EDIT: Thanks to all who submitted work for this beading challenge! Please head on over to our Facebook page to view the album of submissions! November bead challenge coming…!   -Leah

Hello Beady Friends! Leah here from Eureka Crystal Beads.com! Today’s blog is all about challenging yourself! Do you ever feel like you need a little push? Or perhaps some inspiration to think outside your box? (If so, I’m right there with ya!) What I wanted to do for today’s blog, on the first day of October (can you believe that? Already October!), is to put together a fun beading challenge for you all! No stress, no pressure…simply a fun – unofficial – beading event to push you outside your comfort zone if you’re feelin’ in a rut and want to spark your creativity – or for no reason at all because do we really NEED a reason to bead more? I think not. 🙂 Please read on for details…

(SIDE NOTE: Stay tuned for a whole bunch of AMAZING giveaways for October, November, and December! You won’t believe all that we’re planning to gift away to a bunch of lucky amazing customers! Make sure to follow us on Facebook if you don’t already!)

October Beading Challenge Theme: PURPLE WITH A POP!!

Guidelines: We want to see what you can create in this month’s theme! Purple with a Pop means that your color scheme will be PURPLE(S) plus a POP COLOR of your choice!! (Many beaders find picking a “pop color” to be difficult – this makes it a great challenge) I’ll be giving you some product ideas below, but feel free to use whatever you have in your own stash! Purples and Gold? Purples and Lime Green? Purples and Orange? So many lovely and funky options. Take some inspiration from my ideas below or come up with your own! This challenge is all about pushing yourself to work within a theme, but most of all – HAVING FUN and ending up with a beautiful creation to wear with PRIDE.

If you’d like to share, I’d love to see what you come up with! Feel free to send a picture of your finished piece (or even unfinished pieces! This is no pressure, right?) over to me via Facebook Messenger on the Eureka Crystal Beads page! Make sure to let me know if it’s ok for me to share your picture(s) on our Facebook page – we plan on putting up a fun album with all your Purple with a Pop projects!

Ok, here are my Inspirational Selections for our Challenge Theme!

Lavender Earth Coordinated Mix TOHO Size 11 Rounds Seed Beads – Here is a lovely mix of soft purples with a pop-addition of limey/bronzy greens! This would make a great start to any project… We also carry a matching Swarovski Crystal Bicone Mix, Czech Glass Bead Mix, and Rivoli/Chaton mix!

Toho Aiko size 11 Coordinated Mix: KING CAKE

Toho Aiko size 11 Coordinated Mix: LADY IN WAITING

• 14mm Swarovski Crystal Rivoli – Amethyst
• Size 11 Miyuki Delica – Iris Raspberry Gold Metallic #1012
• Size 15 Miyuki Round Seed Bead – Teal Matte AB #2405FR
• 4mm Swarovski Crystal Bicones – Cyclamen Opal
• 4mm Swarovski Crystal Pearl – Iridescent Purple
• 3mm Swarovski Crystal Bicones – Erinite AB2X

• 2-hole Superduo Czech Glass Beads – Purple Metallic Suede
• 4mm Swarovski Crystal Bicones – Purple Velvet
• Size 11 Toho Round Seed Bead – Grape Metallic #461
• 6mm Swarovski Crystal Pearl – Burgundy
• Size 11 Toho Round Seed Bead – Gypsy Gold Higher Metallic #514
• 2-hole Superduo Czech Glass Beads – Burnt Orange Gold Shine

Ok folks, so there are some ideas for you! Use these products, simply take inspiration from them, OR come up with your own pop-color! I challenge YOU to CHALLENGE YOURSELF and come up with something amazing in the theme of PURPLE WITH A POP! I plan on working up something myself, so stay tuned!! 🙂

Until next time…

-Leah