How to make recycled art postcards

Postcards are a great way to promote your etsy site. Many etsians have them printed using images from their shops. You can include them in your orders when you send them out or hand them out at craft fairs instead of business cards. They are not terribly expensive but they are little more then a business card in most cases.

These cards are miniature works of art! You can give them away and be sure that they will be kept and displayed or mailed out to someone special. And every single one of them will have you shop info on it to remind them of how talented you are.

Materials:
recycled thin cardboard box (like a cereal box)
ruler
scissor, x-acto knife, or paper trimmer
glue, mod podge, or varnish medium
good size flat paint brush
scraps of decorative paper
pen or marker

pick out a nice clean box with thin cardboard
rip it along seam so you can get the most cards from the box possible
measure out as many cards as you can size 4.25"x6", this is a standard size postcard and will be accepted by the post office for postcard rate

brush glue across the colorful side of the cardboard and paste paper to it, leaving brown side blank
make sure to put a layer of glue on top of your design to seal it
flip the card over and draw lines with a ruler for the address, then be sure to put your shop name and address in fine print (but still legible) across the bottom.

Not only are these good for promoting your shop, they are good for the earth! Be sure to post a link to pics of your creative designs.

Sew Easy Labels

As you may or may not know, I will be selling my hand-knit golf club covers in a New Jersey store called Jersey Made in just a matter of weeks. In order to promote my brand, I decided to sew in labels to each one of my items available in the shop. In the past I have ordered labels from other etsians; not terribly expensive, but not my personal design either. So here is a way to DIY these sew in labels:

Materials:
printable fabric (I used June Taylor Colorfast in White, available at Jo-ann fabric)
computer
inkjet printer
microsoft word
scrap paper
scissors

these are instructions using microsoft word;
Click on Format and scroll down to document
change the width of you borders to the minimum allowed by your printer; mine is .6"
click on table and insert a table with 4 columns
fill in the information you wish to have in your first box
make sure to center the text vertically and horizontally in the box
copy and paste your final version across the row
then do the same for additional rows the length of the page
I was able to make 64 labels on one sheet this way

make sure to print a sample sheet
cut out your label and see if the size fits nicely where you would like it
when you have gotten the final version, print on your fabric
follow the instructions for making it washable on the package
cut out your little tags with enough room to sew them on

AND that is it! soooo easy.

Handmade Shop of the Week: Handmade By Sandi

I am so excited about this new feature and am happy that it is such a worthy shop.

Sandi Myers, creative talent behind Handmade By Sandi, opened her shop on etsy in June 19, 2009. She is fully stocked with beautifully crocheted items and hand-painted totes. This is what she had to say about her shop:

Why did you decide to open your handmade shop? 
I have a website, where most of the things I sell are either purchased from another company or are the same thing made over and over. I wanted somewhere - where I could sell things as one of a kind, crocheted items that I don't sell on my website, or just things I love to make.

Has your inventory changed much since you first opened? 
I've sold a number of things, and as the mood strikes, I try to find other patterns to use to create new looks for the shop. 

Who are the majority of your customers? How did they find you? 
A lot of my team members - for the Sneak Team have bought from me. The other customers are those buyers who found what I sell to be something they want.

What inspires you to create? 

New hat or shawl patterns, Satisfied with what I have made, but want to try something completely different. That is one of the reasons I made a pet mat. I have some ideas for more of those too.

What is your favorite item in your shop currently? Your most popular item? 

My favorite item is my crocheted lacy shawl. It was a difficult pattern for me, and I was delighted that it came out so well. I think my hats are the most popular, since I sell more of those.

What has been your greatest resource to make your shop successful? 
Tweeting. I'd really like to do more with Facebook - but I never seem to have enough time.


Any changes coming to your shop in the future? 

My first change for this year was to have my avi and banner redone - to better reflect what my shop is all about. I'd like to try more scarves - curly ones and ribbon ones. They are so beautiful, and I just need the patience to create them. 


How else can we find you online? Any team affiliations? 

I'm a member of the Sneak Team, Etsytwitter Team and Etsybloggers Street Team.
I have a blog http://www.sandists.com/Wordpress
My facebook is http://www.facebook.com/craftysandi

LETS DO A GIVEAWAY! Sandi loves making felted bowls, and I love giving them away. Handmadebysandi has several of these beautiful bowls in fall colors, perfect for holding paperclips on your desk or packets of sugar on your kitchen counter. To enter: 

1) tweet this article to your friends, be sure to use the hashtag #traceyknits 

2) become her fan on facebook and be sure to write on her wall how you found her

3) heart her shop on etsy
Hurry! Names will be drawn Monday, January 25th, 2010


Interested in being a Handmade Shops of the Week? email me and I will get you all the information.

