Random Musings

Well, the semester is almost over and I'm so thankful! It's become a huge burden and I haven't been very successful at anything lately- I'm getting spread to thin, I think. This summer, I'm transfering to an new school, one that is closer to home, and I'm moving back in with Mom. I think it will help me get things back in order and that it will be good for me.

I've been trying to live two lives it seems; one here at school and one at home with friends and family. By transfering, I'll have it all in one place and won't have to spend 3 hours a week driving back and forth.

Somethings I've been putting off that I'm looking forward to doing at home:
1) Make environmentally friendly laundry detergent!
2) Make lots of jewelry that I've bought materials for but haven't had time to create.
3) Get motivated about school again. I've changed my major recently so a new school is the right place to get started, I think.

Somethings I'm not looking forward to between now and then:
1) Finals! One tomorrow, one Monday, one Tuesday, and a paper due Wednesday. I can do it!
2) Packing! I've accumulated so much stuff in the last two years- I don't know where it's all going once I move home!

Well, that's all of my musings for now. I need to go study for my Art History final. It's tomorrow but I'm not feeling too bad about it. I just need to keep studying! Wish me luck! ♥

Excited about my Mark order!

As you know, I'm a Mark makeup representative. Well, yesterday was the debut of Magalog 5 and, for reps, Sneek Preview 6. I'm super excited about my new items; they should arrive by Saturday or so. Check out what I bought!

NEW- Waterproof LashSplash Mascara in black. Scandalash is the best mascara I've tried in a long time- now it's even better since it's waterproof! Perfect for summer!

NEW- Get in Line Liquid Eyeliner in black. To "hookup" with my mascara, I got the newest waterproof eyeliner. The brush is so thin, application is a breeze! Don't forget that you get a free hookup connector when you purchase any two hookups for only $5.50 each!

I love, love, love iMark eyeshadow! I think I own almost every shade! I bought some neutral favorites: Latte and Espresso. Right now, get a free Mini Snap to It case when you purchase two iMarks. That's a $4 value for free!

NEW- Tropical Blossom Scarf. My hair is too short to wear it on my head but I'm going to use it as a belt and also tie it to my bag. This super cute accessory is regular price $12 but it can be yours for $6 when you purchase any other item from Magalog 5!

NEW- Island Retreat Dress. This is my favorite item in this Sneek Preview! I can't wait to try it on. It comes in sizes 3-17 so almost anyone can wear it!

Let me know if you're interested in ordering, if you have any questions, or if you'd like to become a Mark rep! You can visit my e-Boutique to purchase many of the items you see here (Sneek Preview items are available in Mag 6). http://crouze.mymarkstore.com/ ♥

Lovely Necklace Giveaway

Visit If I Had a Hammer for a chance to win this lovely necklace. (I really hope I win- I love it!)

Giveaway ends 5/4

Feeling Froggy

I've been feeling a little froggy lately and I don't mean sick! :) I love, love, love frogs and tonight, I've decided to make a "treasury" of my favorite frogs on Etsy!

I just purchased this little beauty from thefrogbox. She has lots of adorable frog desigsn as well as other animals. Plus, she donates 20% of her profit to save animals!

This little frog is too cute, too. If I had a baby, I'd definately buy it for him or her! Visit Danielleorama to see all of her great items.

If I were a frog, I'd want to look like this little guy. :) Check out mllamb47's other paintings, too.

Again with the kids items! If I had a little girl, there would be no way she'd be afraid of frogs! Check out their other cute bows, too.

Finally, I LOVE these whimsical frogs! I'm going to try to make a pair for myself! Check out the deisgner and see their other great items too.

Do you love frogs too? Let me know what you think of my selections! Share your own favorite frog items! ♥

Chainmaille Bracelet, Part 2

Okay, as promised, I made a chainmaille bracelet this weekend! It was super hard but once I got the hang of it, it wasn't so bad. I had to try different size loops, different shaped beads, etc but finally I got a finished bracelet I'm proud of!

What'cha think? I'm thinking of making some more similar ones and having a new line at Bisou Bisou Beads. Opinions?

Also, if you'd like to purchase this bracelet or to put in an order for one, visit my shop. ♥

Chainmaile Bracelet

Check out this cool chainmaille bracelet tutorial from JewleryDIY! I'm going to try making one this weekend- wish me luck!

New Shop!

Hey everyone!

