Do you love making handcrafted jewelry? Do you think homemade ornaments are better than soulless store bought ones? We have a treat for you today! Our pumpkin patch is full of helpful holiday crafts. We have lots of thoughts about how to make your home comfy cozy this holiday season. We have Christmas ornaments, autumn pendants that can be used for holiday decor and more! Grab a cup of hot apple cider and enjoy this bountiful harvest of project ideas. Your jewelry will be as colorful as the falling leaves!
This week in bountiful beading, we have a cornucopia of warm fall jewelry projects for you. We also have some holly jolly Christmas ornament ideas. Kristen and Sara show us how to made homemade holiday ornaments that will make your house merry and bright. Sara has an easy to make autumn leaf that is gorgeous as a pendant and perfect as a Thanksgiving table decoration - adorn your napkin rings! Kristen shows you how to make a bracelet that is a perfect complement to your cutest fall outfit. Sara shows you how to make a memory wire bracelet with 2021 Fall/Winter Pantone Colors. This enchanting bracelet is a charming idea for autumn! We checked out Wendy Whitman's YouTube channel to see her unboxing our Woodland Walk Design Kit (Sold Out). She then gave us a jewelry demo on how she used her beading supplies. We caught up with Kay Goss from Star's Beads and enjoyed her project, she uses Soft Flex wire and hollow rubber cording to make a lovely necklace. Finally, if you are a cat lover, you can't miss this cute kitten project idea from Christi Friesen!
2021 Fall/Winter Pantone Bead Mix & Quad! Expand your kit or just enjoy this colorway!
Indulge your autumn spirit with our 2021 Fall/Winter Pantone Collection. We have Pantone infused colors that will give your jewelry a little pumpkin spice this season. Our color matched wire selection is a great way to restock your beading supplies or just expand your wire color collection. We also have Pantone color matched beads and happy holiday charms to make your jewelry look amazing this sweater weather season.
Explore the 2021 Pantone Colors of Fall and Winter. We have chosen some of the hottest Pantone colors for our fall and winter jewelry making projects. The 2021 Fall/Winter Pantone Assorted Colors Bead Mix is comprised of Pantone's hot seasonal choices: Soybean, Adobe, Rhodonite, and Fire Whirl. Pair these stunning beads with our 2021 Fall/Winter Pantone Quad of Beading Wire or the individual colors of wire we color matched: Bone (Soybean) color Soft Flex Beading Wire .019 (Medium), Imperial Topaz (Adobe) color Soft Flex Beading Wire .019 (Medium), Dark Blue Lapis (Rhodonite) color Soft Flex Beading Wire .019 (Medium), and Red Coral (Fire Whirl) color Soft Flex Beading Wire .019 (Medium). We think you will love this colorful mix as much as we do.
Jewelry Making Videos
Follow Us On TikTok And Instagram - Learn How To Make Jewelry In Just Minutes
Follow us on the web! Our social media sites are loaded with instructional jewelry making videos YouTube and Facebook have a ton of long form videos that will teach you how to make jewelry. You will find in depth discussions on how to use your tools and finish your jewelry on those channels. Our Instagram page and SoftFlexWire@TikTok will teach you how to make jewelry in under a minute. Smash that learning curve and learn a new technique at lightning speed. Instagram Reels and TikTok are great tools for learning something new or finding quick inspiration. If your creativity needs a quick cup of coffee, make sure you visit us for a much needed jolt of crafting caffeine!
Sara created an Instagram Reel / TikTok video showing off a creative way to use bails. Rather than attach her bail to a bigger bead, for a pendant, she chose to frame a charm inside a connector. We think it looks like a stellar jewelry project for the holidays! Frame your favorite holiday charms and make your mixed metals sparkle! These short videos are great for inspiration. Feel free to take a deeper dive on our YouTube channel if you need more elaborate instructions or just want to enjoy a longer visit with Sara.
Pinch Bails are perfect for pendants. Pinch this component closed and it will secure your favorite stone or bead. Get creative, like Sara, and use it to add a charm to a connector. Perfect for classic designs or men's jewelry. Bigger bails work wonderfully with kumihimo, beaded ropes and large cords. Make a little magic with your next project!
Join The Fun At The Great Bead Extravaganza Facebook Page - Fall Fest Is Almost Here!
