It's been almost a year since I became part of Cousin Corporation of America's Creative Circle Ambassador program. I am still blown away by the fact I was chosen to be a part of the inaugural ambassadorship. I received the call in July from Liz Heggy at Cousin. The phone call put me in tears, but in a good way. I had to sit down and breathe. After I hung up with her, I just cried and cried. I couldn't believe it. All I could do was praise God for such an opportunity and open door for me and my designs. I felt like I had finally been noticed. And that's when the
excitement set in. I had to sit an entire month with only telling
close friends and family. NONE of my internet friends and followers until Cousin made the official announcement in August. Talk about agony! At times, I felt like I was about to bounce out of my skin.
Over the course of this year as a Creative Circle Ambassador, I have received what I believe to be somewhere in the ball park of about $2000 if not more in beads and supplies for FREE! The ambassadors were given a monthly budget of $50 each month to ask for what we need. We received an all expense paid trip to Tampa, Florida to hang out with the wonderful people at Cousin as well as a rather large box of goodies shipped back to us. We have had fun and exciting monthly projects to work on and feedback to give on and promote new projects. But, NO PRICE whatsoever could be put on the friendship we ambassadors have with each other and with the great peeps at Cousin. We have quickly become family. Each of the ambassador's style compliments the other as do our personalities. We are so widely different, but yet so alike. Our group is such a fun group.
L to R: Jeff Cousin, Me, Lisa Crone, Suzette Bentley, Gail Devoid, Liz Heggy - This year's trip to Tampa, FL
I am excited about the next year of the ambassador program. Keep your eyes open for information about joining in all the fun. No matter where you are in your jewelry design career/hobby, I encourage you to apply anyway. You never know. You might be the very person that would make a great ambassador.
In early March, Cousin Corporation of America rolled out a new kind of fashionable jewelry component - the leather slide bracelet program. This unisex jewelry components are available at select Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft stores as well as at Prima Bead.
Here is a great tutorial from Cousin Corporation's website:
I have made several bracelets from these and have tons of compliments on them. They are super easy and are very fashionable. The unisex styling make it great for guys as well. I have had two custom order from guys because they saw the one I made my husband.
The bands are very durable and made from bi-cast leather. If you don't know what that is, bi-cast leather is a man-made material made with a split leather backing covered with a layer of polyurethane that is applied to the surface and then embossed. The bands come in red, blue, black, brown, dark brown, cream (a rich tan color), gray, and white. The bands do stretch a bit so don't fret if it is too snug at first. I do suggest letting the band air out before you wear
it. Some of them can have a bit of an overpowering plastic smell to
them.
Clasp colors include silver tone and antique gold with various styles and designs. The sliders are very lovely and run the gamut of style from punk to goth, to Southwestern, to elegant. There is something for everyone. There is one drawback to the silver toned sliders and clasps. You can't
wear it constantly because the copper will start to show through. My
husband wears his all the time and that includes in the shower. So if
you want to keep it silver, make sure to take it off before you get in
the shower.
I have found that E-6000 holds the clasps on every well. If you have trouble cutting the band, try using some heavy duty snips or shears to cut it with. You do have to make sure the glue is fully cured before wear or it will not hold as you are adhering the band to metal.
Here is tip concerning the sliders: If you find that they are moving around too much, take a ball peen hammer and tap lightly on the underside of the sliders. This will close up the opening on the sliders and will not damage the overall look of the sliders.
It's been almost a year since I became part of Cousin Corporation of America's Creative Circle Ambassador program. I am still blown away by the fact I was chosen to be a part of the inaugural ambassadorship. I received the call in July from Liz Heggy at Cousin. The phone call put me in tears, but in a good way. I had to sit down and breathe. After I hung up with her, I just cried and cried. I couldn't believe it. All I could do was praise God for such an opportunity and open door for me and my designs. I felt like I had finally been noticed. And that's when the
excitement set in. I had to sit an entire month with only telling
close friends and family. NONE of my internet friends and followers until Cousin made the official announcement in August. Talk about agony! At times, I felt like I was about to bounce out of my skin.
