Jewelry Making Outside The Box: Easy Peasy Projects

August 24, 2017

An Elephant's Treasure....And A Contest!

It's been such a crazy good time, unearthing all the beautiful old pieces from The 1928 Jewelry Company. Mel Bernie, CEO and driving force behind this beloved jewelry line, has become such a friend and mentor. He is always finding vintage photos and pieces to share with me.

Here and there, I talk him into making the pieces again, so that collectors may enjoy them. A few make it to our website but most are sold directly from my page at Facebook.

Ingrid Anderson, a busy jewelry designer and a member of the B'sue Boutiques Creative Group at Facebook, has been an avid collector of 1928 Jewelry for many years. Here and there, she has been showing us treasured pieces of her collection. Due to her sharing, we've offered a stunning heart shaped magnifying glass, reprised from her collection. Also we are currently having the perfume bottle pendant re-made, and buyers were allowed to choose the color of stone as well as the metal color (silver or gold) that they wanted.

Ingrid also found the delightful elephant pendant in the photo above, many years ago. The original had a lovely Victorian-style cameo bonded into the bottom of it, sort of like a wax seal.

I asked Mr. Bernie about the pendant and he said, sure, we can re-create that for your collectors! And then, he wanted to know if I wanted the original cameo in the piece, or left hollow so that I could place my own semi precious stones in the pieces? Or, so that you could.....

There it is, standing up on its own, just like a delightful little figurine. But yes, the underside is hollow:

It occurred to me that my collectors and customers might really enjoy filling the elephant with their own version of treasure! So I experimented a bit to see what would happen with a domed glass lens and some sparkly items:

That piece will be taken apart now that I know it works.....I have other ideas for it, and other treasures I would like to use. Also, I used E6000 to glue in the lens and it's just a bit too glurpy. Hypotube cement would be much better for the application of a crystal lens:

You can find it on our website, if you need some: https://www.bsueboutiques.com/product-p/hypotube.htm

ANYWAY: We thought that maybe this time, since I have only a limited number of elephant necklaces to share, maybe we should make a mini kit with the elephant pendant and include one lens.

Then, those who purchased one, could have the option of joining us for a little contest.

You can put anything you want in there.....whatever treasures you like, that is what your elephant will carry! Glitter, seed beads, stones, pearls, watch parts, just keep thinking, you'll come up with your own unique ideas. The elephant could also be filled with a beautiful stone (you will need 25X18mm) I filled one with a piece of our Chinese turquoise:

Chinese turquoise is found here at B'sue Boutiques: https://www.bsueboutiques.com/Turquoise-Stone-Turquoise-Semi-Precious-03654-p/semi03654.htm

I can't take mine off! I also have one that Mr. Bernie put together for me, in silver...with a blue lace agate, which you can find here: https://www.bsueboutiques.com/Blue-Lace-Agate-Semi-Precious-Stone-25x18-03850-p/semi03850.htm

We really have a lovely selection of semi-precious cabs and beads at B'sue Boutiques now, and it's growing all the time, too. Our prices are very reasonable:

https://www.bsueboutiques.com/category-s/1932.htm

Anyway....getting back to the contest. This one time, only, we are leaving on the 1928 swing tags. So you will be literally be creating your own piece of 1928 jewelry!

We have silver and gold elephants. The trunk is up, and that's the way elephant collectors like it! The pendant is chunky and weighted, but not overly heavy. It measures about 1.5 inches up and down, and 1.25 across, and is very dimensional....as I mentioned, rather like an old wax seal or little figurine. The cavity underneath has a depth of about an inch. The chain is 30 inches long and included.

It would be great for resin, too. Or, why not consider doing an image on the back of the lens? That could be really interesting. You could look for just the right small image to depict the elephant's treasure...or evoke a sentimental memory....or maybe something depicting a circus.

The cost for the elephant and the lens is $35.00 and this includes the US shipping for you, too.

