Bead Haul Prototype Box #beadhaul

In the past I have subscribed to Craft Creatives boxed and liked them but I didn't always like the themes and stopped subscribing when they changed their box from themes to projects. The Craft Creatives team recently made a prototype box available of their new Bead Haul box. I love making jewellery bits, and it's quite handy that my hubby works in that field too and can give me little hints and tips. I was really excited by this and signed up for the prototype and was really impressed.

Now I must apologise as I did get this box just over a month ago and even made some things on the day I got it, but forgot to get round to blogging about it!

Now I must point out that this box was a prototype to see what people thought about what was on offer and the box that came was pretty plain and non-branded (apart from the label that said it was a Bead Haul prototype) but I actually liked this as I buy the box for what's inside.

 

Sorry for the bad picture. This kit included the below:

• head and eye pins
• two shell wings
• earring hooks
• two necklace chains
• jump rings
• aqua beads
• metal feather charms
• bird charms (included single bird charms, two birds on a white/branch, birds in a hoop, and bird connectors)
• aqua square beads
• a tassel
• two seagull wooden tile charms
• bird buttons
• stix 2 pick up pencil (this was a gift)

I liked the range of items and already have this antique gold colour in jewellery hardware which was handy. I also have a lot of aqua bits so I can mix it with my own bits I already have.

I liked the buttons however I wasn't sure they really fitted with the box, but will be using these in my sewing projects. I also realllllly didn't like the tassel, I've seen these a lot in DoCrafts kits at the moment and just don't like them or 'get' them, but that's just me. 

There were a few projects to try out online too which was good as it gave me a feel for what I could make, and then inspire me to make other projects. The first thing I made was the bird in the hoop infront of the aqua tile bead. At first I had no idea how this would work and thought maybe glue would be involved, but its made using a jump ring on the bird, and a jump ring on the tile and layering them on the necklace. I love it.

 

The next thing I made was this pair of earrings. I love wing things and thought these were beautiful. The only thing I would have liked is if they were opposites of each other (as in the pattern). They're really light weight too!

I then decided to get my jewellery making box out and found some chain, jump rings, a clasp and a little charm saying 'made with love' (shown below) and this is what I made.

One of the ideas was making earrings with the metal feathers however they are quite weighty and I'd worry about using them as earrings so I'm going to come up with another idea (maybe a bag charm). I can't weight to try some other projects with this kit and thought it was really well thought out.

I wasn't sure if I'd purchase the first 'official' box, however the theme has been revealed as FAIRYTAIL!!!!!  This has definitely swung it for me especially with my love of Disney and fairytales (as I write this I'm watching Once Upon a Time, and planning a trip to Disneyland Paris!). 

This box will be available to order from 1st November 2015 and will be priced at £12.50 with £2.50 postage, and delivered in early December. This can be purchased as a one off box, or brought as a subscription being delivered every 2 months. I think I will order the first box and see what it is like before I commit as I'm not a huge jewellery maker but like making things when I want a break from card making (especially around Christmas time!) More info can be found on https://www.craftycreatives.com/beadhaul/

The actual boxes will also have more beads rather than findings which I'm really pleased with as you can buy findings sets quite easily and you won't be over run with findings (unless you want to be of course). Nothing worse than having hundreds of findings you don't want or use!

This box was purchased by myself and was a fair review based on my thoughts of the box. I do not get anything from #beadhaul in exchange for this review or via the link.

Crafty Creatives Box - First thoughts #CCbox8

After a break from Crafty Creatives for three boxes I missed all the goodies too much and came back. I stopped subscribing as I was only really a card maker and did a bit of sewing too but that was it. At the time I also didn't have any craft storage and my study was just a room of boxes but after Christmas I sorted all of that out. Also during that time I've got into more crafts including jewellery making, knitting and more sewing (especially once my parents got Bailey as I'm now making loads of bandanas, he is a puppy by the way)

During my break I've got more into crafts so couldn't wait to get this box.

Before I tell you what's in the box I was looking recently at buying some craft items, these being:
Head pins
Washi tape (never tried it but want to)
Different materials
Another pair of jewellery tools (I have a three in one tool which I love but needed another to help open links easier and my fingers always get in the way - my hubby works in a jewellers and is teaching me the best way to make head pins, links etc)

In this box all of the above was included! Scary!

I woke up this morning, changed my hedgehog pj bottoms for jeans, chucked on my jacket and shoes, put hot water and coffee in my cafetiere then walked to my next door neighbour....the sorting office. 5 mins 21 seconds and I was back (for most people this is more like 2/3 mins but my Muscular Dystrophy slows me down and it was blummin cold). Got home, pushed the plunger on my coffee down and then sat in my tub chair with my coffee, almond croissant and CC box (in jeans and hedgehog pj top)

This box is amazing, possibly my favourite :)

The art card woke me up! NeonFunk 002 art card from Paul Heard who is actually from my neck of the woods in Essex.

