Sunday, August 3, 2008

Cards and some Blog Candy!!!

Ok, first the cards. I took the plunge this weekend and started an Etsy store. Figured I might as well try to make some money with this crazy obsession!!! So I made several sets of simple notecards to put in my store. I have lots of SEI paper that I've been meaning to use and it was perfect for these simple notecards.

This first card uses a Wild Wasabi base, SEI printed paper, Chocolate Chip wide grosgrain ribbon, and one of my favorite Verve Stamps from Asian Flair with Chocolate Chip Ink.
The second card also uses a Wild Wasabi base & SEI printed paper. I also used some Chocolate Chip CS and a portion of one of the SU Phrases for a Friend stamps, stamped in Versamark ink and embossed with white powder.

OK, now for the real reason you're reading this....BLOG CANDY!!! Amazingly, my blog counter hit 10,000 sometime over the weekend and I thought I'd give away some goodies as a thank you to my readers. The loot includes a couple of old SU catties, some hostess gifts, a sale-a-bration gift, some Bazzill wings flowers, a few individual pieces from Hodgepodge hardware and the Pretties kit, and a couple of Island Paperie embellishments. All you have to do is leave a comment on this post. I'd like to know what you think of the Etsy idea....any tips you might have would be greatly appreciated. What should I have in the store? What's a reasonable price to charge for an individual card? Or...just tell me what you'd like to see more of on my blog...cards? altered items? traditional scrapbooking? digital scrapbooking? I'll randomly draw a winner on Friday, August 8, sometime in the evening Hawaii time....

43 comments:

Jeani said...

Jen, just discovered your blog! Your work is beautiful! I love the etsy idea . . . I've been considering it myself . . . but I'm still on the fence. I'm heading over to check your etsy stuff out right now! Thanks for the chance for some GREAT BLOG CANDY! Although, I think I'm the first to comment and #1 usually doesn't get picked! But thanks for letting me view your beautiful work! I'll be back!

Angie said...

LOL! Here I was, reading your post, emailing you, mentioning your blog candy post, and I forgot to leave a comment to enter! LOL, see, I told you I forget things! Speaking of SOA (well, we were speaking of it on the email) when would you do your next one? I'm wondering If I'll still be in the country at the time since we are PCSing to Italy in December. Oh, and about the Etsy shop, you are brave to start one up! I think your work is great and if you sell simple cards or sets, you'll be successful.

Lyndsay said...

Hi! Congrats on hitting your milestone this weekend. That's a lot of hits! As for etsy, I think it's a great idea. Your cards are great and I'm sure people would be willing to buy them. Pricing? I have no clue! When it comes to your blog I'm particularly fond of cards. That's why I visit, in fact!

Anyway, thanks for the opportunity to win!

Kristie said...

Hi Jen, I love all the stuff you do. I'm a big fan of your cards especially because of your lovely clean and simple designs, exucuted perfectly. I also love altered items.
I'm afraid I can't help you out with pricing for your etsy shop...but GOOD LUCK!!

Dani said...

I think the Etsy idea is great, although I don't know too much about the store... in fact, I'd love to learn more about how it works and how to create your own store... I'd actually love to hear YOUR input on it :) Oh, and I always love to see traditional scrapbook pages as well as card ideas. Thanks for a chance to win some great blog candy :)

Anonymous said...

Congratulations on your store! I think your creations are fabulous! It's hard to put a price on that! I don't thinnk it's unreasonable to charge at least $2-3 for a card, considering people pay more than that in the store for a premade card. I much prefer receiving handmade cards! I can't wait to see if I win your fabulous blog candy. Wish me luck, as I haven't won any yet!

Anonymous said...

I recent discovered your blog and love it. I'd love to see more altered itesms along with a list of where you purchase them from. I live in Hawaii and often times have a hard time finding products. I can't wait to see what you will have next.

Aloha,
Melody

Anonymous said...

Hey Jen!

Congrats on 10,000 hits!! Also, good for you for starting an Etsy store. I started an Etsy account, but have yet to do anything with it, so unfortunately I'm not a source of handy tips.

I love your cards and check into your blog often! I started Molokai finally and am loving it so far! I'd say I'm about a quarter of the way through!