For a while now, I've been considering opening a second Etsy shop. Well... I finally did it! It's very minimal right now but please check it out! I'll be moving all of my Scrabble Tile Pendants and DIY Scrabble Tile Images there and will be listing new custom stamped jewelry there, too. Check back this weekend for examples of my stamped jewelry.

Of couse you can still shop at my original store, too!

Let me know what you think!

Etsy Shop Graphics $25 Certificate Giveaway

Check out this cool giveaway from Lily Bean Designs! She's offering readers a $25 gift certificate to her shop.

If I win the giveaway, I'd like to get the Medium Shop Overhaul and pay the difference. I've been thinking of opening a second shop so it would be perfect!

How to Make a Wire Wrapped Ring

Materials You’ll Need:
-2 Different Gauges of Wire (I use 24 and 26, but 22 and 24 work well, too.)

-Focal Bead (I used a 10mm Swarovski crystal heart.)

-Ring Mandrel

-Wire Cutters

-Chain Nose Pliers

-Round Nose Pliers

First, cut about 12 inches of your larger gauge wire. Holding your ring mandrel between your knees, wrap the wire around it one time with each end. There should be three wires in the back. Make sure you begin wrapping one size larger than you want the finished ring to be. (I am making a 6 so I’ll work from a 7.)

Next, holding the wire at the correct size, slip it off the mandrel and snip the excess wire off. Leave about 1/4 inch of wire to make a loop on each end. Use your round nose pliers to form a small loop on either end of the wire. The loops will be a frame of sorts for the bead to go in. You have now made your ring shank. (It’s okay if it’s not perfectly round!)

Clip about 15 inches of your smaller gauge wire now. Holding your ring shank in shape, wrap one end of the smaller wire near the outside of one of the loops you just made. Wrap it about four times moving towards the loop. You may need your chain nose pliers to pull the wire tight and snug.

Once you have wrapped the shank to the loop, open that loop with your pliers and insert the wire. Close the loop with your wire inside it. Clip the excess wire from where you began wrapping this wire (NOT the end inside the loop!).
Next, slide the ring back on the mandrel and use your pliers to tighten it. Pull the non-wrapped loop tight to take out any slack in the shank. You should pull it to the beginning size (in my case, a 7), not the finished size. Make sure you leave enough space between each loop for your focal bead to fit. You may need to reposition the loop on the un-wrapped end for the bead to fit.

Now, slide your bead on the wire. Insert the end of the wire through the second loop just as you did before. It is extremely important that your ring shank is snug and smooth at this point. Adjust the bead, if needed, to make sure it’s sitting straight.

Wrap the wire around the second side of the shank, this time working away from the loop. Snip the wire once it’s tightly wrapped about four times. Use your chain nose pliers to flatten the pointy end of the wire to either side of the bead so that it doesn’t snag clothing or the person wearing it.

*The next part is optional. I find that it helps secure the bead further and also makes it more attractive, in my opinion.*

Attach the leftover section of smaller gauge wire to the outside of one of the loops just as you did to attach the bead. Once it is secure, CAREFULLY cut off the loops. Don’t cut them too closely or clip any other wires accidentally. The loops were just there to stabilize the bead while you made the shank. You can leave them if you would prefer but I think the finished product looks better without the loops.

Now, wrap the long end of your wire around the bead three or four times. This helps keep it from wiggling. It is very important that you wrap it as tightly as possible and that you end on the opposite side from where you first anchored this wire.

Wrap the end around that side just like you did to anchor it before. Clip the excess wire off of both sides and flatten the ends with your chain nose pliers.

Last, slide the ring back on the mandrel and make sure that it’s the proper size. You can use the handle of your pliers to “hammer” the band round on the mandrel if needed. Now you’re finished!

Don’t get discouraged if your ring doesn’t turn out very good the first few times you make them. (I made about 30 before they were presentable!) Also, try using a lower grade craft wire when you’re learning. I find that sterling silver wire is very difficult to use, even after learning how to make them!

Feel free to leave comments if you would like tips. Be sure to leave your email address if you need a reply!

Can't get it just right? Interested in buying one of these pretty rings? Visit my Etsy Shop to see all of the rings available there!

Thanks for checking out my tutorial and I hope you enjoyed it!

Eclectic Orchid Giveaway Winner

After over 100 entries, the winner for the Eclectic Orchid giveaway has been chosen. According to www.random.org, the winner is..... number 76, Jasmine!

