Go Against the Grain

{Font Friday}

2012-02-03T07:00:00.000-06:00

Happy Font Friday everyone!
I have a confession to make. I picked today's font for one reason.

This:

Yep, I picked Rosarian for Font Friday because of cupcakes.

The fact that it is also a super cute script doesn't hurt either right?

It is very versatile and has 215 alternates and 10 ornaments to choose from as well as a bold weight too!

Rosarian is available for $29 for each weight or you can buy the family for $55.

Will you be adding Rosarian to your font family?

To check out the other Font Friday posts please visit the blogs below & follow the hash tag: #fontfriday on twitter.

ALEXANDRA / THE AERIALIST PRESS, JEN / BLUSH PRINTABLES, STEPH / BUBBLEROCK,
CHELSEA / FOURTH AND FOLDED, LAUREN / LAUREN ELISE CRAFTED, LAUREN / PALM PAPERS,
KERRY / SUPER SWOON, ALISON / ALISON OWEN DESIGN, JENNY / HANK+HUNT

ALLIE / HONEY BEE INVITES, WENDY / WESWENDESIGN, ANNA / AND EVERYTHING NICE

VICKI / CURLY WILLOW, SOFIA / BRANCOPRATA,

JENNA + ELIZABETH / LITTLE BIT HEART, CATHERINE / DESIGN EDITOR

30 Before 30: Update

2012-02-01T07:00:00.000-06:00

It has been a while since I've posted about my 30 before 30 list. I'd like to say it is because I've been busy completing the things on that list... sadly that is not the case.

I turn 30 on June 16th of this year and of the 30 things on my list, I have completed 7, have another 3 in progress and one that I failed at already. That leaves 19 more left to do.

Over New Years I was able to complete # 4 on my list with the assistance of my family. Number four was to do something nice for a stranger. We did several nice things! I designed some fun Random Act of Kindness cards that we left behind when we did our nice deed.

The first act of kindness was to bring warm blankets and some hot chocolate and marshmallows to the local homeless shelter. It hasn't been as chilly as it usually is but it was appreciated none the less.

Next we went through the Starbucks drive through and after paying for our drinks, we bought a gift card and told the barista at the window to give it to the car behind us. He wasn't sure what to think at first but was a good sport and posed for a picture for us. We pulled away slowly in attempts to see him give the car behind us the card but didn't want to seem creepy.

The next day we took some cookies over to the local fire department. In a family populated by mostly girls, this was one random act of kindness that we seemed to talk about the most. I have some pretty cute nieces that volunteered to deliver the cookies. Right after I took this picture they realized the door hand locked behind them, luckily they were able to walk around and use a back door!

The last random act of kindness we did was to take a little basket of things to the nurses station at the nursing home. We had a few more random acts of kindness we wanted to accomplish but due to time were unable to. We can always to them the next time we all get together!

Today I'm starting another one on my list and I'll need your help to make sure I stick to it. I'm starting number 22. To not eat lunch out for a month. I usually bring my lunch with me to work but not as often as I should. I'm doing this for 2 reasons. To save money and to save the calories. Good reasons right? Hopefully on February 29th I'll be able to cross this one off as another one accomplished.

Are you doing a 30 Before 30 list or other similar type challenge? How are you doing on it?

{Valentine's Day Inspiration}

2012-01-31T06:30:00.000-06:00

Well I finally got Christmas put away (yes, i know it is the last day of January) and I'm starting to decorate for Valentine's Day.

I've got some little odds and ends I put up around the house but the area that is the focus of my decor brainstorming lately is my mantel. I of course head to my favorite source of inspiration, Pinterest!

Here are some complete mantel ideas that I like.

Pinned here - Original Source

I love the burlap bunting and the matching hearts in the frame.

Pinned here - Original Source

Also love this bunting too!

As you have guessed, I plan to incorporate a bunting of some kind in my my mantel, I just need to decide what kind!

These are some other ideas I've come across that might look good in a mantel display.

Cute conversation heart printables

Pinned here - Original Source

Framed Hearts

Pinned Here - Original Source

Large Letterpress Love Prints

Pinned Here - Original Source

I also want to do a large print of some kind and I'm digging the LOVE one above.

I hope to have it finished this weekend and will be taking pictures so I can share with you.

Have you decorated for Valentine's Day yet? I'd love to see what you have done!

{Etsy Manners Monday}

2012-01-23T06:30:00.000-06:00

Happy Monday everyone!
I have a fun topic today for Etsy Manners Monday.

If you are like me, you like shopping. And the one thing that makes shopping better is getting things on sale!

When Etsy introduced the coupon code option I was thrilled and I know that everyone else was too. Some sellers share coupon codes on their websites, facebook, twitter etc.but unless you know where to look you might be missing out on a good savings opportunity.

Say hello to Etsycouponcode.com!
An entire website dedicated to coupons for Etsy?! Heck Yeah!

The site has all the same categories that Etsy does and shows the coupon codes that are active within that category.

I plan to use this site from now on when shopping for goodies on Etsy.
And sellers, you can take advantage and get more exposure with your coupon codes by submitting them to the site! I just signed up so be sure to check out the site to find out about an upcoming coupon code for the shop!

So what do you think? Will you use Etsycouponcode.com as a buyer or seller?

If you are interested in being a guest blogger or have suggestions on topics for this series please leave a comment below and I will be in touch with you. You can also contact me on Facebook, Twitter or through email.

I also need your help to get the word out about Etsy Manners Monday. You can grab a copy of the button to the right, created by the talented Blush Printables, and post it on your blog or site. Also be sure to follow us on twitter with the hashtag: #etsymannersmonday

{Font Friday}

2012-01-20T06:00:00.000-06:00

Hello Hello! I apologize for the lack of posts lately. I've been utterly swamped {which is great!} but it has caused blogging to fall behind a bit.

I hope to make up for it with today's Font Friday post!

May I introduce you to A2 Zadie.

Lovely isn't it? And um... check out the ampersand and the heart!

There are two versions of the font, the outlined one and the solid filled in one. Both have over 200 glyphs! There is only one negative thing about this font. The price. At $150 for each or $245 if you by both, this typeface is gonna require some saving up for.

To check out more images of Zadie in use, or to add it to your collection click here.

To check out the other Font Friday posts please visit the blogs below & follow the hash tag: #fontfriday on twitter.

ALLIE / HONEY BEE INVITES, WENDY / WESWENDESIGN, ANNA / AND EVERYTHING NICE

VICKI / CURLY WILLOW, SOFIA / BRANCOPRATA,

JENNA + ELIZABETH / LITTLE BIT HEART, CATHERINE / DESIGN EDITOR

{Etsy Manners Monday} - Put a Pin on it

2012-01-09T03:00:00.000-06:00

Happy Monday everyone! Hope you had a great weekend. Mine was excellent. I attended my first ever NFL football game, and a playoff game to boot!

The first Etsy Manners Monday of 2012 is about something I am personally excited to see happen on Etsy.

The arrival of a 'Pin It" button for Pinterest!

I was very happy to see when they added the buttons for sharing on Twitter and Facebook so this was naturally the next step and it is finally here!

You can see these buttons on the right hand side of the page down towards the bottom. -->

Like the Twitter and Facebook buttons, the pin it button is great for both sellers and buyers.

Sellers can add their items to pinterest to help gain exposure though please do this sparingly... Pinterest is not keen on lots of self promotion so be warned. I suggest using it for your new items to give them an initial boost.

Buyers and sellers will be able to add items from etsy to their pinterest boards for saving for the future even easier. This is very true if you do a lot of browsing from a smart phone. Before there was no way to add a pin from etsy, but now we can!

So what is your view on the addition on the Pin it Button?

{Font Friday}

2012-01-06T07:30:00.000-06:00

Happy first Font Friday of 2012!! For this very important first, I picked a font by the always amazing Ale Paul. Brownstone Sans. I love the modern undertones it has!

Not only does Brownstone have all kinds of alternates and ligatures, but it also has frames!!

So many possibilities!

To get Brownstone Sans for your collection head here. There are 3 different weights for the letters as well as the frames. You can get the alphabet weights for $59 each and the frames for $29 each. Or you can get the whole set for $119.

So what do you think, is Brownstone worthy of being the first font of 2012? I'm gonna be saving my pennies so I can purchase this little jem. I can't wait to play with those frames!

To check out the other Font Friday posts please visit the blogs below & follow the hash tag: #fontfriday on twitter.

ALLIE / HONEY BEE INVITES, WENDY / WESWENDESIGN, ANNA / AND EVERYTHING NICE

VICKI / CURLY WILLOW, SOFIA / BRANCOPRATA,

JENNA + ELIZABETH / LITTLE BIT HEART, CATHERINE / DESIGN EDITOR

{Welcome 2012!}

2012-01-01T06:00:00.000-06:00

Goodbye to 2011 and hello 2012!

2011 was a heck of a year and I can't wait to see what 2012 has in store. So far it is looking like it could be an amazing year, I hope it will be amazing for you as well!

{Photo via Frog Prince Paperie}

{Merry Christmas}

2011-12-25T06:00:00.000-06:00

From my family to yours, I hope you have a Merry Christmas filled with love, laughter and joy.

I will be taking a small blogging break to enjoy time with family and friends but will be back at the New Year.

Make sure to enjoy the season and have a few cupcakes while you are at it.

Merry Christmas!

{Etsy Manners Monday} We Are Human

2011-12-19T06:30:00.000-06:00

Hi everyone, hope you had a wonderful weekend! Today we are back to Etsy Manners Monday after having 2 weeks off.

This week's topic was inspired by a recent incident that a friend and fellow Etsy seller experienced.

We are all human. As humans we make mistakes. Shop owners strive to do their best and to be as perfect as possible, but on occasion those mistakes do happen. During stressful times, especially busy holiday seasons, mistakes are a little more likely to happen.

If a mistake does in fact happen on the part of the seller, it is best to recognize it, take ownership of it, then remedy that situation as best as possible.

The buyer needs to recognize those things I mentioned above; that sellers are human and mistakes can happen. They also need to give the seller the opportunity to fix the mistake. That last sentence is key.

In my friend's situation, they saw they made a mistake almost instantly and began to fix the error. The buyer, for lack of a better description, flipped out and was acting very unreasonably towards the shop owner even after she had completely fixed the mistake. The harassment was so great that it caused her to take action with Etsy who instructed her to not respond to the buyer and to contact them if there was anymore harassment.

The above is a very sad situation to happen and is luckily not common. No one wants to be involved in something like that as either the buyer or the seller.

I hope that both buyers and sellers can remember that key statement and give one another the chance to fix things if a mistake happens. We are human.

On a separate note, just wanted to remind you all to vote in the Etsy Wedding Team holiday Challenge! Click here to go to the site to vote in the poll on the right side of the page. I'd love it if you would help me out and vote my me, number 5. But any vote to help support the team would be great! Don't forget to enter the giveaway too!

{Font Friday}

2011-12-16T05:30:00.000-06:00

For today's font Friday I had thought about doing a Christmas themed one since we are only 9 days away. I had fully intended to do that.

Till I saw this beauty:

You can see why I changed my mind right!?

Such a beautiful ampersand. It belongs to the font Hera Big.

