Soft Flex’s Eco-Friendly Beading Wire

Did you know that Soft Flex® Wire is the first wire manufacturer to go “green”? I didn’t until recently! HOW cool is that! All stainless steel used in the construction of Soft Flex products is 100% recyclable. The nylon coating is derived from renewable resources and can be recycled. Their spools show the recycled logo on the underside, they can be recycled along with the clips. Just tear off the label as you would with any recyclable item in your very own kitchen and put the empty spool into your recycling bin.

Also, any customer wanting to recycle remnant pieces of Soft Flex Wire and/or spools can mail them to Soft Flex Company P.O. Box 80 Sonoma, California 95476. I love a company that cares about our enviroment!!!!

I recently got a “Trios” pak of “Extreme” wire in 24kt gold, 92.5 Sterling and Champagne colors. I love all the “Trios” color sets, they are all so pretty. Each color set is comprised of three ten foot spools of .019 diameter Soft Flex® Wire. The wire spools were created using the classic colors of gemstones and take their name from the stone they represent. “Extreme” has extra abrasion resistance, so those sharp edges on crystal beads or large beads won’t cut through it.

Check out all the “Trios” color sets and the free projects that use them like this gorgeous MYSTICAL necklace and earrings set on the Soft Flex website.

This week’s Book Review Wednesday pick is 3D Beaded Animal Crafts for Kids, and I’ll admit this one is another of those books that makes me pause for a moment and ask, “Does this belong in Jewelry Making, Kids Crafts, or somewhere in between?”

Technically, it is not jewelry in the traditional necklace-and-earrings sense, but it is very much a beading book, and beading skills are such a useful doorway into jewelry making. For kids especially, learning how to thread beads, follow patterns, work with wire, and build little 3D shapes is a brilliant way to develop patience, fine motor skills, and confidence with craft materials.

The cover promises 3D beaded animal crafts for kids, with a focus on cute seed bead animals made with wire. The little fox on the cover is exactly the sort of project that catches attention — bright, cheerful, and very giftable. I can see this being a fun book for crafty kids, tweens, grandparents crafting with children, or even adults who secretly enjoy tiny beaded animals but pretend they are “helping the kids.”

What I like about this type of project is that it gives children a finished piece they can actually be proud of. These are not throwaway crafts. A beaded animal can become a bag charm, keychain, desk buddy, zipper pull, ornament, or little handmade gift. And if you have a child who loves collecting small things, well, prepare yourself — you may soon have an entire zoo made from seed beads.

There is also a nice connection here for beginner jewelry makers. Working with beads and wire in a simple 3D form helps build the same kind of careful hand skills used in beaded jewelry, wire wrapping, charms, and small accessories. So while I would be tempted to cross-post this over on our Kids Crafts section, I still think it earns its place here for anyone wanting beginner-friendly beading projects.

This book would suit kids who already enjoy detailed crafts, families looking for screen-free creative projects, or makers who want small bead projects that are playful rather than overly serious. I would suggest adult help for younger children, especially because seed beads and wire can be fiddly, and nobody needs a craft session ending with beads in the carpet forever. Although, let’s be honest, that may happen anyway.

My Shellie-style take? 3D Beaded Animal Crafts for Kids looks like a fun, colourful and practical beading book for young makers who like cute projects with a real finished result. It is crafty, giftable, a little bit nostalgic, and a lovely stepping stone into more detailed beadwork and jewelry making later on.

You can find the book here: 3D Beaded Animal Crafts for Kids.

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