Fourth of July Items

These items in my shop are perfect to celebrate Fourth of July.

Map of America Box



Fourth of July American Flag Greeting Card



Reach for the Stars Greeting Card



Fourth of July Tissue Paper Greeting Card



Do you shop for Fourth of July?

Fourth of July Special 2013

I decided to do a Fourth of July holiday special this year. It will be four days of Fourth of July themed blog entries. Here is the schedule:

June 30 - Items in My Shop
July 1 - Fashion
July 2 - Food
July 3 - Fireworks Photography

Check back tomorrow. What are you doing for Fourth of July this year?

Craft Shows Tutorial Part 3: Tips for at the Craft Show

You've applied for the craft show, got accepted and have all your materials ready. This part of the tutorial is all about tips for the actual craft show. These are some tips I've learned:

*Have at least one other person with you at your booth. It's always good to have extra hands to help and you might need to take a bathroom break or want to get up every once in a while.

*Walk around to other booths when you can so you can connect to other vendors and see what they are selling.

*Bring something to do, like a book or materials to work on your craft, for times when you get bored and not a lot of people are coming to your table. When someone comes to your table, be friendly. Starting a conversation with them can help you connect to your customers and may help you make a sale.

*When you make a sale, write it down so you know what sells and you can take it off your Etsy shop.

*Before you go to the craft show, put your shop on vacation to make sure the same item doesn't sell at the same time.

*Have business cards with you to put out on your display and bring extra cards in case those run out. I also have coupon code cards that are like small business cards with a discount code for the customer's next order. When somebody buys something, I give them two business cards and a coupon code card.

*Have pricing labels for all your items. You can use stickers for each item or you can make signs in front of the type of item. For example, I have signs for journals, greeting cards and boxes with a price for each one so it's not too complicated. I usually sell items a little bit cheaper at craft shows than online.

*Post about your craft show experience on your blog, Facebook, Flickr, etc. so you can reflect on how it went and share with other people.

What are your best tips for craft shows? To see parts 1 and 2 of this tutorial, click here and here.

Sunflowers Photography Inspiration

I love looking at sunflowers. Here are some of my favorite photos of sunflowers:










 What inspires you?

Craft Shows Tutorial Part 2: Materials and Setting Up

So you're going to a craft show? This part of the tutorial will show you what materials to bring to your craft show and how to set up. Here's a list of what you should consider bringing:

Inventory – Bring everything you have, even if you think it might not sell. Keep items that don't fit on your display in an extra box or suitcase.

Displays for your items - Be creative and try to add height. What you use for your display will depend on what you sell. You can use boxes, baskets, items from a thrift stores, displays you build yourself, etc. Post your creative ideas for displays in the comments. I have these wooden displays for my journals that work well because they showcase the journal while also adding height.

Business cards - Business cards are important so people remember your business name. You can put them in with your orders and give them to people who don't purchase, but may want to buy in the the future.


Mailing List Sign up Sheet - Use a sheet of paper and a pen so people can write down their email address to sign up for your mailing list.

Shopping bags - This is optional, but I like to bring white gift bags to put my sales in. Inside each bag, I have two of my business cards and a coupon code for their next order already in there. I also have a sticker with my logo on the front. You might also want to bring tissue paper to wrap your items in (especially if they are fragile).

Signs - Bring a sign with your logo on it. For my first craft show I did, they made a sign for all the vendors, but usually you'll have to make your own. I've made a sign just with decorative paper and computer paper and taped it to my display. It is also nice to laminate your sign so it doesn't get bent or dirty.

Labels - You'll also need labels with prices for each of your items. I usually just make some mini signs with a general price for each item (e.g. Greeting Cards are all $3). You can also use stickers for each item and write the price on each stickers. Remember, you don't need to sell at the exact price you do on your Etsy (even though you should try to keep the price similar).

Fanny Pack or Cash Box - Have somewhere to keep your cash such a fanny pack or cash box. Some people say fanny packs are safer because it makes it harder for people to steal your money. Also make sure you have change.

Credit Payment System - If you have a way to accept credit cards, that could increase your sales. Many smart phones offer systems that allow you to accept credit cards such as the PayPal Card Reader.

Camera - Have your camera with you so you can take photos of your display and the event. It's good for future reference and so you can remember the experience. I also like to post photos I take on my blog and Flickr.

Extra Clothes - It's good to wear layers even if you're inside (you don't know how cold or warm the room will be). Bring an extra sweater if it's going to be cold and a hat, sunscreen and water bottle if you'll be outside in the sun.

Notebook and Pen - I like to bring a notebook and pen to jot down what items sold. It's also good to have a notebook if you're bored and waiting for customers. You may get an idea for your shop or what to do for your display next time while at the craft show and you'll easily be able to keep track of your thoughts.

Book to Read - You may also want to bring a book to read or something to do for when people aren't at your table. If you can work on your craft while waiting, that would be good too.

Snacks - Have snacks and water with you in case you get hungry or thirsty and you can't leave your booth.

