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As a Designer, Ask Yourself This One Meaningful Question…

beautiful-english-garden

(Photo compliments of Beautiful English Garden)

Today I fell in love with this simple, yet genuinely profound idea that can affect many aspects of our lives. Now, I don’t mean to be dramatic about it, but I think it’s important to take a moment and to honestly think about this worthwhile question.

The question is…why does beauty matter?

Beautiful butterflies

There are all kinds of answers to this question. A few that I have been reflecting on, is that beauty inspires us. Beauty helps us to pause and reflect on the joyous qualities of life. Beauty brings us happiness. Beauty is an expression of love.

I suppose a follow up question would be, where do you create or appreciate beauty in your everyday life?

Why Beauty Matters

This picture and short article from Ideas.Ted.com is what inspired these thoughts on beauty.

Beauty should be the starting point for everything

Beauty can be found in everything….and I mean everything. It can be found in the smallest, most unassuming elements of life. It can be found in your morning cup of delicious coffee. It can be found in a single rose petal. It can be found in the words we say…or don’t say.

When I really started to amplify this idea and apply it to my life, I began thinking about the smallest details that I see and do every single day. Details that are beautiful and the details that could be made more beautiful.

DIY Beautiful Jewelry Organizers

The obvious beauty is how we dress, the jewelry we wear, the home we create. Maybe less obvious, is how we treat others, how we treat ourselves, our inner and outer vocabulary, and the tone of our voice. It’s always good to remember that everything we say and do has it’s effect in this world.

As we incorporate more beauty in our lives and become more aware of the beauty all around us, we in-turn become more beautiful.

See-The-Beauty-Of-Everyday-Things

(compliments of PictureQuotes.com)

We as designers need to truly remember that, it’s not just the end product of what we make that is beautiful. The process of making that product is also beautiful. The inspiration behind our creations, is beautiful.

Every time someone compliments your jewelry, that becomes a beautiful moment. We are creating and spreading beauty every step of the way, and that in-of-itself, is absolutely beautiful!

Swarovski Crystal Heart Beads 5741-Blush_Rose

Please share your thoughts/pictures on how or why beauty matters to you!

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SWAROVSKI Crystal Design Contest, Enter to Win Free Sparkles!

Swarovski Crystal 2015 Design Contest Win Crystals

Here is an excellent chance to show off your creativity, beading and jewelry making skills!

SWAROVSKI Create Your Style is hosting a Fall 2015 Trend Design Contest!

Contest period starts July, 1st 2015 and ends on August 15th, 2015.

Swarovski Crystal 2015 Design Contest Win Swarovski Crystals

Here’s your chance to win free SWAROVSKI Crystals!

Swarovski Crystal 2015 Design Contest Win Crystals Now

Prizes will be rewarded by an expert jury. The criteria for judging will be based upon the creative use of the various use of Swarovski Crystals – focusing on innovations – incorporated into the design.

Swarovski Crystal 2015 Design Contest Win Swarovski Crystals Upload

Create an inspiring design using the Swarovski Fall/Winter Trend themes and innovations and enter your design into the Create Your Style Facebook contest.

Get more details about the Official Contest Rules in the “Terms and Conditions

two hearts cuff bracelet

Have a look at the Create Your Style eBook and get inspired by sparkling summer designs created with Swarovski Crystals!

Who’s going to enter  the design contest? I would love to see your designs!!

Swarovski_Heart_Bead_5741-Crystal_Paradise_Shine

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DIY Swarovski Sandals ~ Sparkle Every Step of the Way!

DIY Swarovski Crystal Flip Flops Design and Instructions

Step out in style this summer in charming boho-chic sandals. Raise your fashion game with gorgeous easy-to-apply Swarovski crystals in leaf patterns, which catch the light as you sit sipping something cool and refreshing. From sunrise to sunset, beach to barbecue, slip them on with your sunglasses and get that carefree holiday feeling!

DIY Swarovski Crystal Flip Flops Design and Instructions Banner

Swarovski crystals

Article Product Group Article No. Amount Size Color Color Code

Pearshape Fancy Stones 4320 20 pieces 8x6mm Crystal Iridescent Green 001 IRIG

Pearshape Fancy Stones 4320 4 pieces 14x10mm Crystal Gold Patina 001 GOLPA

Trilliant Fancy Stones 4706 4 pieces. 12mm Dark Moss Green 260 Settings 4320/S 20 pieces 8x6mm Gold 1 PH2OZ Settings 4320/S 4 pieces 14x10mm Gold 1 PH2OZ Settings 4706/S 4 pieces 12mm Gold 1 PH2OZ

Globe Beads 5028/4 24 pieces 6mm Fern Green 291 (or you can use style 5000 Round Beads)

Bicone Beads 5328 34 pieces 4mm Dark Moss Green 260

Bicone Beads 5328 62 pieces 4mm Olivine 228

Supplies & Tools

Supplies: Alcantara, black, 20x18cm Fusible Interlining, 20x9cm Nylon thread, transparent, 0.15mm, 6m

Tools: Double sided tape, Iron, Scissors, Sewing needle, Sheet of paper, and Tweezers.