The word big isn't just part of the font name, it really is big... 8 weights and 16 fonts big!

I love the unique look that each one has. From the extra thin up to the black italic, each one has elements of what is called a ball serif.

You can buy each individual font for $40, or the entire family for $280. To see more examples of Hera Big in action, or to add it to your collection click here.

To check out the other Font Friday posts please visit the blogs below & follow the hash tag: #fontfriday on twitter.

ALLIE / HONEY BEE INVITES, WENDY / WESWENDESIGN, ANNA / AND EVERYTHING NICE

VICKI / CURLY WILLOW, SOFIA / BRANCOPRATA,

JENNA + ELIZABETH / LITTLE BIT HEART, CATHERINE / DESIGN EDITOR

{My Holiday Home - JOY}

2011-12-15T06:30:00.000-06:00

Like most people, I've been getting a ton of ideas from Pinterest for Christmas decorating, gifts and general greatness. A while back I came across a pin that involved glitter and modge podge and knew I wanted to use the idea for part of my Christmas decor.

And for once I actually did it instead of just pinning it!
Here is what I created.

Joy!

To create this I used the following:
- letters for spelling out your word {I used light weight paper mache letters from Hobby Lobby}
-craft paint in your choice of color {I used red since the glitter would be red}
-paint brush
-foam brush
-glitter and tinsel glitter in your choice of color.
-modge podge
-parchment paper {to collect excess glitter and funnel back into container}

I had all of the above items except the letters and tinsel glitter so this was a nice and inexpensive project that I was able to complete in about 2 hours.

First I laid out my parchment paper and painted all the letters with my regular paintbrush and the red paint. I only painted the front and sides as I knew the back wouldn't be seen so no need to take time to do that side.

You don't need to do a really neat job on the paint as it is only a background for the glitter so this went quick. By the time I finished with the last letter the first one was dry enough for me to pick up and start the next step.

The next step is to take your modge podge and foam brush and apply a nice even coat of modge podge in small sections on the letter, then sprinkle on the regular glitter, tap of the excess onto the parchment paper and continue on to the next section till most of the letter is covered except for the section you were holding the letter with.

Again once you glitter all the letters, the first one should be dry enough to handle so you can add glitter to the sections where you were holding the letters from.

Periodically you will need to funnel the excess glitter back into the container. The parchment paper works better than any other method I've tried as for some reason it has much less static cling!

The last step is to add some more texture and go back on top of the regular glitter {once its all dry} and dab on some modge podge where you want to add the tinsel glitter as an accent. I added mine to the tops of the letters to make it look like it was sliding down. You could layer other types of glitter as well if you wanted even more texture.

That's it!

I placed my letters on my coffee table with some fresh evergreen sprigs, a red bow and my Willow House Chapel luminary.

I love how it turned out. What do you think?!

What ideas have you seen that you have re created? I'd love for you to share!

{My Holiday Home - Mantel}

2011-12-13T06:30:00.000-06:00

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas... in the house! I had hoped to get all the decorating done a bit sooner, but considering that I got it up at all is good for me haha!

I decided to do my mantel first in a white and silver theme with a few pops of red.

I started off with the white metal trees to anchor the two ends then added from there.

I knew I wanted a white wreath in the center and I was having the hardest time finding one and it looked like I was going to have to make one. On trip to Michaels to buy supplies to make it and I found a ready made white wreath! Complete with flocking and some sparkles too! Wanna know the best part? It was only $4! I was one happy girl.

In addition to the tree, the left side has a cute little birch bark Reindeer with a wreath around it's neck and a wood carved snowflake. I also hung our stockings there as well.

The right side also has a birch bark snowman and sleigh to match the reindeer. I added in some red ornaments and snow to the sleigh and hung a silver Merry Christmas ornament from one of the runners. The snow man is sitting on some presents wrapped in silver paper with white snowflake trim from Martha Stewart.

So what do ya think?! Up next I'll share a DIY project I did for my coffee table that used glitter, fresh greenery and ribbon so be sure to check back!

{12 Days of Christmas Sale - Day 12}

2011-12-12T06:30:00.000-06:00

Happy Monday everyone! I don't know about you but I'm kinda sad to see the end of this fun 12 Days of Christmas sale. Since today is the last day I've got a big deal for you.

For day 12 I'm offering a BOGO half off sale on my new Tinsel Toppers. But wait, there's more! I'm also offering free first class shipping on all orders in the US!

To take advantage of today's deal just mention Day 12 when you check out and I'll refund the shipping prices as well as the discount amount.

I hope you have enjoyed my little flurry {hehe flurry} of sales and were able to take advantage of the discounts.

I'm just about finished with my decorating for the holidays and will be posting some pictures this week, be sure to come back and check out what I came up with this year.

{12 Days of Christmas Sale - Day 11}

2011-12-11T08:59:00.001-06:00

Well we are coming down to the end of the sale, I hope you have enjoyed it.

For day 11 get 15% off all drink straw flag orders! Mention day 11 when checking out and I'll process the discount.

Make sure to come back tomorrow for the last day. I promise you won't want to miss it!

{12 Days of Christmas Sale - Day 10}

2011-12-10T13:06:00.001-06:00

Happy Saturday everyone hope your weekend is going well so far.
To help it get even better I've got Day 10 of the 12 Days of Christmas Sale for you!

For Day 10 I'm offering 20% off your entire order in the shop. Just mention day 10 when checking out!

Only 2 more days left in the sale so be sure to check back tomorrow and Monday.

{Font Friday + Day 9}

2011-12-09T06:30:00.000-06:00

I love today. Today is Friday. That means font Friday!
Today is also December 9th. That means Day 9 of the 12 days of Christmas special!

Lets do day 9 first. For day 9 take 30% off all candy buffet tag orders!

That includes printable files only, as well as if you need me to print them for ya!

These can even be customized for drinks and regular food items, not just sweets! Perfect for all kinds of events. From weddings and birthday parties, to corporate events and holiday parties!

Just mention Day 9 when checking out and I'll process the discount for you.

Now on to Font Friday!
For this week I picked a cool font that brings together western style fonts and the popular destroyed typefaces. Wausau.

Both parts of that image above are part of the font. Yeah, told you it was cool. I love that it has a shadowed effect to it too. Gives it even more dimension.

And yes.. each letter has an ornamental caps and double letter ligatures. Oh the options!

I'm so excited about this font and it is only $30. Pretty reasonable right? I've had it sitting in the shopping cart of myfonts.com all day, ready to buy it!

What do you think, should I click buy?! Click here to check out all the details or to buy it for yourself.

I hope your Friday is wonderful and your weekend even better. Don't forget to check back here for day 10 and 11 of the 12 Days of Christmas Sale.

{12 Days of Christmas Sale- Day 8}

2011-12-08T06:00:00.000-06:00

We are getting closer to the end of the 12 Days of Christmas Sale. I hope you have been enjoying it so far!

If you know someone who has been extra good this year than today's deal is perfect for you. For day 8 take 40% off of the Santa Clause Nice List Certificates!

Perfect for children of all ages to help ensure they continue to behave all the way through till Christmas! Mention day 8 when checking out along with the name you want on the certificate.

Have a great Thursday!

{12 Days of Christmas - Day 7}

2011-12-07T05:30:00.000-06:00

Lets see, today is Wednesday right? So.. Happy Hump Day, Happy Wedding Wednesday, and Happy Day 7 of the 12 Days of Christmas!

Today's deal for day 7 is 15% off all celebration banners! These are great for all kinds of events, from holiday parties, and birthdays showers and weddings! Customizable to your choice of color, font style and text.

Mention day 7 when checking out!

Hope your Wednesday is wonderful!

{12 Days of Christmas Sale - Day 6}

2011-12-06T05:00:00.000-06:00

Today marks day 6 of the 12 days of Christmas Sale! We are halfway through!

For today's deal I've got a BOGO FREE for you.

Buy one set of cupcake wrappers, any kind, get one set free! Limit of 4 free sets please.

To take advantage of this deal please mention day 6 when checking out!

6 down, 6 to go. Come back tomorrow for day 7!

{12 Days of Christmas Sale - Day 5}

2011-12-05T06:30:00.000-06:00

Happy Monday! Hope you all had a wonderful weekend. I had lots planned, including putting up our tree, but that along with some other things didn't happen. I'll get it up eventually.

So on to day 5 of the 12 Days of Christmas. For day 5 get a free set of 4 double sided naughty and nice gift tags with any purchase! Just mention day five in the message to seller section upon checking out and I'll add them to your order.

See you back here tomorrow for day 6.

{12 Days of Christmas Sale - Day 4}

2011-12-04T06:00:00.000-06:00

Happy Sunday and welcome back for day 4 of the 12 Days of Christmas Special!

For day 4 I have another freebie with purchase!
With any purchase you will get a set of 4 gingerbread kraft gift tags!

Just mention day 4 when checking out and I will automatically add the free tags to your order!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend and come back tomorrow for day 5!

{12 Days of Christmas Sale - Day 3}

2011-12-03T06:30:00.000-06:00

Welcome to day 3 of the 12 days of Christmas sale! I hope you are enjoying the deals, cause I am enjoying providing them to you!

For day 3 I have a BOGO 50% off special! Buy one set of 12 cupcake or drink straw flags, get another set half off! {Limit of 4 half off sets please}

Any type of cupcake or drink flags are eligible; holiday, custom orders are welcome too!

To take advantage of Day 3's special please mention day 3 when contacting me!

Hope you have a wonderful Saturday and come back tomorrow for day 4!

{Font Friday + 12 Days Sale Day 2}

2011-12-02T06:30:00.000-06:00

Oh happy day, it is Font Friday and day 2 for the 12 Days of Christmas sale!

Lets do the new 12 Days special first shall we? For day two get free shipping on all domestic US orders in the shop! To take advantage of today's special just mention day 2 in the comments to seller section upon check out!

Ok, now onto this week's Font Friday. I took a little break last week due to the holiday weekend so thanks for checking back in.

Give a warm welcome to Carolyna by Emily Lime.

Isn't she pretty!? A beautiful handwritten calligraphy font that is perfect for all kinds of uses. And with over 1000 characters there are endless possibilities; even foreign characters and swashes. Swashes!!

The only downside is that Carolyna is a little pricy at $89 for the pro version and $205 for the family of 3 fonts.

To see more examples of Carolyna in action or to add her to your collection click here.

Do you think you could find a use for this beautiful font?!

{12 days of Christmas sale!} Day 1

2011-12-01T09:00:00.000-06:00

Happy December everyone!! Are you excited about the last month of 2011? Only 31 days left so let's make em count!

For the next 12 days I am running a new sale or special each day! 12 chances to get freebies or save money. Great right?

So let's get started with day 1.

Today if you make a purchase of any kind in the shop you will get a set of 4 of my new naughty or nice kraft gift tags!

To get the freebie just make your purchase and mention DAY 1 in the comment section when you check out. That's it!

Be sure to come back and find out what the next 11 days hold in store!!

{Etsy Manners Monday} Tagging + Cyber Monday

2011-11-28T07:00:00.000-06:00

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend! Mine was great. Good food, and fun times with family and friends.

Did any of you venture out into the wee hours of the morning on Friday for shopping? I did not. While I like shopping, I'm not too keen on crowds which is why I usually partake it today's sales much more often. Cyber Monday!!

