Swarovski crystals | Bead Happily Ever After

Giveaway – Plum Blossoms Earrings

Posted on March 16, 2009 by crystal

Today I’ve reached a bit of a milestone. This is my 100th post! 🙂

It’s fun that it just happened to fall on a Monday – the day I post my new weekly giveaway. Seems a good way to celebrate!

Speaking of fun, a very bright young lady named Aik recently asked if she could “interview” me for her blog. I was delighted to accept and I really enjoyed answering her thoughtful questions. If you’d like to see the interview, drop by Aik’s blog!

Now on to this week’s giveaway:

Plum Blossoms Earrings in Purple and Rose

These earrings are so sweet. The photo doesn’t capture how pretty they are in person!

I’ve used beautiful and intricate polymer clay floral beads, which were created by the very talented Cheryl Harris.

The polymer clay beads are embellished with gorgeous 3-dimensional flowers and leaves in fabulous shades of plum purple, rose pink, and lavender!

For accents, I’ve added sparkling Swarovski amethyst aurora borealis crystal beads; and all metal components and findings are sterling silver!

Measurements: 1-5/8″ long (including the sterling silver earwires).

Contest Rules and How To Enter

You have up to 3 chances to win. . .

1. Leave a comment that answers the question: What makes you laugh? That will give you one chance to win.

2. For a second chance to win, leave a comment that answers the question: How do you think being a ten-year-old today is different from when you were ten years old.

3. For a third chance to win, leave a comment on another post on this blog.

You can choose any one, or all, of the above chances to enter.

A valid email address must be given at time of entry. You must be 18 yrs. old.

The name of the winner will be listed here after the completion of the contest.

The winner will be notified by email, and the prize will be mailed by USPS First Class Mail. 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. All entries must be received by 9:00 p.m. EST on 03/22/09, and the winner will be selected on or about 03/23/09.

Thanks for participating and Good Luck to all! 🙂

Giveaway – “Lilacs in Spring” Earrings

Posted on March 9, 2009 by crystal

Welcome to week 18 of my weekly giveaways. Thanks so much for all of the wonderful comments last week!

This week’s giveaway prize is a fun pair of earrings that’s going to help chase away those winter doldrums!

~Lilacs in Spring~

These dangle earrings feature swirling shades of lilac, violet purple, and lavender. The disc beads are made of pretty pearlized shell! Swarovski crystals are added as sparkling accents. The purple niobium earwires coordinate beautifully, don’t you think? 🙂 All other metal components are sterling silver.

Measurements: Approximately 2″ long including the niobium earwires.

Contest Rules and How To Enter

You have up to 3 chances to win . . .

1. Leave a comment that answers the question: What one talent do you wish you had that you do not have? That will give you one chance to win.

2. For a second chance to win, leave a comment that answers the question: What movie could you watch over and over again?

3. For a third chance to win, leave a comment answering: What is your favorite cookie?

You can choose any one, or all, of the above chances to enter.

A valid email address must be given at time of entry. You must be 18 yrs. old.

The name of the winner will be listed here after the completion of the contest.

The winner will be notified by email, and the prize will be mailed by USPS First Class Mail. 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. All entries must be received by 9:00 p.m. EST on 03/15/09, and the winner will be selected on or about 03/16/09.

Thanks for participating and Good Luck to all! 🙂

Giveaway – Rose Petals Earrings

Posted on February 23, 2009 by crystal

This week’s giveaway is a fun and flirty pair of dangle earrings in shimmering rose pink. The long linear style is both feminine and flattering to the face!

The vintage lucite beads have a gorgeous matte metallic sheen and a subtle texture on their surface!

Swarovski crystals in “girly-girl” rose pink serve as sparkling accents, and all findings are sterling silver, including the earwires.

The earrings measure approximately 2-1/4” from top to bottom.

Contest Rules and How To Enter

You have up to 3 chances to win . . .

1. Leave a comment that answers the question: What is your favorite magazine? That will give you one chance to win.

2. For a second chance to win, leave a second comment that suggests a topic you’d like me to write about in a future post here on the blog.