Those who buy the elephant and decide they want to be part of the contest to share what treasure their elephant is carrying (and there is no right or wrong, no disqualifying factors) should be members of the Creative Group. If you are not yet, come and join us! Once again, find it here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bsueboutiquescreativegroup/

Each one who wants to participate should tell me when they purchase their elephant kit. I'll put them on the list! I hope we get at least 10 to jump into the fun. At the beginning of October, when I come back from the master class I am teaching in California at the 1928 factory, I will create a special Pinterest board for your photos. This way you will have plenty of time to work with your elephant. I will give all those in the contest pinning rights so you can get your picture on there, after the board is up.

On Sunday October 15th, the winner, who will be chosen by Mr. Bernie, will be announced at the Creative Group and here at my blog, as well. The winner will receive 500 bonus points placed into their B'sue Boutiques customer account, ready to use. By the way, 500 rewards points equals a $25.00 gift certificate!

The winner will also receive in the mail a very special piece of 1928 Jewelry, that Mr. Bernie will pick out.

I have 20 kits. If you purchase one, you do NOT have to be in the contest, but we would love to have you join us, and see what you do with your official 1928 Jewelry Company elephant necklace!

To get your kit: Please contact Brenda Sue Lansdowne at Facebook via private message/Facebook Messenger. You may choose silver or gold. You can pay with PayPal and I can send you an invoice. You can also call us at 1-800-868-4393 for a PayPal invoice OR to pay by credit card over the phone. Someone is here most days from 9 to 5 pm. Do not request one here in the comments on this blog as I might miss you!

I can't say for sure..... but I sort of think that we will place the elephant necklaces quickly. Don't assume they are sold, though. Feel free to inquire. Who knows, maybe Mr. Bernie will make us some more, another time?

Here's to the Elephant's Treasure! Let's see what you come up with!

Posted at 10:40 PM in Coupons and Contests, Easy Peasy Projects, Encouraging Your Artistic Journey, Jewelry Making, Style and Color | Permalink | Comments (1)

June 02, 2017

Building a Backless Bezel Pendant Using Magic-Glos

I'm not huge into resin but I'm awfully glad I'm not afraid of it. I have had some great successes with it and have always enjoyed using Ice Resin more that other resins.

Quite some time ago I was introduced to Magic-Glos which is a one part resin that needs UV light to cure. Joy, joy, joy, you DON'T have to mix it and get it right. YES!!! And under the light it will cure in under ten minutes, quite hard. In short, it's an instant gratification type crafts product.

When I first used the stuff it wouldn't cure for me. I was disgusted and pitched it all out. In time, I surely wished I hadn't! When Christi Friesen visited us last year for the May Workshop, she showed a great way to use it on polymer clay to get a beautiful hard finish. The trick, she said, was don't pour deep. LIGHT coats. AHA! She was right. I've been hooked ever since!

We got these very cool backless bezels in for B'sue by 1928 :

From the moment I first saw them I wondered, Hmmm! How would Magic-Glos work in those?

But yeah, they are a bit deep. I had to think about it. Determined to try I got out the packing tape and stuck the bezel down, hard, onto it, burnishing the back so no resin would leak through the back:

I then filled the very bottom of the pendant with Magic Glos, maybe only one-quarter of the way up. I was careful not to get any dirt or trapped air into it. Then, I very gingerly placed it under the UV light:

Very easy, then! Just let it go 7-8 minutes, and hard as a rock. Don't worry, it's not hot in that chamber!

I then poured a little more resin, just enough that it would hold my pretty vintage cabochon in the bezel:

And the bezel went back under the light for about the same amount of time.

This was not the first time I'd done this....here is another one I did, the one in the middle:

I noticed that when I had filled it, it was cured, and I pulled off the packing tape, it was a bit gooey. SO: I just poured on a little more resin to even it out and put it under the light again. That took care of the gooey back!

This time, on the one with the vintage cab with the flowers, the back was pretty good. NOT gooey. But I did a thin layer over it again, anyway, and cured it.

Then I flipped it over and did a couple more scant pours and domed it.