Don't forget to check out my Cyber Monday sale too! 10% off EVERYTHING in the shop! Use the code CYBER10 when you check out!

So what does Cyber Monday have to do with Etsy Manners Monday and tagging? A lot! No I don't want you to break our your spray cans and paint the nearest overpass or blank wall... Tagging is one of the main ways that bring up results in those search functions you do on Etsy.

Say I'm looking for funny gag gifts to give to co workers. I might type 'lumps of coal' into the search box.

The results that are brought up {shown on the left} are of items that might have those words in the title as well in the tags.

Lets look at that funny postcard's tags and see what is included shall we?

Well look at that! Lump of coal is the 4th tag listed.

This is why properly tagging your items is so important as sellers. We want to allow those potential customers to find our goods the easiest and fastest way possible.

And did you know that Etsy promotes special tags? For example this weekend they were promoting items tagged with the terms: Black Friday Etsy, Cyber Monday Etsy, and Free Shipping Etsy.

If you as a seller are having a sale that might fit any of those 3 tags, it would be a good idea to make sure the items that fit those sales are tagged with those key words for 2 reasons.

1. Etsy will be searching through all the items that pop up with those specific tags and promote from within those results in their emails, blog, twitter, front page, etc.

2. Buyers take note of this one... if you do a search with one of those tags, you can pull up massive amounts of items on sale!! Score!

So sellers, tag those items properly, and buyers search well. There are lots of amazing deals to be had and many hardworking small businesses that would appreciate your business!

Happy Shopping everyone!

If you are interested in being a guest blogger or have suggestions on topics for this series please leave a comment below and I will be in touch with you.

I also need your help to get the word out about Etsy Manners Monday. You can grab a copy of the button to the right, created by the talented Blush Printables, and post it on your blog or site. Also be sure to follow us on twitter with the hashtag: #etsymannersmonday

{Happy Thanksgiving!} + a Sale!

2011-11-24T08:59:00.001-06:00

Happy Happy Thanksgiving to you all! I hope you have a wonderful weekend filled with fun, family, friends and of course, food!

I wanted to thank each and everyone of you for your support and help for my blog, my etsy shop and my life. It means so much!

Starting today at 5pm central time I am having a sale in the shop. All of my holiday items will be marked 20% off! No coupon code needed! The sale will run till midnight on Sunday night.

I am also having a special black friday sale for buy one get one free on all the non holiday cupcake flags in my shop! Buy one set of 12 get one set free! {Limit of 2 free sets please!}

No coupon code needed. Just make sure to leave a message in the seller notes about your free set{s}. This sale will end at midnight.

But wait, theres more! I will also be having a special coupon code that can be used on Cyber Monday starting bright an early on Monday morning for 10% off everything in the shop! Use the code CYBER10 when checking out! Sale will end at midnight.

Please spread the word if you know of anyone who might be interested. I'll be posting reminders on twitter and facebook and who knows... I might have an extra suprise thrown in there too!

If you are braving all the stores this weekend have fun, good luck and stay safe.
Time to go find some Pumkin Pie!

{Etsy Manners Monday} Local

2011-11-21T07:00:00.000-06:00

Happy Monday everyone and welcome back for another Etsy Manners Monday post.

Today's post is brought to you by the letter L, for Local.

Did you know that you can search Etsy for local shops? You can! Say you are searching for a cute tutu for your niece. Type in tutu in the search box like normal and hit search.

When the page loads look on the left hand side of the page for the area that says local items. Click the blue link to filter the search results to show the ones that are near you!

So now that you know how to do a local search, why would you want to shop local vs other locations?

For one, shipping won't take nearly as long. Items you purchase will reach you much faster. To save even more, you might be able to do a local pick up.

If you do set up a local pick up make sure you meet in a public location, bring another person if possible, make sure you have each others contact information, and show up on time. This goes for both the seller and the buyer. Also, if you do arrange for local pick up, keep in mind the time frame of when items are needed and have open communication. Confirm the time and place before hand.

A friend of mine recently had a incident where they buyer asked if she would mind meeting since it was local. After agreeing to pick up the order, the seller stopped communication. The order was needed by a certain date and the seller was not responding after they had asked for the local pick up.

Another reason to shop local is that not only are you supporting handmade, you are supporting a local handmade business. Helping out local small businesses is always a great boost to the economy in your area.

The holiday's are a great time to try out the local shopping option on Etsy!
Do you think you will give it a try?!

{Font Friday}

2011-11-18T07:00:00.000-06:00

Happy Friday before Black Friday! Will you be out braving the crowds? I don't plan to but ya never know, I may discover something on sale that I have to have lol.

Now on to today's business…Font Friday!
Aside from scripts, big bold fonts tend to come in a close 2nd for my favorite style and today's pick is no exception.

Black No. 7
There are 2 different styles you can purchase, Black Label or Vintage.

The font is inspired from the famous Tennessee Whiskey logo from 1866 and has over 400 glyphs!

To view more examples of Black No. 7 in use or to add it to your shelf of favorites for only $20.79 click here.

To check out the other Font Friday posts please visit the blogs below & follow the hash tag: #fontfriday on twitter.

ALLIE / HONEY BEE INVITES, WENDY / WESWENDESIGN, ANNA / AND EVERYTHING NICE

VICKI / CURLY WILLOW, SOFIA / BRANCOPRATA,

JENNA + ELIZABETH / LITTLE BIT HEART, CATHERINE / DESIGN EDITOR

{Fall/Thanksgiving Mantel}

2011-11-14T07:00:00.000-06:00

I finally got my Fall/Thanksgiving Mantel display up this weekend. I was debating if I should just skip it and put up one for Christmas but I of course changed my mind and did it anyway.

Everything I used I already had so it was nice to not spend money on it.

I grabbed 2 soda bottles I had spray painted white, 2 faux candles and a mason jar and wrapped them with some burlap ribbon. I placed some wheat stalks that I had from last year into the white bottles and placed them on the ends. The letterpress tray in the center was a purchase I made a few years ago on a trip to Fredericksburg, TX and I made the GIVE banner with my Silhouette machine.

The little lantern on the left side is an antique railroad lantern that my Mother and Father in Law gave me. They were given a large collection of all kinds of lanterns from a friend and I got to pick out a few that I liked!

Here is a picture of it with the candles turned on.

You can't tell from the picture but they flicker!

I really like how it looks but for some reason it still seems incomplete. I can't figure out why though.

Any suggestions or thoughts on how I can finish it?!

2011-11-11T07:30:00.000-06:00

Can you believe that it is Font Friday again?! Yeah!! The giveaway from last week's Font Friday has ended and the winner should be announced some time today so be sure to check out Design Editor's post today to see if you won!

I have another special selection for font Friday today. This one was shared with me by the lovely Lauren Wiebe, editor of Weddings in Winnepeg Magazine!

The font is called Dyslexie and was designed by Dutch designer Christian Boer to help make reading for dyslexic people easier. Being dyslexic myself I find this freaking awesome!

Below are some images of the creation of the font.

The image below is a comparison of Dyslexia in blue compared to the font Arial in black.

The font works by making small changes in the appearance of certain letters of the alphabet that dyslexics commonly misconstrue, such as "p", "b", and "d" and makes them more recognizable.

To watch a slide show about the creation of this life changing font click here.

On their own the letters do look pretty odd but when used in a regular format it looks almost like a basic sans serif font. You can read more about the font and the research behind it here. Within that article is a link that lets you download a copy of that article but in the Dyslexia font so you can see for your self what it looks like.

So what do you think about Dyslexia? Design's function is to solve a problem, in this case I think it does just that!

To check out the other Font Friday posts please visit the blogs below & follow the hash tag: #fontfriday on twitter.

ALLIE / HONEY BEE INVITES, WENDY / WESWENDESIGN, ANNA / AND EVERYTHING NICE

VICKI / CURLY WILLOW, SOFIA / BRANCOPRATA,

JENNA + ELIZABETH / LITTLE BIT HEART, CATHERINE / DESIGN EDITOR

{Real Wedding Invites}

2011-11-09T07:00:00.000-06:00

Over the summer I got to work with Amanda, an east coast bride getting married in Boston, MA at the Liberty Hotel, on her invitations. She wanted something that was graphic and used their dark purple and dark gray color scheme.

Amanda was kind enough to mail me a final printed version of her invite so I could share it with you all! She got married this past weekend and thought this would be a perfect time to show how they turned out.

The hotel was the main source of inspiration as it has some incredible round windows that both Amanda and I were drawn to. So keeping those in mind I designed her invitation, RSVP card, map & directions card and return address envelope. She then took the design files and had them thermography printed to get a wonderful raised feel to them.

Here is how they turned out!

What do you think?

I can't wait to see pictures from how the wedding went! I'm sure it was amazing. Congrats Amanda!

P.S. Don't forget to vote in the Etsy Wedding Team Fall Challenge! {I'm #17 if ya wanna help me out!}

{Etsy Manners Monday} Etsy Apps

2011-11-07T07:30:00.000-06:00

Welcome back to Etsy Manners Monday everyone!

For this week's post I wanted to tell you about some things that can help both sellers and buyers that you may not be aware about.

Etsy Apps. These various apps are developed by third parties that can help buyers find items that they like, and sellers promote and run their shops.

The full list can be found here. There are 5 pages of apps but I'm going to touch on a few below.

Etsy On Sale: This app is a great one for sellers. It allows you to create sales events for your shop, easily edit tags, renew items and much more. You can also manage more than one shop too.

Outright: This is a great accounting website. If you are anything like I am with, this app will be a huge help. I am horrible at math and dealing with money and as a small business owner that is seomthing you need to keep straight. You can link up your paypal and various bank accounts to Outright and let it do all the work for you.

Handmade top 10: Handmade Top 10 is a excellent site for both sellers and buyers. Sellers can submit their items to the lists to be voted upon and gain exposure. Buyers can find some of the best items from Etsy as well as vote on them too.

Etsy Wishlist: With the holidays coming up this app can be a great help, as well as at many other gift giving times. The site lets you search your favorite products by their link and add to a wishlist that you can then share with friends and family as well as on Facebook and other social networking sites.

Craftcult: This site is home to the Heart of Matic. A tool that helps you track the activity of your shop. You can see the number of views an item has and who has hearted and item. These stats can be viewed by month, week or day to give extra insight to your shop traffic.

These are just a few that I have used so please be sure to check out the many others. You can sort them by mobile apps, apps for buyers and apps for sellers.

Do you have a favorite app that you use?

{A Very Special Font Friday}

2011-11-04T07:00:00.000-05:00

Today is a special Friday. It is font Friday but not any ordinary font Friday!

All the girls in the #fontfriday crew decided that with the holidays growing closer we would all design some free printables all using one font. Skunkling by Jason Mark Jones.

Jason designed Skunkling for the Design*Sponge and Veer Design Your Own Alphabet contest and he won 1st place! He recently turned his work into a font which you can buy here.

Now if all that sounds amazing, it gets better!! Jason has been kind enough to offer the font up in a giveaway!! You can win your own copy of Skunkling in a giveaway collaboration with #fontfriday!

