Acrylic Pearl Beads

[DonaCatalina]

I need a new source for 5mm round earl beads in a cream color.
http://www.sunshinecrafts.com
now only carries the 4mm and 6mm and I've already started using the 5mm.

[Cilean]

Would these work?

http://www.artbeads.com/5810-crm5.html


http://www.firemountaingems.com/details.asp?PN=H206897SB These do not give a MM size 

Cilean

[Master James]

I buy all my beads from Fire Mountain Gems and they are great and a good price.  I would go with the glass ones though as the acrylic ones tend to chip and lose their luster VERY quickly.  You can get really good glass ones for a relatively inexpensive price.  I got around 1000 4mm glass ones from Fire Mountain for $15.  Now while that's over twice what you would pay for the acrylic ones, I think they look much more real and hold up way better.  Just a thought.

[isabelladangelo]

I would go with the glass ones though as the acrylic ones tend to chip and lose their luster VERY quickly. 

Ditto.  I tend to go with real freshwater pearls when I can and glass if I simply need too many to afford the real stuff.  (Freshwater tends to be fairly cheap though.  A 16" strand can cost as little as $2.)  I'd go with glass if you don't want to spend a little extra for the real FW pearls.  I buy all my beads either at AC Moore, Micheals, or one of our local bead shops (beadazzled, the bead shop, we have a ton around the Washington DC area).

[Lady Kathleen of Olmsted]

Acrylic beading is nice for  chemises  or shirts that can be washed on a  Gentle Cycle then hung dry.

I do concur that glass beading works the best for garb. Which reminds me, I need to order nore 4mm glass diamond cut beads for a Doublet I am making.

[DonaCatalina]

I agree the glass beads are more durable. But I need about 3500 and I was hoping not to break the bank.

[Master James]

Like I said, I was able to get around 1000+ 4mm glass pearls for around $15, which is only a little more than you would pay for acrylic ones.  I think when I was looking it was around $10 for 1000 acrylic 4mm pearls.  So for 3500 you're probably looking at around $55 for glass and $35 for acrylic.  I know not everyone's finances are the same but for a more durable and better look , I think its worth the $20 extra to go with glass over acrylic.

[gem]

Except that, as she's said, she's already started the project:

I need a new source for 5mm round earl beads in a cream color.
http://www.sunshinecrafts.com
now only carries the 4mm and 6mm and I've already started using the 5mm.

[Master James]

OOOPS!  My bad!  Missed that!