What do you do with a pile of beads?

Perhaps I should title this "What's on my worktable this week?".  The story begins with a couple of piles of beads.  Where it ends, who knows???

Do your beads talk to you?  Mine do!!  I'm not really crazy, but I do have this awful tendency to buy beads and bits, and then just let them age in the bag, until my muse decides how she's going to use them.  Does that ever happen to you?  Let start with the red Swarovski leaves....

I've been eyeing these leaves, ever since I spotted them on the sale rack at BeadFX.

Hmmm, 40% off, I thought!   I love everything about them, but what the heck would I make?  So, I put them back, and decided that I would buy them, if and when I came up with an idea.  Sigh!  Weeks later, I noticed them on one of the racks at the CreativFestival!  Oh no!!  Someone is going to snap up my leaves!  I shouldn't have waited so long!  But I still want them!!!  The good news is (for me), that the leaves didn't sell at the show, so as soon as everything was unpacked, I grabbed five of them, and decided that I was tired of waiting for my tardy muse to make a decision.   Of course, they still ended up sitting in a bag, but last Sunday I had a light bulb moment, and just had to run out to the store, to pick up a few more components.  The story ends, with a very simple necklace, which may end up as either an "Inspiration" or a class, one of these days.  Little did I know that the bead minions, have been hoarding the red leaves, we still have a decent supply, and they also come in other luscious colours.  Do I need to buy more?  Well perhaps a couple more red ones, for earrings!

You may remember, that a couple of weeks ago, I posted about buttons.  That little blog post, threw my muse into an absolute tizzy!!  I selected a large, Czech glass button, and then proceeded to race around the store, piling more goodies on the tray.

 I'm not really sure how to describe the colour of the button, except perhaps a warm, gold/beige, with darker, almost purple accents.  Accidentally, a couple of medium sized glass buttons, and a handful of brass ones, slipped into the tray.  Then the naughty muse, led me to the pearls!  A couple of strings in gold tones, and then the coin pearls.  Oh yes, the coin pearls!!!  Purple???  Does purple, with hints of red, gold and copper, fit in with the pallette?  Of course it does!  So today, my treasures are sitting patiently in the bag.  Will I make a bracelet, necklace, or perhaps both?  Not to mention earrings, and some stash enhancing leftovers.   My initial plan was to make a large cuff bracelet, absolutely dripping with buttons and pearls.   But that was before I added the coin pearls.  The bracelet is still in the works, but probably with another set of buttons.  I think this might be the start of an ongoing, button frenzy stage!   Did I ever tell you that I love buttons?  I'll keep you posted, but you'll need to be patient, because I'm not sure that I'll be able to get to the button project for a couple of weeks.  I'm teaching a Sold Out, Resin workshop, on November 21st, and I really do need to concentrate on my samples.  Famous last words, so keep tuned!

If your muse tells you to buy something, you probably should!  If you're the type of person that needs a plan, don't worry, because it will all work out in the end.   If nothing else, you can spend quality time with your beads, during the dark days of winter, and you won't even need to go outside.   You know the cold is coming, and you know that you'll need a diversion!   Make it a good one!!

A Bevy of Bezels

Today, we're going to chat about the wonderful world of metal bezels!  As you can see from the photographs, BeadFX has quite an extensive collection, which is great for aspiring mixed media artists (all that metallic bounty in one place)!  I'll let you in on a secret though; you don't really need to know anything about mixed media, to use these remarkable products. Bezels are versatile, and suitable for an endless variety of uses. We even carry the popular Susan Lenart Kazmer, Hobnail bezels and the Klick line of interchangeable components.

Believe it or not, I haven't tried everything yet, but imagine your bezels, filled with any of the following: collaged paper, photographs, downloaded images, pencil sketches, minature landscapes, old love letters, a child's art, postage stamps, paper napkins, ephemera, text, commercial and hand painted papers, eggshells, broken china, sea glass, fibre, dried flowers, charms, beads, glitter, shells, and even more! Didn't think of that, did you?  If that's not enough, you could also fill them with either Crystal Clay or Apoxie Sculpt, and then embed Swarovski crystals, old keys, watch parts, game pieces, or other exciting stuff, and wait for it to dry! Don't you just hate, waiting for things to dry?

But what about Polymer Clay (PC), you say?  I'm sure that someone out there, has been purchasing bezels, and filling them with all types of PC.  They're metal, aren't they?   So why couldn't you bake them at low temperatures?  I'm not telling you to do this, but in the spirit of experimentation, I just might!  The official disclaimer is.....do this at your own risk, as I don't know how the coatings and finishes will react.......but I'm a Mixed Media Artist, so serendipity is my friend!  Besides, I like the distressed look!!!