Take care!!!!

P.S. I LOVED your digital scrapbook of Dean and his "naughty" pic - he is SO adorable! I LOVE LOVE LOVE his curly hair!!!!

ThreadCatcher said...

Congrats on your hits milestone and on opening your etsy store. I love seeing cards and small treat items. Thanks for the chance to win some awesome blog candy. jmniffer

Laura W said...

I just found your blog not long ago and I'm having a lot of fun looking through it! I love the idea of a store and I know you will do great -- but I'm not much for advice in that area! lol. So instead, I'll tell ya that I love to see cards on your blog, since I love your clean and simple style. Good luck!

The Shapiro Family said...

Jen-

Well, you know I think you're awesome at everything. I like the non-card items and the card sets. They're fun for my kids to give as gifts, and they're fun to make. I think your gif sets are incredible, and I think people would pay money for those. I also think that pre-made scrapbook pages or albums (Where people just add their own pictures) would be succesful.
I'll pass your site around.

Unknown said...

First of all your son Dean is so darn cute. I love the picture of him playing with all your ribbons.
I love seeing the sample of your cards. I like your style. I also enjoy seeing the gifts you make. I am always looking for new ideas and again I like your style. I have seen cards on lines for sale from $3.00 to $6.00.
Thanks for a chance to win.
Susan N. (not Curtis my husband :) )

MaryBeth said...

Jen, Love your blog and all your amazing creations! I think you will do very well selling your cards on ETSY. As for the price, I think $3-6 would be fair depending on how much work and embellishments go into it. You pay at least that for a store bought card, which aren't as nice. I love to see your cards, card sets and scrapbooking pages. Thanks for a chance to win!

Kimberly Crawford said...

LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE the first card! It is SO elegant and beautiful!!!!! :)

Anonymous said...

Jen,
I was linked to your blog through someone (Nancy Riley maybe?) and love your designs! I don't know anything about an Etsy store but have seen the links around. . .maybe I need to check it out? The blog candy looks great -- it would be fun to win! I would pay $2-4 for a card I think. Would you keep us up-to-date on your blog about the store venture? I would be interested to hear all about it!

C. Sage Deerborn said...

Congrats on your hits' milestone. I think having an etsy story is great. I don't see a link to your store on your blog.

Alyssa S said...

I love your blog and check it all the time. While I love to see your cards, I really need inspiration in the scrapbooking department. I'm so not very good at it! Thanks for the chance! And congrats on all the hits :o)

Julee (Vervegirl) said...

Beautiful notecards, Jen. I love your clean style. I love just about everything I've seen you create, so just keep doing the projects you love! Congrats on the hits and your Etsy store. I haven't sold many crafted items, but when I do, I usually add up my materials cost per piece, and then add a set wage for labor per hour. I only count labor from the time all pieces are cut and the design is ready to be assembled. So typical projects usually run $3 - 5 depending on complexity and materials.

Dana said...

Love your blog and am looking forward to looking at everything you list on your etsy store. Cards like yours can go for $3 each for sure!

Denise G said...

Jen,
I have to chuckle at the, "sometime Hawaii time".....

Anyway, I love to see altered items and mini type albums. I like to see the inside of the albums, not just the cover. The cover is the easy part the inside is much harder and so I would like to see albums that are all decorated (not with photos if possible).

I still can't believe you have only been doing this since January. You have a beautiful talent. I am sure that your ETSY store will be a hit too!

Congratulations on your blog! Keep up that good work. It is enjoyed very much!
Denise G

Enjoli said...

Hi Jen! Congrats on your milestone and etsy store! That is a great idea. Your cards are beautiful and you will do very good. It will keep you very busy! I would sell the cards for $3.00 - 4.00. Depending on how long it took you to create the card. Hope all is well with you! Hope the vog isn't so bad over there. It is horrible here. My whole family is sick. =( TTYL!

Anonymous said...

Love your blog. Good luck with your store. Thanks for giving us a chance to win some blog candy.
laurie r

Stampin Cats said...

I just found your blog. I hope your esty store is a success. Look forward to seeing more of your projects.

Anonymous said...

