Blog for Beaders

Be sure to explore the new Caspia beads that we’ve just added to our line. You’ll find gorgeous inlaid mother of pearl and glittering crystal-studded roundels. These large-hole beads are perfect for sliding over thicker materials, such as a sterling silver bracelet or chain. They pair effortlessly with our Caspia necklaces and bracelets, making it easy to create stunning jewelry designs. For instructions on how to use these beads, check out the helpful Handy Tip from the Learning Center.

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As you search for new and exciting ways to create jewelry, be sure to explore our new Make Your Own Pendant section in the Learning Center. You’ll find beautiful ideas created to inspire and guide you as you design your own focal pieces. Making a pendant can be as easy as sliding a few beads onto a headpin, or as complex as a multi-layer resin creation. Be sure to keep checking the Make Your Own Pendant section, as we plan to continue expanding it with more ideas.

Here are just two examples of what you’ll find:

Opportunity Pendant

This pendant shows what you can do with a printed piece of paper and a few charms. It uses the image of a cage with a free bird in the foreground, portraying a powerful message of hope and aspiration.

Canyon Flower Pendant

This pendant offers an idea of what you can do with a piece of chic fabric, some balsa wood and a few sparkling rhinestones.

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What kind of sale would you like to see at Artbeads.com? If you have a Facebook account, you can now vote for your favorite sale. We’re offering you a chance to choose from five categories: Base Metal Chain, Czech Glass Beads, Freshwater Pearls, Hill Tribe Silver, Toho Seed Beads or a Write-in. To vote for your favorite sale, go to the You Pick the Sale! Album on our Facebook page and click the “like” button under your favorite sale’s photo. Please vote by Sunday, October 17, 2010 11:59pm (PT).

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We’ve just added more than 2,100 items to our clearance section, making this the perfect time to stock up on jewelry and craft supplies. Shop more than 5,100 products, ranging from beads and findings to stringing material and pendants. To make it easier for you to find everything you need, we’ve made it possible to shop by product type, as well as by price range. Our clearance items are in limited supply and have extremely discounted prices, so be sure to make your purchases now before they disappear for good!

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Those of us that deal with silver on a daily basis have been watching in amazement as the price just keeps going up and up. The last couple of months have been particularly dramatic with prices having gone up from roughly the $18 per troy ounce range to well over $23 per troy ounce!

Compare that to the low $5 range, which is where silver traded when Artbeads started just 10 years ago, and it can make your head spin. Times certainly have changed.

While we’ve tried to shelter our customers as much as possible from the volatility of the silver market price, with changes like this we find ourselves with little choice but to adjust our prices accordingly. As a result we have rolled out new prices a couple of times in the last month just to keep up. We want all of our customers to understand that there are certain factors that affect our prices that are beyond our control. (The value of the US dollar is another one.) At the same time we want to make sure that everyone knows that as the cost of silver drops, our prices will also come down accordingly. In the meantime keep an eye out for our sales, many of which are applicable on our sterling silver products, because there’s no telling when the price of sterling silver will stop climbing. There are some in the industry predicting that it will go past $30 per troy ounce!

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Save when you buy in bulk during our 48-hour Swarovski Factory Pack Sale. These packs feature some of our most popular Swarovski beads in the same packaging they arrive to us from the Swarovski factory. Take advantage of these bulk discounts before the factory packs disappear on Wednesday, October 13, 2010.

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The new SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS charts for 2010 are here, and they feature colors included in the latest round of Innovations, such as sunflower and crystal silver night. These charts offer a detailed look at the color and effects of the gorgeous beads and pendants that are available from SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS. Become familiar with the colors of these Austrian masterpieces, then pick some up to add a touch of brilliant beauty to your designs! Simply click on any of the charts to see a larger version, or click on their title to find them at Artbeads.com for easy reference when shopping.

Swarovski Stone Color Chart

Birthstones and Stone Effects

Pearl Color Chart

Swarovski Flatback Color Chart

Swarovski Flatback Effects Color Chart

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For a great discount on the new 2011/2012 Innovations that Artbeads.com just received from SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS, make sure to shop for them during the Storewide Savings Sale. When you use coupon code ZZW20P-60 at checkout, you’ll save 20% on orders of $60 or more. From new Swarovski products to your favorite staples, this storewide sale has it all. The sale ends at 11:59pm (PT) on Monday, October 11, 2010.

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Artbeads.com is holding a design contest that is all about what sparks your creativity! You can show others your creation and explain what inspired you.

This contest has two categories that will be judged separately. The first category is specifically for necklaces, while the second is a general category that includes pieces like bracelets, earrings, accessories, apparel, home décor and crafts. Contest entries can be submitted Thursday, September 30, 2010, through Monday, November 22, 2010.

First place in each category receives a $500 dollar gift certificate to shop at Artbeads.com. Second place gets a $250 gift certificate and third place gets a $100 gift certificate. To find out more information about the contest or to enter your creation, go to the contest page.

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For a limited time only, shop the Storewide Savings Sale and save 20% on orders of $60 or more! From Swarovski beads and freshwater pearls to links and components, this storewide sale has it all. Simply enter ZZW20P-60 at checkout to start saving. Popular items are sure to sell out quickly, so stock up before they’re gone. This sale ends on Monday, October 11, 2010.

Be sure to explore the Learning Center at Artbeads.com for ideas and instructions explaining how to create beautiful designs using the products in this sale!

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