As experts and enthusiasts of all things crafty, FaveCrafts decided to host a special National Craft Month blog series for all of our lovely readers. Check back for a new blog post every day featuring our favorite projects, new craft videos, how-to’s from the FaveCrafts editors, and a GIGANTIC, ENORMOUS, AMAZING craft giveaway at the end of the month. That’s right–we’re giving away the biggest prize ever, a gift basket chock full of crafting goodies from our craft closet. There’s something for everyone in this gift basket.

Leave a comment below, and on any blog post labeled “National Craft Month” in the headline, and your comment will count as an entry into the giveaway. You are free to comment as often as once per blog post (for a total of 31 chances to win!). At the end of the month, we’ll pool all of the comments together and pick one lucky winner.

For the past almost thirteen years (has it really been that long?), I’ve made jewelry for myself, for friends, and for my previous job at a company that published jewelry magazines. Since my simple beginnings at a bead shop in Florida in 1998–thank you Susan at BeadHawk, I’ve learned a lot and done a lot of demonstrations of basic techniques for groups of girl scouts, PBS station managers, my best gal pals, and even on TV and video. One of the things that I most often get asked is “how do I finish my necklace/bracelet?” When you’ve found the perfect beads and strung them on flexible beading wire, you want to make sure your jewelry holds together and doesn’t break upon first (or twentieth) wearing. (And if any of those terms are confusing, watch the video to learn more.)

For beads strung on flexible beading wire, crimping is the finishing process most often used. And I’ve heard time and again that photos are okay to show this process, but that most people understand it best when they see it in action. Since I can’t travel the world showing each and every one of you how to crimp, I thought a video would be the best solution. So if you’ve always wanted to learn how to crimp a crimp tube to securely attach a clasp to your jewelry, watch this crimping video. And let me know if it helps and what other techniques you want to see demonstrated and we’ll see what we can do about getting more videos up to help you learn more.

Meanwhile, How to Crimp a Crimp Bead to Make Your Own Jewelry.

If you want more information on crimping pliers or other jewelry basics, read 15 Important Items for your Jewelry Tool Box and Jewelry Making Basics on FaveCrafts.com.

Oh, I can’t forget the question for National Craft Month! I’ll make it easy: Have you ever crimped before? Have you had any trouble with the crimping process? If so, tell us about it!