I got a nice dome. But you can see, as I did the pours, some must not have gone all the way out to the edge. So that's the down side of it: You do have to do the layers to get it to cure. But each one must be identical or you will have layering.

Honestly, upright, it looks pretty sweet. I'm definitely going to use it and make something nice. Just a part of the Magic-Glos learning curve, I guess! You learn by working with something and experimenting.

I REALLY like the results of Magic-Glos over ICED ENAMELS:

I can't wait to play around with my new components and make them into jewelry! Yes, all have Iced Enamels applied in the standard way, but instead of topping with Ice Resin, I used Magic-Glos, just to go ahead and finish them up. I think they came out great!

We don't carry Magic-Glos at B'sue Boutiques but I will tell you, the deal is that you HAVE to buy the UV light to get it to work. Without it, it does not cure. Some have said it will if you pour it outside on a bright sunny day but then you have to worry about things blowing into it! So if you want to try this stuff, bite the bullet and get a light. I am not sure if the standard UV light used to cure gel nails and manicures will work, it might. I truly believe, though, if you are going to work with resin and you don't want to wreck your work, why not use the tools they recommend?

Once you have the light, the bulb will last a long time and it's not hard to find a replacement for it, either. When you buy Magic Glos, go ahead and spend for the larger bottle too. It's a better deal and, you won't just cooking on this stuff and run out! I always have two big bottles around. It's such a quick fix or finish for so many projects!

As mentioned, Magic-Glos costs more than resin, a two part kit of ICE Resin will go a lot farther. If you are used to mixing it up and using it, you might just want to continue. I would not say that one is better than the other. If time is not important, don't worry about it. But when you need to fix something quick, you will be REALLY glad you had Magic-Glos in your arsenal along with the UV light!

And remember:

Posted at 10:19 PM in Easy Peasy Projects, Encouraging Your Artistic Journey, Mixed Media Technique, Resinology | Permalink | Comments (4)

June 10, 2016

Setting Up a Photo Shoot Booth In My Workshop

I'm playing around here today at making a new photo station in my studio. I decided I would like to have one to photo jewelry that I have made, one that is permanently set up down there in the workshop. At the same time it has to be something that's not in my way, taking my creative space.

I have a nice mannequin, just a half body to the waist, that I picked up when a store went out of business. Fits on my counter just right, and it's fun to dress up. And it swivels, too!

Right down on that far end of my big central worktable....on the left, just out of the photo. She fits just fine. And she stays there.

Not in the way of our video set up, or my work stations!

I got the mannequin a pretty top that fits just right but won't compete with the jewelry. You can see it in the first photo. The white folding screen is just inexpensive foam board, a tri-fold I picked up at Walmart for maybe 5.00 or so.

When I am not doing a photo shoot, I can just take that down , fold it up and slide it into a clean, safe place under my big worktable. Out of the way and takes just a second!

I have these funky 'balloon' lights that can be twisted and positioned, and they are on a pole. Easily moved around, and they provide far more light than my photos here show:

They cost 19.99 at Home Depot . I can put them on a stool or a box to direct light down or up, and I can position them at will. When I am not using them, they go back against the wall out of my way. I have continuous electric strip around my L shaped workspace just behind me, so I can plug it in anywhere. Easy access to a plug with that strip!

Above, I have stepped the folding foam board screen down to a narrow table I recently purchased. It is narrow, and sits right in front of the table. It takes up very little room and doesn't interfere with anything.

So the photo gets made....

A little crop, a little adjusting in Photoshop....

Not terrible.

Here, on the mannequin:

Certainly there are any number of tricks I will learn as I play around with it.

One thing I already know is when I use the wooden table, I will be using white paper backgrounds or muted scrapbook sheets that enhance the jewelry and won't compete with it. I have a great start here, but the white paper will provide light and make the details of the piece much sharper and stand-out.

