This post is really directed at anyone who knows anything about Etsy, or about selling your own projects. Lately, I've been thinking about setting up my own Etsy shop. I've always wanted to sell the stuff I make. I've tried to a few times in the past, but it's never gone well. I would love to make money scrapbooking or cardmaking for people, I just never make the effort to make it happen. I probably should have done it while I still lived in CA, as they are much more likely to pay someone to do that than Arizonans.
The overall issues with that are:
1. How much do you charge? You have to charge enough to make some sort of profit, but be low enough that people would pay you to do it.
2. Do you charge per project or supplies + time to complete?
3. Often times people who pay someone to scrapbook have no clue how long it would take to scrapbook something, so hourly probably wouldn't work. They also probably have NO CLUE how much it costs to even make a scrapbook. So they wouldn't understand that either.
4. I know the way to find customers is by word of mouth. So I really just need to find one good customer with some good friends who would also want my business.
Now that I've started making some other things: advent calendar, wreath, banners, etc. I'm trying to think if I should do something like Etsy. But that also comes with some issues.
Here are my Etsy concerns:
1. The only people who know about Etsy are people who make things for Etsy and therefore wouldn't necessarily want to buy my stuff.
2. How much profit would I really make? You have to pay Etsy 3%, you pay PayPal 3%, but you have to be reasonable enough for people to buy the stuff, too... That then brings in all earlier basic selling your skills questions too.
3. Etsy might solve some of the customer concerns though...
So, here's what I want to know. Those of you who know me, or don't know me but know Etsy or know selling your own stuff, what do you think? What are your comments/points about the whole process? Is it worth it? What do you recommend? And for the rest of you, thanks for listening to my ramblings...
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Wreath
When Jason and I first moved to Arizona, the lady I visit taught had the most wonderful wreath for her door made all of ribbons. I loved it! I told myself, that some day I would make myself a wreath like that. From looking at hers, I could tell that it took a TON of ribbon and would be no affordable project to create it. So I just put it on my shelf or projects "to come." Then my friend Taina showed me this valentine garland she bought from Etsy. It had fabric, ribbon and toole on it. I totally loved it and it renewed my commitment to make my own wreath. So I took ideas from both the garland and ribbon wreath and made this!
I picked a focus print, which you can't really see well in the wreath, but it's black background with a whole lot of colored flowers on it. Then I bought a few other mono-color prints to go with it and some toole. All of the ribbon, I already had. Oh, and I bought the wire frame in Utah over Spring Break. Here's what it looks like on my front door.
(Please don't look closely at my dusty door- it's been really windy lately and I have issues with doing outside chores.) After finishing it up, here's what I've learned about this project. It doesn't take as much fabric as I thought it would. Also, I would stick to only a few colors in a focus print. I think mine is a bit too busy. Taina's valentine garland is all red, white and pinks, so I would stick with an easy pair or trio like that. Maybe I'll make some different holiday ones- however, I do already have holiday door hangers for the year....so we'll see. Overall, though, I'm pretty darn happy with how it looks!
I picked a focus print, which you can't really see well in the wreath, but it's black background with a whole lot of colored flowers on it. Then I bought a few other mono-color prints to go with it and some toole. All of the ribbon, I already had. Oh, and I bought the wire frame in Utah over Spring Break. Here's what it looks like on my front door.
(Please don't look closely at my dusty door- it's been really windy lately and I have issues with doing outside chores.) After finishing it up, here's what I've learned about this project. It doesn't take as much fabric as I thought it would. Also, I would stick to only a few colors in a focus print. I think mine is a bit too busy. Taina's valentine garland is all red, white and pinks, so I would stick with an easy pair or trio like that. Maybe I'll make some different holiday ones- however, I do already have holiday door hangers for the year....so we'll see. Overall, though, I'm pretty darn happy with how it looks!
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Another Colette gift
So, I decided to make her a little scrapbook album for all of the pictures she'll take this weekend. I got the color scheme from some Paper Studio stickers that I got from Hobby Lobby that were about turning 30. It turned out so cute, and all she'll have to add is the pictures and some journaling.
Colette's Birthday Gift
So remember that late niter I went to last month? Well, here is what I made!
It's an advent calendar for my friend Colette. Basically, she could use it for any sort of special day- anniversary, birthday, a holiday, summer, spring break, you get the picture. It's made from a square shaped muffin tin. (She actually bought it at Target last fall for a Christmas advent calendar, but then decided to use something else, so she left it with me. I decided to decorate it and give it back to her!) So behind each number there's space for candy or a note or something small.
You can see from this picture the size of the tins. The little covers are magnetic so they can easily be removed. I think it turned out great and I know she will love it!
Her birthday is actually the 16th, but I won't be in CA until today to give her her gift. Happy birthday, Colette!
It's an advent calendar for my friend Colette. Basically, she could use it for any sort of special day- anniversary, birthday, a holiday, summer, spring break, you get the picture. It's made from a square shaped muffin tin. (She actually bought it at Target last fall for a Christmas advent calendar, but then decided to use something else, so she left it with me. I decided to decorate it and give it back to her!) So behind each number there's space for candy or a note or something small.
You can see from this picture the size of the tins. The little covers are magnetic so they can easily be removed. I think it turned out great and I know she will love it!Her birthday is actually the 16th, but I won't be in CA until today to give her her gift. Happy birthday, Colette!
