Flamenco Bird Pendant Free Project

I love the way these tiny glass lentils and flowers dance under this trio of colorful birds. Free feel to make your own version of this fun pendant.

Supplies:

3 polymer clay birds

5 8mm Czech glass lentil beads

3 Czech glass flower beads

4mm fire polished glass bead

2 8mm copper spacers

1 5mm copper spacer

2 15mm Arte Metal jump rings

5 7mm gunmetal jump rings

2 4mm gunmetal jump rings

26" gunmetal cable chain

3 1" brass headpins

8" 22 gauge steel wire.

1. Attach a 7mm jump ring to the lentil bead, repeat 4 times. Set aside.

2. Add a flower bead to a headpin, create a simple loop. Repeat 2 more times.

3. At 2" from the bottom of the wire, create a large loop with round nose pliers. Open the loop the chain nose pliers and add the 3 flower dangles. Close the loop and and wrap the remaining tail of the wire above the loop to create a wrapped loop.

3. String on a bird, 8mm spacer, bird, 8mm spacer, bird, 4mm spacer, fire polished beads.

4. Create a wrapped loop on above the last bead.

5. Open a 15mm jump ring, string on the 5 lentil dangles and the bottom of the bird pendant, close the jump ring.

6. Attach the 4mm jump rings to each end of the chain.

7. Open a 15mm jump ring, string on the top of the bird pendant and two jump rings on the end of the chain. Close jump ring.

Resources: Birds: www.humblebeads.etsy.com. Glass beads: www.fusionbeads.com. Spacers: www.rings-things.com. Headpins, chain and jump rings: www.hobbylobby.com. Steel wire: www.acehardware.com. 

10 Last Minute Jewelry Gifts to Make

Short on time and inspiration and need to get some gifts made in a hurry? Here are 10 quick and easy, each one can be whipped up in 30 minutes or less. Click on the links below for a PDF instructions for each project. 

1. Memory Wire Cuff Bracelet - My most popular project, use a bead spinner to whip these bracelets out like a pro.  Use charms and beads you have in your bead stash to make a fun and eclectic assortment. 

2. Woodland Pendant - Perfect project for orphan beads that you may have amassed over the year.  Grab whatever charms and art beads you can find to make these fun and simple pendants. 

3. Candy Cane Earrings - A little sterling silver wire and art beads can create holiday magic with a few twists of the wire and pliers. A project that takes minutes but delivers a big wow factor! 

4. Frosted Leaf Earrings - Gilded leaves and faceted cubes add some sparkle and shine to this wintry pair of earrings. 

5. Favorite Things Pendant - Change up the charms and colors to reflect the interests of the recipient and you could make this style of pendant in a variety of themes for a handful of girls on your gift list! 

6. Smarty Pants Pendant - Personalize a copper blank with a name, date or word to create a pendant that reflects the wearer. Or use wintry charms with sayings like "Let It Snow", "Merry" or "Noel" for pendants that are in the holiday spirit. 

7. Birds & Blooms Knotted Necklace - Knot beads on leather cord to make a trendy gift for your fashion forward friend or teen on your list. The adjustable knot makes this a great gift because it can be worn long or shorter depending on the wearer's mood. This is a video tutorial. 

8. Growing Garden Earrings - Whimsical matchstick beads and Czech glass make an adorable pair of earrings in minutes, just add a little wire. 

9. Little Village House Pendant - My tiny house beads are irresistible and make the cutest pendants you've ever seen. 

10. Peacock Garden Bracelet - Have someone on your gift list that loves bohemian fashions? This trendy bracelet will be a hit with it's feather focal and mix of black metal and golden brass. 

So pull out those Humblebeads that you've been hoarding and start checking off the folks on your "nice" list!

Need a bead in a hurry? There is still time to shop from my Etsy shop and get items before Christmas Eve. Order before Friday for delivery by the 24th.    

Wire Oval Earrings Project & Giveaway Winner

Need another earring inspiration? This one uses steel wire and a tiny spacer bead to create earrings that pack a punch!

Supplies:
8-10mm polymer clay spacer beads
50" annealed steel wire
2 gunmetal earwires
Steel wool and Renaissance Wax

Tools: 1" wooden dowel, wire cutters, round and chain nose pliers.

Prep your wire:
Run the steel wool down the length of the wire, varying the amount of polishing as your go up and down the wire with the steel wool and seal with light coat of wax. 

