Artbeads Design Challenge

Artbeads.com recently launched their "Make it for Mom Challenge" contest!  Just create your perfect  Mother's Day design using at least 50% of Artbeads products, submit your design, and you could be the lucky winner of a $250.00 Artbeads.com gift card. I don't know about you...but getting a chance to win such an awesome prize from creating a design for your Mom sounds absolutely wonderful and perfect to me!!

But that's not all my creative blog peeps...after the public votes (on facebook) and the winner is determined, that oh so lucky winner's design will be featured in the "Artbeads Learning Center."  Fabulousoo!!! So get your thinking caps on, your creative mind tuned in and let the muse take over! Click here to go directly to the design challenge contest page and read all the details and rules. Best get movin...voting begins on Mother's Day, May 8th, just 13 more days.

Best of luck and have fun!

The Birthstone for April is

the stunning diamond...for both modern and traditional birthstones. 

Here are a few known facts about diamonds;.

* The tradition of presenting a diamond as a promise of marriage came from Archduke Maximilian of Austria in 1477.

* Ancient Greeks thought diamonds were splinters from stars that fell to earth.

* Ancient Greeks also thought diamonds were tears of the Gods & crystallized lightening.

* Diamonds have been used as cutting & engraving tools since early time.

* In 16th century England, diamonds were used by lovers to etch romantic vows into window panes.

* Diamonds are believed to bring their owners wealth, happiness & protection.

So there ya go! For all of you with April birthdays, now you know a bit more about your magnificent diamond birthstone.

I Made The Cover!!

I've been anticipating a package from `Bead Trends` all week, and it finally arrived today!  I submitted a pair of earrings last year for the April 2011 issue of Bead Trends, and to my surprise...not only are my earrings in the magazine, but they made the cover!!!  I'm SO excited!!!

Here they are!  "Sunkissed" created with Pink Amethyst briolettes and Citrine rondelles w/Sterling Silver.

A closer look inside the magazine.  I just love the way they photographed them!

 Another view of the entire page.

 I feel so blessed and happy to have my work recognized this way.  It's truly an honor!  I'll be like this -> :-D for the rest of the day...no, for the rest of the month!! LOL! :-D

"Many thanks to Bead Trends!"

*FYI -Click here -> Bead Trends is accepting designs for their October 2011 (deadline- April 25th) and November 2011 (deadline-May 25th) issues.  Give it a shot...you never know what can happen if you don't try.