Archive for October, 2008

I am trying to make bracelets from picture scraps to sell for community service. I planned on cutting the longer edge of a photo into a thin strip and then adding a cool charm… however, this does not look professional, nor does it close without tape. What cool ideas can you give me to make a bracelet from picture scraps? Well… It can include more than just photos…like wire, string, yarn, beads etc. I was also considering making some from candy bar wrappers and putting foil around the edges to connect the two ends of the bracelet. But I need a professional method and a way to market it. How can I improve and "expensive-ize" this piece of jewlery? Any other creative ideas for jewelry making would also be appreciated. Thanks!

I've never made this kind of bracelet, but I found some resources and pix for you:

http://www.uberry247.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=47
http://twitching.deviantart.com/art/Charm-Bracelet-57069928
http://heddaedgar.deviantart.com/art/Vegas-22888475
http://twitching.deviantart.com/art/Charm-Bracelet-57069928
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mypicturebook/854761007/in/pool-93628034@N00

To make the charms professional and expensive-ish, I have these suggestions:

1) The products need to be clean and not messy (don't leave too much glue leftovers on the bracelets)

2) Pay attention to the packaging. You may buy/make gift boxes and ribbons for the bracelets, nice packaging will add a lot of value to the products

3) When you sell them, pay attention to the design of the display. Put a layer of silk scarf on the table first and decorate your set with flowers, marbles…etc

Wish your project a big success!

I actually have a few questions…
First, is there magnetic piercing jewelry? Well, I’m sure there is, or it can at least be made, but is it okay to have magnetic jewelry?
And if someone did have magnetic jewelry, and someone else had magnetic finger implants, would they push away if they got close, or go together?
My main question though, is what do you think will happen to magnetic implants in the future (like 5-10yrs.)?
Do you think they will have found a safe material to use as a sheath since the magnets themselves are toxic?
Will they be more of a body mod that you can do if you want, or do you think they will still be something to do just to experiment, like Shannon Larratt did?
This is what sparked my interest, and I am currently reading more about them
http://www.bmezine.com/news/pubring/20060115.html

And if you don’t have the first clue what I’m talking about, or if you have something to say like “Why would anyone want to do that?!” then just leave now please, stop wasting yours and my time.

Thanks to those who answer seriously(:

Wow! that's totally amazing.

This reminds me of that episode of Grey's Anatomy where the kid eats magnets and they start moving towards each other inside him.

Can these be that dangerous? I guess since they are small and just on the surface skin, they could at some point become popular. I think they would be a lot more popular (as a body mod) if the sensation was higher, but from the sound of that article they don't work that strong. Maybe in the future they will. That would be insane to get them in your genitals like it said! Like to be magnetically drawn as well as hormonally. That sounds pretty steamy.

And I'm not sure if they will have found a safety sheath. I mean magnets have so many purposes you would think they would have found such a thing already if it existed. Are there any other purposes for finding a sheath for magnets? Scientists won't waste their time researching to do magnet implants, but if it has some medical implication they might find something, and people who want the implants will subsequently reap the benefits as well.

I'm not sure on the magnet peircing jewelery. But whether they would push apart or go together would depend what poles the person had (there are two magnetic poles: north/south). Opposite poles attract and same push away.

I could see my husband and I do something like the hand thing if it was a stronger magnetic attraction, but it looks like it hurts like a bitch!

They are mounted in goldtone leaves. Each heart looks to be and smells like bakelite and is signed by ART

I don't know, but give this site a try:

www.firemoutaingems.com

i never made one before but i really want too, so i need to start with something easy can someone tell me how to make them.. heres a picture of what i want

http://www.how-to-make-jewelry.com/image-files/how-to-make-friendship-bracelet.jpg

i wanna know too! i have one my friends bf’s grandma made me but idk how

We make custom and personalized hand-made everyday, birthstone, and bridal jewelry using Natural Gemstones, Swarovski Crystals, and Czech Glass beads!!!