The rest of the box is a lovely mix of spots and stripes:
CC Kit - polymer clay necklace kit - never used polymer clay and can't wait
Washi tape - YEYYYYYYY can't wait to try and its such a lovely pattern. I made a quick card wrapping the tape round some card letters to make a quick but lovely thank you card
Spotty & stripy paper straws - either thinking of using for cake pop sticks or cake flags using washi tape as little flags (since I wrote this I made some flags lol all ready for some cupcakes)
Spotty cupcake cases- I needed more cases! Can use this in conjunction with the above straws
Glass bead
Stripy string - have lots but none in this colour - nice pastel green huge
Resin beads
PVC fabric - thinking of making a pencil case or small make up bag for my handbag
Stripped cotton fabric - bandana for bailey or as part of a cushion
Foam sticky dots - I've used stix2 squares before but never the dots so looking forward to using these - great for round card toppers
Tissue paper - card making or gift wrap
Round nose pliers & headpins - yeyyyy more jewellery making suppliers :)

Now I'm off to finish my coffee, have a shower then vacuum my sewing machine before I have a day of crafting!

Something a bit different from sewing, card making and baking...Jewellery Making!

I've tried many different crafts but I've not made any jewellery (well apart from a rose ring from the Craft Creatives Halloween box). I saw a set on Create and Craft from Beaders Companion and looked it up online on the Beaders Companion site and saw I could get the Create sets for around £5 each so brought a teal set and a brown set (it was far cheaper than Create and Craft so it's handy to have a look around especially if they are on sale on the suppliers sites).

My kits arrived the next day (which is also another reason why I preferred buying from Beaders Companion...and I got my points too!)

The kits make 2 necklaces, a pair of earrings and up to three bracelets. I thought these would look nice with t-shirts and plain jumpers to give a splash of colour as I only usually wear gold.

On the Beaders Companion site there are a number of projects including one to go with the kit https://www.beaderscompanion.co.uk/members/projects.html?proj_id=217 but a copy was printed and included with my parcel. (You need to sign up as a member to see the kits but it is free to join but if you are a member of Crafters Companion you will also have access to the Beaders Companion site).

Photo from Beaders Companion Site

I was a bit worried when I ordered the kits as on the Create and Craft site a few reviews said that there wasn't enough cord and the beads were of a poor quality without holes but I thought I'd get it and if that was the case I'd contact Beaders Companion for a replacement. (one person on the C&C site said that they just gave the kit to their children due to lots of the beads being faulty....but if it was that bad I would have returned it).

The kits come with a see-through cord to make a two tier necklace, a coloured cord to make a pendant necklace, elastic cord to make 3 bracelets and findings to make a pair of earrings.

There are so many lovely beads in this kit and few of them are shown below. You lots of small beads and larger patterned and shaped beads. 

I did notice a few beads weren't drilled properly so I went thought them all to check and was able to use a pokey tool to clear the hole but some weren't drilled at all, only about 6 beads out of the whole pack so it wasn't too bad. 

My tip for this kit is to ensure you have enough beads for the earrings and necklaces is to choose the beads you want for your earrings first and put aside (or make), then choose the beads for your pendant necklace, and then make your two-tier necklace. I found that there weren't many big beads left for the bracelets so ended up adding in some beads of my own.

I made both necklaces and a bracelet yesterday but haven't been able to make the earrings yet as I don't have the tool to make the loop on the earrings (hubby works at a jewellers so is going to do that bit for me rather then buy the tools myself as I don't usually make jewellery and don't want to buy lots of things I won't use but may look at getting some in the future).
 
I really liked these kits and can't wait to start on the brown kit. For the price I think it was brilliant (I got mine for just under £5 with my Beaders Companion membership discount).

I'll post photos of my finished items shortly (currently in puppy safe clothes as we are puppy sitting Bailey today)

If you want to buy this kit, head on over to Beaders Companion where the kits are reduced from £12.99 down to around £5! http://www.beaderscompanion.co.uk/create-1299/create-jewellery-kits-1757/super-beading-kit-teal-20508.htm





A little tip....measure the necklace before putting the bead and loop on for the pendant necklace! I just went to wear it for work and it was way too long! I'll be fixing that later or tomorrow! Silly Sara

Nails Inc's New Nail Jewellery!

I am loving Nails Inc's new nail jewellery but wasn't that impressed initially until I tried it!

I went out shopping with my husband to spend out wedding gift vouchers and wanted to buy a black OPI nail polish in order to do Louboutin style nails properly (black on top and red tips under the nail), but forgot while in John Lewis so went to the Nails Inc bar while in House of Fraser. I picked up Black Taxi then saw the Nail Jewellery, a range on different glitter polished, and picked up the diamond one. Using both polishes together gives me, what I like to call, a granite look. The black doesn't look harsh and the glitter looks almost 3D. 

This polish also lasted the longest I've ever had polish last! Over 2 days, this doesn't sound much for most people but for me it really is. The only downside to this polish.....the elbow grease needed to remove it but it really is worth it.

I'm not sure what the other colours would be like but I'm loving the diamond version and at £11 it's not bad at all!

From Nails Inc