Find Your Own Treasures

The best way to achieve the layered look with jewelry is to start with pieces you already own. First, lay out all your pieces of jewelry according to the style, type of jewelry (bracelets, rings, necklaces, and earrings), color and/or theme. For example, lay out all your bracelets by metal and/or type of materials (gold bracelets on one side, beaded bracelets on another side, etc). Also, combine the same size jewelry (chokers as opposed to long chains or strands of pearls).

You will need to combine the same metals, same textures and similar patterns. If you have a lot of vintage jewelry, put those pieces in another pile. If you are a true vintage jewelry collector, you can lay out the pieces according to certain periods or years. For example, if you have a lot of pieces your Grandma gave you from the 1950s and still have jelly bracelets from the 1980s you will want to separate these pieces.

How to Layer Jewelry

When you layer your fashion jewelry pieces, you want to achieve a fun, fashionable look. You can still be fashionably trendy without looking gaudy or tacky.

Here are some key tips on how to layer jewelry:

o Wear multi-stranded necklaces and bracelets
o Wrap long necklaces or bracelets around your neck and wrists (wrap them around twice)
o Layer your earrings (if you have the equipment, take apart older earrings and put them on the same wire-you’ll need special jewelry wire pliers to take apart the earrings)
o Pair vintage jewelry with modern pieces for a funky look
o Shop around at discount stores or thrift stores for unique fashion jewelry
o Wear contrasting metals like gold and silver bangle bracelets (alternate chunky bracelets with bangles)
o Layer with complementary colors and textures (wooden bracelets with earth tones/neutral greens and browns)
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First, list down the name of persons included in your gift giving and then set a budget for each person. It is good to plan ahead of time so as to avoid the holiday rush. If by chance you see an item on sale even months before December and you think it would make a great gift for a friend then by all means buy that item if you have the money.

Next, figure out what is the interest of the person who will be receiving the gift. Is the person interested in books, music, sports, photography, jewelry, cologne or food? If you are not quite sure then try to ask someone who knows the person very well.

You can also ask the person directly if there is anything he needs or wants to have. Be discreet in doing this so as not to give the person a hint that you’re planning to give him a present, otherwise you will lose the element of surprise.

Now if you still have enough time and have the materials needed then you can decide to make those perfect Christmas gifts yourself. It gives you a feeling of great satisfaction to know that you are able to please a friend or a family member with a gift you personally made.

On the other hand, if you don’t have the luxury of time to make the gift then you can buy them online or shop at a local store. Always be on the look out for discounts and bargains. Look for inexpensive gifts without ignoring the quality as well. Do your shopping on weekdays preferably on daytime to avoid crowded parking spaces and long queues.

If you are buying gifts for children make sure that it is safe and appropriate for the kid’s age. Avoid toys that are distracting and predisposed to violence. Consider buying children books or clothes instead of toys. Books will encourage kids to love reading. Pick those that have colorful pictures or those that feature their favorite cartoon characters. In buying clothes for kids, always choose a larger size. Parents will greatly appreciate your effort in this one since with children they have to constantly buy them larger clothes for they are always growing.

However, if you are not sure what to choose then you can opt to give money or gift certificates. Some people appreciate this kind of gifts though they may seem less personal. You can give them a wallet with money inside to make it a bit personal. You can also buy gift certificates great for facial, massage or pedicure at a neighboring spa to pamper your family and friends.

But more than the material needs and wants nothing beats the gift of time and presence you can give your loved ones during this holiday season. You are always caught up with work the whole year round and this is the best time of the year to get that much deserved timeout with your family. Spend Christmas with your family in the beach, get away to a tourist destination over the weekend or treat them to a nice meal in a warm and friendly restaurant.

It is quite a challenge for each and every one of us to choose the perfect Christmas gifts for the persons we have in mind. But one thing is for sure, all those worries and unnecessary stress are nothing compared to that big smile you see on their faces the moment they get your Christmas gifts.
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I don’t know if you’re like me, but nothing puts a damper on enjoying the Christmas season like not having my Christmas presents decided on, shopped for, purchased, wrapped and labeled. In the past, I use to wait until November or December to start the process but it was so stressful, I finally decided I better start sooner.

Now, it is always my goal to buy Christmas gifts early so that I can finish before Thanksgiving, enjoy the entire holiday season and focus on the good stuff like family, friends and the Christmas spirit.

How does it usually go for you?

Stuffed like sardines along with other shoppers in a jangly-loud, jarringly-bright mall with everything picked over and the best stuff already gone or heading out the door as you watch? Twenty-five Vaseline smiles watching your every move as they all offer to help you find the perfect gift?

