Blog for Beaders

Photo Source: Jewel Snob.

Cocktail rings are the perfect accessory to wear with any outift when you want to make a statement. This staple of glitz and glamour has been a part of our society since prohibition, when women would adorn themselves with these loud statement rings to show off their style. These rings also grew in popularity during the 1940s and 1950s, when cocktail parties were in fashion. Reserved for formal occasions, these rings often consisted of large diamonds and other precious or semi-precious stones. Cocktail rings today are normally made with faux precious stones, but still give your fingers the right amount of sparkle to make a statement. These rings come in a variety of different styles, colors and flair. Here’s a guide to help you find the cocktail ring to suit you.

Photo Source: Jewelry Saga.

Right now animal-shaped cocktail rings are popular. Choose from colorful creations to simple silver designs, offered in dozens of different animal shapes. You can express more of your personality through animal symbols and still shine!

Photo Source: Allwomenstalk.com.

Floral patterns continue to be a popular choice because they have just enough of a feminine touch that allows you to wear this piece with any outfit. No matter what you decide to wear, a floral cocktail ring will tie all of your accessories together.

Photo Source: Coolchunkyrings.com.

If you want to make a statement without being too flashy, there are hundreds of different styles of cocktail rings to choose from. Keep it simple with a single giant stone or minimal color combinations. This understated fashion is perfect for formal dinners because it will catch everyone’s eye but it will not be too loud.

Photo Source: E Delight.

Cocktail rings should be worn on the right hand on any finger, preferably the ring or index finger. If you’re looking for the perfect vintage feel, browse around garage sales for unique cocktail rings, or even make your own. You can make your own cocktail ring at home by browsing our Learning Center for inspiration or shopping our ring findings and Swarovski crystal flatbacks to find the right style for you. All you will need to make your own cocktail ring is a finding, an adhesive and some crystals in your favorite colors.

Get inspired to be creative!

Information Source: Wise Geek.

-Marissa

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This transition from summer into fall can sometimes be a mixed breeze of hot summer air and cool, crisp wisps of autumn wind. These Frost’s Fire Earrings were made to help emulate the hot and cold emotions from the third book in Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight Saga, Eclipse, but the powerful color combination still works with the changing seasons now. Read the instructions to make earrings that capture a true balance of fire and ice. You’re sure to be complimented on this set that features bold red and orange Swarovski crystals and a clear pendant to help cool the look. Remember, you can view more free jewelry ideas in our Learning Center, including handy tips for jewelry making and interesting designs with step-by-step instructions.

-Marissa

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Today we pay tribute to one of our favorite Hollywood glamour girls. Audrey Hepburn is undoubtedly a style icon, and will continue to curb fashion trends that reflect the bold choices she made in her wardrobe. A special trend she started is the little black dress—a staple in any woman’s closet today that’s appropriate for many different occasions. Some of her most glamorous pictures were taken on the set of her films, although a lot of the characters she played were not a reflection of her personally. Let’s take a look at Audrey’s various fashion statements, and read how you can imitate whichever style you like. We’ll pick a couple of famous characters to focus on and also the actress herself.

Breakfast at Tiffany’s
This movie has some of the most memorable jewelry ever worn by Hepburn. The iconic image of her in that little black dress, adorned with a stunning pearl necklace and sparkling earrings, remains a valued look among trendsetters. That signature bouffant hairstyle is the perfect canvas to display her incredible tiara that became popular soon after. If you prefer the style of Holly Golightly, you’ll need a lot of dazzling Swarovski crystals. Try adorning a simple hair comb with Crystal AB flatbacks in a cluster to emulate a nice floral shape. You can achieve this by using various sizes to play with dimension. Try simulating her picture-perfect pearls with the help of our freshwater pearl selection or crystal pearls from Swarovski. Put your own twist on the classic staple by playing with colors like pink and blue. We offer pearls in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors to fit your personal style. The key to looking like Holly Golightly is to go all out with glamour!

My Fair Lady
Essentially there are two parts to Hepburn’s character, Eliza Doolittle, in this film. She is first introduced as a simple girl with no means to create a statement. If you like this look then no need to read any further. At the end, however, we see her transition into a fashionable beauty. Again, this role has more over-the-top glamour that we love to emulate. Besides the gigantic hat Audrey flawlessly models in the movie, the most decorative accents are her choker-style bib necklace adorned with crystals and that matching tiara. Turn a headband into a bride-worthy piece by placing crystals, either Swarovski or CZ, along the sides. You can find simple fine-link chain and attach small clear crystal beads to it and make a sparkling dangle necklace fit for a queen.

