Here's how:
Step one - choose an image/drawing you want to bead.
Step two - find a stencil for your image by browsing the internet. Many people have very nice stencils already made and FREE (that's the best part). You can of course change the color scheme on the stencil if it's not to your liking.
- if you can't find what you are looking for, or you're not satisfied with what you have found, simply download a graph sheet here and start designing your own.
Step three - choose the color and size of your beads.
Tip: the best choice of beads would be 2mm (or smaller) seed beads, and as even as possible.
This is why i would choose Japanese beads, for those are the most even of all (although they are more costly than your average seed beads). If you are going to use the "normal" variety of beads, better select beads that are the same size and shape BEFORE you start beading; from experience i can say that if you select the beads as you bead, the time spent on you project might even triple.
Step four - start beading using flat peyote stitch and have fun!
Here's an earring sized hexagonal graph sheet:
And here are a few stencils i found free on the net:
