If you love crafting and jewelry making, then you are probably familiar with simple yet sophisticated embellishment of flat back pearls. With half-back pearls, you won’t have to worry about clasps, chains, or sewing, because these pearls are designed to be glued onto your project, instantly adding class to your creation.
Flat-back pearls can be used in a wide range of applications, from embellishing clothes to decorating handbags, key chains, and just about anything else to which you want to add a touch of elegance.
So what are the best flat-back pearls for crafts? The best flat back pearls are those that maintain their finish and shine over time, are easy to apply to any surface or adhesive, and are the right size for your creative vision. You may want to consider a variety pack of different colors and sizes for different applications.
Read on to find out more about this versatile embellishment and our recommendations to help you spruce up your collection.
Buyer’s Guide
Flat-back pearls are pretty self-explanatory. They are round and have a flat back, allowing them to be easily glued to any flat surface. Because of how versatile and classic they are, you can use them on almost every type of project, as long as you have some time and basic tools on your hands.
When buying flat-back pearls, simple as they are, there are a few things you should consider. Let’s take a look at them below.
1. Sizes
Flat-back pearls come in a few different sizes, ranging from 1 millimeter (very small) to 12 millimeters (very big). It helps, in this case, to be a bit familiar with the metric system so that you have a rough idea of how big the pearls are before purchasing them.
In some projects, it helps to use a few pearl sizes at the same time. While the bigger sizes are great at creating statements, the small pearls can get into the gaps between the big pearls, creating a precise, intentional look.
2. Materials
Because they are such a versatile embellishment, many manufacturers in the world make and sell flat back pearls, including the premium jewelry brand Swarovski.
Depending on the manufacturer, you can buy flat-back pearls made from many different materials. Swarovski, for example, sells flat-back pearls made from crystal with a glowy protective coating that looks very close to real pearls.
The flat back pearls that you can find in most craft stores are made from either ABS plastic or acrylic. These materials are highly durable and affordable, although the shine may fade after some time. Without proper protection, the plastic is also prone to scratches as well.
Craft flat back pearls can be found in many different colors and finishes, so you can always find the ones that work best with your craft project, no matter what it is.
3. Tools
The main reason flat-back pearls are so popular is because of how easy they are to use. All you need is some adhesive and some pearls. If you are working with some very small pearls, it may help to use a pair of tweezers to pick up the pearls when you glue them as well.
4. Adhesives
There are many types of craft adhesives, but the ones that work best with half-back pearls need to be quick-drying and clear-drying. Depending on the surface that you are gluing on (fabric, plastic, glass, paper, etc.), you can choose a quick-drying adhesive that works with that material.
If you are adding beads to fabrics, you will need to use strong fabric glue. If you intend to wash this garment, then a washable, waterproof glue will ensure that your beads stay in place after washing them.
When you are ready to glue the flat-back pearls, use a drop of glue that is just a tiny bit smaller than the pearl itself. Then, press the pearl on your surface, make sure that glue seeps out from under the pearl; that way, the entire flat back is secure with the glue.
If the beads come off from your project, you can always use a stronger type of glue to place the beads back into place. As a best practice, you should always wait for the glue to dry completely before moving your project around, or you may risk the beads falling off.
5. Tweezers
If you are working with very small beads, it may help to employ some flat or curved tip tweezers. These are fine precision instruments that can help you maintain a good grasp on your small beads, which can help with the placement and attachment of the beads.
Best Flat Back Pearls For Crafts
If you are interested in purchasing some half-back beads, let’s take a look at some great selections below.
Rank | Product | Key Features |
---|---|---|
1. | Lifestyle-Cat Half Pearl Beads | Classic ivory, ABS plastic, several sizes |
2. | Mandala Crafts Flatback Pearls for Crafts | Several colors and sizes, scratch-resistant |
3. | Chenkou Craft Assorted Flatback Pearls | 15 colors and several size options |
4. | PAGOW Half Round Pearl | Iridescent shine, several sizes, 2 colors |
5. | PAGOW Half Round Pearl | Ivory and multicolor, several sizes |
1. Lifestyle-Cat Half Pearl Beads
Of course, you can never go wrong with the classic option: ivory pearls that resemble real pearls. These half-back beads are made of durable ABS plastic, which is very lightweight and super easy to work with.
This set comes in three sizes from medium to large beads: 8mm, 10mm, and 12mm.
The bigger sizes of these beads are relatively large, which allows you to make big statements on your jewelry or embellished projects. With these sizes, you won’t need specialty tweezers to get an accurate placement for your beads.
This is a classic look that can go with any project, and it’s always useful to have something as beautiful as these in your toolbox.
These beads are durable and strong, with a quality shine that can instantly add an opulent touch to your creations.
2. Mandala Crafts Flatback Pearls for Crafts
Black flat back pearls are another classic and versatile option that can work on many different crafts and projects.
These beads are made from acrylic that has a smooth surface and a glossy protective coat that prevents scratches and chipping, which is a huge plus.
These high-quality beads are ideal for gluing on fabric since the colors won’t bleed, and the beads are machine-washable. You will need to make sure to use durable fabric glue in this case.
This set has so many sizes of beads, ranging from big 12 millimeter ones to medium-small 4-millimeter ones, which are suitable for a variety of projects.
These beads also come in a variety of different classic and fun colors, which you can choose depending on the project that you have.
3. Chenkou Craft Assorted Flatback Pearls
If quantity and versatility are what you want, then this set of assorted flat back pearls are definitely for you. There are 15 different colors in total; you can choose from a range of back and white beads to unique, whimsical colors, depending on what your project calls for.
This set, in particular, comes with 3-millimeter beads, but they also come in many different sizes, the biggest being 10 millimeters, allowing you to choose the best size for your needs.
Made of quality and durable plastic, these beads are really easy to glue on various flat surfaces, including fabric.
You can imagine the versatility that a set like this can offer, and you will be able to bring your crafting skills to a whole new level.
4. PAGOW Half Round Pearl
This classic-with-a-twist look can add a fun touch to any craft project. Instead of the classic ivory pearls, these half-back pearls have an iridescent shine that can add a lot of character to your project.
The metallic is subtle enough to fit with any style, but you can still clearly see its shine.
These beads are made of strong and durable resin, which is non-toxic. This material is also great at maintaining its color and quality for a long time, so your projects will always look great.
This set comes with various sizes of beads, ranging from 4 millimeters to 10 millimeters. You can use the small beads in between the bigger beads to cover the gaps and add depth to your project.
These fun beads come in white and blue, so depending on your aesthetic, you can find ones that work best for your style.
5. PAGOW Half Round Pearl
This is the ultimate set of half pearl beads for the ultimate crafter. If you love embellishing and want to use beads of a lot of different projects with many different styles and sizes, then this is definitely the set for you.
This set has 11,200 half pearl beads, half of which are classic ivory beads, and the other half is full of really fun, colorful beads that make any project really fun.
They also come in seven different sizes, from 2 millimeters to 10 millimeters, which will work with so many different craft projects, giving you a full range to flex your creative muscles.
As a set for crafters, this set also comes with useful crafting tools, including a rhinestone picker pencil and a curved tip tweezer.
These are precision tools that allow you to work with smaller beads that can be difficult to pick up with your fingers. If you want some help with putting the small beads in the right place, these tools are amazing to help you do a great job.
These flat-back pearls are made of resin, which is a durable, scratch-resistant material that can also project the fun colors of the beads. This set can help you achieve a whimsical quality for your projects, and you always have a lot of room to experiment with new designs.
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