I finally have some time to work on items for my Etsy shop. My shop is still closed but here is a sneak peek of one of the items I am working on. This is a beaded butterfly charm made from seed beads. The charm measures 3 1/2 cm at it’s widest point and 3 1/4 cm in length (including the clasp). The spring clasp makes it easy to convert into a phone charm, transform into an earring, attach to a charm bracelet or necklace. Makes a great gift for spring.
I love the acrylic letter beads that I purchased from the Best Craft Supply on Etsy!
I purchased the beads on January 19 and received it today on January 23. Now that is fast service! I have already made a few bracelets/anklets to give away as fun little gifts.
The bracelet will come along with a card explaining it’s “wishing powers”. When the cord breaks, the wearer can make a wish. If the bracelet is lost and then returned, the person who returns it is able to make a wish. Maybe the real reward from this bracelet will be friendship and honesty.
There is a great post on the Etsy forum written by sparklerama. The article is titled “20 questions YOUR BUYERS are asking!!” and it has some useful tips on how to describe the product you are selling so you don’t leave potential customers “scratching their heads”.
These are the points to hit when describing your product.
1. What IS it?
2. What color is it?
3. How big is it?
4. What is it made from?
5. How do I care for it?
6. Who should buy it? or Who should NOT buy it?
7. What is it used for?
8. What does it feel like?
9. How does it work?
10. Why is this one better than the one in the next shop?
11. Do I get everything in the picture?
12. Will it fit me?
13. What if it doesn’t fit?
14. Is it ready to use?
15. How does it arrive?
16. Will I get the EXACT item in the photo?
17. Is it gonna stink?
18. How do I know it’s “vintage”?
19. What do those fancy terms mean?
20. Can I live without this item?
Although all of these questions may not apply to your product, detailed description of your items may save time and money for both the buyer and seller.
Thank you sparklerama for sharing your knowledge. Read the entire article here.
For the first time in a long time, we’re out of plastic grocery bags. I’ve realized that plastic grocery bags are in high demand at our home and as we begin to use canvas bags for our daily needs, our plastic bag supply has dwindled. We re-use plastic bags to “pick up” after Fido, to carry wet clothes from the beach or pool, to line trash bins, as a litter receptacle for the car, to store toys and such in the closet and for crafts.
Above is a project that I have been working on for my new Etsy store, Piggie’s Everyday. The entire flower, including the thread, is made from recycled plastic bags. My project will be complete once I’m able to get my hands a few more plastic bags.
Come visit me at Piggie’s Everyday! I love piggies and I love flowers and what “funner” way to get these two things together but in an Etsy shop called Piggie’s Everyday. Dedicated to sunshine and flowers handcrafted in Piggie’s garden. Oink.
Flower links on Keiki Gifts:
As a kid I enjoyed string art and macrame. My macrame projects were usually simple and were used as plant hangers. I was a little more adventurous with my string art and borrowed books to get patterns and ideas. It’s been awhile since I’ve done any knotting projects but after seeing my collection of beads that I’ve stashed away over the years, I recently decided to incorporate some stringing and beading into my crafts. I will never advance in the delicate art of jewelry making but these beaded tassels I’ve made satisfies both my weaving/knotting needs and sparkly-shiny desires.
I’ve added some of these Beaded Tassel Charms to my Etsy shop. It would make great graduation gifts or end of the year gifts for teachers.
If you have ever seen the collection of SWAPS that Girl Scouts collect, you may have been impressed by the creativity and innovation that goes into making these crafts and find delight in the tradition of SWAPS. SWAPS, or “Special Whatchamacallits Affectionately Pinned Somewhere” are handmade pins made by Girl Scouts and passed to new and old friends. These pins range from complicated hand sewn designs to mini zip bags filled with toys. I am so inspired by SWAPS that I decided to help out by making kits for those interested in having something ready to go. My first S’mores kits is listed on Etsy. My kids helped me design the marshmallow image with their many comments. I hope you like it and this is how it works.
The kit comes with a set of 12 chip round chip boards, round marshmallow S’mores stickers, pin backs and flower cut shapes. You’ll need to provide Tacky glue and paper glaze is optional.
1. Peel off the back of your round sticker and center it over the chip board.
2. Seal the sticky edges to the back of the chip board
3. Glue the flower on the back
4. Attach pin.
It will look like this:
5. Optional> Once glue is dry, use a paint brush to spread glaze onto the pin. I use Ceramcoat Protect Sparkle Glaze or clear sparkle finger nail polish. The glaze adds some water protection and shine to the pin.
6. Let dry and you’re done. This is how it looks:
I hope to work on more designs. You can find this one on Keiki Gifts, Etsy.
Question: What do you get when you cross an octopus with a puppy?
Answer: An Octopuppy, of course!
From Noadi’s Arts on Etsy: An Octopuppy is Perma-Pets sculpted in polymer clay. This sea creature is suspended in clear acrylic resin inside a cute little jar with a sculpted polymer clay lid. Each Perma-Pet is a one of a kind (ooak) creation, hand painted with artist acrylics and sealed before being encased in resin.
The name Perma-Pet come from the fact that these are pets you can’t kill, for those who have little luck with aquariums.
Don’t you think these Octopuppy’s would make the perfect desk pet? I love ‘em!
Other helpful links by the artist, Sheryl Westleigh :
Creating a Brand for Your Handmade Product
SHHH….! Snowball is about to take her nap. She’s had a very long day attending parties and important meetings so now she would like to have a little shut-eye (pretend she is shutting her eyes).
Poor Snowball, although she is aware of stores that carry pretty clothing and accessories, she has yet to find out about shops that carry handmade sleeping bags for beauties like her. Snowball uses an uncomfy, old dishrag as a blankie and her pillow is a hand-me-down that is shared among all of her friends…even those with…oh yuck!…things in their unruly fur!
If only Snowball knew that her cat naps could be spent in dreamy comfort.
Gosh, she might even run away from home to get a Plushie Sleeping Bag handmade by Looziana Designs on Etsy.
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