Featured EtsyBlogger-The Art of Joy

TheArtofJoy...don't you just love the name! And the concept behind it :) Joy is our featured EtsyBlogger for the month of January! Of course her shop name has to do with her real name, but I also feel that her shop brings me joy when I look through it :) She has so many great printable options to be customized! And she even has freebie printables on her blog! Check out some of her goodies... Printable Stork Pink Theme Baby Shower Invitations or Announcements

2011 Printable Write In Kawaii Calendar with Stickers

Don't forget to keep a watch on Joy's Blog as she'll be introducing us to her newest "Bundle of Joy" soon! Any day now :)

IT'S HEEEEEEEERE!!!

My laser cutter is officially HERE! I couldn't wait any longer to take it out of the box and get it on my new table! Though I can't use it until my training and ventilation system arrive next Friday, for now I'm happy to just look at it :)

Isn't she beautiful!

Friday Features-Laser Beams in my Dreams

My laser cutter showed up yesterday!!! Though I can't use it until my training next Friday, I'm just excited to have it and I'm one step closer to making all my ideas reality!

I've had this goofy song by the Ozark Mountain Daredevils called Chicken Train stuck in my head lately!

The second verse goes like this:

Lazer beam...in my dream Lazer beam...in my dream Lazer beam...in my dream I can't get on, I can't get off lazer beam like a sawed off dream

So today's features all have laser beams in them. Some fun features to put a smile on your face :)

Rooster With Lazer Eyes

by rhodaperdition

If looks could kill.

by LeiaFacewalker

Temporarily Blind

by MonicaKatzenell

Wordless Wednesday-Peace

Seasonal Baby Album

I was recently asked to make one of my Baby Boy Calendar Albums in a seasonal theme. The mother wanted each month's page to match the month's activities/season...what a cute idea! Here is what I came up with...

Free slideshow design generated with Smilebox

Questions: Do you think these would be a good item to add to my shop? Or stick with my regular Calendar Albums? Do you think people would buy them for regular albums and not just baby albums? Thanks for your comments :)

Treasury Time

I've been fortunate to be included in a few treasuries lately :) I love seeing all the unique items side by side to create interesting collections! Here are my three most recent...

Etsy Bloggers Team: Strawberries and Cream

by HoneyFromTheBee

Personally Speaking...

by FoxyGknits

What Is In a Name

by TwinkieMoonBoutique

Thanks Uncle Dave!

Okay, that title should actually say Thanks AGAIN Uncle Dave :) My uncle is the one who built my totally awesome paper shelves you can see in this post HERE. Most recently I had him build me a table to put my new laser cutter on (coming in less than 10 days!!!). I was having trouble finding a table with all the right dimensions. Most weren't deep enough and many weren't tall enough. Uncle Dave to the rescue! He was able to build me one that was perfect :)

Don't you just love the routered corners :)

And he's so creative! The legs are made out of deck railing! I love the detail! Thanks again Dave :) You really are the best!!!

Friday Features-3 Years

Yesterday was my 3 year Etsy-versary :) I can't believe I've been selling online now for 3 years! I've loved every moment of it and hope to have another successful 3 years :) So today's features are all about the 3s!

Up-cycled Vintage Number 3 Print Block Memento Holder

by VantageStudios

Number 3 Pendant

by XOHandworks

Recycled Sail Throw Pillow - Red Number 3

by reiter8

Antique Brass Number 3 Pendant Necklace

by ninexmuse

Girls Rock!

I've been making several girly Custom Name Albums lately! I love how each one is so different! Each one has its own personality, its own style and will go to its own happy little girl :)

Personalize your own picture slideshow

Wordless Wednesday-Hello from Harley

Organizing...AGAIN

I've decided that organization is a never-ending task! Just when I have things just the way I want them, I get a new toy, or I need another shelf, or I find a different way to do things that I like better. It just never ends!

I've been wanting to find a new way to organize and store my ribbon. I like the way I have it now...until I get to the end of a roll! I use a dowel system you can see in the photo below. It keeps the ribbon organized, but I can't get the old spools off to put a new one on unless I take them ALL off! So the old ones stay on and the new ones just pile up on my table!

