Bisou Bisou Beads

Referral Program Results

2011-09-11T15:46:00.001-07:00

Hi everyone! I just thought I'd give you an update on how the referral program went.

I asked fans to refer 10 or more of their friends to Bisou Bisou Beads and have their friend comment saying who sent them. I posed the link in several different places around Facebook and within 48 hours, I had almost 300 NEW FANS! Of course, a few of them unliked me later because the number did go down :( but about 5 of my new fans made purchases so that evens it all out! There were 15 referral program participants and 12 of them won a pendant of their choice. One AMAZING fan referred over 30 friends. :D

It was a great success and I'm so thrilled to have so many new fans at Bisou Bisou Beads! Right now, I have 583 fabulous fans and I'm planning on hosting a HUGE giveaway when I reach 1000. I haven't worked out all of the details yet but there will be another referral program with more prizes soon!

Facebook Referral Program

2011-08-30T21:40:00.000-07:00

Want to win a Scrabble pendant? All you need to do is visit my Facebook fan page, "like" it if you aren't already a fan, and refer 10 new fans to the page. To refer a fan, share the link with them and ask them to "like" the page; after they like it, have them comment saying that you referred them. Once there are 10 comments with your name, you win a pendant!

I've already had 5 lucky winners from referring friends and you could be next! Good luck and get sharing!! (The direct link to my fan page is www.facebook.com/bisoubisoubeads)

New Auburn and Alabama Football Jewelry Designs

2011-08-22T20:33:00.000-07:00

Hey y'all! I just wanted to share with you that I have lots of new Auburn and Alabama football inspired Scrabble and bottle cap pendants! I can make other football teams, too.

Visit and "like" my Facebook page to see all of the new photos!

Summer Chicken Salad Sandwich Recipe

2011-07-20T10:13:00.000-07:00

I've gotten really tired of my typical brown bag lunch, a ham and cheese sandwich, so today I decided to try something different. After much thinking, I decided we had all the fixings for chicken salad. My recipe is not traditional by any means, and it just eyeballed most of the amounts but I think I can give you the gist of it!

-cooked chicken, shredded (I used some Tyson precooked chicken in a bag)

-5 cherries, cut into 8ths (some recipes call for grapes, I had cherries)

-light mayo (enough to stick it together, cause I hate mayo)

-mustard (just a dime size amount)

-thyme (a little sprinkled on top)

-almond pieces (the recipes online call for walnuts but almonds are my favorite)

Mix it all up in a bowl and spread on some whole wheat bread. I topped mine with baby spinach leaves and sliced tomato with a little salt. Pretty healthy, uses lots of fresh summer ingredients, and tasty!

Mark Makeup ♥

2011-06-20T09:46:00.000-07:00

Hey ladies! I just thought I'd share with y'all that in addition to making jewelry, I'm also a Mark Makeup representative! Mark is a line of makeup and fashion for teens and 20-somethings (or anyone really!) made by Avon. There're new products added every month and they are at great prices! If you'd be interested in learning more about Mark, like out my Facebook fan page for the latest updates and sales. You can also see all of the products for sale at my eBoutique!

Finally made the coupon binder!

2011-06-06T19:34:00.000-07:00

I posted a week or so ago about making a coupon binder. I tried to do it but I'm sooo organized that I was having trouble getting it exactly right so I gave up on it for a while. Today I tried it again and this time, I found a YouTube video where a lady showed how she made her coupon binder and what she included in it. I got some great ideas and modified them for my own.

I included a "good prices" list found at Pinching Your Pennies (click on PYP Price List to download the list), sections for the main stores I go to, and a section with categories of manufacturer coupons. Within each of the store sections, I included a copy of the coupon policy for each store, a sheet protector for this week's ad, a paper clip to hold together the coupons I know I'll be using there, and a few baseball card holders for coupons that are from that store but I might not use on this shopping trip. Within the manufacturer coupon section, I found a list of categories and made 21 dividers with several (2-4) baseball card holders for each division. I also included categories for restaurants and retail stores in the back.

If you're interested in making your own coupon binder, it's pretty easy. Here's what you'll need:

Large binder (mine is 2" but that might be too small)
Page dividers (I used 21, the ones with pockets on them are good)
Sheet protectors (for large coupons, coupon policies, store ads, coupon inserts, etc)
Baseball card holders (mine came from Target; I got 60 and used about 55 of them)
List of coupon categories (can be found online, modify for what you buy)
Other considerations: good sales price list, coupon policy for the stores you shop at (in case a cashier needs clarification on something lol), coupon inserts from the newspaper, folder, pen, paper clips (to hold the coupons you plan on using on this shopping trip), scissors, extra sheet protectors and baseball card holders

Happy couponing!

Chocolate Chip Crunchies

2011-06-06T19:24:00.001-07:00

I made these great cookies tonight and wanted to share the recipe with you. It's from Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke, which is a good book so far! The original recipe was HUGE so I halved it to make it more manageable. Here's the altered version. Just double the ingredients if you want more.

Chocolate Chip Crunch Cookies
1/2 cup butter (1 stick melted) 1/2 cup white sugar 1/2 cup brown sugar 1 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp salt 1 tsp vanilla	1 beaten egg (beat with fork) 1 1/4 cups flour (not sifted) 1 cups crushed corn flakes 1 cups chocolate chips
Melt butter, add the sugars and stir. Add soda, salt, vanilla and beaten eggs. Mix well. Then add flour and stir it in. Add crushed corn flakes and chocolate chips and mix it all thoroughly. Form dough into walnut-sized balls with your fingers and place on a greased cookie sheet, 12 to a standard sheet. Press them down with a floured or greased fork in a crisscross pattern (the same method as peanut butter cookies). Bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes. Cool on cookie sheet for 2 minutes and then remove to a wire rack until they're completely cool. (The rack is important -- it makes them crisp).

Notes: My oven cooks hot so I did it at 350 for 10 minutes, checking after 8. Also, 1 cup of chocolate chips is A LOT, so you might want to use 3/4 of a cup instead. I also used parchment paper on the cookie sheet rather than greasing it and I just pressed them with my fingers rather than using a fork. Mine made exactly 36 cookies.

Couponing!

2011-05-31T18:55:00.000-07:00

Lately I've been on this couponing kick. That TLC show "Extreme Couponing" has gotten to me! A couple weeks ago, we saved over $50 between Target and Publix. Not too shabby for a first attempt. :)

Tonight, we saved $7 at the book store (could have been $17 had I gone yesterday and used the coupon that is now expired :( ) and we also saved $17 at Publix between coupons and sales. :)

So... I decided to make a coupon binder! I have one of those little 4x6 expandable organizers but I've got so many types of coupons, they won't all fit anymore. Tomorrow, I'm going to get some baseball card holders and dividers and make a proper notebook. I printed out a list of 40 categories to include and I'm going to get to sorting!

Stuff to know about couponing:

Some stores double coupons up to $1 total (the coupon can be up to $.50 and still double)
Some stores let you use store and manufacturer coupons (this is called stacking)
Match coupons with sales to get the best prices
Items usually go on sale every 3-4 months, so stock up when you have a coupon and a sale
Buy multiple copies of the Sunday paper to get duplicate coupons
Print coupons online; most sites let you print two
Only use coupons on products you'd normally buy- buying something just because you have a coupon for it is NOT saving money!
Go online to read your store's coupon policy

Couponing resources:

The Krazy Coupon Lady My go-to site for finding coupons
Couponing Guide for Beginners
How to Start a Coupon Binder
Krazy Coupon Lady Facebook Updates on the best deals daily

Comment Settings Changed

2011-05-18T15:00:00.001-07:00

A while back, I was getting lots of spammy comments that had links to inappropriate websites in them so I limited comments to blog followers only. I decided to change it back where anyone can comment but I have to verify that the comment is appropriate first. That said, please be respectful and don't post spammy, inappropriate things. :)

Back to Blogging and a Trip to Earth Fare

2011-05-18T13:26:00.000-07:00

Back to Blogging!

Hello again, everyone! It's been months since I updated this blog, so if you're still following me, you're awesome! :)

I have a really tough time coming up with something jewelry related to post daily so I've decided to change it up a bit. I am still going to post some jewelry updates but I'm going to post other things too- whatever I feel like posting! I've been cooking lots of new things lately so I'll probably post come recipes. I also really loving finding great deals and using coupons so I'm sure I'll share the deals that I find with you, too!

One of the things that inspired me to get back to the blog was my friend Kathleen who just made her own blog. One of her first posts was about her recent shopping trip to the local Earth Fare healthy grocery store and she told me about this great coupon deal they're offering right now. With any $10 purchase, you can get a whole chicken, baby carrots, and mashed potatoes for free! All you have to do is sign up on the Welcome Home page and print out the coupon.

So... dinner tonight will be our freebies plus some sliced tomatoes and Australian white cheddar cheese I found. I can't wait to try that cheese! :) I'm going to try my hand at cooking a whole chicken tonight using Kathleen's recipe of lemons and rosemary. I'm also going to make some garlic thyme carrots. Wish me luck!

