Now that Thanksgiving is out of the way, it's time to think about December's festivities.  The Prima blogging team's challenge this month was to create designs which "you could picture wearing out to a fancy party or fun gathering to ring in 2014."


The folks at Prima Bead sent us each a box of goodies. This is the scrumptious collection I received a while back.  I particularly loved the choices which gave me plenty of ideas.  I aimed for one with silver, one with rich tones taking advantage of the pearls and crystals and one with silver and gold.


The pretty rhinestone bow was easily my favorite from the collection. It had a generous sized bail at the back of the main rhinestone.   I had fun creating the All Tied Up in a Bow necklace using multiple lovely blue mouse tail cords for a color punch.  Stretched out wire coils with spiral ends kept the cords together near the focal and were an extra visual element.  I added a small rhinestone charm from the Tis the Season collection from a while back.


While trying to make the cord ends really secure for so many little cords, I came up with a way of making little spiral "roofs". The tutorial for that is here.


People who love to wear memory wire bangles will love the tutorial tomorrow for this easy pretty copper wire wrapped bangle which actually isn't made from memory wire! The similarity is that there is no clasp for this strong wire form.  Just slip onto your wrist from the open end.  I used the pearls, little gold and grey and pink bicones from this month's collection. I added the white and gold mirror beads from a previous Prima Bead collection to complete this richly colored bangle.  I think it will look great with a red party dress!


Last but not least, those gold rhinestone rondelles at the bottom right of the collection picture caught my eye.  I love these sparkly beads because they always scream "snowman earrings" to me as they make awesome "scarves".  These earrings are very easy to make from 2 sizes of main beads.  I used glitter beads.   A round gold sequin and a 6/0 seed bead for the hat completes the outfit!


The earrings are blingy but not large. Perfect for the holidays!

Disclosure

Natural light photography using my compact camera and the Modahaus TS320 tabletop photo studio and the Steady Stand SS300.

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Original Post by THE BEADING GEM
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