ArtBeads ‘What’s Old is New Again!’ Blogger Challenge

Oh kids this is a fun one. Artbeads' new blogger challenge is titled - What's Old is New Again, and I am excited.

I have an awesome necklace from my mom from the 70's and have been putting off popping it apart to re purpose it, until now :)

Artbeads gave me a great opportunity to pair it up with some really fun beads and re vamp this necklace into something new and fun!




Here is what I got -

BS-0038 6x8mm Dark Amber and Opaque Sky Blue with Picasso Roundel Bead Strand *

SW-BD245 Stoneware Brown with Light Blue Daisies Tube Bead *

LMP-0146 Yellow and Orange Roundel Beads (7 pcs) *

CR-RL131 5x4mm Opaline Yellow Roundelle Strand *

I can't wait to dive in!

*FTC compliance disclosure: the '*' items mentioned in this post credited to Art Beads were provided as a promotional gift as part of the Blogging for Beaders Program. These items are for review or design purposes.

More Summer fun with Art Beads!

I found a little time to myself this morning and wanted to get this bracelet made. I wanted the focal to be the lampwork beads (I am in love) and I 'wrangled the random' a bit to gave it some order.



LOOK AT THOSE LAMP WORK BEADS!!!!



From Art Beads
LMP-0168 - Purple, White and Orange Flowers with Purple Center Mix Bicone Beads (5 Pcs) *
CR-RL066 - 9x6mm Opalescent Pink and Light Emerald Roundelle *
CR-RL099 - Opaque Green w/ Half Picasso Roundelle *
FP-AMYLT6 - Czech Fire Polished Bead - Light Amethyst - 6mm *

From my inventory:
Sterling daisy spacers
Sterling spacers
10 mm jade bead
14 mm ocean jasper bead
1 dyed quartz nugget
1 sterling toggle


It reminds me of a meadow, with tiny purple johnny jump ups peeping up thru the grass around a group of daylillies. I want to kick my shoes off and go for a walk thru there.


*FTC compliance disclosure: the '*' items mentioned in this post credited to Art Beads were provided as a promotional gift as part of the Blogging for Beaders Program. These items are for review or design purposes.

ArtBeads summer time fun!!!!

Made a fun summertime necklace with some sterling plated chain I got from Artbeads.com and my new glass bead selection.

Let me tell you again - how much I LOVE these great lamp work beads. They are amazing. The detail on the beads is fah-nom-eh-nol!!!!!!!! (say it like that too :)) <--- looks like a double chin!!! I used two different styles of chain - SPCH20 Silver-Plated 3 Oval Links Rollo Chain and SPCH24 Silver-Plated Cable Chain

I wire wrapped the FP-AMYLT6 * - Czech Fire Polished Bead - Light Amethyst - 6mm in groups of three and attached them to a five link group of the cable chain. Then I wrapped the Amethyst beads in the middle of the twisted link - they fit perfectly.




Then I did a grouping up from the toggle of the FP-AMYLT6 * amethyst glass and the LMP-0168 *- Purple, White and Orange Flowers with Purple Center Mix Bicone Beads.

Brought the cluster down to the toggle and added again the
LMP-0168 * - Purple, White and Orange Flowers with Purple Center Mix Bicone Beads, CR-RL066 * - 9x6mm Opalescent Pink and Light Emerald Roundelle,
CR-FL197 * - Czech Glass Lily Flower White Luster
Then wire wrapped one of the CR-SP064 * - Czech Glass Yellow Tiger's Eye Large Spade as the focal.

It is loaded with balance, if you look at it just right, and playfully off center. Too much fun. Wore it out to dinner with my husband on Friday nite and got a lot of compliments!!!



I couldn't let this necklace go unaccompanied, so I made these earrings as well.

CR-RL099* - Opaque Green w/ Half Picasso Roundelle
CR-SP064 * - Czech Glass Yellow Tiger's Eye Large Spade



This combination is a great summer compliment to any outfit!

Thanks Art Beads!! This was a lot of fun!!!

ArtBeads will be posting their blog partners designs on their “Summertime” Facebook Gallery post starting June 21st. Stop by their Facebook page to see them all!!


*FTC compliance disclosure: the '*' items mentioned in this post credited to Art Beads were provided as a promotional gift as part of the Blogging for Beaders Program. These items are for review or design purposes.

More Art Beads Summertime Fun!!!!

I received an email from Duchess at ArtBeads.com saying for the next couple months ArtBeads would like to "focus on summer themes, whether it’s fun outdoor activities, summer vacations, nature scenes or just the lovely season itself."

