The wonderful wizards at the Great Bead Extravaganza Facebook group are exploring fantasy. Join the Facebook group and follow along! Each month, the group is exploring the latest in jewelry fashion and craft. They are conjuring up themes that will make your jewelry mystical and iconic. Want to know what the next craze is before it goes viral? We have some thoughts and ideas. Always in be in vogue with your handcrafted necklaces. Make jewelry that is on trend and fit for an ice mage or warrior queen!
The creative exhibitors and designers at the world's largest virtual bead show are forecasting the new trends and styles in the world of jewelry making. Each month, these professionals are exploring the latest in fashion and crafting. Make jewelry that is on the cusp of going viral. If you sell your jewelry, this is a phenomenal way to gauge what the future holds. If you are a hobbyist, the trendsetters will show you how to make amazing jewelry.
Join us in The Great Bead Extravaganza Facebook group and explore our thoughts and see our shares about fantasy. Learn how to make imaginative crafts and jewelry. You can find all the trendsetter posts in the group photo album.
We have been focusing on fantasy themes and ideas at the Great Bead Extravaganza Facebook group. Fantasy has been with us for as long as we could tell tales and pass lore on to future generations. We huddled close and heard stories of ancient serpents and fire breathing dragons. We heard of lion hearted heroes. We heard of supremely powerful witches casting light spells or summoning shadows. Fantasy is a way to break beyond the ordinary. Tell an enchanting tale with a mesmerizing necklace or a bedazzling bracelet. Don't settle for common jewelry. Create a design that is enthralling and magical!
TGBE Trendsetter - DIY Jewelry Making Ideas Focusing On Fantasy
Explore Fantasy And Fantastic Themes With Our Monthly Jewelry Making Kits
Check out our Design Kits! Each kit is a themed collection of beading supplies. You never know where one of our kits will transport you! We have indulged in mystical purple with our Purple Rain Design Kit. We have caught Cupid's arrows with our Cupid's Kiss kit. We have danced in the fallen leaves of the Harvest Moon. We have relaxed on the lush blue Sea of Crete with our Santorini Dreams kit. We have raced down rain slicked streets with our Neon Nights kit. So many fun adventures. What is our next journey going to be? All of our kits are thoughtfully designed and curated. You are going to love the supplies inside!
Hurry! Our kits are limited in quantity and usually sell out before the end of the month. At the end of each month, we reveal our recent kit on the Soft Flex Facebook page and YouTube Page. Open your kit when you get it or wait for Sara to reveal the contents and open yours along with us live!
If you'd like to join us in the design challenge next month, buy this kit and challenge yourself to try something new and unexpected. If you are new to beading, this kit comes with findings, beads, wire, and surprises.
Our kits are great for skill building. We want our kits to feel challenging. We want them to be accessible for beginners and advanced designers alike, but we love to throw in elements that may seem difficult to test our beaders skills and make them think out of the box. We think jewelry is great when it is easy. But when you really have to engage your mind and process your materials and tools, we think that your jewelry has the potential to be life changing.
Our kits may be inspired by a colorway or theme, but they are meant to be creative interpretations. Imagination and innovation do not follow the rules. Expect the unexpected.
Supplies are very limited. Don’t miss out!
Playful Fantasy With Our Whimsical Beadtastical Design Kit
Our Whimsical Beadtastical Design Kit (Sold Out) was an ballad to one of our favorite authors, Dr. Suess. This cheerful collection of beading supplies was a great way to add some joy to your jewelry collection. If you love denim, this colorway was a perfect addition to your beading kit. If you wanted to get extra creative, you could paint your pendants and add the Cat in the Hat. Kristen showed us how she used Posca paint markers to make her necklace one of a kind.
Explore An Undersea Kingdom With Our Mermaid’s Lagoon Design Kit
Mermaid’s Lagoon (Sold Out) was our gaze into an enchanting undersea kingdom. This kit had Lapis blue depths and mossy Peridot colored coves. This collection was perfect for basic beach jewelry or elegant styles for any occasion. Make jewelry that has the vibrant innocence of Ariel or embrace the dark waters of Ursula! Your finished designs will go swimmingly with beach attire and attitude.
Celebrate Mythical Animals With Our Unicorn Sparkles Design Kit
When you associate magic with our four footed friends, one animal stands out as the most enchanting and wonderful. We are, of course, talking about the unicorn. The Unicorn Sparkles Design Kit (Sold Out) was our ode to the legendary beast. This kit was pure fantasy. Spike beads and purple stars really made it mystical. Let the unicorn bless you with luck and happiness!
