Latest Jewelry Makes for Jesse James Beads Summer Bead Blast

I've been slacking in so many ways lately in sharing what I've been up to here. I recently posted several times about my mixed media art endeavors, but I've made some jewelry too! Hopefully, I'll be sharing a reveal of my most recent Bead Box makes, but I've made a few other things for Jesse James Beads and their Summer Bead Blast challenge. Here's a look at the pieces that have video tutorials. Clicking the picture and/or caption should take you to the tutorial. 

Simple Connection Earrings

Bead and Button Bracelet

Aromatherapy Car Charm

DIY Charm Pendant Necklace

And, that about covers the pieces with tutorials. I've also shared several more makes on Instagram if you want to take a peek over there too. And, there are several weeks left of the JJB Summer Bead Blast if you're interested in a fun challenge. 

Five Beaded Designs from One Mix

 The folks at Jesse James Beads surprised the Design Ambassadors with a fun little challenge. We were all sent the same beautiful components with which to work.

While we were only asked to create a single design, I couldn't stop playing with these gorgeous elements and made five pieces! You can watch me reveal the bits they sent as well as make all five pieces in my Five Beaded Designs video on YouTube. 

But, if you just want to see what I pulled together, here's a reveal of each of the designs in the order that I made them. 

I was smitten with those roses and the little crimson tassels and just had to pair them up. 

This is the only appearance the crystal chain makes in my designs, but that just means that I have more of it to use later! Single links of it work as connectors for these pretty earrings. 

Those feather charms work great on their own, but the red crystals help add a little weight to these earrings. 

The maroon color of both the pearls and the tassels had me using them together, but the design changed mid-video, as you'll see if you watch. Of course, that large clasp is the real star of this bracelet. 

I always love an owl and knew I needed to use this one somehow. It became the focal on this simple necklace that uses a few more of the beads on beading wire (What!? I never use beading wire anymore.) This was quick and easy to pull together. 

And, those were my five designs. 

I still have quite a bit of chain and beads left to use on another day. It's amazing how much you get in a MINI mix from Jesse James Beads. I've still got a whole Magical Mystery Bead Box from them that I haven't touched yet. Keep an eye on my YouTube Channel for that reveal! Oh, and if you want to see what the other Design Ambassadors made, use #JJBAmbassador throughout social media to find us. (Here's the Instagram tag for good measure.)

If you're interested, these are the links to the products we were sent: 

Mini Mix in Bing Cherry

Gunmetal Rhinestone Chain

Organic Lobster Clasp in Silver

Feather Tassel Pair

Which of these five designs is your favorite? And, what would you have made?

Jesse James Beads (April 2022)

Have I mentioned that I was selected to be a Jesse James Beads Design Ambassador? (#JJBAmbassador)

 It was a simple enough process to fill out the form on their website and then wait for the news. After that, I sat on pins and needles to see what they would send me to play with for April. You can watch my Unboxing Video for the unveiling of the above beauties. 

From there, I set to moving the beads and chain around on my desk. Almost immediately, I was ready to create. First, I came up with a pair of simple earrings made with some wire that framed several of the beads. 

I shared the process of making these in a DIY Bead and Wire Earring Tutorial on YouTube. 

Then, working with both the beads Jesse James sent me and some I bought from them, these little beauties just fell together. 

To see how these were made, you can watch the reel I made on Instagram. 

After that, I turned off the cameras and just set to work creating a bounty of jewelry. 

I really wanted to play with that gunmetal contemporary chain. So I combined it with a few of the beads from the Sunset Goddess mix and created this bracelet.

Most of the beads I received from Jesse James Beads came in even numbers, making them perfect for earrings. So, I HAD to create several more pairs. First were these that also used a few links of some chain I purchased from them.

And, I had to see how well they worked with a few snippets of tin. 

Then, the gunmetal chain drew my eye again!

Finally, I combined some of the beads they sent with some of the beads and chain I bought to create this lovely, delicate butterfly necklace. 

All around, I'm ticked with the results and how fun it is to create with Jesse James Beads. I'm hoping they want to continue to work with me as a Design Ambassador and can't wait to see what they send next to inspire me! Keep your eyes peeled for more.

