Cutting Chain Lengths | Organizing Beads and Supplies | Creating Jump Rings

Our readers offer tips on cutting two even pieces of chain from a longer one and making sure you stay organized while beading.

1 home plate
I use inexpensive paper plates as bead trays, because their fluted edges keep beads from rolling away. When finished, I simply bend the plate in half and pour the beads into a container. The plates also work well as rests for open glue tubes, keeping the stickiness away from my work surface. - Diane Underwood, via e-mail

2 cutting chain
To get two even pieces of chain from one longer one, fold the chain in half and string each of the end links onto a head pin. You'll have either one or two links hanging at the bottom. If you have one link, cut it. If you have two, cut both. You'll be left with equal lengths, without having to count the links. - Taryn Yager-Sayles, Roseville, MN

3 deviled egg tray
Use an oyster plate or deviled egg tray to separate beads by color and type when working on a project. Egg trays have many sections, and their depth makes them especially well-suited to organizing seed beads or small crystals and gemstones. - Lynne Sheldon, Deerfield, IL

4 not just for babies
Although glass baby food jars have long been used as storage containers, the new plastic ones with snap-on tops are also a great option. They are clear, stackable, easy to carry, and best of all, unbreakable. - Mary Marzano, Delray Beach, FL

5 jump rings in a pinch
If you are finishing a piece of jewelry and realize that you need a soldered jump ring, you can substitute a link of chain. Simply cut the next-to-last link of chain and use the last link in place of a soldered jump ring. - B. Wells, via e-mail

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January 2004