Photography buffs will be far fussier with their set up than I and will have a lot of advanced tricks to avoid shadows, etc. There are some amazing cameras and all sorts of equipment you can buy to make your photos band-box perfect. I envy those who know how to work that sort of equipment!

My problem is I don't have the money to buy that gear....and what's worse, I'm not tech-y. Having to sit and read and watch videos and work out all the bugs with new equipment saps my time and strength. I usually get pretty fussed up with those things. I want to make jewelry and be productive in my workshop, and spend minimal needed time on cameras and computers.

I'm more of a you-figure-it-out and then, you-show-me person!

In the long run, what a gal like me needs! is a photo that will work sufficiently to sell a product. Good, clear, all the details in view. Get the picture, load it to the computer, do a little adjusting with my simple Photoshop skills and voila!

Ready to go! This whole set up cost me:

1. 20.00 for the mannequin at the going out of biz sale at Fashion Bug

2. two of the balloon lights, about 40.00 total, and enough lightbulbs to fill them, about 10.00 from the Dollar Store

3. foam board at Walmart 5.00

4. top for the mannequin at Marshall's, 10.00

Then my little Nikon camera, and good to go!

The version of Photoshop that I have is rudimentary, but has all the tools I really need. And it was FREE! My tech team loaded it to my office computer when they set it up. Thank goodness, I didn't have to. They set it up for me, and Javi tweaked it.

If I want to do more photo editing, I will go to http://www.picmonkey.com and use the tools in my pnline account. That's fast and easy, too!

This will work out just fine, and I will find new tricks as I go along.

Posted at 08:48 PM in Easy Peasy Projects, Jewelry Making, Managing Your Arts and Crafts-Related Business, Selling Your Work | Permalink | Comments (5)

August 25, 2015

The Joys of Swellegant

This is Linda Lee's recent order from B'sue Boutiques All SWELLEGANT, and a parrot! Isn't he handsome?

OH.....and those are her freebies received with her order....we love sending freebs or discount coupons....or both!

Lately I've done some videos with Swellegant (a knock-out, simple patina system where you can patina anything!) on RESIN, PLASTIC PEARLS....and SEASHELLS!

and

Here are some resin flowers I did in the video:

And some shells and pearl cabs...

Here's a necklace made with some of the shells...

Used it on the locket, too.

Mary Beth Quigley-Spiker of Q has been sharing some collage photos of things she's been working on using Swellegant....

GORGEOUS STUFF. And then, she sent us some pix of different looks doing using different Swellegant products:

Yep, we carry this line proudly at B'sue Boutiques

Find it here on our website.....there's a fine stock of everything:

Swellegant Patina System at B'sue Boutiques

If you haven't tried it yet, come pick some up and start playing!

Posted at 07:04 PM in American Made Brass, Designer Finishes, Easy Peasy Projects, Encouraging Your Artistic Journey, Mixed Media Technique, Resinology | Permalink | Comments (3)

August 09, 2015

What in the World is FUF? Did I Tell You Before? Well I'll Tell Ya Again, and You'll Wanna Lissen Up!

It's a good representative photo....what can I say?

All of us, or most of us, tend to have workspaces, sometimes numerous ones! where work is being accomplished but there's also a lot of wheel-spinning happening, as well.

We want to discipline ourselves but we need a solid creative nudge...or kick in the pants.

Over a year ago, Judy Jones King came in the cyber door at the B'sue Boutiques Creative Group and said, hey, there seems to be a lot of goofing around in here....or something to that effect. All said in good humor, whatever it was, I assure you.

But the next thing was, grab your camera, share what's on your work table! We had a ton of group participation and EVERYONE loved it.

That was the FIRST Work Table Wednesday.

Soon after that, Marcia Tuzzolino and Judy seemed to simultaneously---if I can recall properly!--come up with the idea that SOMETHING on that table ought to be done and finished and ready to sell by Friday.

And so was born FINISHED UP FRIDAY, or as we affectionately call it, FUF.

There you go!