ZnetShows Creative Spark Summer 2016 Reveal

As I mentioned in my previous goal review post, I'd been busy with the ZnetShows.com e-magazine, Creative Spark. The virtual publication is now live and ready to inspire. I know you've got to come in from the Summer heat at some time, so why not peruse these virtual pages while you're at it? If you're impatient, you can follow this link to go straight to Creative Spark Summer 2016 to see all the designs.

Creative Spark  Summer 2016

While I edit the publication and manage the social media for ZnetShows.com, I'm also a designer for them. So, you'll find some of my designs within the pages. The whole theme for this magazine was to promote some of the new bead shapes and styles. As such, I divided it up by those categories. When I first saw a few of the beads, I immediately saw particular designs.

First up were the cultured sea glass top-drilled teardrop nugget pendants. When I saw the two sizes of the pendants, I knew I wanted to created a layered necklace. It took some finagling, but this beauty finally came together with some tubes and Chinese crystal beads, all from ZnetShows.com.

While I had the jet black sea glass beads out, I decided to play with altering them. Clear nail polish was a quick and easy way to give them some shine. I simply added dots to one side of the teardrop nuggets and a stripe (as best as I could) around the tube beads.

The double-hole flat freeform pendants also struck a chord with me from the first moment I saw them. I just had to make them into bracelets. Initially, I knew that the matte nature of the cultured sea glass leaned perfectly toward casual-wear. Using leather flowed naturally from that idea. It took a little force to get the leather through the holes (because I was too lazy to go find thinner leather), but I totally got these to work. As well, I learned to make adjustable knots so these could fit any number of wrist sizes. Oh, and I couldn't help myself again from altering at least one of them. I simply stamped a text stamp with some permanent ink onto one of the pendants. Because these are flat, it was a perfect base for stamping.

Once the leather ones were made, I decided to attempt to dress up the cultured sea glass a bit. Use of Chinese crystal beads in a rondelle shape made it easy. I used the light aqua 'coke' bottle seafoam-colored glass but wanted to make them match the crystals a bit more. As such, I altered two of the pendants with alcohol inks. The original-colored one is in the center of the picture below. Each of the bracelets work great on their own or stacked together. The construction of them also makes it easy to link all the bracelets together for one long wrap bracelet.

Even after making all that jewelry, I still had plenty of pendants left on my desk. With some E6000 glue, I quickly dressed up a square candle votive from the Dollar Tree. It totally matches the upcycled TV stand in our living room. It's no surprise that that's where the votive now lives.

My designs are just a few of the ones you'll find in Creative Spark Summer 2016. If you want more information on the beads I used, there are direct links to the products inside the magazine. Click over to see more, or use the viewer below to flip through the pages. I know you'll find something that inspires you.


Let me know what you think of the e-magazine and if you have any questions about how I created my designs, please don't hesitate to ask!

Industrial Chic Goodies

Several weeks or maybe even months ago (I don't even know anymore, time is just slipping by me so quickly) I received a package from the Susan Lenart Kazmer, LLC Industrial Chic line of products. The products are available at Michael's Arts and Crafts stores nationwide. I've purchased from this line before and really love the mixed media, eclectic-ness of it. Here's the awesomeness I received.

A selection of charms, chain, and ribbon/rhinestone chain

Some cool Industrial Chic pendants

I love that this was another challenge to use products I may not have selected for myself initially. Those kind of challenges really get my muse a-working!

I grouped the fun glitter-filled bottles together for this triple-layered necklace. First though, I altered the labels on the bottles with some alcohol inks and sandpaper to give them more of an aged look. There's something very Halloween-y about this necklace. I think it looks like a witch's secret stash of ingredients/potions.

With the gray faceted charms, I used some gray agate beads from ZnetShows to make these simple, neutral earrings.

I was so intrigued by the black rhinestone ribbon that I just knew I had to use it for something. A little embroidery thread and some bright e-beads turned it into this lightweight bracelet.

A necklace was for sure in order with the pendants. I altered the way the flat wires were attached at the top and bottom of the pendant and made a bit of fringe with some of the chain and ribbon from the stash I received. A large, brass ball pin chain completes the necklace.

