Monday, September 28, 2009

DIY Sparkle Shoulder Sweatshirt

Its not secret that shoulders are *BIG* this fall. Shoulder pads, shoulder designs etc - everyone designer is focusing on the shoulders. So why not add a little sparkle to your shoulder with this quick and easy DIY design.

All you need is an old sweatshirt some sparkle you want to attach to your shoulder and some fabric glue.
And there you have a stylish new look for fall!

(P.S Remember to let the glue dry 24 hours before wearing)


Sweatshirt from American Apparel
Appliques can be found at MJ Trim

Friday, September 25, 2009

Groove on Grove - The Devyl Nellys



Tim from http://timothyherrick.blogspot.com/ did a really nice write up of my friends band The Devyl Nellys who played a great set Wednesday at Grove Street in Jersey City.
The final Groove on Grove will be next Wednesday from 6-8.

For more info on The Devyl Nellys check out their myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/thedevylnellys

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Little Shop of Etsy Horrors

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays - any excuse to play dress up and stuff myself with candy!
Here are some spooky Etsy Halloween accesorries to get you in the mood..are you scared yet?
Zombie Fun Pack Vinyl Wall Art by Pill box Designs http://Pillboxdesigns.etsy.com
Grey Skeleton by Gush 4 Plush http://gush4plush.etsy.com
Little Vampire Mary Jane Shoes by Em and Sprout http://emandsprout.etsy.com
Embroidered Heart Pillow Case by Tada Boutique http://tadaboutique.etsy.com
 Macabre rings by Foamy Wader http://foamywader.etsy.com
Skeleton hands with metallic pink painted nails clip by Sisters of the Moon http://SistersOfTheMoon.etsy.com
Joined Dia de los Muertos Sugar Skull and Roses- Green Necklace by Horribell http://horribell.etsy.com

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Super Mario Fingernails

Super Mario has always been on of my favorite games but perhaps this is taking it a little too far?

Pretty cool though!

Super Mario fingernails via BoingBoing


http://www.boingboing.net/2009/09/12/super-mario-fingerna.html

Monday, September 21, 2009

Etsy Seller Feature Cards Between Friends

This weeks Etsy seller feature is on  Maricela Flores at Cards Between  Friends . Maricela lives in Fayetteville NC and is a stay at home mom raising her 3 kids who are 16, 14 & 5 - she used to be in the military!

 
Ok, so have you always loved stationary?
 Stationary wasn't my first love. I remember picking up a plastic canvas kit my sister left on her bed and I started following the pattern in the booklet. Ever since then I've fallen in love with any craft possible. Sewing, cross-stitch, tatting & card making with rubber stamps. For some reason I have no talent for scrap booking, but wish I knew how to crochet. But I do still have the magnet which was made out of the plastic canvas. 
 
What made you first decide to start making cards and selling them?
I first started making cards around 2001 when a friend invited me to go to a class her friend, who was a demonstrator at the time, was giving. It has always been just a hobby & creative outlet until recently in October 2008 when I set up shop in Etsy. I did this after encouragement of family members. I don
 ' t regret any second since joining. It ' s hard work & time consuming, but very rewarding doing this for myself.




Blast Off Any Occasion Card

I see you do a lot of collage type cards - what are your favorite cards to make?
My favorite are water coloring and also dimensional items, not necessarily just cards. Such as party favors for my kids
   birthday parties and classes.
The reason why I enjoy water coloring is because it
 ' s very relaxing and easy to get lost in my own little world...very therapeutic! When all the coloring is done, that ' s when the glitter is added with a glitter pen for sparkle. It just finishes off the whole piece.
I love that you send cards directly to the recipient that
 ' s a great service - do you write the message too?
I can and have written the buyer
 ' s message on the card before sealing it up. With everything else going on in our lives, it ' s nice to have someone else take care of that for you.
All the buyer has to do is leave me a message at the time of purchase. I
 ' m in constant contact with the buyer and sometimes I worry that I ask too many questions. But it ' s important for me to get the message and the card right.
 