Directions:
1. Cut 25" of wire. Leave a 4" tail on one side of the wire and start wrapping the wire around the wooden dowel, wrap 5 times. Position the wire so the ends are on the top, and squeeze the sides of the wire to form an oval.
2. At the center of the top of the oval, wrap the smaller wire around the ovals three times to secure them. Pull the small end of the wire straight up.
3. Wrap the longer end of the wire around the small end of the wire and create two tight wraps. String on the spacer bead, trim excess wire and create a simple loop at the top of the spacer bead. Continue wrapping the long end of the wire several times under the spacer bead to fill in any gaps.
4. Open the loop at the top of the earring and slip on the earwire, close loop. 

 

Resources: Humblebeads: Tiny Peacock Spacers

 Steel wire: Ace Hardware stores. 

Earwires: Rings & Things.

Thank you to everyone who played along last week and pinned their favorite earring designs. By the power of the random.org generator the winner is Catherine Vrchota. Catherine, please email for your $30 gift certificate.

And because I so appreciate everyone else playing along last week, if you pinned 3 or more pairs of earrings email me for a special $5 gift certificate to use on your next order. 

Birds & Blooms Knotted Necklace Tutorial

Don't you just love a fun and easy project that whips up in minutes?  Ahhh, instant gratification.  That's the good stuff!  I created this necklace using one of my Blooms & Birds sets with a few extra art beads and some very yummy bronze colored leather cord.

Materials:

Blooms & Birds set from Humblebeads

Ceramic round bead from Firefly Designs

Pewter nest from Green Girl Studios

36" 1mm leather cord from Primitive Earth Beads

Use any round beads for the project, just make sure the holes are at least 1mm.

Directions:

1. Find the center of the cord. 2.5" from the center tie a knot, add the bird bead, tie a knot, add a bead, tie knot. Repeat adding a bead and tying a knot for the remaining 6 beads.

2. Adjustable knots: overlap the two ends of the cord with about 6" of cord on each side of the necklace. Create a loop with one end of the cord, leaving a 2-3" tail. Wrap the end of the cord around both strands of leather and around the loop, keep wrapping the cord around all three cords two more times. Slide the end of the cord into the loop and pull tightly. 

This is a budget friendly version with a raven and round art bead from Humblebeads and wood, ceramic, bone and metal beads from the arts & crafts store. 

Here is a video tutorial so you can see how to make the adjustable knots on this necklace.

Free Project: True North Pendant

True North points to knowing what your guiding philosophies are and having a clear direction in life. It's your gut instinct, your guiding light. It keeps you on the path as you journey toward what is true in your life.  The feather pendant was inspired by colorful vintage arrows and is a reminder to shoot straight and keep on target. This makes an awesome gift for a grad or a student as they make their way in the world.

Supplies
Feather pendant
32 x 14mm Art Metal blank
30mm brass ring
15mm Art Metal jump ring
7mm gunmetal jump ring
1 6mm glass bead
3" waxed linen
2" 19 gauge steel wire
18" gunmetal chain

Tools: Bench block, letter stamps, hammer, round and chain nose pliers, wire cutters, buffing block or steel wool.

Directions:
1. Stamp True North unto the arte metal blank. Buff with buffing block or steel wool to lighten the metal, leave the letters dark. Add to the large brass ring with the jump ring.
2. With the round nose pliers create a large loop with the steel wire 1" from the bottom. With the chain nose pliers open the loop and add the feather pendant, close the loop. Wrap the tail of the 1" wire around the top of the feather.
3. With the round nose pliers create a loop at the top of the feather, open the loop with the chain nose pliers and slide the brass ring in the loop, close the loop. Wire wrap the wire several times under the loop creating a messy wrap, trim the wire and use the chain nose pliers to tuck in the end of the wire.
4. Wrap the linen around the brass ring twice, with both ends tie a knot, string on the glass bead, tie both ends into a knot at the bottom of the bead. Tie a knot on each thread at the bottom, leaving a 1/4" of linen.
5. Add the 15mm jump ring to the top of the brass ring, add on the chain.

Feather: Humblebeads 

Little Village Pendant Tutorial - Free Project

This pendant adds an economical and stylish touch with a few links of vintage chain highlighted in the front of the design.  A cluster of beaded jump rings makes a fun transition from the two types of chain and adds a little color. A collection of Czech glass and a tiny pewter bird charm are the perfect addition to this folky house bead. 

