Product Photos..More More More!



4"x6" Cherry Blossom Scrap Box



I am always looking for ways to improve my Etsy shop.  Right now it's making everything cohesive.  I made these white washed wood backgrounds for my product photos.  I was inspired by Anthropologie and their wonderful catalog.  I have been trying to convey that my product is a box that folds out flat.  Once I think I have photographed it from every angle I stumble upon a new on my accident.  All I did was set the box down to move my cat, looked through the screen on my camera to reposition the box and saw it laying there with the flap open and into the box.  Well wouldn't you know it was the perfect angle I have been searching for.  I love those moments.  So when you read all of those "Featured Seller" and "Quit You Day Job" posts on Etsy and they say "take lots of product photos" boy they know what they're talking about.

I hope some day in the future Etsy will allow us to upload a video of our products in use, on a model...etc.  Like a commercial for ourselves.   My mom says "no one knows they need it until they have been shown why they need it."  She's such a smart cookie! Pssst Etsy!

So lesson learned......Once you think you've done it all there will always be something new.  I am looking forward to having my cohesive shop all set cause then I get to focus on new products :)

Candid Cat

Ranger...My Man

What do you get when you combine a curious cat and a product photo shoot? This super cute picture!

Craft Project! Ribbon Blossoms

Any crafter will tell you the details are important.  It’s what makes your items stand out from the others.  One of my Favorite books is “Delight in the Details” by Lisa M. Pace.  This book is loaded with embellishments and accents to keep your glue busy and cover your self in glitter.  Today we’re making Ribbon (or Paper) Blossoms!  Lets Get Crafting.....

Materials:

•  Ribbon or Paper.  The Book has you use ribbon but I have found it works with paper as well.  Lightweight paper would be best.
• Glue
• Scissors
• Awl, Hole Punch or Crop-a-Dile
• Embellishments: I like to use Brads for this project. As you make these your mind will go crazy with the possibilities.

Steps:

1. Cut six strips of ribbon, or paper, 5 ½” long and basically any width you want.  I like to make then 1” wide.
2. Place three strips of ribbon, or paper, face down on your work surface.  Layer two of the strips in a cross shape and one strip down the center.
3. Fold the end of the bottom strip toward the center, and secure with a dot of adhesive.
4. Fold the next strip (in the middle layer) toward the center and secure.  The fold the strip on top and secure it.  You should now have a flower with six “petals.” Repeat steps 2-4 to create another flower.
5. Stack the two flowers, staggering the placement of the petals.  Punch a hole in the center using you Awl, Hole Punch or a Crop-a-Dile and insert a brad to secure the stack.
6. Enjoy!  If you use a decorative brad you’re basically done.  If you are using a plan brad you can glue a rhinestone, button, something cool from a paper punch or whatever you want to embellish it with.

The scrap box pictured above I entered into a Holiday Craft Contest.  The Blossom gives the box that just wrapped present feel.  Perfect for Holiday treats and treasures.

Keep on Crafting!

by Lisa M. Pace

The Never Ending Blanket

I FINALLY finished the Never Ending Blanket! I made a super cute Granny Square blanket for one of my nieces.  It was her Christmas present.  She loves blankets (and who doesn’t) so I wanted to make her a more grown up blanket since she is now 5 years old and the others she has are from when she was born.  I made them look like little flowers cause she is ultra girlie. Wellllllllllll I severely under estimated how big she has gotten and it was too small. So being awesome Aunt Leslie I made more granny squares to attach.  Now 2 months it is done.  It went from 26”x26” to 50”x50.”  My sister has already joked that I will be making this blanket bigger until she gets married. HA! It might be a good idea to have extra squares made for whenever it needs an expansion.  I used my favorite Caron Simply Soft Yarn! I’m hoping this size will last her awhile.  I love her and would do anything to see her happy face. 

Happy Crafting!

