What a Difference Pearls Can Make

Usually when you think of pearls one thing tends to come to mind: Jewelry. People often associate pearls with jewelry because that's what they're mostly used for. However, these natural gems do have other interesting uses. Throughout history they've not only used for fashion but been sewn into clothing or even furniture. You could have them put into your love seat or even adorn your running shoes with them. So while we're on the subject here are the basics you need to think about when considering arts and crafts with pearls.


Firstly, not all pearls are created equal. They come in a wide variety of shapes, colors and grades to choose from such as coin pearls, keshi pearls, baroque, biwa and even round pearls. You need to take into consideration the cost however. Some pearls, like round pearls, tend to be pretty rare and will cost a lot more to obtain, so you have to be careful with them, size factors into this as well too. So before you even begin to think about what you might want to do, always consider your total budget. You can make great gifts without having to break the bank. Another thing to never forget is drilling, which can contribute to potential loss of pearls, and what you're stringing them on is critical for that. If you thread your pearls over leather it's going to mean a bigger hole than silk thread.


Pearl selection is crucial. If your craft has a theme to it then color and shape will play the biggest role in making it work. For example say you're constructing a jewelry box with a red garden theme to it. A good idea would be to use multi-colored pearls for the flowers and then have a selection of green colored pearls for grass and stems. Be sure to maintain consistency by selecting pearls of roughly the same size and shape (100% matches aren't necessary but get it as close as you can.) After all you wouldn't want a flower that's smaller than its stem, that'd make it appear lopsided. Likewise be sure to take color into consideration, especially when making gifts, you don't want your recipient to find it tacky. Of course if you want to make abstract art on purpose then there's absolutely nothing wrong with either (artist Jackson Pollack would be proud.)


Now when creating your item, the first thing you should do is get a full sized sketch of it and measure the sizes so you can get a very exact idea of what sort of pearls you'll need based on it. Keep in mind that not all pearls are symmetrical, some may have an odd shape on one side or another and some may even look as if they were glued together. In short, it pays to do your homework. When ordering also be sure to only order small samples at first to see how it matches up to what you've envisioned. In the world of pearls, size does matter and you don't want to get pearls that are too big or too small for what you're doing.


Some pearls are naturally shaped into very unique styles that may be perfect for what you're doing. For instance take teardrop and rice pearls; You could create a crying clown by using teardrop pearls for the tears or create a rainy day portrait with the rice pearls as your raindrops. Use the styles to your advantage whenever you can to make a clever twist on your design; Just be sure to again keep the budget in mind. While size does matter bigger is not always better since the larger your pearls are the more they're going to cost and the harder they'll be to find. If a large pearl is too expensive try getting multiple smaller pearls that look alike and can be grouped together to replace their larger counterparts.


Now of course you've got to find your medium that you're going to be using before going any further. Will you be using cardboard, wood, or metal for a base material? What kind of glue will you need? Is there thread involved and does it need to look good or be strong? Take a look at others pearl related projects before you start on your first one of your own. Art supply stores should carry all kinds of glue, thread and other basic crafting materials; For the heavy duty stuff like wood or metal however, head to home improvement stores like Lowes or the Home Depot to stock up.


Well, now that we've got that out of the way here are some ideas you might like for gifts or other art projects you could try. If it's your first time I'd recommend starting out with the simpler ones:
Ideas for gifts: The possibilities are endless if you want to create a pearl-based gift for a loved one or a friend. Maybe she’d like a cute headband embedded with pearls of her favorite color. These activities are relatively easy as you can purchase any of these items from any store such as Target or Wal-Mart and then you can imbed the pearls into any of these items with some strong glue and a little elbow grease. Be sure to sketch a design first before attempting to glue on the pearls themselves (make sure that the pearls that you are using are compatible with the glue you are using; if you prefer, you can attach a string of pearls to the headband and fasten them with a metal fastener).


Craft Projects: Looking for a really cool craft idea to give to a friend? Why not give them a picture frame? But you don’t have to give them just any old picture frame; you can accessorize it with pearls! You can go to almost any craft store as well as places like Target and Wal-Mart; they do have frames for sale in various sizes (i.e. 3” x 5”, 5” x 7”). This way, you won’t have to make your own frame, which might take awhile. With some pearls (of course), some strong glue and a little bit of creativity; you can create a unique, pearl photo frame that will add style to any photograph! You also might want to string the pearls to keep them secure, too. Here’s a website that might be helpful to you if you would like to make your picture frame with an ocean theme: http://www.shellcraft-guides.com/unique-photo-frames-01.html.


Items for personal use: Want to jazz up your everyday items? Try imbedding your brush and comb with small pearls! You can even deck out your hand mirror with them, too! You can make cool star or cross designs in the back of your hand mirror or just dazzle the handle with a single teardrop pearl. The sky is the limit when it comes to your imagination!


Accessories for the home: So you’re thinking about getting rid of that boring lampshade because it doesn’t look nice enough. Well, have you considered adding pearls to your lampshade? You can use your own design or use a stencil. Be sure to sketch your designs first before adding the pearls to the lampshade.
Accents for clothing: Want to add some flair to your evening gown or your grandmother’s old wedding dress? Add some pretty pink pearls to the neckline! You can either lightly glue them in or sew them into the neckline.
Jewelry: One of the pearl’s main uses is jewelry. You can use one of the same kind and color of pearls or mix them up or use two or three of a kind to create a custom, one-of-a-kind pearl necklace! You can also create bracelets, rings, earrings, pendants, or even anklets! All you need is a silk strand, pearls, clasps, some jewelry making tools, and your creativity!


Handbags: So you can’t afford a Dolce and Gabbana purse or a Louis Vuitton handbag, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t add some style to the purse you currently have. Add some white rice pearls to your black handbag or purse. You may not be able to buy a Gucci handbag but at least your purse will look and feel like one!
In short, adding pearls to everyday items and even incorporating them in arts and crafts can make ordinary items look extraordinary. All you need are pearls, some jewelry making tools, glue, and your imagination, which is your only limit as to what kinds of cool stuff you can create. Add some beauty and luster to that old jewelry box. Jazz up that dark pink plastic bracelet with some lightly pink pearls. Even kids can have fun adding small pearls to their Converse shoes! Not only is pearl art a fun activity for adults but it also can be a fun activity for kids and teens, too! The sky’s the limit when it comes to making art with pearls!