Supplies
House Bead
Pewter Bird Charm
3 Czech glass flowers
6 4mm glass crystals
4" Vintage chain
18" gunmetal cable chain
1 15mm brass jump ring
6 7mm brass jump rings
2 6mm brass jump rings
6 5mm brass jump rings
3 2" brass headpins
6" 22 gauge steel wire

Finished length: 22" 

Directions

1. String a glass flower onto a headpin and create a wrapped loop. Keep wrapping the wire to create a messy wrap. 

2. Attach the two 6mm brass jump rings together, add the bird charm to the bottom jump ring.

3. Leaving a 2" tail create a loop at one end of the steel wire.  Open the loop and string on two flowers, the bird and one flower.  Close the jump ring and with the remaining wire, create a wrapped loop and continue wrapping the extra wire to create the messy wrap.

4. String on the house bead and create a wrapped loop, finishing it in the messy wrapped style.

5. Attach the 15mm jump ring to the top of the pendant.

6. Cut two 2" lengths of the vintage chain.  Attach them to the 15mm jump ring with the 5mm brass jump rings.

7. Open a 7mm jump ring, add a crystal, repeat with each jump ring. Close two of the jump rings. Slip one open beaded jump ring through a closed beaded jump ring and close it.  Repeat with a third beaded jump ring, going through the two previous jump rings.  Repeat to create a second cluster of beaded jump rings.

8. With the 5mm jump rings attach the beaded jump ring cluster to the vintage chain and the 18" gunmetal chain. Repeat on the other side.

Resources
House: Humblebeads. Bird: Green Girl Studios. Flowers: Dream Girl Beads. Gunmetal chain, jump rings, headpins: Hobby Lobby. Steel wire: Ace Hardware.  Vintage Chain: search Etsy or your local antique shop.

 Inspired by Art

My Folk Art House bead was inspired by this painting of a street in Paris entitled Lapin Agile from french artist Maurice Utrillo. While it looks like a sweet country side painting, it's actually a cabaret in the heart of the artists district made famous by artists like Picasso. Utrillo painted this nightclub in many different seasons, which is slightly tragic since he was an alcoholic for most of his life. C'est la vive! Despite it's reputation and his, he was able to see the good and beauty in this little street corner. And finding the good in things, I'm all about that!

Orchid Heart Pendant Tutorial & Valentine Sales Ideas

Luscious orchid silk ribbon provides an interesting design and adds lots of texture when creatively knotted.  With Radiant Orchid being Pantone's Color the Year, you'll find this trendy hue popping up every where this year.  This quick and easy project can be whipped up in 15 minutes or less!  Create a few heart themed pieces of jewelry and show them to friends and family for early Valentine Sales - or better yet schedule a Valentine themed trunk show the first week of February. Or go bigger and ask a local boutique to host a Valentine trunk show. 

Supplies:
Heart Pendant (Humblebeads)
2 12mm brass jump rings
5 Czech glass flowers (Dream Girl Beads)
5 1" brass headpins
1 Butterfly button (Natural Touch)
2 30" lengths of sari silk ribbon

Finished length optional - I like 18" or 20" for this design.

 Directions:

1. Attach both jump rings to the pendant.  On a headpin string a flower bead, create a simple loop. Repeat 4 times. String the 5 flower dangles on the top jump ring.

2. Fold the 2 lengths of ribbon in half, thread through the front of the top jump ring, pull the four ends through the loop of the ribbon, pull ribbons tight. 

3. On one side of the ribbon strands, tie 3 knots with the two ribbons. Pull the ribbon to firmly to straighten out the knots.  Leave a 1" gap, then make another knot with the two ribbons.  Tie three knots and repeat the pattern until the desired length.

4. At the end of the ribbon, tie on the butterfly button with two tight knots. Trim the ribbon.

5. Repeat the pattern on the other side of the necklace.  At the end tie a knot with a gap large enough for the button to slide through.  Trim the ribbon.

Play around with this idea, do a whole necklace of knots or do 5 knots between each open loops.  Try two different colors of ribbon.

Valentine Sale Ideas:
This quick and easy project can be whipped up in 15 minutes or less!  Create a few heart themed pieces of jewelry and show them to friends and family for early Valentine Sales - or better yet schedule a Valentine themed trunk show the first week of February. Or go bigger and ask a local boutique to host a Valentine trunk show. 

