Treasury Thursday

'Fall Flowers & Foilage' by DeLorenzoArt

Reds, oranges, browns, greens...stunning.

Boho Chick Chunky Rainb... EclecticElemen... $89.00	Fall Fashion Large Flow... HoneysHive $19.00	Set of 12 SHADES OF GRE... leboxboutique $15.00
Pink or Green Flower Ha... FancyItYours $4.00	OOAK Coat Rack Hanging ... JeniFluhr $14.99	Agate Slice Gemstone Ne... StainedGlassSt... $27.00
Earrings Polymer Clay S... MeliMeloCreati... $15.00	DAPPER DAN Necktie by W... mrfancypantsvi... $4.00	The Halloween Deluxe Bu... scarlettess $12.00
Topaz Glass Swarovski C... melissawuest $2.85	Yellow flower and daisy... BubblesandBugs $5.75	Autumn Pumpkin - Glass ... KandylandBowti... $7.00
Thanksgiving TURKEY PAR... KatersAcres $18.95

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

Fall To-Do List Update

Last week, I posted a list of to-do craft projects I want to accomplish this autumn season.  I have completed one and am so thankful I tried it!  I made the Jersey Knit Bracelet from tshirt yarn purchased from thirtyone13 on Etsy.  Here are my results:

Two fingers



Three fingers



Comparison of the two (two fingers is the smaller one)



For those of you who want to try it, click here for the video how-to from V and Co. 

Again, here is my to-do list (I wonder what I will try next!):

• Jersey Knit Bracelet Done!
• Sisal Rope Bowl
• Paint Chip Magnets
• Homemade Dog Treats (my little Herbie would love these!)
• Yarn Wreath
• Fabric Acorns
• Burlap Ruffle Wreath
• Burlap Bubble Wreath
• Paper Lanterns Done!

Holiday Boot Camp Promises

I recently received my Etsy Success Newsletter and was inspired to participate in the "Holiday Boot Camp" to prepare for the upcoming shopping season.  The first step is to make a promise and a plan.  So here I go with the promises!

• I promise to give the best customer service I can to my customers
• I promise to ship items within two days of receiving the order
• I promise to launch new items to enhance holiday parties and gift giving
• I promise to reorganize my shop so items are easier to find and in more appropriate sections

I will add more as I come up with them!  Also, I need your support so feel free to leave comments, share with your friends, and offer advice.

I am so excited about this holiday season.  The winter holidays are my favorite time of the year so I cannot wait to share my experiences with you and through my Etsy shop!

Products to Celebrate the New Season!

Since today is the first day of fall, here are some products at DeLorenzo Arts and Crafts that are perfect for fall:

       

    

Remember, blog followers get a 20% discount with coupon code: BLOGFOLLOWER

Feedback Friday: Have you participated in BNR/BNS on Etsy?

This week I focused on the "How-Tos" and ABCs of Etsy BNR/BNS treasuries.  I am anxious to hear your thoughts and experiences with this aspect of the handmade haven's site.

Have you ever particpated in a BNR/BNS?  If so, what advice to you have for fellow Etsians?

If you have not participated, what intrigues you about the process?

BNR/BNS on Etsy: Part Two-ABCs of BNR/BNS

In the previous post, I discussed the "How-To's" of Etsy BNR and BNS.  BNR stands for Buy and Replace, and BNS stands for Buy and Stay.  For the details, see yesterday's post here.  Today, I will discuss some aspects of BNR/BNS to help you make the best of your buying and selling experience on Etsy.

A: Advertise, advertise, advertise

The success of BNR/BNS treasuries relies on the actions of those featured to promote the event.  Many sellers featured in the BNR/BNS send conversations via Etsy to shops in their Circle (The "circle" is your network of contacts and shops on Etsy).  However, the danger of this is that in some cases, these conversations can be classified as spam and are against the Terms of Use of the Etsy site.  So be careful when advertising; only convo those fellow Etsians who you know well to avoid spamming loads of individuals.  Shops also "favorite" the treasury and share on Facebook and Twitter.  When someone "favorites" the treasury, it will show up in his or her activity feed which is seen by all in his or her Circle.  The more avenues the more shoppers!

