As with all things these days, you can buy beads online. This is a quick and convenient way to get the materials you need. And it often allows you to buy at wholesale prices, saving you money that buying at the local craft store doesn’t. But before you sit down to go shopping, there are a few important things to mention.

If you’re just starting out in the field, I’d suggest spending some time at that local craft store. Even if you don’t buy anything, you need to have a real physical sense of what you’re buying. An online store is going to present you with the most beautiful version of that account they have. They’re going to blow up the image, distorting its actual size, and illuminate it with various bright lights. This is all fine, but keep in mind that in normal light, hanging around someone’s neck, it can look totally different.

When shopping for beads online, you should be familiar with measurements. Most beads are measured in millimeters. A four millimeter bead worn in a ring to be worn on a small hand can be huge. The average ruler in your home has millimeters in it, so maybe have that handy when you’re looking online. Bring it along with your purchases, so you get an idea of ​​what four millimeters in the round looks like.

Remember the lighting I mentioned? We do not walk under a spotlight. You can buy beads online at maroon. They were a very beautiful deep blood red; perfect for your project. But once received in the mail, at home, in the kitchen, they are so dark that they appear black. You can now drag a flashlight around and discover that they are indeed red, but only day to day can they appear as simple black beads. Don’t be too disappointed. Sparkle is the same way. It can dazzle on screen and be lackluster once you get it home. Again, that’s a lot of trial and error, learning to discern the way things are presented versus reality.