For nearly a year Marcia and Judy alternately sponsored a monthly prize for FUF. They'd count the names of the participants who had submitted photos to our FUF Pinterest board within that month, do the number generator thing and award a 25.00 gift certificate to one of their peers.

OUT OF THEIR OWN POCKETS!

That's the sort of spirit we have at the Creative Group

Eventually we extended the deadline to Saturday and pix could be loaded either by Friday or Saturday, and had to be dated. It was only fair; some of our peeps have day jobs or kids to tend or caregiving jobs to do. So an extra day made sense.

For a FULL YEAR Marcia and Judy did this, giving this gift from their own pockets and then we concentrated on the weekly giftie for Work Table Wednesday, which I was always responsible for....and here and there I'd randomly give one for FUF.

Well here is an announcement:

I'd like to see FUF pick up and have a few more pinners/participants. I love to showcase the beautiful work done with products from B'sue Boutiques and call out the designers' shops if I know their name. Whatever I can do to help promote YOU and YOUR work with our goods, I want very much to do.

SO....FIRST. CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE:

Marcia and Judy, just as an acknowledgement of your contributions, I have a 25.00 free gift pass for each of you. I will send you both a code. PLEASE ENJOY. It's not enough to pay you back for all you have done for this group, but it's an acknowledgment of the fine work you have done for us. (Marcia and Judy are also members of the B'sue Boutiques Design Team)

SECOND.....This week is the first week of WEEKLY GIFTIES for participation in the FUF arrangement. I counted our participants this week and the winner is BEV SEDY.

Bev, I will be sending you a personally chosen and gift-wrapped GIFTIE from B'sue to you. something I know you will love!

Here are some pix from this week's pinners:

Bev's contribution:

from Janet Calardo of Jan Lea Jewels:

Mary Beth Quigley-Spiker of Q:

Irene Hoffman of Hearts Dezire:

Jann Tague of Clever Jewels at Facebook and Etsy:

Karen Mansell:

There are so many more: Renee Hong, Shari Gardner, Karen Eaton, Linda Caudle, Harry Wood, Gillian Cunningham Wright ....to name a few....

AW SHUCKS...come on over and have a look at some really fine mixed media work:

B'sue Boutiques FUF Finished Up Friday Pinterest Board

A shout out and a thank you to Irene Hoffman for managing and curating the FUF board.

Would you like to come along with us for this weekly challenge?

First, please join the B'sue Boutiques Creative Group

Then ask Irene Hoffman for pinning rights.

On Fridays and Saturdays, show us things you have finished up that week, preferably from your messy Work Table Wednesday tables.

All items pinned must include at least a few visible items from B'sue Boutiques but it can be any sort of mixed media style jewelry, beadwork, metalwork, assemblage, etc that you like.

Many have said that even though it's not possible for everyone to submit something every week (although I think we have a few who have, I believe Harry Wood has!) the FUF challenge gives them impetus and a desire to get good quality projects done and then, loaded to their Etsy and other artisan shops.

Many times it pays off right away in a quick sale!

And now, it will pay off with a weekly GIFTIE from B'sue. BE SURE you date your pinned photos! I can only include pinned photos!

Leave me some comments, guys! This is great news!

Posted at 08:39 PM in Coupons and Contests, Easy Peasy Projects, Encouraging Your Artistic Journey, Featuring Artists Whose Work I Admire, Managing Your Arts and Crafts-Related Business, Selling Your Work | Permalink | Comments (16)

November 15, 2014

OKAY.....SO WHO WON???

THANKS!!! to all who came to the blog to comment on Michelle's book and to try and win a copy of it.

We had over 85 responses and from the commentary received, I do believe Michelle has a best-seller on her hands!

AND THE WINNER IS

SHIRLEY WILSON

So glad she won, she's gonna love this volume. As for the rest, perhaps some of the other groups you belong to will have promotions and opportunities to win, as the book is being widely promoted.

To tell you the truth, my feeling is this: WHY WAIT? You're an automatic winner if you just go get yourself a copy. I believe Amazon is carrying it and I know you can get it at Barnes and Noble.