 Do you have a favorite item in your Etsy shop?
For now, my favorite item in my Etsy shop is my Water Color Gnome. It
 ' s always been one of my favorite stamp sets, but shamelessly underused.
The image begs to be water colored, that
 ' s when the sweet gnomes start coming to life. And also the colors on the card along with the decorator paper makes for a lovely combo.
 
Do you do your craft full-time?
Making my custom orders, samples, updating my shop, sending out orders, taking, editing & posting photos and showing my shop to does require quite a bit of time. Many hours a day are spent doing this as many who do the same thing realize. A lot more than IĆ¢€™ve ever imagined! So i do consider it to be full time. I love it!
 
 
  
 Where do you find inspiration for your paper products? 
Inspiration comes from ALL OVER! Everywhere I go, everything see, just like many other artists. I love experimenting with different color combinations, techniques & layouts.
And if I mess up or it just doesn
 ' t look good, no one has to know!
90% of my inspiration comes from other card makers who graciously share their work on various websites. It
 ' s amazing what they 'r e capable of creating.
 
Bug Bag Toppers

What do you love about your business? 
I love coming in contact with many different people on Etsy. I can feel their excitement when I show them a card I came up for them for their special occasion. Custom orders keep me out of a rut and forces me to try new things. They tell me about the person, what they like, and a few more questions later, I come up with a card that I hope they like and approve. Most of my sales are through the Etsy website since that
 ' s where I advertise my shop the most.

What makes you unique at Etsy? 
My cads are 4 
x 3 3/4 "  rather than the average 4.25" x 5.5". I started making them this size about 2 years ago. For some reason, they were easier for me to work with. The smaller space helps cozy it up a little. That ' s when my design style started to emerge. 

Butterfly Note Cards

Do you have any crafting tips to share for anyone who likes to make their own cards?
The right type of inks and papers make a HUGE difference on how your cards turn out. Quality really does count! I started out with the cheap-o, flimsy papers, but moved on up to top quality items. The envelope also makes a tremendous difference. My cards come with a beautiful standard size Kraft envelope.

Halloween Treat Pouches
Do you have any small business tips to share?
Be proud of your work and don
 ' t underestimate yourself. You ' ve got to be constantly promoting yourself, or else you ' ll drown in the sea of sellers. Go through the forums for valuable information and many other resources Etsy has to offer. Lots of information out there from fellow Etsy sellers. Learn from their mistakes and share yours also!

Lunchbox Notes
Do you have any tips to share for anyone who is thinking about setting up an Etsy shop?
There
 ' s no such thing as a dumb question. Ask or post it and more than likely someone has an answer for you. I ' ve learned so much from others and gladly share my info that might help someone else sell. A good experience was getting my shop critiqued during one of the virtual labs. Just by watching others shops get critiqued is also helpful
 
 
 Pumpkin Faces Tags

Is there any other information you would like to share with my readers?
Buyers can definitely tell when your heart is put into your products. This is true for me since I'm a buyer, also. I think for a lot of us sellers, we work so hard at tying to sell our product, not just for the money...which definitely helps, but also for being acknowledged.
Sometimes it's just as gratifying to hear someone tell you how impressive your work is.
 
Rust Cocoa Bronco Card

Cards between Friends can be found at the below:
 
CardsBetweenFriends.etsy.com
Facebook (CardsBetweenFriends)
twitter.com/BetweenFriends
 
SplitCoastStampers (Maricela)
Spanglish Team on Etsy
Sparkly and Bright Christmas Card

Maricela in her own words:
 
Lets start writing to friends & family, not just for birthdays & special occasions, but also in random, showing that we're always thinking about them whether the live near or far. Don't you just love it when you get a card in the mail?
 