You've filled your bezel, so now what do you do?  More choices! You could top it up with Ice Resin, after adding a lovely edging of Iced Enamels, and perhaps some of their Inclusions.  How about trying one of our glass tiles (but not all will fit)? You wouldn't need more than "a little spit and polish", for the various clays.....unless you'd like to add a dab of Renaissance Wax.

A few of my images to tempt you!

When using paper products, with your resin, remember to seal carefully.   Mod Podge or white glue is recommended (as are other types of collage or decoupage mediums), but don't forget to seal the front, back and edges, to avoid staining.  Botanicals should also be sealed!  Mix the resin slowly and carefully (instructions on package), wait five minutes, and then add to the bezel, a little at a time, to avoid air bubbles. Pop any that you see, and don't forget to cover your pieces while they dry.....no dust motes, or cat hair allowed!!! If you're not yet confident enough, to do this on your own, or just like the structure of a hands-on class, check out my November Resin workshop.   It's not on the schedule yet, but it's definitely in the works (and you could probably get yourself on a waiting list). Keep tuned!

Anne Marie

The Sparkle Report: Quilting

Here at BeadFX, we attract lots of multicraft afficiandos: knitters, crocheters, sewers and quilters, just to name a few. 

Today is the last day of the 20% off Swarovski Hotfix sale and Kim Workman came in to take full advantage!

Kim is a member of the York Heritage Quilter's Guild. She's currently working on a Spiraling Line Star quilt designed by 

Jan P Krentz wanted to brighten up the darker spots of the quilt. Actually, it was her son's idea, but who can refuse sparkle? Not I, and obviously, not Kim!!

There are still two more layers to be made which will extend the quilt beyond its current 48"x48" size. 

Crystal Volcano is the perfect choice for this quilt as it picks up the shades of purple, fucshia and orange. Kim has also decided to add in Swarovski hotfix in tanzanite, fucshia, sun and topaz. 

Kim promises to bring in the quilt once it's complete. So far she has put in about 75 hours and expects to be quilting for at least another 150 hours!!!

Old Shoes Made Again

I've always wanted to bling out a pair of shoes for the store and finally found the perfect pair to do so. 

These are satin and faux patent leather pumps that I "found" at my apartment building. Gotta love it when people move out and leave stuff behind. Brand new never been used Scarpino pumps. 

Rochelle and I worked out a colour scheme for each section of the shoe. We're going with an ombré look in blues. Starting at the back of the shoe with Swarovski Crystal SS20 flatbacks, I'm going to apply Crystal, Light Sapphire, Crystal Blue Shade, Denim Blue, Sapphire, Capri Blue and end with Jet. Fantastico!!!

Of course, I'm using the Crystal Ninja's Professional glue kit and her Crystal Katana. The glue I chose to use for this is the white glue in the Crystal Ninja fine tip applicator bottle. 

Stay tuned for more progress pictures. 

Get Gluing!

I don't profess to be as good as The Crystal Ninja, Kellie DeFries, when it comes to gluing, but with her awesome tools, you can do some amazing things!!

 

 

I bought a pair of Roxy sneakers in a silver black colour and knew I wanted to add more sparkle to them. Because that's how I roll. The sparklier, the better. And nothing sparkles quite like Swarovski flatbacks. Well, other Swarovski products do!!

 

Using supplies from Kellie's Professional Glue Kit, I filled a syringe with Gemtac and started laying down glue dots. Not a line of glue, individual dots. Then using her Crystal Katana, I picked up the SS 20 Jet Flatbacks and placed one in each dot. Flipping the Crystal Katana around, I used to chrome end to press each crystal into place. 

 

Some tips for you:

 

1. Wear your shoes long enough to have creases appear where they will. This allows you to see where you have to glue the stones a little looser, so that they won't rub up against each other. Heaven forbid that you glue everything tight and then can't bend your foot in the shoe!

 

2. Work on even distribution of glue dots and not dispensing too much glue. Easier said than done. But after 1,000 hours of doing this, you'll be a pro. 

3. Work on each shoe evenly. I did the outline on each shoe and then started to fill in each one bit by bit. Why? Because I wanted both shoes to have the same amount of crystals. This way, I have enough crystals for both instead of doing one full shoe and running out of crystals.

Progress as of Halloween. I worked on these while watching a horror movie, at home all along. In case of intruders, the Crystal Katana could work as a weapon. Lol. 