The Great Bead Extravaganza is right around the corner. In the weeks leading up to the big event, exhibitors are having 'Takeover' days. Takeover days are when individual exhibitors take control of the Facebook page and have demos and fun. Spend a day with your favorite jewelry designers and artists! If you have not joined The Great Bead Extravaganza Facebook page, make sure you visit and include yourself in the excitement! The Great Bead Extravaganza is the world's biggest online bead show. The event is free and chock full of big sales, giveaways, and jewelry making demonstrations. Even if the event is not in full swing, the Facebook page is a great place to meet new designers and find bead stores with amazing products. Join today!
If you missed the previous shows, check out our blog and get caught up before November 13th. Our most recent blog details what you can expect during the Fall Fest show!
How To Make Homemade Christmas Decorations With Craft Wire
The Great Bead Extravaganza is almost here. In the lead up to the show, all of the show exhibitors had the chance to shine under the spotlight. Everybody had a day when they could 'takeover' the official Great Bead Extravaganza Facebook page. Last Friday was the Soft Flex Company takeover day. We began the day with a nice little morning show. Coffee and Craft Wire projects with Sara and Kristen. If you are a wire worker, this is your chance to get inspired to make some holiday ornaments with Craft Wire. If you have not used Craft Wire before, this is your chance to see how easy it is to make a wire wrapping project. Grab a cup of joe and enjoy the show!
Homemade Christmas ornaments are full of love. You do not have to be an expert to make your own with Craft Wire. In fact, the bumps and imperfect surfaces are usually what makes handmade crafts so amazing and full of character. Leave the perfect angles and sharp edges to the mass produced decorations. Give your ornaments some personality and don't bother over correcting any flaws. Homemade ornaments are great for passing on to children or grandchildren. Make your next craft a treasured heirloom for generations down the road!
Sara and Kristen used a WigJig jig board to complete their designs. If you have never used a jig board before, they are great for designing with a pattern. Sketch out your Christmas tree and wrap your wire on the jig, over your pattern. If you use a jig board and follow a pattern, you can recreate the same design multiple times - no guesswork needed! WigJigs are high quality jigs. You can find cheaper ones, made of metal, but you cannot place a pattern beneath them. You can find cheaper ones, made of plastic, but the holes will widen with use and your pegs will start slipping. WigJigs are constructed out of the same material used to make aircraft windows. The boards are very durable and since they are transparent, you can use patterns for all of your designs!
Just note - if you are a beginner, you do not need a lot of tools. Kristen and Sara have had time to gather their tools. If you just want to get your feet wet before you commit to an investment, cutters and Chain Nose Pliers are a good start. A Wire Looping Tool is a great way to learn how to loop precise shapes. The jig board is definitely helpful, but you can always learn how to shape your wire by hand and then get a jig board if you enjoy working with wire!
WigJig Jig Board
WigJig Super Pegs
Craft Wire
Czech Glass
Charms
Cutters
Chain Nose Pliers
Nylon Jaw Pliers
Wire Looping Tool
Tool Magic
Wire Whacker
How To Make Fall Decorations And Fall Jewelry For A Warm And Happy House
Would you like to add some seasonal sparkle to your autumn decor? Sara has a cute little leaf pendant she made with Craft Wire. The pendant might also be a pinecone - or is it a leaf? We will let you decide. Regardless, we think this festive ornament looks great in a holiday house. Add it to a necklace and you can take a joyful piece of the harvest with you. She had this beautiful ornament buried in the leaves but she knew she wanted to use it for a fashionable fall necklace. Learn how to string a necklace that is the perfect complement to this pretty pendant in the first video. Watch the video beneath the necklace tutorial and you will learn how to make your own pinecone pendant - or is it a leaf? Whatever you decide, we can agree that is a darling adornment.
Soft Flex .019/Medium Diameter Beading Wire in Bone
Soft Flex Beading Wire, .019 Diameter in Red Jasper
Czech Glass
Charms
2x2m Crimp Tubes
Crimping Pliers
Chain Nose Pliers
Cutters
Bead Stoppers
The supplies above will help you design a necklace for your wire wrapped leaf pendant. If you would like to use the pendant for decoration or add it to the Thanksgiving table as a napkin ring adornment, check out the video below. You can also click the link above the video and go to our blog about the wire worked art. Sara will show you how to make the ornament yourself.