It may be possible to obtain a copy directly from the author as well. If you do that, perhaps she'll sign it for you. For me, my author-signed books are my treasures.

Michelle Mach's Etsy shop is http://michellemach.etsy.com/

Follow her on Twitter @beadsandbooks

At B'sue Boutiques not only do we strive to offer you the best in jewelry making components, things I KNOW are quality and will set your work apart. My journey is long. I've been using American-made and the best in European-made product for almost three decades.

Our special joy is to provide free instruction at our YouTube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/user/bsueboutiques/videos

Some who counsel about making video say your videos should get to the point, and be short.

I agree that getting to the point is always a great idea, but being short: sorry, that's not easily done and rarely well done, IMHO. You really can't fully teach a great technique in five minutes or less.

Short videos leave out most of the vital details and YOU, the hopeful learner, to go off, scratch your head and try to figure it out by yourself.....which you could have done without even watching the video, I suppose.

So come join us for our virtual classes at You Tube. Yesterday it was my pleasure to shout out Michelle's book on our mini-assemblage video, at about minute 34, toward the very end:

I like Michelle's approach to making things easy and compelling. SO....just go get the book.

And do come and visit us for our videos, share them with your friends, and check out B'sue Boutiques for your supply needs.

You might like to join us at the B'sue Boutiques Creative Group for a no-drama collaboration of assemblage and mixed media artists of like mind who share their journey and care about yours, too.

We have many challenges including our monthly ones (this month we are making CAMEO JEWELRY) and WTW, which is WORK TABLE WEDNESDAY----a giftie is randomly given to a participant EVERY WEEK....and FINISHED UP FRIDAY, which shows the work we've gotten done that week. There is a gift given by your peers at the group for a randomly chosen participant every month.

I give away Muse packages, samples, things on your wish list if you pin them at our HEY! Look What I Got from B'sue Boutiques Pinterest board, and free shopping passes to happy winners who visit our website and place orders, every week.

I LOVE GIVEAWAYS.

The best thing anyone can give, however, is their time. When you consider how much time it takes your fave authors to produce the books they write, and the cost of the books seems so inconsequential. In the long run, they do it for the love of getting the info out there---you really don't make a ton to write a book.

As for our free videos and the free help at the B'sue groups at Facebook...well, I can't even tell you how much time that takes. It's all from the heart.

And when I see how people grow as artists, progress, and become all they can be and more, I love to shout them out, congratulate and promote them. And it makes me feel so proud to have been any little part of their success.

Congratulations, Michelle, on a job well done!

Posted at 11:47 AM in Books in My Library, Coupons and Contests, Easy Peasy Projects, Jewelry Making, Mixed Media Technique | Permalink | Comments (4)

November 12, 2014

Unexpected Findings.....Clever Jewelry Book and YOU Can WIN a Copy

Today is Work Table Wednesday at the B'sue Boutiques Creative Group but apparently I haven't gotten much farther than this book...

It's Michelle Mach's first volume, and I'd have to say, it's about time! Michelle has written over 100 articles for print in most of your favorite beading magazines.

She has also written a number of tutorials for the B'sue Boutiques website.

You can find them here:

Free Tutorials at B'sue Boutiques Website

Michelle shines when it comes to easy-peasy designing. She can look at a simple bit and see things that many of us don't, at first glance. Her jewelry designs are simple but compelling and easy to wear.....take another look at the pieces on the cover of her book:

B'sue Boutiques is thrilled to be referenced as a source of supply in Michelle's book, and some of our stampings and findings were also used in the projects.

The book on the table is MY personal copy, signed over to me:

Signed copies of jewelry designers' books are very precious to me. If you are such an author and send me a copy of your book signed over to me, you will be sure to get a review on my blog!

But I must say, Michelle is a very special designer to me and I am just thrilled to receive this gift from her.

I also have an extra copy sent to me from the publisher. YOU WANT THIS BOOK......and!