These are high quality pieces of jewelry!! This jewelry is elegant yet affordable!!! So why is it that no one is purchasing my products? Am I charging too much? Am I charing too little that possible customers might think I am not offering genuine products? Please help!! Also, does anyone know a cheap and effective way to advertise my new online jewelry store!?!?!

Please visit us at: www.mycolorfultreasures.com and let me know what I am doing wrong!!! : (

Hi! I'm a jewelry designer and bead store owner who also writes a blog on how to market your jewelry. I enjoy trying to help people like you find new markets for their handmade jewelry.

It's hard to say with the limited amount of information I have why your jewelry isn't selling. After looking at your website, I would suggest:

1. Working with your photos a bit. I think the background you're using ia little light and doesn't play up the jewelry very well. I would try a darker background and see what happens. Experiment a bit. Try photographing against a piece of black velvet. Try adding some props such as draping the jewelry on stones or rocks or against a background of sand. Give your jewelry some context as opposed to laying it on a flat backdrop. Good photographs are critical to selling jewelry online.

2. Add some exciting descriptions to your jewelry. Let your potential customers know why your jewelry is special. Emphasize that it's handmade using the highest quality matierals. What makes your jewelry different? You want to point this out in your descriptions.

3. Include a little information about you, the designer. Let them know how you got started making jewelry and how much you enjoy making jewelry for special occasions like weddings and for special people like mothers. You might also want to add a photo of yourself. This gives you credibility and makes people more comfortable purchasing from you.

4. Consider adding a header panel to your home page with a dramatic photo of your jewelry. You need an attention grabbing photo to encourage visitors to view your jewelry line.

5. There's alot more I could add. For more information you can visit my blog at http://www.netbead.com or http://www.squidoo.com/selljewelry .

As far as marketing, you may want to consider some of these options:

1. Start a blog that discusses your jewelry. Link it to your website. This can help to drive traffic to your web page.

2. Consider placing a few items on Ebay or opening an Ebay store. Include a link to your web page in the "About Me" section of your Ebay profile.Give winning bidders your website address.

3. Write articles about jewelry and submit them to article directories. Include your website address in the resource box at the end of the article. The articles will be picked up and published along with your resource box which has your web address. This will drive traffic to your site. You could write on such topics as how to care for fine jewelry, jewelry fashion trends etc.

4. Become part of an online gallery that gets alot of traffic such as http://www.beadiest.com

5. Have an opt in form on your website to collect email addresses for a newsletter you publish about jewelry .Provide useful information such as how to care for jewelry, how to wear jewelry, how to clean jewelry etc. You can promote your jewelry in the newsletter.

6. There's much more I could go in to, but this is a start. Hope it helps. :-)

Kristie

Fifty sure-fire ways to detect paganism without having to resort to a
dunking stool or wart-inspection.

1) Never puts any rubbish out on refuse-collection day. I mean, re-
cycling and composting is fine, but you can take it too far.

2) You casually ask what phase the moon is in, and she tells you down
to the exact number of days, hour and minute of rising, position on
horizon, and current angle of declination.

3) All the stray cats in the neighbourhood tend to congregate in her
garden (and use your own as their litter).

4) A screech owl has chosen the lamp-post outside her house as its
favorite calling-post. That's just when it's getting warm at night
and you like to sleep with the window open.

5) Doesn't cut down the weeds in her garden; in fact it looks more
like she's cultivating them. Needless to say, you get the seeds
wafting over onto your pristine lawn.

6) Most of her clothes on the washing line are black.

7) The local kids talk in whispers as they go past her house, then
start running at the last moment.

8) Nobody trick-or-treats her house; not after the incident when the
kids' costumes were less scary than hers when she opened the door to
them. (She was embracing the Crone that year no doubt!)

9) Footprints on the roof. And the trees in her flight-path have been
pruned down. I swear it's true!

