Preventing Tarnish | Controlling Bead Spills | Making a Work Surface | Using Craft Foam
Keep your jewelry tarnish-free and your work space tidy with these tips.
1 anti-tarnish storage
For an easy and inexpensive way to store jewelry between shows, I roll it in anti-tarnish cloth. The jewelry doesn't get tangled and the cloth helps prevent tarnish. One yard cut in half lengthwise will make two rolls. For additional tarnish protection, store the rolls in sealed plastic containers with anti-tarnish strips. The cloth is available at most fabric stores.
- Becky Malone, Westminster, CO |
2 left-handed complement
When making a necklace with a one-sided pendant for a left-handed friend, attach the business end of the clasp to the left side of the necklace so it will be on your friend's left side when she wears it.
- Sandra Porter, Vancouver, WA |
3 fluted pans
When I'm working with smaller beads that come in tubes or small packages, I pour them into metal tartlet pans with fluted edges. The fluted edges act like funnels for pouring the beads back into their containers.
- Cheryl Wilson, Blaine, MN |
4 corduroy work surface
Instead of throwing old corduroy clothes away, I cut them into square pieces to use as work surfaces. The ridges in the fabric are great for lining up beads.
- Tess Cysz, Lee, MA |
5 foam ear guards
Use a hole punch and craft foam to make easy, economical ear guards for French earring wires. Use a sharp pin to make a hole in the center of the foam circle before putting it on the earring.
- Nicole Jeske, Minocqua, WI |