Real-life Audrey
Unlike her silver-screen alter egos, Hepburn liked to limit herself to understated sophistication in her jewelry. She rarely wore watches and kept her subtle elegance by wearing stud earrings. She was wise to choose only quality pieces. Audrey Hepburn preferred to have one or two high-quality pieces rather than a drawer full of cheap styles. Make a pair of stylish earrings by choosing from our selection of post earring findings, including glue-on posts that have a flat surface to attach rhinestones or cabochons to. We carry some lovely pearl cabochons you can use to create nice pearl stud earrings for any occasion. Shop rest-assured that we strive to bring you only high-quality jewelry making products.

The secret to Audrey Hepburn’s impeccable style was her sense of self-awareness. Her attitude made whatever she wore look amazing. We remember her as a style icon because of the confidence she carried in her fashion choices. You will look great in any jewelry design you make—if you believe in your ideas and project that same attitude when you show them off!

Is there another hollywood glamour girl you base your fashion on? Let us know who you think we should do a feature on next!

Photo Source: IMDB.

-Marissa

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Wouldn’t it be cool to dig up buried treasure in your back yard? All over the world people have discovered ancient artifacts where they least expect to. Some of these discoveries have been incredible jewelry from past civilizations! Although your own back yard may not hold rich treasures, you never know where you’ll find valuable items. There are countless stories of people finding priceless items at flea markets, swap meets and even garage sales. Here are some cool findings from around the world.

Photo Source: Yahoo News.

Some lucky divers in Key West, Florida found this emerald ring along with two silver spoons believed to be part of a Spanish shipwreck that carried some of the greatest treasures ever discovered. A galleon called the Nuestra Senora de Atocha was on its way back to Spain filled with silver and gold treasures when it sank during a hurricane. The divers hope to find more in the future.

Photo Source: Canada.com.
One man in Austria dug up 650-year-old medieval jewelry in his yard while trying to remove some trees—if only we all were so lucky when weeding the flower beds! This discovery has an estimated value of over $150,000.

Photo Source: Discovery News.

Even though this piece may not be as stunning as the first two, researchers uncovered this earring once worn by a soldier in the Persian army. The small beads are believed to be from a necklace worn by a soldier as well. This Persian army disappeared in the Sahara Desert over 2,500 years ago, and was believed to have drowned in the hot sand during a storm. Jewelry like this is simply priceless!

-Marissa

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Fall is just around the corner, and it’s time to start thinking about your little fashionista’s ideas for formal dance jewelry. Before we preview the homecoming trends for 2011, I thought it might be fun to share some of my past homemade jewelry. I’ve always tried to stay up to date on fashion trends that are classy but will make a statement. Digging through some old boxes I was able to find a picture from the past where I was showing off original jewelry designs made by my mom. Mothers always come in handy when you need custom designs for fancy occasions! See what was trending then and stay tuned to read what’s trending this season soon!

This necklace, bracelet and earring set was made with lovely Swarovski crystals to match the sparkles in my dress. Very fun and surprisingly lightweight! I still wear the necklace with the right outfit from time to time. It doesn’t take much to complement a formal dress!

In need of a quick trick to hold your things? Here’s a cool idea from the Learning Center! Make this rhinestone-embellished purse in a snap and be ready for a night out! It’s stylish and simple.

I hope you find the inspiration you need to make your daughter or granddaughter the perfect fancy jewelry without having to spend a fortune on pre-made sets. She’ll be more impressed knowing she has custom-made jewelry that will help her stand out from the crowd this year.

Happy styling!

-Marissa

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We always love to hear about our customers who have discovered the joy of jewelry making and turned their passion into success. Kimberly Berg’s story of success may come as a surprise to some—it certainly came as a surprise to her! Here’s what Kimberly had to say:

It was my birthday. I had a jury duty summons. I could not believe I was going to spend my birthday waiting in a room full of people to be called for screening. I had not thought ahead to bring anything to read, but there were newspapers lying around and the clerks had a DVD movie playing. I don’t mind doing my civic duty, but on my birthday!!!

The woman’s name was called and she asked me if I wanted her beading magazine to look at. I gratefully took it and began to leaf through it. I came to the pages with the instructions on how to assemble the cover bracelet. There were a lot of terms I was very unfamiliar with and it looked like a lot of work, but I’m one not to be intimidated by challenges…

Soon after, Kimberly was excused for the rest of the day from jury duty. She’d finally had a chance to celebrate her birthday—and she was headed to her local bead shop. Kimberly quickly realized she would need a lot of tools and supplies to get her started! Luckily she was assisted by a friendly expert who taught her simple techniques like crimping, and also explained some of the beading terms used in the bracelet instructions.