Learn how to make the beaded Craft Wire leaf (or pinecone)
From Sara:
Make your own holiday ornaments using Soft Flex Craft Wire. These DIY wire pine cone or leaf ornaments are easy and fun! Using a WigJig to create this fun shape makes each one fairly consistent. You can use these as a traditional Fall ornament or decorate a table setting for a holiday meal for Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year's Day. They make a gorgeous accent to a napkin ring holder. Multiples strung together would make a beautiful fireplace garland decoration. These wire leaves and pine cones can also be worn or gifted as a pendant or used in your next jewelry making project too.
Soft Flex Craft Wire - Silver Plated 18ga
Soft Flex Craft Wire - Silver Plated 26ga
WigJig Olympus Lite
Beads (choose some fun ones)
Round Nose Pliers
Chain Nose Pliers
Wire Whacker
Bead Nipper (Cutters)
Nylon Jaw Pliers
DIY 3 Strand Bracelet with the Woodland Walk Design Kit
Want to know a secret? You don't need a jump ring to finish your multi-strand bracelet or jewelry design. You don't need a jump ring to add a charm. If you are finishing a design and find that you are out of jump rings, you can get creative! In this video, Kristen showed us how to make a bracelet for fall. This gorgeous bracelet has a charming tree spirit dangle and Kristen uses our Soft Flex Beading Wire in place of a jump ring. Soft Flex is much stronger than a jump ring. It is perfect for giving your design extra security. Soft Flex is also a lot more colorful than a jump ring. Choose a color that matches your design!
From Kristen:
I just adore this sweet Tree Spirit Charm by TierraCast. It instantly gives this bracelet a whimsical nature inspired vibe. Also known as the Green Man, this protector of the forest is presented as a kind face framed by lovingly carved leaves. The design is double sided and repeated front and back, so it looks great from any angle.
From Kristen:
During this tutorial, I shared how to attached the charms and the strands to the toggle with a crimped "Soft Flex jump ring"! It's a great technique to have in your back pocket when you don't have a jump ring on hand or you want to make the ring is extra secure and without a seam to the open up. A fun new tip that many viewers enjoyed!
Do you have remnant wire? That is, do you have wire that you cut from a finished design that is too small for a full design, but long enough that you do not want to throw it away? Making a jump ring with Soft Flex is a great way to repurpose wire that is too small for a design. Remnant wire is also wonderful for earrings made with Soft Flex wire. We strongly suggest holding on to your remnant wire. You never know when as short length of wire is going to serve a grander purpose!
Woodland Walk Design Kit (Sold Out)
Woodland Walk Trios Beading Wire Pack
Woodland Walk Bead Mix
Tree Spirit Charm
Toggle Clasp
2x2mm Crimp Tubes
Crimping Pliers
Cutters
2021 Fall/Winter Pantone Colors for Trendsetting Autumn Jewelry
Have you ever designed a bracelet with Memory Wire? Memory Wire is an easy to use stringing medium. Memory Wire comes in coiled circles. It is an incredibly hard wire and it retains it's shape. Once you cut the desired amount of coils for your design, you simply string your beads and then bend the wire into a loop to finish it, so your beads do not slip off. You can also glue the end of your Memory Wire and add a bead cap, but loops are likely more secure and you can add a dangle on the loop if you like.
There is one very important tip to learn before ever attempting to use Memory Wire. It is a hard temper wire that will absolutely destroy any beading cutters that were not made to cut it. If you opt to add Memory Wire to your beading supplies, make sure you have cutters that were designed to cut a very strong wire. Trust us. There is nothing fun about losing a pair of good cutters because you thought they could tackle Memory Wire.
Memory Wire
Beads
Charms
Wire Looping Tool
Hi-Tech Steel Memory Wire Heavy Duty Cutter
Wendy Whitman Unboxes The Woodland Walk Jewelry Making Kit
It has been awhile since we caught up with Wendy Whitman on YouTube. She has a fun personality and is a fantastic talent. We love her jewelry designs and her spirited videos. We watched her open our Woodland Walk Design Kit (Sold Out). We love it when a creator unboxes our products and gives an unbiased opinion. We have always felt strongly about letting our products speak for themselves. So, getting to hear a fellow designer's words is a good way to gauge how we are doing. We put a lot of love into our jewelry making kits so it is a joy to hear everybody's thoughts. We got a lot of strong positive feedback from Woodland Walk. We hope you enjoyed this kit, too!
