Second post today?!

So I've been wanting so much to include some extra goodies in my packages to customers, but I just don't know where to begin or what to get! I added a poll on the right side column of this page, and I would appreciate it so much if you gave me some input!

If you have any suggestions, personal experiences, special requests, or anything to say please leave me a comment here. Or, if you'd like to include some of your own promo goodies in packages I ship out, I'd love to do a trade for them! (All I have right now are business cards though!)

Thanks for the feedback, I appreciate you loyal readers! :)

What an honor!

Thank goodness for Google Alerts. They are really a gift!

I got an email yesterday, letting me know that "vinylrocksmyworld" had a hit on the internet. It was an article written by Laurie Grassi on StyleAtHome.com What an honor!


Laurie is the executive editor of Style At Home magazine and she was the guest curator for Etsy's The Storque yesterday. WOW!! You can read The Storque article HERE, and the (same) post on the Style At Home website HERE.

Needless to say, I am absolutely tickled to death! This totally made my year, and I am so excited to get the much-needed promotion right now. Sales have been depressingly slow since the Christmas rush.


Maybe this is a sign I really need to get on my guns and make some more listings! I have plenty of things that aren't up in my shop yet.. it's just a matter of taking the time to do it. You know what I mean? :)

I hope you all have a fantastic day! This weekend is going to be beauuutiful here!


Laurie mentioned in the blurb about my white vinyl bowl that she hopes I get more stock of the colored vinyl in.. I wish I could find more too! She said a number of people would be interested over at the magazine perhaps, and I know I would love to get some of that cool vinyl in. The white vinyl freaked me out (in a good way, though!) but I'm glad it sold on Tuesday. :)

April 22nd is just around the corner - Annual Sale!

I'm celebrating having too much inventory and Earth Day, of course!

So I'm having a 20% off EVERYTHING sale! The end date for this is TBA (because even I don't know when I'll decide to end it) so that means get it on it now before it's too late!

Please include "WELOVEEARTHDAY" in Notes to Seller at checkout, and I'll send you an updated invoice or a refund. Order soon, and you'll have your goodies before Earth Day so you can party in style! (You are having a party, right?!)

These are some Earth Friendly lookin' labels in my shop now that would be PERFECT for your party! (sorry for the shameless plug.. but this is my blog, right?) :)

(Click pictures for direct link to the listings!)

So mark your calendars.. April 22nd is the big day! - Earth Day, that is!

Live GREEN and Rock On,

Update on the shop, and helpful resources!

Just in case you haven't seen it, I created another (yes, *another*) new banner for my etsy shop! I love the new look, and it is definitely a lot cleaner and easier to read than before. To tell you the truth, I didn't realize you could upload banners and avatars that were larger than the specified size that they show at! Using a larger image than what displays makes the image much clearer and it loses that grain that will appear when it is distorted or stretched in any way. (hope it makes sense if you're not too clear on what I'm talking about!)

Anywho, I created my old banner using Scrapblog, which is a really fun site to play around on if you've got the time! It's online scrapbooking with TONS of awesome graphics and tools on there to use.. I made a blog post about it last fall with some pages I made! (If you go make anything, please share with us here so I can go check out your creations!)

Here's my banner line, starting with what I started with last week, and what I ended up with by the weekend! :) The ones after the original green one were made purely using Picasa - my FAVORITE easy-editing photo program. It allows you to organize your photos by albums, date taken, number of people in them, etc; also lets you do a ton of editing and even add text! Great find, and if you haven't seen it, I strongly suggest you try it out!





I like the dotty banner too, and may go back to that one when I get tired of this collaged yellow one.. but I liked the drop shadow I made (there's no tool for it, so I did it by layering the text) and I thought the pictures in the background was pretty neat. I'd want to change the dots on the second-to-last one if I were to use that in my shop - the text is a little hard to read when it's sized larger!

