New Changes // Getting Our Etsy Shop Holiday Ready

old look

For those of you who have been following the team here at Make. Shop. Live. for a while you have noticed the massive overhaul and major work we have been doing to the company this year. It is hard to believe what we have been able to accomplish in such a short amount of time, but it is truly amazing what you can achieve with some determination and the right people in place.

new look

One thing I have realized since we did our re-branding and website redesign this summer is how wonderful things come together when you realize your strengths as well as weaknesses. It is hard when you have a DIY attitude sometimes to admit that there are somethings that maybe you could do but you should enlist someone else to do instead. I am so thankful to have had the pleasure to work with such amazing and talented people such as Sharon Fain of Fain Consulting, Steph of Hearts and Laserbeams, and my wonderful husband Kevin Sears as we put together all of our public image facets of Make. Shop. Live.! If I had not worked with these talented artists there is no way our website, blog, Twitter, Facebook, and Etsy Shop would all be cohesive and comprehensive in time for the holiday shopping rush. Not only would working on all of these things taken me away from being able to focus on making my crafts, I also wouldn't have been able to elevate the end result to the level achieved using my basic Photoshop and photography skills. I want to take a quick moment to not only thank everyone for their hard work, but to point out that you too have time to enlist the help of a graphic designer, photographer, and social media strategist in time for the holiday business, if you act quickly.

If all you do is tweak your photography, it is amazing how just investing in a few professional shots can elevate your products and brand! Plus, it can actually be more affordable than you'd expect. Here are a few examples of what we have been up to reworking our holiday inventory for 2012-

Upcycled Address Books:

Address Book (Before)

Address Book (After)

Reinbeers:

Reinbeer Holiday Ornament (Before)

Reinbeer Holiday Ornament (After)

Pincushion Rings:

Pincushion Ring (Before)

Pincushion Ring (After)

We understand that all small businesses run on a tight budget and some aspects (like hiring a graphic designer or photographer) may not be an option for you. We have compiled some suggestions below that can still make a huge difference for your business while being easy enough that you can do it yourself.

You can make a lightbox inexpensively at home with this quick tutorial. Having pictures of your products on a white background help your items make it onto Etsy treasuries helping with sales and other promotions.

Join an Etsy Team or sellers group.

Participate in common interest twitter chats and promotions.

Try a new social media platform like Instagram or Tumblr to gain followers while creating content for your business effortlessly. Here's a post we recently did that explains how easy and effortless it really is.

Promoting others helps promote you! By creating your own treasuries on Etsy not only do you do something nice for your fellow artists but your treasury can be seen and promoted by tons of other folks. Another great tip for spreading the love, while making treasuries know what types of products and pricing are on the market. Sometimes you can realize a gap in services and be inspired to make something that isn't yet available just by seeing what is already out there.

Send a handwritten letters to family and friends that you have been neglecting. It is always nice to receive a letter in the mail and what better way to spread the warm fuzzies then with a thoughtful note. By writing someone a letter that you haven't spoken with in a while you put your life in perspective and you realize just what things matter to you and what goals/plans you may have. I find that while writing people concisely what your plans are, you ultimately cut out the fluff and streamline what works and doesn't work for you.

Take a well deserved break and ask for help! No one expects you to be a craft super hero. If you begin to feel overwhelmed or a task is getting out of control for you, ask a peer for help/suggestions/critique to manage your task. They may just come up with a solution that blows yours outta the water and cuts the time! Then, you can cross promote both parties involvement and the collaboration becomes a win-win for everyone!!

And lastly, I must stress this one: force yourself to try something new that is stimulating each week. Maybe it's trying a new computer task like a plug-in or program, or maybe it is going to a place or event you have never been to. There has been so many times I have wanted to flake out on something that has been an invaluable and inspirational experience. If I had allowed myself to skip something I had planned on I would have missed out majorly. Life has a wonderful way of presenting exactly what you need to you. Make yourself available for these opportunities to come to you and welcoming new things by being flexible. You never know when opportunity comes knocking until you open the door!

I hope this info is helpful for you. If you have any additional advice or helpful tips to get others inspired and ready for the holidays feel free to leave the info in our comments section. :)

I hope to see you at CAFAM's Etsy Craft Night tonight!!!

XOXO, KC

How-To's Day: Easy Daily Calendar

Having a daily calendar to save a few notes on what you did for the day or milestones you may have crossed is really fun.

All you need for this project is:

4"X6" Index Cards

Date Stamp

Optional- Day of the Week Tape

A box or something to organize the cards in.

