Spring Cleaning in December Part 2!!

This is part 2 to my post a few entries ago.....

While I am not completey finished with my spring cleaning in december, I do think that it is as good as it is going to get for now without spending anymore money on new furniture or organizational accessories that is. It actually didn't take very long to get it all done, maybe 3-4 hours with about 90 minutes of help from my hubby to move the furniture around!


Here are the finished pictures!!

EtsyFriends

Well as part of aNew Year's Resolution, I am trying to get more active on Etsy!! I want to help promote Etsy and in turn promote my shop therefore hopefully increasing my exposure and sales in the upcoming year!!!

So in order to do that I have joined an Etsy team called, EtsyFriends!! The team will be in full swing after the first of the year!! This group is made of some great crafters and I am honored to be a part of it!!!

If you are interested in joining check out this announcement:

Thank you for your interest in EtsyFriends!
http://team.etsy.com/profilest/etsyfriends.shtml
EtsyFriends is a new Etsy Street team made up of members from all over. Our shops sell a variety of items.
If you would like to become a member, please make sure you have the time and effort to put into this team to make it a big success! That means help with promoting, participating in our contests and helping with our charity store.
Each member will be asked to hand make at least one item per month (more if you would like) to add to our Charity store.
http://www.etsyfriendscharity.etsy.com
100% of proceeds go to our Charity of the month.
Blog: http://etsyfriends.blogspot.com/
Please add us as a myspace friend
http://www.myspace.com/etsyfriends use the email: etsyfriends [!at] yahoo.com
Here are the groups to join
http://www.flickr.com/groups/etsyfriends/
http://groups.google.com/group/etsyfriends
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EtsyFriends/

Please put the tag "etsyfriends" in all of your listings.
In your shop announcement please put "Proud to be an EtsyFriends Member"

If you need business cards or other promos for your shop, use this link for 25% off. (do not accept the free trial)
http://www.vistaprint.com/frf?frf=199907637934
Every order made though this link will add $2 towards new business cards and other promo items for EtsyFriends.

If you decide EtsyFriends is the team for you please fill out this form and reply with it in a Convo to CraftyMamaMia.
Name:
Email: (we will send you an email invite to view our google calendar of events)
Etsy Store Link: (Please make sure you sell handmade items, not just supplies)
Blog: (do you have a blog for your shop?)
Any other links: (such as a myspace or website)
Address: (to send EtsyFriends Business cards to)

We update our member list with Etsy once a week, please be patient.

Thank you,
Amanda
a.k.a. CraftyMamaMia

P.S. We will not start our contests and promos until Jan 1. Our staff would like to get through the holidays first. When you get an invite to our calendar, check in frequently.

Holiday Week

Well I have had the entire week off from work and I had high hopes for getting lots of things done this week but I can report that I didn't get a fraction of what I wanted to get done. Although I did get to hang out with my husband's mom and bake up a storm and then I spent the rest of the week hanging out with my best friend while she was in town from New York for the holiday!!! We went shopping the day after Christmas, saw P.S. I love you, setup my new sewing machine so she could show me how to use it but we didnt get that far with it, it is still sitting on the dining room table and has not yet been used!

I have found a sewing class as this cute little fabric shop that I found when shopping for Candice's Christmas present. I am going to sign up for that and hopefully I will learn how to use it : )

I do still have the goal of getting all my craft stuff situated and my hubby promises to help me with that task!! We are going tomorrow to look for a new L shaped workspace to put in the spare bedroom to hold our desktop computer as well as give me a new workspace!! I will report back tomorrow to let you know what we find!!

Holiday or should I say After Holiday Traditions...

Well I am sitting her waiting for Candice and Debbie to meet me so that we can partake in our 2nd annual shop til we drop followed by dinner and a movie!!! Every year my best friend comes back down to florida to visit for about a week and last year we decided that the three of us (her mom-my 2nd mom, Candice, and I) would go out and brave the crowds the day after Christmas to spend gift cards and get all the good after-christmas sales!!! Then we finish the day off with dinner and going to see a movie!

