Something Blue VoxBox has come!

I  joined Influenster a few weeks ago, I posted about it and this box before it came here.

Yesterday my first Voxbox came! It was much smaller then I though the box would be, I guess I had the Julep box in mind :p

Anyway, here are the goodies that came... and the ninja that have taken over my box!

The first thing I took out of the box was this Luster Now! whiting toothpaste. It also came with a booklet full of coupons :) I am going to start it tonight and will update with a review 6.14.13!

My Trio Rings sent a pamphlet. The rings look lovely but truth be told my ring is better and I don't think I would buy from them. This was a bridal box and I am engaged... with a ring already. I know some ladies get engaged without a ring or the ring comes later but there is no ring needed in my house and as I said in my last post, my wedding band and my fiance's ring are already taken care of also. As a goldsmith my review these rings as frozen spit as me and my old boss would call em. As I tell everyone, just go to a ma and pa store and get it done well and custom. Even on a budget a smaller store will be more than happy to help you and the chance of hand picking your own goodies goes up. If you have a small budge or just don't care this site will work for you but I would suggest to check out a few local small shops (not mall stores like Kay's it is the same as My Trio Rings) and do a little window shopping and ask a few questions, you may be surprised at what you can find :) Now, if I were to pick from their shop these two would be on my list. They are very cute and the prices are pretty good, quick and cheap jewelry just isn't for me. I don't mind a good deal but don't want cheap. Sadly, I am too picky so my fiance is too scared to get me jewelry. Anyway, they have good prices but scream cheap materials to me. I have nothing in front of me so this review is just off of their site and the pamphlet sent.

Kiss eyelashes sent two packs, one full and one very full! As I posted before I thought they would be sending nail stickers due to the brand name posted on the site. I was excited for stickers but am happy with the lashes and have used them before. These are cute, look good on and easy to use. They also came with a coupon code. I think this is my favorite sample from the box. It came with more then one to pick from, discount, and instructions. Everything I need to pick what one I like and to get more. I will post a picture soon of them on.

I have been working out and my aches and pains have gone up! Next time I over do it... I will give this guy a shot and post how it went.

Q-tips! They sent the precision tip ones and I am so thankful! I have a ton of the regular tip ones and always forget to grab these although they have been on my metal list for ever! These are great for cleaning up my nails and make up under my eyes. These bad boys will be going in my bride's box for sure.

Dr. Scholls for Her Ball of Foot slips. I have been using Dr. Scholls for years, working years in retail they have saved me from a ton of pain. I also have tiny feet for being 5'7" (5.5-6) and they always are a great fit for my shoes. Love em and would by them again, these will be added to my brides box for my special day also.

So that was the Something Blue box. If you got it want did you like best? Anything you are going to be more of?

This box was sent free to me for review.

If you're a member are you getting a VoxBox this coming month?
What are you getting?!
If not join me on Influenster to see if you qualify for a free VoxBox!
Send me a message on facebook with your email and I will send you an invite.

You can also see my full monthly subscription box list here 

and just discounts list here!

Foiled Glass Bead & Silver Bracelet Tutorial

Foiled Glass Bead & Silver Bracelets

 You will need some kind of beading wire (I used Soft Flex Med 30lb wire), french wire, spacers/charms/beads, glass beads (four or five depending on the size), crimp beads, a clasp and jump rings. 

 Start with a few beads, they don't have to be the same size or shape. I think it adds to it if they are mixed matched and different sizes :)

 After you have a few spacer beads on your wire place you first big bead.

 With the second group of spacers start adding your larger ones, they will be more likely to be seen while being worn so add a few to this group and the next couple. Do this again until you have your 4-5 big beads on the wire and are ready finish.

 This little guy is french wire, a thin wire tub. I found out about this guy while working at a jewelry store 9 years ago and feel in love with it, I never make any beading/knotting anything without it. I have noticed lots of beaders use it but a few newbies don't so if you are in the few start using it! It will make the finished product look more professionally done and will keep your findings from rubbing on your wire.

 I always do about a finger width of the french wire. You may like ore or less for your project. This stuff is kinda fragile so cut it with sharp wire cutters, cut fast and hard so you get a clean up and don't unravel what you just cut or the rest of your wire.

 I always finish one end of the project before I cut it from the rest of the soft flex wire bundle. I can leave it and come back later or play with it to see if I need to make any changes before I continue. 

Place one of your crimp beads (seen under my thumb nail) and then your french wire.