Featured Item Wednesday

2010-07-07T08:55:00.000-07:00

Morning readers! This week's featured items are two of my favorites. As always, they are 10% off from now until July 14th. This is the perfect time to take advantage of a great price!

From october102006, this Garnet Swarovski Crystal and Pearl Bracelet is 10% off. I saw a similar design to this one and couldn't help but make my own version. It's the perfect way to dress up a casual outfit but it will also go great with a more dressy one.

From Bisou Bisou Beads, Custom Made Scrabble Pendants are 10% off. All you have to do it purchase the listing and send me the picture you want with payment. Feel free to convo me and ask about a specific photo if you aren't sure it will fit. Popular ideas for these pendants are: family members, pets, favorite celebrities, movie scenes, and picture that you love.

Thanks for checking out my Featured Items of the Week. Don't forget they are 10% off! Just add them to your cart, pay via Paypal, and I'll send you the refund right away. Have a great day! :)

Link/ Promo Friday

2010-07-02T09:46:00.000-07:00

Hey readers! I'm still sort of taking a break from work this week. I've been kinda unmotivated lately but I thought I'd share this site with y'all. I always go check out Home Based Jewelry Business and Design Guide when I need a little motivation.

If any of you are jewelry designers and run (or want to run) your own business, you should totally check it out! There are great tips for everyone from beginners to those with successful brick-and-mortar shops.

Have a great 4th of July and be safe!

Interview Thursdays

2010-07-01T13:00:00.000-07:00

Hey readers! Sorry I'm posting so late today- my internet's been down today and this is the first time I've been able to get online.

This week, I'm interviewing Karen from KarensCraftSupplies. She sells supplies for Scrabble and glass pendants and is one of the only supply shops I buy from. Her prices are very fair and she has a wide selection of items to choose from.

Here's the interview:

1. Please tell me about yourself. Hi, my name is Karen and I own KarensCraftSupplies on Etsy. I lived in Japan for 4 years back in 2004-2007 and I fell in love with the Japanese arts and when I moved back, after getting all settled in, I started selling my Japanese art and starting making glass pendants with Japanese fabric and chiyogami paper. I struggled looking for supplies, so once I found out where to get the supplies, I decided to share them with the online community. Thus KarensCraftSupplies was started.

2. What can you tell me about your store? I sell everything you need to make glass tile pendants, scrabble tile pendants and bottle cap pendants, as well as making these into magnets.
What types of items can one find there? Many different glass shapes, many types of necklaces, including chains, organza ribbons, wire necklaces, nylon chokers, glues, glazes, magnets, gift tins and decorative paper. How long have you been in business? I opened up December 2008.

3. What or who inspires you? Living in Japan inspired me as they have such beautiful art. I also sell Japanese Temari and Japanese Chabako Boxes at my other Etsy shop AsianGiftAccents

4. Where would you like to see your business go in the future? I would like to get my own website going..and have more time to sell the actual end products!

I hope y'all enjoyed reading the interview! Be sure to check out KarensCraftSupplies and keep her in mind next time you need pendant making supplies!

Featured Item Wednesday

2010-06-30T08:12:00.000-07:00

Morning readers! This week's featured items are two of my favorite items. As always, they are 10% off from now until July 7th. This is the perfect time to take advantage of a great price!

From october102006, the Ultimate Twilight Charm Bracelet is one of my favorite creations to date. It features 12 sterling silver charms representing each of the characters from Twilight, plus a few other things. There are beautiful Swarovski crystal beads and a Swarovski crystal heart similar to that which Edward gave Bella in Eclipse. At 8" in length, it can be shortened to better fit your wrist.

From Bisou Bisou Beads, the featured item of the week is one of my cool rectangular glass pendants, Red and Pink Flowers. They haven't hit it big yet, and I just can't understand why- they are SO pretty! At about 2" long, they are the perfect size to wear on a long chain or cord. They're so unique, everyone will love them!
Thanks for checking out my Featured Items of the Week. Don't forget they are 10% off! Just add them to your cart, pay via Paypal, and I'll send you the refund right away. Have a great day! :)

5 Gifts to Give Tuesday

2010-06-29T09:25:00.000-07:00

Hey readers! Hope y'all are having a great day! This week's 5 Gifts to Give were inspired by a close friend of mine who has a birthday coming up. She's a bit of a geek so I decided to choose items from the Geekery section on Etsy.

I just love this Playstation Video Game Controller Necklace! It's perfect for the geeky girl in your life and it's only $6! Cool!

These Star Wars Darth Vader Helmet Earrings are so cool! They were made from Lego pieces and are very affordable at only $17.

I just love this button. It makes me laugh! Wine is for Classy Drunks is a fun little gift that would be cute attached to the ribbon of the "real" gift. It's a great price at only $1.50

This Rainbow Keyboard Decal is really cool! They're so creative and will make your MacBook one of a kind! At $14.99, it's a great price!

I love this Jet Black Robot T-shirt! It comes in four different colors in all sizes. It's only $18, too. I might just have to buy one.... ;)

Be sure to check out the links and the other items these great sellers have to offer!

Open!

2010-06-28T10:09:00.000-07:00

Hey readers! Just wanted to let y'all know that Bisou Bisou Beads is open and up for business again. I've been out of town this past weekend and will resume normal shop work tomorrow morning!

Blog Comments

2010-06-22T04:05:00.000-07:00

Hey again readers. I just wanted to let y'all know that I've had to change the settings on who can comment on the blog. It was open to anyone, anonymous comments included, but I've changed it to members of this blog only due to excessive adult content spamming lately. I know that's kind of inconvenient for those of you who aren't being inappropriate but I don't know what else to do. All you have to do if you'd like to comment is to follow my blog. There's a link towards the bottom of this page.

Thanks for following me and I hope you enjoy the blog! :)

Out of Town

2010-06-22T03:59:00.000-07:00

Good morning readers. I just wanted to let you all know that I'm not going to be posting this week or working in the shop much. I'm going to Tampa tomorrow for my sorority's international convention and will be gone all week. Be sure to check back next week for regular posts will everything you'd like to know about Bisou Bisou Beads!

Promo Friday

2010-06-18T08:33:00.000-07:00

Hey readers! I feel a giveaway coming on! What do you have to do to win you may ask? Follow my blog! And, if you have a blog, grab my button and put it on your blog. I'd greatly appreciate it!

Also, if you have a Facebook, please join my Fan Page. I post all of my new pictures there and keep it very up to date.

Now what's this talk about a giveaway? Next Friday, I'm selecting someone from the followers list on the blog and the fan list on Facebook and they'll win a Scrabble pendant. Simple as that. :)

Have a fabulous weekend and good luck in the giveaway!

Interview Thursdays

2010-06-17T11:21:00.000-07:00

Good afternoon readers! I'm running a little late on the blog post today, so sorry!

This week, I interviewed Heather from Beautiful Soaps. I've purchased several things from her in the path and I just love all of her products! My favorite is the tea tree oil soap. I use it to make my own laundry detergent.

Here's the interview:

1. Please tell me about yourself (background, interests, how you got into soap making, etc.)

I've always been beading, sewing and crafting something or another but never thought about getting into soap making. One day I really wanted to smell like incense, so I started browsing though the handmade shops to find an opium bar of soap. I didn't find it but I did find lots of other wonderful treasures. After spending a small fortune on buying handmade soap (I sometimes still do!) I decided I could make my own.

I researched everything I could on soap making and then took the plunge. I made my first bar of opium poppy seed soap and it actually turned out. After that, I was hooked. I purposed in my heart that I would never copy work from anybody else, with the small exception of 'inspiration' and wondered if it would be possible to come up with all my own recipes. I've never had a problem :-) Ideas will come to me daily. I love soap making!

2. What can you tell me about your store? What types of items can one find there? How long have you been in business?

I've been selling on Etsy since 2007 in my "HeatherRai" shop and opened up "BeautifulSoaps" so I could concentrate just on handmade soap. I am a sucker for a natural bar of soap. Natural color, essential oils, clays, aloe vera, butters, and luxury oils. These are my absolute favorite bars for personal use. I do make a little bit of everything. I get bored very easily. My shop also carries natural laundry soap, balms, butters and lotions. Someone told me when I first started that I'd eventually be doing all these extra things, and they were right.

3. What or who inspires you?

I am inspired and excited by natural goodness. I love every herb yielding seed, within seed. I am very passionate about natural health. I get sick to my stomach thinking about all of the corporations in this world who will put every cancer causing, sick chemical filler into our food and health products just to make a dollar! Soap making is my way to make a difference :-)

4. Where would you like to see your business go in the future?

I am not a futuristic person. I have a hard enough time deciding what to do from minute to minute. I hope that I'm still making soap and learning about herbs and gardening. I pray that I'll be a kinder person and sharing my knowledge and learning new things with anyone who wants to talk with me.

Heather also included a picture of her first bar of soap to share with readers.

