I love my Stamp!

Check out the stamp I designed and had made! It has my logo on it and my etsy shop address and email address. It is just the right size to stamp on packages that I send out, on wrapping, on the backs of cards I make, on labels, and my favorite use- on paper hang tags I cut on my cricut!

I have not been able to finalize my design to have bussiness cards printed because my mac with all my design software on it died... So, in the meantime this stamp is perfect! I stamp it on a white tag in my shop colors and I have a ready made bussiness card!

I purchased my stamp from http://www.a1stamps.com/. I am going to be calling them up soon to have one made for my husband!

Organize your gift bags!

http://www.likemerchantships.org/2006/11/wfmw-storing-and-reusing-gift-bags.html

I found this tip on http://www.organizedchristmas.com/! I love it so much I have to share it! This is a great way to organize your gift bags. (Bags you are saving from birthdays to reuse for gifting, a stack of Christmas gift bags, or maybe even your Etsy packaging is a gift bag?) Likemerchantships suggest using a large ladder hook and hanging it up in your storage room or wrapping area. Makes it easy to see what you have and search through the collection for the one you need.

I am going to see if I can talk my husand into making me a cute on out of horseshoes! If it turns out good maybe he'll have to list them in his etsy shop too! http://alterediron.etsy.com/

I have sew in labels with my logo on them now!

I am so excited about this! Everytime I sew one of my new labels into my blankets it makes me feel so official! I purchased folded satin labels from Etsy seller customcouturelabelco. http://customcouturelabelco.etsy.com/. They are printed with my logo on the front and my CPSIA information on the back. The back includes information about the materials that are used and how to wash it.

I found a great fabric supply shop!

I found a great fabric supply shop on Etsy! He has some great items and ships quickly! His wife and mother in law also have a shop, so its a family thing, which I think is neat. And, he is from MI, small world! http://humbleboy.etsy.com

I purchased the flannel I used to create my "Give a Girly Hoot" Heather's HugEm from his shop. I mentioned his shop in my listing and let him know that I had created something with the fabric he sold me. He created a feature on his blog about my shop! He researched my shop and did a very nice write up!

Check it out here. http://humbleboyfabric.blogspot.com

Halloween Paper Craft Contest! Vote for me!

I need your vote! I entered a Halloween Contest on Etsy! Please go to the FB poll and vote for me (or your favorite entry). Here are the directions from the contest host... Go to http://www.facebook.com/sarahcrafts and in my photos section there is an album of who all used my supplies to create a project. Once you find the one you like, go to this poll: http://apps.facebook.com/opinionpolls/poll.php?

I'm in a Treasury by Humblebea!

Check out the beautiful Autumn Treasury that humbelbea put together! I am included in it!

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=89308

Check out humblebea at http://humblebea.etsy.com

Thanks HumbleBea!

Raffle for Giveaway from LittleSideKick on Etsy

http://littlesidekick.blogspot.com/2009/10/little-sidekick-giveaway.html

Follow the link above to enter!

I'm delighted to announce my first giveaway promotion! Big thanks to One Bored Mommy for featuring my crochet monkey hats on her blog today!


Win a $25 gift certificate redeemable in my Etsy shop.


Contest ends October 27th, 2009, and is open to US residents only.

Winner will be chosen using Random.org. Winner will be announced here on October 28th, and will be contacted by email.

To enter, visit Little Sidekick's shop, then come back here
and fill out the form below.
Extra entries:
Scroll down and complete a brief survey about your baby shower spending habits. (2 extra entries, only open to first 100 who complete the survey)

Follow this blog (1 entry)

Follow me on Twitter (1 entry, the link is at the top right of this page)

Blog about this giveaway and link back to here (2 entries)

Purchase an item from Little Sidekick (5 entries)

Perfume Oil Giveaway contest by Lilypoppet!

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2009

FREE GIVEAWAY CONTEST! (over $45 in free gifts to be won)

October is probably my favorite month of the year, so what better time to do a massive Lily Poppet giveaway contest? Find all of our perfume oils at www.lilypoppet.etsy.com

The Prizes
First Prize: Two Lily Poppet perfume oils of your choice, keep one and give one to a friend! ($25 value)
Second Prize: One Lily Poppet perfume oil of your choice ($12.50 value)
Third Prize: Three Poppettes (1ml samples) of your choice ($8.25 value)


The Rules
The rules are simple. You must be 18 years of age to enter and all entries must be in by October 24th at midnight. The winners will be drawn on random.org and announced October 25th and prizes will be mailed October 26th. That easy!


How to Enter
You can earn up to 15 entries for this contest, here's how:
Get 1 Entry: Post a comment with your favorite Lily Poppet perfume oil (please provide link)
Get 2 Entries: Follow me on Twitter, I will follow you back!www.twitter.com/LilyPoppet
Get 3 Entries: Tweet about this contest and link back.
Get 4 Entries: Make any purchase, no matter how big or small, from Lily Poppet on Etsy
Get 5 Entries: Blog about this contest on your own lovely blog! (please provide link)

Treasury Tribute to Cancer Awareness Month

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=72376

I created a new Treasury with a pink theme! Go check it out and let me know what you think!

In a Fall Treasury!

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=88355

I'm in a new Etsy Treasury! My Autumn Thank You Cards were chosen to be featured by TwentySix7.

Visit her shop here http://twentysix7.etsy.com

Heather's HugEms Blankets in use!