Even though it took her three weeks (and several attempts) to complete her first design, Kimberly was hooked. After that she started making mother’s bracelets and even created wedding jewelry for a co-worker. By this time she had enough designs to display in craft shows and had even grew a few repeat customers. After realizing she couldn’t work full-time and visit every bead show, and learning that it was expensive to keep up an E-bay store, Kimberly created her own Website: Bergie’s Just a Little Something. Here she sells jewelry to customers in both the US and Canada. Here’s what she says about her designs:

I use genuine Swarovski crystals in my pieces and love the timeless elegance of the beads. I like to put colors together that are reminiscent of Victorian times. I’m always thinking of different looks, color combinations, and designs all of the time. I carry a little notebook in my purse for quick sketching.

Browse her jewelry website and shop for lovely bracelets, necklaces and more for any occasion. We’re happy that Kimberly Berg was able to turn a passion into success. If you’re just staring out and looking for a way to sell your designs, check out our Seller’s Secrets page where we share helpful ways to develop your jewelry-making business.

We want to hear your story, too! Send your jewelry design to our blog e-mail to be featured as one of our customer success stories. Share your stories and inspire others to get creative! Mail them to artbeadsblog@gmail.com.

-Marissa

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Since this summer we’ve seemed to focus on sea creatures (maybe because it makes us feel so cool in this heat wave), here’s a lovely necklace idea from the Learning Center. It incorporates ICE Resin® and Nunn Design transfer sheets and follows an ocean theme. It seemed only fitting to show some love to the sea this season before it gets too cold to swim! Learn how to make a sea-themed necklace by visiting the Learning Center, and while you’re there discover other free jewelry ideas you can make your own!

Don’t forget to enter our Under the Sea Challenge for your chance to win an Artbeads gift bag full of Unicorne Beads, freshwater pearls and a cool gift card—valued at $200.

-Marissa

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Photo Source: Science Summit.

Mood rings bring back memories of childhood when you could determine your tone for the day based on whatever color your ring was. We know not to believe a novelty ring, but it’s still fun to find out what colors fit you in the moment. What’s interesting to know as an adult is what causes these rings to change colors. Here you can read what makes a mood ring and what each color is supposed to mean.

Mood jewelry can supposedly tell how you’re feeling by sensing your body temperature. The gem inside the ring is actually made out of thermotropic liquid crystal, and acts like a thermometer for your finger. The liquid crystal is often covered with a clear stone such as quartz. It changes color by reflecting different shades of light when the temperature changes, thus giving the illusion that it can sense when you’re angry or sad.

Although the colors can differ from one manufacturer to the next, the colors and moods associated below are generally what you will find. You can compare it to one of my previous blog posts, The Meaning Behind Colors, and see if these match up to the psychological connections to colors. Dust off your old mood ring or mood necklace and have fun! If you’re looking to match your favorite mood with some real crystals, visit our Swarovski section and browse through hundreds of different color combinations! We’re always offering free jewelry ideas at the Learning Center, too. Create your own interpretation of how you’re feeling. Try making jewelry for every mood that you can switch up during the day! Here’s a short list of what colors are supposed to mean in mood rings:

Black: tense, nervous

Grey: anxious, strained

Amber: unsettled, mixed emotions

Green: average, not under stress

Blue-Green: somewhat relaxed

Blue: calm, at ease

Purple: happy, romantic, passionate

-Marissa

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It’s time to celebrate this month’s birthstone: Peridot. This lovely green stone has had a colorful past with many magical qualities. Peridot has been a vibrant part of history since the Egyptians. In fact, this gemstone was said to be a favorite with Cleopatra. Some believe the emeralds she wore in her jewelry were actually peridot stones. The ancient Romans also valued the peridot’s lovely green shade. The incredible shine it produces does not change in the light, even artificial light, so the Romans referred to peridot as “the emerald of the evening.”

Over the years, peridot has been believed to hold many magical powers. It is meant to bring good luck, success and health to those who wear it. Peridot is also used as protection from nightmares and to dispel negative emotions, along with attracting love.

You can shop for the peridot gemstones at Artbeads.com, as well as coordinating crystal colors like Swarovski’s Olivine. It’s no wonder why this beautiful green stone is a popular summer color—only fitting that it represents a warm month of August.

-Marissa

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GlitznKitz product review for seed beads

We would like to shine some light on our customers who have shown us what they can make with seed beads they bought from our site. These images come from the customer reviews you find at the bottom of each product page. Seed beading is a learned skill that takes dedication and patience, and we are happy to be able to provide the necessary tools for these talented artists to create lovely designs! Check out what you can do with seed beads below, and be sure to check out our collection of seed beads to get you started.

The customer reviews are our way of knowing what products on our site work best for you. Let your voice be heard! Write a review on your favorite products. Did one of our products come in handy for a last-minute fashion design or school project? Tell us-and show us-what Artbeads products work for you!

Customer review from joylaurel on seed beads

Customer review from Speedie Beadie on seed beads

Customer review from schwartz on seed beads

-Marissa

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