Hope you enjoyed the interview. Be sure to check out Beautiful Soaps and see all of the great products that Heather has to offer.

Wednesday's Post

2010-06-16T08:26:00.000-07:00

Hello readers! As you may remember from last week, I struggle to write Wednesday's post each week. Something about In the Studio Wednesday is just tough for me to write about. That's why I've decided to change Wednesday's topic to Featured Item Wednesdays.

From now on, I'm going to post one item from each shop, Bisou Bisou Beads and october102006. Here's the best part- those items will be 10% off for the next week! Be sure to check out Featured Item Wednesdays for great savings each week!

Bisou Bisou Beads
This week, this American Flag Scrabble Pendant is featured. It's a popular pendant and is perfect to wear to those 4th of July BBQs. Buy it while it's on sale and enjoy it from now until the 4th!

october102006
This Turquoise and Coral Coin Necklace is featured in my original shop. It's a gorgeous design that anyone will love. It would make the perfect gift for Mom's birthday or even as a gift to yourself!

5 Gifts to Give Tuesday

2010-06-15T08:50:00.000-07:00

Father's Day is just around the corner and if you're like me, you may still be trying to think of something to get Dad. I have an idea.... just not the actual item yet. haha

This week, I decided to feature Father's Day gift ideas on 5 Gifts to Give Tuesday. Maybe you'll see that item that's just what you've been looking for!

I love this card for the irony. What kid didn't buy Dad a tie at least once? This year, get him this cool tie card and a little bit more creative gift. Ties Collection for Father's Day- Printable Card ~ $5

Does your dad like to golf? This personalized Golf Ball Market with Key Chain will be perfect for him, if so. You can put up to 28 letters around the marker including the kids names or the date this gift was given. ~ $29.50

You know if it involves Scrabble pieces, I love it! haha This Scrabble Tile Desk Sign is a really unique way to tell Dad you love him. He'll think about you every time he sees it! ~ $6

I don't know about in the rest of the country, but in the South, EVERY dad likes to grill out! If your dad falls into that category, he'll love this BBQ Gril Adult Apron.~ $22

This is such a cute idea for a Scrabble piece. I've been trying to think of ways to use them other than pendants and I think this is a great idea! Get your dad this Personalized Scrabble Keychain with the year he became "Dad" on it. A cute idea for a dad with young kids but maybe not so fabulous for a dad whose kids are old enough to be touchy about the year they were born! ~ $6.75

I hope you like the selection. Be sure to check out other items by the featured sellers- they all have a great inventory. Have a fabulous day, readers, and don't forget to get Dad something really cool this year!

New In Shop Monday!

2010-06-14T08:22:00.000-07:00

Good morning readers!

What's new this week at Bisou Bisou Beads? Well, I've been buying up lots of new image sheets to make Scrabble pendants. A friend suggested that I make some rockabiliy/pin up inspired jewelry so I got some great pin up girl images.

I'm going to make some of those great pendants this afternoon and will post them in the shop soon. I've run out of sections so they'll be put in the "Other" category.

Let me know what y'all think of them!!

Promo Fridays

2010-06-11T06:53:00.000-07:00

Good morning readers! It's far too early on a Friday morning to be doing much blogging (or anything else for that matter) but, alas, I am up all the same. Between the babysitting and the dogsitting and the getting the kid to VBS, it's been a full morning already!

I don't have too much to say today... I'm not sure I've had enough coffee to say much, in fact. lol

As you probably know, Glass Pendants are Buy 2, Get 1 FREE (of equal or lesser value). I listed some new ones this week so there may be some designs that you haven't seen yet. Check them out and be sure to take advantage of this great buy- you can save up to $8.99!

Interview Thursdays!

2010-06-10T08:14:00.000-07:00

Interview Thursdays are possibly my favorite day of the week! I love getting to know some of my favorite sellers better is just so great to me. It's nice to find out what other artists do and what their goals are with their shops.

This week I interviewed one of my favorite sellers, Marcy from Eclectic Orchid. I've bought 3-4 beautiful necklaces and a gorgeous pair of earrings from her. As a jewelry maker myself, I must say that her work is excellent!

Here's the interview:
1. Please tell me about yourself (background, interests, how you got into jewelery making, etc.)

I am originally from a small town south of New Orleans. I moved to the Charlotte area a little over 4 years ago with my husband, daughter, and son (okay, he’s actually a dog but he doesn’t know it). I have a Master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling. I used to manage a group home for physically and developmentally disabled women, but left shortly before my daughter was born and am now lucky enough to be a full time stay-at-home mom and craftster.

I love to craft, play with my daughter, read, listen to music, spend time with my family, take pictures of anything and everything, make jewelry, make jewelry, make jewelry….haha.

I have always dabbled in the arts since I was young, taking painting classes and experimenting with photography. A few years ago my mom wanted to take a jewelry class and thought my sister and I would enjoy it as well. I learned basic techniques that day. I would pick it up now and again, but for the most part had no time to enjoy it. After my daughter was born, I was going through some boxes and came across my old jewelry supplies. I originally started making jewelry again to break the monotony of being home all the time. I realized how passionate I was about it and that’s how Eclectic Orchid came to be.

2. What can you tell me about your store? What types of items can one find there? How long have you been in business?

My store is my passion, my hobby, my love. It is my creative refuge, a place to translate my dreams into works of wearable art and tell fanciful stories. My jewelry and accessories range from simple and delicate to extravagant and sometimes over the top. I love color and whimsy and always try to incorporate a bit of both into each piece. I also love vintage components because I feel they tell a tale and incorporate them whenever possible. Eclectic Orchid has been open since August 2008.

3. What or who inspires you?

I draw inspiration from anything and everything. I see creative potential in everything around me: my family, nature, movies, music, art, words, colors, love, life, etc.

4. Where would you like to see your business go in the longrun?

I am not really sure. I hope that it will continue to flourish and grow over time. It makes me happy to share my art with others, so as long as I get to continue doing that I will be thrilled.

Well, I hope y'all loved learning more about Marcy. She has such beautiful designs and I know you'll love them, just as I do!

Be sure to check out Marcy's beautiful designs and take advantage of her Summer Sale going on now! :)

In the Studio Wednesdays

2010-06-09T09:07:00.001-07:00

In the Studio Wednesday is the hardest day for me to write about, it seems. My "studio" is more like stuff taking over the whole house. I don't have a special room set aside for my work but I desperately wish I did! lol I do have a small section of the computer room that I keep my design books and finished jewelry in, however.
Today, I'm going to share a little about how I make my Scrabble pendants. They're really fun to make and don't feel like work at all! The hardest part about them is picking the images to use. I've got so many pretty images that it's hard to pick what I think will be most popular.

After I've got the picture picked out, I attach it to the back of the Scrabble game piece, which then becomes the new front. Trim the edges, add a little varnish, let it dry, add a bail, and BAM it's done! :)

If you're interested in a detailed tutorial of how to make your own Scrabble pendants, leave me a comment with your email address and I'll send it to you!

5 Gifts to Give Tuesday

2010-06-08T12:42:00.000-07:00

These items are from my Favorites list on Etsy! Any one of them would be a perfect gift! :)

I LOVE these Flip Flops with Bows by BellaLouCo. At $15.95, they're the perfect gift for the girlie girl in your life- or even yourself! I'm sooo tempted to buy a pair!

This is an adorable Little Sparrow Necklace from WhiteCockade46. I have a pair of earrings just like this little white gold plated bird. This necklace would be a great gift for any young lady. She's sure to love it!

This Starfish and Co necklace and earring set is a little more expensive than some other items I've featured, but it's just gorgeous! Seadrops did such a great job making this that you're sure to love it! As they mentioned, it would be the perfect gift for bridesmaids at a beach wedding.

This Pink and Chocolate Name Plaque is the perfect accessory for a new baby's room. InitiallyByEmma hand painted this beautiful plaque- any girl is sure to love it.

This Three Peas in a Pod necklace by Sudlow is the perfect gift for a mom with three kids. The pod is handmade and there are several different versions so your mom can get exactly what she's looking for!

New in the Shop Monday

2010-06-08T12:35:00.000-07:00

Hey readers! Sorry that I've been a little behind with the posts lately! My mom has been here for the past four days and I haven't had much time to work in the shop. So... let's pretend it's Monday and that I'm not behind on this post! ;)

I was able to make some glass pendants this weekend and I just posted them in the shop! I've got four new pendants and a couple more to list. The new ones are round!! :D

Check them out and let me know what you think!

Promo Fridays

2010-06-05T09:14:00.000-07:00

Whoops, I lost all track of time yesterday and forgot to write the Promo Friday post!

While there aren't any "special" specials going on right now, as always, my Scrabble pendants are Buy 3, Get 1 FREE and glass pendants are Buy 2, Get 1 FREE! Just buy the 3 or 2, depending on the item, and tell me in the "message to the seller" box at checkout which pendant you'd like to get for free!

