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Home / Beads and Stringing Supplies / Beads / Metal Beads / Silver / Special shapes /

Frolic Sterling Silver 7mm “Smart” Spacer Bead with Silicone Insert for 3mm Chain / Cord

Item Number: 627489

Shape: Spacer
Dimensions: 7 x 3.5mm
Hole size: 3mm
Fits Cord/Chain Size: 3mm
Drill Style: Center-drilled
Metal type: Sterling silver
Material: Metal
Brand: Frolic
Country of origin: USA
Catalog page:
2013 Gems and Findings & Display and Packaging Catalog p.328

Description
More Info
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Ideal for designs using Frolic® beads, this “smart” bead features a silcone insert that keeps the bead snug and secure on your chain, anchoring your Frolic beads and charms. This bead is sized to fit 3mm chain, cord or wire.

please note: Because this bead is intended to grip your cord or chain, it can be a bit tricky to get the bead started. We recommend twisting the cord as you push the bead onto it. As soon as there is enough cord emerging from the bead to grasp, simply pull the cord through.

How To

How to Make Beaded Bracelets In an Instant!

It's so easy to use Frolic and other large-hole beads and Frolic bracelets and necklaces with threaded ends to create unique beaded designs. Add "smart" beads to create interesting spacing on the design; these beads hold their position on the chain, acting as natural spacers.
Please Note: As you add beads to your cord or chain, the diameters of the beads you add will effectively narrow the interior diameter of your bracelet. To ensure a good fit, you'll need to account for this in the design or when customers are choosing their chains and cords.

Step 1
Unscrew the end cap on a Frolic snake bracelet or necklace.

Step 2
Slide on your selected large-hole Frolic or other beads. Try “smart” beads with silicone inserts to space out beads and keep them in place.

Step 3
When finished, screw the end cap back on, completing the design.

Step 4
Encourage customers to collect a variety of Frolic beads--they can easily unscrew and re-arrange their beads to create a new look for every occasion.

How To Understand Bead Drill Styles

It seems that all bead-sellers have their own ways of defining or describing how a bead is drilled. Here's a quick guide to how Rio Grande describes its drill styles to help you quickly find the style you want.

CENTER-DRILLED
Center-drilling is the most common drill style, typical for most beads. These beads are simply drilled right through the middle at the widest or longest part.

Beads that are squared off, flattened, or oval, but are still drilled through the middle, are considered 'center-drilled.'

Here is an oval bead, drilled through the center down its long axis; this is considered center-drilled.

Tube beads, drilled through the center end to end, are considered center-drilled.

Even an odd-shaped bead, if it is drilled right through the middle, just where you'd expect, is considered center-drilled.

SIDE-DRILLED
Side-drilling is probably the next most common drill style. These beads are drilled side-to-side across a shaped, non-spherical bead.

Often, a bead will have a definite front and back; when this type of bead is drilled from one side to the other across the width, it is considered side-drilled.

Beads that are designed to hang length-wise on the strand like a drop or dangle are also considered side-drilled (these are also called 'top-drilled,' and a search for 'top drill' or 'top drilled' will find this style for you instantly).

Irregularly shaped beads that are wider (side to side) than they are deep (front to back) and are drilled across their width are considered to be side-drilled.

Double-drilled beads, beads with two parallel holes, are considered side-drilled. These beads are intended to be strung together, either alone or with other shapes, into a strand design.

FRONT-DRILLED
Front-drilling is common for beads that won't necessarily be strung together, one after the other, on a strand. These beads have a definite front and back and are drilled from front to back, sometimes near one end. (Those that are drilled near one end may be called 'top-drilled' on other websites; a search for 'top drill' or 'top drilled' will find this style for you instantly on riogrande.com).

Beads intended to be used as pendants, drops or dangles, with only a bail or jump ring attached to serve this purpose, are considered front-drilled.

Link beads are drilled twice but are drilled front to back at both ends. These beads are usually intended to be linked together with wire, jump rings or other findings; they are considered front-drilled.

VERTICAL-DRILLED
Vertical drilling is used for beads with a definite top and bottom orientation, designed to be strung from end to end. These beads are drilled vertically, from top to bottom. (These beads are also often called 'top-drilled' on other websites; a search for 'top drill' or 'top drilled' will find this style for you instantly on riogrande.com).

