Featured Seller - Pretty and Personal Papers by Tricia 16

Tricia of "Pretty and Personal Papers" has been selling on etsy for almost a year. She started out selling monogrammed notecards, like the one below, and the business expanded from there.



Tricia had been making the cards to give as gifts at birthday parties and wedding and baby showers. She was approached at a shower and asked to make a custom set. Hesitant at first because she really enjoyed making the cards for gifts, Tricia took the order, as well as the advice that she start selling them to others.

Tricia's favorite items are her journals, such as the one below. She leans toward bright colors and uniquely patterned papers.



The idea for these journals came from her own experience with making a little notebook to write down the funny things her kids said or did. Tricia was always telling friends or family about her kids and someone told her she should start writing her anecdotes down. After writing a few stories, she made up a little journal titled "the funny things you say and do" and started writing in it for her own kids. Her first one started as a boring journal found at a local craft store that she decided to bling out. Now they are completely handmade. The journals are her most popular item. Tricia especially loves working with moms on their journals to make them fit the children's interests and personalities.



Tricia belongs to the Etsy Greetings Street Team and Busy Moms Street Team. She advises that those new to etsy join a street team, as she has found them to be amazing and helpful, supportive and knowledgeable.

etsy Greetings on Treasury East

I changed up my etsygreetingsteam treasury today. The theme is "love" because, as one seller put it, love needs no season. Here's a preview. Click the link to view the entire treasury.

Love, Love, Love

New Arrivals

I finally listed some new items in the shop! Yay, me! I've posted them below. Also, don't forget that I currently have a HUGE sale section. Be sure to visit the shop and check it out.

Flora $4.50 (includes free domestic shipping)


Bird $4.50 (includes free domestic shipping)


Flowers $4.50 (includes free domestic shipping)


Welcome $4.50 (includes free domestic shipping)

Featured Seller - Isabellaflora Greeting Cards

Today's featured seller, Isabellaflora, is a collaborative effort between a father and daughter. He handles the photography and she the watercolor painting. They are (obviously) inspired by botanicals and produce many beautiful handmade cards for their etsy shop. I recently sent a few questions to Eve and found some favorites from her shop. Please be sure to go check out the remaining items!

What inspires you?

My inspiration comes from flowers, leaves, trees and all things botanical. Both my Father and I love the beauty and textures that our green world presents to us.

Water Dance Card $4.00



How did you get started paper crafting?

Actually, my girlfriend suggested I start painting about 3 years ago. I immediately knew it would be water colors, as I am so drawn to that medium. My father started with photography in 1928, so he has had a lifetime with his hobby. I decided that greeting cards would be a fantastic way to share our art with everyone.

Purple Passion Card $4.00



What are your favorite colors and materials?

Favorite colors...that's a tough one...perhaps blues, green and purples. Favorite materials...the gorgeous way those watercolor paints just ooze and mingle and then create a life of their own.

Sunflower Card $4.00



What prompted you to open an etsy shop?

My girlfriend showed me the Etsy site and I decided to take the plunge. It's such a big venue with exposure around the world.

Rose of Sharon Card $4.00



Do you have any advice for your fellow etsians?

Advice for others: Join esty teams that unite like-minded crafters and artists. I have learned so much from esty greetings team. Advice for newbies: Give etsy a try. What is there to lose?

Columbine Card $4.00

Featured Seller - Just Because Art and Greeting Cards

This week's featured seller from etsy is Jaleh from "Just Because Art and Greeting Cards." This Seattle artist's love of poetry allows her to share her experiences through drawings, cards, and paintings. She also has her own small alterations and dress-making shop, and does graphic design work during her off hours. Whew! I don't know how she finds the time for it all. A brief interview with the artist follows, as well as some of my faves from her shop. Be sure to visit etsy and "heart" her for future shopping trips!

What inspires you?

I find inspiration in colors, especially in the natural world. And in things around me, such as photos, paper, love, friends, words, or a story I hear. I also love computer graphic design.

What do you like most about running your own business?

I am blessed and honored to do what I love in my free time after work!

What is your least favorite part of the creative process?