I made several new glass pendants yesterday and am also working on a vintage line that will be coming soon (today? tomorrow?). I have new round glass pendants that are super pretty! All of the items in the "vintage" section will be made from old beads I got at a recent yard sale. I'm going to post a little bit of information about each piece in the description, in addition to the usual details.

Hope y'all have a great weekend! I've got big plans, so I know mine will be fun! :)

Interview Thursdays

2010-06-03T09:32:00.001-07:00

Happy Thursday, readers!

Each Thursday, I'm going to interview one of my favorite Etsy sellers. I'm going to try to pick someone each week that I've purchased from so I can give a little bit of a review, too.

This week, there is a special BONUS at the end so be sure to check it out! ;)

This week, I interviewed Lisa Rusmiselle of EYESview. She makes wonderful collage image sets to make Scrabble pendants and much more. She has a great selection of designs and is always adding more. EYESview is my favorite shop to buy pictures for my Scrabble pendants. Lisa offers many different sizes and always emails them very quickly. I've never had so much as a formatting problem with her images.

I interviewed Lisa yesterday and I really enjoyed reading what she had to say. It's so nice to get to know an Etsy artist better!

1. Please tell me about yourself (background, interests, how you got into digital art, etc.)

I'm Lisa and I am a work from home mom. I have 3 handsome boys (13,10 and 10) and am married to John an amazing, supportive husband. I am an avid digital scrap booker, I love photography, and I am a late blooming artist. I am a bit of a new comer to digital art.

I started my venture into the digital art world when I stumbled onto digital scrap booking. I was a traditional scissors paper scrapper for years but when I saw digital I was HOOKED. I sold off all of my stamps and scrap booking supplies and used the money to buy a new computer with LOTS of Ram and found a copy of Photoshop elements on Ebay. I learned the basics of digital scrap booking and then decided I wanted learn to make those kits. I self taught myself on Photoshop elements and then I upgrade to Photoshop CS3. Then I discovered Scrabble tile necklaces on Etsy. I was amazed by all the images and decided that I wanted to make those; they reminded me of little tiny scrapbook pages. I plunged head first into Photoshop illustrator took classes online and locally and I fell head over heals in love with digital art.

2. What can you tell me about your store? What types of items can one find there? How long have you been in business?

My store is a bit on the eclectic side; you will find a wide variety of images. I try very hard to have something for everyone. The bulk of my shop is made up of Collage sheets I am currently expanding into Digital Clip art and doing more Scrap booking kits. I am also trying to get every collage sheet I have into all sizes I offer until then I do offer free resizing if a size that is not listed is needed. I have been in business on Etsy for 1 year and it has been an AMAZING year!!! I have been so blessed to meet so many wonderful and kind people!

3. What or who inspires you?

Pretty much anything and everything inspires me. I am a “Color junkie” I just LOVE color! Right now I am having a pretty big love affair with blue/brown and pink/ brown, such gorgeous combinations!! One of my favorite artists is Charlie Harper, I was first introduced to his art in a science book I had in elementary school that was full of his illustrations. His illustrations are full of Clean lines and very contemporary in style. I just loved flipping through that book looking at all the pictures of birds, animals, and plants. You will find his art has inspired some of mine.

4. Where would you like to see your business go in the future?

I would love to see my business continue to grow and expand in new directions. This is what I do; it’s not just a hobby. I spend LOTS of time while the boys are in school and after they go to bed working on making new graphics. I have to admit it feels more like “playing” than working most of the time. I am in LOVE with making art. I am continually taking classes to hone my skills and learn new things that I can use to enhance my business. Etsy is an AMAZING place with lots of wonderful artists and I am so lucky to be apart of it.

Here is an example of the images Lisa offers. I love this one!
BONUS!! Like what you see at EYESview? The first person who comments on this post will receive 1 FREE sheet of images (up to a $2.50 value)! Just include your email address and the name of the sheet you'd like when you comment and I'll pass it on to Lisa.

Hope you enjoyed reading about this week's featured seller, Lisa of EYESview. Be sure to check back next week for an interview with another one of my favorite sellers!

In the Studio Wednesdays

2010-06-02T11:42:00.000-07:00

Hello my lovely readers! Today is In the Studio Wednesday. I thought it might be interesting to tell y'all a little about the behind the scenes work at Bisou Bisou Beads. I love learning about what others do so I thought some of you might enjoy this.

The behind the scenes working at Bisou Bisou Beads today is that I'm working on making some vintage jewelry. I bought this huge bag of broken vintage jewelry at the church yard sale a while back and it has got some amazing stuff in it! I posted some pictures the day I bought it, you may have seen them.

I'm still not sure what I'm going to make with it all but I'm fixing to dump it all out in the floor and hope to be inspired!

I'll keep y'all posted about what goodies I'm inspired to create! :)

Blog Formatting

2010-06-01T11:09:00.000-07:00

Anybody know why when I put pictures in my posts that it puts those spaces between the paragraphs? Help me fix it! I looks sooo bad! lol

5 Gifts to Give Tuesdays

2010-06-01T10:34:00.000-07:00

Sticking to the schedule, it's 5 Gifts to Give Tuesday!

Etsy has some of the most talented artisans that I've ever found. I love that all the great items featured there are handmade. A handmade gift is so special to me. :) Here are 5 items that would make perfect gifts. They're all from the "Undiscovered" section of the Pounce feature.

I love this Owl Ribbon Tag Blankie! Actually, I love anything with an owl on it... This blanket was handmade from a soft cotton fabric and is the perfect gift for a baby shower.

I found this Market Tote with Braided Straps and fell in love! It's completely handmade and is super cool. I love how the button is made from found pieces of wood and how the straps are from repurposed leather.

I LOVE these necklaces! I've played around with making them, but mine are no where near as pretty as this Family Necklace. You know I love this one because it already has my name on it! ;)

Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies. Enough said!

This bracelet is so pretty! I love the Coral and Onyx Mantra design. It makes me want to visit China and see all the sights!

New Items Mondays

2010-05-31T15:00:00.000-07:00

Hey readers! From now on, I have a little bit of a schedule made up for what I'm going to post each day of the week. I think it'll help me be more active and keep the blog more up to date. Monday's posts are going to be New Items in my shops.

As you know, I have two shops, Bisou Bisou Beads and october102006 In the first shop, I have altered art pendants, including Scrabble pendants. In the second, I have handmade bracelets, necklaces, earrings, and more.

Today in Bisou Bisou Beads, I posted a new Scrabble pendant. It's one of the custom initial designs where you tell me what initial you want and I make it especially for you. It's super cute, black and white damask with pink trim. I absolutely LOVE this pendant!

In my other shop, I posted two new items, a pair of Twilight inspired earrings and a pretty pearl bracelet. I love the bracelet and the earrings are perfect for Jacob Black fans.

Check them out if you have a chance and let me know what you think! Feedback is always welcome! :)

Hope y'all have a great Memorial Day! ♥

10% off sale is almost over!

2010-05-30T09:10:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! I just wanted to remind you that the 10% off sale at Bisou Bisou Beads is almost over! All you have to do to get the discount code is to check out my Facebook group/event. Check out the Upcoming Events section to see the event page and get the code!

The discount is good for both Bisou Bisou Beads and october102006- just type the code in the Message to the Seller Box at checkout and I'll refund your 10% via Paypal before I ship your jewelry.

See something you love? Get it now while it's 10% off! Hurry- the sale ends Monday, May 31st at midnight!

More new goodies!

2010-05-26T10:35:00.000-07:00

Hey everybody!

I made some great new Scrabble pendants yesterday and I just love all of the new designs. For these, I just found a bunch of cute pictures online and edited them for the pendants. They are totally random pictures but some of them include Tree Hugger, Not in Kansas, and Fish are Friends.

Check them out if you have a chance! Let me know what you think! Which is your favorite? What would you like to see in a Scrabble pendant?

SPAM!!!!!

2010-05-26T10:32:00.000-07:00

I don't want to make a big deal about this and sound negative but PLEASE do not comment on my blog posts if it's not relevant to the blog. I've been getting a lot of comments with links to inappropriate websites lately, which is just distasteful and disrespectful. Look people, whoever you are, I'm not dumb, I know what the links go to and I'm not posting them so quit wasting your time!

SALE!!! :o)

2010-05-18T12:48:00.000-07:00

Hey guys! Check out my event on my Facebook group to get 10% off on your next purchase at Bisou Bisou Beads! Join the group and event for this special deal and hurry- the sale ends May 31st!

Alice in Wonderland

2010-05-12T11:42:00.001-07:00

Hey everyone! I hope everybody's week is going great! :o)

I'm happy to say finals are over and I've decided to spend the summer break working exclusively in Bisou Bisou Beads! Woohoo!

Today, I uploaded 19 new Scrabble pendants, all Alice in Wonderland theme! They are soooo cute and perfect for fans of the book, Disney movie, or Johnny Depp movie! There's the Red Queen, the Mad Hatter's Tea Party, the Cheshire Cat and more! Check 'em out and let me know whatcha think! ♥

New, new, new!