I actually have another necklace made, but I'm considering submitting it to a magazine. As such, I don't feel comfortable sharing it here at the moment. Let me just say. . .it's awesome!

If you haven't seen the Industrial Chic line at Michael's you are missing out. There are some really great components available. Have you created with this line before? Isn't it great!?

ZnetShows June Challenge Beads Received

I've received some more awesome beads in the mail from ZnetShows. Design Team members were offered the chance to be partnered up, pick beads for their partner as inspired by the beach, and design with those beads.

By happy chance I ended up with two partners. . .that means TWO sets of beads for me!

Christine Stonefield of Sweet Girl Design is my first partner.  And here's the lovely selection of beads she picked out.

My second partner is Kelly Patterson of PyxeeStyx~Traveling Sideshow. She picked out a wonderfully eclectic mix of beads and chain.

I've already started designing with both sets of these beautiful beads. Our reveals are to be on or before July 6th as there will be a Blog Hop of all the designs at the ZnetShows Blog on July 6th. As well, there's going to be a GIVEAWAY involved. Make sure to check back for more details!

Diamonds in the Rough: ZnetShows Design Team Reveal

**Welcome! This is a picture-heavy post. As well, all photos can be clicked on for a better view.**

I was invited once again by ZnetShows to be part of their design team for another creative challenge. This one involved some of their wholesale beads and they're calling it a "Diamonds in the Rough" Challenge to showcase some of their older and overlooked stock. We were given the chance to select some items from a LONG list of options and then they threw in a few surprises as well. Let me start by showing you what I received.

Yup, they sent me OODLES of goodies!

Here's a better look at the pendants, both the ones I requested and a few surprises.

I requested the Bone Chinese knot (PDG215-04) and the Abalone square (PDG257-06). And. ZnetShows also included the Bamboo coral tube (CB25-17), Natural oval shell (PDG76-07), and the Synthetic amber dobut (PT17-03) as surprises.

These are the bead strands I requested

Left to right: Labradorite chips (SB2-06), Opalescent glass rounds (BDG58-44), Amazonite pebbles (BDS1413-06), Green-dyed fire agate rounds (BDS1591-06), Dyed-gray fire agate rondelles (BDS1595-05), Peridot rounds (BDS1461-01), and Black onyx glass rounds (BDG58-31)

Here are the beads they surprised me with (or what's left of them)

Left to right: Olive jade oval puffs (BDG65-01), Dyed-yellow fire agate rounds (BDS1593-02), Rose quartz cubes (SCBDG142-18B), and Olive jade rounds (BDG66-04)

Yeah, I felt totally spoiled! I included the product codes in the captions so that you can find them easier in the ZnetShows site, but I've also linked to them throughout this post.

Now for what I did with all that goodness.

I decided to start with the bits I thought would pose the hardest challenge (the surprises they threw at me). In this case, the rose quartz cubes and natural shell oval pendant boggled me. I don't usually work with much pink and haven't used cubes in a while. But, these items seemed to go well together so I started with that.

As I played around with the loose cubes on my desk, I liked the semi-triangular shape they made when I stacked two and then one of them. I contemplated how to make a chain of one-two-one-two, and ended up achieving that with some black waxed linen cord. I looped the ends of the cord through the hole in the natural shell pendant, added some black glass seed beads and small silver beads, and knotted the ends.

For the back of the necklace, I tied on some black leather cord and knotted the ends of those. The suede simply ties in a bow so that the whole necklace's length is adjustable.

From there, I moved onto another color I'm not usually fond of (but one that has been making more and more appearances in my wardrobe and bead box here lately); coral/orange. I knew I really wanted to do something interesting with that coral tube so I paired it with the knotted bone pendant.

I darkened the bone pendant a little with some watered-down black acrylic paint so that the details in the pendant are a little more visible. I then sealed it with some Renaissance Wax. The coral tube got turned on its side with some Vintaj Artisan Copper wire and was attached it to the bone pendant.

To add just a little more interest to the simple aged copper chain, I painted Vintaj Patina in rust on a few copper charms. I'll admit the patina came out a little more orange than I had hoped, but I still like the addition of it.

