIRED Authentic Troll Bead Tupliak, Mouth (11235)
US $58.50

RETIRED Authentic Troll Bead Chat (11417)
US $49.50

RETIRED Authentic Troll Bead Frog (11307)
US $49.50

Retired Trollbeads"Pale Green Flower" #61139
US $51.00

Retired Trollbeads"Rose Sand" #61107
US $71.50

Retired Trollbeads"Tibet-Green Lilac Armadillo"
US $73.00

Authentic Trollbeads retired Tupilak Mouth #11235
US $53.00

Trollbeads Authentic RETIRED DOLLY New
US $29.99

Trollbead Glass Summer Bud Bead # 61336 RETIRED
US $19.99

Trollbeads Authentic Smiley Face Bead Find-a-Bead Retired Burgundy Rare
US $199.99

Trollbeads Authentic OOAK Retired LE Crazy Lace Agate Trollbead
US $49.99

Trollbeads Authentic OOAK Retired LE Crazy Lace Agate Trollbead 2
US $59.99

Trollbeads Authentic Trollbead Retired - LE Red Christmas 2011
US $49.99