2010-05-05T11:03:00.001-07:00

Well, it's that time again. Finals are just around the corner and the whole student body is going insane from too much studying and not enough sleep. I've been working in my Etsy shop these past few days to get some much needed stress relief!

How does this pertain to you, you ask? Well, I've got some GREAT new designs listed and have a ton more to come! :D As of right now, I have all of my necklaces and about half of my bracelets listed. Earrings, Twilight-inspired designs, and "other" are coming soon.

I've also been feeling pretty creative lately. I got this awesome bag of broken vintage jewelry at the church yard sale this past weekend. There is so much cool stuff in there- the ideas are just bubbling over as to what to make with it all! See the old cameo? I think that's my favorite!

I haven't done much beading lately but I'm going to have some free time soon (hopefully!) and I'll be working my little fingers off! I have so many great ideas in my head but I just never have the time, materials, or cash to make them a reality. It's the sad truth of being a college student, unfortunately.

Anyways, I just thought I'd share with y'all what I've been up to lately. Check out my necklaces and be on the lookout for new goodies coming soon!

Oh! Are you a fan of my page on Facebook? What about of the Facebook group? Join today for special discounts, sales, and more that are only offered there!

Happy Cinco de Mayo!!!

Famous Paintings Scrabble Pendants

2010-03-22T14:21:00.000-07:00

Hey followers! Check out the new Scrabble pendants that I've posted for sale on Etsy! They have images of famous paintings on them including works by Degas, Monet, van Gogh and more. I've got a lot more pendants to come so check them out when you have a chance. :)

Don't forget that my Scrabble pendants are Buy 3, Get 1 FREE! ♥

Bisou Bisou Beads Scrabble Pendant Giveaway

2010-02-06T10:02:00.001-08:00

Hey everyone! Simply Stacie has offered to do a giveaway with my Scrabble Pendants in the spirit of Valentines Day! We're offering three of her readers one of three Scrabble pendants each. The giveaway ends on 2/9/10 at 11:59 EST. Visit the giveaway for a chance to win one of these great pendants!

Rather just buy your pendant now than wait to see your chances at winning? Check out my Etsy shop and buy yours now! (If there is a pendant you want in the sold section, let me know and I can make it for you!)

Beautiful Silver Jewelry Giveaway

2010-02-06T09:45:00.001-08:00

Check it out! Simply Stacie has another fabulous Valentines Giveaway for her readers! One lucky winner will receive the Sterling Silver Heart Necklace above. The giveaway ends 2/13/10 at 11:59 EST so enter now!

Valentines Day Scrabble Pendants!

2010-01-19T11:03:00.001-08:00

Hey everyone! Valentines Day is upon us and I've just listed 8 beautiful new Scrabble tiles in my Etsy shop that will be perfect for your loved one this February 14th. You know your girls would love one of these with a little candy from Mom! ;) Purchases made on or before Feb. 7th are guarantee to arrive in time for Valentines Day on Feb. 14th.

Don't forget that Scrabble pendants are always Buy 3, Get 1 FREE!

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-26T08:03:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas to all of my lovely readers! I hope you had a fabulous holiday. :)

My Pretty Pink Box- December

2009-12-13T11:14:00.000-08:00

Hello all! I've been doing a horrible job keeping up with the blog, I know, but life gets so busy sometimes! I hope you'll forgive me and that you enjoy reading the few things that I do post on occasion. :)

This time, I'm reviewing December's My Pretty Pink Box. My Pretty Pink Box is a company started by my fellow Mark representative, Linda Granillo. Linda, like many of you reading this (myself included), loves beauty products and makeup. She asks people to send beauty samples to her, packs "pretty pink boxes" full of their great products, and sells them to other ladies (like you!) who love beauty products. I've bought two of her boxes in the past year or so and I get so excited to see what goodies are in my box! While there are about 10 participants each month, not all boxes include all products so it's a surprise to see what you'll get!

Here's a review of the items in my box!

I received two full size eye shadows from Everyday Naturals. The shades were Pic Nic (a buttery yellow) and Beach Towel (a navy blue). The containers are large and hold lots of eye shadow, which is great. At $6 a piece, they are a good buy too! While I haven't tried Beach Towel (I don't like dark shadows, though I may make it into a liquid eyeliner), I did try Pic Nic. It would make a great base or brow highlighter because of the pale color. My only complaint is that it's messy and gets all over your cheek bones when you apply it.

Next, I received a sample of Skin Nutrition's Dynamic Wrinkle Reducer. Since I'm only in my 20s, I didn't see much need for this one, so I didn't even try it. I'm somewhat skeptical of products like this because I know too much about biology to think they'll work. You see, your skin's pores are small so large molecules like those that tend to be in products of this type don't absorbe into your skin. If you are interested in trying Skin Nutrition's products, click the banner above to visit their website.

I also received a full size eye shadow from Sassy Minerals. Fashionista is a shimmery shade of "rich copper with silver sparkle". I am surprised by this product because I didn't think I would like it at all. It looks extremely sparkly which is just too much for me; however, when you apply it, it's a much more muted tone with a more subtle sparkle. I like the look of this shadow and I'm sure I'll use it frequently, especially since it's only $4.25!

In addition to the makeup, I received a Swarovski crystal cell phone charm from He Qi Crystal Design. As a jewelry maker myself, I can say that it is very well made, but very overpriced (in my opinion) at $9.50. He Qi has lots of pretty designs all made with Swarovski crystals on her website that you can see by clicking the banner above.

Another makeup item that I received was Abbey St. Clare's full size Glimmer Dust. To me, the product was a disappointment. It didn't have much color and I couldn't see any "glimmer" even after I applied several layers. It might work better on ladies with a darker skintone than my super-fair one.

Lastly, I received a sample of The All Natural Face's mineral eye shadow in Brandied Peach. I LOVE this eye shadow. I'm always skeptical about powder eye shadows because they are often so messy but this one is just the opposite. It stays just where you put it and provides a good pigment payoff with just a little shadow. Honestly, I loved it so much, that I went to their website (click the banner above) and ordered about $25 worth of products just because of how great the eye shadow was! If you order before Dec. 17th, you can receive 15% off your entire purchase. The All Natural Face also has an Etsy shop for those of you who enjoy shopping there (note that the sale is not valid there).

Well, that's what was in my box and what I thought of it, ladies. There are four other participating companies that you might receive products from, too! If you want to buy your own My Pretty Pink Box for just $10.49 + S&H, click the banner at the top of this post. Hurry, this box is only available through Dec. 31 or until sold out!

Visit My Pretty Pink Box to learn more about the process, participating in next month's box, December's participants, and more!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! ♥

Halloween Scrabble Pendants

2009-10-23T10:03:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to let everyone know that tomorrow, Oct 24, is the last day to order Scrabble pendants and guarantee that they arrive by Halloween!

There are tons of adorable Halloween kitties, pumpkins, and witches who want a home! Don't forget that all Scrabble pendants are Buy 3, Get 1 FREE, too! ♥

Twilight Locker Magnets

2009-10-12T15:46:00.000-07:00

I'm excited to announce that I've just launched my new line of locker magnets. Right now, all of my designs are revolving around the upcoming New Moon movie premiere, but I have lots more ideas to come.

I made them with business card-sized magnets, my own PhotoShop creations, and coated them with a photo protectant to prevent fading. Check them out and keep them in mind when looking for the perfect gift for your Twilight-loving loved ones!

*~* Buy 1 for $3 or 2 for $5! *~*

Essence of Twilihgt Body Products

2009-10-05T13:10:00.000-07:00

Have you heard about Essence of Twilight and their great products? They created their line of lotion, body splash, and lip balm because they wanted to experience Edward's scent. From there, they created fragrances for Alice, Bella, Reneeseme, Jacob, and The Wedding.

I love their lotions especially. I have eczema and very sensitive skin so I can rarely use scented products, but these lotions keep my skin soft and itch-free! While I've tried the scents Alice, Bella, Nessie, Edward, and Wedding, Alice is by far my favorite! I've gone through two bottles of body splash and one of the lotion!

The body splashes are wonderful, too. My only complaint is that they don't last long unless you layer them with the lotions, too. I've tried the lip balms in the Alice and Edward fragrances and I LOVE the Edward one. It's minty and tingly and it hydrates my lips so well!

I just wanted to share this great company with you all. I got my order today and I'm so impressed with them that I couldn't resist telling you all! Check out their Etsy shop to purchase products now or visit their blog to learn more about them.

To find out what others think about these great products, check out this YouTube video and read all of the great feedback on Etsy.

Halloween Scrabble Pendant

2009-09-20T11:06:00.000-07:00

Check out my newest Scrabble pendants, a Halloween inspired line! I have thirteen new images, plus a few more to come! I've also got other designs I'm in the process of listing, so please check them out, too! :)

Check them out- they're Buy 3, Get 1 FREE!

