You may want to try gold-filled earwires instead of gold-plated earwires however the base metals used could still react with your skin. Gold-filled describes when a layer of gold is mechanically bonded with heat and pressure to one or more surfaces of the supporting base metal. Gold-filled items will remain gold for a lifetime if cared for properly.

this is the English abbreviation for the word each. In other words, each piece is $1.00 ea.

According to the packaging, the makers of Stretch Magic recommend using a square knot for best results. To hide the knot, simply slide a bead over the knot while the nail polish or glue is still wet. As it dries, it will adhere to the inside of the bead for extra security.

Stretch cord will lose some elasticity through repeated wear over time, but how quickly this happens will depend on how much wear and use the cord is exposed to. For weaving beaded pictures, we would recommend considering a stringing material that will maintain its strength and tension, such as monofilament cord or pre-waxed braided cord (such as Fireline).

Twisting the wire will add strength and some thickness to the wire. String your bead on the wire and twist both sides. Keep twisting until you fill the wire is at a good tension for your needs.

There is a little thing called a bead stopper. It is a spring with a loop at each end, you squeeze the loops and it opens the spring enough to slip your thread or wire into the spring, then let go and it holds the beads so they can't come off; when your done stringing, just squeeze the loops and take your wire out of the spring. They come in pkgs of six, and are inexpensive.

I've used 49 strand--7 strands together with smaller 7-strand wire. 49 strand wire is strongest and drapes well for bracelets and necklaces.

I would recommend a 4mm crimp cover, but you do not need to use a cover if you like the look as-is. I personally like crimp covers, but that's just me.

AB is the abbreviation for a special finish which was applied to rhinestones and beads in the early 1950's to make them more radiant. The finish was given the celestial name Aurora Borealis, taken from the phenomena in the northern skies known as the Northern Lights. The same shimmering rainbows of color can also be seen radiating from a glass bead or rhinestone that has been treated with this now famous coating.
Deb

Hi,

When making a bracelet or necklace, I usually secure a not around a seed bead, then glue them in end cups...(clam shells)

There are two ways you can finish illusion cord. First, you can use a crimp tube to crimp the illusion cord onto the clasp. Second, you can thread the illusion cord through a clam shell bead tip (SS-BDTIP2 or SS-BDTIP3) tie the end of the illusion cord around a 15/0 seed bead, so that the seed bead will sit inside the cup of the bead tip. Be sure to put a drop of glue on the knot to secure, let it dry and close the bead tip. You will need one bead tip for each end of the cord. You will then hook the bead tip onto the clasp.