Another Bead Swap!!!!

I am a little excited! Why? Well, I am going to be doing another bead swap! WHOOOO HOOOOO!!!!

So what is a bead swap, some of you might be asking? Well, it is when you get paired up with another person who loves to make jewelry. You send them a bunch of beads, and they send you a bunch. Then you create with what you got, and blog about it!

I have actually done a few of these swaps, and usually, I am sent things that challenge me. That is a good thing. 

Some pieces I created a long time ago, and still wear them, like this beaded wire wrapped shell necklace. 

I've even won competitions with some of the beads I've been sent. 

I just found out who my partner is late last night. I am looking forward to "meeting" her. Of course it will be through Facebook, Instagram, and email, as I live in Louisiana and she is in Indiana. Hey! I use to live in Indiana! We already have something in common.

Stay tuned for more bead swap! Reveal is in less than two months!

Upcycling

Have you ever heard of UPCYCLING? Do you know what it is? Well, upcycling is taking something that is about to head to the landfill and making something else out of it. Today's society is all about recycling, which is taking something and reusing it. In other words...returning it back to daily contribution, instead of sending it to the city dump.

Guitar String Keychains

from

TappingflamingoBling

To upcycle something would be to reuse an item without degrading the material for it's next use. For example, my guitar string jewelry and accessories. I take old guitar strings, clean them up and make something fun and pretty out of them. Here are a few things I have made with old guitar strings....

Guitar String Ornament

from

TappingflamingoBling

Mermaid Guitar String Ornament 

from 

TappingflamingoBling

Beaded Guitar String Bracelet

from

TappingflamingoBling

Beaded Bird Guitar String Ornament

from

TappingflamingoBling

Mardi Gras Ornament

from

TappingflamingoBling

Beaded Flamingo Guitar String Ornament

from

TappingflamingoBling

Tree of Life Guitar String Ornament

from

TappingflaminogBling

Guitar String Earrings

from

TappingflamingoBling

Guitar String Cameo Pendant

from 

TappingflamingoBling

Guitar String Necklaces

from

TappingflamingoBling

Colorful Guitar String Bracelet

from

TappingflamingoBling

Tropical Guitar String Bracelet

from 

TappingflamingoBing

So what do you think? I love upcycling, and especially love  creating beautiful things from old guitar strings. At this point, the only guitar string accessories or jewelry I have are some keychains. But maybe I should make some more to list. What do you think? Would you buy and wear guitar string jewelry? It sure would make a great conversation piece....

TappingflamingoBling is on Etsy, Instagram, and Facebook, as Tappingflamingo on Youtube....

Autism Awareness

I've been doing a lot of thinking about what I am about to share. I have two nephews with autism, ages 15 and 12. They live in the state of Florida, and love the beach. Their dad surfs; on occasion he takes them with him, and they LOVE it! They have also been involved with Surfers for Autism and Special Olympics where they competed in surfing, track, swimming, and other sports.

For the last few years, I have been trying to figure out how to do something with my TappingflamingoBling line of jewelry that will help with autism. I handcraft items that are cruise and beach inspired, and I wanted to stay with my theme.

Multistrand Waxed Cord

Surfer Style Bracelet by 

TappingflamingoBling

Well, I think I have come up with the perfect idea. I think I'm going to make something and then donate a portion of the sales toward autism awareness. 

These surfer style multi strand bracelets are perfect for you to wear while enjoying the beach. I love jewelry, but you really have to be careful what you wear to the beach and pool, and also in the shower. Even the 18K gold fine jewelry is not a match for these places, as the salt at the beach, chemicals in the pool and soap in the shower can deteriorate your pieces.

Because I love to wear my jewelry when I swim and head out to the beach, I came up with this new style that allows you to do so. They are made from waxed cording that is very durable. Because they are adjustable, you can wear them as a necklace, bracelet or anklet.

I used the autism awareness colors of yellow, red, light blue and dark blue to put these together, and I used a knotting technique that make them adjustable. 

So, what do you think? Would you wear these, or know anyone that would?

Autism awareness month is April, and I plan to have these available to purchase on my TappingflmaingoBling Etsy Shop real soon! I am already having people asking me about them. Stay tuned for more info on how you can get your TappingflamingoBling Autism Awareness Bracelet. 

Mismatched Earrings?

A couple years ago, I listed a couple pair of earrings on my Etsy Shop, and they hardly got any looks. I think I was a bit ahead of my time....

Tropical Mismatched Earrings

by TappingflamingoBling

I had remembered back in the 1980's, that mismatched earrings were pretty popular. I had a gut feeling that they were about to make a come back, but apparently, I needed to wait. In 2016, according to Vouge, mismatched earrings hit the runway. 

Tropical Mismatched Earrings

by TappingflamingoBling

Today, when you search the internet for mismatched earrings, they are EVERYWHERE!!!!

So....What do you think? Have you worn mismatched earrings? Would you wear them today? Personally, I think they are pretty cool. Very much a statement piece. I will admit, some of the mismatched pair of earrings I have seen are a bit over the top, but the mismatched pair of earrings that are not so in your face, I like. 

Package Presentation

I was having a conversation with someone the other day about things we receive in the mail. When you order something online, do you pay attention to how it is packaged. I mean, we all know how important it is make sure your purchase is safe and secure when going through the mail. I'm really not talking about that so much as I am talking about presentation. 

As time has gone on, I package my orders differently. When I first started out, I wrapped them in pretty tissue, tied a ribbon around it, put it into a bubble mailer, and it was off.

Lately, I've been making these pretty Hobo Drawstring Bags (as I have named them) to put my orders into. They also go out in a bubble mailer. 

