Gift Ideas for DIY Divas!

I put together a treasury last Christmas with a similar theme and it’s been one of my post popular treasuries and also lately I’ve noticed many of my readers finding the post here and trying to click on the items that are no longer available. So to help you find some great items for those DIY Divas on your shopping list this year here is a new collection! Enjoy! ♥

‘Gifts for the DIY Diva in Your Life!’ by SeaFlowerStudios

Perfect gifts for those who love to create these fabulous things themselves!

Rustic Jute Twine in Camel B… 464Handmade $8.00	6 Coppiced Ash Pencil Crayon… lovelywoodcomp… $8.00	DIY owl: crochet an owl FreshStitches $16.00	Moustache Iron On Applique D… Bayjorder $2.75
How To Make Felted Wool Flow… LivingRightBra… $12.97	DIY Bracelet Kit, Vintage Bu… Misopolis $7.50	White Bright Butterfly Mobil… littledreamers… $25.00	DIY Felted wool SHEEP KIT Ja… HanamiBoutique $12.00
Antique Style Envelope Templ… chickydoddle $5.50	PDF Recycled Paper Snowflake… RitaVanTassel $4.00	A KIT TO MAKE a tiny leather… ArtEclectique $15.00	DIY Terrarium Kit with easy … yellowpickrbh $16.00
Folk Peacock Hand Carved In… charancreation… $16.00	Felt Rose Pillow Pattern Tut… bedbuggspatter… $6.99	Wooden Kokeshi Dolls – DIY -… iUsedToBeATree $19.75	Handmade Paper Sheets in Cre… MapleStreetPap… $16.50

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

100 Ideas to Market your Handmade Business

Just wanted to take a quick minute today to share a link to an interesting article I found on Creative Boom online Magazine.

The article is 100 Inspiring Ideas to Market Your Business.  They mention everything from simple things you’re probably already doing like being involved with social media such as twitter and facebook, to hosting giveaways, to joining forces with other businesses to writing your own ebooks.

There are some great ideas that are easy to do and some more difficult, but I’m sure in the list of 100 you’ll find atleast a few that you’re not yet doing that could work for you! I would love to hear what ideas you think you’ll try or already are trying and how they are working for you! ♥

The Importance of Branding for Your Handmade Business

It takes only takes 7 seconds to make a first impression. You want the first impression someone has about your business and handmade products to be memorable and recognizable and this can be achieved by proper branding. Branding is more involved than just picking a logo. It’s everything from your logo, colour scheme, packaging, the style of your product, photographs, websites, marketing materials, craft show displays, store displays and even how you write product descriptions. The goal of branding should be to make your product and business recognizable with just a quick glance. This way if a customer comes across your website, blog, Etsy shop, craft show booth or your product in a brick and mortar store they instantly recognize that it’s yours.

Grace Design is Having a Sale!!!

One of my favorite Etsy Shops is having a 24 hr sale and I wanted to be sure to let all my readers know! If you follow my blog you may remember reading a Blog Post about Alison from the Etsy Shop Grace Design. Alison makes beautiful purses and bags using linen, ultra suede and kimono fabrics and has just introduced some pieces this spring that incorporate screen printing. There are some amazing items and even some of her new spring line available at reduced prices! The sale is on only today and will end at midnight tonight so check out her shop now!

Ultra Suede Cheetah Bag

 

Product Review – Soap Deli

I love getting fabulous handmade items in the mail so I was thrilled when I received a package from the Etsy Shop Soap Deli. Before I even opened the package I knew it contained something wonderful because I caught scent of fresh clean soap. Inside I found 4 bars of wonderful soap including Unscented Goatsmilk, Nanny’s Pumpkin Pie, Raspberry Lemonade and Raspberry Vanilla. I couldn’t wait to try them all out!

I have dry and sensitive skin so I’m always careful about the soaps I use and often don’t use bar soap because I find it can be so drying. I was thrilled to find that the soap from Soap Deli was both gentle and moisturizing. The scents are beautiful and light so not overpowering and the soap has a great lather. The real test was to not use any body lotion after my shower and see if my skin dried out and I’m happy to say my skin stayed soft and smooth!  In Soap Deli’s shop you are sure to find a scent you like and if not then the unscented goatsmilk soap is wonderful and perfect for dry skin. Take a look and I’m sure you’ll find something you love! ♥

Crystal Clear Black Elegance

I wanted to share one of the most recent treasuries I’ve been included in. I think it’s just beautiful! Thanks to Hogans Handiwork for including my Winter Elegance Bracelet! ♥