10) She can't even make a simple sandwich without adding fresh herbs
to it. And don't ask her for a cup of tea unless you want something
yellow coloured and smelling of flowers.

11) She hardly ever gets junk mail. You ask her what her secret is
and she confides that she returns it to sender after writing
something on in strange curly writing.

12) When you pop next door for a chat, the kettle is always already
on.

13) The Jehovah's Witnesses never call (not anymore; not after the
last time :-).

14) Keeps the local scented-candle shop solvent.

15) Has a pond full of frogs (and you haven't seen that bothersome
double-glazing salesman around for a while).

16) She's always smiling, darn her!

17) She goes dressed as normal to a Hallowe'en fancy dress party; and
wins first prize.

18) Her house always smells of incense.

19) Has named her four cats Hecate, Kali, Diana, and Moonbeam. (Or
her rats Devon and Cornwall)

20) Her bumper sticker reads "I brake for toads".

21) Frequently gets raided by the drug squad who confiscate large
amounts of dried green leaves; they always return them with apologies
after analysis.

22) At Christmas, it seems like half the garden has been moved into
the house.

23) You sometimes hear the sound of singing and dancing through the
wall. If you look out of the window, it is usually a full moon.

24) She was given a bodhram drum for her birthday. And she plays it
at midnight in the fields. And she's got a blasted tamborine.

25) You discover that her realistic resin skull ornament in her
living room, actually is real.

26) You catch her washing a crystal ball along with the dishes.

27) She wears a lot of silver jewelry, even when doing the gardening.
And bat ear-rings for goodness-sake.

28) You knock on her door and she answers it naked except for a
toweling robe. You apologize for disturbing her in the bath, but
notice that her hair isn't wet.

29) Irritating tendency to hum a lot. What's she got to be so happy
about, huh?

30) She has a tame robin that will eat from her hand in the garden.
That can't be natural.

31) Never catches a cold, even though she walks barefoot most of the
time. In the snow as well.

32) Doesn't kill spiders. Not even big hairy long-legged ones that
suddenly appear from the waste-pipe whilst you're having a bath.

33) She listens to what you are saying like she really cares.

34) She has lots of female friends who come round every few months.
When you ask what they get up to, she tells you that they just have
cakes and ale and a good natter.

35) You catch her hugging a tree.

36) Her dinner-set is decorated with Celtic patterns.

37) She has a mail-order account with a semi-precious gem wholesaler.

38) You notice that the parish priest crosses himself whenever he
walks past her house.

39) She never watches television. And she has shelves full of books
with black spines and silver-lettered titles.

40) To your certain knowledge she has never set foot in the local
church. In fact, you have heard rumours that she has been barred from
it.

41) She makes jars of quince and mandrake relish for the Women's
Institute coffee morning jumble sale.

42) You ask to borrow a pack of cards for an impromptu bridge
evening, and there are 78 in the pack.

43) You have never known her to visit her GP.

44) When you talk with her, she maintains eye contact all the time.

45) Expectant mothers are forever visiting her. Also women who become
expectant mothers a month after visiting her.

46) You ask her for suggestions for nice walks in the area, and they
all go by way of stone circles and strange earth mounds.

47) She only buys organic. And you just bet that she's a vegetarian
as well. (Well, maybe not stricly vegetarian.. ..)

48) When you ask her about her vacation plans, she tells you she will
be camping in a tee-pee in the Brecon Beacons.

49) There aren't any mirrors in her house. Or clocks.

50) She tells you that she is coming out of the broom closet, joins
Witches' Voice, and erects a stained-glass pentacle window in her
front door . Ooo what a give-away!
Like I said I fit most of these which made it all the funnier for me
your attempt at humor boggles the mind, get a life, just because we are not christian does NOT make us weirdos.
yeah dark firmament!!! A lady with a mind to laugh I love it.

Very funny! Some of them hit pretty close to the mark :)

My cat is named Pyewacket, after a familiar I read about.
Jehovah Witnesses don't visit me anymore.
Lots of books with black binding & silver runes on the spines!