YOU CAN WIN IT.

Here's how:

JUST LEAVE US A COMMENT on this blog to let me know you're reading along, because I want to know that you're a reader----why give you this wonderful book if you're not going to make use of it?

Leave the comment by Friday at noon (November 14th)

I will use the random number generator and letcha know on this blog, who won.

So...SPEAK UP! I might be persuaded to send you a few B'sue goodies along with the book. Let's get a big hurray for MICHELLE and LOTS of comments, please!

And if you feel so compelled, would you be kind enough to shout out this blog post on your social media pages? All I need here are comments, but the kindness of a comment on your FB page, a tweet, a pin on Pinterest would be very much appreciated.

Posted at 05:27 PM in Books in My Library, Coupons and Contests, Easy Peasy Projects, Featuring Artists Whose Work I Admire, Jewelry Making | Permalink | Comments (89)

August 30, 2014

How to Make a Charm String Necklace

These are charmstring necklaces.

They are based on a brooch I made back twenty years ago, that was part of the large line of gift jewelry that was made by myself and seven artisan helpers for gift shops, small department stores and boutiques, florists, tourist shops, country shops and hospital gift kiosks.

These days brooches don't sell so well but this is still a lovely idea, so I decided to reprise it yesterday in a video:

The necklace is based on a raw brass brooch stamping that we sell at B'sue Boutiques

You will find it here:

http://www.bsueboutiques.com/product-p/fig0603.htm

Here is a list of everything basic that you will need to make this necklace:

flow09427 ceramic flower, or check the Ceramic Flowers Section

fig0603 the bow stamping, see link above

cap02260 beehive cap http://www.bsueboutiques.com/product-p/cap02260.htm

chn04832 the smaller sized brass ox rolo chain found in our CHAIN section

a HOLE PUNCH.....the one I use is found here:

http://www.bsueboutiques.com/product-p/plier07810.htm

I used assorted beads such as our SPECTRA BEADS

Find them here:

http://www.bsueboutiques.com/product-p/spectrabeads.htm

You might want to grab some of the petite rhinestone rondelles found in our Rhinestone Findings Section

I used 6mm jumps in brass ox and a small lobster clasp as well.

You could change this up so many ways.....use different colors on the metal...use a completely beaded or 'worked' neckline treatment, use mixed metals, vintage beads, polymer clay beads, roses, leaves.....totally mix it up and do your own treatment to the basic design.

The bow could also become a BRACELET....think about it.

Join us at the B'sue Boutiques Creative Group at Facebook and show me up, make yours different, take it up a notch, improve the design, let it become YOUR OWN!

And be sure to visit us at the NEW B'sue Boutiques My absence in the blog-post writing arena of late is because we were working so hard on getting the new site done, and now we are just organizing and putting finishing touches on it.

But honestly....it will NEVER be done. Why? Because we FINALLY have the tools to make it be everything our site ought to be....not just a place for buying findings but a place for LEARNING and SHARING.

Come grow with us! New ideas are the fertile soil that grows your ART.

Posted at 06:11 PM in Easy Peasy Projects, Encouraging Your Artistic Journey, Managing Your Arts and Crafts-Related Business, Mixed Media Technique, Style and Color | Permalink | Comments (2)

July 22, 2014

Scrapbook, Collage Pendants You Can Make, So Much Fun....And They SELL!

I had so much fun making these little pendants last week for our video. I was inspired by a photo I saw at Pinterest, but also my own past work.

Many times I have used this mount:

Here's a quick link for it:

http://www.practicalecommerce.com/articles/70600-Pinterest-5-Big-brand-Tactics-for-Smaller-Ecommerce-Merchants

To make sweet collages with floral bits, little charms, cameos with collaged and embellished edges......and I knew it would make a good video:

Grab a sandwich and have a look at the video, it's a virtual class on ideas and methods of putting them together, using either the mount, my Victorian luggage tag, or the heart I used in the photo above.