It was suggested to me a few times that I show some pictures of my Heather's HugEms security blankets in use. Here is one I put together.

Artist in the News! Pawsh Companions!

http://www.record-eagle.com/archivesearch/local_story_276192126.html

My friend Mandy, owner of the Etsy shop Pawsh Companions, was in the newspaper this weekend! I was so excited to open up the paper and see a face I recognize! Even more excited to see a crafter and artist getting some much deserved recognition for her talent and hardwork! Follow the link above to read the article.

To visit her shop follow this link. http://pawshcompanions.etsy.com

Friends make great customers!

I am always so excited to get orders in my Etsy store! I recently had a fabulous order that was placed by a good friend of mine! (Friends make the best customers!)

My friend Tara makes a yearly donation to the Women's Resource Center in Chicago. This year she is going to have me make five of my Heather's HugEms Baby Security Blankets as her donation! I am so excited that Tara had such a great idea, and that I get to work with her on it!

Thank you Tara for being so generous and having such a great idea!

I will post pictures after I get the new blankets sewn!

Created my first Treasury!

I just created my first Etsy Treasury! It is a collection of items that are created by other Etsy sellers. All were inspired by different shades of the color teal blue. Many of the chosen items belong to Etsy sellers who are friends, or are people I have gotten to know since joining the Etsy community. This treasury list will be up for the next couple days. Please take a look and let me know what you think!

"Teal Treasure"

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=84567

First time in a Treasury!

So very excited! I made it into an Etsy treasury for the first time! A treasury is a collection that other etsians put together of thier favorite things, or items they really like.

This one was created by yarnabees. See her shop here... http://yarnabees.etsy.com

Visit her treasury here for the next two days...

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=83574

If you are an Etsy seller, find out if you are featured in a treasury at www.craftopolis.com

Feeling Spoiled, Playing with new birthday toys!

I got some new crafty tools for my 30th Birthday! So happy to have such generous friends and family in my life!

I have been using my new quilters square and rotary cutter to cut out new fabric for Heather's HugEms blankets. Now I can make them a more exact size then before. It is so much faster and easier to cut out the fabric now! (I used to fold the fabric over and guess and use scissors!)

I was very surprised to recieve a CriCut Create paper cutting system! I had heard of them before, but never really let myself pay them much attention because I knew they were too expensive for me to purchase with my crafting budget! But, my family members got together and pooled thier money in my honor!

Here is my first CriCut project! I made white tags! I plan to decorate them and use them for my Etsy store packaging and for Craft Show price tags! I have a tag punch, but it is 1.5" wide. With the CriCut I can select the tag shape and set the size! I set these tags to be 3" wide. It also cut the hole punch and centers it!

To all my friends who are nearby... bring over some paper and we'll cut some stuff out!

Working on a new Etsy Avatar!

My sister is home from Chicago! She is my personal photographer (she does all the pics of the kiddos for me, plus family portraits). I have begged her to come over today and take new pictures of me for my avatar. I will post the results later. (View her website portfolio at http://mgrayson.com/)

Here are some tips for avatars that I have learned spending time in the Etsy online virtual labs...

-Close up
-High contrast
-Bright colors
-Interesting
-Showcase product (must be currently listed in your shop_
-Showcase media, medium, supplies, tools
-Be a self portrait (people like to see the people behind the names)

Here are some links to some of my favorite Etsy Avatars...

http://yarnabees.etsy.com/
http://simplyinvitingcards.etsy.com/
http://marialuna.etsy.com/

Here are the results! I like how it turned out. It is over exposed on purpose. What do you think?

P.S. The jewelry that I am wearing in my picture are from an Etsy seller friend! I worked on her Etsy shop decorations and in trade she made me custom jewelry! Check out her shop here... http://carlsbadcreations.etsy.com

Planning Ahead: First Craft Show

Looking at the calendar and wanting to attempt my first ever craft show sometime in October or November. I have a few friends who are willing to split a table with me while we learn the ropes. Here is a list of things I have learned after doing research in the Etsy Forums and Chat rooms. Feel free to read it and gather tips you might want to put to use... or add to it! Share your advice!

-Make pricing clear and easy to read
-Hand out bussiness cards
-Guestbook or Raffle to collect contact information for newsletters or mailings
-Portfolio of other work
-Form to take custom orders (this one is my idea!)
-Clear shopping bags so that other shoppers can see my items that others have purchased
-Offer gift packaging
-Bring your own food and drinks
-Have a booth buddy so that you can use the restroom
-Wear something that makes you look like you are not just a shopper that snuck behind the table, an apron, nametag, logo tshirt
-Prices in amounts that are easy to make change from
-Table covers, skirts, and banners
-Displays that allow shoppers to see the items well and touch if needed, inviting
-Practice the display at home so that you know how long it will take to set up and you can make adjustments
-Take pictures of your booth
-Get to know the other crafters at the show
-Use a reciept book
-Bring as many items as you can, if it is too much to set out keep extra in a bin under the table
-Bring projects to work on while you are there behind the booth, let shoppers see a work in progress
-SMILE and be polite and sociable, but don't hover
-Take notes for the next show

Playing around with my Blog

Adding colors, adding features and gadgets and text- oh my! After I feel like I have played around with it enough I will start inviting people to see it! Then I won't be just talking to myself anymore! :)

Learning to Blog!

This is HeatherJaneDesign! I am an etsy shop owner who is creating my first blog. I am learning that... I have a lot to learn! :)