Halloween Goodies on Etsy + Giveaway

2009-09-18T19:28:00.000-07:00

I just LOVE Halloween! While I'm not a big fan of the scary aspects of it, I love the decorations and the wonderful Autumn accents that come with the season. Here are five of my favorite Halloween finds on Etsy. Comment back with your favorite Halloween item on Etsy for a chance to win a Halloween pendant from my shop!

"HOOT Lurks There?" Check out this spooky wreath. I just love the owl.

"Our Little Spook" This would be so cute for a child's first Trick-or-Treat photos!

"Pumpkin, Fall, Halloween Hairbow" I LOVE this hairbow! I want to buy one for my 3 year old cousin!

"Ghost Halloween BOO Box" I love the trinket boxes that this seller has to offer!Check her out! She's my aunt. ;)

"Halloween Gift Tags" I love this seller! She has the coolest vintage images to use in all of your crafts!

What is your favorite handmade Halloween item on Etsy? Post back here with you favorite for a chance to win a Halloween pendant from my shop! (Giveaway ends Sept. 23rd)

Happy haunting!

Twitter?

2009-09-13T09:31:00.000-07:00

Anyone else use Twitter? I like to use it to market my websites, Bisou Bisou Beads and Bisou Two. Follow me, if you like, for updates about my Etsy shops. Special deals, sales, and other cool info is updated there first!

PS Anyone having issues with Twitter lately? It keeps on giving me an error. "503 Service Temporarily Unavailable" What's the deal with that??

Collage Sets for Scrabble Images

2009-09-13T09:23:00.000-07:00

Check out my newly formatted Scrabble image collage sets at Bisou Bisou Beads! I've changed the size to be .82 x .75 inches, the exact size of a Scrabble tile. Of course, the old sizes are still available at special request. I've got all sorts of cool pictures including Twilight, Wizard of Oz, and Harry Potter images.

What kind of images would you like to see? Let me know and I may send them to you for free!

Not sure what to do with these images? Leave me a comment with your email address and I'll send you a free tutorial about making Scrabble pendants and more!

Looking Forward to FALL!

2009-09-10T10:20:00.000-07:00

Autumn is my favorite season but we rarely see it living in the Deep South. This year, I've decided to fill my life with autumn colors to supplement the actual weather.

I started with a beautiful rust color sweater from Target (gotta love Target!). Next, I'm hanging the colorful wreath that I made last year. Gotta get that thing up in time to enjoy it! Lastly, I ordered an adorable squirrel ring that should be arriving today. I'm an Alpha Gam and a squirrel is our mascot but who wouldn't like a little woodland creature to remind us of our favorite time of year? Now, if only I could control the weather....

What are you doing to welcome autumn?

My Creekside Creations

2009-09-10T10:11:00.001-07:00

My aunt has opened a new Etsy shop, My Creekside Creations, and I'm helping her market her wonderful ideas through my blog. She is so creative- if you can think it up, she can make it! In the past, she's worked with scrapbooking, furniture refinishing, and, now that she's retired, papier mache.

Her newest papier mache creations are trinket boxes with vintage-style figurine heads attached to them. She has two of the cutest Halloween trinket boxes listed now and she has several other wonderful creations to come. Check out her site and considering getting one of her beautiful designs for the little ghost in your life!

The blog is back!

2009-09-10T10:08:00.000-07:00

The blog is back! I tried deleting it for a while and I realized I actually wanted it back! That said, I've restored my blog and I'm going to try to update it a little more often. I know, I know, I've said that before! We'll see how it goes this time!

Tax-Free Weekend Sale!

2009-08-08T08:14:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone!! While I don't charge tax at Bisou Bisou Beads, this weekend is tax-free school shopping weekend in Alabama so I'm having a sale! Receive an 8.5% refund on all purchases at Bisou Bisou Beads and Bisou Two this weekend only, through Sunday!

Yvonne Totes Giveaway

2009-07-14T11:04:00.000-07:00

Win a cool coupon organizer from Yvonne Totes by visiting Simply Stacie and entering the giveaway.

So cool I just might have to buy one if I don't win! ;)

Photography Tips

2009-07-13T08:32:00.000-07:00

Hello all! I am so not doing a good job of keeping up with the blog as promised so I thought I'd do a quicky today about photographing jewelry (or other small things).

If you're anything like me, you HATE taking pictures. I don't get things listed on Etsy because I hate to take the time to photograph them. It can be such a hassle and so time consuming, sometimes I feel like it isn't worth it.

Aside from getting a super awesome camera like a Canon Rebel xs or something similar (I got so fed up with my old camera that I splurged and got this baby as a happy-birthday-to-myself gift!), you need to know how to take a good photo with what you've got. I always tried to make them artistic like other Etsy users I see. I tried to add flowers or drape the jewelry across cut glass, etc and it never worked. I tried a light tent, which worked pretty well, but now I'm just using 4 sheets of white printer paper and two desk lamps.

As you can see, I taped two pieces of paper to the monitor and layed two pieces (stacked on top of one another) on the desk. I positioned the desk lamps so that light comes from both sides and doesn't create shadows. The white background also doesn't distract the potential customer, either. Play with your camera and the settings to see what works best for you. I use an extra flash and the high-detail setting on my camera to get the best results.

Need more tips? I have a tutorial for sale at my shop that you might be interested in.

Thanks for looking and I hope you learned something! ♥

Check out these before and after shots. (Twilight Inspired Apple Earrings)

Twilight Bracelet Giveaway!

2009-07-13T08:23:00.000-07:00

Vanessa from Ohio Girl Talks has ever so kindly offered to host a giveaway from my shop. She was a winner in one of the prior giveaways that my shop held so she can attest to my greatness! (Just kidding! lol!) Anyways, visit the giveaway to read the interview she conducted with me and to enter to win a Bella Inspired Twilight Bracelet from Bisou Bisou Beads! The contest ends July 27th so enter now and tell your friends about it, too!!

Good luck! ♥

BeadStyle Magazine Offer

2009-06-30T16:26:00.000-07:00

BeadStyle Magazine (THE BEST beading mag, in my opinion) is having a promo right now where you can get 6 issues for $26.99 rather than $33.47 (regular price).

With your subscription, you can also get really awesome online supplements, too. I'm browsing them right now and they're so cool! :)

Go to their site at http://www.BeadStyleMag.com/promo and enter the code IK97U to get the discount!

Swarovski Crystal Colors

2009-06-30T15:57:00.000-07:00

Good evening all! Starting now, I'm going to try to update the blog more frequently. Life can get so busy sometimes that it's hard to remember to do it and sometimes, I just have nothing to say! I know that I have almost 100 followers so I guess I should give y'all something to read now and again! lol

This one is for the beady people in the crowd.

Have you ever wondered just what color the Swarovski crystal in your inventory is? I found a great chart on their website with all the colors they make for bicones, pearls, and flat backs. It's a fabulous resource for anyone who uses the products regularly. I printed a copy and will keep it in my "look book" of designs.

Check out the PDF here. The chart is on pages 16-19. (Pages 20-23 also have a great bracelet tutorial to try out!) Enjoy. :)

Winner of Pearl Earring Giveaway

2009-06-30T15:50:00.000-07:00

I'm running a little late announcing the winner for the Pearl Earring Giveaway from Bisou Bisou Beads but the winner has now been selected.

The lucky girl is: Number 26, Emily. She said "Some gorgeous work in that shop - I really love the Antiqued Chandelier Necklace!"

The winner has been contacted and has 48 hours to respond and claim her prize before another winner is selected.

Thanks to all those who participated and be sure to check back frequently for furture giveaways! :)

Pearl Earring Giveaway

2009-06-21T11:22:00.001-07:00

With the creation of my newest line which is inspired by Jane Austen, I have decided to have another jewelry giveaway.

These beautiful earrings were handcrafted with faux pearls elegantly wrapped with sterling silver wire. They are on sterling plated French hooks. Visit my Etsy listing for more photos and color options.

The Giveaway: One lucky reader will receive a pair of hand twisted wire and pearl earrings in the color of her choice. (Available in dark green [as seen here], light green, cream [Swarovski pearl], chocolate [Swarovski pearl], beige, and dark rose.)

To Enter:
Visit my Etsy shop, Bisou Bisou Beads, and comment here on your favorite item. (REQUIRED) Please leave your email address so I may contact you if you are the winner.

Additional Entries:
1) Follow my blog.
2) Add my button to your blog or website.
3) Follow me on Twitter and tweet the giveaway.
4) Blog about my giveaway and leave me the link.
5) Make a purchase from my shop (5 extra entries). Use the code BLOG10 to receive an extra 10% off of your order.

*Additional entries should be in individual comments- only one entry per comment will be counted. Please include your contact info in all comments. If I can't get in touch with you, you can't win!*

Other Detals:
The giveaway will end Sunday, July 28th at midnight CST. The winner will be contacted on the 29th and will be given 48 hours to respond with their mailing information before a second winner is chosen.

Good luck!

Exciting New Happenings at Bisou Bisou Beads

2009-06-03T20:29:00.000-07:00

Hello all! I've made some great renovations to my Etsy shop, Bisou Bisou Beads (aka Bisou Two) and I wanted to share it with all of you wonderful followers.