Next I moved onto two of my favorite strands of beads in the bunch, the amazonite pebbles and the labradorite chips. With some Vintaj Arte Metal wire, I made a chain out of wire wrapping an alternating pattern from these stone beads.

Since the chain was so striking, the addition of a few small bits (a key, a chippy vintage glass pearl, an altered circular charm, and a glass button) was all that was needed for the focal.

I really, really love this necklace!

I wanted to make sure I created something with each of the pendants, so I turned to the beautiful Abalone shell pendant next. There are so many colors that shine through on the shell that I had a hard time deciding which colors to accent. After a while, I realized that the green-dyed fire agate rounds and the labradorite chips included in my package were perfect compliments.

In addition to the stones, I took a few oval links from a chain and wire wrapped just one side of them with some seed beads. The necklace was finished off with a short length of chain. The shininess of it all works so well.

There was only one focal left, the synthetic amber donut. I don't usually work well with donuts, but I realized that this one had a small hole on either side of it for stringing. That made a whole world of design possibilities open up for me.

As you can see, I finally settled on using it as the focal in a bracelet with some more black waxed linen cord, some amber-colored glass beads I had on hand, and the black onyx glass beads from ZnetShows. As a closure, I pulled out a vintage shank button from my stash.

After using all the focals, I felt like I could play with the beads a little more. I loved the tiny peridot beads, but their size made them kinda intimidating. I knew I didn't want to hide them in a piece, but was puzzled as how to make them front and center. Flipping through my sketchbook, I found a design that would suit those little gems perfectly.

I hole punched, textured, and colored (with more Vintaj Patinas) a Vintaj copper blank then strung the peridot beads onto two lengths of beading wire. A medium length of chain finished off the focal.

For the rest of the (very long) necklace, I wire wrapped some frosted green glass beads and copper beads intermittently between the same chain. Even though this necklace fits easily over the head, I added a clasp so that it can be wrapped twice.

I really wanted to work with those yellow-dyed fire agates next but was clueless as to what I should do with them. Since they have little bits of green in them, I knew it needed to be included in the design. After some thought, I turned to Design Seeds for color inspiration. {I thought I had saved a link to the palette I ended up using, but cannot find it anywhere (isn't that always the way?).} I ended up going through my beads and just tossing ones in that palette into a bowl and stirring it around for a while before this beauty emerged.

This lovely, long necklace not only includes the yellow fire agate from ZnetShows but also the rose quartz cubes, olive jade oval puffs, and olive jade rounds from there . . .along with a variety of beads from my existing stash. I strung all the beads onto some 20 gauge dark annealed steel wire that I sealed with Renaissance Wax and just made simple loops to connect them.

The necklace will even wrap a few times (3-4) to make a pretty bracelet.

The opalescent glass beads were some of the first ones I chose when Bill at ZnetShows gave us a choice, but then I was stumped as how to best display them. After some thought, this simple but elegant bracelet came together.

Strand one is made up of the opalescent glass and some small silver beads, strand two is seed beads, and strand three is a silver chain. A chandelier crystal and a glass pearl hang from the bracelet.

I finished out my designs with a few pairs of earrings.

The soothing color of the gray-dyed fire agate rondelles reminded me of some shells I had gathered at the beach the week before. With that in mind, I combined the two for a unique pair of dangly earrings. They're even topped off with levered ear wires that have a shell design on them.

I tried my hand at wire wrapping the olive jade oval puff beads with some Vintaj brass wire. From those, I hung one of the olive jade rounds. Simple, but pretty.

For my last pair of earrings, I used more of the yellow-dyed fire agate rounds. With some scrap green leather, I cutout a pair of leaf shapes and added an eyelet/grommet in gold to prevent them from tearing. I think they're kinda fun.

So. . .that's it. I hope you made it through this whole post. I'm pretty proud of what I designed and even a little surprised at how well it all came together. I'd like to thank Bill and the whole team at ZnetShows for selecting me to be on the Design Team for these awesome wholesale beads and making me push my limits with their 'surprises'. It was GREAT!

You should be able to find a complete list of the Design Team members and links to their reveals on the ZnetShows Blog.
Thanks y'all for hanging in until the end!