Frequently Asked Questions

If you do not find your answer here, please check out the forums.

Q: The bead star contest has a category for pearl designs and also one for glass beads. Where would Swarovski crystal pearls fall?
A: Good question! We’ll accept imitation-pearl projects in the Pearls category.

Q: Can you please clarify what is meant by “not available for sale” in the Eligibility section of the rules? Does this mean never have been for sale or is not available for sale after being submitted to your contest?
A: We mean that the designs cannot be for sale when you enter and during the contest.

Q: Why aren’t you accepting bead weaving projects into this contest?
A: We love beadweaving projects; however, this being our first Bead Star contest ever, we decided we wanted to stick to simple projects—mostly because it will allow us  to publish as many winners as possible ( instructions for easy projects take up less space). We intend to have a Bead Star contest next year, and will definitely reconsider our “simple” rule.

Q: Why can’t residents outside the U.S. and Canada enter this contest?
A: We’ve limited the contest to U.S. and Canada residents this time for reasons both legal and logistical. Apologies to our non-U.S./Canada residents! Again, we may reconsider this rule next year.

Q: What exactly do you mean by simple designs?
A: Designs made by stringing, crimping, easy wireworking (simple and wrapped loops, wrapped-loop bails, opening and closing jump rings), and easy knotting (overhand, square, lark’s head, surgeon’s) techniques. No beadweaving (peyote, brick, and square stitches, for example) or netting, bead embroidery, or complicated macramé and other more advanced knotting techniques.

Q: Do instructions need to be included with the entry?
A: No. Instructions are not required at the time of entry. It is recommended, however, that you jot down the quantity, color, size, material, and origin (where you bought it) of every bead and finding used in your entry/entries. If your piece is chosen as a winner, you will have only two weeks to send us your actual project, plus step-by-step instructions and complete materials, tools, and resources lists. You might appreciate the head start!

Q: Can we enter the same piece in multiple entries?
A: No. One piece per category.

Q: Why don’t you have a polymer clay or mixed material category?
A: Our categories were selected based on what we could get sponsors for. We do hope to add a few more categories, though—stay tuned!

Q: How do I determine if my project is 75% pearls? Do I have to count each bead?
A: No, you do not have to count each bead. What we mean is that if you submit a project in one of our categories, about three-fourths of the project must be composed of that material. We will, of course, make allowances for beading wire, clasps, and other items that are not often made in the category material; however, the point we’re trying to get across is this: that by looking at your project submission, anyone will be able to see that it was made MOSTLY of the category material.

Q: I want to enter the under $25 category. How do you want me to turn in receipts?
A: Good question. Please scan your receipts and send them in one e-mail to beadstar@interweave.com. In the subject line, please write “Receipts for Under $25.” Make sure to include your name and the title of your entry in the body of the e-mail. On your receipts, please clearly indicate which items were used in your submission. The calculations should be done by you; we will double-check your math.

Q: You said you don’t have a polymer clay category because you don’t have a sponsor. Could we submit a polymer clay piece in the plastic category?
A: YES. After reviewing your question, we will allow projects made with polymer clay to be entered in the Lucite, Resin, and Other Plastics category as polymer clay is technically a type of plastic.

Q: Must the projects be necklaces? Can they be any type of jewelry?
A: In the rules, we did not specify what types of projects you could submit. Your project could be any type of jewelry—necklace, bracelet, or earrings—OR EVEN NONJEWELRY PROJECTS, such as cell phone fobs or bookmarks. Just keep in mind that whatever you make, it must use simple techniques, as described in the rules.

Q: Can I submit a chain mail project?
A: This is a tough question, but our answer is no. While making a chain mail piece often involves only opening and closing jump rings—which we consider a simple technique—we’ve ruled that chain mail projects are still more complicated than we’ll accept in this contest on account of the specific way in which you must attach jump rings to make chain mail. We’ve found that all the chain mail projects we’ve ever published in Beadwork magazine have needed illustrations to properly indicate the order in which jump rings are attached, and the idea is that the projects featured in Bead Star magazine will be so easy, they will not need any specific illustrations. 

Q: Would mother-of-pearl belong to the pearl category or to the gemstone category?
A: We will accept mother-of-pearl projects in the pearl category, as they are made of nacre, the same substance pearls are made of. You make a good point in asking, however, because pearls are actually considered organic gemstones. But, again, for the purpose of this contest, we’ll consider mother-of-pearl in the pearls category.

For any questions, e-mail us at .