FREE shipping to all countries
Now accepting money orders
Rings have been discounted by $2-$3 each
10% off sale for *new* customers
15% off for *returning* customers
Special disounts for Twitter followers. DM me for details! ;)

Check out the new stuff and I promise there are many more great designs to come! Thanks for following me and supporting my dreams. :)

Social Networking: Sell Your Jewelry Online the New Way

2009-05-24T14:11:00.000-07:00

Are you a jewelry designer who wants to grow your online business? I definately fit into that category so I purchased Social Networking: Sell Your Jewelry Online the New Way. While I've only read about 50 pages, this book has some GREAT tips that I'd never thought of! It's the best $40 I've spent!

So, check it out if you need some new ideas- it's great! ♥

Pick your own sale!

2009-05-20T09:43:00.000-07:00

What item would you like to see 10-25% off at Bisou Bisou Beads? Visit my site and let me know which item you want to be on sale and I'll make it happen for you! ♥

26 G Sterling Wire for Sale

2009-05-13T19:00:00.000-07:00

I have some wire that I really need to sell and I wanted to let everyone know about it. I purchased it for $27.99. It's perfectly good wire, it just doesn't work for me.

Sterling silver
26 guage
half hard
round
approximately 69 feet
$19.99, $2 shipping (feel free to make offers)
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=25022580

I'd like to clear this out quickly so I can get some cash to buy more wire with. Please send this link to anyone you know who might be interested! Thanks!!

New at Bisou Bisou Beads!

2009-05-12T13:25:00.001-07:00

I just wanted to let everyone know that I've just completed a shop makeover at Bisou Two and I've added lots of new products at Bisou Bisou Beads! Don't forget that 10% of all orders in May is going to help save rainforest frogs!

Laundry for $.02 per Load?!

2009-05-10T19:11:00.000-07:00

Trying to save money? Trying to be good to the environment? Tired of harsh chemicals ruining your clothes? Try making your own laundry detergent!

I received a sample of homemade laundry detergent in a purchase I made a while back and I was skeptical about it. I didn't think it would get my clohtes clean, particularly since the label said to only use 1 tablespoon per full load of clothes! I liked that it was environmentall friendly (no harsh chemicals!) and it smelled wonderful so I gave it a try.

BEST DECISION I'VE MADE IN A LONG TIME! Not only does homemade laundry detergent smell great (you pick the scent!) and get your clothing clean, it doesn't bother my sensitive skin or aggrivate my family's asthma. Plus, your towels and sheets smell great for a long time!

Want to know how to make it? Here's the recipe I use:

3/4 C Borax

.5 C Washing Soda

.5 C Baking Soda

1 4 oz bar of scented soap

Grate your bar soap and mix in with the other ingredients; store in a snap top container. This makes 1.75 cups or (if you use only 1 TBSP per load) will wash 28 loads of laundry. You can find all ingredients in your local supermarket (I know Publix carries them all). I approximated the costs for each item:

Washing Soda: $2.29/ 55 oz box ($.042 per ounce)

Baking Soda: $.69/ 16 oz box ($.043 per ounce)

Borax: $3.79/ 76 oz box ($.050 per ounce)

After calculating some more math that I won't burden your brain with, I found out that 1 tablespoon costs $0.02. Remember you only need 1 TBSP per load!

To give you something to compare this to (as if it's not already clearly a money saver!), Arm and Hammer laundry detergent costs about $.14 per load and Tide costs about $.16 per load. (Keep in mind these are rough estimates based on online shopping prices and quick math.)

If this sounds like something you'd like to try, feel free to comment with any questions you may have. It's a quick and pretty fun project with great results. You can do a Google search for liquid detergent recepies that are made similarly if you prefer that type of detergent.

By the way, I got my all-natural, essential oil-filled soap from BeautifulSoaps on Etsy. Heather has a great selection!

Mark/ Avon products for sale- CHEAP!

2009-05-06T09:51:00.000-07:00

I've been selling Avon and Mark for about two years now and I have a good bit of stuff I'd like to sell. It's all new in the box unless otherwise stated. There are makeup products as well as sales tools which are intended for Rep use, not customers. Visit the Avon and Mark sites to see the makeup products I'm selling. All of these items are SUPER cheap because I really need to get rid of them ASAP!

Shipping will be determined based on weight to your ZIP code. Photos available upon request. Paypal only. Email me at mark_girl1010@yahoo.com.

MARK
(9) white 10 lb Mark bags- $.90 for all
(1) Good Glowing, Cameo- $1.25 (WRONG box)
(1) Kiss Therapy, Sheer Peach- $1.25 (tested once)
(1) Dew Drenched, Wave-$1.25 (tested once on back of hand)

AVON
(32) 10 lb white Avon bags- $2 for all, $.10 each
(7) Avon holiday bags w/ handles- $.50 for all
(20) 2 lb white Avon bags- $1 for all, $.10 each
(9) Order booklets- JUST PAY SHIPPING

(1) AVON Anew Clinical 2009 Rep Pack- $25 (unopened, more included but I can't tell exactly what since it's not open) $50 value, HUGE sales opportunity! (Going to Ebay on May 13 so grab it quickly if you want it!)
-10 brochures
-samples (10 Spotlight and several Anew)
- Derma-Full x3 serum (full size)
http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=awajdg&s=5
http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=i4pljn&s=5
http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=6sdshi&s=5

FREE with purchase, one set per person, please (tell me which you want)
(1 pack of 10) Sassy fragrance samples
(1) "Make money with Mark" banner from welcome kit
(2) Credit card forms (AVON)
(1 of each) Candid and Odyssey fragrances (AVON)

Paypal only. Email me at mark_girl1010@yahoo.com.

Classic Literature

2009-05-04T15:25:00.001-07:00

For the past 2 hours, I've been skimming "100 greatest books in literature" lists trying to decide what I should read this summer. I have some time off and I'm looking forward to reading some good books. Here's what I've come up with so far:

-A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
-The Best Short Stories of Stephen Crane by Stephen Crane (I've read "The Open Boat" and I enjoyed it a lot.)
-Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison (I've read an excerpt of this text.)
-Light in August by William Falukner (I've read a couple other works by him and this one was suggested to be by my lit professor.)
-Short Stories of Ernest Hemingway. (I've read one of his stories and enjoyed it.)
-The Woman Warrior by Maxine Kingston (I've read an excerpt from this text.)
-Sula by Toni Morrison (I've read another of her works and enjoyed it a lot.)
-Sophie's Choice by William Styron
-The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
-House of Mirth by Edith Wharton

I'm going to get it from Bookmooch so it really depends on what I can get my hands on as to what I read. Have any of you read any of these? Thoughts on which I sould pick? I'm sort of leaning towards Woman Warrior or Sula....

Random Musings

2009-04-29T13:59:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-04-29T13:35:00.000-07:00

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

2009-04-29T13:30:00.000-07:00

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

2009-04-28T19:42:00.001-07:00

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

2009-04-27T15:48:00.001-07:00

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

2009-04-23T19:15:00.001-07:00

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

New Shop!

2009-04-23T17:33:00.000-07:00

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

2009-04-23T16:19:00.001-07:00

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

2009-04-22T12:01:00.000-07:00

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

2009-04-14T06:46:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-04-13T10:04:00.000-07:00

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

2009-04-08T10:51:00.001-07:00

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

2009-04-08T10:31:00.000-07:00

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

2009-04-08T09:22:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-04-06T11:27:00.000-07:00

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

2009-04-01T10:01:00.001-07:00

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!

Necklace Giveaway from EclecticOrchid

2009-03-30T09:33:00.000-07:00

I found EclecticOrchid on Etsy some time back and I've been loving Marcy's work ever since! She creates unique jewelry that is beautiful and fun to wear. It always feels like Christmas when my purchases arrive- the jewelry is wrapped in a beautiful box with the sweetest notes included. Here are some photos of the items I've bought from Marcy in the past:

Caged No More

My Bottled Emotions

Love Letter

Beyond this Cage

For this giveaway, I asked Marcy if she could tell us a little about herself. Here's what she had to say:

1) Please tell me a little about yourself. I am originally from a small town south of New Orleans. I moved to the Charlotte area a little over 3 years ago with my husband, daughter, and son (okay, he’s actually a dog but he doesn’t know it). In my former life (prior to motherhood, that is) I was a rehabilitation counselor working as a group home supervisor/case manager to developmentally and physically disabled women. Now I am a full time stay at home mom and die hard craftster!I love to play with my daughter, read (although I never have time), listen to music, spend time with my family, craft, decorate, and of course make jewelry!

2) Please tell me about how you got started making jewelry. I have always dabbled in the arts since I was young, taking painting classes and experimenting with photography. A few years ago my mom wanted to take a jewelry class and thought my sister and I would enjoy it as well. I learned basic techniques that day but never had the time to really enjoy it. After my daughter was born, I was going through some boxes and came across my old jewelry supplies. I originally started making jewelry again to break the monotony of being home all the time, but slowly realized how passionate I was about it. I really feel like it is my way of releasing my inner artist and my true creative outlet!

