Make a Beaded Bookmark for Father's Day

This is a great beading project for Father's Day.

Tools:
Scissors

Materials:
1 foot of ribbon or leather cord
8 beads (3 small and 5 big)
Clear nail polish

Measure out 1 foot of ribbon or leather cord. If you are using ribbon, fold each end in half and using the scissors, cut off the end of the ribbon diagonally to form a "v" shape (see video). On one end make a knot about 3 inches from the end, string the three small beads, and make another knot. On the other end make a knot 4 inches from the end, string the 5 larger beads, and make a final knot. Dab a little bit of nail polish along the ends of the ribbon to keep the ribbon from fraying.

Happy Father's Day!

Mother's Day Crystal Bead Bracelet

I was asked to attend at a Mother's Day event this year to teach mothers and daughters to make bracelets. This is a simple yet beautiful bracelet that every mother and daughter would love to wear.

Tools:
Round nose pliers

Materials:
12 - 14 headpins
12 - 14 6 mm beads (I like something sparkly, like a 6mm crystal bead)
1 jump ring
1 lobster clasp

Open up the jump ring and attach to the clasp. Next, put a bead onto a headpin and then using the pliers make a loop on the other side of the pin. Continue doing this for all 14 pins and beads. Then, take one of the beaded headpins that you just created and link onto the jump ring that is connected to the clasp, close the jump ring. Then take another beaded headpin and hook it just before the bead in the previous pin (see video). Use pliers to close the loop of the pin that you have just added on. Repeat the last two steps using up all of your beaded headpins until the bracelet is long enough to fit around your entire wrist. To close the bracelet, just attach the lobster clasp to the loop that you made on the last beaded headpin on your bracelet (see video). If you want to make a necklace, do the exact same thing, just use 30 headpins and 30 beads.

Jewelry Trends and Colors for Spring 2011

With the arrival of Spring, I thought I would do a post about the top jewelry trends for spring.

The top trends are

* Chokers/Bib necklaces

Lots of sparkles, embellished, bright colorful stones. Lots of layered chains with pearls, stones, ribbons, beads and feathers

* Cuffs

Very bold and very embellished, featuring large stones and beads and perfect to wear with the choker and bib necklace. Made from resin, crystal and beads.

* Long Drop earrings

Earrings that touch your shoulders featuring chain, stones, beads and feathers. Chandelier earring with a Victorian inspired design. Also lots of hoop earrings with beading, or pave diamonds or colored stones.

* Rose gold

Perfect accent to spring's bright colors and looks beautiful with any skin tone.

* Big statement rings

Once again, very embellished, beaded and large!

The designers have selected the following colors for spring.

PANTONE 18-2120 Honeysuckle
PANTONE 16-1349 Coral Rose
PANTONE 14-0941 Beeswax
PANTONE 18-4039 Regatta
PANTONE 15-3817 Lavender
PANTONE 15-4825 Blue Curacao
PANTONE 14-6324 Peapod
PANTONE 12-1206 Silver Peony
PANTONE 18-1235 Russet
PANTONE 15-4502 Silver Cloud

“The colors designers have chosen for the spring season present an interesting marriage of unexpected warm and cool tones,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. “By cleverly combining complementary colors, those that are opposites on the color wheel, they have created a striking intensity in the palette. These unique color combinations make it possible for consumers to pair existing pieces in colors traditionally associated with fall, with new favorites to punch up springtime wardrobes.”

My personal favourite colour is Honeysuckle, and that is the "it" colour for weddings this year!



To see the colors visit the website at http://www.pantone.com/pages/pantone/index.aspx.

Fabulous Tutus by Olivia Rose Designs

A reader told me about Olivia Rose Designs, since I have two little
daughters and a love of all things princess and girly (main reason I
started Beading Buds!) she knew I would love them. And I did, just
looking through the photos and seeing all the beautiful creations was
pure eyecandy. I just had to share about this company , especially
because I think beading and tutus go hand in hand, because, really,
what little princess wouldn't want to match a tutu to a necklace that
she designed and created at a Beading Buds party?

Olivia Rose Designs, an upscale specialty boutique featuring haute
dress up couture, elegant pettiskirts, and an absolutely FABULOUS tutu
boutique was started up by Anna, a fellow local mompreuer 3 years ago.

Anna makes everything princess related for babies, little girls
and even adults. From her Tutu Boutique to her legwarmers and
bloomers, there is something for every little diva out there.
Perfect for spring photos, birthday parties, pageants, and more!
Check out http://oliviarosedesigns.com to see these beautiful designs
for yourself. They have tons of designs to choose from and custom
orders are their specialty. You can also visit Olivia Rose designs on

facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Olivia-Rose-Designs/164228116937108.

So that you can get an idea of the beautiful tutus, here is a photo of
the Lavendar Fields tutu. Vintage, Beautiful and whimsical, from The
Vintage Garden Collection this tutu is sure to turn heads! Made with a soft crochet top for delicate skin, gorgeous top of the line floral,
pearls, fabulous feathers, and top of the line silk and artificial
floral.