If you’re anything like me, you have a ton of costume jewelry (along with my fancier custom design pieces). Costume jewelry is play jewelry after all. It’s perfect for fun events (think costume parties) or other activities where you don’t want to risk the loss of your more cherished items.

But recently, I noticed several of my costume pieces were looking a little…gray. That doesn’t sound fun, right? After a little research, I found out a few quick and easy DIY ways to clean up my jewelry to get it party-ready again.

DIY Methods to Clean your Costume Jewelry

Lemon juice. I decided to used the plastic bottle variety of lemon juice for this experiment (real lemons are expensive and are meant to accompany my adult beverage) and it worked just fine. Simply dilute one part lemon juice and one part water and soak your costume jewelry in it for 15 minutes (not much longer–it is an acidic wash and can do damage).

Baking soda and salt. Another easy at-home remedy for your cheap, sparkly things, simply combine one tablespoon of baking soda and one table spoon of salt in a glass bowl. Then add one up of heated water and watch the wonders of chemistry take place (you’ll see bubbles). For an added benefit, line the bowl with aluminum foil for an even stronger chemical reaction.

The last step for either of these DIY steps (don’t forget this one): a good buffing with a soft cloth. Don’t forget this step since it provides that extra shine.

After I tried these steps, my costume jewelry came back to life again. Yay! More parties in my future for 2019.

Diet and exercise steal all the limelight when it comes to New Year’s resolutions…but what about jewelry? Can anyone have a fashion resolution? Of course!

But if can’t think of any self-improvement mantras for the upcoming year, perhaps we can help you:

I promise to buy myself little sparkly thing simply because I want it and deserve it and leave me alone!

I will do my best to wear statement jewelry to events that don’t quite warrant it because who cares, life is short?

I will wear radically mismatched earrings as a message to the world that I’m wildly unpredictable and distinctively creative.

I pledge to clean my jewelry more frequently so it shines and sparkles as if it were brand new…or I’ll just buy brand new jewelry.

I will continue to mix and match metals, showing complete disregard for my mother’s “rules” of fashion.

I vow to wear more jewelry in general, sparkling more with each and every year.

If I get engaged, I will partake in the custom design process with my husband to be. (I don’t need to be surprised; I’d rather be happy with my ring, thank you.)

I will own several pairs of hoop earrings instead of just one because one pair simply isn’t enough, dahling.

I will stay on top of jewelry trends only to break from them if they don’t suit me.

I vow to have hooks on necklaces that do not drive me crazy when I put them on.

I will give up those clip earrings that I bought at an antique store and thought would be fun but man, they just hurt.

I promise to let the sparkle from my jewelry spill over into my soul.

Feel free to borrow some of these jewelry resolutions for 2019. Or create your own and leave them in the comment section below.

We’re so proud of this recent custom design engagement ring, we’re practically beaming! Our sapphires are available for custom cutting, so if you can dream it, we can make it. ✨

Interested in a custom design piece for yourself? We can make your dream ring a wearable reality.

How to get your dream ring:

It’s simple. Share your ideas, images or Pinterest boards with us. Or have a one-on-one custom design consultation with a member of our team. We’ll combine your favorite elements to create a completely unique ring just for you.

Choose your gemstone:

Mined diamonds

Moissanite

Other lab grown diamonds (Pure Grown, Brilliant Earth)

Custom cut gemstones (sapphires, rubies, etc.)

Choose your metal:

14kt or 18kt gold

Mocha gold

Platinum

Rose, white or yellow gold

Palladium

Share your ideas via:

Pinterest boards

Collected images

Written or drawn ideas

Be involved in the process:

Review your personal project page for updates.

Provide feedback throughout the entire process.

Share updates with friends and family.

Review a 3D print of your piece to ensure complete satisfaction before it’s made.

See a professional video of your piece after it’s complete.

Have fun…custom design is a genuinely creative process!

Unsure of what you want?

That’s okay too. Our seasoned team of custom designers is waiting to talk to you. We’ll ask you just the right questions to get you started with the magical process of custom design jewelry.

Contact us to make your custom design dreams come true!

Call (888) 724-8222 or reach us at support@schubach.com. We generally respond within 24 hours (and never share your email address).

More contact info here:

As we move through December and towards Christmas, one of the most popular months and holidays for proposals, a customer of ours asked what is the most and least popular months to get married.

Hmm…well the first part of her question was easy. We know summer months are the most popular months to get married: June and August specifically. (I guess July is just too dang hot for many. Plus lots of people go on holiday during this time.)

But the least popular month to get married? It got us scratching our heads a little so we turned to the all-knowing Professor Google for more information.

Ready for it?

January is the least popular month to get married.

But January can be a beautiful month! And the start of a new year (what better time to start a new life?).

Okay, the obvious reason is weather, right? At least for many. Who wants to risk a major snowstorm on the day of their wedding? Or a bride slipping on ice in front of a limo? Plus cold weather makes it harder to wear your dream gown. (That strappy wedding gown is much better suited for summer afterall.)

But maybe there’s another reason January doesn’t really work wedding-wise. It’s  a get down to business month. Many are starting diets, work-out plans and new budgets. Doesn’t really evoke big feelings of romance, does it?

We say make the most of your wedding month, whether its popular or not. A winter wedding possesses beauty and romance in its own right.

Aren’t these salt and pepper diamonds simply to die for? We think so.

Interested in a custom design piece for yourself? We can make your dream ring a wearable reality.

How to get your dream ring:

It’s simple. Share your ideas, images or Pinterest boards with us. Or have a one-on-one custom design consultation with a member of our team. We’ll combine your favorite elements to create a completely unique ring just for you.

Choose your gemstone:

Mined diamonds

Moissanite

Other lab grown diamonds (Pure Grown, Brilliant Earth)

Custom cut gemstones (sapphires, rubies, etc.)

Choose your metal:

14kt or 18kt gold

Mocha gold

Platinum

Rose, white or yellow gold

Palladium

Share your ideas via:

Pinterest boards

Collected images

Written or drawn ideas

Be involved in the process:

Review your personal project page for updates.

Provide feedback throughout the entire process.

Share updates with friends and family.

Review a 3D print of your piece to ensure complete satisfaction before it’s made.

See a professional video of your piece after it’s complete.

Unsure of what you want?

That’s okay too. Our seasoned team of custom designers is waiting to talk to you. We’ll ask you just the right questions to get you started with the magical process of custom design jewelry.

Call (888) 724-8222 or reach us at support@schubach.com. We generally respond within 24 hours (and never share your email address).

More contact info here:

https://schubachstore.com/pages/contact-us

If you’re caught up in the fray of holiday shopping, may I suggest taking a break, grabbing a hot cup of cocoa and watching this video?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPrxLx5vm6k