Crafty Project: Mercury Rising Glass Awesomeness

How many times do you go Target, Homes Goods or any other store selling cool decorative vases and glass vessels and think “How cool is that?!” Well now become a master at recreating those one-of-a-kind items. This one is Super Easy, Super Quick and Super Decorative. Your friends will be asking in no time “Where did you get that?” This craft comes to you courtesy of DIY Magazine Spring 2012.


Materials:

Clear Glass Vessel. You can find one at any craft store or other retail location selling such items.

Spray/Spritz bottle

Krylon Looking Glass Spray Paint. This may need to be ordered but Krylon also makes Metallic Sprays and try one of those for fun!

Get Your Craft On!

1. Clean your glass vessel

2. Spritz the inside of your vessel with water. It should bead up and run out of the vessel but not a waterfall full.

3. While the water is wet spray the inside of the vessel with the Looking Glass or Metallic spray paint. Spray 1 coat and let dry before applying another coat of spray paint.

4. Once vessel is dry you are Finished! Place it where it will Sparkle in the sunlight and Enjoy.

I do not recommend filling this with water and using it as a vase since the paint will start to come off. You can spray the inside with a protective coating but in the long run I urge you against it. If you want to use it as a vase place a small container inside that will hold water without damaging your lovely piece.



Happy Craftin! And See You Next Time

Product Review: Tulip Fabric Spray Paint

Fabric is a great versatile canvas to make art and express your creativity.  My mom, the ever supportive parent, picked up Tulip Fabric Spray Paint in Hot Pick for me to try out on some book cloth I was making.  Well can I tell you how much fun I had?! I took a plain bright yellow piece of fabric I had, marked off a grid pattern with some blue painters tape and went at it.  The package tells you how to get a mist effect or a splatter effect.  I tried both and mainly got the splatter effect even when I tried the "mist" effect.  The splatter effect gave it more character I think.  In the image below you will see how the paint comes out. 

You can see it has some heavier more saturated spots but the overall look is somewhat misty.  At CraftsUnleashed Meet it Monday you can see how they use different techniques working with this paint. It works well with stencils as long as you have a good bond or seal with you stencil.  Check out Tulips website ILoveToCreate.com for colors and spray packages. So Get Your Craft On and try out Tulip Fabric Spray Paint.  For people looking for a new tool and technique to add to their textile arsenal.  

Keep Craftin!

Product Review: Blue Hawk Plastic Anchors

I like to think of myself as a pretty handy girl when it comes to tools but there is one thing I have struggled with for awhile and that's using wall anchors.  Whether it's to hang curtains, mirrors, shelves you name it I usually have to ask for help.  One of the problems is where I live, Washington DC.  Some people may not know this but DC was built on top of a swamp so it gets really muggy, hot and humid which is drywalls worst nightmare.  I love to decorate with curtains.  I find them to be better than blinds and more pleasing to the eye.  You know the weather has turned damp because one day you get home and find half of your curtain rod is laying on the floor and your pets are hiding because it freaked them out.  The solution for this problem is to get some wall anchors to give extra grip and strength to your screws and curtain brackets.  My biggest problem when it came to wall anchors is finding the right size drill bit.  I either choose too small or too big.  I looked online for some help and only got "find the right drill bit for your screws." OK so how do I determine which is the right size?  Blue Hawk to the recuse!!  The have come up with the best solution to my problem....they package drill bits with the anchors...Hooray.  Now I have the right size every time.  The set I bought comes with 2 different size screws, anchors and drill bits. Now anytime I need more I can buy the exact same size screws and anchors without guessing the drill bit.  I just moved into my first home and of course wanted to hang curtains. I made my markings, drill the hole and inserted the corresponding wall anchor.  It fit! And it was so easy.  Now I have curtains all over my house and I don't worry about them falling out anymore.  Plus drill bits are one of those things that I believe you can never have enough of.  I fully recommend looking for Blue Hawk the next time you are in need of wall anchors.  You won't be disappointed. I know I'm not.

Happy Craftin!