We had so much fun doing this last year that we have decided to make it a new after holiday tradition!! This year we decided that we would be a little more organized instead of driving all around multiple towns and counties lol, so we wrote a list of all the stores that we wanted to go to today so that we could make a plan of attack for the day!!!

I am getting very hungry and need some fuel before we get started so I sure hope that they remembered the cinnamon rolls and tea like they were supposed to remember : )

Well I will post an updated blog about our adventures either later tonight or tomorrow!!!

I hope everyone has a great day!!!

Merry Christmas!!!

Well it has been a very long day but I wanted to post a short blog for everyone to enjoy! Here is a slideshow of pictures from dinner tonight at my sister's house...Enjoy!!! I hope that everyone had a merry christmas and a happy holiday!!!

Cute Kitties

Well I promised more information on Cute Kitties, so as I bake a pumpkine pie, oatmeal raisin and chocolate chip cookies I am multitasking so here it is....

Cute Kitties does not currently have a website but here is her catalog, and you can contact her at cutekitties4u@hotmail.com to place an order!!!

My Pledge to buy Handmade in 2007!!

Well I pledged to buy handmade this year and while I was not able to buy or give everyone handmade gifts, I did buy a few! I bought my boss/ my best friends mom/my second mom this amazing bracelet and earring set that was created by Silverliningdesigns6. Unfortunately I wrapped it before I was able to take a picture of it for my blog so I will have to take a picture of them at a later date to show off on here!!

I also bought the cutest dachshund earrings from Silverliningdesigns6 for my mother-in-law!



I normally bake cookies and other pastries for my family that I do not see on the holidays but this year I decided to send handmade soap by Kopah. I sent each of them a 5 piece selection of gift size soaps!!! I hope that they all enjoy them!!






I also sent my best friends daughter a handmade FSU cat made by Cute Kitties. As soon as I get her website I will post it on here for everyone to take a look at! Unfortunately I mailed that gift before I had the idea to write this blog!!! I know I am slacking a bit on the pictures this time around!!

I hope to be able to buy more handmade gifts next year!!!

Spring Cleaning....In December!!!

So Kopah asked me today if I had given up on my blog and I promise I haven't although I know it has been a little while since I have written! So tonight when I got home from work I came up with an idea to write about!!!

As I was flying home from New York on Friday night, I was writing myself a To Do List and I decided that I was also going to write a To Do List for household projects that I wanted to get done over the next couple of months. I got inspired last night when I was putting laundry away and began work on my first project, going through all of my clothes, shoes, and handbags so that I could donate things that I was no longer using. So I was able to fill up 4 bags full of stuff!!! My bedroom looks much cleaner now---although it still needs to be dusted hehe!! I promise I will get around to that one day!!

So tonight I wanted to start work on Project #2, which was straightening up the garage so that I could get my second workstation better organized. I forgot to take a before picture but I have included an after picture! This is phase one of this project, Phase #2 is moving my scrapbook work space into my spare bedroom as I am tired of looking at my dining room and it being a disaster area not to mention that my husband and I have to eat dinner at the coffee table every night because I also have the entire dining room table covered in finished projects and miscellaneous craft supplies. But in order to do this I must clean up the spare bedroom and pack up all of my books and loose pictures so that the bookshelves can come out and the new craft setup can go in. I have included the before pictures of the spare bedroom and my dining room, so that you guys can be impressed when I show you the end result : )

Tagged!

Well I have been tagged by Kopah so here goes:

I’m to share seven random/weird facts about myself, post the rules, and then tag seven other people.

Seven Random/Weird Facts about Melissa:

1. TV is my vice, I always complain that I am too busy and never have enough time to do things but I always seen to find time to watch my shows. Even if its weeks later---I love my DVR!!
2. My favorite color is purple.
3. Although I am a girl, I still love a great violent movie lol!! As cheesy as it sounds I grew up watching Jean Claude Van Dam and Steven Seagal movies with my dad! And yes they are still making new movies lol!
4. I finished my masters in Oct 2007 and looking back it seems that I went to school for 21 years with only one 6 month break between my bachelors and masters degree (not including summer vacation of course)!
5.I love anything pumpkin- candles, donuts, bread, muffins : )
6.I have never broken a bone (fingers crossed)!!
7.When I was in younger I was one of those nerds who loved getting all new school supplies for the new year and getting everything organized for the first day of school :) I still have the office supply addiction!!



