Costume jewelry is as old as the hills, veritably! Ancient mounds have yielded an enormous trove of beaded jewelry used by those ancient peoples.

Archaeological artifacts tell us that early man used beaded jewelry, where the beads were of stone, not the ordinary, common pieces of rock, but shiny or colorful samples. As civilization advanced, so did the art and culture of jewelry making and usage. The value of the jewelry depended on the rarity and shape of the beads used and the appearance of the crafted article. Going from beads to gemstones is seen as a natural progression in our social development. Anyway, beaded jewelry was the first attempt of our race at what is now called costume jewelry.

Beaded jewelry has been put to many uses other than simply decoration. We all know that Christopher Columbus offered the natives of the Americas colored beaded jewelry when he wanted to gain their friendship. So, you see, beaded jewelry has its political uses as well!

Making costume jewelry is a craft and an art. By its very definition, then, making costume jewelry is a creative activity. It is very simple to pick up. It is a great way to explore your latent creativity, and to give free rein to the aesthete in you.

You can source the materials required for this craft from the virtual world that is the Internet. Or, you can visit the local brick-and-mortar and get your supplies there.

The Internet is crammed full of resources. There are umpteen user groups, bulletin boards, and chat rooms used by craftspeople. This social networking is very helpful for newbies.

Encouraging children to express their artistic qualities is an educational paradigm and what better way to do that than by introducing them to the art of bead craft. Get your children a bead craft kit and see them enjoy themselves in a creative way.

Making your own costume jewelry is doubly rewarding. You'll enjoy making it, you'll enjoy wearing it. This is where you can let your aesthetic talent come to the fore! Design your jewelry in such a way that it represents your nature, your personal style. Are you a 'blue' person? Then use blue as your theme color, and dress up your outfit with a subtle 'wave' of small, pale blue beads! You are sure to stand out in any gathering, for sure!

New fashioned beads are giving a new impetus to the craft of beaded jewelry making. The new beads are full of surprising variety and specialties. Many of the beads are exquisite in appearance.

Clothing is embellished with beadwork to personalize the clothes. So that is another application of beaded jewelry. Some fashion analysts have noticed a reverse trend too - as beadwork jewelry is increasing in popularity so also is the popularity of casual, trendy clothes to match the beaded jewelry.

The market segment that caters to the craftspeople involved in making handmade costume jewelry and beaded jewelry is large and flourishing. From your friendly neighborhood craft store to the webstore on the Internet, there are literally hundreds of sources from where you can get your supplies. All that remains is for you to make up your mind, and to take up this fantastic creative activity.