Jewelry & Beading

67 opinions for Under $25: a great Bead & Button giveaway!

• Debra
  May 28, 2008 at 9:25 am

  I’ve gotten some great and very unique bargain beads by checking out the costume jewelry at yard sales and flea markets.

• Amy
  May 28, 2008 at 10:26 am

  I get some nice mixed bags really cheap at sunshinecrafts.com. They don’t have a huge selection but what they do have is at a great price.

• Kat
  May 28, 2008 at 10:47 am

  I found in Cleveland, OH that the craft store Pat Catans can’t be beat for great deals on beads, findings, and other beading/jewelry making items.

• Wendy
  May 28, 2008 at 11:03 am

  Flea Markets, neighborhood sales and e-bay are the way I get bargain beads.

• daniele
  May 28, 2008 at 11:39 am

  i’d have to say that my constant reliable source for bargain beads is the wholesale clearance bins on saturday nights and sunday afternoons of our biannual gem and mineral show. i’ve gotten awesome deals on terrific semi-precious gemstone beads! $2-3/strand = great bargains!

• Alita
  May 28, 2008 at 11:47 am

  I like to “think outside the box” as they say and I have found some neat items at the local fishing supply store, Lures and such. And of course there are the local thrift stores, and estate sales.

• Dorothy
  May 28, 2008 at 12:41 pm

  Other than antique/group shops in the area (Southern Maine is loaded with them!)…My sister! She used to make jewelry, but now that she’s a financial advisor she doesn’t have the time anymore. She “destashes” my way quite often, usually in exchange for a pair of earrings or a bracelet. I’ve received some fun stuff that I probably wouldn’t have bought myself, but have enjoyed playing with.
  The rest of my family is also on the lookout for bags of old jewelry for me to use.

• Chris
  May 28, 2008 at 12:47 pm

  I regularly check out the 50% off bins at my local bead shop and ebay is a great source for deals on silver beads and findings. I also try to use all the beads I purchase by using them in multiple items.

• lmh
  May 28, 2008 at 1:13 pm

  My best cheap finds have come at garage/estate sales and ebay.

• Amy J
  May 28, 2008 at 1:33 pm

  Grab those 40% and 50% coupons from Michaels and JoAnn Fabrics and make your own sale! Halcraft Bead Gallery line and Blue Moon provides stone, glass and base metal beads of all colors and shapes.

• Lisa
  May 28, 2008 at 1:37 pm

  Of course there’s the usual items at garage sales, flea markets and trade days like First Monday in Canton, TX where you can find old jewelry (and, hopefully, some nice vintage beads) to cut up & remodel. I also look for beads in unusual or unlilkely places: on old handbags, shoes, christmas ornaments, etc. Some people have already used beads for crafting and it’s just a matter of taking the project apart, cleaning the beads & baubles and you’ve got some lovely things to work with.

• Michelle Rosborough
  May 28, 2008 at 2:53 pm

  Gargage sales

• Roberta
  May 28, 2008 at 2:59 pm

  I love the department store clearance. Not just a sale, but a real clearance. I mean 70% or 75% off the original price plus another 25%, 40% or even 50% off. I find that is a great place to get chain. Maybe a long necklace with 4 or 5 strands. They may even be different. I also love the resale shops. We have an ARC in town and I know the volunteer brings in the jewelry on a Thursday. Guess who tries to be there on Friday. Another item I use are buttons. I use them like cabochons by beading around them. You can even find real cheap clothes with nice buttons. You can’t find 6 or 7 interesting buttons for only $.50 or $1.00 in stores! Think we are all going to be looking for the cheaper stuff this year. I am planning on using up part of my stash and old stuff I have horded. It is great to see Bead & Button doing something like the under $25.00. I have felt that waaay too many of their projects were just to many $$$$. JMHO.
  Roberta in Hot Florida

• Roberta
  May 28, 2008 at 3:09 pm

  Almost forgot. When Fire Mountain Gems have their $1.00 sale, that is when I go crazy. Love that stuff. You just have to realize that it is not grade A stuff, but it sure is fun to work with. In addition, our Dollar Tree for a couple of months carried the Blue Mountain and another brand of beads for $1.00. At a different $1.00 store I found a card of 8 different 5 gr. partitions of seed beads in very nice colors. I would not want to beadweave with them, but they are great a an accent between larger beads when you are stringing. In addition, gold and silver colored lobster claws, jumprings and even some stringing cord. (Those findings are great when you are doing a free or kids class).
  Roberta in hot Florida again.

• Shay Williams
  May 28, 2008 at 6:51 pm

  My best bargains come from a bulk buying group that I am a part of. We all join together and make up such a large order that we get some great discounts.

• Tanya
  May 28, 2008 at 6:54 pm

  I too have hit the $1 & $2 sales on Firemountain. Plus find deals on chain at yard sales and the local Goodwill store. Old jewelry is great to tear apart and “recycle”. My neighbor is new to beading and she thinks I’m crazy to take something apart for the beads. I figure why not?!!!