Sketching and thinking about the color and words for what I have in my mind.

What prompted you to open an etsy shop?

All of my friends and family love my art .

What is the best piece of advice you have received from another etsy seller?

Display and impart the great value of your truly specialized, handmade products to potential buyers. I believe that valuing your product enhances your reputation.

Featured Seller - Happy Elephant Designs

Shannen of "Happy Elephant Designs" got her start making Christmas Cards for her family in 2005 using scrap booking materials. As happens with many paper crafters, her family loved them and convinced her to begin selling them. Shannen then found someone who would create a website for her and began trying to sell her cards through it. Because this was a small venture and she didn't have the funds for advertising, the website wasn't very successful. Shannen shifted her focus to eBay, but found it expensive, and she didn't care for the format. During this time, "Happy Elephant Designs" was also featured in some craft shows. At this time there were very few people selling cards at craft fairs, and Shannen had a little success. However, she was discouraged by the number of sales necessary to cover the cost of her booths. Finally, Shannen saw an etsy seller on Martha Stewart and decided it would be the perfect place for her to sell her cards. etsy does the marketing for her and is much cheaper than the cost of web hosting or eBay. She's been an etsy seller since 2008.

In addition to etsy, Shannen sells her cards on 1000markets.com. "Happy Elephant Designs" are also available at two local galleries in Cleveland, Ohio, "Artefino" in the downtown area and "The Local Girl Gallery" in Lakewood. Additional upcoming venues include a boutique in Singapore, a Pro shop at a gymnastics school, a locally-owned bakery and local office. Now that Shannen is selling in local shops, she is changing her sales strategy. She's starting to focus on stationery and invitations in her online shops and sells individually crafted cards at the mom and pop stores.

Shannen says that the environment inspires her, whether it's what’s outside her studio window or the supplies and papers around her. Fellow artists also inspire "Happy Elephant Designs." When she experiences "writer’s block" she just looks around at all of the talented people on etsy and the ideas start coming.

Shannen's favorite colors to work with are greens, maroon, whites, and blues. However, she's inspired by her environment and the seasons, so she's now working on Christmas cards and those colors that work best with Christmas. "Happy Elephant Designs" products do lean toward the warm tones. Shannen also enjoys incorporating a variety of textures into her designs. She recently acquired an Epic Six that embosses, debosses, cuts die cuts, and letter presses. There are also sewn elements to be found in her work, adding yet another dimension to her creations.

The best piece of advice that Shannen has received from other etsy sellers relates to pricing. It is important that we value our work. Pricing is difficult for Shannen, as it is for most other card sellers. At times, she feels like she is competing with Wal-Mart and Target with their mass-produced cards priced at $1.00. However, Shannen was advised that if she underprices her cards buyers won't see them as quality products. A person looking for cheap cards is not shopping on etsy or 1000 Markets. Buyers come to etsy and 1000 Markets for quality handmade products and are willing to pay for that quality.

Shannen's advice for new sellers: Get involved in the community. When she first started on etsy, she assumed that she just needed to post her products and forget about them. Needless to say, she didn’t sell anything in the beginning! Then Shannen discovered the forums and received great advice, some clients, and great tips on photography. That is also where she found the street teams. Shannen currently participates with the Etsy Greetings, Cleveland Handmade, and Paper Street Teams.

Shannen's current favorites from "Happy Elephant Designs":

Season's Greetings Card



School Bus Card



Thank You Green Leaf Card



And mine:

Thank You Card in Purple and Blue



Thanks

Feature Friday

So you all know that I enjoy putting together gift guides and other collections of handmade goods. However, I thought it would be nice if I started featuring some individual artists. We can see a broader range of their work and also get to know them a bit.



b Bunny: Jen, what prompted you to open your etsy shop?

Jen: I was shopping one day and saw the scrapbook paper and thought what can I do with that. I knew about etsy and thought this may be a great way to sell something I love doing.

b Bunny: What have you learned during your time as a seller?

Jen: I have learned that it takes a lot of time and energy to both make and promote your items. I love it though!!

b Bunny: What inspires you? What are your favorite materials and colors?