 

More sparkle appearing.

 

I worked on these some more at the Toronto Bead Society Fair. 

 

Now it's time to add in the SS20 in Rose and fill in the smaller spaces with SS12. 

 

Stay tuned for the finished shoes soon!

Sparkle Pumpkin Inspirations

So, I'm innocently pinning the latest beadFX Inspirations to our Pinterest page...

Here's the latest from the wonderfully wacky and creative mind of Rochelle:

I thought, just for the heck of it, let's see what comes up when I search sparkle pumpkins...
WOW!!! Quite a lot, actually! Here are some Halloween or Autumn time inspirations for you.

We have Swarovski crystal flatbacks!
We have sequins!
We have beads!
We have chain!
We have MetalFX (mica powder - super fine "glitter")!
We have glue!

You will need your own pumpkin!

To see the original sources for all these beautiful pumpkins, please visit our Pinterest page.

Captivating Cupchain

If there's one thing I love, it's Swarovski crystal. The cut, the colour, the sparkle. Nobody does it like Swarovski. And here at beadFX, there are so many different Swarovski products, from round stones and fancy stones, beads, pendants and pearls, to flat back and hotfix rhinestones and my latest favourite, Cupchain!

So what can you do with the cup chain?

I bought some preexisting bangles from a store that caters to women who are a little.... Fluffy shall we say. At least my hand span is larger than most. 

I measured the outside diameter of the bangle: 10 inches, and bought 10 inches of cupchain in Crystal AB and Fucshia. Using a wing span of 22 gauge Parawire, I wrapped the wire around the bangle a few times to secure it in place. Then I wrapped the cupchain to the bangle with the wire. To end the wire neatly so that it doesn't poke, I used my round nose pliers to create spirals. 

Easy peasy!! A sensational, million dollar bracelet for less than $15!!!!

Here are some images I pulled from the Pinterest board I created called Cupchain. You do follow us on Pinterest, don't you?

http://www.pinterest.com/beadfx/

There are lots more images on our Cupchain board to explore. 

Here's the link to available Swarovski cupchain:

http://www.beadfx.com/catalogue/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=347

Designer Spotlight: Kellie DeFries

Crystal Ninja owner and Award-Winning Master Designer Kellie DeFries

leads a team of highly skilled artists in today's best crystallization processes. For years, Kellie has provided her creativity and expertise to the world's best crystallization companies. Many have turned to Kellie for her amazing designs, flawless technique, and world-class customer service. An accomplished artist with exacting standards, Kellie is sets the industry standard for excellence in the use of flatback Swarovski crystals. 

 As the Chief Designer for the US division of Bling-My-Thing, Kellie received her crystallization certification after extensive training in BMT's Berlin studios. BMT is the only company backed by Swarovski in Europe, and Kellie is the only licensed artist for BMT in the United States. She personally takes care of each client, and offers a lifetime guarantee* on all work.

Kellie DeFries is also 1 of only 50 people in the world chosen to be aCreate Your Style Ambassador.

Not content with the tools currently available on the market to pick up Swarovski flatbacks, Kellie invented her own, CrystalKatana. This patent pending product is THE only tool you'll ever need to embellish items with Swarovski stones. Perfect for bedazzling, crystallizing and blinging out everything in site. 

Kellie has also put together a professional glue kit that contains all her favourite glue and glue syringes. It even comes with a logo glue pad!

BeadFX is pleased to offer both the CrystalKatana and Kellie's professional glue kit for sale. 

Be sure to check out www.crystalninja.com to see more of Kellie's amazing work and videos of her in action. 

Sparkling Hearts Necklace for Mother's Day

Sparkling Hearts Necklace

Jewelry, designed by CREATE YOUR STYLE TEAM, Austria

 

If it takes just one heart to let the world know the wearer is loved, imagine the story told by a necklace featuring six rows of them! Let her feel the love this Mother’s Day with a waterfall of sparkling hearts in warm tonal shades of brand new Light Silk color and Crystal Rose Gold effect. A gift of hearts straight from the heart.  

You can find the directions for this spectacular necklace at www.create-your-style.com 

Supplies List:

6mm Swarovski Crystal Pearls

18 mm Swarovski Heart Pendant

Chain, silver, 1.3 m
1x Head pin, silver
64x Jump ring, silver, 4 mm
3x Jump ring, silver, 7 mm
1x Lobster clasp, silver,
Wire, silver, 20 gauge, 1.2 m

When you click on each of the supplies listed, it will take you directly to the product page on our website for easy ordering.