The rules:
Link to the person who tagged you and post the rules on your blog.
Share 7 random and/or weird things about yourself
Tag 7 random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs.
Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

My 7 tags:

1.WendiWinn
2.Bonghi Vestiti
3.Thank God for Naptime
4.Crafts from the Heart
5.Adventures In Sewing
6.MelissaKate
7.Miranda Girl Designs

Craft Show Nervousness (Part 2)

Ok well I promised that I would post photos of the work I completed today so here goes:

Here is a pre-designed scrapbook for a little girl, all it needs are someone's photos!

Here are some pictures of other work that I did tonight. As you can see I am still have a hard time perfecting the candles after the wick goes in....these will be sold as imperfections for a discount at the show hehe : )

I would love any feedback that anyone has to give : )

Off to bed now, I will post an update tomorrow before bedtime!

Craft Show Nervousness

I have my first craft show on Black Friday, only 5 days away and I am starting to get nervous. I feel like I am unprepared and do not have enough product prepared to offer potential customers. I welcome custom orders for scrapbooks and am also going to offer custom orders on frames and candles as well so hopefully this will help me get some extra orders! Currently I have 5 candles ready to go- with enough product to make 42 more which I will complete by the show, 5 frames, and 7 scrapbook layouts. Doesn't sound like much at all I know Unfortunately I have to work Mon-Wed at my job that pays the bills but every night after work this week as well as after I cook Thanksgiving dinner and up until 3 pm on Friday will be completely devoted to making as much product as I possibly can : ) Wish me luck and any advice would be greatly appreciated!!!

I will post pictures of the work I completed today before I go to bed : )

Seattle Bound (Part 2).....

Well we arrived to Seattle after a 7 hour bus ride that was supposed to only be 4.5 hrs.....we received some lovely hospitality from our fellow Americans that work as US Customs officers.....I have never been so ashamed to be an American as I was today, the work ethic that those workers have and the way they talked to and treated the bus passengers was just uncalled for!!! Thankfully our bus driver had a sense of humor and we finally arrived in Seattle!!!

I am glad to be going home on Wednesday, I miss home!!! I am also very excited to get home and start work on new projects to put up for sale at Turkey Night being held in downtown St.Petersburg.

Among the other things that I need to do, are either figure out what needs to be altered on my business card file that I sent to a company we use at work, or find another place locally that can get them done in time! I also need to get my banner on order for the show....I am pondering the thought of ordering it on Etsy but I am afraid that I am not going to have time now, and will also have to get that ordered somewhere locally as well!!

I am really excited about being able to make my candles, I received all my stuff a couple days before I left but I had too many other things to do to get ready for my trip so I was not able to start playing with my new stuff, so this weekend is going to be dedicated to all craft stuff and the chores that just can wait!!!

I will be sure to post pictures of my works in progress for eveyone to see!!

Seattle Bound....

In about an hour, I will be Seattle bound once again!!! I am very glad to be heading back to Seattle from Vancouver!!! It's not that I did not like it here its just that heading back to Seattle means that I am 2 days closer to going back home!!!!! When I get home it is going to be a crazy 9 days......because on Nov 23rd I am doing my first craft show and to say that I am unprepared would be an understatement....I feel like I have very little to offer my potential customers but I know that I will give it one final push when I get home and I will do the best that I can do!!! It is only my first show and I know to some degree it will be a learning experience!! Well I must get going to take my bus back to the states so I will continue this entry later......

Sooo excited......

Well from my previous post you know that I experimented with making soy candles earlier this week, and I was quite happy with my results!!! So I went to Cajun Candles, I ordered enough supplies to make about 48 candles for my craft show later this month!!!