‘Crystal Clear, Black Elegance’ by HogansHandiwork

Swarovski Crystal Button Rin… galla15 $28.00	Crystal I DO Shoe Stickers i… yourhappilyeve… $14.00	Black and White Elegance Pre… kellyjsorenson $15.00	Morning Light Necklace – Swa… petitehermine $18.00
Chrome Peterbilt Hood Orname… RhettDidntGive… $43.00	Black Lined Clear/Foil Cente… krystalsjewelr… $10.00	Romantic Misty Earl Gray Dus… RiverOfRomansk $39.80	Swinging Into Fall – Fine Ar… Crystalphotogr… $4.50
Winter Elegance Bracelet SeaFlowerStudi… $40.00	swimming with diamonds, a fe… ORphotography $23.00	White Wedding Vintage Hair F… VintageFlowerF… $15.00	Caged – Vintage Bead Earring… jQjewelrydesig… $18.00
Black – Swarovski Elements C… myhandmadecraf… $12.00	Blazer Black Before the A4 andwhatelseist… $98.00	Shabby Sea shell Encrusted c… eastcoasttrend… $18.95	Black Onyx Polished Crystal … SunnyCrystals $11.50

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

What’s In a Name?

The name you give your business can say so much about you and your business that you want to make sure to choose it carefully and get it right the first time. Take some time, give it a lot of thought and even ask for the opinions of anyone you trust to be honest.

When choosing a name for your business here are a few things to consider.
~ You may want to choose a name that has a personal or special meaning to you but make sure that it still makes sense for your business.
~ Choose a name that is easy to remember, say and spell.
~ Decide if you want your name to give an idea of what you offer of if you would like to keep it more generic. For example if you offer photographs you may want to include “photography” in the name but if you plan to one day also offer wood carvings then you may not want your name to be so specific.

Packaging Poll Results Revealed

Thanks to everyone who took part in my poll to find out exactly how everyone feels about the packaging on a handmade item they purchase online. We all know how important first impressions are and when your customer receives their package in the mail the packaging is that first impression so I want to make it perfect.

It’s time to share the results so here they are!

In last place with 7% is the option to have reusable packaging such as a tin that would mean an increased shipping cost.

Next with 10% was the option offering a beautiful and luxurious packaging with lots of ribbon and tissue paper.

Front Page of Etsy!

Something so exciting happened this weekend I just had to share it with you! I made it onto the front page of Etsy! For those of you who sell on Etsy you know this is something we strive for a sellers and it’s so exciting when it finally happens!

It happened Friday evening. I was busy baking and not near my computer. When I was finished what I was doing and checked messages on my phone I saw I had a sale and a TON of messages then I checked my stats and saw I had a huge increase in views for the day so I knew something exciting must have happened. I checked Craft Cult to see past front page treasuries and sure enough a treasury I had been included in a few days ago had been featured on Etsy’s Front Page!

Thanks to Valadora Design for including me in such a beautiful treasury and congrats to everyone else who was included! Take a look! ♥

A Day at the Spa Treasury, Etsy Front Page, March 18, 2011

Spring is Coming

I saw saw the weather forcast for this week and I’m excited to see the next two days are supposed to be beautiful and sunny. This makes me know that spring has to be coming soon and the grass will be turning green and leaves will be budding on the trees. Here’s a beautiful treasury I was included in this week that reminds me of the fresh green of spring! Enjoy! ♥

‘moss and more’ by allthingswhite

Vintage Wooden Spools of Thr… thedancingwren $9.00	Vintage Wire Basket No. 2 elizabethwrenv… $19.00	spring green heart felts orn… SewnNatural $	Glitter Moss Green Blended … bysweetmom $28.00
2 miniature nesting heart di… JDWolfePottery $20.00	Handmade Pumpkin Pincushion … SeaPinks $12.00	All-in-1 Changing pad clutch… modmomME $40.00	Pea Green Beaded Bracelet SeaFlowerStudi… $40.00
Crested Fern . Lastrea crist… slinkymalinkic… $24.95	SALE… Felted scarf Green A… Baymut $59.00	Single Paper Ornament – Gree… LBCpaper $9.95	Avocado Study No.2 original… TheJoyofColor $32.00
The Leprechaun twolefthands $30.00	Pistachio green dot Chenille… thegildedbee $3.75	Paris Photo Set – 16×20 Talk… littlebrownpen $90.00	Sale 30% off Silk necklace … sleeks $26.60

Treasury tool is sponsored by Lazzia.com A/B image testing.