If you love this design, make sure you visit Nealay at SilverSilk & More!
Christmas Spider Using Soft Flex Craft Wire And Beads
Conversations in Wire was our series that instructed beginners how to wire wrap and gave designers some great ideas and inspiration. Host James Browning is a wire working wizard. If you ever have any questions about Soft Flex Craft Wire, drop us a line and we will make sure you have your answers. In this episode, James showed us how to conjure up a delicate spider. This DIY spider is fun and festive. You can make them as spooky as you want for Halloween or make them festive and jolly for Christmas!
Can't get enough? James has even more spider ideas in another video. Make your holidays a little spookier or a little merrier with this fantastic little creatures!
Learn How To Make A Wire Wrapped Flower Crown
Become the queen of the wood dwelling elves with this wire wrapped crown of flowers. Wear your regal headpiece during a Renaissance Faire and command the attention of your loyal vassals. Or just show your love of nature and oneness with this wonderful universe we share.
Protect Your Heart Beaded Bracelet
Don't be jaded. Wield a powerful bracelet that wards off evil spirits and shadow thoughts. This eye guardian will protect your heart from the most terrific creatures in the dream worlds.
Learn How To Make A Unicorn Enchanted Tassel
This enchanted tassel is your tool to beckon a guardian unicorn. Let the majestic steed guide you through your days and brighten your nights. Make sure you check out Kay Goss at Star's Beads. She has amazing tassel ideas and loves fantastic jewelry!
Charms Are An Easy Way To Explore Fantasy And Pure Imagination
Charms are pure storytellers. These little jewelry enhancements can add a tale to any design. They are great for giving a personal touch to any bracelet or for gift giving. If you love a little fantasy, charms are a great way to add intention to your jewelry. Speak your words through jewelry and weave a story that is fanciful and fun.
Your signature handmade jewelry deserves a unique charm. Tell a story or add an accent. Create whimsical nature inspired designs with a richly detailed tree spirit charm from TierraCast. 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 repeated front and back, so it looks great from any angle. Add as the focal part of a necklace, or use on a bracelet!
The jolliest charms are here. Our elves are filling stockings with enchanting charms for jewelry designers and happy holiday crafters. Grab a mix of your favorite seasonal charms and add a little sprinkle of seasonal beauty to your next bracelet. These charms are great for handmade ornaments. They are a simple way to adorn a gift and make it even more special.
This powerful snail is carrying the weight of a castle on his back. Even though that sounds like an incredible burden, this little fellow is pure positivity! Sara used the Snail Castle bead to create this cute pendant to make a necklace on our TikTok and Instagram accounts.
View the video on Instagram Reels.
Follow The Trendsetters At The Great Bead Extravaganza
Art by Christi Friesen
Check out the amazing bead stores and creative jewelry makers that comprise the Great Bead Extravaganza. These stores offer pearls at stunning gemstones at affordable prices. Refill your beading supplies or spoil yourself with a new favorite bead. Watch their jewelry demonstrations and master a new technique.
Cynthia Thorton at Green Girl Studios
Just about everything from Cynthia Thornton and Green Girl Studios is fantasy at its most alluring. Dragons, harpies, floating castles, and more! Check out her Fantasy Elements category for some great beads!
Candie has a fun collection of aquatic animals and mermaids. If a beach necklace with a mystical vibe is your thing, make sure you visit her Etsy!
Candie has added a touch of gothic fantasy on her Etsy. Check out her Starry Skull Earring Kit. Tell your own tale of haunted houses and creaking hallways with this cute kit!
Christi has an incredible imagination and her website is full of fantastic creations. Her Ghoulie and Merling collections are absolutely mind-blowing. Make sure you visit her site and grab some mystical clay creatures.
This Raku-like glass mix is ethereal and amazing. It is perfect for any fantasy creation!
Do you need some stones to string on your next fantasy inspired jewelry design? The Bead Gallery has all of the magnificent and exotic gemstones you need! It isn't hard to make magic when your cauldron is full of amazing beads.
Is there anything more magical than the color purple? Andrew and William have an inventory of mystical beads. Allegory is also the place to find Andrew's amazing art.
Allegory Gallery is a bead store and craft supply shop. Check out their Artisan Made items!
Abbi Berta and crew love to make playful jewelry and stock their store with imaginative beading supplies. Make your day brighter with some cosmic or fang-tastic fun from this bead 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