Jewelry Making Kits

Love this website? Give us a "like"

Jewelry making kits are a great way to get started making jewelry. They're great for those of us who've been making jewelry for awhile too. Here's why I love kits and why I think they're an awesome buy for anyone, no matter what your level of experience.

Are you looking specifically for bracelet making kits? Click here to visit my bracelet kits page

Kits Are Great For Beginner Jewelry Makers

Usually a kit includes a design with instructions, and all the beads and findings. Sometimes tools are included, but usually not.

Kits save you the hassle of collecting all the supplies separately yourself, and you can concentrate on learning the techniques without having to design the project yourself. In most cases the designer has already worked out any design problems so you don't have to do any design troubleshooting either.

They save you money too. Beads, tools, findings- they can add up to a huge investment especially if you don't know exactly what techniques you like yet. Kits let you get your feet wet a little before jumping in.

Kits are Great for the Tired or Frustrated DIYer

Sometimes you just want to enjoy making something without the hassle of fiddling with the design. I often feel like making something late in the day when I'm tired and don't want to think too much. Other times, I'm working on a new design and I get so frustrated I want to throw it out the window. Sometimes designing your own jewelry is a pain because invariably (at least for me) there are problems that need solving before you can wear your new creation. The beads end up clashing. You're missing a component and need to go shopping before you can finish your design. Or maybe your design hangs funny. Or maybe what you envisaged in your mind ends up looking just plain ugly.

Having a kit on hand means I can satisfy my compulsion to create without the frustration of the more challenging parts of designing jewelry. I can produce something pretty and feel like I've accomplished something even when I'm tired or angry.

Kits are Great for the Over-Budget Bead Junkie

Kits end up saving you money at the bead store. Unless you're made of money, jewelry making can be a really costly hobby and make a pretty big dent in your budget unless you're careful. I know I'm always seduced by all the pretty sparkly beads and end up spending way more than I mean to (even when I tell myself I'm only going to spend X amount before going in!)

Buying a kit means that you're only buying what you need. It's more expensive per bead, but your bill ends up being less overall. You don't have all the leftover beads junking up your house either.

Kits are Great for the Over-Cluttered

The "Stash" - Anyone who makes jewelry has a "stash". A Stash is a collection beads never used, leftover beads from previous projects, and beads reclaimed from old jewelry. Anyone who has one loves their Stash, but there comes a point in every bead junkie's life when they can no longer justify spending even more money on beads that they may or may not ever use.

Buying a kit is great though - you can justify it because you actually are going to use every bit of your kit without adding to the Stash. (Its great to rationalize shopping isn't it?)

Where to Buy Jewelry Making Kits

Here are a few online shops that sell jewelry making kits:

Sonoran Beads : Sonoran Beads has some beautiful art glass bead necklace kits as well as gorgeous designer lampworked glass beads and borosilicate beads (my personal favorite).
Amazon.com has some jewelry making kits - here's a beginner's jewelry making kit that includes a beading tray, tools, beads, ribbons, cords, clasps, and findings.
Looking for a beginner tool kit? Here's one from Amazon for a 6 Piece Bead Worker Tool Kit
Joann.com : Joann has a number of different jewelry making kits. There are lots of kids jewelry kits, some nice watch/bracelet kits, and a beginner Wire Worker Kit too.