To enter the giveaway head over to Design Editor. You have 3 ways you can win.
1) Leave a comment on her blog post about how you would use Skunkling.

2) Tweet the following tweet: "Just entered a #fontfriday #giveaway @DesignEditr, hosted by @jasonmarkjones, the creator of #skunkling and the @FontFriday crew"

3) Share the giveaway on Facebook with the following: "Just entered the Font Friday giveaway at Design Editor, hosted by the crew and Jason Mark Jones, the creator of Skunkling. http://bit.ly/tYtEXK"

Make sure to leave a comment on the blog post if you tweet and another if you share on Facebook! The giveaway is open till midnight EST, Thursday November 10th with the winner being announced on the 11th.

Remember those free printables I mentioned earlier? Here is mine!

A round cupcake topper design and 2 cupcake or drink flags to use for those Thanksgiving Feasts! To download my freebie click here.

Make sure you visit each #FONTFRIDAY blog post to get all of the free printables!!!

P.S. Don't forget to vote in the Etsy Wedding Team Fall Challenge! {I'm #17 if ya wanna help me out!}

Etsy Wedding Team Challenge

2011-11-02T07:00:00.000-05:00

I am lucky enough to be a member of the fabulous Etsy Wedding Team. We are a great group of etsy sellers that focus the majority of our products on the wedding industry.

Well we decided to do a challenge for the team! We submitted products that we thought best fit the fall theme.

For my entry into the challenge I submitted my fall cake flag set!

Now here is where I need your help... I need your votes!

If you could head over here and on the right side of the page vote for my entry, number 17!

Please help me win! I'd totally love you forever!

There is a chance for you to win something too! If you comment on that blog post {the one linked above} you have a chance to win a $20 visa/mastercard gift card!

You can earn an additional chance to win by tweeting! Make sure you read the post for the details.

The voting is open till November 15th so go vote! Please!

{Happy Halloween}

2011-10-31T07:30:00.000-05:00

Happy Halloween Everyone!!

Last week at work we had a Zombie day! A fellow co-worker and I did most of the make up for everyone, I took and edited the photos. We had a fun time and love how we all turned out so I thought I'd share how it turned out!
Wendy, one of the owners is the top left, the top right is one of our salesmen Romeo, bottom right is our instructor Josh and bottom left is our member services coordinator Crystal.

In the top left picture is our head of sales, Amber killing Crystal. The top right picture is our senior career advisor LaToya. The middle picture is me! The bottom right picture is our accountant Fran, the bottom left is my Boss and co owner Mike. Right above that is a group picture of Mike and LaToya attacking Amber.

We had such a fun time we think we might make this a yearly thing. For Halloween today we are all dressed up in costumes as well and having a pot luck lunch!

Does your workplace do anything fun for Halloween? What ever you have planned, I hope it is fun and safe!

{Font Friday}

2011-10-28T07:30:00.000-05:00

About 3 times this week I thought it was already Friday... Today is really Friday! Right?!
For this week's font Friday I want you to check out Anne Bonny by Volcano Type.

I have to admit that the word pirates in the sample above is what originally caught my attention for this font. I'm also dressing as a pirate for Halloween so even better right? We did luck out in how wonderful the full font really is though aside from the use of pirate reference!

Anne Bonny is a bodini inspired display font. There are 7 weights plus the various italics and lots and lots of alternates and swashes, ligatures and ornaments to choose from.

To purchase Anne Bonny or to see more examples of it in use {named after the Pirate BTW} click here. It is moderately priced at $45 per style so you might want to pick and choose what you think you might use the most if you plan to add this one to your collection.

To check out the other Font Friday posts please visit the blogs below & follow the hash tag: #fontfriday on twitter.

Lauren Elise Crafted, Steph from Bubblerock, Chelsey from Fourth and Folded , Jen from Blush Printables, Kerry at Super Swoon, Jenny fromHank + Hunt, Lauren from Palm Papers, Brancoprata, Alison from Alison Owen Design, Vicki from Curly Willow DIY, Catherine from Design Editor, Wendy from Weswen Design, and Allie from Honey Bee Invites.

{Etsy Manners Monday} New Updates

2011-10-24T07:30:00.000-05:00

Happy Monday everyone. I hope you all had a wonderful weekend! There have been some new changes on Etsy recently so I thought I'd talk about those a little bit for today's Etsy Manners Monday.

1. Socialized Shops- You might notice now that when you visit a shop there are new little links for Twitter and Facebook below the main banner.

Etsy has given an easy way for you to follow and like your favorite shops easily just by clicking the link on their shop! This is good news for both sellers and buyers.

This is what mine looks like now that I've connected my Facebook and twitter to it.

If you haven't set it up for your shop yet you should! Just visit the Info & Appearance section in your shop settings to get everything linked up and follow the easy instructions. If you are an admin on more than one page you will be given the option to choose which one you want to associate. It provides an even easier way for sellers to promote their shops and items! Buyers can now keep updated with the favorite shops much easier too!

2. Names and Shop Names- Until just recently, Etsy always kept a person, their shop and account very connected. Once you created a user name/shop name, you couldn't change it. Etsy has made a few changes that have added a bit more depth to how people and their shops are distinguished. Shop owners have the option of including their full name as well as their shop name. This will make it easier to tell who is a shop owner and who is simply just a buyer.

They also added the ability to change shop names which has been a request for a while now. New shop names will have a new url but the old ones will re-direct to the new one so no need to worry about broken links you might have in other places.

Below is an example of the new changes in action. You can see that of the 3 people listed below one owns a shop. She has a little icon next to her shop name. You can click the shop name to go to her store, or if you want to know more about her, you can click her name to be taken to her profile.

These new changes are a great step forward for shop owners and buyers alike. Now if only they would make it possible for shop owners to respond to feedback!

So what do you think about the new changes Etsy has made?

If you are interested in being a guest blogger or have suggestions on topics that this series should cover, leave a comment below and I will be in touch with you!

I also need your help to get the word out about this new series.You can grab a copy of the button above, created by the super talented Jen from Blush Printables, and post it on your blog.
Also be sure to follow the hash tag #etsymannersmonday on twitter for updates there as well.

{Font Friday}

2011-10-21T07:30:00.000-05:00

For this week's font Friday I was in search of a great serif style font and Yana caught my eye.
The great thing about Yana is that not only is it a beautiful serif but it also has some amazing alternate characters that give it some script qualities.

Take a look!

Did you read that? Over 200 alternates!

This is one insanely versatile font!

To see more or to purchase Yana {for as little as $10} click here.

{And Then Comes Baby} An online shower

2011-10-19T01:30:00.000-05:00

For the past several Friday's I have been posting a weekly font as part of Font Friday. At the end of each post you will find links to the fabulous other font friends that participate in Font Friday too.

Well, one of these great gals, Jen of Blush Printables, is expecting her first child and the rest of us thought it would be fun to throw her a suprise online shower of sorts that incorporated our love of fonts and we are calling it And then Comes Baby!

Surprise Jen!!!

We all picked a quote or saying that is baby/mom related and made a printable using a favorite font. Jen and everyone else will be able to print these out and display as they please.

Here is my contribution using the oh so lovely P22 Dearest font.

No one else will ever know the strength of my love for you.

After all, you're the only one who knows what my heart sounds like from the inside.

To download the PDF please click here.

Jen I wish you so much joy and love for your little girl! You are going to be a great mom. Congrats!!

Please click the links below to see all of the posts from the girls that are participating in today's online shower blog hop!

Anna http://andeverythingniceblog.com

Alexandra http://theaerialistpress.com/Blog/

Wendy http://weswendesign.com/blog

Lauren http://palmpapers.com/blog

Kerry http://superswoon.com

Laurel http://gatgblog.com

Elizabeth & Jenna http://littlebitheart.com

Steph http://bubblerock.co.nz/

Catherine http://designeditor.typepad.com

Chelsey http://www.fourthandfolded.com/the-blog/

Jenny http://hankandhunt.com

Also please stop by Jen's blog and send her some well wishes and also take a look inside her Etsy shop too!

{Etsy Manners Monday} Holiday Orders

2011-10-17T07:30:00.000-05:00

Unless you have been living under a rock, you have probably been noticing the increase in holiday centered shopping.

From ads promoting early sales, decor in all the stores and themed items for sale, the holiday season is upon us with Halloween creeping {I couldn't help it hehe} up first.

The days are going to fly by even faster so for those you plan to do any online shopping on Etsy for gifts, decor, etc I thought I'd give some suggestions to make things go smoothly along with some great items I've had my eye on for the holidays.

Make List: Like Santa, create a list of the people you need to shop for as well as any decorating ideas you might be envisioning. Refer back to that list often to help keep yourself organized! We all know how overwelmed we can get with the amazing items available on Etsy.

Printable Halloween Invites by Bellatristics

Read: When you find something you like read the listing thoroughly. I can't say it enough. Read the listing, the policies and the feedback. Read them twice if you need to!

Fall Beaded Serving Set by Beadz 2 Pleaz

Start Early: With online shopping you need to try to start as early as possible to allow for the items to be made as well as for shipping time. If you find yourself in a rush you might consider paying for faster shipping services. USPS flat rate shipping is pretty reasonable so talk with the seller to see if that is something they can do for you. International shipping takes even longer so make sure you take that into consideration too.

Primitive Candy Canes by Old Goat Prims

Custom Orders: Start even earlier on custom orders than you would with anything else. This goes for things that need personalization to things you want made with specific colors. These will take extra time to do.

During the holiday season shops get very busy and some may have a limit on the number of orders they can handle. Don't be afraid to contact them and ask questions about time frame, custom orders, personalization, etc. Supporting handmade is a great way to help spread the holiday cheer, hopefully the above tips will help ease some of the stress!

If you like Etsy Manners Monday I would love any help you all can provide in supporting and spreading the word. The more people that know about it, the more people that can be helped! Follow my blog by clicking that little button over to the right, place the Etsy Manners Monday button on your blog, tell your friends and follow the hash tag #etsymannersmonday on twitter. Thanks!

If you are interested in guest blogging on a topic for Etsy Manners Monday or have a topic suggestion please let me know in the comments below!

{Font Friday}

2011-10-14T07:30:00.000-05:00

Today's pick font Friday was not chosen for it's name like Mr Moustache was last week. I picked it it because it made me imagine all the fun ways I could use it!

Berimbau is a fun casual font that has a little playful attitude to it.

Berimbau is a versatile font with lots of alternates and 3 different styles as well as ornaments!

Berimbau was created by Ricardo Marcin, Erica Jung from PintassilgoPrints.
You can read more about Berimbau an purchase it for $27 here.

{Wedding Wednesday} Well Wed Feature

2011-10-12T07:30:00.000-05:00

A while back I posted that I had participated in a gorg. photo shoot that was going to be included in the Well Wed the Hamptons fall/winter 2011 magazine.

Well the magazine is out and I just got my copies!!

Photos clockwise from top left: Cover of fall/winter issue; table of contents page; close up showing photo of my straw flags used for the TOC image; table design.

Photos clockwise from top left: Close up of invite I designed; page showing invite, straw flags and beautiful bouquet; close up of sweets buffet tags I designed; gorgeous cake and details of sweets buffet.