B: Buy

Of course for BNR/BNS to work, shoppers must buy!  More often than not, a buyer does not have to buy the item featured in the treasury but can buy anything from the featured shop.  Buy to support fellow Etsians and handmade crafters.  Make sure you pay attention to the rules posted for each BNR/BNS to be conscious of buying minimums and other restrictions.  Also, pay attention to opportunities to get included on bonus rounds, raffles, and other perks for purchases.  Sometimes, if you buy from the curator or from a team member you can qualify for bonus rounds.  Bonus rounds mean sellers will be featured in future rounds without having to buy-in again.  For example, one time I bought from a BNR curator was featured for four rounds.  In other words, I bought in once and was featured four times.  Note, this is not true for all BNR/BNS, contests and perks are usually posted at the beginning of the discussion thread under the treasury. 
C: Chat

Even if you cannot buy or sell in a BNR/BNS, still take a few minutes to stop by and chat with the curators, shops featured, and other shoppers in the discussion thread under the treasury.  If you are featured as a seller in the BNR/BNS, make sure you stop by to chat with the other shops and potential buyers.  This is a great way to promote your shop and products while getting to know fellow Etsians.  You will be surprised by how much sellers have in common, and even if a fellow Etsian cannot buy from you, if you take time to get to know them, then you can often gain a referral.  Chatting in BNR/BNS is a great way to build your network on Etsy.  As a seller as you can increase your public image and build your value as a seller who is genuinely interested in other crafters rather than just using Etsy as a shop front.  It is all about marketing and making friends!  Remember to have fun!

I want to hear about your experiences and advice in the comments section below; feel free to leave a note for other readers.

Cheers!  And I will see you in the discussion thread on Etsy BNR/BNS!

How To Tuesday: T-Shirt Scarf

This is a great way to recycle and old, stained shirt or t-shirt.

Materials:

• T-Shirt
• Scissors

Step 1:  Cut off the bottom of the shirt 6" to 8" from the hem.

Step 2: Cut the new portion in fringe1/2" to 3/4" wide and 2"to 4" long.  You may want to experiment with shorter and longer fringes to get a different effect for each scarf.

Step 3: Wear your newest fall accessory!  Feel free to layer multiple scarfs in a variety of textures and colors.

Voila!

New Product Monday-Pillow Boxes

Happy Labor Day!

I recently added a brand new product to DeLorenzo Arts and Crafts-pillow boxes!  These boxes are perfect for favors for any party-baby showers, holiday parties, bridal showers, weddings, anything!

Boxes are made of beautiful, patterned cardstock and are hand assembled.  I would gladly accept custom orders and will create these favor boxes for any occasion you need.  Orders include the box, twine and tags made specifically for your occasion.

Remember, blog followers get a 20% discount with code-BLOGFOLLOWER

Feedback Friday: What are some of your favorite Etsy shops?

Happy Friday!

I am very interested in finding new things on Etsy, and I would love to hear from you.  What are some of your favorite shops?

Here are some of my absolute favorites (but all are really great!):

• The Sunday Flower: Beautiful folded paper flowers and decorating items.  I love, love, love these!
• Sukan: Too cute hand crafted pillows.  Just too cute!
• box64studios: The paper collages are simply gorgeous and would do wonders to a blank wall.
• Sew Beastly: Check out these hand made clutches, purses, wallets, etc.  The ruffles are amazing!

New Products!

Here are some new products from DeLorenzo Arts and Crafts:

    

    

The burlap wreaths are hand made and would do wonders to beautify any entrance or room of the house.  Also, the notecards are super cute and would put a smile on the face of any recipient.

I created a new coupon code for my followers-BLOGFOLLOWER gets a 20% discount!

Feedback Friday: Have you ever created a Treasury List?

Feedback Friday: Have you ever created a Treasury List on Etsy.com?

If you have, I would love to see it!  Post a link to your Treasuries or your favorite treasuries in the comments section. 

Here is one of mine and one of my favorites.

Warning: Treasury building is extremely addicting!  Do not have too much fun! 

Featured Artist: Adnascent Photography

I have always been a fan of photography; I have dabbled with trying to take some artistic, abstract pictures but cannot touch the skill of some professionals.  I recently had the opportunity to speak with one of my favorite photographers, George, at Adnascent Photography.  It is obvious George has an eye for beautiful images and a sense for making the mundane interesting.

     

       

Q: How did you get interested in photography?

A: In high school, several years ago, I saw a Polaroid digital camera at a local Wal-Mart and impulsively bought it.  I was also prone to walks along the Ohio River in the small town that I lived in and found myself carrying the camera with me.  I was surprised how easy it is to capture a beautiful moment with your eyes and translating into another medium such as photographs.  I was hooked.