• Karen
  May 28, 2008 at 8:17 pm

  Like Lisa, I too shop at Canton First Monday Trades Days since I only live 10 miles away. I also love garage sales or estate sales for the old jewelry. Wish I had some of my Mother’s old jewelry now.

• Leeza
  May 29, 2008 at 7:21 am

  My best cheap finds have come at jewelrybutjewelry.com.

• Sandy L
  May 29, 2008 at 7:23 am

  I love going to yard and estates sales to look for old jewelry and then pulling it apart to make into something totally new and Mine!!!

• Cindy F
  May 29, 2008 at 5:00 pm

  My best way to get bargain beads is to ask for them for gifts! My family often gets me a gift card for a favorite beading store for holidays and birthdays. I also group-buy with a few other beaders from work.

• Ann Widner
  May 29, 2008 at 6:37 pm

  I have a friend who goes to estate sales every Saturday… She really knows how to spot quality bargains and keeps me well stocked in vintage jewelry and beads.

• Cecilia Huddleston
  May 29, 2008 at 9:08 pm

  I find some pretty good bargains at a couple of local bead & craft stores (Michael’s & Hobby Lobby), especially when they have sterling silver pieces on sale. I also frequent two bead stores in the neighboring town and usually find unique items like great lampwork beads by a local artist…not always on sale…but who could resist!
  When traveling, I look in the phone book for locations of bead stores & once caught my first glimpse of Swarovski’s top-drilled bicones. Awesome! Definitely overspent that day…but what great “souvenirs” to remember your trip! It’s really exciting to check out the “junk” shops or antique stores & find jewelry/beads in a baggie at bargain prices that I can dismantle and reuse in my designs. Once I came across an antique store closing out and bought several gorgeous faceted antique seed beads in beautiful colors made in the 1930’s still in their original brown paper wrappers from Czechoslovakia. WOW! For some reason I have a difficult time wanting to cut those threads holding the strands together & use them, although, I have managed to force myself to use a few as accents…they really sparkle!
  Pizazz Works & Fire Mountain Gems always have great buys…even without sales.
  As far as estate/yard sales, I enjoy sleeping in on weekends too much; they always seem to open about 6:00am and I am more like an 11:00am type. The few times I managed to go I bought some really wonderful vintage pieces. The suggestion of having a friend go & purchase for you was great! I have one that always frequents yard & estates sales! You know what I’ll be asking her next time we talk. It’s got to be a win-win situation…at least, for me anyway!

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  May 30, 2008 at 7:42 am

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  May 30, 2008 at 9:07 am

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  May 30, 2008 at 9:47 am

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  May 30, 2008 at 10:03 am

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  May 30, 2008 at 12:26 pm

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  May 30, 2008 at 12:27 pm

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• Chris P
  May 30, 2008 at 2:42 pm

  I buy beads at yard sales and thrift stores-amazing what people are tossing or giving away for next to nothing!

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  May 30, 2008 at 3:48 pm

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  May 30, 2008 at 4:29 pm

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  May 30, 2008 at 4:40 pm

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  May 30, 2008 at 5:15 pm

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• katie
  May 30, 2008 at 7:53 pm

  I love FarmerJerry64.com as well as their ebay store. Great quality and prices.

• Roberta
  May 30, 2008 at 9:10 pm

  Hi Katie,
  I never heard of FarmerJerry64.com and can’t find it on the web. I would love to see what it’s all about. Thank you,
  Roberta in hot Florida

• Shay
  May 30, 2008 at 10:57 pm

  Estate sales are the best for fine jewels.

• Ginny
  May 31, 2008 at 12:36 am

  This is great. I’ve got some stuff to do jewelry, but haven’t really gotten into it yet.

• Caryn Moy
  May 31, 2008 at 4:55 am

  I’m just starting to take my personal hobby into a small business on the side selling my jewelry creations. I love looking at Bead & Button Magazine!

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  May 31, 2008 at 7:37 am

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  May 31, 2008 at 11:09 am

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• aBookworm
  May 31, 2008 at 5:26 pm

  Cool giveaway! I’ve blogged it @ A Bookblogger’s Diary

• Elizabeth M.
  May 31, 2008 at 7:07 pm

  I find lots of them at garage sales and flea markets. I wait to get the coupons/sales when I shop at craft stores.

• Anne
  May 31, 2008 at 7:49 pm

  When I was younger my grandmother gave me all of her beads; I was in heaven.

  Now, Thrift Stores, Garage Sales and I often request peoples beads that they aren’t using anymore on my local Freecycle site!

• Diana
  May 31, 2008 at 11:01 pm

  I get Fire Mountain Gems catalogs with some decent sales on beads and other things.

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  Jun 1, 2008 at 8:00 am

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• Jessica
  Jun 1, 2008 at 9:28 am

  Flea markets have the most unique. Yard sales have the cheapest.