Once you're done cropping your banner and everything in etsy, I use Irfanview to resize the banner so it's not 300,000x1,000,000 pixels big (haha.. not really that big!), but you get the "picture". Irfanview is easy to use once you get a hang of it, and it's the best program I've found to resize/crop images quickly.


Of course, all of these programs (and website - scrapblog requires no download!) are free and useful for your image editing/organizing/creating needs. Hope you can use some of this information!

Mid-Week Feature #7

Today's mid-week feature comes to you from Brentwood, NH. Give it up for Rachel Grande - Designer and Creator over at Think Outside The Box! She's a real cool mom (and if she were mine, I would make HER cupcakes to make her day!) Know what makes her awesome in addition to her fabulous work? She tries to reuse as much packaging as she can, to be ecologically responsible. Way to go, Rachel!

She has perfect feedback, has made 65 sales, and looks to be off to a great start here on Etsy! Her one year Etsyversary passed in February, so go give her some love and snatch up some of these lovely creations!


What is your craft?
Definitely not a question easily answered. I am quite eclectic in my crafting and the mediums I choose. I could never brand myself as just one particular type of artist. I indulge in needle felting...or obsess is more like it! I adore felt..any kind of felt..dabble in polymer clay..love to sew..learning about embroidery,,and my ADD is now allowing me to paper craft too..But there is much more to it and me...

How long have you been crafting?
I think I knit myself a baby beanie while I was in the womb..Hey..it gets cold out there!
Kinda gives a whole new meaning to the Vagina Monologues..doesn't it?

Other than crafting, what else do you do?
What don't I do is the question at hand!...And I think it is all relative to who you ask! If you were to ask my 16 year old son..he would tell you that ALL I do is bitch..at him in particular..maybe nag a bit too. If you were to ask my 21 year old daughter..she would probably tell you that all I do is put up with everyone else's shit..If you were to ask my darling hubby..well first he'd give you a list of things I don't do...anymore..and then probably tell you that I don't do enough!

But, if you were to ask me..well I'd tell you what I do...I drive my ungrateful kid wherever he wants to go..I do put up with way more garbage than any person should..I do make dinner regularly like Edith Bunker..I do spend an abnormal amount of time with my dog..I do tons of laundry..I do pick up after everyone in my house..I do look the other way a LOT..I do consider myself to be a very understanding, loving, caring, sweet and kindhearted mother, wife, confidant, friend and person..and I DO complain about all of the above but I DO love them with all of my heart..well..most days!

What is your favorite part of what you create?
Well my greatest creations are my two brats...and my favorite part of them is when they are either sleeping..or better yet..sleeping at someone else's house!

In all honesty..regarding my craft..this is going to sound so ridiculously cliche and such bullshit..but I do adore getting such positive and personal feedback from the people who buy my items..It is such a rush every time I hear from my customers..and it would seem that people always want to share their most intimate stories about my pieces..so I am very fortunate about that.

If you could change anything about your craft, would you?
The only thing I'd change..is how it is marketed and exposed..especially on Etsy..I always feel that if I could just get more exposure..like the Front Page..then I'd be more successful...

What is one thing most people wouldn't know about you?
Most people wouldn't know that I think my Jack Russell Terrier, Gracie is the incarnation of a beautiful Indian guide I call Carmella...and that on occasion Gracie actually responds to me when I call her that name!

Describe yourself in 5 words.
Crafty, loving, funny, talented, hyper-sensitive

What inspires you?
Birds...the outdoors..money..my mortgage...feeding my kids..paying for college..car payments..electricity..dog food...doctor bills..I think you get where I am going with this!

Any words of advice for your fellow crafters or those who may be starting up?
The most important thing..if starting to craft and make money while attempting to do it from home..is to get up and take a shower every morning..and invest in at least 5 pairs of comfortable and cute pajama bottoms. Second and equally as important..is to carve out a crafting area for yourself and be as organized as you can...even if you are in the living room...in front of the TV..have your supplies at hand and put together...

