Common Mistakes You Can Make When Creating Jewelry

If you are new to making jewelry, you might not be sure of what you are doing. Many beginner jewelry makers make mistakes that can be avoided if you know what you are doing. Here are some helpful tips for avoiding these common mistakes when you are making your jewelry.

Wire Wrapped Loops are Not Uniform

When you are making a wire wrapped loop to finish off a piece of jewelry, you can never seem to make them the same size. They are all different sizes, which gives your jewelry an amateur and unprofessional look that you don’t like. So, how can you make them all the same and make your jewelry look more skilled and professional?

The answer is easier than you might think – just make markings on your round nose pliers. You can do this with a permanent marker so that you can see where the loop will go. This means that all you have to do is line up the wire with the markings you have made and you will be able to make the same sized loop every time. You can do this with permanent marker or with tape – although with permanent marker you might need to keep marking it if the line has worn off.

Pulled Apart Jump Rings

When you have a jump ring you want to open, do you do so by pulling it apart? Many beginner jewelers are tempted to do this, but it is actually a mistake. When you do this you will be stretching out the jump ring and it is really difficult to get it back together.

Instead, the best thing to do is to hold the jump ring with two pliers so that the opening is in the middle. Then, pull one of the pliers towards you and the other away from you. Don’t pull the circle apart, just twist it to the sides. Then, in order to close it you just do the same in the opposite direction to twist it closed. Here is a video that will show you how to properly open and close your jump rings.

Using Expensive Wire as a Beginner

When you are a beginner at making jewelry you will not have perfected and refined your skills. So, get some cheaper wire that you can practice on so that you can learn what you are doing. There are many different types of craft supplies online so that you can find a more affordable material for beginners.

Once you have mastered the art of jewelry making and you have come up with some designs that you are proud of, you can get some more expensive sterling silver wire and recreate them.

Not Thinking About a Cohesive Collection

One of the biggest mistakes you can make as a designer is to design many different random pieces of jewelry that don’t really work together. When you are selling your work it really helps to have a cohesive collection that has a theme and an overall aesthetic that ties it together. Plus, when you have a particular style to your work then people will start to recognize your jewelry as having your “look” and this will help to build your brand.

Not Investing In High Quality Jewelry Photos

This is a mistake that many jewelry designers make when they are trying to sell their jewelry. You can have beautiful jewelry designs, but if your website has blurry and grainy poor quality photos people will not know how beautiful they really are and will be hesitant to buy them.

It is worth it to invest the extra time and effort in making sure that your jewelry is showcased well with high quality photographs. You can hire a professional photographer who has a light box designed for taking photos of jewelry. The photographer will be able to take photos of the intricate details of the jewelry and show it off in its best light. When you have these high quality professional photos on your website they are guaranteed to increase your sales.

These are just a few jewelry making mistakes – are you guilty of any of them? By avoiding these beginner pitfalls you can be much more successful as a jewelry maker, so that you can enjoy pursuing your passion.