If you enjoyed Wendy's video, make sure you join her Facebook group, ABeadOnAWire Sales, it is a buying and selling group for HANDMADE jewelry items and jewelry making supplies.
Wendy Whitman's Fun Necklace Tutorial Using Woodland Walk Kit Supplies
We watched Wendy Whitman unbox our Woodland Walk Design Kit (Sold Out). Want to see what she makes with the contents inside? We think she really hit a homerun with this lovely jewelry design. Want to get inspired? Watch Wendy's necklace tutorial and make your own Woodland Walk necklace for fall. In this video, Wendy considers her colors and figures out which beads she wants to use. She then lays her materials out, in a road map of sorts, so she knows how her design is going to look. Once her components are all laid out, she begins stringing her jewelry. This is a great video if you enjoy watching a designer at work. How an artist tackles their materials and finishes a beautiful piece of wearable art is always a watch process to watch! Make sure you like Wendy's video and subscribe if you learned a new trick or two!
Visit Wendy's links:
YouTube
Website
Facebook Group
Instagram
Star's Beads Shows Us How To Use Soft Flex Beading Wire And Hollow Rubber Cording
We loved Kay's recent video where she paired Soft Flex wire and rubber tubing. We started adding rubber tubing to our kits a couple of years ago. Not every kit, mind you, but every once in awhile, we think it is a great option for a kit and it is certainly a challenging component to figure out. If you like a puzzle and enjoy making jewelry that requires a little thought and patience, rubber tubing is a fun edition. Consider it a sudoku challenge for beaders. Use your logic and creativity to figure out how to make this design element complement your wire and beads!
If you would like to see some designs we put together with rubber tubing, check out this blog:
Hollow Rubber Tubing As A Jewelry Making Component
From Kay:
Messin around Monday with pretty pearls and recovering from Halloween hangover! Working with beautiful baroque pearls today, doesn't get any better!
Join Kay for Bead with Me!
Need something to do? Do something creative! Check out Kay’s new series Bead with Me to get you inspired. Get free video tutorials, design tips, and product highlights to keep you creating!
Bead with Me is a LIVE broadcast designed to offer inspiration with free video tutorials, guest artists, project tips, product highlights plus custom kits and care packages to make your designs uniquely you!
Airing Monday thru Thursday on FB Live
Visit Kay's links:
Look At This Cute Soft Flex Craft Idea From Christi Friesen!
Look at one of our friends made! Christi has a great use for Soft Flex Beading Wire. She uses it as cat whiskers on this cute little piece of art. If you would like to learn how to make this sly kitty, Christi has a tutorial on her subscription service - Creative Circle. We love it when artists use our wire in new and unique ways. Soft Flex can be used for ornaments, model building, and more! It was designed, from the ground up, as a jewelry making wire. But, we love when people think out of the box!
Christi is an incredible artist. We love her polymer and epoxy clay creations. She is one of the amazing designers you can find on The Great Bead Extravaganza. Visit her site and you can find: Swellegant metal coatings/patinas and dyes, unique tools and supplies, found objects, curious collections, special things, originals artwork, beads, focals and brooches.
Christi Friesen is an award-winning artist, who works in mixed media. Her work has been showcased in numerous books, magazines, and exhibits. She is the author of over a dozen how-to books on creating with polymer clay. She teaches throughout the world, using humor and positive energy to encourage students to stretch their creativity, technical skills, and artistic confidence.
Make sure you catch her appearance during the upcoming Great Bead Extravaganza. Join her Creative Circle and shop her store.
Join our Facebook group – VIB. Stay in the know. Stay up to date. From our bead shows to our video shows and sales, you can stay in touch with us. The community is full of artistic and helpful beaders and crafty people. Inspire and be inspired. Share your pictures and get the beading bug from others!
Visit the Soft Flex Company YouTube Channel!
Blog contributor Thomas Soles loves Jazz Age writers and crunchy french fries. His favorite gemstones are Lapis and Pietersite. His favorite hobby is day dreaming. And his favorite mustache is Freddie Mercury's. As you can see, he has a healthy (or possibly unhealthy) sense of humor. You can write to him at Thomas@SoftFlexCompany.com