Where else can we find you?
Flickr
Blog
Facebook
Twitter
ThisNext




Rachel would like to offer a giveaway for you all, so here's the deal!
Win your choice of her Bunny Ears Brooch (which will arrive just in time for Easter!) or a felted birdie ornament. YOU CHOOSE! (she'll even customize your colors and features!)

Check out her FLICKR page to see more examples of her rockin' feltwork!

Here's what to do:
Visit Rachel's shop at ThinkOutsideTheBox, and comment with what your favorite item is and which of the two items you'd like to win (We all know that people like options!) :)
Please make sure you've left a way for me to contact you in case you win!

For extra entries: (Post one extra comment for each task completed)
1) Tweet about this giveaway, and leave a link to your tweet. (You can follow me @rocksmyworld if you'd like!)
2) Blog about this giveaway and leave a link to your post
3) Suscribe to my blog
4) Subscribe to my newsletter
(3 and 4 are different - There are seperate forms for each of these in the sidebar.. take a look!)

That's 5 possible entries for each of you! Good luck, and make sure to enter by Tuesday, March 31st at 11:59pm EST. That's when this contest is CLOSED, and a winner will be picked!


In addition Rachel is offering a discount of 25% off your entire order (before shipping) by using the code "VRMW25" in Notes to Seller at checkout. So go run quick and get to shopping before that expires! This discount is valid until the deadline for blog entries, so shop before next Tuesday night to cash in on this awesome deal.


Until tomorrow (and with love!),

Mid-Week Feature #6

Welcome to another Mid Week Feature! This week's artist is Cailey, from Midvale, Utah. She is the creator over at 3Sister. She is new to etsy (joined up in the end of January!) and has lots to offer to Etsy! Her work is super sweet, and I am especially taken by this beautiful crocheted headband!

Here's what she had to say for us this week:


What is your craft?
My sisters and I do handmade hair accessories as well as children's tutus. We hope to branch out to more items once our shop is booming!

How long have you been crafting?
My mother has always been a huge crafter. In the house that I grew up we had a barn in the backyard. Did we have horses and hay? Oh no. We had craft supplies galore! My sisters and I had a lot of fun going out there and coming up with ideas with my crafty mother.

Other than crafting, what else do you do?
I have a full time job as a secretary for an accounting office so from January to April 15th, it keeps me really busy. Other than that, I spend time with my husband and family doing all sorts of things.

What is your favorite part of what you create?
The endless possibilities! Seriously, give me some fabric, buttons, and a glue gun and I've got ideas on end!

If you could change anything about your craft, would you?
The good thing about crafting with my sisters is that we help each other out. So if I try something crazy and they don't like it, then it let's me get a second look at what I'm doing. Yes, it's a good thing, for the most part...

What is one thing most people wouldn't know about you?
That I was the first one to wear leggings @ my high school. And the first one to wear capris in elementary school. Kids were like "your shorts are too long, and your pants are too short." I didn't care, I was willing to take risks.

Describe yourself in 5 words.
Shy, Nice, Witty, Totally Awesome? (haha!)

What inspires you?
I have to admit, I'm a pretty trendy girl so I get inspired by the sort of things that are hot right now, but I also try to add my own lil spin on them. Looking thru countless magazines really gets my creative juices flowing.

Any words of advice for your fellow crafters or those who may be starting up?
Be patient! If you craft it, they will come...

Where else can we find you?
www.badonkatonkas.blogspot.com



And as a special thank you to the readers, Cailey is sponsoring a GIVEAWAY here - woohoo!!

What can you win? A fabulous little tutu for a fabulous little girl, custom-made with your color choices, or a rockin' headband of your choice from 3Sister's shop.

How to enter? Easy! Post by commenting on this blog post what you'd like to win (particular headband or tutu with colors). Simple! Visit her shop to check out what you'd like.. her crafts are great!