DIY Swarovski Crystal Flip Flops Design and Instructions Step 1

DIY Swarovski Crystal Flip Flops Design and Instructions Step 2

DIY Swarovski Crystal Flip Flops Design and Instructions Step 2 B

DIY Swarovski Crystal Flip Flops Design and Instructions Step 3

DIY Swarovski Crystal Flip Flops Design and Instructions Step 4

DIY Swarovski Crystal Flip Flops Design and Instructions Step 5

DIY Swarovski Crystal Flip Flops Design and Instructions Step 6

STEP 1: Print and cut out the leaf pattern.

STEP 2: Cut two 20x9cm pieces of Alcantara fabric and cut a 20x9cm piece of fusible interlining. Place the interlining between the two pieces of Alcantara and iron the 3 layers together.

STEP 3: Adhere the pattern to the fabric with double sided tape and cut out the shape. Flip the pattern and cut out a mirror piece of the fabric. (See illustrations for clarification.)

STEP 4: Insert Swarovski Fancy Stones art. 4320 8x6mm, 14x10mm and art.4706 12mm into Swarovski Settings as shown in this step using tweezers. Cut 1m nylon thread and sew half of the Swarovski Crystals in the material list onto one of the pattern pieces. Sew the other half onto the other pattern piece.

STEP 5: Sew the created leaves onto the sandals as depicted in the illustrations

Swarovski_Heart_Bead_5741-Crystal_Paradise_Shine

Have fun sparkling every step of the way!

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Create A Star-Studded Bracelet That Will Have You Shining Extra Bright This 4th of July!

DIY American Dream Swarovski Crystal Bracelet

Wrap your wrist in a simple-to-make, all-American Star-Spangled Banner bracelet made of woven Swarovski crystals. Now get ready for the fireworks, celebrate good times and have a blast making this star-studded design!

DIY American Dream Swarovski Crystal Flag Bracelet

Swarovski Crystals

Snap Fastener 1780/114 082 1pc. 11mm Silver/Crystal 001 (contact us for details)

Swarovski Xilion Bicone Beads 5328-3mm Light Siam (422 pieces)

Swarovski Xilion Bicone Beads 5328-3mm Sapphire (358 pieces)

Swarovski Xilion Bicone Beads 5328-3mm White Alabaster (288 pieces)

Supplies and Tools

Supplies: Adhesive tape, white Leather, 12x7cm, metallic silver Leather glue (Güttermann creative HT2) Nylon thread, 2m, 0.3mm, transparent Nylon thread, 3m, 0.15mm, transparent.

Tools: Bead weaving loom, Crystal Swarovski Applicator Hand Tool, Fine needle (no.12) Lighter and scissors.

Level of design: INTERMEDIATE. Take a look at the bottom for text instructions.

DIY American Dream Swarovski Crystal Bracelet Instructions Step 1

DIY American Dream Swarovski Crystal Bracelet Instructions Step 2

DIY American Dream Swarovski Crystal Bracelet Instructions Step 3

DIY American Dream Swarovski Crystal Bracelet Instructions Step 4

DIY American Dream Swarovski Crystal Bracelet Instructions Step 5

DIY American Dream Swarovski Crystal Bracelet Instructions Step 6

DIY American Dream Swarovski Crystal Bracelet Instructions Step 7

DIY American Dream Swarovski Crystal Bracelet Instructions Step 9

DIY American Dream Swarovski Crystal Bracelet Instructions Step 10

DIY American Dream Swarovski Crystal Bracelet Instructions Step 11

DIY American Dream Swarovski Crystal Bracelet Instructions Step by Step Instructions

STEP 1: Cut 2m of 0.3mm nylon thread. Tie a single knot onto one end of the bead weaving loom and thread it through the loom as shown in our illustrations with this step until you have 6 horizontal rows. Attach the other end to the loom with tape.

STEP 2: Cut 1m of 0.15mm nylon thread. Tie a single knot onto the end and slide on two Swarovski Bead art. 5328 3mm in Light Siam and two White Alabaster alternating. Repeat 3 times and end with two Light Siam beads. Slide the string underneath all the horizontal strings as shown in the illustration.

