{Review + Giveaway} Beadcrafty.com ****

Shortly before Christmas I was invited to review Bead Crafty and given a £25 voucher to spend. It's rare that I purchase beads without considering Poppy Sparkles, so it was lovely to select beads on their appeal to me and not having to consider designs that might sell well etc.

Purple Jade Heart Beads

Used to purchasing costly sterling silver and Swarovski crystal, I wasn't sure how far £25 would go, but I can ensure you that it enabled me to buy a wide selection of beads to have some fun with.

I don't have all that much patient with poorly set out websites, especially those selling beads. Whilst it must be difficult to categorise stock to make it easy to search by style, colour or size, there's no doubt that helping the customer find what they need easily helps increase sales. Bead Crafty organise their items clearly and I found it easily to navigate around the website.

Millefiori Beads

As well as clear organisation, the images were clear and fresh. Photographing beads and jewellery is notoriously hard and it was great to see an online bead shop with such great photographs which helped show detail and colour.

There is a good range of items from semi-precious gemstone beads and all manner of glass and crystal, as well as metal charms and more unusual beads. As you would expect there was also a wide selection of jewellery making findings and stringing materials.

Wooden Heart Beads

I usually purchase larger quantities of beads and jewellery making components and I noted the smaller quantities items were available in from Bead Crafty, making this an excellent website for the hobby jewellery maker who does not wish to make multiples of the same item, but would prefer to purchase a small quantity of a variety of beads and findings.

As well as not having much patience with poorly set out websites, I also hate waiting for deliveries and think it can only be a great thing that if you order by 2pm your order will be despatched that day (weekdays only). Within 24 hours I had my beads.

Millefiori Necklace I created

I had fun purchasing a range of beads for jewellery making projects. Thinking ahead to summer I purchased some bright colour cotton cord and glass beads to make some summery jewellery. I also indulged my love of Millefiori beads. I love the vibrant blue, white and red combination as pictured above, which is accented so beautifully with the shell pearls from Bead Crafty and some siam red crystals from my own stash.

Kilt Pin Brooch in shades of white

Having intended to make a kilt pin brooch for a while, I put this right and purchased a kilt pin, as well as a pretty bow charm. I also used a white millefiori heart with shell pearls from Bead Crafty. I added some Firepolish beads and a White opal Swarovski crystal from my own beads stash.

If you would like to sample Bead Crafty, then why enter to win a £25 voucher to spend as you will.

There are a number of ways you can be entered to win, but please remember in order for your entry to count, you must leave a comment below. Please leave a separate comment for EACH action you take.

• Leave a comment on this blog post to say you wish to be enetered to win a £25 voucher to spend at www.beadcrafty.com
• Visit the Bead Crafty Website and choose your favourite item. Leave a comment on this blog post saying which is your favourite jewellery making material.
• Blog about this giveaway with a link back to this competition post.
• Tweet "I've entered to win a gift voucher to spend at Bead crafty from @poppysparkles blog"

Competition is open until midnight Wednesday 25th  January, 2012. The winner will be selected at random and announced on this blog and Twitter soon after the competition has closed.

**Thank you to everyone who entered. The giveaway is now closed and I'm pleased to announce the winner. Well done to Mrs Sock! **