Extra credit, you ask? :) Of course!
For extra entries, you may do one, a few, or all of these things - but comment again for each additional entry!
1) Follow me on Twitter (@rocksmyworld) and tweet about this giveaway. Include the link to your tweet!
2) Blog about this giveaway, and leave a link to the entry.
3) Follow this blog
4) Subscribe to this blog
5) Subscribe to the newsletter - on the far sidebar

Contest ends Tuesday, March 24 at 11:59 pm EST.


Good luck! ;)

Mid-Week Feature #5

Well hey there! Here's another "episode" of our Mid-Week artist feature! ;)

Today's artist is Shannon of Charlotte, NC (just down the road from me)! Shannon is etsy seller MusetteMade, who gets a lovely and fantastic feature today.. just like her shop! Aren't her pieces beautiful?
Here's what she had to say during her interview!


What is your craft?
I am a jewelry designer. I also paint but my focus for a while now has been jewelry!

How long have you been crafting?
Forever! Seriously, as long as I can remember...

Other than crafting, what else do you do?
I work in an art gallery - Beet Functional Art - here in Charlotte. So I am always doing stuff involving art and artists. I get together regularly with a couple of girlfriends for "art night" and I love hanging out with my boyfriend, Joe. We watch lots of movies, cook, and hang with friends.

What is your favorite part of what you create?
I love to hole up in my studio, listen to music, and just get in that creative zone! That is the most fun part of my job but it can also be the most frustrating!

If you could change anything about your craft, would you?
Nope -I love the endless possibilities! Maybe I would wish for extra hands but I'm not sure that counts!

What is one thing most people wouldn't know about you?
I am actually pretty introverted and have to work super hard to be outgoing and network/promote myself.

Describe yourself in 5 words.
I am a - sassy artsy creative catloving goofball! (is catloving one word??)

What inspires you?
I am so inspired by other artists who are out there just doing what they do. I love looking at all kinds of art and find many things about it that inspires me. I also draw lots of inspiration from my beads. Just sitting and looking at them often sparks new ideas!

Any words of advice for your fellow crafters or those who may be starting up?
I know everyone says this, but make what you love, not just what you think will sell. If you love it, chances are others out there will too. It is just a matter of finding them and putting your work in their path!

Where else can we find you?
Twitter
Flickr


As always, there is a surprise for you all (So I guess it's not so much of a surprise anymore!).. Shannon would like to extend a 20% off sale for you all! Make sure to include "VRMW20" in Notes to Seller at checkout for this discount, and Shannon will refund the difference or send you a new invoice after you make your purchase.

AND MORE!


Up for grabs as a giveaway item, Shannon is offering this beautiful copper bangle bracelet to a lucky winner here on VRMW!

Here's how to win!
1) Post a comment here on this post with what item you love best from Shannon's etsy shop.
Be sure to include an email address or etsy name for me to contact you by if you win!
2) Blog about this giveaway and comment with the address to it.
3) Twitter about this comment and include your twitter address to let me find it.
4) Follow my blog and comment here about it.
5) Subscribe to this blog and comment letting me know you did.

Simple enough!
This giveaway and Shannon's 20% off coupon ends Tuesday, March 3rd at 11:59pm EST.

Mid Week Feature #2

I'm going to start these Mid-week Features every single Wednesday! Some will have giveaways, some will have some awesome discounts for you (the readers!) and ALL of them will feature some really amazing handmade artists!

Today's feature is Megan from Seattle, Washington over at Bellflower Textiles.



What is your craft?
I sew hip, modern baby and toddler clothes and accessories, home decor items, and personal accessories like coffee sleeves and brooches out of bright, colorful fabric.

How long have you been crafting?
I've been a quilter for about 20 years and opened my Etsy shop in 2008.

Other than crafting, what else do you do?
I'm a stay at home mom, writer and editor, freelance grant researcher, obsessive quilter and reader, long term blogger, and all around busy person. I have a million projects going at once.

