~*Charming Giveaway!*~ From Helga's ARTchix Studio, in Canada!

~*Happy Charm Day!!!*~

Helga who runs the ever popular and oh so wildly creative web presence known as ARTchix Studio in Canada would like to share some news with you!

Read on...

Helga made these pretty charms with fabulous new items over on the website! 

(((Aren't they cool?!)))

 In honor of International Charm Day (which is April 28th), she is giving them away.

You can win this lovely collection of 6 charms by simply leaving a comment on Helga's blog post- Here is the link!--- CLICK ME! <----

 One of her kitties will pick a lucky winner next Wednesday.

Thank you for celebrating Charm Day with us Helga!

HAPPY CHARM DAY!!! Kick it off with a very generous giveaway (((A $50. Gift Certificate!))) and a 15% discount code!

It's here, it's been a year, since the last time we celebrated!

If you are joining us for the very first time, welcome! 

If you are a returning celebrant, welcome back! 

This celebration will last an entire week and will end on Sunday May 6th!
It will be a week of pictures, links to tutorials, charm making goodies, featured artists, giveaways, sales and a little bit more!

Be sure to scroll through the blog each time you visit to be sure you didn't miss out on any of the multiple posts that will be added daily.

Kicking off the Party- I am happy to share a wonderful sale offering from Terri Ventura from Dime Store Daze and Dime Store Emporium!

Terri is sharing a 24 hour sale!
Today only!
A 15% discount to both of her web stores and her Etsy store!
The sale is good until MIDNIGHT of April 28th (New York/East Coast time!)

www.dimestoreemporium.com
www.dimestoredaze.com

www.dimestoreemporium.etsy.com

  

Receive a 15% discount when you use the code word, CHARMS , at the checkout on either website or Etsy for this Sat only good until midnight 4/28/2012

Here are some links to some popular charm making items- Be sure to browse through her shops- she finds some really lovely old antique and vintage goodies that she adds patina to as well. I have been buying from her for years now. She provides fast and friendly service! Excellent quality materials!

I highly recommend her!

Here is the section that's bezels,

http://www.etsy.com/shop/dimestoreemporium/search?search_query=bezels&search_submit=&search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_5293555&shopname=dimestoreemporium

jump rings
http://www.etsy.com/shop/dimestoreemporium/search?search_query=jump+rings&search_submit=&search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_5293555&shopname=dimestoreemporium

filigree
http://www.etsy.com/shop/dimestoreemporium/search?search_query=filigree&search_submit=&search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_5293555&shopname=dimestoreemporium&langid_override=-1

frames
http://www.etsy.com/shop/dimestoreemporium/search?search_query=frames&search_submit=&search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_5293555&shopname=dimestoreemporium&langid_override=-1

Here are some art charms that Terri created, using some of the materials that she sells!.

 Be sure to check this blog on Sunday April 29th for more details on how to enter your name for a chance to win a ~*$50.00*~ gift certificate, good to use in any of her shops!!! If you make a purchase, using the 15% discount code, you will be entered into the drawing for the $50.00 gift certificate - 5x! (Five Times!!!)

Thank you for celebrating Charm Day with us Terri! 

Heart Crumbs. Up-cycled Cookie Tin Charm

This is -
Heart Crumbs.
An up-cycled cookie tin charm
by, Sherry Laks.
Alcohol inks,wire, embellished head pins, various spacers, bead caps, and rivets, wire lace ribbon, wire coils and glass beads.

------------------------------------------------------
Do you have a charm to share?
A site of handmade charm photos?
Your Pinterest board?
A blog with your charm work? Share it!

Charm Fun @ the Mahopac Library, April 26th

Cindy Green is hosting a mini shrink plastic charm making lesson at the  Mahopac Library in NY April 26th

in honor of Charm Day!

Make charms & dangles using shrink film, stamps, markers & colored pencils.

http://www.mahopaclibrary.org

You can register to attend if you are in the area! 

It's only $5.!

Cindy will post some photos to her blog later this weekend.

http://www.cindygreen.blogspot.com

-

Confetti Cake Charms, Polymer Clay Tutorial by, Toni Ellison

~*Are you getting ready for CHARM DAY this Saturday?*~
Here is a sweet treat of a tutorial for you! A bright and beautiful
confetti cake by, Toni Ellison! Enjoy!

~*Lori Anderson's BEAD SOUP and Pretty Things!*~

When I first started hosting Charm Swaps several years ago, 

I met a very kind and talented designer named Lori Anderson. 