I got lucky and the box I found at a garage sale has month dividers already for me to utilize.  You can make your own or buy some to separate the months:

First things first, load up your index cards. You can either pre-stamp the dates or stamp as you go.  I found the days of the week washi tape from Etsy seller Pretty Tape back before the Holidays and I LOVE having rolls of this tape on hand.  I thought I would be using it in my notebook- I am addicted to jotting notes about everything! I think if I don't write something down it never sinks down into my brain. Notebooks are helpful but until recently I haven't figured out a good way to use the information after I record it. Now, I like having a small notebook on me at all times to capture important notes to recall and remember as well as an idex card day diary to record snippets of each day.  So far the notes have been short enough to where I can add extra info on the card next year too!  It will be interesting to see if there are any trends or lucky days when the years go by.  Also, the cards can be slipped in your purse and travel with you on the go so you never miss the details.

Here are some items on Etsy to make your own:

Hope you enjoy making and enjoying one for yourself!

XOXO, KC

How-To's Day: Get Ready for Halloween 2011

Maybe if I had grown up in this neighborhood I would be more into Halloween:

If you haven't checked out the blog How About Orange, you totally should! There is a super awesome post on making a regular black trash bag come alive as a wickedly wonderful spider web decorations just in time for Halloween.

Check out the post and the tutorial here.

 (image from Craft Buds)

I have stumbled across a ton of fabric pumpkin tutorials, but I really like this one from Craft Buds.  Check out the project and full post here.

I also found this site that has an extensive list of all kinds of items and Halloween projects to make here.

Hope you are inspired by these fun Halloween finds!

Have a super day and enjoy the spooky finds! 

XOXO, KC

Totally into DIY Kits on Etsy

Today I thought I would share some DIY Kits featured by sellers on Etsy that could spark some creativity and present making.

I have been going through some of the blog drafts I haven't published and I should be pushing out some random old posts, possibly tonight or tomorrow.

Looks like it is almost time to pick up Kevin...

XOXO, KC   

How-To's Day: Decorate Gifts with Recycled Bows

I know so many people with birthdays this month, I thought I would share some tricks and tips to add that unique touch to that special gift. Today's project is a quick and easy recycled paper gift bow that anyone could make. :)

Things I would Buy at Renegade this Weekend

Here are all the things that would fill my suitcase if I was going to Renegade this weekend in Chicago:

 
XOXO,
KC

Yay for Friday!

Yay! It's Friday!!! I spent some time today looking at a TON of vintage housewares on Etsy.  It is always fun to make some time to "window shop" and see what's out there :)

Here is some Vintage Finds in a Treasury "wish list" for my Birthday- Wink, Wink ;)



Hope everyone has a super weekend!!!
XOXO,
KC

Featured: Etsy Treasury- Renegade Austin,TX

Thanks so much Snake and Roxy for including us on this Treasury!!!

Wedding Wednesday- Tags found on Etsy

My shoulder is killing me today. Thankfully, I am seeing the doctor tomorrow, but I have been switching off between exercises and itemizing my receipts today.  Also, I am very anxious that today is the first time I am talking to Beckie of bzb designs on the phone :)  We have been friends on-line for months now and we are so excited to be applying to the Renegade Craft Fair in Brooklyn together so we can meet in person this summer!!!

This post will be just the two Etsy treasuries I picked out for Wedding Wednesday. Hope you enjoy!

XOXO,
KC

Wedding Wednesday- Cake Toppers

Last night I had a great catch-up with Alessandra about her wedding and I brought up wedding cake toppers.  I know that this detail is something that can wait until more details are firmed up, but bringing it up made me super excited to look at the varieties on Etsy.

I love the traditional bride and groom toppers, especially the fun vintage ones.  Now you can  even get some custom ones made to look just like the both of you! What a special touch- maybe even the icing on the cake! Hehehe I love being cheesy when love is involved :)

The cake toppers can add a punch of fun to tie in a unique theme and here are some that will be the unique touch you desire:

Fun and Unique Rubber Stamps

Today I made a Treasury for "Making Your Mark" on your art.  I LOVE, love, love rubber stamps! I feel like the possibilities are endless when it comes to using them. I don't really like the results I have found with the clear stamps.  It may just be me, but they always come out super light for me.  Here are some fun and unique stamps you may have to check out on Etsy:


If you have any tips on the clear rubber stamps, please let me know.  I feel like a doofus that they don't work very well for me :(

Happy Crafting!
XOXO,
KC