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Win the Xuron 4-in-1 Bead Crimping Plier from AllFreeJewelryMaking!

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Between round nose pliers, chain nose pliers, wire cutters, crimping pliers, flat nose pliers, and flush cutters (just to name a few), a jewelry designer’s collection of tools and supplies can add up pretty quickly, both in terms of cost and space. Beads, wire, and findings take up enough room as it is without adding all these other materials into the mix. Cut down where you can with solutions like the handy Xuron 4-in-1 Bead Crimping Plier. This ultra-efficient crimper combines the functionality of multiple tools in one, saving you money and storage space. Sound ideal? Well it’s your lucky day, because AllFreeJewelryMaking is giving away a Xuron 4-in-1 Crimper to one very lucky winner!

If you want to finish your jewelry creations off the right way and give them a professional touch, you have to use crimp beads to secure them, and to secure a crimp bead, you need crimping pliers. The thing is, there are various crimp bead sizes and a special tool for each. Well, that is, unless you have the Xuron 4-in-1 Crimper. As the name implies, this innovative plier product combines four different tools into one efficient product. The plier is designed with folding stations for 1mm, 2mm, and 3mm crimp beads, so virtually any jewelry project can be finished using the same tool–no need to have three different pliers in your toolbox.

In addition to the three folding stations, the Xuron 4-in-1 Crimper is designed with chain nose plier functionality, so if your crimp bead needs one last little squeeze or adjustment, you can stick with the same tool you already have in your hand to finish your piece to perfection. No need to awkwardly swap out one tool for another as you try not to lose hold of your project; the Xuron 4-in-1 Crimper does it all.

Want to win this awesome jewelry-making tool? Then enter the Xuron 4-in-1 Crimper Giveaway! The contest runs through July 29th, 2013, 11:59:59 p.m. Eastern Time, and you can enter once a day, so keep coming back to improve your chances!

What’s the one jewelry-making tool you can’t live without?

 

Win a Crystal Katana and Bring Some Bling to Your Life

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Every girl loves to add a bit of bling to her belongings. What phone case or compact couldn’t be improved by crystal embellishments? If you’ve ever tried your hand at bedazzling, you know that it can be a bit tricky – catapulting crystals, glue mishaps, and tweezer catastrophes are just a few of the frustrations you can encounter. However, a new product has been developed that will have you kissing your bedazzling blues goodbye. With the Crystal Katana, blinging your belongings has never been easier. If crystals are your Kryptonite, then it’s your lucky day, because AllFreeJewelryMaking is giving away a Crystal Katana prize pack to one lucky winner!

Say “sayonara” to sticky waxes, hard-to-handle tweezers and tools, and airborne crystals. With the Crystal Katana, you can bling almost anything with absolute ease. Made by glitzing guru Kellie DeFries of CrystalNinja, the patent-pending Crystal Katana is a dream come true for DIY-ers with a desire to dazzle. The waxy, pointed end allows you to easily pick up and place crystals, and the chrome end allows you to press them into place for ensured adhesion. No stress, no mess, no fuss or frustration. It’s really that simple!

The wax end has just enough grab to easily stick and release crystals without leaving a greasy residue. The chrome end is designed with a small opening that lets you press crystals in place securely. The tool itself is large enough to provide a secure grip, unlike teensy tweezers, but is light enough that it can be maneuvered with ease and comfort. It’s so effortless to manipulate, Kellie DeFries has used it to bedazzle everything from phone covers to car hoods!

crystalkatanaprizepack

Why leave your life sparkle-less any longer? Enter for your chance to win a Crystal Katana and bring a bit of bling to your life. The Crystal Katana Giveaway prize pack includes one Crystal Katana tool, a bottle of Dreamtime Creations rhinestone adhesive, five syringes and tips for gluing, and a large assortment of Swarovski Elements flatback crystals. What a haul! Contest ends May 6, 2013, and you can enter once a day, so keep coming back to improve your chances!

What would you bling first with your Crystal Katana?

 

To Bead True Blue Recap: Trends, What’s New, and More

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In Tucson, Ariz., the past week, the sun was shining, the birds were chirping, and the beads were glinting as more than 500 artisans, manufacturers, and others gathered to show off their stuff at To Bead True Blue. I had the great privilege to attend the show this year (for the first time!) on behalf of AllFreeJewelryMaking and was blown away by the breadth and abundance of exhibitions the show had to offer. From artisans and designers displaying their hand-crafted creations to manufacturers and distributors demonstrating the latest products on the jewelry-making scene, there was much to take in at To Bead True Blue.

