Great Noties and bad lighting again!!

New items for my store~ I usually don't use my stationery...but I had to this time!

Sweets

I made cupcakes for our son's 8th grade graduation. I think I needed better lighting for my photos...but these were tasty! Chris, thank you so much for your help and inspiration! These were vanilla with a sort of pineapple pina colada frosting. And the ones above were creme de menthe with a layer of melted chocolate added before the minty frosting. mmm.....

I will be getting myself a super large star tip for future frosting escapes. Geeky as it was...my late night hour creating these beauties allowed me to dream of making these as a side business.....sigh, I wised up after the second batch!

Book Cover Designs

Book Cover Designs: I always thought this would be a hoot to do. I have several that I have created for promo.

http://www.artwanted.com/imageview.cfm?id=374722

http://www.artwanted.com/imageview.cfm?id=375637

http://www.artwanted.com/imageview.cfm?id=374586

http://www.artwanted.com/imageview.cfm?id=374585

It seems I have stuffed my versions so deeply into my computer, that these links seem to be the best sources for showing this type of my work. Ever do that? Loose you images to the masses of creation?

Mineral Makeup Products

Crystal Astolfo of domalyminerals agreed to answer some questions about her mineral makeup products.

What products do you carry in your shop?

My products as of right now include mineral foundations, setting powders, bronzers, blushes and eye shadows. I am currently working on a mineral lip gloss to soon be added.

Can you share a favorite marketing idea?

Hmm, I would have to say that my favorite marketing is my friends and family. They are all so gossipy that I can’t make or do anything without every relative and neighbor knowing, this is how I first got started with my business.

How about a favorite advertising venture?

Not sure if this counts as an advertising venture, but my dad's company currently deals with quite a few of the hotels in our area. Some of the hotels have found out of my business (that’s where my gossipy family comes in), so I am in the process of creating an amenity line of bath and body products for the guest rooms. It is very exciting and by far my favorite so far.

Have you always been a "maker?" (someone who creates)

Before making cosmetics I had always baked desserts. I would watch the cooking shows on television and try to recreate all of those fancy desserts. Everyone once in a while I still cook, but mostly for family and parties.

What prompted you to start making your products?

I’ve bought and tried just about every cosmetic known and my skin disliked everyone of them. I had seen all of those commercials for mineral cosmetics and thought maybe I could make my own. So I started researching online and began mixing my own products. I gave samples to friends and family and they fell in love with my products and convinced me to start selling them.

What other activities do you enjoy?

Besides making cosmetics, I make bath and body products: lotions, sugar scrubs, body butters, soaps and more. Creating my own products helps relieves stress and gives me a sense of relaxation.

Were you parents creative?

Not so much, my mom was sort of creative, but more in the fact that she helped with art projects and cooked with me.

Is there anything else you'd like to share about your products?

I love making my products and I take the time to make sure that my products are ones that everyone will love, I won’t sell a product that I myself wouldn’t use on an everyday basis.
How did you come up with your package designs or labels?The name for my products is for my two children. Dom if for my son Dominic and Aly is for my daughter Alyssa. As for my packaging style, I like simple designs so I wanted clear and black for my containers and a friend of mine drew the design for my labels.

Can you tell me, how you store your projects and supplies?

I store all of my finished products in a cabinet inside my home, all on shelves and in those storage drawers. All of my supplies are stored in my workspace in my garage, in cabinets and on shelves.
Do you work outside the home?

My two children are 3 and 4, I haven’t worked outside of the home since before they were born.

Painted toes or natural?

Definitely painted, my toes are always bright pink.

Crystal, thank you very much for sharing some about your mineral products. I look forward to updates and seeing more new items in your shop. Since we last spoke, Crystal has added so many new items such as eye shadows, foundations and setting powders. Please visit her shop and say hello with an Etsy convo! (make sure to join Etsy.com, it's a snap and you won't regret it!)

Beautiful Active Wear for Women

Talk about value and style! Today, women demand more from their apparel, Marika offers three unique brands – Marika, The Balance Collection and Shiva Shakti – which have ultimately satisfied the active woman's lifestyle. You'll find yourself with 45 minutes, (okay it's a random event) anyway, you decide to squeeze in a brisk walk and pick up your paper supplies in town before collecting your children. No need to change your clothes after the walk because you look great already!

If you have never heard of this brand of active wear, now is the time! Treat yourself to something beautiful check out Marika!

Click here to see the complete collection of Marika fitness and activewear!

Another Fine Treasury Up at Etsy...two days only!

Lunalove created this treasury on Etsy.com as well as the beautiful necklace here too! Thanks so much Luna for including my Morphans print with your selections in the treasury!

Treasuries give people a chance to see work for the first time, in a new light and sometimes even on the front page of Etsy!

Beautiful Tree Treasury on Etsy!