Q: How long have you seriously been taking photographs?

A: About seven years but have been taking pictures longer.

Q: What are your favorite subjects of your photographs?

A: I like to photography places that feel strange and isolated; something that does not have an apparent meaning but evokes an emotion.  I am inspired by music, lots of music.  I constantly listen to music.  The Ghostly International label is by far my favorite.  Did I mention I am always listening to music?

Q: What have been some of your favorite projects that you have worked on?

A: I love to take pictures of my dad: his beard, his pipe, his hands.  Also, I love to take abstract pictures of Chicago: the streets, buildings, skyline.  I also very much enjoy taking pictures with my Fujifilm point and shoot film camera because I worry more about the picture I am taking rather than image quality.

Q: They still make film?

A: (laughs) Yeah, it is sad that its use is decreasing because it is so organic.

Q:  Do you have any advice for amateur artists?

A: To find something that inspires you that you do not fully understand because it will challenge you to keep pursuing your art.

Q: If you could be a color, what color would you be and why?

A: Black because I used to go to a peat bog in the middle of the night where it was completely dark and I could not see anything and I could open my mind.  It was complete freedom.

A huge thanks to George for his time and for sharing his art.  Check out Adnascent Photography at www.adnascent.com. 

        

       

Friday Feedback-Do you have an Etsy shop?

Do you have a shop on Etsy?  If so, share it!  What is your shop name, your favorite items, and/or your treasury?

If not, have you ever visited Etsy?  What are some of your favorite things on the site?  Do you have any favorite shops?

If so, I want to hear about it!

Recollections Fashionably Chic Paper Pad-Product Review

Recollections Fashionably Chic Paper Pad

I love this paper!  This pad of paper features 180 sheets of beautifully patterned paper.  The sheets measure 12"x12" and are one sided.  The pad features six colors (blue, green, brown, yellow, red/pink, and purple).  There are sixty different patterns and three sheets per pattern.

The paper patterns range from large flowers on a colored background to polka dots and stripes.  The pages are ever so slightly washed out in the middle and get darker toward the edges.  My favorites are the damask style patterned papers which feature a white print on the chic colored background. 

I use this paper for my folded accordion flowers (see tomorrow's How-To Tuesday post!).  The paper is not cardstock so it is thinner and easier to fold.  I also love to use this paper in my card crafting.  With the variety of patterns and colors, I can mix and match and still have a simply, fashionably chic craft piece.  The pages are easy to remove which is great for me because I tend to rip other paper pads and lose much of the page. 

Stay tuned for How-To Tuesday's post featuring Recollections Fashionably Chic Paper in yellow damask!

*Note: I did not receive any free samples or compensation for this post.  My opinions are my own and are unbiased.  I would, however, welcome any products in exchange for a review on this blog.  I am just saying.

DeLorenzo Art-My Etsy Shop!

Introducing....DeLorenzo Art

Handcrafted cards, paintings, and more for any occasion or decorating whim. From Christmas cards to blank notes, this shop features a variety of paper crafts for someone looking for handmade goods. Original floral inspired artworks are produced in acrylic medium in a variety of sizes. This shop also features a range of other crafts and finds for the casual decorator or sentiment sender. Works are produced in Evansville, Indiana. I can personalize or custom make almost anything in this shop if what you are looking for is not quite here.

 

Paper Crafts: I have a selection of blank greeting cards for special occasions, "thank yous," and more.  Some cards are made with a variety of paper patterns while others are hand pained or inked.  There is also a variety of Christmas cards and holiday gift wrapping.  Also in this shop section are a selection of folded flower art pieces.  These framed folded flower pieces are perfect for a desk, bedside table, or any room of the house for a little extra decorating accent.

 

Paintings:  I love painting with acrylics!  In this shop section are some of my paintings inspired by nature, flowers, and cool colors.  These paintings are sure to brighten any bland wall or empty space.

 

Photographs:  The prints in this section are from a variety of places from my travels to London, France, Germany, and Switzerland.  These prints are available in a wide variety of sizes and can be shipped fairly quickly.

 

Here are some of my favorite items in my shop:

 

 

Please feel free to take a look around, tag some items as favorites, or create a treasury using some of these items.  As always, I welcome feedback and look forward to improving my store with your help and suggestions.