Freestyle Elements: April 2013

Marlene Cupo and Shelley Graham Turner have collaborated once again to bring us another Holiday Bling Blog Hop! But wait...which Holiday is to be celebrated? It is no other than the Very Merry Un-Birthday celebration! Since it wasn't quite time for HBBH number 4, we are celebrating 3.5! Each participant is paired up with a partner to swap gifts that commemorated the partner's birthstone. My partner for this hop is Chris Eisenberg, who makes beautiful beaded jewelry! You can find her gorgeous creations at her Wanderware company website.

Chris's birthday is in March which is represented by the beautiful Aquamarine. My birthstone is Amethyst, since my birthday is in February.

I had this gorgeous Aquaramarine Swarovski focal that I wanted to use for Chris, but beading bezels is not my forte. What could I do? Well, this is what I came up with, and hoped that Chris would like it.

I colored the large brass filigree with Bronze Gilder's paste, then folded it around the stone. I then attached that to another brass filigree that had been gilded Gold. I used brass chain, copper jump rings, and a bronze toggle, and wrapped other crystals with more brass filigree, gilding some of them in Copper. The earrings used some of the same components.

When I received Chris's gift, the packaging was in a beautiful purple box and included an Un-birthday Card, as well as a scrumptious Birthday Cake Batter chocolate bar.

I had never had this flavor of chocolate, but it was some of the most delicious chocolate that I had ever eaten!! When I opened the purple package, this gorgeous bracelet was nestled inside.

The amethyst colored beads just shimmered with an Aquarian aura. The crystal focal was the perfect touch! Thank you, Chris, for such a beautiful bracelet. I know how much work went into creating it, and am so appreciative of your thoughtfulness and creativity. I love it!! Isn't it beautiful?

Thank you, Marlene and Shelley for another successful HBBH. I have enjoyed participating in these so much, and I can't wait for the next one. Have a look at what everyone else created for their partners!

Ali McCarthy

www.northwoodscreativestudio.blogspot.com

Alicia Marinache

www.allprettythings.ca

Anzia Parks

www.anzipanzisworkshoppe.blogspot.com

Audrey Belanger

www.esperianterra.blogspot.ca

Cheri Reed

www.creativedesignsbycheri.blogspot.com

Cheryl Dunham

www.renaissance-jewelry.blogspot.com