New Beady Projects for Instant Viewing!

Well, first I must apologise for my absence.. Sorry!

I've been putting 2012 beady plans together, and in the meantime - forgot to update this blog for 6 weeks. Oops! I hope I am forgiven.

As promised, we've assembled some great designers for our new free bead projects, and also a really convenient way for you to receive them. Gone are the days of emails with attachments, or trying to read instructions off the blog while you bead - you can now access the project instantly, and download, or print off at your leisure!

So.. with no further ado - here's the first project. Designed by the lovely Janet Sherret and called...

Heart of Ice necklace

This multi strand design is suitable for beginners / improvers and shows off a great technique to make any large focal bead work as a pendant! Using a mix of 4mm Czech fire polish beads, spring cone caps and a matte frosted focal heart. All materials are available from www.madcowbeads.com

This design would also look amazing with a 20mm round flat focal  and a mix of amber toned Czech beads.

You can view and print off this project here - 

This is the first in an ongoing series, drawing from the wealth of talent amongst our customers and friends. 

Please let me know what you think :-) 

Butterfly Ball set - Easy Choker & co ordinating Drop Earrings

Butterfly Ball set - Easy Choker & co ordinating Drop Earrings

This feminine set is easy to wear and dresses up or down. It's simple and quick to make too.

Tools:

• Chain nose pliers, flat nose pliers, round nose pliers and cutters

Beads & Findings:

• 1 metre of beading chain
• 7 tiny butterfly dangles
• 14 5mm jump rings
• 1 10mm lobster clasp
• 2 10mm Fimo beads - I used 2 from our wild mix
• 2 earwires
• 2 eye pins

Method

• Cut the chain to fit your neck - the completed necklace will sit just on your collar bone (this is usually about 16"!)
• Attach a 5mm jump ring to each end of the chain
• Attach a lobster clasp to one jump ring
• Try on the necklace and adjust the fit if necessary
• Cut a short length of chain (mine was 21 links long) and attach a jump ring to each end
• Attach one butterfly charm to one jump ring
• Close the lobster clasp and hold the necklace up to locate the central link
• Attach the other jump ring on the end of the butterfly chain to the central link
• Cut a very short length of chain (mine was 3 links long) and attach a jump ring to each end
• Thread a Fimo bead onto an eye pin, trim to size and turn a loop. Attach the loop to the chain length.
• Attach a 5mm jump ring and a butterfly to the eye pin loop
• Count 7 links along the necklace from the butterfly dangle and attach the fimo bead chain
• Cut another piece of chain (mine was 10 links long) and attach the other Fimo bead and butterfly, following the 2 steps above
• Count 7 links along the necklace from the butterfly dangle (opposite direction - see pic!) and attach the fimo bead chain
• Check the fit - the butterfly dangle should drape from the hollow of your throat.

• To make the earrings, cut 2 pieces of chain (mine was 40 links long) and attach a 5mm jump ring to each end.
• Attach a butterfly charm to each end of the chain
• Hook the 15th link onto an earwire
• Repeat for a pair!

If you'd like to receive all the findings and beads you need to make this set for FREE - then place an order over £5 (excluding postage) this weekend at www.madcowbeads.com and we'll send you your free items automatically. Hurry though - this offer ends at midday on Monday October 3rd 2011