You can check out a video of the behind the scenes set up of this shoot here.
To see a sample of the magazine online click here.

I am totally thrilled about this inclusion, my 2nd magazine, and am so thankful and grateful for those of you who have helped me get there! The people I work with are amazing and I look forward to working with them again!

I'm a Ghoulish Guest!

2011-10-11T07:30:00.000-05:00

I am so excited to share with you all that I will be a Ghoulish Guest Blogger over on The Brooklyn Limestone!

This is a big deal for me as this blog was one of the very first I started reading and one I still look forward to reading.

Stephanie is the genius behind the blog and she has done some amazing things. Especially for Halloween. She was just recently featured in an issue of Halloween Celebrations, a Woman's Day Magazine.

She also creates amazing invitations like these creature survival kit invites she made 2 years ago.

In anticipation of Halloween Stephanie is having some bloggers guest post about what they like to do for Halloween. I am am one of them!!

This is the line up for all the guest posts:

October 10: Nest of Posies - http://nestofposies-blog.com/

October 11: My Insanity - http://www.meandmyinsanity.com/

October 12: Sew Woodsy - http://www.sewwoodsy.com/

October 13: Go Against the Grain - http://www.gatgblog.com/

October 14: Tenjune - http://www.tenjuneblog.com/

October 15: Paisley Penguin - http://takelifewithagrainofchocolate.wordpress.com/

October 16: The Martha Project - http://www.themarthaproject.com/

Please take some time to stop by and read all the various posts as there are some great Halloween ideas that are being shared! We would def. appreciate the support!

{Etsy Manners Monday} Starting a Shop

2011-10-10T07:30:00.000-05:00

When I started my etsy shop in 2008 I had no idea what I was doing. Etsy was very new and I had no one to really ask for tips or suggestions. The forums did exist then but they weren't offering much help. No insider tips as we were all just getting started.

Etsy is a lot different than it was back then and while opening up a shop is just as easy, being successful is more difficult.

On the various sites that I visit I see lots of questions about opening up an etsy shop and always do my best to help those interested make the right decision.

I thought I'd share some basic advice to those of you who might be contemplating the idea of starting an Etsy shop or those who are just starting out. Again this is just some basic information but I feel it is very important.

1. Being a successful seller on Etsy requires time. You can not simply list items in your shop and expect them to sell. You need to be pro active in promoting yourself and driving traffic to your shop. If you do not have the time to devote to making it successful, don't open a shop.

2. Do your research. Take a look at other other shops who sell similar items to what you plan to sell. Make sure you will be competitive in quality and price. Do not copy your competition, its highly frowned upon. Find a way to make your shop stand out. I think I read that there are over 100,000 shops on Etsy. Many of the markets are very saturated. Weddings, and stationary are 2 of the biggest categories on Etsy and therefore that much harder to get your shop noticed.

3. Take the time to take good pictures of your items. Good lighting and clear photos that best show off your product. Look at your favorite catalog or online store. What about their product shots do you like? Use them for inspiration for your own.

4. Create a brand for your self. This includes a catchy name fro your shop, a good shop banner and logo. A clean and sharp looking logo and banner can do wonders.

5. Join a team. In the time I have been selling, the teams I am on have been invaluable to me. They provide a sounding board for your ideas, a place to get questions asked, a place to vent frustrations and a way to promote your shop. I am a member of 3 teams, one of which I am a leader of. I can honestly say my shop would not be where it is today without my team mates.

As I said before, the above tips are just some of the basic things you should take into account when deciding to open up a shop.

I'd love to know what other questions or concerns you might have in regards to opening an Etsy shop. Please feel free to let me know in the comments section below.

{Font Friday}

2011-10-07T07:00:00.000-05:00

I want to be honest with you all. I picked today's font because of the name.

It's called Mr. Moustache.

How could you not love a font with that name?! And what is even better, is it is actually a great looking fun font!

Don't take my work for it.. see for yourself!

Frames!! I love frames!

And ornaments!!

Mr Moustache is a great font for headlines. Its tall and thin with a touch of hand written feel to it and very eye catching. Want some great news? You can snag the dingbats for free!! On a side note, don't you think Mr Moustache would make a great name for a cat?

To read more about Mr Moustache and snag the freebie head over here.

{Wet Wedding Wednesday}

2011-10-05T07:30:00.000-05:00

What is one thing a bride almost always does starting about 10 days out from their wedding? Continuously ~~stalk~~ the weather. Any sign of storms or rain clouds can bring instant panic.

In some cultures, rain is actually a sign of good luck for the marriage, and the harder it rains, the better. Rain brings water to dry areas and allows crops to flourish. Rain also symbolizes blessings of prosperity and fertility, cleansing, unity and the start of something new.

So when you think about it, is rain on your wedding day really that bad? Besides the reasons mentioned above it can open up lots of opportunity for some amazing photos!

Below are some examples of amazing photos and great creativity that all happened because of the rain.

Source

What a great way to add some fun and color!

Found Via

Not only does falling rain bring opportunity.. but so do puddles!

Source

All the sites that I found these photos on said the same thing, that even though rain may not be the ideal situation, try to imagine all the great photos you can have. If you know ahead of time that there is a possibility that there will be rain on your big day make sure you are prepared! Start searching for umbrellas, rain boots, rain slickers and other items that might come in handy. Be sure to chat with your photographer too!

So if the next time you check the weather forecast and see a chance for showers, don't cringe!

{DIY Halloween Decor Tutorial}

2011-10-03T07:00:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone! I am taking a little break from our regularly scheduled Etsy Manners Monday to bring you something new! A Halloween decor tutorial!I've never done an official tutorial before so please be kind!

Here is what you will be making!

For this project you will need the following items all of which can be purchased from your local craft store.
3 pieces of craft wood 8x8
3 pieces of craft wood 6x6
A variety of patterned paper (enough to cover the front and sides of the wood)
A few sheets of black cardstock
Modge Modge, Ruler
Scissors, craft glue
Foam sponge brush
Optional: Bone folder and silhouette or other cutting machine

The first step is to figure out which papers you want paired together and which will be the backer and which will be the one on top. This took me a lot longer than I thought it would as I didn't want to use a pattern more than once.

Once you have that figured out start with any piece of wood you like and apply a coat of Modge Podge to the front than take the selected piece of paper and smooth it down onto the wood centering it as much as possible. Make sure there is enough paper that extends beyond the wood. If flipped over it would look like this.

Repeat this step until all your wood has one side covered.

The next step takes a little time and patience. Go back to the first piece you covered and start wrapping the extra paper up over the edges using Modge Podge as glue along the edges. You may need to make some cuts in order to get the corners to look nice and straight. I used a bone folder at this point to get crisp clean edges. This is how it should look.

Again repeat this step for all the pieces of wood.

Next start attaching the smaller pieces of wood to the larger back pieces using your choice of craft adhesive. Use a ruler to get them centered. Let them dry for at least an hour to make sure they are set.

Here is how one of mine looks from the side

While the stacks are drying you can cut out your letters. I used my silhouette for this part but you could use scissors too. I choose the word BOO but EEK would also be another good choice! Using your craft glue and ruler, center the letters onto the top pieces. Make sure you have them in the order you want them displayed before you glue them down!

Let them all dry and you are done! Now you just need to decide how to display them. You can add some mounting hooks to the back and hang them on a wall, or you could do what I did and set them on your mantel so they lean against the wall.

To finish off the mantel display I hung a black feather wreath I picked up at Michaels. I also used some glossy black candle sticks I had and topped 2 of them with candles and a 3rd with a glittery skull I made last year. I also used my silhouette to make the black and orange bunting and the framed bats.

Total cost for the BOO pieces was around $20. As I mentioned above, this could easily be adapted for other holidays like Thanksgiving and the word GIVE, Christmas using the word JOY, and LOVE would be perfect for Valentines day. Just use coordinating paper and you are all set!

I hope you enjoyed my tutorial, if you make one for yourself I'd love to see how it turns out!

This post is linked to: Eighteen25

{Font Friday}

2011-09-30T07:30:00.000-05:00

You know what today is right? The last day of September! But also...

Yep, another font Friday! Fridays on their own are wonderful but when you add font fun to the mix they get even better.

I used today's pick for the font friday you see above. A beauty isn't it?

I'd like to introduce you to P22 Dearest.

Check out that ampersand!
Lets get a closer look shall we?

Swoon!

There are 2 options for this lovely typeface, script and swash. They are each beautiful on their own but with the ability to mix them together you are able to create some gorgeous text.

To read all about P22 Dearest or to buy it for your self {don't kid yourself... you know you want it} head on over here. Each one is $19.95 or you can buy the 2 combined for $29.95 and save 10 bucks!

So what do you think, will P22 Dearest be making an appearance in your font files?

{3 Year Wedding Anniversary + Mantel Display

2011-09-27T14:00:00.000-05:00

Today marks 3 years that I have been married to my wonderful hubby.
Some days it feels like the time is flying and some days it seems like it should be longer than 3 years.

I thought I'd share with you how a changed up the mantel decor for the last part of this month to reflect our anniversary.

I kept the three open frames, the little burlap G, the garland and the little bird house from the previous set up. I added 2 more Gs, a large one on the left and a little hanging one up top, to fill out some space. And in the center I placed one of our wedding photos that I had printed onto canvas. (it normally hangs in our bedroom)

Nothing too fancy, but nice and tasteful. Right?

This display will be up till October...uh 5 days away... till I get the Halloween goodness up!

I also want to say Happy Birthday shout out to my Aunt Bridget! Today also happens to be her birthday!

I wish you all a wonderful day filled with love! I'd love to know if you are celebrating anything today or soon!

{Etsy Manners Monday} Thank You

2011-09-26T07:00:00.000-05:00

Today is the last Monday of September which means the Last Etsy Manners Monday of September.

Today's topic for Etsy Manners Monday was suggested to me by Christine of Stella Bella Invites and it is a very good one. Not only for things related to Etsy, but for everyday.

The power of 'Thank You'.

Those two little words can have a powerful impact and they take no time at all to say, or type!

When someone places an order, when some one holds the door open, when someone returns a phone call after I left a message or even when someone lets me over into the next lane. I say, or wave, thank you.

Thank you for placing an order! Thank you for holding the door so it doesn't hit me! Thanks for returning my call! Thank you for letting me in!

It is a small gesture to show your appreciation. Sadly, I feel that saying thank you is happening less and less. Common courtesy seems to be not so common any more. You would be amazed at how saying thank you to someone can change their attitude.

Those two words can set the tone for any future communication you may have with them. In a business relationship, that is very important. If a client does not feel appreciated, what reason do they have to be a client in the future? The same cane be said for employer and employee relationships.

I always do my best to thank people from someone at a store, to my family and friends. No matter if it is a business or personal relationship, the words thank you should not be unfamiliar.

Next time you are in a position to thank someone, even for something small, say thank you. You might just make their day.

Do you have a story of when the words Thank You had an impact on you? Did you say them to someone or did someone say them to you? I'd love to hear about it in the comments below!

{Font Friday}

2011-09-23T07:00:00.000-05:00

Happy first day of fall! It doesn't feel like fall her in TX.. any of you experiencing fall like weather?

In hopeful celebration of fall like weather today's font Friday pick is Halloween inspired!

