FESTIVE HOLIDAY PROJECTS AND IDEAS       Dear {[firstname]},     The days are flying by; before you know it Christmas will be here! We hope your holidays will be filled with love and good cheer.       DON'T FORGET   We are shipping orders within 2 working days, (in many cases 24 hours) via Priority Mail which reaches, even the east coast, in 3-5 days. Depending on how close it is to Christmas, delivery can be delayed a day or two due to the package rush with the postal service. Plan ahead a bit and we can get you your supplies in plenty of time. We have lots of little bead elves helping during the holiday season to satisfy your needs!       QUICK AND ELEGANT BOOKMARKS     Embellished ribbon bookmarks are as easy or complex as you desire. Choose a double sided or an organza ribbon to avoid the step of backing the ribbon. Our organza bookmark couldn't be easier! Simply tie a knot around a large soldered jump ring and add beaded dangles made with head pins. We chose freshwater pearls and Swarovski crystals. It took about 15 minutes to make. Our tapestry (Jacquard) ribbon bookmark is made with seed beads, decorative gold plated drops, facet cut garnet and vermeil drops. The stitching is very simple, three beaded loops were sewn into the fold over hem. We used Kevlar thread, This one took about 30 minutes to make. The ideas for ribbon bookmarks are endless, have fun! Everything you need to make this project can be found in our on-line catalog except the ribbon!         BEADED TREE SKIRT     It's very easy to make a quick beaded tree skirt and is actually the same as the tapestry bookmark above! Either make or purchase a fabric tree skirt of your choice. Bead the edge by simply making a loop of beads and a dangle bead, go through the fabric at the fold of the hem and start your next loop. We used Kevlar thread, size 10 beading needle, seed beads and glass drops. Could it be easier? Everything you need to make this project can be found in our on-line catalog except the fabric tree skirt!         WHAT DO BRACELETS AND BOTTLE LABELS HAVE IN COMMON?     If you like to give gifts of homemade bottled goodies such herb vinegar, bath salts, and liqueurs have we got a fab idea for you! Make your fancy label for the bottled item on some nice card stock and hole punch one corner. Now make a bracelet from using about 10" of stretchy Opelon or Stretch Magic by simply stringing the beads and knotting with an overhand knot. Make sure at least one bead next to the knot has a hole large enough for the knot to slip into. Trim the tails of the tightly cinched knot to about 1/8". Attach a jump ring to the hole in your label card and attach it onto the bracelet. If the bottle neck is skinny you may need to wrap the bracelet around twice otherwise simply slip it onto the bottle. (Works great for homemade bars of soap, too!) Be sure to tell the gift recipient that the beaded embellishment is actually a bracelet for her (or him) to wear by just removing the label! Everything you need to make this project can be found in our on-line catalog except the bottles!         NEED MORE OF A CHALLENGE?     Try your hand at beaded glass balls! Purchase clear glass balls from your local craft shop and if there are no holes going around the metal top you can make your own with a small nail or awl. We used 8 holes on ours but you can make as many as you like. You will make a single fringe for each hole working continuously around the top, tying in a new thread when needed. After you come up through the top put on a few seed beads before going down through the next hole to hide the thread. We used a gold foil, Venetian lampwork glass star in the center of ours. To center the star we started the fringe in a hole at one side of the prong slit and came back up through a hole on the opposite side of the slit causing the fringe to hang centered. When you've done each hole drop the fringe down into the ball and replace the top on the ball with the prong provided. You can stop there or keep going as we did with freeform and additional fringe that hangs on the outside of the ball. Everything you need to make this project can be found in our on-line catalog except the glass ornament!         ANGEL MAGIC     If you are looking to make a very unique, special and one-of-a-kind necklace for someone (including yourself!) these highly detailed, handmade lampwork angels may be just the thing. Each one is in gorgeous color combinations, highlighted with flowing hair and flowers accenting the gowns. Treat yourself or someone you love this holiday season to a little angel magic!           SNOWFLAKES KEEP FALLING ON MY HEAD     Make fanciful snowflakes in the time it takes one to float down from the sky! Using these premade wire spokes all you need to do is add the beads, curl the ends into a loop, add a hanger and wrap it up to give! Make it fancier by beading a hanger, or just use silk ribbon, even an ornament hanger for the tree works just fine. We chose to use Swarovski crystals for sparkle, Czech glass for color, and added a Bali garnet and sterling silver dangle at the bottom. We cut some spokes shorter and gave the ends a zigzig effect just to add some character. The options are endless!         ADORNING ANGELS     Create your own angels using these wonderful wing parts! Simply stack your beads of choice on a head pin (or an eye pin if you would like to attach a dangle to the bottom) add the wings and a bead for the head, finish with a loop at the top and, voila! It doesn't get much easier than that! · Use them for adorning bows on your holiday gift packages. · Can you imagine a holiday center piece of a miniature tree alive with these little darlings? · Give them as earrings and be sure to make yourself a pair for holiday parties! Made with head pin Made with eye pin and dangle drop Made with gemstone head pin For silver tone angel wings, click here For gold tone angel wings, click here For copper tone angel wings, click here For angel skirts try any of the glass bell and trumpet style flower beads or larger size metal bead caps: vintage glass flower beads, click here Czech. glass flower beads, click here silver bead caps, click here gold bead caps, click here copper bead caps, click here For head and eye pins see all the different subcategories under the main heading "Head & Eye Pins" They're in, they're out, they're in... We apologize if you've tried to get the angel wings and they've been out of stock! They sell so fast even the manufacturer can't keep up with them. We are trying to keep all the colors, antique pewter, antique sterling plate, antique gold plate and antique copper, in stock through the holiday season but our best suggestion is to grab them when you see them! Right now they are all in stock, she/he who hesitates...       STILL LOOKING FOR MORE IDEAS?     If you are still looking for those special and unique gifts for your friends and family, check out our previous Newsletters. There you will find these and many more projects: Easy Holiday Setting Name Place Cards Bead and Wire Wrapped Goblet Stems Stay Outta My Drink Cup Covers Click here to view a web-versions of our past newsletter.         Thanks for your interest, we'll get back to you soon with another update! Happy holiday wishes from Jan, Krista, Gavin, Kim, Alex, Zoya and Karl at Embellishments Beads and Findings! http://www.embellishmentsinc.com         To unsubscribe: These notices are sent as a service to our subscribers, to keep you informed of new arrivals, special pricing, and other items of interest. If you wish to be removed from this list, click here to unsubscribe.