• Carole
  Jun 1, 2008 at 12:34 pm

  My LBS sells $5 bags of loose beads that they’ve made up from odd strands. I’ve often made up a quick necklace or bracelet from one of those bags plus maybe a tube of seed beads.

• Tammy
  Jun 1, 2008 at 1:17 pm

  I get amazing vintage and new beads at etsy.com. Great website for us DIYers and super cute selection!

• Karen Matlock
  Jun 1, 2008 at 8:29 pm

  When an old hippie has a yard sale… GO

• Char
  Jun 1, 2008 at 8:39 pm

  My best source is box lots of jewelry on eBay. You’ll get a lot of junk but you’ll get a lot of good stuff too.

• Phyllis Silverstein
  Jun 1, 2008 at 9:12 pm

  I love beadwork ! A great source of seed beads and more is gardenofbeadin.com.

• AngelaWilliams Vanderford
  Jun 1, 2008 at 9:31 pm

  So many bargains too little time and money
  Gas prices are stressing our budgets

• Lifestyles Network Weekend Contest Roundup
  Jun 1, 2008 at 10:01 pm

  […] Jewelry and Beading - Win a free copy of “Under $25” by Bead & Button magazine. Simply leave a comment on this post, telling us what your best source of bargain beads is, and you’ll be entered into the drawing. By Wednesday, she’ll be randomly selecting 4 winners!! […]

• alex
  Jun 2, 2008 at 2:54 am

  I can’t stay away from thrift stores, so it’s one ofmy best places to find good beads, even if they’re in other pieces of jewelry.

• jenny hebert
  Jun 2, 2008 at 1:15 pm

  Helen Brett

• Pamela White
  Jun 2, 2008 at 6:51 pm

  I have a local bead store that has a wide variety of beads and does special orders.

• Cindi
  Jun 2, 2008 at 8:50 pm

  Hi, There is a small bead shop in our town! She has a clearance section once a month. That is one of the days that I make a special trip to her store!
  Please enter me in your delightful giveaway. I appreciate it. Thanks,Cindi

• Sarah Ulfers
  Jun 2, 2008 at 9:04 pm

  Yard sales and auctions

• Julie Kenyon
  Jun 3, 2008 at 9:58 pm

  I know of at least three times that I have purchased at least 100 dollars worth of beads for 10 bucks. I found these bargins at estate sales. Estate sales/ tag sales are also great places to find vintage buttons.

• Brittany
  Jun 4, 2008 at 12:12 am

  Hi,

  I love your website! It is very helpful for me as I am trying to learn more ‘professional’ techniques of beading and jewelry creating. I’ve always just done it as a hobby and so I’ve just ‘made up’ my own way of doing things. Now that I’m working at a bead shop though, that is all about to change!

  I always find the coolest bargain beads and artsy stuff when I’m on vacation - and like everyone else I rely on summer months and garage sales/flea markets to stock up my supply! Sometimes though, I’ll find a new way to use an old necklace that I no longer wear anymore and simply cut the wire and start anew. An old necklace just doesn’t seem right and then all of the sudden I can envision how it would work in a different project and voila! It seems new again.

  Thanks for sharing everything, I’ll be back again.

• Marlene
  Jun 4, 2008 at 8:03 am

  I would love to win this, I have been creating jewelry with beads for 2 years and love new ideas.

• Mary-Eileen Venturella
  Jun 4, 2008 at 1:27 pm

  Garage sales, e-bay and thrift stores are good sources for cosyume jewelry and other items that have old beads that can be re-used.

• Diane
  Jun 4, 2008 at 3:00 pm

  I really like the service from Fire Mountain Gems. Their sales catalogs usually have some bargains that are too good to pass up. For vintage (and cheap) beads I shop garage sales and ebay for old pieces to tear apart and re-vamp. Fun stuff!

• Paul
  Jun 4, 2008 at 3:16 pm

  Fire Mountain Gem sales, online auctions, antiques, fleamarkets, garage sales, and second-hand stores. There is also an auction house in town that does estate sales or household goods salvage sales.

  I go to Buffalo, NY often from Canada, and save just by crossing the border. Most brand name beads at Michaels or AC Moore (which we don’t have) are around $2 less in the US with the currencies almost at par. That’s a “bargain” right there.

  Please don’t consider me for the giveaway. I’ve already bought my copy and prepared at least one item based on the ideas. :)

• ray davison, II
  Jun 4, 2008 at 7:40 pm

  I go to a lot of estate auctions and the craft items there go for a great price!

• France
  Jun 4, 2008 at 7:59 pm

  Flea markets, yard sales, op shops, Etsy and eBay are good source for cheap (or not “TOO” expensive) beads, oh, and friends who try all sorts of crafts and get bored with them after a while!! :)

• Peggy Gorman
  Jun 4, 2008 at 11:19 pm

  I find estate sales and yard sales are the place to find great beads. Also Freecycle.com is another great place to get free beads,sometimes all you have to do is ask

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