I am very much not a fan of spiders... of any size. I appreciate the purpose they have in catching flies and the like... but I'd wish they would stay away from me!

The font Spider Legs however can stay near.. rather get inside my computers font library hehe.

Spiderlegs is a tall, handwritten font with 8 variations.. get it?
Eight legs on a spider.. eight variations!

Each variation can be purchased for $15 or you can buy all the legs for $100.
Head over here to add this creepy crawly to your font files.

{Real Party} Ice Cream Shoppe

2011-09-22T07:30:00.000-05:00

I scream, you scream, we all scream for Ice Cream!! Sorry, couldn't help my self.
Earlier this summer Denile of DKay Designs contacted me to design some items for her daughter's upcoming birthday party with the theme of an Ice Cream Shoppe!

I have worked with Denile before on some of the other events she was planning and of course said yes!

Well I am very excited to share with you how the party turned out!

How totally cute is the giant ice cream cone made from balloons! And I'm dying over the amazing ice cream sundae cake!

Denile did an amazing job on this party and I bet her daughter and all guests loved it.

The design work I did for the party were some candy buffet and topping tags, favor tags shaped like little ice cream cones, menus and food tags!

Denile is currently in the process of getting her website up and running bit if you can contact her by emailing her at dkaydesigns@yahoo.com

The great balloon sculptures were created by Bayou Balloons. The cake was created by a friend of Denile's and Denile created the rest of the details including the fun centerpieces, and hanging pom ice-cream cones.

I hope you enjoyed a look at a real party I was luck enough to get to help out with! Do you have a favorite ice cream flavor?

{Etsy Manners Monday} Tracking Tool + Talk Like a Pirate Day!

2011-09-19T07:00:00.000-05:00

Today is no ordinary Monday. Not only is it Etsy Manners Monday, but it is Talk Like a Pirate Day!!

For today's Etsy Manners Monday I wanted to share with you a recent tool I learned about. If you shop online and are like me.. you might ~~stalk~~ frequently check the tracking information for your shipments.

Well if you have a Mac, iPhone, iTouch or iPad you need to check out the Delivery Status app from June Cloud.

The description from the website is:
Delivery Status touch will help you track packages from UPS, FedEx, USPS, DHL, TNT, and many more. You can track orders from Amazon, Apple, and others before they even ship. Your full tracking details are just a tap away, and you can also see your package’s location in Google Maps.

I started using the widget for the Mac and its amazing!

But you might ask, "Laurel, what is so different about this than tracking things on my own?"

I'm glad you asked!

Normally you would have to log into some account, whether it is email, an online account, PayPal, etc for each time you want to check the status for each item you are tracking. A hassle.

With the Delivery Status app you can load all the shipments your tracking one time. It saves them all and automatically updates them every time you just click the app to check. All your shipments there in one place with constant updates!

As a seller this is a great tool as well so you can watch the shipments you have sent out to your customers. And give quick and accurate updates when needed.

If this sounds like something that might be of interest, you should definitely check it out here.

Avast! Now for some Talk Like a Pirate Day fun!

I created a Pinterest board dedicated to the swashbuckling scallywags.

Check it out here

And I also created a Pirate treasury on Etsy!

You can view it here to get details of all the items I included.

To celebrate at work I used one of the items I found on pinterest and made some cupcakes:

Aren't they fun!

You can find the pin here and the original source here.

I hope ye all liked today's post 'n be sure t' show yer pirate pride! We don't want anyone t' 'ave t' walk th' plank!

{Font Friday}

2011-09-16T07:00:00.000-05:00

Oh Friday you didn't come soon enough. I think after having a short week last week, the regular week seemed so much longer.

To celebrate another wonderful Friday I have a free font for you for today's font Friday! And it is a cute one! Cause we all love free. And we all love cute. So free and cute is even better right?!

Say hello to Deibi v1.0

See.. cute!
I can't wait to use this on some fun personal stationary.
No while this font is free, it is for non commercial use only so just make note of what you use it for.
To see more examples of Deibi in action or to download it for yourself head over here.

What ideas would you use this font for?!

To check out the other Font Friday posts please visit the blogs below & follow the hash tag: #fontfriday on twitter.

Lauren Elise Crafted, Steph from Bubblerock, Chelsey from Fourth and Folded , Jen from Blush Printables, Kerry at Super Swoon, Jenny fromHank + Hunt, Lauren from Palm Papers, Brancoprata, Alison from Alison Owen Design, Vicki from Curly Willow DIY, Catherine from Design Editor, Wendy from Weswen Design, and Allie from Honey Bee Invites.

{Feeling the Etsy Love!}

2011-09-13T07:30:00.000-05:00

I wish I could convey to you all how excited I am right now!

{I'll try not to abuse my exclamation marks}

Lately I have been getting lots of views in my lil ol shop and have had been lucky enough to be placed in lots quite a few treasuries within the past weeks. This in itself is very exciting because it provides more opportunity for people to see what I do!

To view a list of the treasuries I have been in you can click here.

Being in all those treasuries also means that there is a chance the treasury could be featured on the front page and give me even more exposure. My excitement right now is from the great news that today {Sept. 12} I was on the front page of Etsy THREE times!

Exciting right?! Believe it or not it gets better... Since September 7th, I've been on the front page six times! Six!

Each treasury is displayed on the front page for one hour. Like the first one I was in today, they are not always up at times that I can see it {1am}. Luckily there is a great website called Craft Cult that has a tool that takes a screen shot of each one and archives it in their vault so you can see it later. You can also download the screenshots, make a widget of the treasury to post on a website and a few other great things.

Below are the screen shots of the last 6 treasuries I was in that made it to the front page. If you click each image it will take you to the live view of the treasury so you can get information for all the various items in each treasury.

Magnolia Haze by rosieok

It Takes Two by Illuminated Perfume

Halloween Lite by SweetHarvey

Spooky! by Zuzusworld

It's Coming! by natalya1905

For the Love of Paper by psyboom

Beautiful collections aren't they? My products are in some great company too! Be sure to check the other shops in the treasuries out as there are some amazing products.

Thank you for letting me share my excitement with you all!

P.S. The hooray banner at the top of the page was made using a fun little font created by Design Editor. To get it for yourself for only 99 cents head over here.

{Etsy Manners Monday} Payment

2011-09-12T07:00:00.000-05:00

Today's post is brought to you by the letter P... for payment!

You would think that payment is pretty straight forward, but it is not.

Most issues tend to come from first time buyers who aren't familiar with how etsy works.

The best way to get started is to read the FAQ page that has answers to all kinds of questions.

It can be found right here.

If you see the 2nd section down on the left is called Make a Purchase and contains common questions all about how to make a purchase. If you have any questions about making a payment, what kind of payments are accepted, what to do if you don't have a paypal account and much more.

One of the biggest issues is that customers often think they have purchased an item, when in fact they may have only added it to their cart and not submitted payment. This can cause delays in processing orders so please double check!

Another issue that can cause delays are making payment with e-check. You may not realize it but paying by e-check takes several days for the funds to clear the bank. Most sellers require the funds to be cleared in order to begin or ship your order. Using a debit/credit card provides instant payment and allows for quick turnaround on orders.

Do you have any advice for making payments for etsy purchases?

Honored and Never Forgotten

2011-09-11T12:01:00.002-05:00

Photo by Goldstreet

My thoughts and prayers are with all those who lost family and friends that day. You will always be honored and your lives will never be forgotten.

{Font Friday}

2011-09-09T07:00:00.000-05:00

I hope you all had a great week. It is Friday and time to celebrate the upcoming weekend!

What better way to do that than with Font Friday?!

For this week's font I picked Sketch Script. I like this little gem for a few reasons.
   - its a script style
   - it looks hand written
   - it is easy to read

I love how versatile it is too. It makes a statement when it stands alone, looks good in a larger block of text, and has some great texture to it!

Sketch Script is by Ursula Hitz and can be purchased for only $18 here.

{Wednesday: Words to Live By}

2011-09-07T07:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Wednesday everyone! I know it has been a while since I got a blog post up and I apologize. I got super swamped last week with work and then used the nice 3 day weekend to my advantage.

I hope you all had a great Labor Day! Here in Texas we are dealing with some massive and devastating fires. The largest is in Bastrop County near Austin and has burned over 25,000 acres and more than 400 homes. The lack of rain causing such dry conditions and the strong winds took a toll. We are all praying for rain.

Today's Words to Live by really kinds fits right now.

{Source} {pinned}

I love the sunshine but we really need the rain.

How is the weather where you are located?

To see the full Pinterest board that I am pulling these from, click here.
If you would like to join Pinterest and need an invite, let me know in the comments below and I’ll send you one!

{Etsy Manners Monday} Ordering Printables

2011-08-29T07:00:00.002-05:00

Welcome to another edition of Etsy Manners Monday!

Today's topic is all about printable designs. This area of Etsy has become big business and for good reason. For people who don't mind a little bit of DIY it is the perfect way to get amazing design work for your party or event.

Simply open up the high resolution files, print on paper, cut out and assemble as needed!

As straightforward as that seems, difficulties can arise when ordering them. Today I hope to help make the process a bit smoother for all involved.

The tips and suggestions included in the post have been gathered from sellers and buyers of printables.

1. Read: Like any other purchase on Etsy, always read the policies and the listing completely before making a purchase so you no what to expect. Listings for printables often give details on what the turn around time is for receipt of the file, proofing process, instructions for printing as well as what is actually included.

2. Timing: Yes I have mentioned timing before, but like tip #1, it is important enough to be mentioned again. Place your order with enough time before your event or be prepared for the rush fees that will be associated with needing an order in a hurry. When going over proofs, do so thoroughly. It is not the responsibility of the shop if you approve a design, print it and then find a typo. You want to be able to give the designer enough time to change your files if need be. If there is a limit on revisions stated in the listing and you need something changed after your final revision, don't be surprised if there is a fee. Harassing the designer about why you haven't received your files yet is not ok. Consider the time of day or night it is when you are attempting to make contact.

3. Stock Design vs. Custom: A stock printable design is basically what you see, is what you get. Things that are usually included are the change of details to match your event. So details like names and dates are things that are typically included in the price of a stock printable design. Some included color changes but not all. A custom printable can have a bit of a range to it. Once you ask a seller to change actual elements of a pre-made stock design aside from things like color and wording, it has just switched over to a custom design. When making these requests, expect there to be an extra charge as it will require more work for the seller. A design that you ask a seller to create from scratch is a fully custom item. It will be priced accordingly and also take longer than a regular stock printable will to receive.

4. Colors: This is probably one of the largest sources of frustration for printable designs. Colors are displayed differently from screen to screen as well as from printer to printer. The color the seller sees on their end, may vary from the color the buyer sees on their screen. If a seller offers a color chart it is highly suggested that you print out the chart to see what the colors will truly look like.

The best way to ensure you get the colors you are looking for is to provide a swatch or image to the seller to match from. Solid color swatches are the best bet vs photos as there can be variations withing the photo. Check out color sites like ColorLovers.com to get some ideas on great color pallets and swatches.

Another thing to keep in mind is that the paper you print on can also impact the color of a design. If you are printing on anything other than white, the colors will look different. The type of paper also makes a difference due to absorption. Cardstock, sticker paper, vellum, etc all absorb ink differently and will have cause colors to change. Do test prints.