AdornJewelry has created a wonderfully beautiful treasury of trees! These only last a couple of days--so check it out quick! Also stop by her shoppie too!

New Note Cards Designed

Of course these go with the Groovy Inclinations Ultimate Plaid and Tropics Stationery pack~ But, I have decided to sell a few sets of the postcards outside of the stationery pack. I'm such a paper nut...I just like holding these postcards!

Treasury List at Etsy.com

chicalookate.etsy.com has put together this treasury! This artist has a great eye! This is one of Chickalookate's images. I wish I was on this Ferris Wheel right now!

Natasha's Leads!

There is something really exciting about designing a newsletter and sending it out to a list of customers and waiting for the results. It wasn't long ago that I didn't have a large enough list of subscribers making it worth sending out newsletters and promotional news about my products. Until I started looking into Natasha's Leads. Now I have some good solid leads to build upon. She really makes it affordable for people just starting their business! You'll have to sign up and check out the leads available. Hurry she's currently reduced some of the prices too!

Natasha's Leads

Groovy Inclinations Feature in the Mother's Day Showcase

I'm one of thirty-six artists featured in the Mother's Day Showcase on Etsy's front page. Surely one will find something special for mom there!

Groovy Inclinations Ultimate Plaid and Tropics Stationery pack

This a 40 piece stationery pack that I've been working on.

will be fun for mom and daughter both. Each pack holds:
sixteen sheets of perfectly plaid designed 5.5 x 8.5 paper
with eight envelopes.
four large glossy tropics inspired 5.5 x 8.5 postcards and envelopes
two 5 x 7 hello greeting cards with plain envelopes
two 5 x 7 thank you cards with quirky plaid envelopes
four 3" circle gift tags
six 1" round plaid stickers
six 1.5" tropical flower stickers

40 pieces plus 16 envelopes

Gosh I'd love to have one for Mother's day! LOL...I know couldn't I just whip up one of these grand sets for myself? It doesn't seem to be that easy. For customers, no problem. But ask any carpenter's wife how many projects she has scheduled and rescheduled for her man. Does the phone man's wife have a need for a new jack? (uh, yah I do...right next to my computer so that I can shop for shoes with my beef!!)So, it goes I hardly ever use my own stationery--But, I would love it!! I usually only allow myself a card, or a sheet of the paper...sigh. I want this though!

Whimsical Marmee!

Marjorie from MarmeeCraft is so talented and her work is just simply sweet~ and painterly. I'm thinking these two images are my faves, but perhaps you'll find your own faves and share them with me. Go and visit her shoppie!

Natasha's Leads!

Do you have something you are promoting? Do you need to create a team or network for that same venue?

Have you been seeing this link at the bottom of my blog and wondered what this service is all about? Leads. Business leads, if you are selling something this is a fabulous way to get the word out about your product. For the longest time I struggled with enough contacts to send out a newsletter. Not anymore. I have earned leads as well as purchased them from Natasha and gained a solid and valuable customer base for my business in a short amount of time. Not to mention I have earned some nifty pocket change just by having this link on my blog! So, check out Natashas Leads today---Do it!
http://www.idevaffiliate.com/31145/idevaffiliate.php?id=241

Find Me on Mintd.com

Celeb look-alikes!

http://www.myheritage.com

Sold!

So, yippy this is a good day for this artist! I have probably listed this image before this, but it's been a fave...so, I thought I would post it again!

New Prints

Boxed Set of 8 Meeting of Morphans Cards

These are the Magnum cards above...each are boxed sets of eight.

Charlie's Been Busy

This is my delicious husband Charlie in his work clothes....looking really great if you ask me. But, I wanted show off his craftsmanship. He just finished this elk antler lamp for a friend of his. If you can't already tell from this photo it's stunning. And will look fantastic in the hunting lodge which will soon be it's new home.

Special News!

Shoppers reading this blog who spend 25.00 or more in my shop from now, until April 25th. May use the following coupon code in the 'note to seller' during the transaction time:gblog this will earn you 20% off! When the transaction has gone through at Etsy.com, do NOT Pay yet. You will be sent an invoice as soon as I can shoot one out to you. So, relax do some shopping for fun and funky items and wait for the savings!

If you forget and pay...I cannot honor the coupon!

Additionally, those who send me a convo through Etsy with PRETTY PRINT in the subject line will be entered into a drawing for a FREE 8.5 x 11 PRINT of their choice. Winner will be notified on April 26th!
IF YOU HAVEN'T REGISTERED WITH ETSY.COM AS A SHOPPER~ YOU ARE MISSING OUT! DON'T WORRY----IT'S A SNAP!
Sounds like you have some reason to sign up with feedblitz to receive updates from my bloggie!

Set of Eight Mootful Notie Notes

Oh so Mootfull they are! Perfect little notie notes to capture quick thoughts of belated thank yous, right on time birthdays and announcements too!

Baby Oh Baby!