I ordered the following scents:

Christmas Tree
Cinnamon
Honeydew Melon
Lavendar
Cucumber
Pumpkin Pie
Vanilla Chai
Black Cherry
Cool Citrus Basil

I am very excited for my product to come in so that I can make pretty candles to sell : )

Last night, I also decided it was time to give in an order some Chipboard letters for my scrapbook layouts and frames. I have seen them at the craft stores and while they are quite pricey, I cannot see just buying a box that has one of each letter, I would never be able to spelling anything. So I did some research on the web and low and behold I found a fellow Etsian in the EtsyScrap's Street Team group that I joined on We Love Etsy. Catherine's shop is Your Memories By Design and she was nice enough to do a custom order for me, so that I only get the letters I need to spell out what I want to say : ) My letters should be shipping out to me on Monday so I am anxious to get them and begin work with them, as I have never done any chipboard work before but I have seen it used and it looks great!!!

I probably will not get much crafting done this weekend as I am headed to Debary for my college roommate's baby shower and to visit her expanding family!!! Maybe when I get home on Sunday I will be refreshed and inspired and get some new items finished!!!

Have a great weekend everyone!!

~Craft Show Fever~

Well my first craft show is fast approaching (it is on Black Friday) and I am in high stress mode trying to make enough product to look like I belong there with the other craft exhibitors!! All of my items take a bit of time, so I am having to make sure that each night after work (well after work and after gym that is) that I come home and work on at least 1 or 2 items to build up my inventory!


I have been trying for a week now to find time to make my first attempt at soy candle making and tonight I was finally able to do it!! I have to say that most of it was pretty easy except when it comes to inserting the wicks---ahhh scary!!! The wicks that I had were pre-fabricated with a metal piece at the end which I assumed would help weigh it down and keep it in place well I learned that was not the case-- (mind you I tried inserting the wicks before it was time--I was slightly impatient--- go figure!!) So my husband/assistant craft maker took all the wicks out while we waited for them to really be ready for that step and this is when we experimented with using a wick that had no metal piece and let me tell you those wicks definately worked out much better---so I think that my next batch will be made like that! They are by no means in any shape to sell but I think that for my first attempt that they came out decently!! (See pics below)









I am also finishing up work on two frames, one which is on it final drying step and the other that is waiting for the decoupage to dry so that I can put on the finishing touches-- I think they came out pretty well---definately room for a little improvement but I still think that they are good enough to list on Etsy when they are dry!!






Finally, last night I started work on a complete scrapbook for a baby girl (it is an 8x8 pink suede album that will have 20 pages when it is done)...I am two pages into it and hope to have it finished thursday night before I go out of town!!I am going to Debarry for my college roommates baby shower for her second baby girl!! I cant wait to see her and her family, as I haven't seen them since Hannah's 1st birthday party back in February!>

New Item!!

Well I have begun work on new crafts to add to my Etsy shop as well as my offering for my craft show in November and here it is!!! I have one more thing to finish on this before it is ready for Etsy but it is only some minor touchup painting! I am still unsure about whether or not it needs a little something more but I have been told it is good to leave it alone---but I am not sure that I can--so any thoughts or critiques are appreciated!! I chose to start out with the unfinished wood frame project because I thought that would be easier than the soy candles (which is my other project that I can going to begin work on) but let me tell you it was not as easy as it looked!!! I am hoping that my next frame goes a little smoother now that I think I have figured out a better process. I am definately excited to start work on my candles but I think that will be another week or so as I am waiting for the rest of my supplies to arrive!!!

New Craft Ideas!!

I am enjoying my new crafting experience but after spending so much time on Etsy and constantly being inspired, I decided that today I wanted to go shopping and get some new supplies so that I could begin expanding my horizons into new crafts to add to my Etsy shop!!

After giving it some thought, I decided on soy candles and designing unfinished wood frames!!! While I do not have all the things that I need to begin making these, I am close and hoping to finish up my shopping tomorrow, so that when I finish my last class of my MBA on Monday night I can begin work on these new items : ) I cant wait!!

My first sale!!!

This afternoon I made my first sale!!! I am so excited!!! Right after work I came home and got it all packaged and went over to the post office! I had estimated my shipping costs on Etsy so while I was there I played around with different zip codes and countries to validate my pricing and I actually was very close, so now I can set up my shipping profiles to use on a regular basis. I hope that my customer enjoys her purchase, and I eagerly await her feedback!