What is your favorite part about what you create?
Definitely picking fabrics and playing with colors. I love and am so inspired by all the wonderful fabrics out there! Lately I'm really in love with the great Japanese fabrics available online -- such amazing stuff.

If you could change anything about your craft, would you?
I wish I had more time to do it - most of my crafting is done during my daughter's nap (she's two) or in a really brief period in the evening when my family doesn't need me.

Any words of advice for your fellow crafters or those who may be starting up?
Make time! Even if you only have a little bit of time, doing what you love feeds your soul.

Where else can we find you?
Check out my blog at: http://growingnotes.blogspot.com
Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/megzseattle



I just love Megan's shop.. it's so much fun!


I know you're asking right now.. "How could this feature get any better, Amanda? We've got a terrific featured seller, some gorgeous photography, I'm almost on information overload!"
Okay.. brace yourselves!

Megan will be giving away one of her FABULOUS coffee/tea cozy sleeves right here on this blog!

This sweet sock monkey cozy can be yours!

Here's how you can enter this awesome giveaway!
*Post one (and only one!) comment on this post, telling me one thing you love from Megan's shop, Bellflower Textiles.

Want some extra credit? We all do! Here's how!
For one extra entry:
1) Follow me, using the little widget on the sidebar with the thumbnail pictures. You know what it is! Comment one extra time saying you did this. (Sorry, if you're already following it doesn't count!)
2) Tweet about this giveaway on your twitter account! Send me a DM or a reply message (@rocksmyworld) letting me know and post another comment on here for it.
3) Blog about this giveaway. Include a picture from Megan's shop (copy one of these pictures from here if you'd like!) and a link to this blog post. Surf back over here and post another comment, including a link to your blog post, letting me know that you did that.
If you don't have a blog, email 5 of your friends about this giveaway and send a copy to me as well. Click
here for my address.
4) For THREE extra entries, make a purchase at Megan's shop and comment here THREE times. Put "VRMW GIVEAWAY ENTRY" in Notes to Seller at checkout if you do this. I will double-check with Megan, so don't lie or I'll figure it out!


***PLEASE make sure to leave an email address, etsy username, or some way to contact you in case you win!


This giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on Tuesday, February 3rd. At that time (but probably in the morning once I wake up!) I'll contact the winner. If I do not get a response after 48 hours, a new winner will be picked. Once I get an address to ship to, Megan will ship it out to you within 7 days and you'll have it to enjoy!

Thanks for reading, and come back next week for another feature!


Want to be a featured seller? Fill out an application form here or you can find it on the sidebar at any time!

Want to be featured?

If you haven't noticed already, I've made a great little form that you can fill out to become a featured seller here on my blog!
I would love for any of you handmade artists to fill it out and have a chance for a really great feature! :O)

Click HERE for the link to it, or you can find the link up in the header!

Project Wonderful / Animated Graphic Tutorial

Today I wanted to share with you my newly found love of Project Wonderful.
It's great!
You can post ads on blogs and websites that have this gadget installed on them for little to no cost. Right on! I've got my hands on quite a few free ad spots.. it tells you tons of stats about the sites listed, too! It lets you know what size ad is allowed, whether they allow animations or not, how many views they average per day (and how many they've had that day), the lowest current adspace available, and the average cost of running an ad on that site.
Lots of fun information.. but you have to just go on in and look around to see for yourself!

So I found a great program that you can try free for 30 days (and you DON'T have to fill out that form on the landing page.. just click 'Continue'). It is Jasc Animation Pro, and you can find the demo HERE.
Once you've got the program installed and opened up, there there is the 'Animation Wizard' button in the top left corner. Click that, and it will walk you through collecting your pictures and everything.


Here, you can adjust the size (in pixels) of your ad. Let's do a 125x125 square ad.


