How was your holiday season? Was it full of magic and shared moments with kindred spirits? Did you take quality time to be creative and enjoy the simple things? We are energized and ready to learn new crafts. We are looking ahead to a year full of jewelry making and mastering new tools and techniques. Want to walk the journey with us and find inspiration each week? Join us and let's make this year amazing!
Check out our Live Sales! Click the image above to visit our new sales platform. We have an exciting gallery full of amazing gemstones and beads. You can register to shop here - Register. And download our app here - Soft Flex App. If you would like to be notified when a sale is coming, sign up for our texts.
Jewelry Making Videos
Our Social Media Sites Will Show You How To Make Jewelry In Just Minutes
Got a minute? Check out our latest reels and TikTok videos. Soft Flex Company's Instagram Reels and our Soft Flex TikTok Page will teach you how to make jewelry in under a minute. These videos move quickly but are easy to follow. If you need more assistance, make sure you check out our YouTube catalog for deeper dives into jewelry making education. You will find in depth discussions on how to use your tools and finish your jewelry on that channel. Instagram Reels and TikTok are great tools for learning something new or finding quick inspiration. Check out our 1 Minute Videos and explore the wonderful pins on our Pinterest page. Learn from Soft Flex Company jewelry designer pros at the pace you choose! If your creativity needs a quick cup of coffee, make sure you visit us for a much needed jolt of crafting caffeine!
Make-A-Wish Beading Design Challenge Kit Reveal
Make-A-Wish began with a child's dream. Chris Greicius, a seven year old boy with leukemia, wished that he would one day be a police officer. He was a superhero that wanted to nab the bad guys. As Chris was losing his battle with his grave disease, officers in the Arizona Department of Public Safety took it upon themselves to help this child realize his dream. Chris was sworn in as an Arizona DPS officer. He was then given a chance to ride along in helicopters and police cars. His beautiful wish was granted and Chris lost his fight, just two days later.
We wanted to dedicate our latest kit to a foundation that gives critically ill children a chance to live their dreams. This foundation grants an impactful wish to a deserving little one. We wanted to support this wonderful organization! Proceeds from this kit were donated to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America. You can consider volunteering or donating on their site if you would like to further extend your goodwill to children in need of a little light in the darkness.
Here is the necklace design that Kristen made using the Green Girl Studios pendant included in the kit. She also started working on an earring design using 22ga Soft Flex Craft Wire. She'll finish those earrings on her upcoming Monday video.
Make-A-Wish Beading Design Challenge Kit
Make-A-Wish Bead Mix
22mm Dark Blue Table Cut Czech Glass Discs
Soft Flex Beading Wire, Medium Diameter
22ga Soft Flex Craft Wire
2x2mm Soft Flex Crimp Tubes
Magical Crimping Pliers
Cutters
Chain Nose Pliers
Round Nose Pliers
Bead Stoppers
Even though Sara didn't have the Make-A-Wish Design Kit at her home, she did have the Make-A-Wish Bead Mix and was able to make this beaded necklace. She finished the necklace off by braiding three colors of Soft Flex Beading Wire.
How To Make Handmade Earrings In 3 Geometric Statement Styles
This week on Free Spirit Beading, Kristen shared some earring inspiration. She used our Make-A-Wish Design Kit to make these elegant earrings. Learn how to make earrings with Soft Flex Beading Wire. Since the length of wire used in these designs is so short, one spool can turn into a ton of jewelry! Make an earring for every day of the new year!
Make-A-Wish Design Kit
Make-A-Wish Bead Mix
22mm Dark Blue Table Cut Czech Glass Discs
Connectors
Soft Flex Beading Wire, .019 diameter, Dark Blue Lapis Color
2x2mm Soft Flex Crimp Tubes
Jump Rings
Head Pins
Ear Wires
Colourful Soul Wooden Pop Outs
Bent Nose Pliers
Chain Nose Pliers
Cutters
Magical Crimping Pliers
Mystery Bead Box Create-A-Thon with Jesse James Beads & Soft Flex
The Magical Mystery Bead Box is a subscription service from our friends at Jesse James Beads. You can also pay as you go if you do not want to commit to a monthly fee. Sarah sent Kristen and Sara a bead box. We got to look at the contents of the December kit and see how the gals at Soft Flex used the beads from the kit to make a ring and a pair of tassel earrings.
