More packaging ideas - to set you apart

I got a sweet little note in the mail from the winner of my December giveaway.



The person who won, actually did not have email, so she had no idea she had won until the package arrived in the mail. She sent me a little note inside tiny origami boxes -



I love personalized packaging. I did a post back in April, 2009 - Wrap it up - on the little fabric pouches that I use for all of my orders. One customer told me she put ornament hooks in them and hung them on the tree for Christmas presents! The idea hit me - these would be great little packaging ideas. That little extra something that you can do to set yourself apart. Customers love that special attention to detail. These would work great for earrings or smaller necklaces.



I used the boxes that Barbara sent me as the examples in these pictures. I put the earrings in the box on card stock with a hand written thank you



Fold over the edges and secure it with a bright sticker. Beautiful!!





I found these instructions online:



Have fun!!!

I am feeling blue today

Looking for inspiration with the color blue today.












What do these images inspire you to create?

I'll post mine next week :)

January's Birthstone - Garnet

No wonder the saying 'slower than molasses in January' is so true. You ever try and pour cold molasses? When I think January, I think cold, then I think garnets!

Garnet is January's birthstone as we all know, but did you know that garnets come in a range of colors? Here are examples of some. I found examples of all of these different garnets online. Click on the picture and it will take you to the site for more gemstone information.

Almandine - Deep, dark, rich red to purplish red to orange red (probably the most common)



Demantoid - Medium green to slightly yellowish green



Hessonite - Brilliant yellow to yellowish brown (one of my favorites)



Pyrope - Deep, dark, rich red to slightly purple red



Rhodolite - Shades of pink through reddish lavender (absolutely stunning)



Spessartite - Medium orange to reddish orange (sometimes called mandarin garnet and makes me stupid happy)



Tsavorite - Medium, intense green to slightly yellowish green (now ya know why emeralds are the alternate birthstone for January)



Uvarovite - Bright green (most of the examples I found for this garnet were all druzy's)




Now I know you are all wondering "Where can I get garnets?"

Rings & Things
Faceted Fan, Tip Drilled (Rhodolite Garnet)




ArtBeads
Green Grossular Garnet Roundelles




Beadin Path
Garnet Graduated Faceted Marquis Briolettes



I know you have ideas running thru your head right now. Not only is garnet the birthstone for January, but garnets also represent romantic love and passion, making them perfect for your valentine!!

Rings & Things Blogger Challenge - A little bit of love!!

Finally got the time to sit down and do some work this weekend, and no, my work room is still a disaster. I have decided that I cannot work in a clean and organized environment.

That being said, I wanted to work with the heart lampwork beads I got from Rings & Things for the blogger challenge. These big beads are heavy and because of their size I think they look great on leather. They also have a 'tween' feeling to me. I wanted it fun, leather, bright and youthful. I decided to go with a lariat style necklace. I cut the leather 38", so when doubled it would hang about the same as a 20" necklace. I wound coils of 18 ga. sterling to use as anchors on the ends of the leather and attached 5 links of sterling cable chain to the coils. I packed the links with beads, using a white and red theme. Shells, pearls, sterling, seed beads, jade, like I sed - packed :)

Using the lampwork beads as the focal of each chain link, I had to add a sterling daisy spacer to the bottom of the head pin to keep it from slipping thru the hole of the bead. It made a nice look.

















The hearts listed here are:

*28-335-13 - 16x20mm 'love' heart, red/white

The red faceted red chinese glass:

*28-000-002-252 - 8mm facted roundelle - siam

*28-000-003-252 - 8mm faceted helix -siam





















This one I had a blast with. I started out making a pendant ,but it quickly turned into what I think would look awesome on the top of a stick pin. I used 18 ga. sterling to create the free form pendant. Then hammered the silver to harden it and give it texture. Using 24 ga sterling wire, I wrapped seed beads, coral, labradorite and rhodonite to add a little bit of love and peace to the design. Topped it off with a length of sterling chain attached with jump rings.




The heart listed here:
*28-335-12-02 - 2) 16x20mm 'dotted' heart, pink/white/blue,

















I don't have any stick pins, but that didn't stop me! If anyone would have them, Rings & Things would. I was not disappointed!

Here is what I found:

Safety Pin, Bend-it-yourself (White) - Stock#: 30-650-1

And to hold it secure -

Clutch, Stick Pin (White) - Stock#: 38-858-1




All you would have to do is shape the hook into a loop and attach it to the bail on the pendant.

I contacted Dave at Rings & Things to see if that clutch would work on the safety pin. Dave took the time out of his day to find this answer for me. He confirmed with one of their designers that yes in fact, it should fit perfectly!

That my friends is customer service!!!


*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