So find your Etsy (or other online shop's) product pictures
Add your text
Play with the timing (by highlighting all of your frames, right clicking, and selecting "Frame Properties". Higher numbers will mean a slower ad)

..And you've got your own ad!



How easy was that?!

I've made quite a few of them now, including little buttons, half-banners, and non-animated ones. I'll get a good hang on it later, but I've been playing for a few days now. Love this program, though! May have to find a copy of it once the trial expires.. it's really nice to have!

Mid Week Feature

I wanted to start featuring more etsy sellers on my blog, because I love when I'm featured myself!

Today, I wanted to feature KarensSoaps, an etsy seller for 2 years now. I have been a long-time fan of her soaps, and finally got my hands on some just before Christmas! They were great stocking stuffers for mine and my boyfriend's families, and everyone really loved them! (I even kept a bar for myself!)

Karen is super friendly and has one of the best studio's I've seen! She's got a whole room in the basement for soaps, and is so organized! She let me smell tons of different scents and was very helpful when I tried to figure out what I wanted for different people.

My favorite is definitely the Green Tea and Cucumber soap.. it smells so fresh and clean!

I also got this Snozzberry soap for my sister.. We both watched Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory so much as kids, and I knew she'd love it!

I think the next time I go back home, I'm going to try this shave soap!


So head on over to her shop.. She's got more than just bar soaps though! She also has lotions, foaming soaps, candles, tarts, lip balms, and more! Even these Conversation Heart soaps, just in time for Valentine's Day!



Hope you enjoyed the feature today!

ANOTHER feature!

Maureen, over at Jeweled Rabbit is such a sweetheart! She blogged about me being blogged about at Luella Luella. Please go show her some love for me! :O)

I love the colors in her blog.. purple is my favorite!


She's got shops set up at Artfire and WiNKELF with completely different jewelry pieces at each shop.. How freakin' sweet and chic are these yellow glass bead earrings? Something about these big earwires just get me.. I love them! :O)



Click on the pictures to link you to where you should go.
Thanks again, Maureen! :O)


[UPDATE]: OH YEAH, it's snowing! Greenville's seen its first snow of the season today.. and it's coming down pretty well! We're expected to get up to 4 or 6" of snow today. Hooray!
Needless to say, classes are cancelled.
Happy snow day!

Treasury!

No, I still haven't snagged one yet, but I found myself in one today! "I Wish I Was A French Cat!"

It's very cute, full of frenchy-themed items! I love the oranges and greys.. didn't realize how nicely they complement each other!
It's up for two more days, but if you catch it by then, here's the link!
http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=39532

Have a fabulous day! :O)

Wow-ee! Wednesday

Okay, so anyone who knows me knows that I have a strange obsession for some of the weirdest scents. Previously, I've been hooked on celery and thought that would be the greatest soap or candle scent ever. The current one I'm on is laundry. Laundry-scented anything. I love it! My favorites right now are Glade's "Clean Linen" and Yankee Candle's "Egyptian Cotton".
So that's today's theme. Laundry! :O)

(a) Clean Laundry Soap Bar, by Simplyscents. Not for the laundry, but for the bod! Oh, I can only imagine how amazing this smells!
(b) Green on Green Ironing Board Cover, by Bleuview. Super sweet ironing board cover to jazz up your current boring board.
(c) Family Wash watercolor print, by WendyandPeterPan. This would be such a wonderful addition to brighten up your laundry room area.
(d) Funky Floral Altered Clothespin Clips, by Stellabean. Okay, so maybe you won't want to hang up your laundry with these, because it would be a shame for these beauties to get damaged! But you could put up your own clothesline with string in your house and hang undies or pictures with them as art. :O)
(e) Natural Laundry Soap, by ShowerTreatSoap. Who thought you could make your own laundry detergent? Well, I couldn't so easily.. but this sounds delightful!


Hope you enjoyed today's theme! I know I had a lot of fun picking out items!

Wowie Wednesday!