I fell in love with her and her work right away!

If you are not yet familiar with the designing style of Lori Anderson, 

I encourage you to check her work out!

You may already know her by many articles, interviews and beautiful jewelry, published in international bead magazines and books or by her own personal blog where she hosts BEAD SOUP jewelry events.
 Some know her as the designer of my favorite bracelet to wear. It's crafted with encased floral lampwork beads, shimmering pearlish pink hand sculpted polymer clay rose beads (made into charms), mica coated lampwork beads, sterling silver beads, handmade sterling flower connectors and lovely sparkling pink, blue and crystal AB Swarovski beads.
 Every time this bracelet was worn, it was admired and complimented!
Lori is a pro, composing visual harmony with beads and findings!

~*I love it!*~

If you haven't yet heard,
Lori authored a new book coming out, at the end of September!
It's all about the Bead Soup blog event(s) which Lori so kindly organizes and hosts.
Here is some info and a link to see more about the book!

http://www.kalmbachstore.com/64421.html

***
"What happens when one energetic jewelry-making blogger and 26 talented beaders connect through social media and end up swapping their leftovers? You get a mélange of projects busting with every flavor imaginable. Each designer was given a focal bead, a unique clasp, and coordinating beads, and was charged with creating a recipe for a dynamic piece of jewelry. Sample the distinctive taste of each artist through diverse projects that offer beaders simple techniques, full-color photos, and step-by-step instructions."

****
There is everything from art beads to buttons to "regular" beads in this book.  There are more than a few designs that have lots of dangles.  Here are two photos of soups that will have dangles:  





*Doesn't this look yummy?!*



Lori says:
"I'll be selling the book myself as well, autographed and with two extra tutorials, taking pre-orders in June."

~*~
She will also be giving away a big bead soup for Charm Day! 
Keep your eyes on her blog for the chance to win!
If you are a beader, why not join in on her next Bead Soup blog party?!

INTERNATIONAL 

HANDMADE 

ART CHARMS!!!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
This is a bracelet I made using charms from the first 
International Handmade Art Charm Exchange that I hosted in 2007. 
Lori's charm is the pretty yellow/multicolor lampwork bead 
with silver accents and a turquoise colored crystal!

~*Charming Activities in Charlotte, North Carolina for Charm Day!*~

 Crown Town Handmade, and 

Beadlush are getting prepared for the exciting occasion

~*Charm Day in Oz... Brisbane Australia*~

Join Myléne Hillam, (a mixed media artist and designer for the craft industry living in Brisbane, Australia) for a Celebratory Charm Day Tutorial!
Click on the photo to visit her blog, or click on her name above.

If you have a charm making tutorial that you would like to share, please let me know!
:)

Mother's Day Charm Bracelet Workshop, At -The Henry B. Plant Museum, in Tampa, Florida on April 28th

Calendar:	The Henry B. Plant Museum
Title:	Mother's Day Charm Bracelet Workshop
When:	28.04.2012 14:00 - 16:00
Description:	On mom's special day, there's no better way to show your love and appreciation than with a homemade gift from the heart. Come to our workshop and create a beaded charm bracelet. Instruction by local jewelry maker, Joyce Howell. Price includes bracelet and refreshments. Adults must accompany children during workshop. $20 members, $30 non-members and includes Museum admission that day. To make your reservation contact Heather Trubee Brown at htrubee@ut.edu or 813.258.7304.
Location:	Henry B. Plant Museum, Music Room http://www.artstampabay.com/event/detail/441587177/Mothers_Day_Charm_Bracelet_Making

                           http://www.plantmuseum.com/gcalendar.html#year=2012&month=4&day=11&view=month

Countdown to Charm Day! Introducing, Jewelry and Beading Artist, Heidi Parviainen

Welcome to the start of our International Handmade Artistic Charm Day countdown, everyone!

I will be featuring lots of links, tips, techniques, and featuring artists and designers from all over the planet!

 Stay tuned for some of our favorite products and sellers of charm making wares as well!

I discovered some very gifted and talented designers, whom I am looking forward to sharing with you, during the weeks ahead!

It is not too late to join in- if you are hosting an event, would like to share or just want to share your love of artistic handmade art charms, then by all means, contact me!

I'll add you to the list!

To kick off the event- I'd like to share a selection of handmade art charms by a talented designer, who works with a variety of mediums. I saw these charms posted on a forum and asked if I could share them with you! 