Great Opportuntiy!

Handmade Success, creator of such guides as the Etsy Seller Success kit, is having a giveaway!



This is what she is giving away:


The Handmade Success Consultation is a 30 minute telephone conversation with yours truly. Over the course of the consult, we will review everything and anything related to running your handmade business - your product line, your Etsy shop branding and copy, your marketing efforts, and your advertising strategy. I will listen to your concerns and craft a strategy for you to improve upon each of these areas and give you advice on how to streamline your efforts so you can spend more time creating your product and less time on the computer. We will talk about your goals for this month, this year, and beyond. At the end, I will follow up in writing with a concise marketing & business plan for you to refer back to. Sound good? The charge for the consultation is normally $75.

I will be selecting 5 entries at random to win the free consult. Entries must be received by midnight PST Friday, October 16, 2009 and I will announce the winner on Monday, October 19th. Good luck, and I really can't wait to work with you!

visit her blog for more information.

Giveaway time again!

This time it is for my current favorite etsy shop: Studio Polka Dot!

The Ladies of Studio Polka Dot have generously offered to give away the coffee cuff of your choice from their fabulous shop. All you have to do is take a look inside and let us know which one you like.

Smart sleeves! Keep your coffee or tea warm and your fingers protected with a reusable coffee sleeve. If you frequent the coffee shops, you could eliminate as much as 4.5 pounds of waste per year. The outer fabric is 100% cotton. The lining is a white fleece to keep your beverage hot and your hand nice and cool. The cuffs fit standard cups from your favorite coffee shop. They will fit iced beverage cups too, keeping your hands dry and not too cold and reducing condensation drip. There are a variety of coffee sleeves to choose from in botanical patterns and whimsical fabrics. So show a little personality with your coffee and save some trees in the process. Take a reusable coffee sleeve and tell the barista to "hold the cuff."

How to Enter:

each of the following suggestions will get you one entry into the drawing

1) comment on this blog post and be sure to tell us your favorite sleeve

2) let everyone know about this giveaway on twitter (be sure to @TRedArt)

3) write a blog post about Studio Polka Dot (with link) and/or this giveaway and be sure to contact us with the info

4) Post about it on facebook to all your friends/fans and let us know

5) Post about Studio Polka Dot on the Etsy boards

6) Include Studio Polka Dot in your next treasury

7) come up with some crazy creative way to shout about Studio Polka Dot to the world!

Winner's name will be drawn on Friday. August 21st. Spread the word!

GIVEAWAY!

In celebration of July's photography promotion, I have decided to do a giveaway!!!

You could win a print of YOUR CHOICE from my shop, Red Linc Art. A print will be dropped shipped to your door directly from the printer, a $25 value! Entries must be in by Monday, July 20th, 2009.

How to enter:

each action will give you one entry in the giveaway

1. visit my shop and post a comment on my blog. Make sure to let me know your favorite item!

2. share this giveaway with your facebook/twitter/myspace/blog friends and let me know

3. list your favorite in a treasury on etsy

4. come up with something creative to let others know about this giveaway and make sure to let me know what you have done.

Cant wait to hear from all of you!

Tracey Knits is Online!

As promised, I have begun to separate the two diverging sections of my shop, knits and fine art. This little guy here, can be found at my new shop; Tracey Knits. He is made from durable acrylic yarn in the miami dolphins football team colors. I am only creating one at a time, but if you are looking for a set of 3 with numbers I would be happy to make them for you.

If you are craftier then the average bear, make them yourself! The pattern for both the golf club cover and the add-on football helmet are her, on my blog. The ones for sale at my shop are a slight variation on this pattern, but look almost identical.

Fabulous July Promotion

I am so excited to be offering FREE SHIPPING on all photography purchases through the month of July!

Many of my images were taken at the beach near my home on the Jersey Shore. A perfect way to have a beach holiday year round.

You can also find lots of other fun summertime items like my very popular golf club covers. These, by the way, if you are in the neighborhood, will be for sale at the Deal Sidewalk sale July 22-24. Stop by and check out the full range of covers in person, place custom orders or just chat. I will be located in front of Yarn-it on Norwood Avenue.