5. Printing: There are pretty much 2 options for getting your designs printed. Doing it yourself at home, or take the files to a place like Kinkos, Staples, or another local print shop to print out for you. Some home printers can give decent quality. Depending on the design you are printing they may be perfect. Designs with large areas of color might be better to have printed somewhere else.

6. Printing Metallic: Do not ask for a design to have gold and silver and then expect your home printer to print it out with a metallic look to it. Home printers do not have the ability to print metallic ink. Many office store printers cannot print metallic ink either. If you are wanting metallic ink in your design, you will need to take it to a professional print shop and expect to pay a higher amount for it.

7. Terms of Use: Please do not re sell, or give out the design files. 99% of all printable designs sold on etsy are for non commercial use only. The sellers work hard on their designs. Re selling or giving out the files is the same as stealing.

To sum up, here is an easy to follow list of Dos & Donts created by a printable shop on Etsy that one should follow regarding printables.

DO:

- read shop policies
- be aware of what you're actually buying. You will be getting a file. Not a physical item

- understand that color varies per monitor and per printer.
- understand that we are designers, not troubleshooters. Just because we design printables doesn't mean we can diagnose your printers problem.
- keep timing in mind when placing an order especially if you need a custom order.
- buy if you're DIY savvy and willing to invest the time + creativity to make the product.

DON'T:

- resell our items or use for commercial use

- buy if you're not DIY savvy. Sellers can make suggestions for paper type, product use, and even printers, but the suggestions are only based on personal experience and knowledge.
- expect the item to be "cheap" simply because you are getting a file. This is a very budget friendly method in comparison to the alternative but keep in mind that you're paying for time, experience and personalization of the product.

I apologize for the length of this post but as you have read, there is a great deal involved in ordering printables. Printables have become a booming business on and off Etsy and can be a tremendous resource if you keep the above tips and suggestions in mind.

Have you purchased a printable item on Etsy? Do you have any suggestions for ways to make the process smoother?

{Font Friday}

2011-08-26T07:00:00.003-05:00

Another Friday means another font Friday! And I have another free one for you too!
If you are a fan of bold, you are gonna love Kilogram!

I love how it stands out and just demands attention.

Kilogram is an uppercase font but most of the letters have another variation available.
To see more examples and to download it for yourself for free head on over here!

Are you a fan of the bold and eye catching?

{Wedding Wednesday} Not your Mother's Invitations

2011-08-24T07:00:00.021-05:00

I recently came across a blog that is dedicated to the wonderful word of package design called Lovely Package. While browsing some posts I saw this:

I got a bit confused and excited as the blog post title had 'wedding invitation' in it.

Scrolling down a bit more revealed this amazing-ness:

The little shipping crate contains all the details of the wedding!

Love! How great would it be to get this in the mail?!

These next invitations, found on Lovely Package as well, play double duty...

Inside the can along with the details of the wedding were instructions on how the can would be used again after the wedding.

The string is included to tie the can to the car as the bride and groom leave! So creative!

Have you seen any wedding invitations that would be sure to make recipients squeal?

{Etsy Manners Monday} Reserved Listings

2011-08-22T08:00:00.014-05:00

If you are an avid Etsy shopper like I am, you have had your fare share of custom reserved listings created for you. As a seller I have also created several custom reserved listings for buyers.

If you contact a seller about having a custom listing made for you and they set up the listing for you, please follow through and purchase that listing.

On a few occasions buyers do no purchase the listing that the seller has taken time and money to set up. Yes, money. It costs a seller 20 cents for each listing that is created. That may not seem like much, but it adds up.

If for some reason you change your mind about making the purchase, please contact them and let them know. It is simple common courtesy.

It is very discouraging to a seller when they spend the time to correspond with a customer, set up the listings and then have it sit there.

When a few days have gone by after I've set up a custom listing, I usually contact the buyer to see if they are still interested in the item. Most of the time they simply hadn't gotten around to it. So sellers please communicate with you buyers! On the occasions where I do not get a response, I will leave the listing up for a little longer, maybe about 2 weeks total, just in case they do come back to purchase it.

What do you think is a good amount of time for a reserve listing to remain up before it is taken down?

Are there any other things that sellers and buyers need to keep in mind in regards to setting up and purchasing reserved listings that hasn't been talked about? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

I have a little Etsy Manners Monday business to wrap this week's post up. I would love to get topic ideas to cover in future posts. If you have an idea of a topic I should discuss, feel free to email me or leave a comment below. Today's topic was suggested to me from someone on twitter! Also if you are interested in doing a guest post about a topic for the blog series I'd love to hear from you too!

If you like Etsy Manners Monday I would love any help you all can provide in supporting and spreading the word. The more people that know about it, the more people that can be helped! Follow my blog by clicking that little button over to the right, place the Etsy Manners Monday button on your blog and follow the hash tag #etsymannersmonday on twitter. Thanks!

{Font Friday}

2011-08-19T06:45:00.000-05:00

We made it! It's Friday!
To celebrate I think I'm going to go dancing...

...with Dancing Script for today's Font Friday!
{Yes.. that was cheesy, I apologize lol}

You know how I love a good script style and this one is no exception.

What makes this even better? It's a free webfont!!
To read all about it and download it for yourself head over here.

Have a happy Friday!

{Midsummer Mantel}

2011-08-17T07:00:00.013-05:00

Last weekend I got around to taking down the mantel set up I did for the Fourth of July. I was debating if I should just do something fall-ish or wait a bit longer for that.

I decided to hold off on the fall theme and do something for late summer till I change it up for Halloween.

I used a set of open frames in the back. One of the frames I used had some chicken wire that I had added to it a while back. I decided to keep it on.

To add some color I took some green washi tape I had and added it to the 4 glass bottles I had. The tags are cut from random letterpress cards that I had.

I placed a little burlap canvas that I painted a G onto in front of one of the frames to give some more texture and a chalkboard plaque I bought at a local vintage shop. The little bird house is one of a set of 3 from Willow House (I'm a Consultant).

The ruffle bunting is one that I won in a give away from the wonderfully talented Jenny of Hank and Hunt. It was the last piece I added and I think it finishes it off nicely!

So what do you think?! I definitely think this one is a big step up from my 4th of July one.

Have a happy Wednesday!

{Etsy Manners Monday} Sellers

2011-08-15T08:00:00.013-05:00

If you have been a customer on Etsy for a decent amount of time you have no doubt realized that not all sellers are created equal.

Etsy does not have a standard that dictates how a shop owner behaves when interacting with buyers.

In some of the past posts on Etsy Manners Monday I have given examples of interactions various buyers have had with sellers. The examples I have given were not great ones, which was the reason they were used for those particular examples.

As there are some sellers out there who have behaved badly, there are hundreds who are good and some who are even exceptional. The later is something that all shop owners on Etsy should aspire to be.

I had a recent experience with a shop that I would def. rate in the exceptional category. I had come across her product on a blog post and visited her shop to see more. After looking through her shop, reading her feedback and policies, I contacted her about placing an order that was semi custom.

I received a reply within about 12 hours which was very timely. She said she would be happy to accommodate my request for the order but that she was on vacation and wouldn't be able to ship it till she returned. I was in no hurry so I responded that that was no problem and she could set up a listing for me.

Again she responded quickly, saying thank you and included the link for the listing. I purchased and paid for the listing and simply expected to hear from her when she returned.

I got another reply saying she had received the payment and that she would let me know when it was shipped out. The day after she told me she would be home I received a message that she had shipped my order. My order arrived perfectly and timely.

This seller had excellent communication. She was honest and straight forward about what she could do. I honestly did not expect her to reply as often as she did knowing that she was on vacation. Was I impressed that she did. Of course. Do I expect everyone to be this way? Of course not. Even if she had not been on vacation, this interaction with her would still rate as exceptional for me.

Not all sellers will respond to messages while they are on vacation and that is fine! Everyone needs a break! As I said at the beginning of this post, no 2 sellers are a like. This goes for bad experiences as well as good ones. I say this so as a buyer you do not hold a bad experience over to another transaction, as well as so you are not letting your guard down to do your research on who you are buying from.

What do you think makes a shop exceptional? Have you had an interaction with a seller on Etsy that you would rate as exceptional? I'd love if you would share your experiences in the comments section!

If you like Etsy Manners Monday I would love any help you all can provide in supporting and spreading the word. The more people that know about it, the more people that can be helped! Follow my blog by clicking that little button over to the right, place the Etsy Manners Monday button on your blog and follow the hash tag #etsymannersmonday on twitter. Thanks!

{Font Friday}

2011-08-12T07:00:00.012-05:00

For today's font Friday I bring you something a little bit different.
It isn't a font, but I promise you will love it and thank me for it!

Have you ever been browsing the web and suddenly gasp in delight because the page you have landed on contains text in a typeface you are in love with?

This has happened to me on a few occasions and what makes it soooo frustrating is that I cant figure out what font it is.

Well be frustrated no more! Enter Fount!

Fount was created by Nathan or Art=Work and is a handy tool that helps you identify those attention grabbing fonts. It works by installing a marklet into your tool bar {like the 'pin it' link for pinterest}. When you see a font you want to identify, click the fount button in your tool bar and then click on the text in the font you want to identify. It will tell you the name, size and other styles that are attributed to it.

The examples below are from the the Fount website.

There is only one catch to this tool. It is for web fonts only. It currently works with Safari, Chrome, Firefox and IE8+. To check it out for your self head over here and read more about it and give it a try!

So what do you think of Fount? I hope this tool helps you out in those times of need!

{Etsy Manners Monday} Shipping

2011-08-08T07:00:00.010-05:00

If you make a purchase on Etsy, it most likely will require that it be shipped to you.

When buying on line that is one of the things that comes with the convince of shopping from your home in your bunny slippers. Unfortunately shipping has become a huge source of stress for both sellers and buyers. Especially if it involves international shipping.
I know several sellers who do not ship internationally because of the issues can and do arise.

The easiest way to avoid problems stemming from shipping is to read the shops policies. I talked about this in an earlier Etsy Manners post you can find here but it needs to be said again.

In this section you can find out how long shipping usually takes, if they accept international orders, if they offer insurance, etc. It will let you know what to expect so there won't be any surprises when it comes time to make your purchase.

Below is a copy of the shipping section in the policies of a shop on Etsy.

Method of Shipment and Cost: This seller lets you know that they ship using USPS and that they only ship on certain days. Also that the costs listed in their shop for shipping are estimates on the high side. If the actual cost is less, they will refund you. Many sellers do this and I think it is fantastic. USPS is usually the cheapest way to ship packages. Some sellers ship exclusively UPS and others also use Fed Ex. If you have a preference of carrier, let them know. Most are willing to accommodate your requests.

Rush Orders: If you are in a rush they can make accommodations for rush shipment at the cost of the buyer. This has been a subject that I've heard a few times. A customer wants the order in a hurry but expects the shop to pay for the faster shipping. If you need the item in a hurry, you should be ok with paying the cost for the faster shipping. If you aren't ok with it, order early to avoid these fees. Also please make sure you let the shop know before placing your order if it requires rush processing.