A goal of mine is to get people to write more to each other. Emailing is so fast & convenient, which is perfect in this instant gratification time, but who doesn't love receiving a letter in the mail still? To know someone took the time to send you something is even more gratifying. And to make it even more special, a card that has been personalized and put their heart into making it. 
So let's start writing to friends & family more often. It's time we stop distancing ourselves and once again form that bond with our loved ones.

Friday, September 18, 2009

DIY Tee-cycling

Lately I've been trying to get very creative with my clothes. Fall is here and I'm dying for a new wardrobe but money is tight so I'm recycling and re-inventing my old clothes. Having cleared out my closet the other week I found a few items that I wouldn't wear again due to holes and what not but that I still basically liked so I cut them up and stuck them on other clothes to see how they looked. Why not?

This tshirt was my first attempt. I took and old tank top that had a cool design on the front and carefully cut it off and attached it to a plain grey tee to give it a fancy bib necklace kind of style. I just used fabric glue as I have yet to aquaint myself with a sewing machine (fingers crossed I'm getting one for Xmas). It assures me on the bottle that I am able to wash this without it falling off - we shall see!




New and updated for Fall '09!


Next week I will be showing how to inject some glamour into an old sweatshirt...stay stuned!

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Etsy Top Picks for Fall


There's definitely a chill in the morning air and Im packing a cardigan instead of flip flops and a sun dress. Trying to hold on to Summer but it definitely feels like the beginning of Fall!



Here are some cozy Etsy finds to get you through the Autumn
Pumpkin Spice Soap Wedges by Sapone Soaps http://SaponeSoaps.etsy.com
Chunky Citron Yellow Scarf by Kerrera Skye http://KerreraSkye.etsy.com
Small Autumn Maple Leaf Bowl by Gourds by Design http://gourdsbydesign.etsy.com
Flora Ballet Flats by Hydra Heart http://HydraHeart.etsy.com
BRAIDED SHRUG IN CAFFE LATTE by Couvert http://couvert.etsy.com
Autumn Oak Rust - eco friendly, handmade greeting card by The Spotted Sparrow http://thespottedsparrow.etsy.com
Autumn Collar by Flutter http://flutter.etsy.com


Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Omiru

I wanted to share a website that I love called Omiru. Omiru is a style and shopping guide dedicated to real style for real people. They cover everything to figure flattering shapes, fashion trends, most importanly affordable fashion. And they tell you where to buy everything.





Im loving this Vena Cava Khaki Zip Dress in their shopping section. Only $88 from GAP

You can even contact them with your very own style questions such as what to wear on a summer vacation to Spain!


http://www.omiru.com/

Monday, September 14, 2009

Peanut Butter Popcorn Best Movie Snack Ever?


Sometimes I love nothing more than curling up on the sofa and watching a movie or a really good HBO show! And of course I have to have a little something to snack on. I love popcorn but it can get a little boring so I figured why not take popcorn and slather it in one of my favorite foods (peanut butter). The results were delicious - I ate pretty much this whole bowl by myself I am ashamed to say and it only took 5 minutes to make...couldn't be simpler!

(makes a large bowl about 8 cups)

Ingredients:
1/4 cup popcorn kernels
Kosher salt (to taste)
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup of your favorite peanut butter (I recommend Skippy All Natural Extra Chunky - extra chunks = added crunch!)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:
Coat the bottom of a large pan with a thin layer of vegetable oil and heat over medium heat. Add the popcorn kernels and place the lid on the pan leaving a small crack for the steam. When the popcorn starts popping move the pan back and forth rapidly to ensure evenly popped popcorn. When the popping slows down take the pan of the heat.

Pour the popcorn into a bowl and salt to taste.
IMPORTANT: Make sure you remove any unpopped kernels!

Next combine the honey and sugar in a small saucepan and bring to the boil. Simmer for a minute then remove from the heat and stir in the peanut butter. Once the peanut butter has melted mix in the vanilla then pour the peanut butter mixture over the popcorn and stir until all the popcorn is evenly coated.