Personal Emergency Kit – Have a personal emergency kit that includes aspirin, band aids, lip balm, lotion, sunscreen, cell phone and anything else you might need.

Display Emergency Kit – Include display or item emergency items such as safety pins, thread and needle, bungee cords, zip ties, scissors, twine, and tape.

Depending on the craft show, you might need to get your own table and table cloth too. Bring a foldable table, table cloth and chairs if you have to bring your own table.

Also, make sure you have transportation to and from your craft show. If you have a car or someone with a car, that makes it easiest (especially if you have your own table). If you have to travel far away and the craft show is a few days, you might need to stay at a hotel. Keep track of all these expenses (materials, transportation, craft show fee and items that sell) so you know how much you're spending and how much you're making.

To see part 1 of this tutorial, click here. Check back for part 3 which will help tips for when you're at the craft show.

Updated Mini Journal Photos

I updated the photos for these two new mini journals in my shop:

Orange Flower Mini Journal



Autism Awareness Journal



Which do you like the best?

Creative Resume Ideas

I love creative resumes that have visual effects instead of just text on paper. I've been applying for some jobs lately. I don't know if I'd make a visual resume, but I like looking at them. These are some of my favorites:

This resume looks handwritten on a lined paper. It also has fun details like a photo on top and doodles.

This resume is printed on a t-shirt. You can order custom resume t-shirts here.

This resume uses a visual timeline effect.

This one is probably my favorite because it's crafty and creative. This resume is sewn on fabric to show her love of sewing. You can see a tutorial here.

This resume is designed to look like an advertisement page.

What inspires you? 

Spiritual Photography Inspiration

I love looking at spiritual photos like these:

check sources

Craft Shows Tutorial Part 1: Finding Craft Shows and Applying

What is a craft show? 

A craft show is an event offline where you can sell your products. Craft shows happen at a variety of places from local schools to concert venues. A craft show can last 1 day (or a couple of hours) to a couple days. Craft shows vary in how much they cost to attend, how many people go, what other events are happening at that craft show and how big the overall event is.

Finding Events 

Start off by looking for craft shows in your local neighborhood. If you live in a small town, look for craft shows at the nearest big city or in neighborhoods nearby. Look on Google and offline such as in the local newspaper. Here are some other places to look online:

Etsy Teams: There are usually Etsy teams for different locations. Etsy teams in your area will usually post about upcoming craft shows and other opportunities.

Craigslist - Craigslist is a good place to look for craft shows. I like to set it up on IFTTT so it automatically emails me if the keywords "Etsy" or "craft show" are used in a post.

FestivalNet - This site is good for finding festivals in your area such as craft shows, art festivals and art shows.

The Indie Craft Show Directory - This site will help you find indie craft shows in the United States and Canada.

CraftLister  - CraftLister has festivals, fairs and craft shows. They also have a list of artists and vendors and lots of good information.

Find a Craft Fair - This site makes it easy to find craft events. They also have related sites to find bridal shows, computer shows, music festivals and more.

ArtFairCalendar.com - ArtFairCalendar is free to join. You can find juried art and craft shows.

Fairs and Festivals - This is another site where you can look for different craft show events. They also have articles and resources.

Art Fair Source Book - This site allows you to buy a source book that is the "definitive guide to the best juried art and craft shows nationwide". You can try it out for free and then decide if you want to subscribe.

Sunshine Artists - Sunshine Artist brings you a comprehensive list of art and craft shows throughout the United States and Canada. You can view the date, name and sometimes website for free.

Festivals and Events Search - This site has thousands of festivals in North America ranging from major national/regional events with up to 1 million visitors to small local events with a few thousand.

Pricing 

Vendors usually have to pay money to sell at a craft show. Pricing varies for different events. If you've never done a craft show before, start with an inexpensive show first so you get experience. How much money do you expect to make? You want to make sure you're making enough money selling items to cover the cost of the craft show. Small craft shows cost about $20 while bigger craft shows like the Renegade Craft Show can cost $300 or more. Bigger craft shows are also hard to get in to because they are usually juried which means they don't accept all applicants. Start with non juried shows and then work up to bigger shows.

Calendar

Keep a calendar or planner and see when you are free to attend craft shows. A lot of craft shows happen on the weekend. There are more craft shows around big holidays such as Christmas when people are out shopping more, but events happen all year. Think about if you'd rather do an outdoor or indoor craft show (there will be more outdoor ones in the summer and warmer months), Also, think about if your products would sell better at a certain time. If you sell items that have a theme of love and romance, a Valentine's Day craft show might give you more sales.

Applying

Now that you've found some craft shows you want to apply to, find the application for the craft show (usually available on their website). Give a good first impression. Most applicants will ask for basic info like your name and information on your business. If the craft show doesn't accept everyone, they will usually want samples of your work. Make sure you are showcasing your best items and have good photographs of your items. If you don't get accepted right away, just keep applying! Sometimes, craft shows are looking for a certain type of business and your shop just may not have been what they were looking for. Some craft shows have an application fee in addition to craft show fee so make sure it is worth it to apply for the show. Smaller craft shows usually accept most (or all) people so you should find some craft shows to go to.