Anxiety mounting as you wonder if they will even like your presents and grimace over the ever-growing price tag for this holiday extravaganza? Sheesh!!

That does not sound like very much fun!

Perhaps there is a better way?

Start Early

I encourage you to get a head start on all the excitement by making your list and checking it twice long before the holiday season rolls around. In fact, I can help you get all of your shopping done before the season begins.

I promise you, you will thank me later!

The Three-Month Plan

Now, I propose taking three months to plan for and purchase all of your gifts. When I say three months, I am thinking August, September and October, but it could really be any three months between January and November.

Budget

And hey, please take your budget (VERY important) and your list of recipients into careful consideration.

If you’re going to spend $1000 or more on Christmas and you’re not Oprah, perhaps you will need more than three months! Take six, or ten. I am suggesting a plan that would require anywhere from $50-$200 per month instead of all at once.

But start from where you are. If you are reading this in September, then evaluate what you can do in the next two months to lighten the load and lift the burden.

Knock It Off

You also can review the list and look for less expensive versions of the gifts you were planning so you’re less likely to cry in January while everyone else is still thanking you for your extravagance. The gifts that mean the most to me are the ones that show me that the giver really cared about a need or wish or dream I expressed. The cost of the gift doesn’t matter to me.

Perhaps that is true of your loved ones, as well?

For specific suggestions about how to plan those three months of shopping, and more tips for making the entire process stress-free, go to holiday shopping tips.

There you will find a link for a free holiday shopping guide from the gift therapist, videos with holiday gift advice for shopping on a budget, and lots of other Christmas gift advice.

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Would you like to become a fashion model, but you have no idea what this type of model does? Let me tell you a little about fashion models. Their photos appear in magazines and catalogues to promote clothing or other accessories to customers and fashion buyers.

If you are confident, aggressive, intelligent, resistant to peer pressure and willing to listen and learn, you have many of the traits that may help you to become a successful fashion model.

But, before you get started in fashion modeling, please consider reading the tips below.

1. Get Advice

Talk to someone you know that is already involved in the modeling world. Ask them about the following:

- How Do You Avoid Model Agency Scams?
- How Do You Choose The Right Photographer?
- Should You Go To Modeling School?
- How Important Is A Portfolio?
- What Is Open Call?

Knowing the answers to these few questions will hopefully help you a lot in making your decision about becoming a fashion model.

2. Do Your Research

Look at fashion magazines to see what the latest styles are. Read and learn as much as you can about fashion designers. Research every aspect on the Internet about this industry.

3. Set Your Goals

Decide if you want this to be a full or part time career. Also, if you want in it just for fun or to make an income.

Be comfortable when you set these goals and be determined to reach them. You will face many rejections, so be very persistent and Never Quit.

4. Physical Attributes Of Fashion Models

If you plan to become a fashion model, the following physical attributes are a necessity.

a) You need to be at least 5’8″ tall or taller ( Especially for runway )
b) Your height should be flattered by your body weight(average for a model 108-125 lbs.) and proportions.
c) Your skin should always look radiant and without lots of pimples or blemishes
d) Your hair should always be clean, styled and vibrant. Avoid excessive over-dying and split-ends.
e) Your teeth should be well taken care of, straight and white. Stay away from coffee and cigarettes. Remember, agents love to see a model give a vibrant smile.
f) Your posture has a big affect on how people perceive you. Keep your chin up and shoulders back.

5. Modeling Agencies

Now that you have decided becoming a fashion model is definitely what you want, your next step is to find a legitimate model agency that will manage your new career for you and hopefully find you work.

You can find agencies in your area by checking your phone directory, searching on the web or asking people you know already in the industry if they have any suggestions.

Just always remember you should never have to pay an agency any money upfront. If they ask for any, call another one.

Hard Work Will Pay Off

Even though, this may sound like a lot of advice, just remember if you really want to get started as a fashion model, it will take a lot of time and hard work.

Fashion modeling is a very competitive business and “Only The Strong Models Survive.”
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Problem 1: Dirty or Tarnished?

Cleaning fashion jewelry is simple but choose your cleaner wisely. Only use a jewelry cleaner that specifically states that it is safe for costume jewelry and read the ingredients to make sure that it does not contain alcohol, acids, or ammonia because these can strip the gold or silver plate. Use a children soft bristle tooth brush for cleaning around costume jewelry stones. Its probably not be a good idea to immerse rhinestone jewelry because the stones can become unglued.

If your fashion jewelry items are only lightly tarnished a good buffing with a soft dry jewelry cloth may do the trick. For more heavily tarnished items a jewelry polish can work wonders.

Problem 2: Worn out gold or silver plating?