Jen: I think I am inspired by new paper prints. As funny as that sounds, I see a new print and immediately think what can I do with it. I just love creating. I love paper and my favorite colors are blue/brown and pink/brown combos!

b Bunny: Do you specifically target particular seasons or events?

Jen: I don't really target a certain season, but of course will gear my products towards them. For instance Halloween is coming up and I have begun making Halloween themed products and will do the same for Christmas. I love snowmen, so expect to see a lot of them.

b Bunny: How do you promote your shop?

Jen: My main promotion technique right now is through the forums on Etsy. I recently started a blog and facebook [fan page], but haven't had time to do much with them.

Below are a few of Jen's favorites:

Spider Web and Bat Mini Notecards




Pink and Brown Damask Post-It Note Holder




Flat Matchbook Notebooks




Blue Floral Notecards

Projects

I have a lot of ongoing projects that I have been meaning to share with you. I don't have any updated pics of the house projects, but we are still in the middle of a playroom renovation (turning our old breakfast nook into LB's space), refinishing the stairs and putting up the reed fencing. I finished the herb garden, with the exception of the mulching. Once that is complete I will post pics of it. The perennial garden is looking awesome, if I do say so myself. The Bee Balm, Jacob's Ladder and Baby's Breath are all in bloom. I also have a new addition to the shade garden. I found an old ladder back chair with a cane seat that is coming apart on the curb in my neighborhood. I brought it home and put it in the fern garden. It has an old kettle with English Ivy growing out of it on the seat. I know this sounds ratty, but it really does look nice. I guess I'm going to have to take pictures to prove it. Anyway, that's what's going on with the house and yard.

Because I'm a glutton for punishment, I have many other crafty-type projects going on as well. I still haven't hemmed the dress I made for LB. She might grow out of it before I get around to this! There is also a patchwork skirt and coordinating halter top in the works for her. And then I bought some gorgeous fabric the other day to make yet another skirt for her. I wasn't planning to make another one, but I couldn't pass up this tree fabric that I found at Joann's. I haven't yet landed on a pattern, but I found several free ones online that are interesting and appear to be fairly straightforward. I randomly bought some additional fabric at the Nearly New Shop in the Highlands. Nearly New is a nicer thrift store that only accepts well cared for clothing and items for the home. I found some vintage dresses that I would have loved to purchase, a bed frame that was adorable, two modern armchairs and some wooden serving plates. Alas, as I am being financially responsible, I didn't buy any of them. I walked out of there with a 50 cent piece of fabric. It's roughly half of a yard and super cool. I don't yet know what I'll do with it, but isn't that the way it goes? I'm leaning toward a small purse with a cane handle, at the moment. So those are potential projects just barely in the works. I have actually been working on some things. I finished the bag for my mom, but I forgot to photograph it before giving it to her. It was made from the paisley fabric I posted a few days ago. She left for the beach this morning and I made the bag large enough to be a beach bag and stuffed a huge bright pink beach towel down in it. I'm still not done with the orange project, but I have started another one. I taught myself to make granny squares using a tutorial from Crochet Cabana. I'm planning to make an afghan from these yarns and, perhaps, a third. This is obviously my first one, so I'll let you know how tortuous the process is.

Then I've also been working on my cards for my shop. What I intended to be a paper goods shop has quickly turned into a card shop. I need to make some albums and embellishments. Anyway, here's a sneak peak at a couple of the new items. I'll be listing them this week. If you decide to buy one or both of them, I'll take 10% off of the price (before shipping). Just put "sneak peak" in the message to seller when you make the purchase.

Signing off...check back later this week for a new gift guide.

Play.

LB got her kitchen! My Dad has been making this for her since before Christmas. He works ridiculously long work weeks and doesn't have much time to dedicate to projects such as this. B didn't know the difference. I think she was just happy to receive something so special. She keeps asking me if her Pawpaw Dan and Mawmaw Pam made this for her. They really did a beautiful job. There is a stainless steel sink, with working knobs, a stove with four eyes and knobs that turn, as well as one for the oven. Speaking of the oven, it has a window for viewing the contents, an oven rack and a pizza stone. There is a two-shelf cabinet under the sink and a shelf that runs across the top. Pegs on the top shelf hold pot holders and cups. There is also a small shelf for her salt and pepper and a clock with moveable hands. Every single piece of it was hand-crafted. Some of the knobs are even made from burled wood found on my grandparents' farm. How cool is that?

