Wine Charms for Every Occasion

Wondering what to gift your hostess for today?s cocktail party? Here is the perfect gift. Wine charms. It is as charming as it sounds. Perfect for dinners, get-togethers, parties, wine tasting events and theme parties. With an attractive wine charm, you can keep track of your glass, as it will be tagged with an elegant charm. It can also be used for beer mugs and other glasses. Wouldn?t it be fun to tag a Monopoly wine charm to your glass? With pieces such as Free Parking, Community Chest and Go To Jail, it will surely make excellent conversation. At a poker game, you could choose the poker wine charm, which comes with six different cards. Loop it around your glass and you are surely bound to win!

Going to a bridal shower? Or a wedding party? Carry along a set of Pewter Wine Charms. It comes with a wedding car and cake, a wedding invitation and a bride and groom! It is ideal for the occasion. Do you prefer gold and silver metal beads? You can get it at just $9.99. It comes along with a silver pouch. For the same price you can get gambler charms, mythical charms and art charms. If you are looking for elegance and a little class, then multi-colored beads should be your choice. For those who love the sea, there is a boating wine charm. It has several attachments such as an anchor, wheel and sail. For beach lovers there is a beach wine charm complete with sun, sea and surf!

Or maybe you prefer a BBQ wine charm or a Big Money Pewter Wine Charm, both available at $9.99. A perfect gift for a woman would be a flower based wine charm, which looks so attractive you will want to carry it away with you. If you host is a stargazer, then the celestial wine charm is best suited. There really is a charm for every occasion. You name it and someone has already created it. Such a variety is difficult to find in other products. These wine charms are made with such precision and care that one would think it should be more expensive. However, wine charms are quite affordable and you can buy one that suits your taste.

For example, a golfer could go for the golf wine charm and an artist can go for the art wine charm. You can even find wine charm that relate to different countries in the world. The Egyptian wine charm comes with colored beads. During the festive season of Christmas, the Christmas wine charm is very apt. There is wine charms based on dogs, cats, insects, pets, wild animals, medicine, winter? the list goes on.

John Lamont is a successful author and regular contributor to http://www.acewineracks.com/fine.pl/building-kedco-plan.html an online resource for all kinds of wine racks, including wall wine racks, metal wine racks and more

Amethyst - Historical and Modern

Amethyst is a popular gemstone. It has a number of characteristics and colors which have endeared people to its worth and enables it to be a popular choice for all types of jewelry. The pinkish lavender shade is called ?Rose de France.? It is less sought after than the intense violet shade called ?Siberian? which is the most-sought after shade of all. The latter shade is found in Siberia, Zambia and Uruguay. Ametrine comes from Bolivia which shows alternating bands of citrine orange and purple. Oriental amethyst is also the name of the purple corundum as well as fine samples of amethystine quartz which does not necessarily come from the Eastern regions of the globe.

During the 20th century, its purple color was attributed to manganese. However, the color or shades does not remain consistent and this led some to believe that the change is due to an organic content. Some studies showed that sulfur could be found in amethyst while some suggests the presence of ferric thiocyanate. When the amethyst is exposed to heat, the color changes to yellow which is why they are then referred to as burnt amethyst.

On its chemical composition, amethyst is produced by irregular superimposition of quartz. This characteristic is generally attributed to mechanical stresses which in turn, creates a very fragile make-up. All quartz that has this composition or structure is now generally labeled as amethyst.

Historically amethyst has been of great use in attempting to guard against drunken behavior and for fighting addiction. Additionally it has been used for diverse reasons such as in hearing disorders, sleep disorders, pain and even mental disorders. It folklore is to be believed it can also help in dreams, peacefulness, love, spiritual wellbeing, strength and happiness.

Eric Hartwell oversees "The World's Best Homepage" intended to be a user-generated resource where YOUR opinion counts. Anybody can contribute and all are welcomed. Visit us to read, comment upon or share opinions at the worlds best homepage and visit his associated site for unique jewelry.

Proper Care For Diamond Pendants Preserves And Beautifies

When you have a diamond pendant in your armoire that would take your breath away, then you will have to give some consideration to taking care of that diamond. There are many aspects to the care of a wonderful diamond pendant. It is a big investment therefore it needs extra care. You want this diamond to last a lifetime and while diamonds are the hardest compound on earth they still need lots of tender, loving care.

When you clean your diamond pendants there are special ways to do this. Pendants can get dirty from day to day wear, so you must clean them periodically. Even oils from the skin can affect your pendant. There are a few ways to take care of this properly, such as giving them a mild soap bath. Use a soft brush to wash away the loose particles, but be careful to do this as far away from the sink as possible. It is a known fact that sinks love jewelry and this is one sure way of losing your pendant.

Another way to clean your diamond pendant is to soak it in a solution of half ammonia and half cold water. Leave it in the soak in the water for about a half an hour. You will still have to use a bristle brush to clean it, but remember you can scratch diamonds so be very careful with the brushing. There are also some fantastic cleaners on the market for diamonds and this might be more to your taste to purchase some of these. All you have to do is follow the instructions, but you have to be careful you don’t touch the diamonds with your fingers. It will only ruin all your hard work. Always pick your jewelry up by the edges. Another great idea is pass your pendant in at a jewelry store while you shop. Your pendant is now in the hands of an expert who will clean it safely and make it look like new. There are also machines sold on the market for cleaning diamonds, but you have to know how to use these as they can cause damage to your diamond if not used properly.