One thing I did back when I was young was to get a heart-shaped box of chocolates (eat said chocolate, I don't recommend that now - save them for later or share them with everyone you know!) and add in new papers (find them in the candy/cake decorating aisle at your local craft store) and then put a pair of earrings into each one. I could carry the box around with me to classes or when I went to playdates, church, etc.  Guys would ask me for a candy, I would open the the box and say I don't have candies but I can help you get something sweet for your girl.  Yes, it worked.  Or I would just ask the women I knew if they'd like to see the sweet earrings I made for Valentine's Day.  We'd joke about them being calorie free treats.  I always sold lots of earrings a week or two before big day.   Make sure you carry around earring cards, small organza bags, business cards and your card reader/receipts to finish the sale. I would keep these designs simple and at one sale price to make things easier.

If you'd like to step up your jewelry sales for 2014 why not take this 20 Sales in 20 Days Challenge put together by the Flourish & Thrive Academy.  This was designed for holiday sales before Christmas, but they would work great for Valentine's or Mother's Day too.

And hey, while you are at it - stop on over to the Flourish & Thrive Academy and sign up for their current video series for their next edition of the Laying the Foundation Course.

Two New Projects

Here in Michigan the first color you see in the spring is yellow.  Long before the green takes over the world, it's the yellow flowers that start blooming in the chilly days of March and April that let us know nature is ready to come back to life. That's what I wanted to capture in this jewelry design, just the hint of spring at the end of winter. 

I created two new free projects using some of my new folk inspired beads. You can find the instructions to print out or view online for the bracelet here and the earrings here.

My inspiration for this series of beads was this sweet embroidered textile that I ran across on Pinterest. I have a fun board of Folk Art textiles that have captured my imagination this winter. I need the color!

5 Beaded Ornament Tutorials and Holiday Sale News

This is it, the start of all the holiday hustle and bustle.  I'm a fan of the merry making, the decorating, the gift-giving and the magic of this time of year.  What I'm not a fan of is that every where I go I feel like my holiday is overrun with commercials and in your face advertising. Hello jingle bells, if you know what I mean!  I do love a good sale, but I want it mixed in with nostalgia or warm fuzzy feelings, not the pressure to perform by giving the perfect gift.  I'm also more likely to buy handmade or support my local businesses.  We live in a very small tourist town and they need all the support they can get this time of year! 

If you haven't read How to Unplug the Christmas Machine, I highly recommend it for finding ways to add more meaning back into your holidays, no matter how you celebrate them.  It's all about honing in on what makes this time of year meaningful and special to you and your family and how to unplug from commercialism, other people's expectations and your own unrealistic expectations to create that mythical 'perfect' holiday. It's a good how-to on bringing more peace and joy into your celebrations this year and I'm all about that!

The start of our holiday is always an ornament making party, sometimes it's just Jess and me and other times it's a full blown fete with the whole gang.  This weekend we will enjoy a big to-do with aunts, my mom,  sisters, daughters, cousins and nieces.  I will be scouring Pinterest today for a project that we can all create.  Last year we felted ornaments.  I'm thinking maybe owls will take over this year, but we will decide tomorrow during our Thanksgiving dinner - because hey, they family that crafts together, stays together! 

Here is a round up of past Humblebeads Ornament Tutorials:

Winter Forest Ornament

Woodland Ornaments

Holly and Ivy Ornament

Beaded Ornaments

Nest Ornament Project

If you are starting your holiday shopping or gift making this week I am offering 20% off all my shops until Monday. This weekend I'm sharing a few new projects and inspirations so stop by on Saturday before you head off to enjoy your day or subscribe to my blog through BlogLovin or like my Facebook page. 

Humblebeads Etsy Shop - Here you will find holiday beads and best sellers here.  I will also have a few new beads on Monday.

Humblebeads.com - Shop my entire line, most beads are made-to-order.  

HumblebeadsJewelry.com - See my latest collection of jewelry and one-of-a-kind designs.  We put together a few handy gift-guides on the site.

Humblebeads Jewelry on Etsy - Here you'll find some of my best sellers along with sale items.  I will be adding sale items on Monday for a huge sample sale!

The details: Use discount code MERRY20 at any of the above shops.  If you order from more than one shop, the excess shipping will be refunded. Sale orders will ship out on Monday and Tuesday.

Sale goes through Monday and cannot be used for custom orders or past orders. 

