Super Groovy, Super DJ Kid Card

Here's a card I made for my nephew a couple of weeks back for his 10th birthday, he has two pet guinea pigs that he adores. I wasn't going to list this because I used a stock image, and most of my cards are original design or my own photography, but my sister encouraged me to, because she said it came out really cute.

So, I emailed the photographer, hanua from stockxchange.com , and she graciously gave me permission to use her image. You can get this card personalized the way you want here: Personalized Super DJ Birthday Photo Card.

Possible Amore Bride Banners

Etsy Day!

The Etsy Forums have united and declared Friday, April 24th, 2009, Etsy Day! Hurray! This is a grassroots, marketing blitz to raise awareness and create a buzz about Etsy. We want to educate the public by throwing the word out there in mass numbers. One of the ideas on the Etsy Storque was to support a new seller by buying an item from someone with no sales (you can find them on Pounce Undiscovered), and wish them a "Happy Etsy Day" in the Message to Seller field when you check out (or if you always forget to 'Message the Seller' like I do, convo them later.) The shop I pounced was DeslynnWDesigns. At Deslynn's you'll find some very pretty handmade cards. Isn't this a great card purchase!

Wordless Wednesday - The Voca People

How to Make Clear Watermarks for Images Using Photoshop Tutorial

Clear watermarks are a great way to protect your images, and at the same time not distract from what it is you are selling. This is a Photoshop tutorial, it is the program I most work in. Please be sure to click on the images if you need to zoom in.

1. Open your image. Hit Cntrl D to set your forground to black. Type out your Name (If you want a copyright symbol hit ALT 0169). Size it and position it where you think it looks best.

2. Rasterize your text by right-clicking on the layer in the layers palette and selecting rasterize.

3. In the Filter menu, under Stylize, choose Emboss. Apply the following settings: Angle 135° Height 3-5 pixels (where ever you like it) Amount 100% Click OK.

4. To Smooth the edges, go to the Layers palette, turn on Lock Transparent Pixels (the first icon fron the left in the Lock section), and add a 2-3 pixel Gaussian Blur (Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur).

5. To make the Watermark Transparent, go to the Layers palette and change the Blend Mode to from Normal to Hard Light.

What's New This Week?

Bronze Safari Mini Notecards

These leopard, tiger & giraffe patterns create a very classy, elegant set of mini 3x3 inch notecards. Each animal print notecard comes with it's own coordinating hand-made (yes, hand cut and glued by me) bronze-colored envelope. The insides of the card have been left blank for your own message. Perfect for sliding a thank you into your customer's package, or for letting that special babysitter, teacher, post office carrier know how much they're appreciated. Sold in a set of 6 or set of 3 cards.

Some of My Recent Purchases

LE ACEO Print Old Red Wagon Flowers Plants

by Silverbrookstudio

This ACEO touched me. Every spring you can see me carting around my perennials in the same little red wagon that I used to tote my boys in when they were little. Every year, my husband tries to get rid of this same wagon, figuring I can use his wheelbarrow, and I've tried, it just isn't the same. One of my favorite ACEOs to date! Lloydene's shop has many more beautiful ACEOs and prints like this one. I plan on being a regular!!!

Bit of Tuscany Print

by asiasi

I picked up this great piece of artwork at More Meaningful Gift's Seize A Shop this week (more info on this event follow the link to my April 9th post). I can't wait to frame it up and display it in my Italiano kitchen! Donna's got such style in her artwork, a true artist! Her original paintings can be found in her Art By Donna Rose shop.

Trophy Wife ACEO Original Collage

by dadadreams

This was my mother's life, and the epitome of the 50's lifestyle. Fantastic quality collage, too! It has made a great addition to my ACEO collection, I love it! Michelle has a great shop with similar collages, ACEOs, magnets and more...ALL just as charming and touched by a bit of humorous irony like this piece.

Wordless Wednesday

Real Life Photoshop

(Be sure to click on picture to zoom in!)

Personalized Custom Mini Notecards

This past week I finished up another Custom Mini Notecard order, this one for for Nicole's Homemade Treats. (If you have never been to Niki's shop, I suggest you head over and pick up a yummy treat. Everything is SO good!)