Kristen made these lovely rings with Craft Wire and a ring mandrel. Once fun thing about working with Craft Wire is that you can create an intricate and detailed work or you can be a free spirit and go loose and have an organic and messy wrapped look. Your style truly shines through your craft!
Sara made these lovely earrings. A little classic blue and a lot of illuminating yellow - these tassels are on point! Paired with a cute bead and a color matched Soft Flex wire - these gorgeous earrings are going to be fashionable for years!
How To Make A Lariat Necklace With Pantone Colors And A Heart Pendant
No rest for Sara on Wednesday! Right after wrapping up her video with Sarah James and Kristen, Sara was back in front of the camera for another jewelry demonstration. This time it was meditative, though. Despite the fact that Sara is making spontaneous jewelry in front of an audience, she always enjoys the quiet. This is a moment for this busy mom to pamper herself with crafts while her family watches the kiddos. Make sure you are taking some 'me time' for yourself this year! Making jewelry is a great way to refocus and think about the important things.
Make the most of the moment. Create a daring design! Symmetry is a safety net. Break the rules and string with different shapes and colors. Skip the clasp and make a scarf style necklace or a lariat that doesn't need a clasp. Don't be afraid to innovate or go a little crazy! You can always restring a jewelry design if you don't like it!
2022 Pantone Fall/Winter Bead Mixes
2022 Pantone Fall/Winter Pantone Quad of Beading Wire
Antique Brass Plated Asymmetrical Heart Connectors
Bead Stopper
2x2mm Crimp Tubes
Magical Crimping Pliers
Cutters
Spotlight Day! How To Use A WigJig Wire Jig And Wire Wrapped Stones
Previous Great Bead Extravaganza events were preceded by 'Takeover Days'. Takeovers were days on the calendar in the lead up to the show where exhibitors would take command of the official Facebook group and share demos, links, and sales all day. This time, our friends at TGBE have opted to have Thursdays become Spotlight Days before the big show begins. We had our Spotlight Day this week. Sara and Kristen took the opportunity to create with Soft Flex Craft Wire and enjoy a warm cup of java. Have some fun with us and learn how to use a Wigjig wire jig!
Soft Flex Craft Wire
38mm Assorted Colors Ceramic Donuts
Delphi WigJig
Nylon Jaw Pliers
Multi-Size Mandrel Wire Wrapping Tool
Cutters
Pliers
Sara showed us how easy it is to us a Delphi WigJig with Craft Wire. WigJig jig boards are made of strong acrylic, the same material that is used in aircraft windows. They will not warp and the holes on the boards will not widen over time. Cheaper jig can have holes that widen with use and this means the pegs will slip and not remain steady. You can use these wire jigs to create freestyle designs or use a pattern.
WigJig jig boards are clear, this allows you to place the board over a pattern or drawing to help with peg placement. The Delphi and Olympus Lite can use interchangeable patterns meaning anything you can do on one you can do on the other. The difference will be the size created. Delphi has smaller holes spaced closer together offering more petite finished piece than the Olympus Lite, which has larger holes that are spaced farther apart.
Kristen gave us a wire wrapping demonstration. She wrapped our 38mm Ceramic Donuts. Craft Wire is a great tool for giving character to a stone or bead. It can also turn a stone with no drilled holes into a perfect pendant. If you have not taken the opportunity to try using Craft Wire, make a resolution this year to explore this exciting jewelry making medium!
Christi Friesen: Fun With Polymer Clay - Making A Hairdo Weirdo
Rosanna Brafford: Unboxing The Make-A-Wish Beading Kit
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