I had only two days to try to cover as much ground as possible at the show, but I could have easily spent an entire week surveying the shiny spectacle of all the beads and baubles on display at To Bead True Blue as well as The Tucson Bead Show and all the other various gem shows going on across the city. If you are a lover of beads, jewelry, gemstones, and all things sparkly, you truly must put To Bead True Blue on your bucket list.

First off, I had to make sure I checked out what was new at the Alacarte Clasps & WireLace booth where the talented Linda Hartung was demonstrating her latest brainchild, WireLuxe. A luxury, metallic knit wire product, WireLuxe is at once structured and soft, making it light and comfortable to wear, but also sturdy enough to hold its shape and allow embellishment. I was so impressed by the way it could bend to form elegant, undulating designs as well as provide a sturdy foundation for beadwork and other components.

Another of my favorite exhibits was Starman, where the very accommodating Jennifer Schroeder showed me their latest bead products. One of the biggest trends and hottest new items I noticed while at To Bead True Blue were two-hole beads. These seemed to be the “big new thing,” and when I visited the Starman booth, I could see why. Their cleverly named CzechMates are a two-hole bead system that allows for more dynamic, dimensional beadwork than is possible with your typical single-hole beads. Available in Tiles, Bricks, Lentils, and Daggers, these beads are all designed to be used together seamlessly, and I was in awe at some of the structural, layered beadwork pieces they had on display. (I was also a big fan of the new mini Rose Petal bead, a daintier version of an old favorite!

There were also some notable new tools I got to see in action (and even try for myself!) to help you put all those beads and goodies you accumulated at the show to good use. At The BeadSmith booth, the big new item on display was the exclusive Ricks Beading Loom. If you’ve ever seen loomwork done before, you’ll know that the number of loose strings you’re left with on the end can be a bit…confusing. Well the patented Ricks Beading Loom eliminates all that stringy mess and leaves you with just two simple strings to work with. I tried it out for myself, and it couldn’t have been easier to use. It definitely makes loom beading accessible to beginners.

Another favorite was the Easy Knotter which I got to see in action at the Designs by Reenie booth. I know from experience, making knotted bead necklaces as not as easy as it seems, which is why Reenie Oliveto came up with this nifty little tool to make knotting a piece of cake. The Easy Knotter helps you keep a tight knot while also allowing you to keep uniform spacing in your design.

I also got a quick demo of the Xuron Brand Micro-Shear Flush Cutters in The Beadin’ Path booth which make a nice clean, close cut and even retain the clipped wire end. And for all your bedazzling needs, the Crystal Katana by Kelly DeFries of Crystal Ninja is a hot new little tool that picks up rhinestones, and even beads, completely effortlessly, avoiding the trouble of having them stick to your fingers.

Other hot trends at this year’s To Bead True Blue? Spike beads were everywhere, and were one of my favorite new trends. These cone-shaped beads make for elegantly edgy bracelets, cuffs, and other accessories, and hopefully AllFreeJewelryMaking can find some patterns utilizing these new beads soon! Miyuki was debuting its new Long Drop Beads and “Luminous Color” seed beads; the elongated version of the seed bead seems to be a popular trend right now, and neon colors have finally hit the beading world!

I’ve hardly scratched the surface of this gem of a show with the products and trends I’ve highlighted here, but there was so much to do and see, I couldn’t possibly touch on it all! I ran into people from all over the country (and even from other parts of the world) at this show, so if this is any indication of the size and influence of To Bead True Blue, I expect next year to be even bigger and better, and I definitely won’t be missing it!

Were you at To Bead True Blue this year, or have you ever attended?

What are your favorite beading and jewelry trends, tools, and products right now?

Win a Set of Beading Crochet Hooks from AllFreeBeadedJewelry!

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If you’ve ever tried making beaded crochet jewelry or small crocheted accessories, you’ve probably run into some trouble with your normal hook. The average crochet hook is simply too big and bulky to handle thread and small beads. Well, luckily for us, Clover Needlecraft has come out with a set of Soft Touch “Steel” Crochet Hooks perfect for beading, jewelry making, and lace making! And they’ve been so generous as to gift us the complete set–that’s eight (count ’em–eight!)–crochet hooks (one in each size) to give away to one very lucky winner!

No lyin’, these little things are the cutest crochet hooks I’ve ever seen. They are small, light, and deft so you can easily maneuver them while making delicate crocheted jewelry. Plus, the heads of the hooks are so tiny, they can probably fit into the holes of most small beads! That right there is way more than you can expect from the typical crochet hook.

