Blog for Beaders

With the vibrant colors and round ring shape of the Swarovski ring beads, this necklace is reminiscent of one of our favorite childhood candies! This Instructional Style Guide is complete with detailed illustrations and gorgeous images, and will help you develop beading techniques that will give your designs a professional and unique touch.

For more Swarovski design guides visit the Resources section of the Learning Center.

Shop the Artbeads.com Spring Fever Sale and receive 15% off orders of $60 or more storewide. This is the perfect time to stock up on essentials and other favorite jewelry supplies. To receive these great savings enter coupon code SCW15P-SFS at checkout. Many items are sure to sell out, so shop this fantastic sale before it’s too late. The Spring Fever Sale ends at 9am (PT) on Tuesday, March 23, 2010.

Spring/Summer
In the current global economy the days of the Cinderella weddings are disappearing. But if you are a 2010 bride, don’t fret! Amazing things come in small packages! Many brides are going to backyard or park setting venues, smaller bridal parties and handmade favors and invitations. Color is everywhere and matching is out. Brides are allowing their bridesmaids to choose their dresses based on the wedding colors. This is a win for all. Everyone’s body types are different, so why not let your best friends choose a style they will look the best and be most comfortable in?

For colors, nothing is hotter than lime green which is taking the wedding scene by storm. We love the raspberry and lime combination for spring with accents of lavender and soft or bright yellow. More brides are going strapless, which is great news for beaders. Opening up a neckline provides ample opportunity for freedom in design. If you want to go traditional with a twist, mix a couple of colored crystals into your simple pearl necklace. If you are feeling bold, make a multi-strand, playful piece that is sure to steal the show! Bare arms mean more room for bracelets. Don’t be afraid to go bold! Simple necklaces and earrings may make for more timeless photographs, but bracelets can be as big and bold as you like.

Check out our Learning Center to see exciting jewelry design ideas the Artbeads.com designers came up with that follow this colorful trend.

Fall/Winter
Classic styles take a modern twist in the latest bridal trends for fall and winter 2010 and 2011. Elegance and class combine with more avant-garde elements to create fascinating looks that are sure to make your special day even more memorable. The classic look of fitted bodices, sweetheart necklines and dresses with layers of tulle combines with uniquely modern elements such as tiered silhouettes, vertical ruffles and large, dramatic sashes. The latest bridal collection from the always ethereal Vera Wang features black accents such as bows and straps in a style that is reminiscent of Audrey Hepburn’s black lace wedding gown in Sabrina.

To accent your gown, jewelry follows the same dramatic elegance. Classic pearl necklaces and crystal chokers are contrasted by antique floral pendants and metallic embellishments. Pewter, rhodium, silver and gold accents are sure to add a glamorous touch to any gown. Bright colors have been replaced with more neutral shades. White, black, bronze and other metallic colors will add to the beauty of your wedding and ensure that all eyes are on you!

Celebrate Easter in style this year with these regal Easter eggs decorated with Swarovski flatback crystals. Each egg has been blown out to make them hollow and then dyed and decorated by our crafty designers here at Artbeads.com. If you want to recreate these fun eggs, but need help blowing eggs visit this WikiHow page. These regal Easter eggs follow in the tradition of Ukrainian Pysanky eggs, but give them a more modern feel. Make these eggs a part of your Easter tradition, as they can be saved and reused in your home décor year after year.

Step-by-step instructions for these eggs and other fun Easter craft ideas can be found in the Artbeads.com Learning Center.

Wondering what you’re going to do with the eggs you’ve just blown out of their shells? Why not try this simple and tasty crustless quiche recipe! It can be modified to incorporate your favorite vegetables.