The setting is another important part of your jewelry and is one of the leading reasons why people lose the diamonds from the pendants. Take your diamond pendant to a jeweler and have the setting checked at least once a year. You really need to do this if your diamond is set in soft metals such as 24 karat gold. When you store your pendants, you also need to place your diamond pendants in a soft fabric covering and place them into a soft fabric jewelry box. Put them in separate compartments if you can. This is because there is only one thing that can cut a diamond and that is another diamond.

Don’t wear your diamond pendant when you are doing heavy work. Even though they are hard compounds, it is still possible to scratch your diamond when it’s given the right kind of hit. You also have to keep your pendant away from small children. To ensure that you have a record of your pendant, use a camera to record it and store the video or pictures. Then if anything should happen to your diamond pendant, you have a record of you owned for insurance purposes or just for your own personal use.

#1 Resource
Diamond pendant care. http://www.diamondpendantsite.com

Jeweled Shamrock Pendant

March 17th is St. Patrick's Day and according to tradition if you are not wearing at least a little something green you just might get pinched and why put yourself through that? Let's face it most of us do not look very good in green attire but, there are ways around this.

A pretty green pendant to wear on your lapel for the occasion would be fun and festive especially if you make it yourself.

I chose the Shamrock or Four Leaf Clover because, According to Irish tradition it represents blessings and who doesn't like getting blessed?

This St. Patrick's Day craft project is geared for adults, it is not easy enough for children to do unless an adult is right there helping the child through each step.

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Supplies:

1- 18 X 22 piece of green felt. (any shade of green)

1- Acrylic Craft Jewel (any color)

1- Pin Back- 1 1/4"

A small tube of green (any shade of green) glitter fabric paint

Scissors

Craft Tacky Glue

1- Black Sharpie marker

Heart shaped template (provided)

Circle shaped template (provided)

Clover Stem template (provided)

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Please go to- http://www.craftsxcetra.com/jeweled_shamrock_templates.html to print out the templates for this project.

Directions:

1. Print out the templates provided. Use medium to heavy white card stock to print on.

2. Cut along out lines of the circle template and the clover stem template. (See fig. 1) at http://www.craftsxcetra.com/images/pendant_fig1.jpg

3. Fold heart shaped template in half. (See Fig. 2) at http://www.craftsxcetra.com/images/pendant_fig2.jpg

4. Cut along out line of the folded heart shaped template. (See Fig. 3 & 4) at http://www.craftsxcetra.com/images/pendant_fig3.jpg and http://www.craftsxcetra.com/images/pendant_fig4.jpg

*Unfold the heart shaped template.

5. Lay the heart shaped template onto the piece of green felt. Take the black Sharpie marker and carefully trace inside the line of the template.

Do this 4X (4-times). Let Ink Dry. (See Fig. 5 & 6) at http://www.craftsxcetra.com/images/pendant_fig5.jpg and http://www.craftsxcetra.com/images/pendant_fig6.jpg

6. Trace the Clover stem template and the Circle template onto the green felt. Let Ink dry. Cut along outer edges. (See Fig. 7) at http://www.craftsxcetra.com/pendant_fig7.jpg

7. Glue each heart piece to the circle piece. Be sure to glue the pointed part of the heart piece to the inner part of the circle piece forming a Shamrock or Four Leaf Clover.

Let glue dry (5 - 15 mins) (See Fig. 8 & 9) at http://www.craftsxcetra.com/images/pendant_fig8.jpg and http://www.craftsxcetra.com/images/pendant_fig9.jpg

8. Turn Shamrock or Four Leaf Clover over, and glue the Clover Stem unto the back. Make sure that the stem extends out and shows from the front before actually applying the glue.

Let dry (5 - 15 mins)

9. Glue the acrylic craft jewel in the middle of the Shamrock or Four Leaf Clover. Let dry for (5 - 15 mins)

10. Take your tube of green glitter fabric paint and carefully trace along all edges of the Shamrock or Four Leaf Clover.

Let glue dry for approx. 24-Hours. Be sure to sit your project somewhere out of reach from the kiddos! lol

11. After the glitter fabric paint has dried (24-hrs) You might want to go back over it with the paint, It's up to you because, if you do choose to go back over it you will need to let it dry again for another 24-hrs.

12. Simply glue the pin back to the back of the Shamrock or Four Leaf Clover. Glue to center of the Circle part. Let dry for at least 1-hour or more before attempting to wear.

And, That's It!

You can view the finished Jeweled Shamrock Pendant here at: http://www.craftsxcetra.com/images/pendant_fig10.jpg

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Your Jeweled Shamrock Pendant is ready to wear for St. Patrick's Day!

You may even want to make more than one, and share them with family, friends, and co-workers.

"Many Irish Blessings to You & Happy St. Patrick's Day!"

Lynda K. Smith, is the owner and webmaster of http://www.craftsxcetra.com She lives in Texas with her Husband and Two Children. Her hobbies are sewing, crafts, and web design.