making jewelry | Bead Happily Ever After

Fiesta Forever

Posted on December 1, 2009 by crystal

The wonderful thing about doing these weekly challenges at the Play Date Cafe is that it pushes me to work with colors that I might not otherwise have chosen.

This week is a perfect example. I probably never would have blended these particular shades together – but I just LOVE the look! To me it seems very Mardi Gras or Tropical Island. In fact, all that keeps running through my head is the voice of Lionel Richie singing “We’re going to party…. fiesta, forever” 😀

Here’s my entry for Challenge #6. It’s brighter and has more sparkle than either photo shows, but here it is in two different lighting situations:

Thanks again, Play Date Cafe, for helping me push the envelope in color selection.

It appears that an old dog can learn new tricks! 😉

Giveaway – Pink Ice Earrings

Posted on November 29, 2009 by crystal

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Happy last day of November! Hope you had a lovely Thanksgiving. We’re still working on the leftovers – but that’s a good thing. 😉

This week’s giveaway is a very flirty pair of earrings that would be perfect for a holiday party or to add a touch of sparkle on New Year’s Eve!

For this design, I chose vintage Swarovski marquise-shaped crystal drops, which have a gorgeous textured design. Each drop is set with a glittering faceted crystal in a mouth-watering shade of Rose Pink. Swarovski Rose Aurora Borealis crystals dangle below. For pierced ears, the earrings have 14k gold filled, artisan–crafted, earwires with an elegant petal shape.

Contest Rules and How To Enter

This week, you will have up to four (4) chances to enter the weekly giveaway.

You can choose any or all of the following 4 ways to enter:

1st Chance:

Leave a comment answering the first weekly question:

Of all the gifts you have ever given, which one received the most enthusiastic reaction?

2nd Chance:

Leave a comment answering the second weekly question:

For a silly/fun question, let’s figure out the answer to: Which came first – the chicken or the egg? 😉

3rd Chance:

Subscribe to this blog (See the orange RSS “Subscribe” button on the right side of this page). Then leave a comment here, saying that you have subscribed! (If you are already a subscriber – you only need to leave a comment saying so! 🙂 )

4th Chance:

Visit again another day this week and leave a comment on any other post except this one. You do not have to tell me that you left a “comment” on another post. The blog program shows me all of the “comments” as they come in – so I do not miss any of them, and all will count to be entered into the drawing! 😀

The Boring Stuff . . .
You must be 18 yrs. old. After the completion of the contest, the name of the winner will be listed here. The winner will also be notified by email. If no valid email address is given at time of entry, or if winner fails to respond to email within 3 days from the time notification email has been sent, the win will be null and void and a new winner will be chosen. The prize will be mailed by USPS First Class Mail.

All entries must be received by 9:00 p.m. EST on 12/06/09, and the winner will be selected on or about 12/07/09.

Violets and Lace

Posted on November 24, 2009 by crystal

If you know me even a little, you probably know that I LOVE purple!

So… I was absolutely powerless to resist this week’s color challenge over at the Play Date Cafe. 😉

The color palette for Challenge #5 was Purple, Lt. Blue, Silver and White.

Here’s my entry . . .

(click photo twice to enlarge)

I used a pretty blend of beads here including:

Vintage Lucite “Icy Shimmer” Elongated Ovals available in my shop!

Vintage Moonglow Lucite “Paper Lanterns” available in my shop

Swarovski Crystals, Czech Crystals

Swarovski Faux Pearls

Silver Bead Caps.

These weekly challenges are not only fun but they’re also great for inspiration AND motivation!

And when you stop and think about it – what could be better than that? 🙂

Giveaway – Winter Pines Earrings

Posted on November 22, 2009 by crystal

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Greetings and welcome to Week 54 of my weekly giveaways! If you’re visiting for the first time, it’s very nice to “meet” you. If you’re one of my regular readers, thank you for returning often – you’re practically part of the family now!

Have you started your holiday shopping yet? I’ve crossed a few things off my list, but I’ve decided to enjoy Thanksgiving before I do too much more. I have to remind myself to enjoy each holiday, so for the next few days, my plan is to stop and smell the ~~roses~~ pumpkin pie! 😀

This week I have a pair of earrings that are a wintry forest green. Their shape and color remind me of pine needles so “Winter Pines” seemed to be the perfect name for them.

They feature two different kinds of vintage beads! The “drops” are Vintage Moonglow Lucite with a lovely, soft shimmer on their surface. I’ve accented the drops with glittering Olivine Aurora Borealis faceted rounds – which are Vintage German Glass. For pierced ears, these earrings measure just over 2 inches in length including the sterling silver earwires.

Contest Rules and How To Enter

This week, you will have up to four (4) chances to enter the weekly giveaway.

You can choose any or all of the following 4 ways to enter:

1st Chance:

Leave a comment answering the first weekly question:

Since Thanksgiving is almost here, how about a funny question? Butternut squash – love it or hate it? 😉

2nd Chance:

Leave a comment answering the second weekly question:

Tell us a little about the things for which you are thankful! 🙂

3rd Chance:

Subscribe to this blog (See the orange RSS “Subscribe” button on the right side of this page). Then leave a comment here, saying that you have subscribed! (If you are already a subscriber – you only need to leave a comment saying so! 🙂 )

4th Chance:

Visit again another day this week and leave a comment on any other post except this one. You do not have to tell me that you left a “comment” on another post. The blog program shows me all of the “comments” as they come in – so I do not miss any of them, and all will count to be entered into the drawing! 😀

The Boring Stuff . . .
You must be 18 yrs. old. After the completion of the contest, the name of the winner will be listed here. The winner will also be notified by email. If no valid email address is given at time of entry, or if winner fails to respond to email within 3 days from the time notification email has been sent, the win will be null and void and a new winner will be chosen. The prize will be mailed by USPS First Class Mail.

All entries must be received by 9:00 p.m. EST on 11/29/09, and the winner will be selected on or about 11/30/09.

Double Dare

Posted on November 17, 2009 by crystal

You may remember that last week I entered a color challenge over at The Play Date Cafe.

I enjoyed it so much that I decided to participate again this week! The inspiration colors this time were blue/green, chocolate brown, tan, and cream.

Here’s my entry for challenge #4

I chose a variety of beads and components including: picture jasper semi-precious stone beads, amazonite semi-precious stone beads, Czech fire polish metallic beads, ceramic beads, and a pretty artisan-crafted polymer clay pendant.

Creating is so often a matter of the right inspiration. Sometimes the mood just isn’t there. Then there are times when we feel inspired, but we let other things take precedence. That’s where a “challenge” comes into play! It’s a fun little reminder to stop and nourish that creative side we all have!

You may have heard me say it before but . . .

“Making something is like giving your spirit a vitamin!” 😀