3) What inspires you most? EVERYTHING! Really, I am always inspired whether it be the new growth on the trees or the rusty falling down building near my daughter's school. I see creative potential in anything around me: my family, nature, movies, music, art, words, colors, love, life, etc.

The Giveaway:
For this giveaway, Marcy has generously offered one of my readers a beautiful black and white vintage locket necklace that she calls Black Tie Affair. She designed it especially for this contest- everyone is sure to love it!!
To Enter:
Visit EclecticOrchid and tell me your favorite item. There are so many beautiful things to choose from, picking just one might be a challenge! (REQUIRED)

Bonus Entries: (Please leave individual comments for each entry so that it will be counted!)
1) Purchase an item from EclecticOrchid (5 extra entries)
2) Follow my blog.
3) Follow Marcy's blog.
4) Blog about this giveaway and give me the link.
5) Follow me on Twitter and give the giveaway a Tweet.

The contest will end on April 13th at 11:59 pm CST and the winner will be contacted by noon the following day. Be sure to include your email address so I can contact you if you are the lucky winner! You will have 48 hours to respond before a second winner is chosen.

Good luck and I hope you enjoy Marcy's work as much as I do!

Clair de Lune

2009-03-25T19:10:00.000-07:00

"Moonlight"

Your soul is like a landscape fantasy,
Where masks and Bergamasks, in charming wise,
Strum lutes and dance, just a bit sad to be
Hidden beneath their fanciful disguise.

Singing in minor mode of life's largesse
And all-victorious love, they yet seem quite
Reluctant to believe their happiness,
And their song mingles with the pale moonlight,

The calm, pale moonlight, whose sad beauty, beaming,
Sets the birds softly dreaming in the trees,
And makes the marbled fountains, gushing, streaming--
Slender jet-fountains--sob their ecstasies.

Composition of Clair de Lune by Debussy

Claude Debussy, a French composer, wrote Clair de Lune in 1890. It was influenced by the poem by the same title as seen above, which was written by Paul Vermier. It is part of a 4 part series entitled Suite Bergamasque which is lovely, as well.

Clair de Lune is one of my favorite compositions- I could (and do) listen to it for hours without end. It was the inspiration for this bracelet. :)

Winner of BusinessMinded Giveaway

2009-03-24T09:22:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Wilmoth Farms Rachel & Her Farmer, entry number 35, for winning the BusinessMinded giveaway!

I have contacted the winner and she will have 48 hours to respond before I choose another winner.

Thanks for entering! I'll be posting more giveaways soon! ♥

A Note on Contest Entries....

2009-03-23T15:00:00.000-07:00

Hey eveyone! Just as a note on contest entries, you get one entry per comment so it's best to leave multiple comments if you are entering multiple ways! I guess I didn't make that 100% clear for the Marketing Guide Giveaway, so I'll count the items up for this one ONLY but please remember to leave individual comments next time for maximum entries!! :)

The BusinessMinded giveaway winner will be contacted tomorrow by 12pm CST and will be given 48 hours to respond indicating their desired guide before a second winner is choosen.

I will give Jordan at BusinessMinded your email once you contact me and she'll email you your prize!

♥

Marketing Guide Giveaway Ends Tonight!

2009-03-23T09:02:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! Just a reminder that the BusinessMinded marketing guide giveaway ends tonight! Visit the link below for last minute entries (DO NOT enter here if you want your entry to be counted). Good luck to all!!

http://bisoubisoubeads.blogspot.com/2009/03/business-minded-marketing-guide.html

High Time for a New "Favorites"

2009-03-19T11:49:00.000-07:00

Whenever I do a new "favorite items" blog, I never know what I'm going to search for until I find it. Today, the blog title "high time...." made me think of "high tide" so that's what I'm looking for! ;) I searched on Etsy, Artfire, and 1000Markets with the key phrase "high tide" and these are some of my favorites that I found.

I decided to go high-tech and put photos and links, this time.

High Tide Earrings by thebijoubabe.

High Tide Painting by ArtwithLiz

Green Grass and High Tides by chilirose

Sea Scape by JanZart

Business Minded Marketing Guide Giveaway

2009-03-16T19:33:00.000-07:00

Business Minded on Etsy has some of the most wonderful marketing guides that I've found anywhere on the 'net! I stumbled across the owner, Jordan, on Twitter and I was instantly drawn to her guides. She has several different versions available including the Etsy Seller Success Kit which is my favorite. I've purchased all of her guides and they are simply packed with great information to help build your Etsy business. While her guides are written with Etsy sellers in mind, the information you'll learn can easily be applied to all aspects of online selling, no matter where you're items are listed.

I asked the owner of Business Minded, Jordan, to tell me a little about herself to let you all get to know her a bit better.

Please tell me about yourself. I live in Southern California with my husband, our 2 year old son, and our cat Ruby. I have been passionate about supporting small businesses for as long as I can remember. Both my parents and my grandparents owned their own businesses, and I know firsthand about the struggles that these small companies face. I feel that supporting my friends and neighbors in their own business endeavors helps me feel connected to my own community and is the most patriotic thing that I can do for my country.

Please tell me about your business. I am a work at home mom who opened up an online toy store in June of 2008. In my original business plan, I relied heavily on friends and family spreading the news of my business and helping to get it off the ground. I was shocked and disappointed to find that although they had good intentions, their email chains didn’t get far and sales were very weak. I quickly learned that it was going to take much more than word-of-mouth to get my sales where I had anticipated. So I had to get creative—and fast! I immersed myself in Internet and library research. I went to workshops and chatted up strangers. In the end I came up with a simple and effective method of marketing and publicizing my store that has brought me tens of thousands of shoppers looking for exactly what I am selling.

Can you share any general secrets to having a great shop? Branding is a huge key to making your shop look professional. Try to take all of your pictures against the same background if you can. Make it either plain white, or a "signature color" that you use over and over again. This is an easy trick for a seller who doesn't feel that they are a goood photographer; it will give the sense that the photos were taken professionally.

The Giveaway

Business Minded would like to offer one of my readers a marketing guide of his or her choice to one lucky winner. There are multiple guides to choose from so there is sure to be something for everyone!

To Enter:

*REQUIRED* Visit Business Minded and choose your favorite guide- comment back here to tell me which one you would like to receive if you win (you can always change your mind).

Bonus Entries:

1. Subscribe to my blog.

2. Follow my blog.

3. Blog about the giveaway and send me the link.

4. Follow me on Twitter and give the giveaway a tweet (I check!).

5. Grab my button and put it on your blog (I check!!).

6. Visit my Etsy shop and tell me your favorite item.

Open to all.

The giveaway will end on March 23, 2009 at 11:59 pm CST. Winner will be selected by random.org, notified by email, and will have 48 hours to reply before a new winner is selected. Please remember to leave your email address so that I can contact you if you win. Good luck!

Free Shipping in March!

2009-03-16T09:35:00.000-07:00

Free shipping for all US and Canadian orders through the month of March to celebrate my one year anniversary with Etsy! I have several other 10% off sales going on too (they still apply!).

Shop now!

♥

Bouquet Brooches

2009-03-15T11:21:00.000-07:00

I've recently learned to make wire wrapped brooches and I'm so excited with the way that this one turned out! Check it out and let me know what you think!

Pearl Bouquet- Wire Wrapped Beaded Brooch

♥

Check out RainbowSwirlz on Etsy!

2009-03-10T08:42:00.000-07:00

I had a lovely surprise when I checked my email this morning: I won Simply Stacie's RainbowSwirlz tote bag giveaway! I chose this super-cute bird bag.

Check out Simply Stacie for other great giveaways and visit RainbowSwirlz Etsy shop for other cute screenprint items.

♥

Today is a GREAT day!

2009-03-04T09:41:00.000-08:00

I'm just bubbling over with happiness today so I HAD to share it with someone!

First of all, it's sunny and warm. My mood is directly related to the weather most of the time. Secondly, I got TWO orders today already! One of them is to France! Woohoo! Third, my Legal Studies test was easy peasy and I got out early so I had time to relax before Literature. Fourth, the order from BlueMud that I have been so anxiously awating came today. Plus the mail came way earlier than usual. According to the tracking, it was it Seatle yesterday and arrived in Birmingham before noon today. Thank goodness for Priority Mail! Fifth, and best of all, no more classes today and NOTHING to do besides bead, bead, bead!!

Don't you love great days?! Hope everyone else's day is going just as wonderfully as mine!

Check out my bracelet that has sold TWICE today! ♥

By the Sea

2009-03-03T09:48:00.000-08:00

I've been wanting to do a "treasury" of ocean theme items but I can't get a spot in it on Etsy. You know how much I love to make my own on here, though!

Treasure of the Red Sea
Sea Horse and Star Fish
Nantucket Shoreline
Beachside

Gotta run. More to come!