My mom gave me all her jewelry-making tools and beads when I mentioned that I think I might enjoy a hobbie. I have the different cutters and pliers, a variety of beads, charms, and wire. I was looking for any tips, resources, etc. from the seasoned jewelry makers out there!

Hi Cassie, there is a ton of great info out there. I'd recommend joining a jewelry-making forum so you can see what others are doing and ask questions. Also, there are some great magazines out there. Try Bead Trends, Bead Style. There is a lot of variety in jewelry-making. look at a lot of jewelry to decide what you like. really. then you can start making pieces that reflect your artistic tastes. I've been doing it for 5 years and it's been a wonderful thing for me. 

Check your local bead stores for classes - a lot of the smaller ones will teach techniques to beginners which are really helpful.  Also, check for gem shows in your area (google International Gem & Jewelry Show, Rock & Mineral shows, etc.), because you can get much better deals and selections at the shows than you can in the smaller bead shops.  Also, some magazines like Bead & Button have beginning instructions in the back, showing basic stitches and wirework techniques, so those are a great resource too.

If you have small kids or pets, make sure you have an area set aside to bead that's out of their reach.  I can't tell you how much grief an ill-behaved cat or a couple of hyper 5-year olds have wreaked havoc on my supplies, in my earlier days.  Now that I have my no-touchy zone mapped out, I'm less likely to be picking a million seed beads out of the carpet and floor vents.