Hello, 2013!

Hello, 2013! Wow, it's been a while, huh? With so much going on in the last few months, it's been hard to keep up with the blog. But rest assure, this first post of the year is the start of me bouncing back from the holiday hiatus.

What better way to start the new year off with a swap story. Back in October, I signed up for this shop swap on the Oh, Hello Friend blog. Lucky me, I was assigned to swap buddy, Sydney of Studio255. Studio255 makes custom address stamps and greeting cards.

I sent Sydney a mint ombre necklace from my Quinfetti Etsy shop, a handmade mini notebook, and a handmade custom initials heart confetti card from my Pearl's Pac Pack Etsy shop. In return, Sydney sent me 2 personalized address stamps and a set of holiday cards. My personalized address stamps came in so handy with the busy December snail mail month.

I loved everything! Thank you, Sydney for all the goodies and thank you, Oh, Hello Friend for setting this up.

Thanks for stopping by and here's to a great year!
- KRAFTY pearl

SEI + My Etsy = A Collected Look

Hiya! Here to quickly share a long overdue SEI layout. You often see me mixing various collections together for a collected, eclectic feel. The beauty of SEI designs is that it's so easy to mix and match colors and patterns!

Materials Used: SEI Desert Spring, SEI Field Notes, SEI Promise Me, tissue paper, Singer 160 sewing machine

Thanks for stopping by!
- KRAFTY pearl

She's All Mine!

After wavering for months on whether or not I should get the beautiful Singer 160 limited edition sewing machine, thanks to my husband, I didn't have to make a decision. She's all mine!

I have sewn some cards and stitched up a dress so far. I can't wait to sew more with her. Such a smooth piece of computerized machinery. Here's a new card I made with the sewing machine. I loved it so much, I put up the design in my Etsy shop.

Materials used: cardstock, tissue paper, Singer 160 Limited Edition sewing machine

Thanks for stopping by!
- KRAFTY pearl

Look Ma, I'm on the TV!

A bit late with this, but back in April, Martha Stewart had an all-Etsy show where the entire audience body was made up of Etsy sellers and segments featured Etsy seller how-to's and an Etsy employee fashion show.

I happened to appear on the show and officially crossed two things off my bucket list:

• Be on TV
• Meet Martha

I was over on the SEI blog yesterday sharing a layout that documented my experience using the lovely SEI Mayberry collection.

Materials Used: SEI Mayberry Collection

Thank you, Etsy!

Thanks for stopping by!

- KRAFTY pearl

Oh, Hello Friend Shop Swap

Hi there! I'm here to share something a little different today. In February, I signed up for this shop swap hosted by Danni of the lovely and inspirational Oh, Hello Friend blog. What a great and fun idea!

As I mentioned in this previous post, I make envelope travel scrapbooks and greeting cards for sale on my Etsy shop, so I sent off a couple of items from the shop. I put together a package that included two envelope mini notebooks, one greeting card, and one 3x3 mini card.

In return, I received really fun and cute bath fizzies from the Dirty Laundry shop. Jeanee, shop owner of Dirty Laundry, prepared a box of 4 cupcake bath fizzies of various "flavors" and included some soothing lavender bath salts and cute cupcake stickers.

Here's a closer look at the relaxing cupcake bath fizzie:

The packaging is cute, the fizzies are equally cute, the contents are naturally soothing, each one is handmade, and they're perfect as favors or gift-giving! There's so much to love about them, so check out Dirty Laundry on Etsy to pick your favorite flavors!

A very big thank you to Danni and Jeanee!

Thanks for stopping by!
- KRAFTY pearl

The Things I Make For Sale

Happy Monday! Hope you've had a great start to the new year. I've had a busy start to 2012, but no complaints here! I love being busy, but I also wish I could keep up with blog posts too. I'm finally catching up, so I have lots to share.

Today, I thought I'd share my journey to starting an online shop and selling things I make and package with my own two hands. It's been a long-standing dream for me to start selling things I make online. As a full-time online marketing nerd by profession working 10-12 hour days and a night/weekend craft enthusiast, it's hard to find time to act on such a dream. But at the end of 2011, I embarked upon a simple solution to making this real, my own Etsy shop. The best part is my commitment to help the fight against cancer. It's a cause that is near and dear to my heart, so I donate 20% of annual sales from this shop to the cause. Details here.

As part of my seller journey, I even participated at a holiday craft fair at work and sold greeting cards and ornaments. It was so much fun and very encouraging to receive positive feedback on the goods.

The Etsy shop started with greeting cards and boxed card sets. But I have now expanded to include some super fun envelope travel jotters or memo books.

You can slip receipts, business cards, instant photos, or any other memorabilia directly into the envelope! Plus, I've designed the books to offer flexibility as a reporter style or memo style book.

They're great to toss into your purse or your travel tote for quick note taking or a simple travel mini scrapbook. Here's something I created recently with my weekend trip to San Francisco.

This journey to designing and making more products for my Etsy shop had taken a backseat for so long, I'm so glad I finally made some time to get it up and running.

Do you have your own Etsy shop? Let me know what it is and I'd love to add you to my circle! Have you always wanted one but procrastinated? It's 2012 and there's no better time than now! :)

Thanks for stopping by!
- KRAFTY pearl

P.S. If you've reached my blog from Etsy, please enjoy a 10% discount with the coupon code KRAFTY as a thank you for stopping by.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I have a few things I wanted to share before tonight's feast, so even though, I didn't think I'd have time to get another post up, I had to make time to deliver you this menu:

THE TURKEY
Very simply put... I am thankful for the many people who have touched me this year.. including you! I am also thankful for many "things", milestones, events, and opportunities that have been woven into the fabric of my very being this year. Thank you, universe!

THE STUFFING
Among quite a few adventures and chances I've taken this year, all of which have been on my 2011 goals list, I am taking another one. I am taking on a part-time project to start my own Etsy shop to sell my handmade goodies and maybe even some coordinating supplies. Best of all about this shop is that 20% of annual sales will be donated to support the fight against cancer. This is a very serious cause to me for many reasons, so I look forward to launching it in the next two weeks and I ask that you stay tuned!

THE GRAVY
Thanksgiving in the States marks two very busy shopping days - Black Friday and Cyber Monday. This is also when the entire year's best discounts, prices, and sales can be found. I received a few emails and thought I'd pass the savings along to some of my favorite shops!

Two Peas in a Bucket is offering 20% off today through Monday.
Hambly is offering 35% off on Friday!

THE DESSERT
As always, I thank you for stopping by! Whether you're celebrating Thanksgiving or not, give the people you love a hug today!

{Hugs}
- KRAFTY pearl