Because typical fashion jewelry plating is very thin it can eventually rub off from wear or become damaged from the use of harsh chemicals, creams, or perfumes. If this happens there are several options in gold and silver re-plating solutions that can be found online. Some are fairly simple and can be performed without the use of heat or electricity while others are a little more complex. I found one website in particular that offers a very good variety of plating options (e.g. immersion plating, pen plating) and general plating instructions for precious metals including gold, silver, platinum, and rhodium. One word of caution: I would recommend buying only cyanide free plating solutions as cyanide is poisonous. For silver lovers there is one product that I have personally used that has worked well for me and it is called Silver Brite. This is an all in one cream that cleans, polishes, and re-plates worn silver on jewelry and other items. It is very easy to use and fairly inexpensive. Just rub the cream on with an applicator sponge or a Q-tip for small items and rub off with the buffing cloth that is included with the kit. The result is a clean, sparking silver finish.

Problem 3: Loose or missing stones?

If a stone such as a cubic zirconia, plastic, or glass has become loose or fallen out a drop or two of super glue will do the trick. Just be careful not to use too much. You don’t want the glue oozing out of the sides and causing the piece to adhere to your skin or some other object. Most of the time a single drop will suffice unless it is a very large stone in which case you may want to use two drops. If you cannot find the missing stone there are companies online that sell loose cz stones if you have a particular chain or ring band you want to salvage. Simply do an internet search for cz stones.

Problem 4: Broken clasp?

If your fashion necklace or bracelet has a broken clasp make sure it is the actual clasp that is broken. The problem may be a broken jump ring which is a tiny metal ring that is open in one spot which connects the clasp to the chain. If this is the problem it can be easily fixed. First identify what kind of clasp it is (e.g. lobster clasp which is shaped like a lobster claw and has a tiny spring loaded lever, a magnetic clasp which is just as it sounds, or a spring ring which is also spring loaded) then visit your local craft store or do a search online for jewelry clasps and you should find what you need. If the clasp is soldered on you will need to contact a jewelry repair professional.

Problem 5: Out of date:

If you simply want to add a new flair to your old fashion jewelry pieces you can simply mix and match. If you have a special pendant that you are especially fond of give it a new life with a more contemporary chain. Add new charms to your favorite bracelet or re-plate that old silver necklace with a shiny new gold finish. Be creative!

Whether your taste be classic, hip hop, or trendy fashion Windfall Costume Jewelry has something to fit your unique style without hurting your wallet. Take a moment to browse the gorgeous fashion jewelry selection at WFE Fashion Jewelry Prices start at just $2.00.

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Here is just a sample of the different styles of rings you can find:

o The Claddagh. This style originated during the middle ages and was once worn as a symbol of betrothal. It is a part of the Celtic jewelry items that still exists today with somewhat different tones and styles that still represent the spirit of the Claddagh of love, trust, and faithfulness.
o Beaded. Rings are made of beads that are woven into thread made of synthetic fiber or of metal wires in the form of various patters. Color is used to enhance the pattern and a center bead that is hand-painted may be used as a centerpiece of a woven metal ring.
o Carved. Rings of wood, metal, bone, stone, or Lucite may be carved by hand or machines. They may be found in simple floral designs or intricately carved ones with elaborate detail.
o Mood. Popular in the 60′s, these rings don’t go away for long. They are supposed to predict the mood of the person wearing them by the color they turn but it is really determined by the person’s body temperature.
o Painted. These may be simply styled or may be painted in combination with carving. Usually, you will find them available in wood, Lucite, plastic or glass. They have a wide range of patterns available from tradition to contemporary and everything in between!
o Stone. These may be made with real semiprecious stones or synthetics. Often, they are made with metal settings. These rings provide you with a way of coordinating jewelry with specific outfits or for choosing one in your favorite color since there is such a diversity of stones.
o Resin. These are available in a lot of different designs that are out of the ordinary. Made from a blend of resin and dye, resin rings stand out from the rest.
o Bands. Not only wedding bands, but fashion bands may be found in virtually any material, from narrow to wide, and worn on any finger.
o Cluster. These rings have groups of smaller stones that are “clustered” into one setting.
o Trinity. These are three rings that are worn together at one time.
o Solitaire. Have a single large stone in the center which is often a diamond but can be other gemstones.
o Eternity. Rings that have stones that are usually diamonds of the same cut and size and are set in one row that goes all the way around the diameter of the ring.
o Dinner. An oversized ring that is set with non-precious or semiprecious stones.
o Finger Armor. Spans from the base of the finger to just below the nail or middle of the second joint and it includes a bending joint.
o Posie. Has a short inscription on its outer surface.

Whether you choose a ring because of its symbol or as a fashion statement, there is no end to the styles and colors you can find!

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