I was all motivated to come home tonight and create some more scrapbook pages, and unfortunately by the time I got home from my errands and dinner, I am just way too tired to start on that project. So my goal for this weekend is make at least a hanful more pages as well as one fully designed scrapbook!! I will report back this weekend on my progress!!

Blah....

Ever since I returned from my trip, I have felt blah!! I got out of my exercise and diet routine and was just exhausted when I returned from the trip, so I decided to take the weekend off from pretty much everything and enjoy my anniversary weekend thinking that would help me feel better but I am here to say that now I feel even worse!! I am so tired yet last night was unable to sleep and ended up only sleeping like 3.5 hours, definately not enough to get through a hectic "Monday" at work (technically it was Tuesday but because I had off Monday it was my "Monday"). Things at my job that pays the bills are definately getting much more stressful and thus is draining all my energy so that I do not have any creativity left when I get home to put into my craft work : (

I am really hoping that I get out of this funk very soon as I have lots to do to get ready for my craft show in about 5 weeks!

Looking forward to this weekend....Our 1st Anniversary!!

Well I am back from my trip and let me just tell you it gets harder and harder to bounce back from some of these trips!! Don't get me wrong I love going on vacation to see new places or to visit family but it is hard to get back into my normal routine after being gone!!

One good thing is that I was able to create four new scrapbook layouts while I was away (2 baby and 2 halloween) --that I will be able to add to the 6 I currently I have for sale on Etsy!!

The only problem I am facing is that we temporarily lost our camera so I have no way to get them photographed and on my site as it will be a few days before my dad gets it mailed back to me......So I am thinking that its time for a new camera for the business : )

I am glad to be back home but having a hard time getting back into my routine of daily exercise and healthy eating...(that is very challening to do while you are away)....so my plan is to take the weekend to rest up and enjoy our anniversary weekend...(this time last year I was a crazy person getting last minute stuff ready for our wedding)!

I have planned a relaxing weekend.....Saturday we are just going to hang out together and watch movies and catch up on our TV shows, then on Sunday our actual anniversary I have setup a surprise for my husband as I got us a room at the hotel on the beach where we were married and he has no idea!! We will go to the beach on Sunday and then eat dinner at the revolving resturant at the top of the hotel....and for the finale on Monday, we are going to a couples spa experience (couples massages, pedicures, and manicures)!!! I am looking forward to this weekend and looking forward to getting back to my routine of work, gym, and creating layouts when I get off of work!!!

Weekend Adventure

While I am sitting here at Starbucks indulging in my pumpkin muffin and hot chocolate (two things I shouldn't be having hehe since I have started back on my fitness and diet regimen 3 weeks ago)....I figure that since I have not blogged in over a week that my weekend travel adventure would be a good topic to discuss, so here goes!!!

My Saturday morning started off at 1:30 am to the sound of my 3 dachshunds howling to a fire engine siren....then once they calmed down from that they decided at 4:30am that it was time to get up...so in my normal routine I get up take my pillow to the couch, let the dogs into the background for a few minutes and then me and the dogs curl up on the couch and go back to sleep till it is time to get back up....it just so happened that this saturday that alarm time was an ungodly 5:30am....

Despite being tired I was excited to get up and get ready to participate in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure....I had been planning this event for a bunch of us from work for weeks now...from making sure everyone was registered, to designing the team t-shirts, to getting the logistics situated of where we all needed to meet and a what time!!!

The weather could have been better as it was rainy and overcast but once the rain stopped not having the sun beating down on us ended up being a blessing!!! So at 8:00am we were off to walk 5K (which is a little over 3 miles)...it was my goal to beat our time last year of 1 hour and 32 minutes....which I am proud to say that I beat by about 15 minutes!!! Next year I am going to shoot for one hour : )

Once that event was completed, it was time to head home, shower, pack the car, get the dogs to the vet for boarding and get out of the house by noon!! Well of course that was alot to get done in 90 minutes so we ended up leaving another 90 mins later.....oh well what can you do!!!