The winner has been contacted and she will have 48 hours to respond before another winner is selected.

Thanks for entering and check back soon for more great giveaways!

Eclectic Orchid Giveaway Reminder!

Hey everyone!

This is just a reminded that the Eclectic Orchid giveaway ends tonight at 11:59 pm CST. Be sure to get any last minute entries in now! There are many ways to win so make sure you've entered for all that apply to you.

Please enter the contest on the giveaway's comment section, NOT in reply to this post. It won't be counted if you reply here!

Have a wonderful day and GOOD LUCK!!

Mark Makeup

It has just come to my attention that I haven't told all of you wonderful followers about Mark Makeup. Mark is a wonderful company made by Avon that creates fun products for teens and young women. The prices are great and the selection is ever-growing.

As mentioned in another post, I am a Mark representative and I have an online store where anyone can shop. By purchasing online through my shop, I get credit for sales and you get your products delivered directly to your door, no mater where you live!

Visit my e-Boutique to see all of the great products Mark has to offer and feel free to contact me at mark_girl1010@yahoo.com if you have any questions about products or if you would like to become a rep yourself.

Shop now and get free shipping with a $25 order for a limited time! Use the code MARKFS25 at checkout. ♥

My Pretty Pink Box

A few months back, I bought a beauty box from My Pretty Pink Box. The owner, Linda, is a Mark Makeup representative (like myself, but I'll tell you about that in another blog) and she has some of the greatest products available each month.






What is My Pretty Pink Box, you ask? It's a program that sells boxes of sample items from cosmetic retailers. Not only do they sell samples, though;, they offer at least one full size product per box! Each box contains 7-10 products from that month's sponsors. The prices vary depending on what's in the box; April's box was $11.99. I LOVED the products in my box- it's well worth the money for a fun splurge.


Can I get in my products in the box, you ask? Sure! If you are a representative of a cosmetic company (such as Mark), you can send Linda products to include in the next month's boxes. I did this with Mark samples back in November. See the participation page for info on becoming a sponsor.


Currently, April's boxes are sold out but you can sign up for an email reminder when May's boxes go on sale (May 5th). Check out My Pretty Pink Box for a full list of sponsors. Sample bags are also available for purchase. They only contain two items and are sold for $4.

I can wait to order my box in May! I'll be sure to do a full review of each product and I may even contact some of the retailers about hosting a giveaway. &heartsl

Cancer Awareness Bracelets

I just wanted to let everyone know that I've been making some cancer awareness bracelets lately. They are in the colors of the cause and have a ribbon charm that reads "hope."



If you know anyone suffering from breast or ovarian cancer, please consider purchasing a bracelet for them. The same goes for any of you who have lost a loved one to cancer. I want to spread as much "hope" as is possible!



I currently only sell breast cancer and ovarian cancer awareness bracelets but I am VERY open to suggestions. (See a list of causes and correlating colors here.) Supporting causes like these are important, particularly because they often encourage those who may be suffering from depression due to their disease. I am also planning on designing a pair of earrings for Autism awareness, so look for those soon, too.

If you would like to be matched with a cancer patient, please visit Spirit Jump. You can send them small gifts of encouragement that will surely brighten their day and give them hope for a future.

Bisou Bisou Beads Jewelry Giveaway!

Simply Stacie is hosting two giveaways right now with items from Bisou Bisou Beads!

The first is for the winner's choice of a Twilight-inspired item ($19.99 or less) from my shop. Visit the giveaway to enter. The giveaway will end on April 18, 2009 at 11:59 pm EST so enter now for you chance to win!

The second giveaway is for a handmade tile pendant necklace from my shop. Visit the giveaway to enter. This one will end on April 19, 2009 at 11:59 pm EST.

Good luck and don't forget to share the great giveaways! ♥

April Announcements

Hi everyone! I hope you're all having a wonderful April Fool's day! ;)

I just wanted to do a quick blog about what's happening at Bisou Bisou Beads during the month of April.

First of all, my birthday is this weekend so, from Friday to Sunday, I'm offering a 20% discount on ALL items!

Secondly, throughout April, I'm donating $1 per item ordered to the Tap Project. The Tap Project works with UNICEF to provied clean water to third world countries. $1 can provide clean water for 40 DAYS!!

Be sure to take advantage of these great offers before they're gone!