Thanks for the laugh!!

I keep seeing a lot of good reviews for firemountain gems, but even using them, the price of a necklace would have to be 20-30 dollars, depending on which stones you use. Do people even want to spend that much on a necklace? How does one profit?

Stop thinnking price and start thinking value.

If the stones themselves have a value then you start at that price. A string of badly assembled ones will still theoretically sell for the market value of the stones but by designing unique pieces that start converstaions and enhance beauty you can add value to them and sell them for what they are now worth.

A Van Goch is only technically worth what any other spoiled bit of canvas is worth i.e. nothing but the value that it creates in an artistic way means that it is valued at millions.

You can only profit if the value that you add by buying, selecting, designing, setting and making available for purchase is sufficient to remunerate you for the time it takes. People will spend many thousands on the right necklace not just the right stones so $40 is easy to get, just don't try selling them to people without $40 to spend on a necklace.

Im talking about, boxes, a jewelry box in particular, but I would't mind if you told me how to make other things like chests or something so I can get a feel for building.

Basically if you have any tips, great, otherwise I think I'm really looking for plans, instructions, diagrams with measurments written on them, something like that.

For the jewelry box, I would like to start by looking at some retail ones, then looking at various plans for them and then adapt some of my own ideas into one. Thanks in advance!

Check around, there is usually a wood working club or group that meets monthly in most cities. They love to teach folks how to do wood working.

Need to be a house hold tool!

While some beadmakers today use small electric drill on their shells, this doesn't work too well because it often shatters the shell. Most people who make beads from shells use methods that have been employed from the beginning.
http://www.thebeadsite.com/CHISG08.html

A few things:

1) There are 5 girls including me and I am having a sleepover. Pizza is for dinner. Presents, dinner, cake will keep us busy for awhile, but I want something to do.
2)PLEASE I do not want a big elaborate party where we have a craft station, a beauty station, a runway room, etc. I hate these parties where there is so much to do! Usually, they just kind of bore me. Strange I know, but I just want one or two fun things for us to do together.
3) I recently had oral surgery, and can’t chew. We have to cut up my pizza so that I can just swallow it!!! So, if you give cooking ideas, keep that in mind please.
4) One of my friends is a diabetic. She is pretty good about giving herself insulin and knowing what not to eat, but if she gets too many sweets at once, it is not good.
5) Two of my friends are not allowed to have caffeine (except for the little bit in chocolate) because of their religion.
6) I don’t want to say my age, but please don’t give me pin-the-tail on the donkey ideas, or 6-year-old games. Not that pin-the-tail on the donkey is one, I just don’t really like those types much.
7) Limited budget people!!! I’m not poor, but I ain’t livin’ in a mansion or anything.
8) Anything is fine, but I was thinking things like cooking, crafts (like scrapbooking type things, I don’t like all of the jewelry making kits and stuff), games
9) We can’t leave my house because there is not enough room in my mom’s car. We can go outside, but because of my surgery, I can’t do anything where I could possibly get hurt (soccer, basketball, tag, anything like that).
10) Don’t suggest things like putting shaing cream on the people’s faces please.

thanks matt. and to the other guy, why do you say, "is that a joke?" sorry if it was so long, i just had a lot to say
to karissa:
although i must admit, it is hard not to sometimes, it really isn't a Christian thing to do. me and my really close friends do talk about things a lot like things that people did that hurt our feelings, but we don't just sit and say, "she is such a…" we say stuff like, "she was acting pretty mean."

plus, not to mention, one of the girls goes to my Church, and i know that she would not want to. plus she doesn't go to my school so she doesn't know all of this stuff.
when i said she doesn't know all this stuff, i meant she doesn't know the people who we would gossip about anyway.

when i have a sleep over with my friends i like to play truth or dare or just talk about something you all have in common. the key to a good party is knowing when your guests are getting bored of the conversation. also have some snacks to munch on.