Part 2 will cover what you should do once you are accepted to a craft show!

Move the Needle's Fifth Year Anniversary

It was Move the Needle's anniversary/birthday on June 5th. I actually forgot about it until now. Move the Needle has been open since 2008 so that makes this year its 5th year. If you want to get 20% off any order in Move the Needle in the month of June, enter the code "ANNIVERSARY" at checkout. I thought I'd do a post on some recent updates at Move the Needle.

I added custom tabs to my Facebook fanpage. You can check it out here and like me if you haven't already. I like the way custom tabs look and they were fun to make.

I've sold wholesale/consignment a few times, but I want to try to get more in to wholesale. I'm currently contacting shops and learning more about selling wholesale. I made a line sheet for my business which is basically like a catalog you give to shops you want to sell your product in. Here is a page from my line sheet. If you buy wholesale, you can contact me here to see my full line sheet.

I took a while to do, but I'm glad I made a line sheet because it will make it easier for shops to buy things from me. A line sheet is also good for people who want to bulk order products from Move the Needle.

I still have to finish my Etsy eBook. It ended up being bigger than I thought and is taking me longer to finish. I hope I will have it finished and published by next month though.

I also sent out my mailing list for June last week. If you are not subscribed to my mailing list already, click here. You will also get free art journaling ideas for subscribing.

Chalkboard Paint Ideas

I recently played around with using chalkboard paint. I found it for pretty cheap on eBay. When you paint it on a surface, it turns the surface in to a chalkboard material that you can write on. It looks like black paint, but can also come in different colors. Here are some chalkboard paint ideas:

Labels



I created labels for my last craft show with plain labels and chalkboard paint. You can change the label to whatever you want. Labels are also good for sticking on drawers, anywhere in your home, on pouches, etc.

Old Photo Frame



I had this painting in a photo frame I found at a thrift shop. I didn't really like the painting that much, but I loved the gold frame so I just painted over the glass part and made it in to a chalkboard I can put on display.

Planters

Chalkboard paint is great for planting pots because you can write what plant you're planting and then reuse it with a different label. Here's an example where I wrote "Mint" on the chalkboard area.

Etsy Items



I also played around with using chalkboard paint on some Etsy items I could sell. I upcycled an old mini journal in to a chalkboard paint journal. I still have to list it on Etsy. I am also making a journal from scratch with chalkboard paint on the cover. I think I am going to coptic stitch it with some ribbon I have. I'll post how it turns out. Later, I want to try making chalkboard paint on my boxes and maybe use it on some greeting cards.

Have you ever used chalkboard paint?

Image Editing Tips

These are a few image editing and Photoshop tips I've learned on the web.

This Fresh Rag graphic explains what size your photo should be in pixels if you want it to be high definition. To make an image good quality, it helps to start with the image really big. This is good to know if you're designing graphics or want a really high definition image.

This image from Her New Leaf shows you how to save images correctly. If your image is a photo, save as JPG format. If your image is a graphic or just words, save as a GIF (like my Etsy logo). If it's a combination of text/graphic and photograph, PNG is the best way to save. This will make your photos look better on the web and more high definition.

Another tip I have with Photoshop is to save the PSD version of an image if you're making a complex graphic and have a lot of layers. That way if you need to edit it (like if you need to change text), you can easily find the layer you need to edit and fix it.

What are your best Photoshop or image editing tips?

Item Feature - Extra Big Book of Abstract Patterns

Note: This blog entry is an item feature entry. I wrote it to include more info about a listing I put on Etsy so I could show more info and photos.

This extra large art book contains 12 original watercolor paintings of abstract patterns. Each page is double sided with a painting on each side. It measures about 34 x 25 inches when closed. The front and back covers use brown book cloth. The book is stitched using the coptic stitch method with twine. The inside covers are painted with white paint and gesso. I made this book as part of a Book Arts class I took in college.

I used the dotting method for these purple and blue rectangles that sort of remind me of a garden arrangement.

This pattern uses purple, gray and blue colors. I made the pattern by experimenting with sponge patterns and dotting the paper to leave white space underneath.

These zig zag patterns remind me of a jigsaw puzzle. The left painting uses different colors. The right painting uses orange as it's color theme.

I made these circular patterns that remind me of the patterns water makes when you drop something in it. The left painting uses the colors blue and green while the right uses red, purple and yellow.

These two painting use an organic, linear sort of pattern with watercolor paint. The blue painting started off as one painting I was doing for another project, but ended up turning in to a whole big book of patterns.

These paintings use x shaped crosses to make different patterns. The pattern on the left uses tan and orange colors with purple. The painting on the right uses different shades of green. 

These two paintings use wavy patterns in different ways. The green painting on the left started off as one texture with light green and blue colors. I then went over it with these dark green waves outlined in black.

These brown and black swirls sort of remind me of bark in trees. If buying, please note there is a small tear in this painting as you can see in the first photo.

For pricing info and to purchase, see my Etsy listing here.