Here is another sample baby annoucement. I could do these all day long. Parents could enclose a photo inside the card too. I can change the design, color, fonts, add illustrations options are nearly limitless.

Baby Oh Baby!

I create custom cards, invites and announcements along with my other artwork. But, recently I have neglected to promote any of it!

Lush Lush Kitters in a Fathric World-Print

Our daughter still has a difficult time saying fabric, she's eleven. With a skilled roll of her little tongue, it would always come out fath-er-ic with a short 'a' sound. When we had our son I would correct every word until we had our daughter, then I leaned that they will learn to say things correctly eventually. So, the super cute ones...I didn't correct.This is an 8 x 10 image printed on 8.5 x 11 heavy matte finish paper. I worked as a textile designer for a while and the digital flower patterns used in this piece were from that venture. Lush Lush Kitters in a Fabric World would work great in a child's room but that's not all...you'll find a great place for it!

Beefs of Whimsadise

Here is a new print available in my Etsy shoppie. Notice the funky line texture within the tree.... Affordable and works well with Beefees too!

May I have your attention?

This is just a pump for folks aiming to get some attention for their blogs. Most of my traffic is coming from blogmad.net and blogexplosion, some comes from other blogs where I have posted and other blogs that have featured my work too. (yes, weeks after a feature I'm still getting traffic!) It is seemingly taking little effort to gain this attention, but it does take time. If you haven't checked into blogmad.net and blogexplosion do! You'll gain the most traffic by taking an estimated thirty minutes each wee by surfing blogs on within those sites. But, it works.

Flapling in Spring--Original New ART

Reward!

Being an illustrator and selling my work is extremely rewarding. To begin with creating something is number one and selling is just the bow on top of the gift. In using the word gift I'm intending that in the way that I feel like I have been given a present each time I can sit down and create something. It's an important-special time for me.

Then when a customer or client shares how they have used my artwork in their home or how someone else reacted when they received my work as a present. It's just thrilling!

Chris Kauffman recently shared a photo of one of my prints framed in her most beautiful home.

Chris is a mom, wife and a mother of two. She aspires to be an interior decorator and you'll see when you check out her blog that her home is beautiful and very well decorated. She'd make an exceptional interior decorator!

Here in her post newest pieces you'll find one of my prints titled Morphans framed perfectly!

Natasha's Leads

http://www.idevaffiliate.com/31145/idevaffiliate.php?id=241 It's only been a short a mount of time, but I have gained a few bucks already with my affiliate Natasha's Leads. Check her out!

For me?

I won a prize! Isn't it funny how we wander through our day on the Internet signing up for things then not remembering any of it? My goal to support fellow Etsians, artists took me to a site last week sometime. I signed up for a newsletter offered by cocoblack.etsy.com who holds a weekly drawing and I won! Coco has some fabulous pieces in her shoppie and I chose this beautiful necklace, which will be great with summertime deep v's! Make sure to stop by to take a look at the artist's other fine wears~and also her blog http://www.mococafe.blogspot.com/

Mommies with Style

The Groovy Inclinations product review by Whitney from Mommies with Style is up! Read the generous review by Whitney and gather a coupon code for My Etsy shop! You'll find terrific deals for mom and baby with detailed information on each product featured such as: fine bedding, shoes, bags, movies and more! This is one those sites that is a must for busy moms searching for trendy garb.

Sheknits Loop Bag Wristlet Corsage Chocolate and Pink

I super heart this bag! Sheknits has great talent and great taste. Isn't this the the sweetest? Someone needs this bag, probably not more than me...but still needs this bag! (via Sheknits)

Flirt Earrings - Strawberry Quartz, Prehnite, Sterling Silver

More lush beauty from jNicDesigns? I can't stand it! I see a deep V ribbed tee in Opal...and some worn out jeans a bouncy pony and these flirties at your ears!



I'm using thisnext.com to post in my blog about Jennifer's jewelry~ Have you checked out http://www.thisnext.com ? You must! (via Jennifer Trott)

Sand Stone Anklet - Natural Peruvian Blue Opal, Oxidized Sterling Silver

The capris are coming the capris are coming!! And what would be more perfect with them than this anklet from JNicDesigs.etsy.com! Holy smokes....HOT HOT HOT!

Jennifer Trott is an amazing artist, just one of her creations here! (via Jennifer Trott)

Illustration Friday --Snap!

I have been working on some new stationery products and one of them features this cute little Gator---snappy ain't she? I was glad to see my current project fits with Illustration Friday because it has been so long since I've been able to participate! So, yay!

Anything Indie!!

What a wonderful blog post Andrea from Anything Indie just put up! It's exciting to be getting so much positive feedback about my artwork!

thank you Andrea!

Stella Finds: I've got a crush! With aprons?

I should looze ten pounds so that I look good in an Apron?



Look what I found today... (via Stella Finds)