Familiar shapes, such as hearts or stars, have a 'correct' or expected orientation; when these beads, oriented as expected, are drilled top to bottom, they are considered 'vertical-drilled.'

Beads that represent figures or creatures that have a familiar orientation and are drilled top to bottom to present the bead in this orientation are considered vertical-drilled.

Beads inscribed with words or messages are considered to be vertical-drilled when the hole is drilled perpendicular to the words.

HALF-DRILLED & VERTICAL HALF-DRILLED
Half-drilled beads are intended for setting onto pearl pegs for pendants, brooches or earrings. These beads are drilled only partially, about halfway, through their diameters—in other words, 'half-drilled.'

Button pearls or beads are half-round or flattened beads that are partially drilled from the flat side. These are also considered half-drilled beads.

A bead that isn't round, such as a teardrop or other shape, but is drilled only partway through, either from the top or from one end, is considered as a 'vertical half-drilled' bead.

DIAGONAL-DRILLED
Diagonal-drilling describes any square or cube bead that is drilled diagonally from one corner to the opposite corner.

A flattened square, if drilled corner to corner, is considered to be 'diagonal-drilled.'

A bead that is even roughly box-shaped and is drilled from corner to corner is considered to be diagonal-drilled.

How to Make a Frolic Bead Lariat Bracelet

Mix & match beads from our Frolic® line and string them onto leather or satin cord to create colorful jewelry designs—fast and easy! Customers can also pick and choose their own beads and design their own lariat-style necklace or bracelet with just a little instruction from you. Separate individual beads with a knot, or group beads in colorful combinations. The options are endless!

Step 1
Fold the Frolic® black leather cord (or other cord) in half, forming a loop at one end.

Step 2
Pass the loop through the hole of the first Frolic® or other large-hole bead, sliding the bead toward the cord ends. Position the bead about 3" from the ends.
Make a knot on both sides of the bead, securing it in place.
Slide on another bead and push it up against the knot. Make another knot, securing that bead in place. Continue adding as many beads as you like.

Step 3
After tying the knot securing the last bead, thread the two ends of cord through the loop where you started, then tie a final knot around the loop to complete the bracelet.

Charts

Bead Approximation

Bead Approximation Chart

	Beads per inch	Beads per strand
Bead Size	Beads per inch	7 inch	16 inch	18 inch	24 inch
2 MM	12.50	87	200	225	300
3 MM	8.25	58	132	148	200
4 MM	6.25	44	100	113	153
5 MM	5	36	82	92	124
6 MM	4.25	29	68	76	100
7 MM	3.5	25	57	64	85
8 MM	3.25	22	51	57	76
10 MM	2.5	18	40	45	61
12 MM	2	15	34	38	50
14 MM	1.75	12	28	32	42
16 MM	1.5	11	24	27	36
18 MM	1.25	9	20	23	30
20 MM	1.2	24	19	22	24
* all quantities approximate

Making Jewelry With Interchangeable Frolic Beads
Our Frolic™ Collection is more than just beads! Watch all the ways you and your customers can create custom pieces using our Frolic beads, chains, drops and more.

Sterling Silver and Murano Glass Frolic Bead Necklace How-To Inspirations Project

Make a colorful Murano glass Frolic bead and sterling silver neck ring necklace in minutes with step-by-step instructions from Rio Grande.

View this Project.

Soot 'n' Smoke Frolic Beads Bracelet Project

Make a rubber cord bracelet with brilliant sterling silver, crystal-set and genuine stone Frolic® beads in tones of jet, smoke and crystal using these easy-to-follow instructions from Rio Grande.

View this Project.

Frolic Crystal-Set Bead Mother's Necklace Project

A fun twist on the traditional mother's ring, this necklace features Frolic® crystal-set beads, proudly showing off your customers' children's/grandchildren's birthstones.

View this Project.

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Shop Our Finished Jewelry Sets

Metals

Tools and Equipment

Beads and Stringing Supplies

Jewelry Display and Packaging

Metal Clay, Glass, Enamels and Resins

Frolic Sterling Silver 7mm “Smart” Spacer Bead with Silicone Insert for 3mm Chain / Cord

How To

How to Make Beaded Bracelets In an Instant!

How To Understand Bead Drill Styles

How to Make a Frolic Bead Lariat Bracelet

Charts

Bead Approximation Chart

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