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Tutorial: Banner Addiction
I blame Taina, she introduced me to these adorable banners, and now I'm hooked. She made hers with diecuts from our LSS, but I figured out I have everything I need to make them on my wonderful Cricut Expression! Yippee! (Honey, that's reason #429 why I had to have one)
Supplies
Mini Monograms Cuts-
ALL CUTS MUST BE MADE FROM "REAL DIAL SIZE."
1. Cut out a 5 1/4" scallop circle the back for the unit. [I've made banners with all scallop circles, or with a mix of cirlces and scallop squares, it is up to you, just keep in mind that if you mix it up, all shapes have to be mixed up.] [Depending on the thickness of your paper, you might have to back everything with chipboard. It also matters whether or not you want this to be a permanent banner, or a temporary one. With Sarah's I just made sure the printed papers had a cardstock behind them to make them heavier. With one I made yesterday, they all have chipboard behind]
2. Cut out a 4 1/4" circle for the second unit layer. [this would be the square shape, if you did squares]
3. Cut out a 4" circle for the third unit layer. [this is usually where I use the print]
**you can use any size really, just keep the ratios about the same.
Storybook Cuts
1. Cut out your banner title at 3 1/2" in an easy to read cardstock [I usually use a dark color for this, so it's easy to read against your prints. I've done some where the color is the same for the whole title, or with the Sarah May one, I mixed up the colors, it makes it just a little more challenging when putting everything in order to change up the colors]
2. Cut out your banner's shadow at 3 1/2" in a lighter cardstock [I have always used white, it really helps it pop.]
Finishing it off
1. I usually play around with order before I glue anything down. You want to make sure you don't have two of the same prints next to each other or two of the same backgrounds, etc.
2. Glue pieces together.
3. Lay them next to each other and then use your Cropadile to punch holes on the sides of each unit.
4. Use ribbon to attach units together.
5. Use longer pieces of ribbons on the ends of the entire banner to provide an attaching part.
If any of that is unclear, let me know. I can clarify.
Supplies
- 12x12 coordinated cardstock and printed paper (cuz I have an Expression- you can get 4 shapes per paper of the big scallop, so you can plan from there based on how long your title is)
- Storybook cartridge
- Mini Monograms cartridge
- Cricut
- Ribbon
- Crop-a-dile
Mini Monograms Cuts-
ALL CUTS MUST BE MADE FROM "REAL DIAL SIZE."
1. Cut out a 5 1/4" scallop circle the back for the unit. [I've made banners with all scallop circles, or with a mix of cirlces and scallop squares, it is up to you, just keep in mind that if you mix it up, all shapes have to be mixed up.] [Depending on the thickness of your paper, you might have to back everything with chipboard. It also matters whether or not you want this to be a permanent banner, or a temporary one. With Sarah's I just made sure the printed papers had a cardstock behind them to make them heavier. With one I made yesterday, they all have chipboard behind]
2. Cut out a 4 1/4" circle for the second unit layer. [this would be the square shape, if you did squares]
3. Cut out a 4" circle for the third unit layer. [this is usually where I use the print]
**you can use any size really, just keep the ratios about the same.
Storybook Cuts
1. Cut out your banner title at 3 1/2" in an easy to read cardstock [I usually use a dark color for this, so it's easy to read against your prints. I've done some where the color is the same for the whole title, or with the Sarah May one, I mixed up the colors, it makes it just a little more challenging when putting everything in order to change up the colors]
2. Cut out your banner's shadow at 3 1/2" in a lighter cardstock [I have always used white, it really helps it pop.]
Finishing it off
1. I usually play around with order before I glue anything down. You want to make sure you don't have two of the same prints next to each other or two of the same backgrounds, etc.
2. Glue pieces together.
3. Lay them next to each other and then use your Cropadile to punch holes on the sides of each unit.
4. Use ribbon to attach units together.
5. Use longer pieces of ribbons on the ends of the entire banner to provide an attaching part.
If any of that is unclear, let me know. I can clarify.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Craft Time in Utah
I just got back from Utah yesterday and had a great visit with my Aunt Nancy and her family. (See my family blog for more details) While I was there, my cousin Sarah turned 8. I just so happened to bring my Cricut with me to show my aunt all of the wonderful things it could do, so I used it to put together a banner for Sarah's bedroom. I picked up some paper from Archiver's (boy, is that store cool!) and then used some solids from my aunt's stash. I think it turned out great. For whatever reason I didn't take a picture of it up in the bedroom, but just rest assured, it looked adorable!
Ben wanted to be in the picture, so I let him. I think he was the most fascinated with the Cricut. Here's a close up one too.
Darn blogger- I can't get it to load the picture the right way, so pretend this looks right.
Ben wanted to be in the picture, so I let him. I think he was the most fascinated with the Cricut. Here's a close up one too.
Darn blogger- I can't get it to load the picture the right way, so pretend this looks right.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Photo Shoot Giveaway
So I was blog hopping around to show my husband some of our friends' blogs and I came across a photo shoot giveaway that a friend of one of my friends is doing. And, since I've been thinking about wanting to do something like this with Jason, I figured I'd give it a shot. Check out her blog by tomorrow night at 11:59 and you can sign up too!
Thursday, March 5, 2009
St. Patricks Day Swap
I got a wonderful surprise in the mail today! My St. Patrick's Day Swap. I can't wait to use all of my fun goodies. I already have big plans for the St. Patrick's Day stamps for cards for my Beehives...
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