Artichoke Bake

12 eggs, beaten
3 cups light cream or half & half
2 cups marinated artichoke hearts, drained
6 green onions, chopped
16oz grated cheese. Cheddar, jarlsberg swiss and parmesan is our favorite combination.
4 T. fresh parsley, chopped
1 t. dill
1 t. oregano
Salt and pepper to taste

Combine above ingredients and pour into a greased 9×13 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 to 50 minutes. Let stand 5 to 10 minutes before cutting. It is also good served cold. This can also be poured into two 9-inch pastry shells as a regular quiche. Feel free to add crisp bacon or change up the vegetables. Broccoli, mushrooms and bell peppers work well.

This necklace is full of the joy of summertime. Perfect for adding a touch of whimsy to any outfit, it features small dangles that look like tiny lollipops. Whether you’re looking to create a fun piece for a young girl or just want to remember the carefree days of summer vacation, this necklace is the perfect choice. Click here, or on the image above for step-by-step instructions on how to create this piece.

These earrings are fun companion pieces to the necklace, looking like small lollipops themselves. Create these earrings in a few simple steps and you’ll have an accessory bursting with spring colors and fanciful imagery. You can find step by step instructions here, or by clicking on the image above.

For more Swarovski instructional guides filled with tips and techniques to help you incorporate Swarovski crystals into your designs, visit the Swarovski Resources section of our Learning Center. Each design guide is filled with detailed illustrations and gorgeous images, and these guides will help you develop beading techniques that ill give your designs a professional and unique touch.

We would like to congratulate MaryLou H, the winner of the Artbeads.com 10th Anniversary Sweepstakes and a $1,000 Artbeads.com shopping spree. MaryLou is a jewelry designer from North Carolina who creates beadwoven jewelry and enjoys experimenting with new techniques. The bracelet in the image above is just one of her original creations. To read an interview with MaryLou and learn more about her jewelry designs, browse photos of some of her favorite designs and learn what she plans to do with her winnings, visit Artbeads.com.

Also, feel free to visit her blog, MaryLou’s Art [Ad]venture, and her etsy store. Congratulations once again MaryLou, and enjoy your prize!

Our huge Spring Fever Sale is coming soon! Sign up to receive our email newsletters before Tuesday, March 16, to get a greater discount and to start shopping this sale before it opens to the public on Thursday, March 18. In addition to better discounts and earlier shopping, our newsletter subscribers receive exclusive limited edition offers along with helpful product information and news. Click here to sign up today!

For one week only, all gemstones are 15% off during our Jewel Day Jubilee Sale. Adding natural beauty to your designs has never been so affordable. From jade and agate to turquoise and amethyst, you’ll find a wide variety of stones in a range of shapes and sizes. To receive these savings enter SCW15P-JJS at checkout. Shop today because this sale ends at 9am (PDT) on Thursday, March 18, 2010.

Easter is less than one month away, leaving you just enough time to create a beautiful jewelry design. Whether you’re looking for pastel beads or cross charms, you’ll find everything Easter-related on one, easy-to-navigate page. Create simple Easter designs full of colorful pastels and simple charm with this large collection of Easter-themed beads. Whether you are making a necklace for Easter Sunday or embellishing a set of Easter eggs, you’ll love the soft beauty of these components. Each item in this section is hand-picked and added based on its relation to this holiday. Easter has become full of pastel colors and egg-like shapes, and is celebrated by Christians and non-Christians alike! These beads are sure to add color, depth and meaning to your holiday designs.

We also have a fun collection of Easter jewelry designs and craft ideas. Hurry! The big day is almost here!

March is national craft month! Celebrate by teaching yourself a new technique, making something fun with your kids, or teaching a class to show off your favorite craft skills.

If you need any great craft ideas, check out the Craft Section in the Learning Center at Artbeads.com. We’ve got great ideas, ranging from decorations for your wedding and paper crafts to pet accessories and high-fashion pieces, and much, much more! Refresh your creativity by browsing the latest trends in crafting with our free design instructions! Whether you want to learn how to create a specific idea or just want some creative inspiration, our wide selection of crafting instructions will give you what you need. These design ideas include step-by-step instructions along with complete product lists and all the tools you’ll need to create beautiful projects. Be sure to check back often for the latest crafting designs!