Handmade Giveaway! Win an Orphan Bead Charm from SmuTopia!

Enter to win this teardrop shaped mystery-stone orphan bead zipper pull charm from SmuTopia Jewelry! Entries will be accepted through Sunday 10/4/09. The winner will be drawn on Monday 10/5/09 (winner will be contacted via email and posted here!)

Receive one entry for each of the following (don't forget to leave an email address on your comment so I can contact you if you win!):

• Visit SmuTopia on Etsy, then come back here and post a comment about your favorite item.


• Become a fan of SmuTopia on Facebook and leave a comment on the fan page wall.


• Tweet this giveaway, then come back here and post a comment with a link to your Twitter profile. (one entry per day allowed via tweet)


• Post a link to this giveaway on your blog or other site, then leave a comment here linking to your page.

Smu's Friday Finds: Baseball!

I am a BIG baseball fan (I bet it won't take long for you to guess my team!), and it always makes me smile to see baseball-themed handmade items :) Here are a few of my favorites in honor of America's Passtime.

Authentic Baseball Sterling Silver Cufflinks by QACreate

Wooden Doll, Ball Player by TheEnchantedCupboard

B is for Baseball - Whimsical 8x10 Original Fine Art Print by MCKPhotography

Baseball Swing for the Fences Vinyl art sports decal by Wallspoken

Friendly Fenway- Print by Knight27

I've Joined the Virtual Craft Show at Cafe Handmade!

Today is the first day of SmuTopia's month-long exhibit on Cafe Handmade's Virtual Craft Show!

Be sure to stop by and cast your vote for best-in-show! I'll be keeping an eye on Google Analytics to see how much traffic is generated for my Etsy shop from this $10 investment. Wish me luck :)

SmuTopia Independance Day Giveaway: Enter by 7/4 to Win these Earrings!

Enter to win these sparkly beaded glass dangle earrings designed and created by SmuTopia Jewelry! Entries will be accepted through midnight on Saturday 7/4; winner will be drawn on Sunday 7/5 using Random.Org to select the winning entry. You will receive one entry for each of the following:

• Visit SmuTopia on Etsy then come back here and comment on your favorite item!
• Visit SmuTopia on Facebook and leave a comment (You may receive one facebook comment entry per day)
• Tweet a link to this giveaway, then post a comment with a link to your twitter profile! (You may receive one tweet entry per day)
• Post a link to this giveaway on your shop or blog, then post a comment here with a link to your site! (You will receive one entry for each link posted, so feel free to post in multiple places for multiple entries!

Good Luck to everyone who enters!

Sale on Zipper Pull Charms! (Plus Free Shipping)

I've updated all SmuTopia Zipper Pull Charms on Etsy with a sale price of $2.75! Combined with my FREE International Shipping offer on all items this is quite a deal :)

Work in Progress!

While I was on vacation I started a project with some gorgeous blue stone beads and silvertone sea themed charms.  Although I didn't get far past the design stage while in the Outer Banks, I've pulled my jewelry cart into the living room to work on jewelry while watching baseball :)  Stay tuned to see the finished piece as soon as I'm done!

MAY GIVEAWAY! "Live Life" Bracelet from SmuTopia Jewelry

It's May, time for a new GIVEAWAY!  This month, enter to win the "Live Life" bracelet pictured above.

Receive ONE entry for EACH of the following:

• Visit SmuTopia on Etsy, then come back here and post a comment with your favorite item, or some general feedback.  I love to hear what you think about my shop.
• Post a link to this contest on your site, then leave a comment here with a link to your site.
• Tweet about this giveaway then leave a comment here with a link to your Twitter site.

Good Luck Everyone!  And be sure to include an email address in your comment so I can contact you if you win.  Entries close May 31st, 2009.

Last Day to Enter for $10 Gift Certificate!

Be sure to enter today--and check back tomorrow for a NEW giveaway!

Ocean-Themed Friday: Kimberquinn

I've been finding so many fantastic ocean and beach themed items on Etsy, I've decided to share them and the wonderful artists that created them!

First up, this fantastic Ocean Breeze Shea Butter Soap from kimberquinn on Etsy!

Do you have an ocean-themed item you'd like to share? Leave a comment with the link to your item and I'll take a look! Check back throughout the day as I'll be posting more of my favorite finds!

SmuTopia Jewelry Giveaway: $10 Gift Certificate! (4/12-4/30)

Congratulations to last week's winner Aik who will receive the Starfish Hoop Pendant from my previous giveaway!

My new giveaway will accept entries from today through the end of April and the winner will receive a $10 SmuTopia Jewelry gift certifcate that can be redeemed at either SmuTopia on Ety or SmuTopia on ArtFire.

To Enter:
Receive one entry for each of the following:

• Visit SmuTopia on Ety then come back here and leave a comment about your favorite photo or item.
• Visit SmuTopia on ArtFire then come back here and leave a comment about your favorite photo or item.
• Visit SmuTopia on Flickr then come back here and leave a comment about your favorite photo or item.
• Post a link to this giveaway on your website then leave a comment here with a link to your site.

Good Luck Everyone! And be sure to leave your email address if it isn't in your profile so I have a way to contact you if you win!

Weekend Giveaway 3/13-3/15: Beads!

Welcome to the weekly Smu*Topia giveaway! This week's prize will be a lot of destash beads in your favorite color! I have lots of orphan beads and other leftovers looking for a good home--the lot received by the winner will be valued at >$10 worth of beads!

To Enter:
1. Visit Smu*Topia on Etsy and look through my sold items to select one that you think I should relist.
2. Come back here and post a comment telling me your selection from #1 and your favorite color (so I can pick out your beads if you win!)

Good Luck Everyone!

Free Shipping at SmuTopia.etsy.com 12/11-12/12

The Holidays are here--are you ready? If a gift of jewelry is what you seek, go to http://smutopia.etsy.com for great deals and FREE SHIPPING through Friday 12/12!

Freebie Friday Jewelry Giveaway!

Happy Friday! Would you like to win these earrings? Here's what you need to do:

1. Check out my Etsy shop http://smutopia.etsy.com --I am going to add more inventory soon and would like to know your thoughts on what items and styles I need to add.
2. Return here and post a comment about my shop--what I need more of, your favorite styles, or any other feedback you would like to give.
3. Be sure to include your email address in your comment here.

I will pick a name at random from all of the entries on Sunday August 10th. Good Luck!

Just Passed 100 Etsy Sales!!!

When I posted my first item on Etsy in January of this year, I set the goal of reaching 100 sales in my shop by by 1 year anniversary. Well, I hit my goal several months early! While I'm still celebrating this acheivement with a free-shipping sale at http://smutopia.etsy.com I am also starting to look forward and think about setting goals that will continue to grow my customer base and improve my shop. I've also begun to entertain the idea of opening a bead shop as a sister store to SmuTopia :) Anyone out there who has advice on improvements I could make, or new ways to promote my shop please leave a comment--I'm especially interested in your experiences with various forms of advertising....please share your experiences!

Promo Items!

I've recently made up a bunch of promo items (pictured here)--These promos are just one of my orphan-bead zipper pull charms in a small plastic bag stapled to a business card. I've sent some out to fellow Etsians for use in promotional gift baskets, added some as free gifts to outgoing orders, and handed them out in person when asked for a business card. Do you have promo items? How do you distribute them? Tell me about your experiences--leave a comment!