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Saturday, December 31, 2011

A Bracelet a Week: Happy New Year

Diamond and Jewels Cuff

I can barely believe it, but week 52 of the Bracelet a Week challenge has arrived, and everything is wrapped up in a neat little bow. Bracelet number fifty-two is complete, and there are only hours left until the end of the year. Thank you so much for joining me and encouraging me during this challenge!

For the final bracelet, I wanted to do something colorful and celebratory. I’ve made a habit during these challenges to use rainbow themes for final designs, and I didn’t see any reason not to do it again this time.

Because this challenge is ending at the start of the New Year, I was inspired to create something that might resemble stars and fireworks. I started with a selection of Swarovski bicones in bright birthstone hues. The variety of colors and their characteristic sparkle would easily provide that flashy effect that I wanted.

Although I had a little more time for beading this week compared to Christmas, I still had a pretty tight deadline. I know from the Necklace a Day challenge that one of the easiest ways to make a design go faster is to use larger beads. So, I paired my crystals with 6/o silver lined crystal seed beads, and whipped up a simple but sparkly herringbone cuff.

Bracelet 52

I added one crystal every two rows in random places, trying not to repeat the same pattern of colors as I went. Once the bracelet started coming together, I realized that it looks a little like white fruit cake – even more appropriate for this time of year, and certainly a fun treat for celebrations.

The overall concept for this cuff – using almost entirely 6/o silver lined crystal seed beads – came about when I was contemplating my design challenge for 2012. I’ll be ready to reveal it in January, as soon as the New Beads challenge is wrapped up. November’s necklace is a little delayed, but coming along nicely, and December’s beads are in the mail. Within a few weeks, I’ll have one more goal to check off the list.

Farewell to 2011! What are your crafty resolutions for the New Year?

Copyright 2011 Inspirational Beading
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7 comments:

  1. Happy New Year, Mortira. I've enjoyed following your bracelet-a-week challenge.
    (And please check out my blog on Monday--I'll be featuring one of your tutes in my next installment of I Might Make That! Monday.)

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  2. Really fun piece for New Years! I have a post scheduled for this next week with my 2012 goals. :)

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  3. What an accomplishment! Congratulations and job well done! Happy New Year! Happy beading.

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  4. Happy new Year! My new years resolution is to keep a craft blog. I've already added you to the sidebar so even more people can see your great work :)

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  5. Congratulations on completing your goal! I am so jealous.

    My resolution for this year was to make a tutorial every week. That got interrupted because I moved apartments during the second week and haven't found the motivation to work on #2 again. I'll work up the courage soon. Been working on this one since October. Just was looking to finish it.

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