STEP 3: Insert the nylon thread back through the beads and each time over the horizontal string until the end. This will produce clusters of 4 beads and then 3 beads.

STEP 4: Repeat steps 2 & 3 to get 32 more vertical strings onto the loom.

STEP 5: Repeat step 2 & 3, but string on two Swarovski Bead art. 5328 3mm in Light Siam, two White Alabaster, two Light Siam and only one White Alabaster. Then string on 11 3mm Sapphire Beads. Repeat the pattern in this step once more. Continue to string on the same number of Light Siam and White Alabaster beads as done in this step and then refer to the illustrations for the random order of the Sapphire and White Alabaster beads to create the “stars”.

STEP 6: Remove the entire bracelet off the loom. Cut the two joined ends on one side to get six open ends. Tie a knot with the ends and melt the ends closer to knots as depicted in the illustration.

STEP 7: Cut two pieces of 7cm tape and place the tape under the nylon thread ends on both sides. Wrap the tape onto the thread ends and cut off the excess tape.

STEP 8: Cut two pieces of 5.7×3.2cm long metallic leather and glue them onto the bracelet ends so that they are folded into half. Cut off any excess leather.

STEP 9: Put the upper and lower dies into the Crystal Applicator Hand Tool that go with the Swarovski Snap Fastener art. 1780/114 082 082 001 11mm. Place the Swarovski Snap Fastener Silver/Crystal into the lower die of the Crystal Applicator Hand tool and place the back part of the Snap Fastener onto the upper die of the applicator. Put the metallic leather part of the bracelet in between the applicator tool and apply the snap fastener.

STEP 10: Change the upper and lower die of the applicator and insert the other pair of dies.

STEP 11: Insert the top and lower part of the Swarovski Snap Fastener into the applicator as done in step 9 and attach it onto the other side of the metallic leather.

Swarovski_5741 Heart Bead Light_Siam

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Sparkle as You Walk Down the Aisle with These Stunning DIY Embellished Shoes!

Wedding bouquet

Gorgeous bridal bouquet from Style Me Pretty

Once in a blue moon, in the middle of an ordinary life, love comes along and catapults you into a fairy tale. Make the most of it! Sparkle with Swarovski crystals as you walk down the aisle. Twinkle as you dance the night away and shine as you hug your guests.

DIY Swarovski Crystal Wedding Shoes

These beautifully DIY Swarovski embellished shoes will complement your wedding dress as you take the first steps of your married life.

DIY Swarovski Crystal Wedding Shoes banner

Please contact us for items not listed on line, we can certainly order them for you and the setting are very inexpensive.

Article Product Group Article No. Amount Size Color Color Code

Swarovski Crystal Fancy Stones 4200 Navette 14pcs. 11x3mm Crystal 001

Swarovski Crystal Fancy Stones 4228 Xilion Navette 16pcs. 15x7mm White Opal 234

Swarovski Crystal Fancy Stones 4230 Lemon 2pcs. 19x12mm Crystal 001

Swarovski Crystal Fancy Stones 4328 Xilion Pear 16pcs. 8×4.8mm Crystal 001

Swarovski Crystal Fancy Stones 4328 Xilion Pear 16pcs. 10x6mm Crystal 001

Settings 4200/S 1PH2OH 14pcs. 11x3mm Rhodium

Settings 4228/S 1PH2OH 16pcs. 15x7mm Rhodium

Settings 4230/S 1PH2OH 2pcs. 19x12mm Rhodium

Settings 4328/S 16pcs. 8×4.8mm Rhodium

Settings 4328/S 16pcs. 10x6mm Rhodium Ceralun (A+B) Sys.# 5011395 White SP 300

DIY Swarovski Crystal Wedding Shoes Step 1

DIY Swarovski Crystal Wedding Shoes Step 2

DIY Swarovski Crystal Wedding Shoes Step 3

DIY Swarovski Crystal Elegant Wedding Shoes

STEP 1: Place Swarovski Fancy Stone art. 4228 15x7mm White Opal into the Swarovski Settings art. 4228/S 1PH2OH 15x7mm Rhodium and gently close the prongs over the stone using tweezers. Repeat the step with all other Swarovski Crystals in the material list.

STEP 2: Mix the Swarovski Ceralun® according to the package instructions. Affix the Swarovski Settings with Swarovski Fancy stones onto the shoe using the Swarovski Ceralun®. Please note that you have to glue one half of the shoe first, let it dry and then glue the other half as shown in our illustrations with this step.

STEP 3: Repeat the steps 1-2 to create the other wedding shoe.

Have fun creating these stunning shoes!

Swarovski Love Bead