FEATURED PROJECTS

April: Diamond

Diamond's are a girl's best friend, but they're also a wallet's archenemy. I took my spending down a few notches to a diamond wannabe: clear resin nuggets. Paired with quartz chips, these ice-like chunks put a youthful, funky spin on a birthstone-inspired necklace. By Kelsey Lawler

PRICE: $3.95

May: Emerald

For this month's birthstone, I tried a different take on emerald, opting for the color instead of the gemstone. Two strands of tourmaline nuggets did the job nicely; nuggets in shades of pink and yellow green accented the darker green pieces. By Naomi Fujimoto

PRICE: $3.95

This blouse is perfect for fall. You can wear it alone on warm days or pair it with a jean jacket when it gets cool. But how to accessorize this burst of color and pattern? Each of us on the BeadStyle staff brought our beading and fashion sensibilities to the task.

Anchored with two sparkling dangles, this single-strand necklace incorporates a variety of crystal shapes and sizes. String a necklace in one color – clear crystal – for a classic, beautiful style. Or, opt for a multicolor version: Start by selecting cones and rondelles first (they’re available in limited colors), and build from there. Either way, you’ll have jewels that harmonize with any look.

Fall fashions are crying out for all kinds of fabric adornments, and SilverSilk knitted jewelry wire is here just in time to answer that call. It's ideal for braiding, crocheting, or shaping with wire. In this necklace, I used the knitted wire as a simple stringing material to display a collection of Ethiopian beads.

When Lisa Johnson of Fruitport, Mich., received her kit, she was first inspired by the filigree pendant. "It felt romantic and Old World-ish," she says. She wanted the back of the pendant to look as nice as the front, so she made a flower with coin-bead stamens on one side of the filigree and attached a copper pendant on the other. By attaching the strands with S-hooks and multi-loop connectors, Lisa made the piece even more versatile: She counts 13 ways to wear it!