Over the weekend I experimented with a new idea :) I'm still using my dowels, but I've added "hooks" for them to hang on so I can easily remove them and add new ones! So far I am loving this new system. And it was so easy and cheap to do. I just undid some paper clips and hooked them through the ribbon and on to the dowel! And I added two more rows to one of my new bookshelves I got over the holidays :)

Now it's time to finish getting organized for my new laser cutter!!! I can't wait to show you the table my uncle is building for it to sit on...more photos to come :)

Party Time

I love making Flip Flop Albums in the winer. Their bright, fun colors always perk up my mood! This album is going to a party! It's a special album made as a guest book and photo album for a 30th birthday party. I enjoyed personalizing the first page for the birthday girl with her name, birthdate and a photo mat :) What perks up your mood in the winter?

Friday Features-Turquoise and Brown

The other day I was cleaning up some ribbon spools from my work desk and saw a great new color combo sitting right in front of me...turquoise and brown! I love finding new colors to work with and can't wait to use these colors in my scrapbooking! Until then, check out these great finds in this awesome color combo!

turquoise and brown crystals bracelet by seaglassboutique TURQUOISE and BROWN Polka Dot Pillowcase dress by gigglebugs1 Turquoise and Brown Coffee Sleeve by merryncole Travel Mug with handle in Turquoise and Brown by Mypolkadotpottery

WW - This Is My Kind Of Homework

2011 Goals

Last week I reviewed my 2010 goals and saw how well the year went. Now it is time to set my goals for 2011! I'm not one to make resolutions. To me those are just hopes and dreams. Goals are measurable and more specific. And, by putting them out there for everyone to read...I'm more likely to stick to them :) *Blog Posts: 3-5 posts per week. Last year my goals was to blog everyday. I enjoy blogging and I see traffic from it, but some days I just felt like I was blogging to blog. I didn't really have anything to say and I think readers can sense that. This year my goal is to have fewer posts, with more content :) *Blog Followers: 150 I know I need to promote my blog more to get this accomplished...add that to my list of goals! *Etsy Sales Goal: 150 Plan of attack...More price points and more inventory! *Etsy Hearts: 450 Total Shop Hearts Those are my specific and measurable goals...here are the rest: *Add new product lines. With the new laser cutter I'm getting at the end of the month, my head is racing with new ideas! I just have to make them all reality! *Look at more brick and mortar shops for consignment or resale. Goal: Add at least one new venue. *More shows! Last year I had to cancel a lot of my shows because work got so busy. This year I hope to plan ahead better and be more prepared for more shows :) What are your 2011 goals? Share them here or drop a link to your blog post about them. Put them in writing and share them with the world :)

Off To The Races

Last night we went to some snowmobile drag races. We don't have much snow around here right now, so when the local ski resort offered to do the races, we were pretty excited! The snow was pretty packed and more like ice, but it was still fun :) I decided just to watch...too cold for me! But here is a clip of Jesse racing. (He's on the left.)

Have a fun weekend :)

Welcome 2011

Today's features are all about the New Year! One I am super excited about in so many ways!!! I hope 2011 is a wonderful year for us all :)

Oprah Winfrey's New Year Quote Cream Pillow Cover

by decology

New Year's Tags or Cupcake Toppers - Printable

by CupcakeCutieesCards

Customized New Year's Resolutions Mug

by myworldlycloset

New Year 2011

by LynnsBoutique

A Look Back on 2010

People say you should not look back, but keep moving forward. On most occasions I agree with this motto, but I feel there are times to look back and reflect as well. You can learn so much by looking at your past to see where you want your future to go.

Looking Back (8x10 Art Print)

by CMirandaDesigns

I looked back at my 2010 goals and was very happy to see the outcomes. Here are the stats:

• Goal to blog everyday (365 posts). Actual posts-362. Almost 40 more posts than 2009!
• Goal of 100 followers to my blog. Actual-108 :)
• Sales goal of 120 Etsy sales. Actual-105. What I lacked in Etsy sales, I greatly made up for in local sales :) And I added another gift shop in 2010 as well!
• Goal of 350 hearts in my Etsy shop. Actual-363! WooHoo! 2010 was a great year and I hope 2011 continues to be the same :) I'm usually one to say "Out with the old and in with the new" but I hope 2011 continues as well as 2010 left off :)I'll post my 2011 goals soon and I'd love to hear yours as well!

Wordless Wednesday-Yearning for Summer

Back After These Messages...

Happy New Year Everyone!!!

I've decided to take a bloggy break for just a few days. I've had terrible internet connection for the last several days making it hard to get posts together. And my parents leave tomorrow morning, so I'll be spending the rest of today with them. I go back to work on Tuesday, so I'll be back into more of a routine soon after.

Thank you to all of my readers for being beyond awesome this last year! Here's to an even better 2011 :)