But don't limit yourself---scan our site at B'sue Boutiques and you will find LOTS of great stampings that would lend themselves to these sentimental little designs.

Here are some pieces I finished after the video...I actually finished six necklaces!

Both of these necklaces already sold on my Etsy jewelry shop!

B'sue Boutiques Jewelry

Here are some more that I have prepped and ready to make into necklaces:

What a fun way to spend an afternoon, making mini collages on large charms, luggage tags and 40x30mm mounts. We have the mounts shown above in about 5-6 finishes.

Honestly, I prefer raw brass as I like to take them outside and hit them with a bit of white spray primer. Then I distress them a bit and add some acrylic paint or some thinned Gilder's Paste for color. When that sets up, I just do two light coats of Krylon matte spray lacquer, front and back.

When that is dry, you are ready to start working! Watch the video, you will see the entire process and the SKU numbers of the items I used in the video are called out.

I hope you'll be enticed to try this product, and that we'll see you over at B'sue Boutiques soon! Don't forget to enter code FIVEBUCKS on your order of 50.00 or more (put it in the coupon box!) and you will receive 5.00 off your order.

Also, this week (and probably next...til July 31, 2014 at least) if your order is 40.00 up you can request FREE STUFF! All you have to do is ASK for it, put that request in the customer comments section at the checkout so my shippers see it, and they'll send you some. Here are some FREE STUFF bags I just made, waiting to be sent to YOU!

Some have old gingerbread brass or vintage stones or stampings, some have pearls and little roses and images to use in projects like these, bits of chain, tiny brass lockets, stuff from our overstock drawers, special little goodies from my own stash, some even have some bezels or mounts....all random.

AND FREE!

Posted at 02:28 PM in Easy Peasy Projects, Jewelry Making, Mixed Media Technique, Selling Your Work, Style and Color | Permalink | Comments (0)

April 07, 2014

A New Crop of Spoons by Mitzi

I never get tired of sharing Mitzi Curi's new creations. Simplistic but trendy, sharing the past with the current, one of the best parts of what I call "New Vintage Jewelry".

Here's Mitzi's new bumper crop of spoon pendants made from the old silverplated flatware:

She's made excellent use of vintage bibs and bobs and found items as well as old chain. Here is another photo of a different "crop" of spoon pendants:

I think I recognize a few of the bibs and bobs in that batch, LOL.

Mitzi is an antiques dealer so she is very good at making use of what she has on hand without causing harm to anything valuable---as she knows the difference. In my opinion, that is what the best of New Vintage Jewelry makers do. They are well aware of what they have, they make use of the viable parts and they fill in with vintage look materials such as we carry at B'sue Boutiques

I LOVE messing around with old spoons..... this pendant was made with an old spoon that I sawed off, drilled and then beat flat.....and then you can see how I took it from there:

A mix of old and new!

Here is the handle of an old spoon that I made into a pendant....and an old rusty locket that I topped with Iced Enamels and Resin...and some other broken jewelry bits.

Of course at our website we have the brass spoons, which may cost a tad more than scarfing up old silverplated flatware....but OH so much easier to work with.

We even have them in silver now:

Here is a link:

http://www.bsueboutiques.com/item/Silver-Spoon-Silverware-Silver-Plated-Nickel-Free-Brass-Stampings-Made-in-the-USA-13003

We have BUNCHES in raw brass, some only 95 cents each...you can colorize them yourself, and you can cut them like butter with our metal shears:

Find them here:

http://www.bsueboutiques.com/item/FEATURED--Linda-and-Opies-Favorite-Metal-Shears---Soon-To-Be-Yours-9265

If you don't have a pair of these run and get them....I can't live without them!

Spoon jewelry has been done for eons and is a barrel of fun. Here's a video I made about using the brass spoons:

If you want to make your jewelry with the old flatware, you will need a jeweler's saw, a heavy drill and a visegrips to turn the handle....the stuff is TOUGH and it will take a bit of time to prep them.

They both have their place!

So go and have some fun with old spoons.....and let me know how it goes!