Fusion Beads Pantone Crystal Mixes...

 I was fortunate enough to be selected to participate in Fusion Beads' new Blogger Affiliate Program!  For February, they sent out some beautiful Swarovski crystal mixes.  The blends were based off of this year's new Pantone Spring 2012 Color Trends.

The blend that I received was the "Cheeky Crystal Mix".  The colors were a vibrant orange, bright yellow, subtle gray, and watery blue.

I decided that for the piece I would create, I would use as many crystals as possible to really showcase this color palette.  I ended up embellishing a length of chain with hundreds of wire-wrapped dangles strung up with the crystals.  I melded it with a leafy chain and pulled it all together with a bronze bird toggle from my family at Green Girl Studios.

 I used gunmetal-colored headpins to bump up the contrast and make the colors POP!  It also helped tie in the antiqued bronze leafy chain.  Creating this sort of "fringe" takes a long time, but I love the way it moves.  It feels almost alive the way the piece of chain undulates.

Sometimes when I see the new Color Trends, I scratch my head... huh?  There are so many colors and not all of them seem like natural companions.  It can be a little daunting.  Fortunately, the fine folks at Fusion Beads have done all the dirty work and have created these easy to use mixes of high-quality, Austrian crystals!  It's a lot of fun to pick up a mix and just create!

FTC Disclosure:  The materials provided came courtesy of Fusion Beads free of charge.  This blog post reflects my honest opinions and experiences using the complimentary product.