Introducing- Heidi Parviainen 

(United States) 

This is my first year celebrating "International Art Charm Day".
I had heard about it through books and magazine articles.
Then I found out, I had been corresponding with the founder!

Well, if that wasn't a sign to get motivated and join in the fun, I don't know what would be.

So, I created a few with different media. I have to tell you. Every time I make one, I want to try another. They are addictive, really.

I love the idea of all the care and creativity poured into these tiny works of wearable art. It's like wearing a mini museum for all to see and share.

What better way to promote friendship and understanding, than trying to bring a smile to someone with something handmade from the heart?

~*~

 Metal clay-

This piece is precious metal clay and 

dichroic glass with a crystal bicone.

I find the simplicity of this piece soothing. 

The media speaks for itself without any extra embellishment.

  Howlite and Forged Copper Wire-

I really had fun with this one. 

It is about as minimalist as you can get: 

1 piece of wire, I barrel bead, 1 head pin.

It's deceptively simple, but I can't help feeling 

a sense of angst or tension looking at it. 

It appears the misshapen wire, clinging desperately 

to the slippery surface of the bead, 

is about to pop off at any moment.

   Embossed copper- 

This piece was created with a 26 gauge annealed copper blank. 

It was embossed, patinated and dapped.

I really like how the metal forming process 

"aged" this piece.

 It looks like it could be 100 years old.

 Happy Harpy- 

This is a little creature I drew. 

I thought she would be great coupled with 

a snippet of a quote from Oscar Wilde, 

"Be yourself, everyone else is already taken."

I fused clear shrink plastic with colored pencil 

and sharpie to a white shrink plastic backing.

      Scooby Doo,   

Hong Kong Phooey,

  Secret Squirrel and Morrocco Mole- 

I've always been a huge fan of animation. 

These are some of my favorite characters. 

These were all made with Shrink Plastic, 

colored pencil and sharpie.

If you like her work, please leave a comment here, her blog or send her a message!
Thank you for celebrating with us Heidi! :)

 http://createunique.blogspot.com 

beadingmaven@gmail.com 

Heidi Parviainen 

Charm Day events in N.C.- Are you in the Charlotte, North Carolina area?

   
Beadlush in Charlotte, N.C. is celebrating Charm Day with a variety of events.

Charmed I'm sure!  If you can't bead em' charm em'!   Have you heard about International Charm Day? Jewelry and bead artists around the world have  been creating and swapping handcrafted charms  with other artists on April 28th! When we heard  about it, we decided we had to get in on the fun,  so on Thursday April 26th we will be hosting a  make and take event with our friends at  Crown Town Handmade Our very own Vanessa  will be teaching how to make simple charms  all your own.

Click here for more info --->Beadlush

If you are new to celebrating International Handmade Art Charm Day---

If you are new to this event, and would like some ideas on how to participate, take a look at how they've celebrated in Centurion, South Africa for the past couple of years--- HERE

 International Charm Day - A South African version

Participate in our online Handmade Art Charm party!

 The deadline has been extended!

 This small bead above  and some of the confections made of polymer clay and Swarovski stones, below, will be given away during our International Handmade Art Charm Day blog party!

If you would like to be involved in the online giveaways, share tutorials, share photos and stories of your charm making events or share plans for celebrating International Handmade Art Charm Day, in your part of the world, you can send me a message via Face Book or leave a comment on this post.
Links will be added to the sidebar of the 2012 International Charm Day blog!
www.InternationalCharmDay.blogspot.com

You can also contact me through FB here-https://www.facebook.com/pages/Amber-Dawn-Creations/132876490085347
Please have your pictures and posts, for International Charm Day, posted to your blogs on the 27th of April. If you are giving away charms or other charm related goodies, please indicate if you are willing to ship overseas, if your winners are in a different country. You can open your giveaways to include all countries or only some, but please make it clear in your post online where you are willing to ship your prizes and gifts to.

Many stores are hosting parties and classes to celebrate, this year!
If you are a business or teacher that is hosting a gathering at a store or public location, please let us know about it so we can advertise it for you

~*Charm Day is coming!!!*~ Start spreading the news!

Would you like to help spread the news? 

The seeds are being sown! Broadcast it!

International Handmade Art Charm Day Celebration 2012!

Giveaways, tutorials, interviews, photos, RAKs, Videos, 

& much much more! 

Participate!!! Everyone is welcome from every part of the world!

This is the first of many Charm Day tags that are being designed for this year's event. 