Don't forget to share your projects on our Facebook page. We love to see what you make with the products you buy from us.

Heart Jewellery Videos from Swarovski

In keeping with my last blog about all the Swarovski crystal hearts that are available in the store, I thought I would bring you some videos made by Swarovski Create-Your-Style.

Each of these videos show projects that incorporate hearts in the design. Packed with detailed step-by-step instructions, valuable trend information and useful tips on the best methods of application, an expert CREATE YOUR STYLE trainer demonstrates how to make beautiful designs using romantic Heart Pendants from the SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS assortment.

Key to My Heart Necklace

Swinging Hearts Earrings

How To Crystallize Your Nails with Swarovski Elements

As Wednesday's newsletter said "Well - we are always about instant glam, and long slow glam that takes weeks to make, and every kind of glam in-between!" Just how far can we take the glam? From the top of our head, to the tips of our toes - and spreading outwards from our fingertips.

Nail art is very trendy right, and crystallized nails are so hot they are icy! You sometimes see Dwyn's perfectly manicured nails in product shots with a funky black or deep burgundy nail polish on. This week, she's rocking a French Manicure. I think she should let me do her nails, but it would probably be too distracting in the online product pictures!

I've been at the Creativ Festival this week and weekend teaching classes and doing demo in the Crystal Rock Pavillion for Swarovski. One of my demos today was How To Crystallize Your Nails. I thought I would share that information with you today. Here I am demoing. Thanks to Lisa Pavelka for taking the picture.

Here are some samples I prepared prior to the demo.

I used SS7 Crystal in Crystal and Jet as well as some larger one is Crystal AB. There are many different shapes and colours of rhinestones available. Here is the link to BeadFX's Swarovski Rhinestones: CLICK HERE



Pick up crystals using the Magical Rhinestone Pick. (Product S24397)


Put the crystals in the Magical Tray. As it says, a simple shake is all it takes to flip stones right side up. It's true!! (Product S24396)

The key to crystallizing your nails, is to be slow and steady, try not to shake, and have a friend do your dominant hand. (lol)

I like to use OPI Nail Polish. It is very high quality and comes in a variety of spectacular colors.

Step 1: Prepare nail by filing and shaping as needed.
Step 2: Wash hands and dry thoroughly.
Step 3: Paint nails with a foundation colour.
Step 4: Using the Magical Pick, pick up a crystal rhinestone, sparkly side up.
Step 5: Gently position the crystal where you want it, and set it in the nail polish. Continuing doing this until a) you're done or b) the crystals won't adhere to the polish anymore.
Step 6: If you want to add more crystals, paint on a layer of clear top coat to "wet" the nail. Continue to add crystal embellishments as desired.
NOTE: Make sure you use a high quality top coat. NO Dollar Store cheapos, please. I use the OPI Top Coat that has a slight purple hue to it. If you use a low quality top coat, it may make the crystals cloudy. We don't want cloudy. We want SPARKLY!
Step 7: Once you have completed your crystal nail design, let your nail dry for about 2 minutes. Then apply a top coat over the entire nail including the crystals. For more security, you can paint on a second layer of top coat.

To remove he nail polish and crystals, use an acetone nail polish remover. You can recycle the crystals for another nail project!

You can find a free project on www.create-your-style.com for embellishing your nails.
CLICK HERE for the PDF.

If you like this project and decide to bling out your nails, please take a picture and send it in an email to info@beadfx.com - with BLING NAILS in the subject line. Your nails may be featured in an upcoming blog post!!

Here are some images to inspire you that I found on Pinterest.








 

Grab Your Sunglasses!

From the runway to the street, neon colours are blazing a trail across the world and burning up retinas everywhere! .



















While gathering items to merchandise the Fall/Winter Swarovski Innovations pre-launch neon pearls, I discovered that beadFX is full of neon coloured items.

How do you wear or use these colours?

In beadwork, you have a lot of options. You can go all in and use all neon colours like Dwyn's eye searing inspiration bracelet Summer Party. You could also use them with a grounding colour such as black or white.

I'm working on another Double Duty Spiral bracelet (Bead&Button, August issue, page 26) by my friend and fellow beadaholic, Ellen Tihane. I've switched the 6/0 core bead to a 4mm 5328 Xilion bicone in Sun AB2X. I'm using 3mm Swarovski pearls in the neon pink. For the front and back, I've picked 8/0 neon orange lined crystal and matte cherry red ab. It is a delight to stitch up as I love the harmonious colour way.


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