But on top of that, these handy hooks are also ergonomically designed, so they are ultra comfortable to use, especially for those of us who typically experience discomfort when handling a hook. The soft touch handle has a great feel in your hand and makes detailed work a breeze. I can’t imagine a better tool for making beaded crochet jewelry!

Enter now for your chance to win the complete set of eight Soft Touch “Steel” Crochet Hooks! The contest ends June 18, 2012, and you can enter once daily, so keep on coming back to improve your chance of bringing these babies home!

Never tried making crocheted jewelry? Here’s some free crochet jewelry patterns to give you an idea of the gorgeous designs you could be creating with a set of these little hooks:

And if that’s not enough, check out our collection of 22 free crochet jewelry patterns to get inspired!

Have you ever tried making crochet jewelry?

Win a 4-Piece Jewelry Making Pliers Set from AllFreeBeadedJewelry!

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If you’ve ever dealt with fussy pliers when making jewelry, you know what a pain they can be. Having a quality set of jewelry-making pliers is essential to anyone who is serious about their craft. That’s why HalsteadBead.com has produced an ideal 4-piece set of pliers for the true jewelry designer, and they have gifted a set for us to give to one lucky winner!

There are many different kinds of jewelry-making pliers, so many that sometimes it can get a bit overwhelming knowing which ones you need, and which ones you can probably do without. That’s why this 4-piece set from HalsteadBead.com is so ideal. It provides you with the essential basic starter kit you need to become a serious jewelry designer. The set includes one pair of chain nose, flat nose, round nose, and side cut pliers–all the essentials in one convenient kit. If you’re new to jewelry making and want a good, standard set of pliers to work with, these are the way to go. They open and close smoothly and without any stiffness for a no-fuss, stress-free crafting experience.

One of the AllFreeBeadedJewelry editors was lucky enough to test these babies out on her own jewelry project. Check out the tutorial for her Vintage-Inspired Green Beaded Necklace!

We are giving away one of these gorgeous sets of pliers for free! Enter now for your chance to win. The contest ends June 4, 2012, and you can enter once daily, so return often to improve your chances! (And don’t forget, tweets, Facebook posts, and blog posts get you extra entries!)

What type of pliers do you use most when making jewelry?

Win a French Knitter from AllFreeBeadedJewelry!

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Have a fabulous pendant you want to showcase? Why string it on a boring old cord or chain when you can display it on a gorgeous swirling web of beads, crystals, and pearls? With the help of the French Knitter from Clover Needlecraft, you can do just that! Make beautiful French knit accessories like nothing you’ve ever seen before with this convenient little jewelry-making loom. And the best part is, we’re giving away a French Knitter from Clover to one lucky winner!

Want to make dazzling accessories like those you see here using nothing more than beads and nylon, yarn, or embroidery thread? With the French Knitter bead jewelry maker, you can make all of these beautiful pieces and more! This small round knitting loom makes creating French knit jewelry a snap. It comes with three interchangeable heads–a 4-peg, 5-peg, and 6-peg–for different looks and variations. Simply drop beads between the pegs as you go to instantly create stunning, intricately woven accessories. Earrings, bracelets, necklaces–all are possible to create with Clover’s easy-to-use French Knitter.

If you’re tired of the same old beading patterns and you’re looking for something fun and new to try, then enter our giveaway today and soon you could be making fabulous French knit jewelry of your own! The contest ends May 7, 2012, and you can enter once a day, so keep coming back to improve your chances of winning!

Tell us, have you ever tried making knit jewelry?

Ask Maria: Soldered Jewelry

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Reader Question: Is there a difference between all the different types of solder available?  And any soldering tips would be appreciated.

Answer: There are a few different kinds of solder.  The type of solder you need will depend on what you’re planning to do with it.  Some varieties of solder, like those used to make stained glass work, often have a small amount of lead in them…so you want to be careful when and if you’re using solder to make jewelry.

When you’re in the market to buy solders, make sure you check on the lead content, especially if you’re planning to make jewelry with it.  I highly recommend the Walnut Hollow Designed for Her Creative Soldering Tool.  It’s easy to use and can be used for anything from jewelry making to stained glass crafting.  It comes with the perfect soldering iron, assorted tips, and lead-free solder that doesn’t need any additional flux (flux is a liquid used in soldering to help adhere to the solder to the copper tape).  For jewelry making, this is your best buy.

You can find a Soldering Iron Kit and additional lead-free/no additional flux needed solder on CutRateCrafts.com.

  Do you have a question for Maria Nerius, Craft Expert at FaveCrafts.com?  Just send us your question!

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