I have used dried flowers a lot for various projects. As far as the natural color remaining, it depends on the flower. Some keep their pretty natural color while others fade out or turn brown. For the ones that don't keep their natural color, I water down acrylic paint and give them a light coat of paint. Don't get them too wet...just a light coat. Let them dry a couple of days and then use. Hope this helps.

How to Make Beaded Jewelry: Settings and Hanging Stones Choosing your beads: Beads are made from various materials such as glass, wood, bone, shell or clay and any bead can be used as a hanging stone or dangle. There are a few factors to consider when choosing beads for jewelry. 1.) The weight of the bead and how you are going to use it is important. Remember, for this project the weight of the beads will be hanging from your pierced ears so choose beads you can wear comfortably. 2.) Check the hole in the bead to make sure it is large enough for a headpin to slip through. Settings: There are several different settings that are commonly used to make beaded jewelry. Wire, headpins and cord are a few of the more popular ones. For this project we will be using head pins that will be bent to form a loop or eyelet, which will attach the beads to the main piece or "ear finding." How to Make Beaded Drop Earrings Tools Needed: Needle nose or round nose jewelry pliers for making loops. (Best purchased from a bead or craft shop. Hardware store models are too big.) Flat pliers Wire cutters Supplies Needed: 2 headpins that are two or more inches long - (you may want to purchase a few extra for practice) 4 to 6 beads (depending on the size) 2 ball ear posts with ear backs (known as the ear finding) LetÂs Get Started: Begin by putting two or three beads on each headpin. Just slip the headpin through the hole in each bead. Nothing could be simpler. Making the Loop: Note: The size of the loop will depend upon the diameter of your needle nose pliers. If you want a larger loop, grasp the wire using the wider end of the pliers. For a smaller loop use the thin end. 1. Hold the headpin and beads stationary in one hand. With the other hand use the needle nose pliers and firmly hold the wire about 1/2 inch from the top. Relax your wrist and turn (rotate) the pliers in a circular motion 3/4 of a turn to bend the wire forming a small loop (eyelet). 2. Cut the end of the wire if it is too long for your loop. 3. Repeat Steps 1 & 2 on the second earring. Make sure both headpins have the same distance between the top bead and the loop. This will ensure your earrings will drop evenly. Attaching The Beads To The Ear Finding: 1. Use the flat pliers and grasp the end of the loop then bend it to the side opening it just enough to allow the ear post to slip on. 2. Slip the open end of the loop thru the hole on the ear post. Once you have your beads attached to the ear post, use the flat pliers and squeeze the end of the loop back to dead center and close the circle. Check to be sure the circle is closed completely so the headpin won't come off. Put them on and wear them! Here is a link that might be useful: Beaded jewelry

I made 1 of buttons(antique) & some jewelry but I wired ,pinned or pushed backs into the cone as I wanted to be able to remove them unharmed. My pics are in my computer but only DD can pull them out so I still can't post. I wrote down directions but next time I went to use the folder was gone. She can get it back but I can't.I was very pleased with results. I put small buttons & tie tacs etc at top around point& got larger as I went down. I had 2 groups of same buttons that I swirled around cone (kind of like garland)my DS picked out a lovely poinsettia pin when they visited antique shop in Morro Bay) that graces the top in place of a star. Sorry I can't show it. Jan

Seller is doing a bad/fraud deal. Fashion Jewelry classification can be cheap knock off and pot metal silver toned or colored, nickle/silver and sterling even gold plated sterling can be classified as Fashion Jewelry but it is not sterling if it is not marked STERLING Seller is in violation of EBay rules If it isn't .925 silver, it CANNOT be called STERLING in any way, shape or form. It is "silver tone" or "silver colored" NOT sterling. Sterling silver most always has the word sterling stamped into it somewhere but not always. Some hand wrought vintage pieces are not marked Sterling and Should never be bought online without a certificate of authenticity by the seller. Selling fashion jewelry as STERLING Silver is fraud. She misrepresented the item and you should ask for a full refund, report her to Ebay and if you paid thru Pay Pal refute the payment. Item misrepresented is a serious charge just make sure you have saved the pages and the description and every bit of info about the bracelet she posted and get pics of the item you received to show it is not as described. If she requests it back before she refunds send it signature required and/or tracked so you have proof she received it. People who lie about one thing will usually lie about another. Good Luck Vintage STERLING Silver Brooch collecting is one of my passions. I do many nice deals on Ebay for brooches and other vintage sterling things. Please sent the auction # to my email. I want to make sure I don't buy from a fraud seller. CT