So the 10-day challenge is winding down. There has been a mostly positive response to the experience on the part of the participants, although there is some concern that it is too long. On the whole though, we have all enjoyed it, although we will also enjoy a break from the constant listing and blogging. So, without further ado, here is my listing for the day:

Sincerely Monogram A (Thank You Card Set)



Today I am featuring L Whelan designs, one of the challenge participants with an awesomely bright shop. I love her motto: "It's not perfect. It's perfectly handmade." Who wants perfect? That's what machines produce! Give me handmade any day. Lynn makes accessories and paper goods from Lily Pulitzer fabrics, giving her shop an extremely colorful palette. Here's her most recent listing:

Think Pink Card



And my current favorite:

Nautical Tags, Set of 2, Great For So Many Things

Strawberries, Ceiling Fans and Etsy, Oh My!

I know I'm weird, and I think that makes it okay. Doesn't it? We've just wrapped up a wonderful weekend here in L'ville. We had some family visit and enjoyed their company. We also were the beneficiaries of their expertise in a couple of areas. Pam, my stepmother, helped me with some sewing and then repotted all of my house plants. My Dad, Danny, wired in a ceiling fan in our bedroom and wired our generator. It wasn't all work though. We went to a local used/remaindered bookstore and spent a long, long time looking at books, reading said books, including many to LB, and, today, went to visit my sister. She lives out in the country and has a nice garden, so she offered to let us pick strawberries. Yum! Brennan tasted her first warm strawberry fresh off of the vine (my sister didn't use pesticides on the plants) and was hooked. The pic is of the strawberry juice running down her leg. She had it everywhere, her face, hands, shirt, legs and feet were covered with stains. She had a blast!

So I've been barely making it each day with the 10/10/10 challenge. Here I am again blogging at 11 PM. I did list earlier in the day in the hopes of getting more traffic. I haven't had any sales yet during this challenge (The last time I did one, I had four sales.), but have had more traffic and received some hearts. It's been fun, despite whatever sales it might generate. That said, I should move on to today's item.

Small Thank You Note



Today I am featuring jemily, who has a gorgeous etsy shop full of bright and cheery cards that I would definitely enjoy receiving. Here's her most recent listing:

Thinking of You Card



And my current favorite in her shop:

So Thoughtful Card

Belated

I'm sorry that I didn't manage to get this post up yesterday. I did post my item, but I had an ill toddler to contend with later in the evening. I ended up falling asleep with her and awoke this morning to find I hadn't even brushed my teeth! Ick! So, without further ado, here's my listing from yesterday:

congratulationsCONGRATULATIONS!



Today I am featuring Cards and Moore, the site of a prolific crafter and homeschooler. I don't know how she does it all! She recently did some interesting things with wood veneer. I'm waiting with bated breath for the tutorial she's planning. Here's her most recent listing:

Owl Rag Bag



And here's my favorite item from her shop:

Thanks a Hoot Card



It's bright and cheerful and, of course, I love owls. Be sure to check out Cards and Moore.

Just in Time

Ack! I almost forgot to list my challenge item and update the blog. It's been a crazy day, but a good one. My parents are here visiting and LB has really been wound up. My dad made her an awesome kitchen for a Christmas gift, but didn't quite finish it on time. He brought it with him this visit and that is basically all she did all day. It's absolutely beautiful and I am so psyched that she loves it so. I'll post pics tomorrow. For now, here's what I've been up to:

Leaves Fall from the Tree



And here are the items I'm featuring from Pinky Creations, one of the other challenge members:

The image below is of her most recent listing.

Circle Thank You Card



And this one is my favorite item in her shop.

You Are the Light of My LIfe



How cool is this card? It's such a unique idea and executed so well. She makes being green appear so elegant. Check out her shop for some great ideas such as this one, as well as some beautiful gift tags.