Stay tuned for more!

Feel free to share!

 Copy and paste either of these onto your blogs and sites with a link back to this blog, www.InternationalCharmDay.blogspot.com

There will be a gorgeous array of miniature books and charms made using the designs and images from- http://www.riandesign.eu/ featured during the Charm Day online blog party!
You can buy your own to play with too! They are SO much fun to work with!!!
Let her know that you found her work on this site, it will make her smile!
If you purchase her images and create charms with them, post them to your blog and share a link!

<3
Amber Dawn

~*Handmade Bead Charms For Charm Day 2012*~

These are beads which I made yesterday using polymer clay and Swarovski Vitrail light rhinestones. I will be making charms in this style with different colors and patterns to give away in April, right here on this blog.

Those who participate by offering either handmade charms, charm making supplies or charm jewelry as giveaways on their blogs or sites will be eligible to enter to win in this category. :)

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
April 28th is almost here!
Start preparing now if you haven't already!

It's going to be a lot of fun this year!

Amber

CALL FOR Artists, Designers, Fashionistas and Crafters!

INTERNATIONAL Call for Charm making artists, crafters and designers!
 Beaders, Metalsmiths, Mixed Media Artists, Woodworkers, Fabric Artists, Crocheters, Miniaturists, Photographers, Quilters, Collage Artists, Assemblage Artists, Jewelers,  Writers, Resin Artists, Scrapbookers, Clay Artists,  Painters, Model Makers, Tinkerers, Graphic Artists, Doodlers, UpCyclers, Glass Artists, FASHIONISTAS & General CRAFTERS! 
Create your works into wearable and portable pieces of art!


Spread the cheer/news for  ' Charm Day. 
April 28th!


We're looking for tutorials and pictures of handmade artistic charms. 
Made of ANY MEDIUM that can be worn or used in a project or as a decoration.
 Charms are usually 1 1/2 inches and smaller! (Larger pieces are accepted as pendants)
ANY skill level!
Photos of handmade charm jewelry and other projects incorporating art charms are needed too.
If you would like to promote a giveaway on your website or blog, you'll can sign up for the list to advertise it on our sites, there is a deadline of March 12th, to let me know if you will be participating.
Start sharing the news now.
Blog about it, talk about it with your friends, in your art groups, tell your art buddies, younger children, big kids and older people who may be interested in participating too.
For those who may not have computer access or a camera/scanner, offer to help them out if you know they are talented/gifted at this art form.
Get them involved :) 
Start making charms to give away to people you want to share with, or even give them away as random acts of kindness to complete strangers. It's actually fun to do!
Share this post on your FB wall if you'd like. There is an email to contact me on the sidebar of my blog. Write Charm Day in the subject line. You can also post to my FB wall to let me know if you will be participating or to ask any questions. 
www.InventiveSoul.blogspot.com
Or leave a comment on my blog. <3 Amber Dawn<3

CHARM DAY 2012! Join in with over 13,000 other artists, crafters, designers, celebrities and collectors, worldwide!

International Handmade *Art Charm Day* festivities are being planned out for April 28th, 2012. If you would like to be a part of the worldwide event, you can start planning ahead with us and send us your ideas, links and share your handmade art charm tutorials, tips, tricks, videos and website info. which will be advertised and shared via the web.

If you plan on hosting an event in a brick and mortar location such as a store, boutique, cultural center, church, community center, school, art store, coffee shop, library, home etc. please let us know about it.

If you have a jewelry supply or craft business and would like to offer a promotional sale for the event, send an email with the details.

For those of you who will be joining us via the web, you can post videos to YouTube and send us the link to be a part of the link list.

Everyone, from everywhere is welcome to participate! Feel free to post in your native language and translate to English if you are able to!

Wear, share and create handmade art charms!!!

More to come, 2012!

http://internationalcharmday.blogspot.com/ <---click here to see current posts.
If you'd like to be a part of the celebration and add your links to the list, please leave a comment below.
If you have news to share, have a question or are interested in sharing a tutorial, you can write a message with CHARM DAY in the subject line. Messages sent with attachments will not be read. Charms2Wear @ aol . com Without the spaces.

See what Amber has been busy making!
www.InventiveSoul.blogspot.com

~*Charm Day 2012! Will you be a part of it?*~

If you would like to be a part of International Charm Day in 2012- please leave a comment and let us know what ideas you have!

We are looking for people from all continents- islands and territories of all ages to participate!