handcrafted jewelry | Bead Happily Ever After

Giveaway – “Lime Cooler” Earrings

Posted on May 4, 2009 by crystal

Hi there, and welcome to the weekly giveaway! This may be the week you win!

The prize is a summery pair of earrings in a cool and refreshing shade of lime sherbet green. They’d be perfect for a garden party, a day by the pool, or any time you’d like to be just a little flirty! 🙂

These “Lime Cooler” Earrings feature gorgeous Vintage Lucite flat teardrop-shaped beads that have pearlized swirls on their surface – much like mother of pearl. To complement the vintage lucite, I’ve added adorable Czech flower beads, Swarovski peridot crystals and Czech glass rondelles in lime green. The earrings measure a very showy 2-1/4 inches long, including the graceful 14k gold plated earwires.

Contest Rules and How To Enter

I’ve had several requests asking me to more clearly explain the rules for entering the weekly giveaway, so I’d like to do that right here and now. Please let me know if there are more questions. I want it to be easy and fun for you to enter! 🙂

This week, you will have up to six (6) chances to enter the weekly giveaway.

You can choose any or all of the following 6 ways to enter:

1st Chance:

Leave a comment answering the first weekly question: What’s the best bargain you’ve ever found at any store, yard sale/tag sale, or thrift shop?

2nd Chance:

Leave a comment answering the second weekly question: What’s your birthstone and would you change it if you could? To what?

3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th Chances:

Leave comments on any other posts on this blog. They can be left on recent posts or old posts. There are 135 posts – take a peek at the “Categories” on the right side of the page for choices. You can leave all of your comments today, or you can come back during the week to see what’s new and leave them then.

Please note: 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! 🙂

Of course, I’d be very delighted to receive as many comments as you want to leave, but no more than six will count towards this week’s giveaway.

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. 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 05/10/09, and the winner will be selected on or about 05/11/09.

Giveaway – “Date Night” Earrings

Posted on April 20, 2009 by crystal

Greetings everyone! Welcome to the weekly giveaway. 🙂

This week’s prize is a pretty pair of dangle earrings.

They feature gorgeous, gorgeous, Czech glass beads, which were made from vintage button molds! The beads are a fabulous shade of blue (somewhere between cornflower blue and royal blue) and they have a pastel aurora borealis flash, and a textured design of soft swirls!

I‘ve accented the “button” beads with Swarovski crystals in both sapphire and clear aurora borealis! All of the metal findings are made of sterling silver!

Measurements: Approximately 2″ long – including the sterling earwires.

Contest Rules and How To Enter

1. For your first chance to win leave a comment answering this question: When you feel grouchy or down, what do you do to cheer yourself?

2. For a second chance to win, leave a second comment that answers the question: If somebody asked you to recommend a good book, what would it be?

3. For a third chance to win, leave a comment on any other post on this blog except this one. You can do it today by looking for a post in the archives to comment on, or you can come back during the week and add a comment on any post – old or new. You will receive an extra entry each time you do so.

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. 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 04/26/09, and the winner will be selected on or about 04/27/09.

All’s Well That Ends Well!

Posted on April 16, 2009 by crystal

Did you ever have one of those days when you skipped breakfast and lunch and didn’t even realize it?

You know – a day when you had a million things to do and in the midst of it all, there were constant interruptions and the phone wouldn’t stop ringing?

That was Wednesday for me. By the time we finished a late dinner (I was starving by then!) all I wanted to do was put my feet up and relax.

One of the best ways I’ve found to unwind after a long day is to “play” with beads. There’s definitely something very soothing about planning and creating a pretty design!

It doesn’t have to be a big project – those are probably better for when you’re well-rested. Even if you only have an hour or two during the evening, you can easily make some smaller pieces! Of course, you can always start a larger piece if you like, and then work on it little by little whenever you have time. The point is to be sure and get your share of those creative moments – they will truly refresh your spirit!

And after the crazy busy day that I’ve just had, it seems especially nice that I have something fun to show for it! 🙂

“Garden Fairy” Pendant Set

Posted on April 15, 2009 by crystal

Yesterday, as I was making room for lots of pretty new beads (Look for them in my store very soon!), I came across this gorgeous pendant!

I bought it from one of my favorite polymer clay artisans several months ago, and then tucked it away for a future designing session. I hadn’t planned on making jewelry yesterday but the pendant looked so lovely – the way the sunlight illuminated the colors – that I immediately began to search for coordinating beads to showcase it, in all its glory.

Double click the photo for the best view.

For the color scheme, I chose light rose pink, pale lilac, and a burnished gold. I wanted the colors to be soft and the beads to be a delicate size so the pendant itself would be the focal point. I’m happy with how it turned out and because I like it so much, I’ll have a hard time putting in my shop. I probably will though . . . but I might need a few days to look at it first. 😉

Giveaway – “Touch of Spring” Earrings

Posted on April 6, 2009 by crystal

If it’s Monday – it must be time for a new giveaway and new questions!

Last week’s answers to “Which celebrity would you run away with…” were so much fun! Although some names were mentioned a few times, it was amazing to see the wide variety of choices, overall! Thanks everyone for playing along. 🙂

This week’s giveaway is a reflection of the signs of spring that are just starting to dot the landscape here in New England – and maybe in your neck of the woods, too! The trees are budding and soon new leaves will appear in that gorgeous springtime shade of peridot green.

These “Touch of Spring” Earrings feature delicately etched Czech Glass Leaf beads, Vintage Swarovski peridot aurora borealis crystal teardrops, and contemporary Swarovski peridot crystals. Tiny goldtone beadcaps add a finishing touch, and the pretty earwires are 14k gold plated.
Measurements: Approximately 1-7/8″ long, including the earwires.

Contest Rules and How To Enter

1. For your first chance to win: How about another whimsical question? 😉
Pretend that you are a millionaire and that you’ll be hosting a very elegant dinner party at one of the most acclaimed restaurants in the world. The fun part is that you may invite dinner guests from all periods in history! Think of people that you have always found interesting! Which authors, celebrities, historical figures, artists, politicians, clergy, singers, actors, etc. would make up your ideal guest list? Remember you can have guests from the past and the present and you may invite as many as you like – but please choose at least four!

2. For a second chance to win, leave a second comment that answers the question: What is you favourite kitchen gadget??

3. For a third chance to win, leave a comment on any other post on this blog except this one. You can do it today by looking for a post in the archives to comment on, or you can come back during the week and add a comment on any post – old or new. You will receive an extra entry each time you do so.

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. 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 04/12/09, and the winner will be selected on or about 04/13/09.