So for this months blogger challenge I have chosen items from their Charms, Pendants, and Glass Beads categories for my summertime fun!

Look at this haul!!!




Clockwise starting with the amethyst glass -
FP-AMYLT6 - Czech Fire Polished Bead - Light Amethyst - 6mm * $2.56/50 pk
CR-OV018 - 11x9mm Orange w/ Picasso Oval * .34/each
CR-SP064 - Czech Glass Yellow Tiger's Eye Large Spade * .84/each
CR-FL197 - Czech Glass Lily Flower White Luster * .40/each

Now in the middle
CR-RL066 - 9x6mm Opalescent Pink and Light Emerald Roundelle * .32/each
CR-RL099 - Opaque Green w/ Half Picasso Roundelle * .35/each

And the best for last
LMP-0168 - Purple, White and Orange Flowers with Purple Center Mix Bicone Beads (5 Pcs) * $23.47 (these are now out of stock, they are VERY popular!)


Lets get a closeup on these, shall we!


Look at the detail on those lamp work beads. They are beautiful. When I pulled them out of the package, I will admit, I slobbered on myself a bit. I LOVE them! The amethyst glass is amazing also. They have some heft to them, like crystal. Ya know how crystals have some weight to them, but glass and be very light? Mebbe it is the quality of the glass as well. These are lovely!

ArtBeads will be posting their blog partners designs on their “Summertime” Facebook Gallery post starting June 21st. Stop by their Facebook page to see them all!!


*FTC compliance disclosure: the '*' items mentioned in this post credited to Art Beads were provided as a promotional gift as part of the Blogging for Beaders Program. These items are for review or design purposes.

Fun Valentine beads from Art Beads!

Being part of the ArtBeads blogging team is such an honor especially when I see the other blog team members posts. Their work is outstanding and their vision of how to use the products from ArtBeads, stunning!

Duchess, the community coordinator of ArtBeads offers great support and enthusiasm for all the bloggers. She gets just as excited about the bead choices as I do! (I would love to see some of her designs, I bet they are awesome)

Keeping with the valentines theme for Feb. I chose these components as the base of the necklace I want to make:

QUEEN OF HEARTS Fire Designs Hand Blown Furnace Glass *A very fitting name :)
These glass beads make me happy. They are beautiful. They are heavy, and bigger than I thought. They will make a great base for this design. The color combinations are also a plus. With the black and white added, it can be a design that is worn all year, not limiting it to a seasonal favorite.
Sterling/Resin 16mm Pendant - Red XOXO Flowers* This is a fun and youthful pendant perfect to add a bit of whimsy to any design.


To go along with these beads, I couldn't pass up these items and had to purchase a few things to go along with them. The prices at Art Beads are unmatched online. To offer the deals they do, and offer discount codes to go along with their already low prices, not requiring a minimum order AND FREE SHIPPING!!! Who wouldn't want to shop there! (that combination makes me stupid!)

Here is what I added:
4mm Fire Polish Mix Pink Tones (50 Pack)
4mm Fire Polish Mix Red Tones (50 Pack)
TOHO™ Bead Round 6/0 Opaque-Lustered Pearl White 8g Bag
TOHO™ Bead Round 6/0 Opaque-Lustered Cream 8g Bag



What I forgot to take a picture of was these great little scrolled metal hearts -

Antique Silver Heart Scroll Bead

I can't wait to get started on this! Got Valentine jewelry ideas of your own? Post a link in my comments, I would love to see them!


Don't forget -

Artbeads' 10th Anniversary Sweeps

Sweepstakes Starts January 06, 2010 @ 09:00 am (PST)

Sweepstakes Ends March 04, 2010 @ 11:59 pm (PST)

Good luck and happy shopping!!


*FTC compliance disclosure: the '*' items mentioned in this post credited to Art Beads were provided as a promotional gift as part of the Blogging for Beaders Program. These items are for review or design purposes.

Rings & Things Blogger Packet

I got my December blogger packet from Rings & Things. Was some fun stuff!!