We were on the road to pick up my brother in Tallahassee on our way to our final destination of Tupelo,Ms to visit my Dad and other family members that live here.....4 hours later we arrive in Tallhassee and of course the college kid is not ready, he is still working on his laundry!!! Man was I ticked off!!! I had already been up for 13 hours!!

After two hours of waiting for him in my car because his apartment was so dirty I couldn't bear to be inside of it for more than 5 minutes....we were on the road again!!! This time we get on the interstate and the traffic is backed up and barely going 5 mph!!! We could not see what was going on we just knew that we were going nowhere fast and we still had 430 miles to go till we arrived at our final destination!!!

Finally after an hour we were moving again!! By this time it was already after 8pm!!!! I tried to sleep for a little while layed out in the back seat with the suitcases and my Ipod.....I probably got a little bit of sleep and then it was my turn to do the last leg of the trip!! The final 240 miles were mine to drive!!!

Finally at 230 Central Time (330 am EST) we arrived in Tupelo and yes we were tired but in one piece!!!! Man was that a long day!!

But the true crafter that I am I did not leave home without at least a fraction of my scrapbook stuff so that I can create some layouts in my spare time on vacation : ) We shall see what inspires me while I am here!!!

Etsy Addiction

Ok so I have read many of the forums posts about how Etsy is addicting and they are sooo right!! I find myself drifting from my work during the day to just "check in" and see if I've had any sales and then just take a peek at the forums but then I look down at the clock and I end up "peeking" for over 30 mins lol!!! I also find myself staying up past my normal bedtime to play around-- like tonight!!

I do however feel like I'm going through creative withdrawl because I have not been able to work on my scrapbook layouts as much as I want because I am in my last class for my MBA and I have to put my time when I get home from work into that because I need an "A" to graduate!! I just keep telling myself that after October 22nd when I get that A that I can spend all my free time working on my craft!!! So the countdown is on only 21 more days until I can spend more time being creative and get more things listed on my Etsy site!!!

Oh and one last thing before I am off to bed.....I decided on my first craft show!!! It is on Black Friday from 7-11pm in downtown St.Pete!!! I am so excited and nervous all at the same time!!! I am glad though that it isnt for a little bit to give me the time I need to get my product built up for the show!!! I am also going to be showcasing Kopah soap for my best friend : )
Now the work begins, I must design a booth setup to display my work!!! Any ideas are welcome! Well I must be off to bed now it is getting late and I must go to my day job that pays the bills!!

Craft Shows

I have spent most of today trying to promote my work trying to get my first non friend family sale--but still no luck yet!!

So I have been looking into arts and craft shows that I could rent space at to promote my product!! Since I am just beginning I don't want to spend alot of money, so I am going to start with some of the smaller shows that have cheap entry fees just to get my feet wet and get some experience with them under my belt!

I have a few possibilities that I am interested in and I am just waiting to get responses back for more information!

I am kind of excited and scared because now I need to get more than 3 pieces of work ready to be able to go to a show lol!!

I am also awaiting the arrival of my promotional labels that I want to use to market myself on the products that I do sell!! The proof looked awesome so I am very excited to actually get my hands on them!

Getting Sleepy!

Well I am sitting here setting up my blog after a long day at work and an evening filled with creating two scrapbook layouts! My best friend has inspired me to start a craft business of my own and I owe all the things I am learning to her!! She pushes me to get involved in things instead of just sitting around when I get home from work wasting away! That isn't to say that I am not busy, because that would be untrue! Currently, I am 4 weeks away from completing my last class needed to complete my MBA, the only hitch is that I must get an "A" in the class to technically graduate, therefore my time currently spent on designing my scrapbook pages has been limited! I hope that after this next 4 weeks that I will have more time to devote to my newly developed craft business!

I have two websites with information on my work if you are interested:
www.kuncekrafts.etsy.com (Where I sell my work)
www.myspace.com/kuncekrafts (Where I market and show off work I have created in the past)

I am willing to do custom orders and even willing to design an entire scrapbook pictures and all if you would like to send them to me! If you are interested please contact me at kuncekrafts@hotmail.com!

It is getting late so I am off to bed to dream of new creative layouts!!