I love creating these unique cards, and working with each shop owner to create a special design of their own. I never really know what the finished product is going to look like until the end. The best part of this process is seeing the ideas you bring to the table and combining them with my skills as a graphic designer.

Custom minis are a unique way to thank your customer for their order. They are a great substitute to sending a business card, as all your information is already on the back. Each card comes with its own hand-made (yes, hand cut and glued by me) white envelope. The insides of the card have been left blank for your own message.

Show your customers how proud you are of the artwork and the crafts you create with these 3"x3" personalized notecards. Coming soon... 2"x2" Petite Mini Notecards...shhhh! ;)

FRIDAY FEATURED ARTIST - Sheltie19

I'd like to introduce you to Luanne Brown, or Sheltie, as most of us affectionately know her. I've come to know Sheltie thru Goshen's Game Round BNR forum thread. Sheltie19 has a variety of things in her shop, but I think what she is most infamous for is the beautifully stunning beads she creates. (That, and her knack for finding all the game threads going on throughout the forums!) I interviewed Sheltie recently, I'll let her tell you more about herself:

1. Tell me a little about yourself? I am married to my high school sweetheart. I use to have my own dog training business until I got sick. I got started making jewelry, which lead me into making my own beads. I am a self taught glass artist, and just love making my beads. I have ventured into other crafts too....I just love to make things.

2. What do you make/create? Well, I make lampwork beads and glass sculptures...the sculptures are what I think I do the best, but any bead is fun to create and I just being in my studio. I also make cards, candles, lip balms, and body butter...and now I am sewing.

3. Name the last three things you bought on Etsy/seller? Cards, earrings, bracelet. I love to buy my cards from you (H20works) or emmarts, and I love oksi's braclets, and krisybird's earrings.

4. Have you ever met someone who has changed your life? My husband, he got me under control in my life. He has stood by my side thru all my illness, which at times has not been easy. I admire his honesty and caring... he is kind and loving.. and I can tell him anything... I think god wanted us together.

5. Do you sing in the shower? If so, what songs? LOL yes I do...but mostly humming cause I can never remember the words to a song...hehehehehe

More Meaningful Gifts SAS

Last night, I was honored to host my very first SAS (Seize a Shop) on Etsy's More Meaningful Gifts (MMG) forum thread. This is a weekly event where one shop off the current BNR list is chosen randomly, and everyone shops it. There are a few rules, like having to check in to the thread daily for at least 3 days prior to SAS, and once you've been seized you have to wait 6 months to be shopped again. Buying is not mandatory to be involved, which makes it all the more special! The excitement leading up to the drawing is always contagious!

In order to host, I had to win the drawing which means last week, everyone bought from my shop. I wasn't there when it was actually happening, but I can't begin to even tell you how thrilled I was to wake up to 10 orders in my shop last Thursday morning!!! Not only did this give me a boost in sales, feedback & profits, it more importantly gave me a boost in self-confidence, self-worth & even more love for my fellow MMG-ers!

I proudly pass the torch this week to fairyloreandmore . She won last night's SAS. Just look at the lovely lavender sachets I purchased last night. I can't wait to receive them!!!

Yummy Time!

Here's a quick little recipe that called Rolo Turtles. They are the perfect blend of sweet and salty and are super simple to make! The hardest part is unwrapping all those darn Rolos!!!

1 bag of Tiny Pretzel Twists
1 bag of Rolos, unwrapped
1 bag of Whole Pecans

Pre-heat oven to 200°. Lay unbroken, whole pretzels down on a cookie sheet. Put a Rolo on top of each pretzel. Pop in the oven for about 5 minutes. Take out of oven and press a pecan down in the center of each Rolo. Let cool. Store in airtight container.

Craftopolis

If you are tired of searching thru the endless lists of treasuries for the elusive little stars that indicate you've been featured, search no more!

Craftopolis was shared with me a short while back. What a GREAT tool this is! Simply put your name in the search box, and up pops all the treasuries you are currently being featured in. As far as I can tell, this works for both the Main Treasury & Treasury West.

In addition, Craftopolis will also tell you if you are currently featured in any of Etsy's Gift Guides. I was pleasantly pleased to see that H20work's Home Canning Series #35 Print was featured in the SLOW FOOD Gift Guide!!! Yippee! I made it to a gift guide...SWEET!