UPDATE 6/24: USE THE MUSE II Kits have SOLD OUT! Sign-ups are now CLOSED. Be the first to know about USE THE MUSE III by signing up for The Beader's Muse Newsletter.
Please thoroughly read all the rules and deadlines for the USE THE MUSE Contest BEFORE you sign up to participate. I will not be accepting returns on the kits. You are not required to submit an entry if you choose to purchase a kit. You may submit up to three entries, but you must purchase a separate kit for each entry (because every entry needs the MUSE to be considered for judging). There is a strict kit limit, and once I am out of kits that is it... so sign up early if you want to ensure they are not sold out! This is the first International USE THE MUSE event. If you are ordering a kit from another country please be aware that I am not responsible for any delays from customs or kits that go missing in postal transit. I will do my very best to ensure that each participant gets there kit in a timely manner, but it is up to you to gage how long the International shipping might take and if you are allowing yourself enough time to complete your entry. Kits being shipped Internationally have a higher postage fee, please be sure to click through the correct BUY NOW button. If shipping to your country turns out to be much higher than expected, I reserve the right to contact you and collect the difference of shipping costs and will give you the opportunity to cancel your order if you don't want to pay the difference. This is the first time handling this volume of International packages and I just want it to run smoothly for everyone. Thanks in advance for your understanding! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at scarlettlanson@yahoo.com and I will be happy to assist you.
US Participants USE THE MUSE Contest Kit
$30 + $5 S&H
SOLD OUT
The USE THE MUSE Experience....
When you sign up to participate, a contest kit will be shipped to you within about a week. Kits are shipped in batches, to locations all over the world, so the time frame in which your kit will arrive will vary. I will be marking the cities where they all go on a Google map for you all to see at the end of the event. Look out for a white padded envelope in your mailbox. Your package arrives with a letter outlining some of the key rules and deadlines as reminders. You will also receive business cards from my sponsors, and even a promo code for friends of Scarlett Lanson to receive a special discount for Artbeads.com. 
Now to introduce the inspiring Contest Kit that every participant in the International USE THE MUSE Contest event will be using as the springboard for their creation....
You will open up your contest box to find seven adorable glass top tins containing the precious seeds to your design. Within the containers you will find Swarovski crystals in 3 sizes and 3 colors and 2 types of Swarovski pearls (including the just introduced Swarovski Platinum Pearl!), all from my generous sponsor Rainbows of Light. Within the other containers are contributions from the fabulous Artbeads.com, that include 3 styles of Toho seed beads in elegant matte and metallic finishes. Tying the whole thing together is a beautiful hand-dyed silk ribbon that ombres from a lovely slate blue to lavender and pulls out different aspects of the color palette found within the kit. You are welcome to use any or all of these items within your contest entry. You are being judged on your creative use of the kit, but that doesn't neccesarily mean that you need to utilize all elements of the package. You are also encouraged to incorporate items from your personal bead stash and components of your own creation to make your submission stand out.
The key to this contest is to USE THE MUSE in the most creative and beautiful way...
One of the reasons I am so thrilled to have teamed up with Artbeads.com for this USE THE MUSE Event, is because through their partnership with artist Heidi Viau of Lillypilly Designs, I was able to commission a CUSTOM MUSE for this contest. Lillypilly is a very popular choice for beaders everywhere, her unique idea of using lasers to etch shells with intricate designs produces gorgeous art pendants that are a dream for a designer to work with. I ordered my first Lillypilly focal from Artbeads.com a couple summers back, but since then have seen Heidi's work featured over and over again in all the popular beading publications - in fact you can see her pendants spotlighted on page 21 of the current June/July issue of Beadwork magazine. I collaborated with Heidi and chose a shell type, shape, design, and color for the MUSE that I thought would best complement the Contest Kit and give participants the most creative opportunities. For now, the MUSE is exclusively available through this contest, but you may see examples of her other beautiful components at Artbeads.com. Remember, when you receive your kit, you must never publicly reveal the MUSE until the end of the contest. Help us keep the secret and the excitement until the BIG REVEAL!