3. For a third chance to win, leave a comment that answers the question: How long do you keep cards given to you on birthdays or holidays before throwing them away? If you don’t throw them out, what do you do with them?

You can choose any one, two, or all of the above chances to enter.

A valid email address must be given at time of entry. You must be 18 yrs. old.

The name of the winner will be listed here after the completion of the contest.

The winner will be notified by email, and the prize will be mailed by USPS First Class Mail. 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. All entries must be received by 9:00 p.m. EST on 03/01/09, and the winner will be selected on or about 03/02/09.

Thanks for participating and Good Luck to all! 🙂

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20% off on our website thru Feb 28th.
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Over the Rainbow

Posted on February 19, 2009 by crystal

Do not adjust your set – this picture is not upside down. 😉

I had to take it at this angle to get the colors to photograph realistically!

Here’s a necklace and earrings that I made for a special order. Can you see that the button-shaped beads have a swirled texture and an iridescent finish? I used a mixture of Czech and Swarovski beads, and the color scheme is a rainbow of teal, violet purple, and royal blue, along with touches of black.

Taking pictures of jewelry can be quite a challenge, especially if the piece is very reflective, or glittery, or in this case – has an aurora borealis flash on it.

From time to time, a customer will write to me, after she has received a piece of my jewelry, and say that it’s even “prettier in person”. I hesitate to write those words in a description, because I fear that it sounds like an exaggeration, but it’s often true! Most jewelry really is more beautiful when you have it in your hands. A photo just can’t capture the sparkle and 3-dimensional shape.

I do keep trying to get better photos, though! It’s comforting to read that even professional photographers struggle when it comes to pictures of jewelry. In fact, many of the very high-end jewelry stores allocate a hefty portion of their budgets to hire only the most talented photographers for their catalogues and advertisements.

Besides lots of practice, good lighting is key. Carol gave me a tip about using a plastic wastebasket for a light box, and Luciana sent this link, which describes how to make a light tent from a cardboard box! There’s also a wealth of good information on photographing your artwork in the etsy forums.

If you have any tips to share, I know we’d all love to hear them!

In the meantime, you can find me putting the camera on the tripod and practicing . . . some more!

Blog Readers Discount!
20% off on our website thru Feb 28th.
Enter the code “snow” at checkout.

Giveaway – Midnight in Moscow Earrings

Posted on February 15, 2009 by crystal

This week’s giveaway is a gorgeous pair of dangle earrings in classic earth tones of amber, dark brown and jet black!

They’re made with Czech faux amber beads and Swarovski crystals in both Jet Black and also a very rich brown shade, called Jet Nut 2x. All of the findings are 14k gold filled, including the pretty earwires.

The long linear style is both chic and slimming!

Measurements: Approximately 2″ from top to bottom, including the 14k gold filled earwires.

Contest Rules and How To Enter

You have up to 4 chances to win . . .

1. Leave a comment with an answer to the question: What is your favorite cologne/perfume for women, or men, or both? That will give you one chance to win.

2. For a second chance to win, leave a second comment that answers the question: What is your most prized possession (not counting your family and friends)?

3. For a third chance to win, leave a comment that answers the question:
Do you prefer to occasionally buy one expensive clothing item that you keep for years, or instead – lots of lesser priced items that only last a season or two?

4. For a fourth chance to win, come back later in the week and leave a comment on any other post on this blog!

You can choose any one, or all, of the above chances to enter.

A valid email address must be given at time of entry. You must be 18 yrs. old.

The name of the winner will be listed here after the completion of the contest.

The winner will be notified by email, and the prize will be mailed by USPS First Class Mail. 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. All entries must be received by 9:00 p.m. EST on 02/22/09, and the winner will be selected on or about 02/23/09.

Thanks for participating and Good Luck to all! 🙂

Blog Readers Discount!
20% off on our website thru Feb 28th.
Enter the code “snow” at checkout.