The Ghost of Christmas Future

We are about to say goodbye to 2010 and I'm looking forward to a very exciting 2011!  Big changes and new adventures are coming my way in the next 12 months.  Did you know you can get a calendar with a year's worth of my art work?  Check it out here.

And speaking of the future - I'd like to introduce you to the bead magazine of tomorrow.  Handcrafted Jewelry Studio eMag is a new online publication from Interweave.  I didn't get past the 4th page before my socks were blown off!  It's so not like a pdf that you would download, it's completely interactive with videos, projects to download, clickable features and you can click right to products on the web that are shown in the issue.  I think that's one of my favorite parts.  I wrote a polymer clay beadmaking project for this issue - you can see a sneak peek above.  I even picked up some tips for tools that I have been using for years.  It's filled with good stuff - I promise!

What's your favorite adaptation of the Dickens' classic?  I think mine is Scrooged with Bill Murray - it's so funny and how many times around here do we say, "like Niagara Falls baby!" I did enjoy the latest one that is out, The Christmas Carol with Jim Carrey.  We watched it in 3-d and it was unexpectedly good!

God bless us, every one!

Stocking Stuffer Sale

Today through Sunday at midnight - stock up on beads and gifts with 20% off in my Etsy shop.  Use discount code LASTMINUTE20 when you check out.  This is my last sale of 2010!  Check out this post with some gift ideas for the bead-obsessed on your list!

The Ghost of Christmas Presents

Wrapping presents - now that is something that can haunt you this time of year!  Sure you need to get it done, but you can have the package as awesome as the gift with just a little bit of effort.  Don't worry, I'm here to help.  First check out my Wrap It Up treasury, pictured above.  Second, take a gander at my packaging post from the Art Bead Scene a few weeks ago.  And thirdly, because I really do love ya - here are two sets of free gift tags to download and print out.  Print them out on card stock or sticker paper, cut them out, punch a hole and add them to your gifts with twine, raffia or ribbon.

Click here to download.

Click here to download.

Hmm, do they look familiar?  Yes, the gift tags were inspired by my beads!

The Ghost of Christmas Past

Would you like over 30 free projects to inspire your last minute gift ideas?  Well, it just so happens I have 3 years worth of links of the Art Bead Scene's 12 Days of Christmas projects to share with you today.

2009

On the 1st Day of Christmas: A-Layin' Pendant

On the 2nd Day of Christmas: Peppermint Earrings

On the 3rd Day of Christmas: Golden Bird Ornament

On the 4th Day of Chrismtas: Lampwork and Chain Charm Bracelet

On the 5th Day of Christmas: Frosted Window Pane Earrings

On the 6th Day of Christmas: Handmade Ornament Hooks

On the 7th Day of Christmas: Cardinal Pendant

On the 8th Day of Christmas: Simply Silver Earrings

On the 9th Day of Christmas: Holly Lariat

On the 10th Day of Christmas: Art Bead Cards

On the 11th Day of Christmas: Beaded Garland

On the 12th Day of Christmas: Squirrelin' Away Pendant

2008

On the 1st Day of Christmas: Art Bead Place Card Holders

On the 2nd Day of Christmas: Funky Flower Pin

On the 3rd Day of Christmas: Finding Connections

On the 4th Day of Christmas: Simply Midnight Pendant

On the 5th Day of Christmas: Holiday Bracelet

On the 6th Day of Christmas: Jingle Necklace

On the 7th Day of Christmas: Seven Colors Ornament

On the 8th Day of Christmas: Holiday Icicle Earrings

On the 9th Day of Christmas: Christmas Decorating Magic

On the 10th Day of Christmas: O-Ring Bracelet

On the 11th Day of Christmas: Fun Felted Headband

On the 12 Day of Christmas: Winter Branches Necklace

2007

On the 1st Day of Christmas: Charmed Scarf Pins

On the 2nd Day of Christmas: Decorative Ornament Hooks

On the 3rd Day of Christmas: A Pair of Swinging Earrings

On the 4th Day of Christmas: Earthy Pendants

On the 5th Day of Christmas: An Art Nouveau Pendant

On the 6th Day of Christmas: Mitten Holders

On the 7th Day of Christmas: Gift-Wrapping with Beads

On the 8th Day of Christmas: A Flurry of Christmas Ornaments

On the 9th Day of Christmas: Mix and Match Necklaces

On the 10th Day of Christmas: A Filigree Pendant

On the 11th Day of Christmas: Snowguy Necklace

On the 12th Day of Christmas: Candy Cane Ceramic Necklace

More Bead Ornaments

I just couldn't stop at two!  I have two more ornaments to share with you today.

First I created a pair of filigree ornaments with brass pieces from Paloma Antigua.  There are all sorts of great painted filigree pieces in this shop!

I added a glass bead, rhinestone rondelle, one of my disk beads, a bead cap and a fire polished glass bead to an eye pin. I attached the hanger and filigree with 13mm jump rings.

The filigree is super lightweight so it won't weigh down your branches.  The filigree comes in sets of 2 so you can make for your tree and one for a friend or give them as a set.  I could see them done in several different colors and given as a special gift.

The second, is missing any art beads, but I have these round beads I need to use up.  The ceramic rounds were on a bargain table at a local bead show and I ended up getting two strands of these huge beads that I will never use for jewelry.  Sometimes that the danger of shopping at a show!  After I made the nest, I attached a wire hanger and tied on a bit of silk ribbon.  LOVE these! I want to make a dozen or so of these for my tree. 

The nest is created with steel wire and the curly wire work on stop is done with a softer craft wire in a bright silver finish, both are 20 gauge.  If you don't know how to make a nest here are two tutorials - 1 & 2.  I do kind of a hybrid of these two styles.  The nest is about 2" wide.

The back side of the nest.  I have a set of tiny teal birds that my daughter and I made a few years ago, they will look so cute on the tree with the nests.  I could see these on top of packages too instead of bows.

So how are you doing with your holiday decorating?  Is it a major affair or do you keep things simple?  My only requirement is a real tree - I need that fresh pine smell to feel like it's the holidays!