International Shipping: The example above also shows that they do ship internationally but that the customer should expect a longer delivery time because of that and they will gladly add on insurance and confirmation to the cost of the shipping if that is something you request.

Another important thing to point out in regards to international shipping is the following statement from the above example; "Customs fee(s) and duties are the buyers responsibility. Customs forms will be marked as 'other' and the actual value of the item will be represented".

If you are not willing to pay the associated costs that go along with buying from out of the country, don't buy.
Do not ask the shop to lie on the customs forms.
Do not harass a shop about the customs fees and demand they pay for them.

A very important thing to remember is that once a seller drops off a package, they can no longer do anything about how it is handled. The seller is not responsible for lost or stolen packages or if they are damaged in shipment. Claims can be filed if there is an issue but those do take time.

Sellers: Shipping charges should be listed with the best estimate that you can determine. I has a buyer share a story with me where they were charged $7 for shipping for an item, which they thought was a little high. When the item arrived it was shoved into a plain envelope and the item ended up being damaged. We understand that shipping charges usually include partial cost of the materials used. But in this case, $7 was too high.

For those sellers that are not aware, it is super easy to shop postage form the USPS website. And they also offer free pick up for priority and express packages. There is also a nice option that allows you to send notification to the buyer that their package is on the way! So you can ship from the comfort of your own home in your bunny slippers! Personally I go back and forth from Paypal shipping to USPS shipping.

If you have concerns about shipping, please talk it out respectfully. The sending and recieving of an item should be exciting! I always look forward top opening a package that I purchased from Etsy. As I am also excited when I send one off to a customer!

If you like Etsy Manners Monday I would love any help you all can provide in supporting and spreading the word. The more people that know about it, the more people that can be helped! Follow my blog by clicking that little button over to the right, place the Etsy Manners Monday button on your blog and follow the hash tag #etsymannersmonday on twitter. Thanks!

{Font Friday}

2011-08-05T08:30:00.001-05:00

I don't know about you, but it seemed like Friday took extra long to get here this week.

Either way I am very glad it is here because that means I get to share another Font Friday post with you!

Please take a gander at Zag!

This font is so versatile!

There are 7 versions of Zag available to use and 2 of them are free!

Head over here to get more info about Zag and to add it to your cart!

{Wednesday: Words to Live By}

2011-08-03T08:00:00.008-05:00

Normally I am a very positive and upbeat person but once in a while a negative, not so positive thought pops in my head. It doesn't usually stick around long, but it happens on onccasion.

So why am I talking about this for a Words to Live By post?

Becuase while the image below is a bit on the negative side,
I couldn't stop laughing when I saw it.

Original Source Unknown

Some days you encounter people who you really wish you could say this to... but you don't.

Hope this gave you all a little chuckle!

To see the full Pinterest board that I am pulling these from, click here.
If you would like to join Pinterest and need an invite, leave a random comment below and I’ll send you one!

{Etsy Manners Monday} Timing

2011-08-01T08:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Monday everyone and welcome to another post in the Etsy Manners Monday series.

Today's topic is timing. There are many aspects to etsy where timing is very important to keep in mind.

1. Rush Orders - When you are thinking of placing on order and know you will be needing it in a hurry, make sure you contact the seller BEFORE placing your order and let them know your time line and they will let you know theirs. You need to make sure the seller will have time to complete your order by the time you need it. You will most likely not be the only order they have so they may be busy and unable to accommodate your request.

2. Hour of Day & Time Differences - Etsy is an amazing marketplace with sellers and buyers across the globe. This means that when some people are starting their day others are just ending or half way through it. When sending a conversation to a seller or buyer please keep in mind what time it may be where they are located. If it is the middle of the night for them, it would be unreasonable to expect a response right away. A shop owner shared an incident with me where a customer had sent her several conversations throughout the night while she was sleeping. When she didn't get a response right away they messages became very rude and disrespectful. If this customer had kept timing in mind the situation would never have happened and the transaction would have gone smoothly. Unfortunately it didn't end that way.

3. Seasonal Items - If you are needing an item for a busy time of the year, like a holiday or a wedding, timing is very important for you. If it is a custom item that you are needing it is even more important. Custom items take longer to produce and need more lead time. Order early. Depending on the type of item, some sellers will only take a certain number of orders as their schedules fill up. Invitation designers are a good example of this. They can only take on so many clients at a time. If you have a specific shop in mind that you wish to purchase from, don't wait to place your order. You don't want to be disappointed when they are not able to work with you!

Have you had an experience as a shop owner or a buyer on Etsy where timing played an important part? Is there another example where timing is important that I left out? Please share by leaving a comment below!

If you like Etsy Manners Monday I would love any help you all can provide in supporting and spreading the word. The more people that know about it, the more people that can be helped! Follow my blog by clicking that little button over to the right, place the Etsy Manners Monday button on your blog and follow the hash tag #etsymannersmonday on twitter. Thanks!

{Font Friday}

2011-07-29T08:00:00.014-05:00

Are you a fan of ampersands? If you are you are gonna love this week's pick for Font Friday.

Isn't it beautiful?!

This lovely ampersand is part of the font Reliant by Intellecta Design.

It comes with over 800 glyphs for lots of options to get the perfect look for your design needs.

Reliant is a great decorative font with lots of beautiful curls and swirls.

I love how it has an almost old world look to it.

To check out Reliant and maybe add that gorgeous ampersand to your collection head on over here and it can be yours for just over $30.

To check out the other Font Friday posts please visit the blogs below & follow the hash tag: #fontfriday on twitter.

Lauren Elise Crafted, Steph from Bubblerock, Chelsey from Fourth and Folded , Jen from Blush Printables, Kerry at Super Swoon, Jenny fromHank + Hunt, Lauren from Palm Papers, Brancoprata, Alison from Alison Owen Design, Vicki from Curly Willow DIY, Catherine from Design Editor, Wendy from Weswen Design, and Allie from Honey Bee Invites.

{Wednesday: Words to Live By} LOVE

2011-07-27T09:30:00.001-05:00

I'm working on lots of wedding related orders recently and thought the theme of love would be great for this week's Words to Live By post.

I can imagine a lot of these place around n various places at a rehearsal dinner, the guestbook table, and other various places at a wedding.

Click each image to be taken to the original source.

All of these can be found pinned to my board on pinterest called All You Need is Love. There are lots more great love related images there so be sure to check em out!

Do you have any ideas of where these would look good being used at a wedding?

{Etsy Manners Monday} Feedback

2011-07-25T09:30:00.051-05:00

For sellers and buyers feedback is very important.

For buyers, feedback is the way to go to do some preliminary investigative work before making a purchase. Reading a seller's feedback from past transactions can give you some good insight on all kinds of things that can help you make a decision on whether to purchase from them or not. The quality of their product, how fast they ship orders and how well they communicate are all things that can be determined from their feedback.

Having 100% positive feedback is always great when considering a purchase. But just because a seller doesn't have 100% positive doesn't mean you shouldn't buy from them.

We all know that unforeseen things can happen that can have an impact on a transaction. Shipping issues that are of no fault of either the buyer or the seller are one of those things. Weather delays, customs problems, etc can all delay a shipment. If a customer is needing their purchase by a specific date, a delay can cause a lot of problems.

When reading feedback for a seller don't just look that they have a high positive rating. Actually read through some of the comments. Sometimes you will find a comment marked positive but also has some negative comments associated with it. And likewise, a negative feedback might have positive in there too. Please keep in mind that feedback is also very subjective. What one customer may think is great service, another may think is mediocre. Keep that in mind.

So you can see why feedback is also very important for sellers. Reviews from past clients helps encourage new and potential ones to make a purchase of their own. Etsy currently does not require that you leave feedback after a purchase so many times feedback is never left. From personal experience I am always anxiously waiting to see the feedback a recent customer will leave me. I want to know what they thought of their experience with me and if there is anyway I can improve upon it.

So when you make a purchase, please try to remember to go back and leave feedback for the seller. Be as honest as you can keeping in mind what you say may help other sellers. If you loved working with them and the product say so! We want to see our customers happy and excited about the product we worked hard on to create just for them. Let us know how we did!

Leaving feedback for past purchases is easy. Make sure you are logged in. In the top right corner hover your mouse over your account. A little box will pop up with options. Click on feedback. A window will open that will list all your purchases that have not had feedback left for them. Simply write in your feedback, click the little button for positive, negative or neutral and hit submit. You can even upload a picture of your purchase to post along with your feedback if you wish!

I hope this post expresses how truly important feedback is to both sides.

Have you had an experience regarding feedback that you would like to share with me and other readers?

If you like Etsy Manners Monday I would love any help you all can provide in supporting and spreading the word. The more people that know about it, the more people that can be helped! Follow by blog by clicking that little button over to the right, place the Etsy Manners Monday button on your blog and follow the hash tag #etsymannersmonday on twitter. Thanks!

{Font Friday}

2011-07-22T09:45:00.000-05:00

I'm loving today's font friday.
It makes me think of fun girly parties just looking at it!

It's called Lippy!

Can't you just picture this for a princess birthday party or makeover party?

How about a bachlorette party?

This font truly does have a real authentic look of lipstick. The designers at Thinkdust actually drew the original sketches in lipstick! They brought the sketches into Illustrator then traced and edited them to get this perfect font.

I love it! And it is on sale too for $35!
To read more about Lippy or to add it to your shopping cart click here.

To check out the other Font Friday posts please visit the blogs below or follow the hash tag: #fontfriday on twitter.

Lauren Elise Crafted, Steph from Bubblerock, Chelsey from Fourth and Folded , Jen from Blush Printables, Kerry at Super Swoon, Jenny fromHank + Hunt, Lauren from Palm Papers, Brancoprata, Alison from Alison Owen Design, Vicki from Curly Willow DIY, Catherine from Design Editor, Wendy from Weswen Design, and Allie from Honey Bee Invites.

{Keep Cool at a Hot Party}

2011-07-21T10:00:00.000-05:00

I'm a big fan of summer parties. From backyard BBQ's, Family reunions, to weddings!
Only problem is the heat! Here in TX we definitely get some heat.

It is always important to stay hydrated when you will be outdoors so that is something that hosts of parties need to keep in mind for their guests.

Having lots of beverages available is key, but those igloo coolers aren't always the prettiest thing to look at... Check out some of these great hydration station ideas that you can incorporate for your next hot party!

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I died when I saw this! A built in chilling rack in a picnic bench! This would be super easy to DIY too! Great for sodas, wine, water, juice and so much more!

You could even make it a bit wider to make room for some appetizers that need to be kept cool!

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Set up a little area off to the side with various drinks in fancy containers. Make sure there is plenty of ice!

I love the use of the fabric on the top of the jars and around the metal buckets.

{source}

Fill a large bowl with ice and then place carafes of beverages inside. Makes a beautiful and functional display!

However you plant o party this summer, stay cool!

{Wednesday: Words to Live By} Happy Place

2011-07-20T09:30:00.003-05:00

I think this would be perfect for my craft room!

Where is your happy place that you would display this?

To get your own copy of this adorable print check out Honey Boo on etsy.

To see the full Pinterest board that I am pulling these from, click here.
If you would like to join Pinterest and need an invite, leave a random comment below and I’ll send you one!