Beads & Crystals Their colors are almost endless. Maybe earrings with turquoise and lime green beads? How about a necklace with a single sparkling crystal in a color you don't normally wear? Perhaps a bracelet with small beads in all the colors of the rainbow? Just looking through my beads inspires me to create wildly colorful jewelry.

Colored Wire Color-coated copper wire is my base for a myriad of light-weight designs. I combine colors like seafoam green and peacock blue or fuchsia and hot pink to make fun little rings and earrings. I use heavy-weight wire to make pendants that look a bit like a rose or peony in bloom. They're so light weight you hardly know you have them on.

Gemstones While Mother Nature produces gemstones in an array of colors, man often enhances the drabber natural stones by dying them gorgeous colors. I like to feature a couple of gemstone beads on a simple necklace. I accent larger gemstones with wire to create pendants which make a statement without being heavy.

Resin I'm just starting to explore all the fun ways resin can be used in jewelry. I've tinted it by adding dust from chalk pastels to create any color I can dream of and then creating colorful bubbles by framing the resin with wire. I've also used clear resin to bring out the bright colors in snippets from greeting cards by my sister-in-law, Susan Schmitt. I turn the resin-coated snippets into birds, butterflies, leaves and bubbles.

Warm summer days and nights call for light and bright jewelry; pieces that don't weigh you down and colors that reflect summer's beautiful flowers and birds. Jazz up neutral outfits with sunny yellows, radiant reds, cool blues and greens, and outrageous oranges. Offset brightly colored clothes with black, white and metallics.

Here are some summer jewelry ideas.

Bracelets A thin bangle or narrow cuff in silver, copper or bronze adds a metallic glow without a lot of weight. If you want a more striking look, stack several.

Earrings Add a pop of bright color - maybe one you've never tried before. If you wear your hair up or pulled back, try a sleek drop earring in a vibrant hue - hot pink, lime green, aqua. Look for classic shapes such as diamonds and squares in vivid colors. For a more traditional look, select slender earrings in hammered silver, copper or bronze.

Pendants A single wire-wrapped gemstone on a chain or cord can make a statement without a lot of weight. Jade, rose quartz, or rock crystal quartz qill add a touch of coolness to your outfit.

Rings For a cool look, consider a simple hammered sterling silver ring. Look for bright colors and fun shapes like my Just for Fun Swirly Wire Rings which come in a variety of summery colors.

Use jewelry to lighten and brighten your summer wardrobe. You can experiment with bold colors and unusual designs without a large investment. 

I've updated my collections to include jewelry in bright colors, classic neutrals and traditional metals just right for summer wear.

Bracelets - A thin bangle or a narrow cuff in silver, copper or brass adds a metallic glow without a lot of weight. If you want a more striking look, stack several.

Earrings - Add a pop of bright color - maybe one you've never tried before. If you wear your hair up or pulled back, try a sleek drop earring in a vibrant hue - hot pink, lime green, aqua. Look for classic shapes such as diamonds and squares in vivid colors. For a more traditional look, select slender earrings in hammered silver, copper or bronze.

Necklaces - For a minimalist look, try a gemstone hanging from a simple chain. Add a little sparkle with a single crystal cube on an almost invisible necklace. Fine chains interspersed with gemstones or crystals provide a delicate, timeless look.

Rings - For a cool look, consider a simple hammered sterling silver ring. Look for bright colors and fun shapes like My Just for Fun Swirly Wire Rings which come in a variety of summery colors.

Bracelets - A thin, silver, copper or brass bangle ads shimmer without a lot of weight. If you prefer a cuff bracelet, look for narrow ones which can be stacked if you want a more striking look.

Earrings - Go for a pop of bright color - maybe even a color you've never tried before. Longer earrings, particularly if your hair is short or pulled up draw attention to your face. Try a simple drop earring with a vivid crystal or glass bead. For an updated classic look, go for geometric shapes in brightly colored wire. For a more traditional look, select slender earrings in hammered copper, brass, bronze or sterling silver.

Necklaces - Add sparkle with a single crystal cube on an almost invisible necklace - the perfect accent for casual or dr4essy clothes. Be dramatic with a chunky circle of multi-colored quartz, a cluster of bead flowers, or a collar of hammered metal shapes. For a delicate look, try fine chains interspersed with gemstones or crystals.

Rings - Look for bright colors and fun shapes such as my Just for Fun Swirly Wire Rings which come in a variety of summery colors. For a cool look, consider a simple hammered sterling silver ring.

Pendants - A single wire-wrapped gemstone on a chain or leather cord can make a statement without a lot of weight. Serpentine, rose quartz or rock crystal quartz will add a touch of coolness to any outfit.