Wednesday's Wear It Or Frog It

I made this necklace for a challenge in Bead magazine and was really pleased with it at the time! I made the pendant using black polymer clay, stamping into it using a Tutankhamun rubber stamp before rubbing some gold acrylic onto the surface and rubbing off the excess.

The reason it's disappeared into the depths of my jewellery box is that it's a bit uncomfortable to wear due the strung matt beads which seem to pinch my neck. Also the pendant is very lightweight and would often disappear towards my shoulder - don't you just hate that?! So off to the frog pond it goes. I'll re-pot the beads and maybe use the pendant on a bookmark or something as I still love it :)

Monday Moodboard Reveal - Purple, Blue & Green

We've had four wonderful entries for our Monday Moodboard and all use different techniques. Before I reveal them, here's a recap of the mosaic from last week...


Clockwise from top-left: Octopus Babies, New Nice Threads, Le purple-keh, Garter.

Sarah made these wonderful peacock-like circular peyote earrings, using three sizes of seed beads...



For my necklace I made some felt beads from merino wool, dotted them with seed beads and combined them with sparkly Czech crystals and chain...



Maria created this sweet charm by combining amethyst, emerald and lapis chips, a lime green and purple pearl-coated bead and bugle beads...



And this week we have a beautiful entry from one of our readers, the very lovely Carol, who made this elegant bead embroidered heart...



Thanks for joining in with us Carol!

If you'd like to join in with this or any other Monday Moodboard challenge, it's very simple. Just add your photos to our Flickr group pool (you'll need to have a Flickr account and join our group before you can add to it) or alternatively send them to me at liz@thecrimsonmoon.co.uk

Wednesdays Wear It or Frog It

I bought the kit for this bracelet from Spellbound Beads at the 2009 Welsh Bead Fair. The instructions were easy to follow, plenty of beads and it was fun to make. It came out beautifully too (it's much nicer in real life, but as the clocks have changed and we have had no sunlight to speak of here in Wales, I had to use the flash). So how come I haven't ever worn this beauty, I here you ask? Because, despite the care I took in following the pattern, I didn't check the size and it is 1/4 inch too small! I could frog it and make it again, but I would really prefer to make myself a new one from some stash beads and give this to somebody else to wear. I have a few younger teenagers in the family so I think this will find it's way into the Christmas Bran Tub!

Monday Moodboard - Purple, Blue & Green

Welcome to another Monday Moodboard! I hope you can find inspiration in this week's mosaic. Quite by accident I seem to have chosen images which have a craft theme! Don't forget that you can use the images themselves as inspiration for your project, maybe you have some crochet beads tucked away, like knitting with wire, or perhaps bead embroidery is your thing. Either way I can't wait to see what everyone makes with this combination of purple, blue and green...


Clockwise from top-left: Octopus Babies, New Nice Threads, Le purple-keh, Garter.

As always we'd love to see what you create so please do send your photos to us! Either add them to our Flickr group pool or email them to me at liz@thecrimsonmoon.co.uk and I'll show them on the blog.

Wednesday's Wear It Or Frog It

A little different from the usual WWIOFI post as I found this choker in my 'for sale' box rather than in my personal jewellery stash. I made it quite a while ago with the intention of selling it, but as the flower was made from a pattern in The Beader's Floral book I wasn't comfortable doing this without the designer's permission. Sadly I never received a reply to my email so it's been sat in the box ever since.

Well as black and red is my favourite colour combination, I've decided that rather than taking it apart, I'm going keep it all for me and will wear it when I go out shopping tomorrow :)

Monday Moodboard Reveal - Rainbow

Welcome to our Monday Moodboard Reveal! Before I show you what the team made, here's a recap of the mosaic I posted last week.

Clockwise from top-left: Taste The Rainbow, Urban Rainbow, Rainbow, Rainbow eyeshadow ben nye and m.a.c.

Two offerings from the team this time and both of them rings! Sarah made this beautiful Fiesta ring in circular peyote...


Strangely enough, I used circular peyote for my ring too! I made lots of tiny beaded beads and attached them to a looped ring with headpins...


If you've been inspired to create something, either by this or previous moodboards, why not send us a photo of your creation? It's easy, either add them to our Flickr group pool or email them to me at liz@thecrimsonmoon.co.uk and I'll show them on the blog :)

Stocking Fillers from Stash, Pearl Dangle Earrings Tutorial

I think we have probably established the fact that I love long earrings and this week's Stocking Filler from Stash tutorial is no exception. I am also continuing my new obsession with using chain.


You will need:
1 pair of earwires
1 pair of headpins
2 length's of chain (mine are each 2.5 inches long)
2 10mm pearls

Tools: wire snips to cut the chain, flat nosed & round nosed Pliers.

1. using your flat nosed pliers, open the loop one an earwire.

2. Thread through the end of a piece of chain.

3. Close the loop.

4. Thread 1 pearl on a headpin and use your round nose pliers to create the 1st part of a wire wrapped loop.

5. Thread the bottom end of the chain through the loop and finish of your wire wrapped loop and trim the end with your wire snips.

6. Repeat for a second earring.

I have assumed a knowledge of basic jewellery making skills, if you are new to jewellery making you can find instructions here http://www.beadstylemag.com/How%20To/Basics.aspx

Happy Christmas Beading!

Sarahx