Santa Baby Earrings
Charms are a great way to design fun holiday jewelry. For example, team up a stamped brass Santa charm with red and green crystal dangles and brass wire for these Santa Charm and Crystal Dangle Earrings.
Green and red are "the" Christmas colors, so they are a perfect match for this Santa charm from Guyot Brothers. The red crystal dangles flip and flop around and little tinkling noises like Santa's slay.
Jewelry Junkies Link Love 12/13/09
Inspired by Grandma's necklace, Cindy creates an edgey look with CZ's.
Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
Melanie shows a sneak peek of a pair of earrings she made for the upcoming book Steampunk Style by Jean Campbell
Jean Campbell
Jean shares 3 easy tips for making holiday gift production a little less stressful.
Katie's Beading Blog
Katie's making tons of earrings this season. Here are a few fun ideas for your own last-minute gifts!
Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio
Lorelei is saying Thank you and Merry Christmas by giving away a gift certificate to artbeads.com!
Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
When you check out this ornament kit which is available for you to make, it will REALLY put you in the spirit!
The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Each representing a different spectrum of lampwork glass, Andrew shares the new additions to his bead collection from two different artists.
A Bead A Day
If you find yourself in need of a quick holiday gift, don't overlook memory wire! With this simple design, you can make one for all your friends.
Art Bead Scene
It's the first day of Art Bead Scene's annual Twelve Days of Free Projects!
Barbe Saint John - New Jewelry from Forgotten Artifacts
Barbe gets all steamy over the new Steampunk Style book!
Beading Arts
Cyndi shares a new tutorial featuring one of Earthenwood Studio's fabulous new pendants!
Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi wonders if anyone else is working on Spring.
Lampwork Penguin Cuteness
Dave from Rings & Things sent me this adorable little lampwork penguin bead. This bead is so darn cute, that I want to use it in something that will do him justice; you know? So far, I have considered a number of design options, and one I even went through with, but I'm not thrilled with it (to say the least).
So now, what? Go back to one of my other ideas, or brainstorm some more?
Make It Merry 12/10/09
Paper Cone Angel
Make this pretty paper cone angel to decorate your table or tree. The angel is easy to customize and personalize using your favorite festive rubber stamps!
Goofy Reindeer Ornament
Need a little silly on your tree? This easy ornament from Tammy Powley will lighten the mood on your tree this year.
Curly Branch Paper Tree
These are a recycler's dream and can be made from a used pencil or colored pencil and a sheet of any paper or curling ribbon in any color - try used gift wrap or ribbon to make a wonderfully stylized forest.
Little Tree Cross Stitch
Stitch a tiny, tiny tree using this pattern by Connie G. Barwick and add it to a card or gift tag. Or, add more pizazz and decorate the tiny tree with sequins and beads.
Christmas Tree Pillow
This easy to knit pillow has a simple Christmas tree motif on one side, and plain red and green stripes on the other, so you can use it all winter long without feeling too mired in Christmas decorations.
Puzzle Piece Ornaments
Create your own unique ornaments for your Christmas tree or other holiday decorating needs by recycling old jigsaw puzzle pieces. You can use the ideas and directions I provide on these project sheets to create a variety of ornaments. Use my projects as inspiration to create your own designs.
Christmas Scrubby Soaps
This project from David Fisher is a simple variation of my Animal Melt and Pour Scrubbies project - except with Christmas themed nylon scrubbies.
Sparkling Holiday Pin
This elegant sparkles pin from the Bliss Tree blog is really easy to make, especially if you start with a pre-formed pin with drop loops.
Recycled Christmas Needle Book
From the Craftside blog, create this needle book out of scraps from recycled wool felted sweaters. HTis is the perfect gift for the stitcher in your life.
Painted Christmas Cards
Imagine receiving not just your average Hallmark card, but one hand painted by a dear friend. Spend a cozy night painting a few cards with the instructions and technique guides from Marion Boddy-Evans.
Want to Join Make it Merry to show off your holiday crafts? We will showcase your crafts and recipes of all holiday traditions. Learn more.
A Jewelry Holiday Piece for Adults or Children
If you are looking for a beaded craft idea that is so easy and quick even kids can join in the fun, then don't forget about good old pony beads and pipe cleaners. It is amazing what you can make with these simply and inexpensive supplies. For example, my So-Easy Bead and Wire Wreath combines these supplies into a wreath ornament that you can make in just a few minutes.
Buy a big bag of pony beads and a stack of pipe cleaners and go crazy with these little wreath. They are great for decorating your tree or holiday gift, or they work well a la carte to give as small gifts to co-workers and friends.
Beaded Ornament Cover Bulb Size?