*20-565 -White bamboo coral - short branch, valued at: $2.00, 16" strand
*44-940-52-AG - Antiqued gold plated TierraCast swallow, valued at: $9.75/10
*49-940-05-4 - Gold plated TierraCast connector frame, valued at: $16.30/10

*44-165-9 - Fancy space - gunmetal - filigree, valued at: $5.25/12
*44-150-9 - Filigree harvest - gunmetal, valued at: $3.65/12

A mix of -
*28-399-06-232 - 5) 6mm faceted round - ruby, valued at: $2.00, 16" strand
*28-000-001-252 - 4) 10mm faceted puffed coin - red, valued at: $8.00, 16" strand
*28-000-003-252 - 6) 8mm faceted helix -siam, valued at: $8.00, 16" strand
*28-000-002-252 - 5) 8mm facted roundelle - siam, valued at: $8.00, 16" strand
*28-000-002-021 - 11) 8mm facted roundelle - black, valued at: $8.00, 16" strand

*28-000-003-021 - 3) 8mm facted helix - black, valued at: $8.00, 16" strand
*28-000-001-021 - 3) 10mm faceted puffed coin -black, valued at: $8.00, 16" strand

Fun hearts - pre order exclusive!!!
*28-335-13 - 16x20mm 'love' heart, red/white, valued at: $13.50, 16" strand
*28-335-12-02 - 2) 16x20mm 'dotted' heart, pink/white/blue, valued at: $13.50, 16" strand
*28-335-11-02 - 2) 16x20mm 'crisscross' heart, pink/white/blue, valued at $13.50, 16" strand

Not listed on the site but similar to the pre order exclusives: (you saw them here first!!!)
* 1 white/red 'hot' heart, similar to this one

The items in this packet were not labeled. I had a blast searching Rings & Things site and looking for all the information to pass along to you. Rings & Things is defiantly on track for the upcoming celebration holiday of valentines day with these beauties. So cute and so many ideas going thru my head.

I will combine some for sure, but I may use some individually with my existing inventory. The heart beads would be great on leather for that tween look, classic earrings with the filigree and glass, coral and heart beads for a multi strand bracelet and that is just a start!

What would you make with all these great goodies?!!?!


*FTC compliance disclosure: the '*' items mentioned in this post credited to Rings & Things were provided as a promotional gift as part of the Blog Partner Program. These items are for review or design purposes. Find out more about the Rings & Things Blog Partner Program

Geez O Pete Rings & Things!!!!

I picked up the mail today, and there was a bulky envelope in the mail box. I looked at the return address and saw it was from Rings & Things!

I did a dance at the street and skipped back to the house. The envelope was packed full. I couldn't imagine what they had stuffed in there.

Why do I get so excited? Being one of Rings & Things blog partners, each month or so I get a package of goodies sent as a promotion. Dave and the staff pick random items and send them to the blog partners for our review, and it helps promote new items. There is no pay, only the joy of having a new challenge each month, which is more than enough. There are times we pick our own components that we want to work with, but for the most part they are a surprise each month. They are not stingy with their choices either. I personally enjoy the surprise. It is amazing how these packages give my creativity a jump start.

Look what I got this month!



Starting at the Noon O'clock position and working clockwise finishing in the center.
40-099-24-7 - Chain, Footage, Oval Curb, 10.5mm (Antiqued Copper Plated)
40-099-38-7 - Chain, Footage, Robe-Textured Curb (Antiqued Copper Plated)
55-000-02 - Idea-ology, Corners, Antiqued Metal - Tim Holtz collection ( i love his stuff, have used it before)
55-000-09 - Idea-ology, Muse Tokens (Antiqued Metals) - Tim Holtz collection
55-000-04 - Idea-ology, Swivel Clasps (Antiqued Metals) - I have some of these, I use for keychains
29-610-01 - Wood Chain, Disk and Loop (Ebony) - This makes my heart happy!!!
55-000-05 - Idea-ology, Ornate Plates (Antiqued Metals) - I have BIG plans for this one!
55-000-03 - Idea-ology, Game Spinners (Antiqued Metals)

That first batch has me stupid with excitement.

Here is the second half - Christmas.



Starting at 1 o'clock and moving clockwise.
28-333-59 - Christmas Tree Glass Bead (Limited Stock)(Green/Red/White)
28-333-74 - Round Snowman Head Glass Bead (Limited Stock) (White)
28-333-67-211 - Christmas Teddy Bear Glass Bead (Limited Stock)(Brown)
28-333-73 - Christmas Penguin Glass Bead (Limited Stock)(Black/White)
28-333-67-211 - Gingerbread Man Glass Bead (Limited Stock)(Red)
28-333-69 - Christmas Stocking Glass Bead (Limited Stock)(Green/Red)

Now this guy I kept out separate.

56-999-05-042 - Octagon Glass Bottle (Clear) - I kept it out separate because I need a place to keep my wishes. The bail is the stopper of the bottle and unscrews to allow you to put anything in there. Genius!!





W is for Wonderful!!!!



Thanks Rings & Things!!!! Dave you out did yourself this time!!!