Congratulations! Your blog is awesome and you have amazing talent! I would love to see more cards and altered items. As for Etsy, I have no idea what it is. Is it like Ebay?

CricketPE said...

I never heard of etsy until I started planning for my wedding. I read a lot of wedding blogs now and they are ALWAYS talking about etsy, so I think you should include items that brides could use (i.e. invitations for wedding, showers, bachelorette parties; thank you cards, etc).

SusanH said...

Simply said - I love love love Etsy!!! I have found some of the coolest things on Etsy - good luck with it. It's a great site and your cards/stuff is gorgeous. I bet you'll do really well on Etsy! And thanks for the chance to win...

sandyh50 said...

Jen, congrats to you on your blog and your Etsy shop. I think $3. is a reasonable price. If you do more on the inside of the card, charge more. Good luck. Thanks for some great blog candy!

Anonymous said...

I like tutorials for altered items and small gift ideas. Thanks for sharing yours.

Swedie

Amy said...

Congrats on all your hits! I just found your blog and have already subscribed! I can't believe you have only been stamping since January; your work is fabulous!!! I am a sucker for cards and altered items, but your scrapbooks are so cute, you might just make a convert out of me! I've never tried selling anything, so I'm not much help on that front, but good luck with your etsy venture! Be sure and post a link when you are open for business!

Brenda said...

Hello Jen, I just discovered your blog. You have a very nice blog and some pretty cards. I don't know much about esty, sorry. When it comes to pricing your cards I would figure what it cost you and then I would double that for your labor. Good luck.

Anonymous said...

You have a great blog and I always enjoying bloghopping for card ideas and to see what's out there. I am not familiar with the Etsy. sorry, no advice

Anonymous said...

Hi Jen,
I love looking at all the ideas of talented people like you...your sense of color and style really appeals to me, so I've liked all of your projects. I really like seeing altered items, because I think being able to reuse things is just a good thing to do, so if you have ideas lay them on us. Congrats on all your hits, but it's no surprise. :) I just got back from Hawaii (to Colorado) on Sunday, and I think I'll still be missing "Hawaii time" on Friday--it was wonderful there!
Take care!

Annelies said...

Congratulations! I like all your creations, but since I only do traditional scrapbooking and cardmaking, I like these the most on your blog. Very inspiring! Greetings from Belgium, Annelies

Scott Franson Photography said...

You have a wonderful blog ! I like the idea of Etsy, you'll have to let us know how it goes. Is it easy to use? You're full of inspiration.
Claudia
scfranson@charter.net

Anonymous said...

Congrats on your joining Etsy. I've been also considering it..just not sure what to sell :) Hope you do well. What a great blog candy. Thanks so much for the chance to win.

kim3timemom@yahoo dot com

Anonymous said...

Love your blog and your cards. You will do well on Etsy----I think groups of cards are great--either an assortment or a group of birthday cards. $2 to $3 for each card or a price for a group.
Linda Peterson

Anonymous said...

Your blog is FAB and so is Etsy. You are a brave soul to venture out there!

I'd say a handmade card should go for $2 to $5 depending on how much work/embellishments you put into it.


Thanks for the op to win some really YUMMY blog candy!!

Char in So Cal

Emily said...

Hi Jen! I enjoy reading your blog and hearing about life in Hawaii! I always enjoy your color selections and simple, clean designs. Good luck on your etsy shop!

Emily

Anonymous said...

i would love to see more altered items. i love altered things and seeing what other people come up with.

lalalla said...

Hi great blog, lovely blog candy, I would like to see more cards on your blog:)

Anonymous said...

ohhh how cute blog candy! please pick me:) I like your card so I want to see more of them:)

raczudek@poczta.onet.pl

Anonymous said...

I've followed your blog for a few months and like your style! Your son is cute! I love to see card samples and photos of your island.
Thanks! ~ Katie in Michigan

Anthonette said...

Congrats on the 10K hits! My friend Ericka and I want to start an Etsy store too. An elegant handmade card should cost more than a simple store-bought card, but to be honest, I haven't bought a card at the store in 10 years, so I don't know what to compare the prices to. I think Julee's advice on price is good. Kristina Werner and her friends are planning to launch a site on Etsy too.