I had an email from a reader the other day asking what size bulbs should be used for the ornament cover projects on this site. I measured around one bulb, and it was about 8 inches. So I would say that anywhere from a standard 4 inch diameter bulb to a smaller 3 inch diameter bulb will work for most beaded ornament covers.Both my projects, the Beaded Ornament Cover and the Flower Petal Ornament Cover, are placed on top of a glass bulb, so they don't have to fit under the bulb, just on top. They aren't as ornate as some beaded covers I've seen, but both work up very fast, so even if you don't have a lot of time, they make great gifts. Also, you can simply change out the beads to make each look a little different.
Jewelry Junkie Link Love 12/06/09
The sun shines brightly on A Bead A Day when happy yellow cubic zirconia's are used in a simple necklace design.
Art Bead Scene
Be Inspired! Think about creating jewelry that tells a story.
Barbe Saint John - New Jewelry from Forgotten Artifacts
Artbeads Crystalized Elements! Need you say any more?
Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi is selling jewelry in a show for the first time and is trying not to "jinx" her favorites!
Cindy Gimbrone aka The Lampwork Diva
Meet the newest addition to the Through the Looking Glass Nugget Charm Family - Alice Blue!
Jean Campbell
Jean discusses how Steampunk jewelry design fits into a larger "Poetic Couture."
Jewelry & Beading
Cyndi is sharing a series of Gift Guides for handmade jewelry lovers!
Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio
Taking ya back to the Open House 2008! Now stay tuned for pics for Open House 2009 on Dec. 5!
Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
The ever breathtaking beadmaker Kim Miles pulls out all the stops for the Holidays and gift giving. But that is not all! If you have the "secret word" on the secret day" every week, you get a fab discount!
Frosty the Snowman Pin
Even if you are short on both time and funds, you can make a number of simple jewelry projects to wear yourself or give away as a little "something" to friends and family this holiday season. For example, this Frosty the Snowman Pin requires just a little glitter, glue, and a pin back. He's really cute and I think he's not necessarily just a feminine-style pin so even guys who want to get into the Christmas spirit may enjoy attaching him to their coat lapel. All materials for this pin I purchased at my local craft store, and I'd say the supplies were easily less than $5, including glue and glitter, which I have enough left over of both, allowing me to make more Frosty pins!
Make It Merry 12/02/09
Winterscape Needlepoint Ornaments
Create a needlepoint ornament with these Winterscape printable patterns. Cheryl Fall has your pattern and how-to.
Antique Christmas Scraps
Use these great looking antique Santa illustrations to use on all your paper
projects-- scrapbooks, cards, ornaments and newsletters!
Knit Tinsel
If you can make an I-cord, you can use a fancy eyelash yarn to make knit tinsel in no time for your hearth or holiday tree. Sarah E. White shows you how.
Shrink Plastic Necklace
Use shrink plastic to create unique charms to make necklaces and other items of jewelry. These are quick to make and are perfect for last minute gifts!
Sweater Holiday Lighting
Make a light-up Christmas tree using an old sweater and a little know-how form the Sweater Surgery blog.
Printable Paper Sleigh
A Printable Sleigh to fill with goodies. This sleigh fits dolls house scale dolls, but it also stands nicely behind most commercial reindeer figures to make a table decoration. You can print it in the colors shown, or use the template to construct your own sleigh in the color you want.
Peace Cross Stitch
One message during the holidays that everyone can agree with is 'Peace'. Create this simple cross stitch with the free pattern and instructions from Connie G. Barwick.
Draw a Santa
Decorate cards, tags and more when you learn how to sketch the perfect Santa from Helen South.
Glittery Wood and Wire Snowman Earrings
These super easy snowmen earrings are a whimsical design that even the beginning jewelry maker can create.
Ribbon Wreath Craft
Find out how you can create a unique wreath using pieces of ribbon. By looking at this finished project, you will never believe how easy it is!
Holiday Pear Quilt
Create a pear quilt as a holiday gift or just to spruce up the place. Cyndi Lavin at the Mixed Media Blog has your tips and instructions.
Cuttlebugged Christmas Cards
These quick Christmas cards were made using my Sissix Big Shot, ProvoCraft Christmas Tree embossing folder, Versamark inks and embellishments. Get the instructions at the Firenze Cards blog.
Christmas Card Art Worksheet
Make a watercolor Christmas Card out of a cathedral rose window without all that pesky drawing. Just print this outline from Marion Boddy-Evans on a sheet of watercolor paper using waterproof ink.
Want to Join Make it Merry to show off your holiday crafts? We will showcase your crafts and recipes of all holiday traditions. Learn more.
Holiday Giveaway at Artbeads.com
If you want a sure thing, I also have a 10% off deal for you over at their site. The coupon code is SCF10P-ARTBEADS-0424 and it expires December 31, 2009.
I'll continue to keep an eye out for any other vendor promotions going on and let you know about them.