In case you are wondering I have returned here to blog again, it's too complicated keeping things separate.  You'll find beads, crafts, jewelry, trends and a little bit more about my life - because gosh darn it, I actually got away from the bead table this year and starting enjoying more of the world around me.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving! 

ABS Ornament Blog Hop

Deck the halls with lots of clay, fa, la, la, la, la, la....

Welcome to the ABS Ornament Blog Hop.  I'm so excited that you've joined us for the 3rd annual event.  It's no secret that I'm a Christmas nut.  Jess and I have had a tradition since our early newlywed days (almost 20 years ago) that we make ornaments for our tree each year.  Jess was busy crafting paper ornaments this year and I have been having fun with felt, beads and clay.  Everything has a handcrafted, woodland motif which goes nicely with the birds, nests, pine cones and snowflakes that we've been collecting and making over the years.

Grab a cookie and let's get this ornament party started!

Supplies:
Original white Sculpey polymer clay
Holly cookie cutter
Roller or pasta machine
Large rubber stamps
Black Stayz On ink
White glue
White fine glitter6" steel wire 21 gauge
12mm polymer clay disk
14mm beaded bead
10" sari silk ribbon

Directions:
1. Roll out the clay on the thickest setting of the pasta machine or to an 1/8" thick with a roller.
2. Cut out the leaf shape with a cookie cutters.
3. Stamp the image unto the clay, use gentle and even pressure but don't stamp the clay too deeply or it will stick to your clay.  (At this point poke a hole with a thin straw or use a small hand drill to create a hole after the clay is baked.)
4. Bake the clay according to the manufacture's directions.
5. Apply a think layer of glue in the white/negative spaces of the stamp, sprinkle on the glitter and let dry.
6. Pull the wire through the hole and create a wrapped loop around the top of the ornament.
7. String on the polymer clay bead and beaded bead.  Create a large wrapped loop at the top.
8. Tie on the ribbon.

Why original Sculpey clay?  I don't recommend this clay for many projects, but this one has a very porous nature that reminds me dough ornaments and a nice off-white color. You'll find it in a large box where they sell Sculpey III.  This will keep the ornaments matte, non-plastic looking and more like a natural piece of clay. 

Resources:
Clay, beaded beads, glitter, ink and stamps: Michael's.  Polymer clay bead: Humblebeads.

 
Grab another cookie and head on over to see what the other creative designers whipped up for the ornament hop!  

Art Bead Scene

Humblebeads - you are here!

Treasures Found
Song Beads
Viki O'Dell
Sue Beads
Modern Nature Studio
Diane Hawkey
Suburban Girl Studio
Jen Judd Rocks
Ellie's Bijoux
Island Girl's Insights
Life By The Seat Of My Pants
Too Aquarius 
Shelley Graham Turner
Artfully Ornamental
Charis Designs Jewelry
Harrison Hollow Designs
Silver Nik Nats
Bead Soup Mix
Toodles and Binks
Bead Recipes
Play Sculpt Live
BeeTree by M.E.
Billi RS Rothe
A Half-Baked Notion

Cyber Monday Free Projects & Givewaway

Welcome to my Cyber Monday blog party!  Grab a cup of cocoa, put on some Christmas music on Pandora, enjoy the inspiration here and the holiday shopping and deals in my Etsy shop when you are done!

I have a trio of holiday inspired projects for you using some of my new leaves and berry beads.  Perfect for the holidays, but nature-inspired enough you can wear them long after December.  The best part, these simple designs whip up in a matter of minutes and would make fast and easy gifts for the nature-lovers on your list.

Frosted Leaf Earrings

Supplies:
2 leaf charms
10 5mm brass jump rings
10 3mm brass faceted cubes
2 7mm brass jump rings
2 15mm brass jump rings
2 28mm brass kidney earwires

1. With two pairs of chain nose pliers open a 5mm jump ring and string on a brass cube, close jump ring and set aside.  Repeat 19 times.
2. Attach the 7mm jump rings to the leaf charms.  String the leaves unto the 15mm jump rings.
3. String five of the cube jump rings on each side of the leaf.  Close the 15mm jump rings and slide them unto the loop at the bottom of the earwires.  Squeeze the bottom earwire loop with the chain nose so the jump rings can't fall off.