Welcome to Wowie Wednesday!
I figured since I ripped you guys off for a few weeks by not posting a Fabby Friday feature, I'd throw some extras in before Christmas. Hope it evens it out for you! :O)

Here are some awesome items I've found on etsy recently.. I'm always favoriting new things! Maybe you'll find a few gifts for your friends, family, or coworkers?
A) BeautifulBridget: Face Scrubbies These are super cool face scrubbies. You can use them wherever you'd like, if you want to use them on your body or on the tub, or maybe even for dishes! They're so cute and she has lots of different listing for colors and even has flower-shaped ones!
B) KrazyFashion: KF Everything Wallet A pink, polka-dotted accessory that you can use every day? Favulous. I love it! It has pockets, zippers, velcro, the whole nine yards. GREAT as a christmas gift!
C) KDemARTe: Live Laugh Love Necklace What a wonderful phrase to live by.. and it's on a hand-hammered pewter necklace charm! Elegant and refined, but still rustic enough to keep you balance
D) DesignsByJinx: Candy Apple Pink Dog Collar You've got everyone on the list checked off now for gifting.. but what about the dog? Maybe she's on a diet and can't have any more treats.. This is such an adorable collar.. it makes me want to adopt a little puppy right now just so she can wear this charm. :O)
E) Jupita: Psychedelic Flowers Necklace This is a fabulous necklace.. would you guess it's made with some recycled material? How cool! These little flower parts are actually pieces of a really neat Starbucks gift card. Right on!
F) PaperPumpkin: Seedling Fabric Push Pins How cute of an idea is this? Dress up that drab, boring corkboard with some darling push pins covered in fantasically colored fabric! I think this is a great idea for a girly friend or a coworker. I wouldn't mind some of these! (I'll even buy a corkboard for myself to use them with!)

Thursday!

Happy Thursday!
This has been a GREAT week, and I'm sorry I've left you hanging for a few days!
I've found a new obsession with TWITTER, and I've been hard at work making record bowls and taking pictures every day!

Remember that giveaway I had a last week? Well Lindsey's (the winner's) birthday was just a few days after she won, so I sent her a little birthday note along with the cool repurposed swag she got!


She received a funky chandelier notebook, liberated from the clearance bin at Michael's craft store. They had way too many and I could tell this notebook's end was coming closer unless I did something about it! I jazzed it up with some cute ribbons, and even stamped a fun 'YOU ROCK MY WORLD' on the inside cover for Lindsey!
Then, I reclaimed a flower (along with many of it's friends!) from a large bunch waiting to be thrown away by a friend, and made into a fun (and WAY CUTE!) flower pen!
And that cute little birdie note? It's from scrap paper left behind after an arts and crafts date.

Lindsey runs BROOKBERRYS, a way cute shop on etsy with wall art and adorable jewelry to die for! And she's having a sale that's ending SOON, so hurry over there and give her more birthday surprises!


I've been making a lot of sales this week (3 already!) and got a little freaked out by it, because I am an extremely organized person by nature. I had to figure out an organized way to set up shipping reminders! So I hung up this magnet strip and I'm now filling out my address stickers and writing the order on the backside. Great idea, huh? :O) (and it's pretty to look at!)

I ran out of bubble wrap last week, so check out this resourceful packing job from yesterday:

Wrapped the bowl in tissue paper and tied it up with twine (isn't that a nice touch?) and used an American Eagle shopping bag (the thrift store uses them) as packing! Talk about recycled packaging!


Oh, and here's a picture of my wall art I made that I'm so proud of.
Didn't make the frame or anything, obviously.. but I took all of those pictures!
As you can see.. it looks so fabulous on my wall! Ahh, just kidding. It needs to make it up there tonight.


I've been listing a lot of new records every day, and I'll make one or two more listings before I'm done tonight.
Come back tomorrow for my first installment of "FABBY FRIDAY", a weekly installment of fabulous etsy finds and sellers I'll be featuring!