Sticker Labels

In my world of process and making, I always find that towards the end of a project, I am ready to move onto the next without officially "finishing". And with my beaded bracelet kits - I felt they needed to be able to stand alone and not require me to be there to explain to everyone exactly what they were, what the box contained, and what other colors it comes in.

So after looking up ideas for packaging via Pinterest and Google, I decided that Stickers were my best bet. I found a couple of companies that had awesome websites to upload your images and ideas, and that used actual people to design & proof your ideas, and get the printers going.

I like companies like that!

I chose Sticker Giant because they look like an awesome company, had great reviews, were in the US (for me that saves on time and shipping costs) - and I needed these in under a week!

My happy mess of a table to quick grab a pic of the rolls of stickers - I did a custom die cut bracelet pic for the front. And a 3x5" color selection and item content label for the back.

And as I ran out the door to a craft show this last weekend, a bit more of me felt professional and happy knowing that some people were going to grab up some of these and be able to bead, braid, and wear some new bracelets that they made themselves...

Designing is pretty cool sometimes.

Now for more ideas on making some stickers for Bead Fest Philly...

Artisan Bead Stickers could be really cool and fun for shoppers!

Silk Cord and Bead Obsession

Written by Marsha Neal Studio for Love My Art Jewelry Blog

I have an obsession.

It is with color. It is with texture. It is with feel.

It is with emotional connection to something handmade.

 There is something that moves me deep about colors and glass.

Seed beads - I cannot have enough!

And with my recent class using these TR5 Myuki beads (size 5 Triangle Beads), I decided to organize my stash.

Which then led to - what else can I make with these - and use the 2mm silks I carry & sell?

After looking around on Pinterest for simple wrap bracelets, I figured out a design that was quick and easy to do. Something that I could make and wear on the go.

Testing and figuring out a design like this took me days of testing and fiddling with different materials and styles.

My final decision was 1mm Waxed Cotton Cord (about a yard).

1 strand of 2mm Silk Cord (40-42" length).

And 50 of the TR5 glass beads.

And a favorite button or disc bead as the closure.

I am working on the detailed directions for kits, but you basically make a loop with the cotton cord, tie on the silk at the mid way point, braid the three strands, and move a bead up into the braid whenever it is time to move the cotton cord.

When you get it to the desired length, you tie on the button and wha-la!

Ready to wear.

I already have plenty of silk color palettes that I sell.

Now I've come up with a bunch of bead mixes that coordinate too.

The last step is me coordinating my glaze colors for the closure piece to go with these.

Internet buying and matching colors can be such a pain sometimes, and nobody wants to be disappointed in the way of losing money, and not having a fun project to do.

And to me - these colors are happy.

These silks are so soft. And this is what I want to wear as it gets warmer.

Being able to take a project with me to t-ball practice, waiting at the bus stop, waiting in a doctors office, as a passenger in a car, flying on a plane, sitting on the beach, whenever my hands want to be busy and able to complete a task - that satisfies me.

This has been such a good challenge for me to fiddle with what I've got.

Simple projects. Fun projects. 

And something that makes me feel the happiness that I had as a teenager:

making bracelets for my family and friends...

That is where this takes me.

Summertime bracelet fun!

This blog post was written by Marsha Neal Studio for Love My Art Jewelry Blog.

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