Once the popcorn has cooled carry to the couch and dive in!

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Etsy Seller Feature Squid Art

This weeks Etsy seller feature is on photographer Katie from Squid Art. Katie lives in Melbourne, Florida and named her Etsy shop after her adorable and hyper Jack Russell terrier. Katie first got interested in photography after taking a few photography classes in high school where she fell in love with the dark room process, and describes photography as her other half.
She spends her days "in a middle school classroom trying to teach a bunch of hooligans some English" and takes pictures in her spare time.


 
 

Katie : "Whenever I can, I dive head first into a new design project. I’m not happy unless my walls are covered with art and my camera is full of pictures."
 
 
 
For any amateur photogs Katie  has tons of  photography  tips on her blog http://squidart.wordpress.com  where she posts tutorials about  photoshop and photography styles, such as bokeh and ttv. 

 


Do you have a favorite photo?
A favorite photo? That is a hard one. Right now, I think it is my 
 " Some Things Last Forever Print " .
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=28231459 
I stumbled across this tree in the mountains when we were on vacation this summer. It reminds me of that feeling when you want to tell the whole world that you love somebody. It makes me happy.


Where do you find inspiration for your photos? 
I wish that I had a better answer for this, but it really is just anywhere. Something, and it can be ANYTHING, sparks an idea, and I just go with it.


What do you love about your business? 
I love that I can take it in any direction that I want. All I have to do is imagine something, and if I work hard enough, I can take my business in that direction. Etsy gives us all a chance to share our art with other people. I don
 ' t have to be a famous photographer or in a gallery to let people all over the world see my photos. I love that!


What makes you unique at Etsy? 
I hope that my pictures can answer this question for themselves. 
 W hat you see in my shop is not in every other shop, and I hope that my pictures bring you some kind of happiness and serenity when you see them.


Do you have any tips to share for anyone who is thinking about setting up an Etsy shop?
Do a lot of research before you start! There is SO much information in the forums. Start reading and start making lists. Ask questions. Etsy is a strong community of people going through the same thing that you are. Know that it will take a lot of your time, and you probably 
 won' t make much money. But also remember how much you love to do your craft and how cool it is to see your work in your own online store and in other people ' s homes.


Squid Art can be found at the below: 

Etsy: http://squidart.etsy.com
Blog: http://squidart.wordpress.com 

Friday, September 11, 2009

Embroidered Graffiti



I recently came across Jacquelyn Royal who does embroidered renditions of famous graffiti. Its really quite brilliant. Where do people get such great ideas?!


http://www.jacquelynroyal.com/

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

True blood Etsy Finds

My favourite HBO show True Blood is drawing to a close again, (it seems like it only just started again?!) and I will be mooching around Sunday nights with nothing to do. Maybe some of my fave Etsy "True Blood" finds will help ease the withdrawal...
Horrorshow Soap - GLOWS in the DARK - True Blood Sookie by Dug Shop http://dugshop.etsy.com
True blood garnet ring by Idle Hands Designs http://idlehandsdesigns.etsy.com
True Blood Stainless Steel Waterproof Charm Pendant Necklace by Creative Rampage http://CreativeRampage.etsy.com
"I'd rather be drinking blood" Onesie by Rhymes with Twee http://rhymeswithtwee.etsy.com
Merlottes Bar and Grill Decal by Simply Bitten http://simplybitten.etsy.com
True Blood Fangbanger wooden bangle by Faboo http://faboo.etsy.com
Eric Scrabble Tile Pendant by Designs by Appletree http://designsbyappletree.etsy.com
Vampire Fang Earrings by Bees Creations http://BeesCreations.etsy.com
True Blood Buttons by Roundies http://roundies.etsy.com
BITE ME, BILL Bracelet by Jack and Ella http://JackandElla.etsy.com


Ahh I feel better already ; )