 Ad a jump ring or your clasp to one end, flip your wire around and slide it in the crimp bead.

 Pull the wires until your end is tight and everything looks neat. Try to leave some soft flex wire to work with but not too much so it isn't wasted. I always slide of of the soft flex in a bead or two to help it from sticking out or bending funny after you crimp the crimp bead.

 Try now to pull too hard before crimping the bead, you don't want to squish your french wire. Once you are happy with the look of the end grab a flat pair of pliers or your crimp bead pliers if you use those. Wait to cut the extra wire till the end... if you want.

 I measure out about three fingers width of wire on the other end to cut.

 After you cut the wire place your crimp bead and french wire

 Pull the wire like before, make the bracelet tight enough so that while you are wearing it you wont see the wire. Be careful to not ruin the french wire while pulling. Place some of the wire under a few beads. Don't put it under too many beads though or the bracelet will be stiff.

 After you crimp the bead and like the look of the bracelet cut the extra wire. Pull the wire as pictured so your get a clean and close cut. You want to make you you can tuck the end of the wire under a few beads so it doesn't show or poke you while you are wearing it.

 Cut!

 Done and done!

 It measures out to 7.5" long. You can make it longer or adjustable by adding a few jump rings or measuring as you go if you have one size in mind.

You can see more pictures of this on my etsy page.

Click on this picture if you like the nails and want to see the how to for them!

Hope you like the bracelet and tutorial, let me know if you give it a try.

Thanks for stopping by!

How to make a simple chain and stone necklace.

I recently picked up some really nice dragon vain agate and sea sediment jasper, I was going to make some crazy necklace or bracelet but they were so nice by themselves that I wanted to just do a simple necklace. I also thought I'd share how to make such a simple necklace that only takes a few minutes to make!

What you need:wire cutters

•  round & flat jewelry pliers
• wire cutters
• beads or pearls
• length of chain
• 24 or 25g wire
• clasp & jump rings 

*The chain I used has open links, if the chain you are going to use does not have open links wrap the loops you made on the chain as you make them. 

A few things you will need.

 I went with the gold tone brass but will make the other stones 

with the sterling silver from the pictures later.

Start by threading the wire in the bead.

You can cut the size of wire before you start but I like to cut

as I go so I don't waste any wire and to make sure I have enough.

Use the needle nose pliers to make a circle.

 Leave extra on the end so you can wrap the wire around, if 

there is a snag on the necklace it will be harder for the wire to 

become undone if wrapped around a few times.

Use you needle nose pliers to round out the loop you made.

Also press down all any wire sticking up so it doesn't scratch

you while you wear the necklace. I like to make sure the wire it 

tight enough to fit in the drilled hole on the stone.

One side down.

I wrapped the wire 1.5 times.

Cut the wire.

 I measured 2 finger width, it gave me more then enough
room to work with.

Wrap around again and press the wrap tightly with flat pliers.

Wrap around the same numbers of times & round off the
loop again.

Cut off the extra wire.

Press down the little bit that you couldn't cut off.

If it is a tight fit the wrapping should hide in the stone.

It's fine if the wrapping shows, make sure that you did the
same number of wraps just in case it does show.

Next, start on adding the chain.

The chain I used links aren't soldered so I can
just open the links to add it to the stone.

Lightly and slowly open a link.

Don't twist too hard when you open the links. It will made the
weak and easy to break later if not gently opened.

Slip one loop on the open link.

With the flat pliers close the link shut tightly. Use can
use a little jewelers glue also to keep it closed.

One side done.

 Do the same to the other side.

Have your clasp ready.

I have 2 different styles to the ones I made today

Measure the chain to the size you want.

 The one pictured is 17.5 inches long.

Open a link like before.

 Slip a jump ring one end and the clasp on the other.

Close all links tight and try it on to see if it need any adjustments.

That's it! You're done! I will probably be making more of this necklace next week with different stones and metals and listing them in my Etsy shop. Stop by if you'd like one!

Sea sediment jasper gold tone brass necklace. 17" long.

 I love how this one came out!

Dragon vain agate gold tone brass necklace. 17.5" long.

 I made this one a little longer because the stone is wider.

Thanks for looking, let me know if you give it a shot!

Or if you have any questions!

*** Update***
I made some with silver chain!

I added a small charm!

 The jasper on the silver necklaces are off centered so the
charm hangs in the middle. I also added faceted new jade
to the sides of the jasper.

It looks great on!

I added faceted pink cherry quartz to the sides of the jasper.