Leaves: Humblebeads.  Brass: Vintaj.  Brass cubes: Rings & Things

Winter Bird Pendant

Supplies:

Pewter bird

12mm polymer clay disk

32mm polymer clay leaf

2 15mm brass jump rings

4 6mm brass jump rings

10 5mm brass jump rings

1 2" eye pin

6 2mm silver beads

6 3mm brass faceted beads

28" gunmetal chain

1. Create a jump ring rosette with the three of the 6mm jump rings. 
2. On the eyepin string the polymer clay disk, jump ring rosette, bird and brass cube. Create a simple loop on top.
3. With two pairs of chain nose pliers open a 5mm jump ring and string on a brass cube, close jump ring and set aside.  Repeat 4 times.  Repeat the same process with six silver beads on six jump rings.
4. String the bird pendant on a 15mm jump ring, string on 3 jump rings with silver beads and 2 with brass beads, alternating beads.  Repeat on the other side of the jump ring.  Attach the two ends of the chain and close the 15mm jump ring.
5. Attach the 6mm jump ring to the large leaf, add a brass cube before closing the leaf.  String onto the other 15mm jump ring, attach the jump ring to the bottom of the bird pendant. 

Holly and Berry Earrings

Supplies:
2 polymer clay leaf charms
2 polymer clay berry beads
2 5mm brass jump rings
2 6mm brass jump rings
2 1" brass eye pins
8 4mm brass faceted cubes
2 28mm brass kidney wires

1. With two pairs of chain nose pliers open a 5mm jump ring and string on a brass cube, close jump ring and set aside.
2. Attach a 6mm jump ring to the leaf, slide on the 5mm jump ring with the cube before you close the jump ring.
3. On the eyepin string the berry bead and create a simple loop on top. Attach the leaf to the bottom of the berry dangle. 
4. Slide the leaf and berry on the earwire, close the bottom loop of the earwire with chain nose pliers.  String on three brass cube beads.

Supplies: Leaves and berry beads: Humblebeads.  Bird: Green Girl Studio. Brass Cubes: Rings & Things.  Brass findings: Vintaj.

The Giveaway:


The winner will receive this beaded holiday ornament that Jess created and a $20 gift certificate to my Etsy shop!

To enter share this blog post on Pinterest, twitter or Facebook.  Leave a comment below letting me know you shared these fun projects and spread some holiday cheer!  Make sure I can contact you if you are the winner.

You only have one day to enter, the winner will be picked tomorrow morning!

The Sale:

20% off in my Etsy bead shop until Midnight.  Use discount code THANKS20.

30% off in my Etsy jewelry shop until Midnight!  Use discount code HOLIDAY30.

Get in Gear Earrings - Free Project

I created these earrings using some of Jesse's new beads.  To show them off, I put them on a backdrop of brass bezels. 

Supplies

2 Sol Ilumindao Charms

2 17mm brass bezels

10 4x2mm peanut beads

2 brass kidney wire earrings

2 2" brass ball headpins

Tools: metal punch, round nose and needle nose pliers.

(Click on the image to see it larger)

Directions

1. Punch a hole through the center of the bezel with a metal punch.

2. String the headpin through the charm with ball facing the front, string the bezel on the headpin.  Bend the headpin at a 45 degree angle.

3. Create a loop at top of the bezel and wrap the rest of the wire around the loop of the bezel.

4. Put the bezel on the loop of the earwire.  Use the needle nose pliers to close the top of the loop on the earwire. Open the earwire and string on 5 peanut bead beads. 

I would put a little drop of beader's glue on the last seed bead to make sure it doesn't slide of the wires.

Stamped Resin Beads Tutorial

Supplies:

StazOn Ink

Rubber Stamps

Resin Beads

Directions:

Press your stamp into the ink pad and stamp the bead.

Yep, that's my whole tutorial and all there is to it.  The ink is permanent and will withstand normal wear and is even water-resistant.  I only stamped one side, if you stamped on the back it will show through and that could used to create a nice effect.  You could do an image on one side and words on the other. 

I love the soft matte beach-glass look of the resin with the images.  I picked up all my resin from Natural Touch Beads at Bead & Button last year.  They have a great website with tons of colors and shapes. 

You can stamp on any of the shapes, but I like the these flat coin style beads, they show off the images more. I will warn you, order more beads than you think you will need - they are so much fun to make and you'll run out of the larger beads before you are done playing!

These are my favorites, I love the icy blue look of the beads.  I could see them matched up with rock crystal and rhinestone beads for some winter-inspired sparkle.