You have an amazing opportunity to win up to $500 worth of Swarovski Elements Crystal in the My Patriotic Heart Beads…Red, White and Blue Create Your Style Design Contest! All you have to do to enter is send them a photo of the sparkling patriotic design you create using Swarovski Elements Crystal! Head over to create-your-style.com for all of the details on how to enter this fun contest!
To sweeten the deal, we’re teaming up with Swarovski to offer you 10% off ALL Swarovski Elements Crystal! Use the coupon code CRYSTAL10 to save 10% on all Swarovski Elements Crystal through July 5, 2013 @ 4 PM PDT! So, purchase your crystal from FusionBeads.com today and get started on your patriotic masterpiece! Contest ends July 4, 2013.
They will be selecting winners based on the creative use of Swarovski Elements you use to create the patriotic design!
$500.00 worth of Swarovski Elements
$250.00 worth of Swarovski Elements
$150.00 worth of Swarovski Elements
happy beading and good luck to those who enter! – Allie
Taking accurate measurements before you start making a bracelet is essential to create a piece that not only fits, but is comfortable to wear. The most basic wrist measurement is taken by wrapping a flexible tape measure around the widest part of the wrist, across the wrist bones and slightly above where your wrist bends. If you like your bracelets to fit snugly, work with the actual wrist measurement, but making the bracelet slightly larger can lead to a more comfortable piece of jewelry! For example, my wrist measures 5.5 inches, but when I make myself a bracelet I add at least 0.5-1 inch to the length to get my ideal fit.
The basic wrist measurement works for most narrow bracelets. If you’re making a wide cuff bracelet you’ll want to measure the circumference farther up your arm. For example, if you are making a 2 inch wide cuff you’ll measure the circumference of your arm 2 inches up from your wrist bones. Since your arm gets larger the farther you go from the wrist, this will make sure your bracelet fits that wider point as well as your wrist.
For a bangle bracelet you’ll take a completely different measurement. Since this type of bracelet slides on you need it to fit over the widest part of your hand. Make your hand into a duck shape by touching all your fingertips to the tip of your thumb, then use that flexible measuring tape to measure around your knuckles. Making your bangle this circumference will ensure you can get the bracelet on and that it’s less likely to slip off accidentally.
We’re having an amazing Bridal Bliss Pin to Win Contest on Pinterest! You could be one of 3 lucky winners to receive a $50 Gift Certificate to FusionBeads.com! There are just a few simple rules you have to follow to enter:
3. Start pinning! Pin at least 15 items off of our Fusion Beads Bridal Bliss pinboard onto your own.
When your pinboard contains at least 15 items from the FusionBeads.com Bridal Bliss pinboard, please email a link to your pinboard to blog@fusionbeads.com with the subject line “Bridal Bliss”.
This contest ends at 11:59 PM PST on May 28th 2013. Three lucky winners will be randomly selected and notified by email. Winners will each receive a $50 Gift Certificate to FusionBeads.com!
We here at FusionBeads.com are so excited as we have not one, but two weddings this year in the Fusion Family! Both of the excited spouses-to-be happen to be from our fabulous photography department. We just wanted to share a little peek into their color palettes and what each of them is doing for their special days!
First up is Joysha and her fiance Russel. They are having a mid-May wedding at the stately church of the Blessed Sacrament with a full Catholic Mass ceremony. It will be a larger ceremony with family and friends coming from as far away as the Philippines to share in this special occasion! It sounds like it will be a beautiful service full of love and laughter! Joysha loves spring time and that was the inspiration for her color palette of Jade, Pink Coral, Platinum and Turquoise.
Next up is Kevin and his fiance Monica. They are having a mid-October wedding on beautiful Whidbey Island. The ceremony is going to be held on a lovely grassy hillside at a friend’s farm. They are going for a organic, minimalist feel with a soft color palette that will truly reflect them as a couple and their venue. The colors they chose match up with Swarovski Elements Crystal colors of Chrysolite Opal, Black Diamond, Light Grey Opal, Golden Shadow and Peridot Satin.
Maybe if we are lucky they will share some wedding pictures with us? (Hint hint!)
We wish them both every happiness on their special days and all of the wonderful years to come!
This giveaway has ended! Congratulations to Julie P, on winning this fun assortment of seed bead mixes and bead crochet supplies! We hope you enjoy!
It’s time to mix it up! We here at FusionBeads.com are giving away an amazing selection of size 11 and size 8 seed bead mixes as well as all of the supplies you would need to make amazing bead crochet pieces! Have you learned how to bead crochet yet? If not, check out our helpful Bead Crochet Techniques at FusionBeads.com for detailed step-by-step instructions! One lucky winner is going to receive everything you see in this photo which includes: 6 different Size 8 Seed Bead Mixes, 6 different Size 11 Seed Bead Mixes, Superlon Bead Cord, Bead Crochet Hook, Tulip Tapestry Needle Set and Twisted Needles! If you would like a more detailed description of what is available in this giveaway click here! For a chance to win this colorful mix of seed beads and bead crochet supplies, leave a comment on this blog post telling us what your favorite colors to combine in a seed bead mix are! A winner will be randomly selected on Thursday, May 16, 2013, at 4 PM PST and informed by e-mail!
Lanyards are a very practical way to carry essential items! These accessories are great if you chronically misplace your reading glasses or keys. Lanyards are also a wonderful way to display a work or special event badge. Today’s tips will have you making your own handy, custom lanyard in no time!
Most lanyards are one continuous length and don’t have a clasp. Use a flexible tape measure, (like your pink Fusion Beads tape measure,) to figure out what length is easiest for you to slip over your head. 30 inches works well for most people, but if you wear your hair in up-dos you may want to add an extra inch or two.
Keep in mind what you’ll be hanging from your lanyard when you choose your supplies. If you plan to use it for keys, choose a strong, durable stringing material like beading wire or cord and string beads that are comfortable against your skin. The weight of an ID badge won’t make bicones dig in to your neck, but a set of keys will!
When choosing a center piece for your lanyard, make sure it’s compatible with whatever you’ll be carrying . Wire components are a great choice to hold reading glasses or ID badges that already have a clip attached. Pick a component that’s open enough for the ear piece your frames to fit through or small enough for the jaws of the ID badge clip to grip. You can also use a large swivel lobster clasp as your center piece. A swivel feature means you don’t have to worry about which way you put on your lanyard, since you can always face your badge in the right direction!