Sometimes I use organza bags, but whatever I do use, I like to keep the theme going.

How important is it to have a pretty package? Do you like the pretty presentation? Or does it really matter? There are a few ways to look at this question and answer it. 

1. When someone takes the time to make your purchase look pretty, I feel that they really care about, not only their product, but you....the customer. YOU are important enough for them to take the time to make your purchase, from them, look pretty.

OR

2.  On the other hand....packaging materials and time is money. Somehow this is all incorporated into the price. You know those pretty turquoise Tiffany boxes with the white bow? So pretty...and you know exactly what that is....a piece of fine jewelry from Tiffany's. You also know that whoever bought that spent some bucks on it.

OR

3. When I get a package in the mail, and I open it up and see something nicely presented, I get excited. It's like I am getting a present....a gift!!!!  

So, how do you look at something you ordered that has a beautiful presentation? Do you say to yourself, "Cool I got a present!" or "Wow! I'm important enough for someone to spend the time making my purchase look nice." Or.....do you say something like, "Wow! I wonder how much that cost?" lol

I'm just curious as to what you think. I enjoy making your purchase look nice. It is a way for me to say, "Thank you for your purchase from TappingflamingoBling."

Lanyard? or Necklace? YEP! BOTH

Most of us work at a place where we have to wear some sort of ID. A lot of the times those lanyards are ugly. Sometimes, we have pretty ones, but they really don't go with our outfit. I invented a new idea....a Necklace/Lanyard!

This seahorse necklace and earring set is also a lanyard. See the hook? That is where you put your ID. Now, if you wanted to wear it just as a necklace, you can! The hook hangs behind the seahorse and can't be seen. If you wanted, you could easily take the hook off, but no need, since you really can't see it. 

This piece is made of faceted glass Caribbean blue beads I found while in Puerto Rico. I bought the silver tone seahorse in Puerto Rico too, but not the seahorses on the earrings. I did not add a clasp to the silver tone chain for easy on, easy off.

Do you like Mermaids?

How about this Necklace/Lanyard?  The silver toned mermaid hangs with an Amazonite disc. Amazonite beads, turquoise glass beads and crystals lay with the pearlized glass beads along the necklace. I added a silver tone chain, and there is not clasp on this, so easy on, easy off. Of course matching earrings compliment this piece.

Here is a real funky piece. I made this one for ME, and plan to wear it on the next cruise I go on. It will be perfect to wear at the beach or pool. I plan to wear this as a necklace and lanyard. I made this by crocheting hemp cord and hanging a few oyster shells, and then wrapping and shredding the cord for a boho look. Again, no clasp, easy on, easy off!

I actually plan to make several Necklace/Lanyards for my next cruise. One to match every outfit. If you are interested in any of my handcrafted cruise and beach inspired jewelry and accessories, hop on over to my shop, TappingflaminogBling.

I also have a Youtube Channel, Instagram and Facebook page that I hope you check out.

Have a wonderful day!!!!

Fishextender Gifts and Copyright Laws

Guitar String Keychains from 

TappingflamingoBling

A lot of you know what Fishextender gifts are, but some of you do not. Fishextender gifts are basically a group of people on a Disney Cruise that exchange gifts. I first heard of this when we took our first Disney Cruise in 2015. It was a lot of fun, and we continue to get gift exchanges going on other cruise lines we sail on.

So what do people give as gifts? Well, just about anything...from jewelry, to candy, to first aid kits to puzzles and ornaments and keychains.

Mardi Gras Style Beaded Keychains

from TappingflamingoBling

On our last cruise, our group decided to bring something that represents the state with which you live. I made these Beaded Mardi Gras Themed Keychains, and everyone LOVED them. 

Fishextender Keychains 

We are getting ready for another cruise in a few months, and my mom is going to give these pictured above as gifts. Since she lives near the Disney area, and we are also leaving from that area, she thought they would be perfect. I made them for her to give out.

Louisiana Themed Keychains

from TappingflamingoBling

I thought about making these Louisiana Themed Keychains pictured above, but then I thought of something else that I plan to share later.

Cruise Themed Keychains

from TappingflamingoBling

Something that I would like to share with you has to do with copyright laws. I see a lot of online shops that carry Disney themed gift ideas. This is a huge no, no...unless you have permission from Disney. 

Disney Themed Keychains

from TappingflamingoBling

I'll be honest with you. I thought that if you bought, say, fabric that was sold by Disney, that you could make something from it and sell it. Nope, legally, you cannot. You can make something for personal use or as a gift for someone, but you cannot sell it. OOPS!  Time to rethink my fish extender gifts. For the most part the keychains in the photo above are fine, except the Mickey ears. So, I redid them.

Princess Themed Keychains

from TappingflamingoBling

I took the mouse ears away, and now I have strictly Princess Themed Keychains. This is ok, as Little Mermaid, Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and Princess and the Frog are all public dominion. Now when I list these on my shop, I have to be careful not to use copyrighted names. 

Fleur de Lis Keychains

from TappingflamingoBling

So, next time you go searching for anything that is copyrighted material, be careful. Try searching for items in a different way, as there are a lot of fun creations that are not coming up on your search, because they are not using copyrighted names. Search for "Cruise Fishextender Gifts." Or "Princess Themed Gift Exchange."

Patriotic Themed Keychains

from TappingflamingoBling

TappingflamingoBling has all kinds of fun sets of keychains and other gift ideas on  Etsy.  I've even made beaded dreadlocks that are great to wear in your hair for a pirate party or just to have the island vibe in your wardrobe.