Star Frost Special Challenge Reveal...

Today is the Reveal for the Star Frost Special Challenge!  If you're not familiar with the challenges, I put together a Design Kit and offer them on a first-come, first-serve basis.  Challengers claim their kits and I then send them off around the world!  Each participant has about two months to create a piece and at the end of the challenge, everyone shares what they created!

It's a fun way to challenge your creativity and it's always fascinating to see what each person will make with the nearly identical kits.  Sometimes there are overlaps in the ideas and themes, and other times... things are vastly different from each other.

I wanted to do a special "holiday edition" of the challenge and created a wintry blend of frosty clears, cool blues, chilly grays, and icy whites.  I wanted to put together a kit that celebrated the time of year.

To learn more about what went in the kit, CLICK HERE.

One of the fun elements of the kits is that there's a Mystery Component.  It's usually something handmade by me.  This time it was a polymer clay snowflake pendant.

And without further ado... here's the REVEAL:

I created this bracelet.  I dug through the Luxury Bead Blend and found these clear drops, which I liked very much and wanted to use.  So I located another tube to augment what was in the kit and paired the drops with a silver-lined frosty blue seed bead.  I used Spiral Stitch to create the base of the bracelet.  The drops give it a fun, textural element that reminds me of icicles.  When I finished, I thought it needed to be jazzed up a little, so I sewed on a decorative ring and added some wire-wrapped dangles strung up with opalescent glass from the kit.  It gives the piece a little bit of movement and catches the light nicely.

These pieces were created by Cheryl Tucker.  Here's what she had to say about them:  "I separated the beads into two stringing projects and made matching earrings for each piece.  For the first project, I added blue beads to the necklace with the Mystery Component.  I love that icy blue combination."

"The multi-strand white bracelet should be good now with a sweater but may be better with a tan next summer!"

Mia Nutick made these pieces.  Here's what she had to say about them:  "I have a few things but I am going to have to do some for the Catch Up Reveal.  I'm moving, so things are in a massive disarray!  I got SO many more piece out of the Star Frost beads than this!  It was GORGEOUS!  The choker is on memory wire with an added snowflake charm."

"In this necklace, I used elements from the kit, but I also added Japanese cultured pearls."

"For this necklace, I made matching earrings and a bracelet.  I added Swarovski crystals from my stash to elements from the kit."

"I'm glad I started doing these challenges!  I am going to go back to selling jewelry on Etsy under the name Bauble Yaga... that is... AFTER we move and get everything set up and I sell my back inventory from Chimera Fancies."

This necklace was made by Joanne Goldberg.  Here's what she had to say about it:  "I'm traveling and I knew I wouldn't be here for the reveal, so I sent my piece in early.  I strung the necklace and added a cluster of vintage Japanese glass."

These pieces were made by Lisa Mendum.  Here's what she had to say about them:  "Thanks again for a wonderful kit!  You always put together such wonderful textures and colors.  I love layered jewelry and decided to make a set I could wear together or separate.  I made a short wired beaded section that I could wrap around the multi-strand necklace and a pair of beaded hoop earrings."

But wait... that's not all!  Please swing by the blogs of the other participants from around the world!  Check out what they made for the Star Frost Challenge!

Carolyn Lawson 
Carole Carlson of Beadsophisticate 
Shai Williams 
Karin Grosset Grange of Ginkgo et Coquelicot
Ann Schroeder 
Tammy Bowman of Inner Muse Jewelry 
Alison Herrington
Kari Asbury of Hippie Chick Jewelry Design 
Alice Peterson
On Andrew Thornton's blog:
Andrew Thornton, Cheryl Tucker, Mia Nutick, Joanne Goldberg, Lisa Mendum

The Desert Sands Challenge is up next!  The reveal is scheduled for Thursday, January 29th.  Check back here to see all the lovely creations!

ALSO, tomorrow (Friday, January 9th at 7PM EST) the next Design Kit will be revealed and go on sale!  Swing by tomorrow and get ahold of your kit!  If you're interested in participating, the kits sell out super fast, so make sure to grab one while you still can!