DAMdesigns

blog closed

2008-08-28T02:25:00.000-07:00

Ok guys! just closing this blog. It will still be around, but im not planning on updating this one any more.

Please come to my other blogs

Personal and fun with tons of great stuff (New) http://tagsandbuttons.blogspot.com/

And of course the awsome http://www.LoveEtsyFeedback.blogspot.com

Thanks! =D

GRAND OPENING

2008-06-13T01:42:00.000-07:00

Well I finally did it! You may have been here on this journey where I always had an idea for some kind of new, non-artish, type of product that I wanted to make. I went through many things like almost buying chapstick supplies to really wanting to make soap...and other totally random ideas. The point behind coming up with something else was because Im the kind of person who can't really sit still, so I felt like I would feel really good to have 2 types of products under my belt because it would give me a huge variety of things to do =D. So I did it! I opened a new shop, and well here it is! The best part about it is that I still feel like m creating a kind of art because things turn out pretty and cute!

Feel free to mention this blog and get 20% off my new shop from now through the end of June.

Etsy
Buy Handmade
TagsAndButtons

Creating Like Crazy

2008-06-05T19:10:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! Well it has been awhile since I blogged here, although I blog about awsome shops a lot at my other blog (LoveEtsyFeedback), So I thought it was time to come over here and update some.

Well as you may know, I have been trying to think of something new to make and offer at my shop...and I figured it out, and while it took all the birthday money I got, lol, im so flippen excited! I wont tell you what it is until I start making them which will be tomorrow hopefully, that is when it is schedualed to get here!

Next, I spent several days updating and fixing my shop. I re did all the images of my art and now the actual pieces are as good as I can get them to show up online, which still is no where near as cool as things look on paper in person, but it is a vast improvement. I also changed around a few prices and ive been adding 1-3 items everyday. Also I spent a few hours updating all my shipping profiles, which was a pain but I had to do it.

Next, ive been making a lot of new stuff, several aceos and new drawings, I also made a new batch of painted pendants, which I need to photograph.

Outside store stuff, I have been working hard on the other blog. I also joined this great project Diary 2009 (I saw it on TheBeadingTree's blog). It is like this giant thing where you sign up for a page and decorate it and then people get to buy hard copies, cd copies to print by self, or pdf copies when it is all finished. Sounds like a great promo tool. I already made my page! There is still spots left so come join:

Diary 2009

Well that is all I can really think of right now...Oh ya I discovered a new yahoo group where you swap with 2 people a month your buisness cards/promos for them to use in packages!

EtsyBCTG

Well now that is really all. In life outside Etsy lol, I got my grades for the semester....3.79 baby! Cant wait for the next semester...well ok im glad to have a break but I like school lol.

Places to check out and earn money/stuff

2008-05-25T17:11:00.000-07:00

Ok well I know of a few that im currently trying out.

First check out ClickSense. Ive read several reviews and it seems to be legit. It is free to join and you get paid to view ads. You can upgrade to a premium account, which costs $10 but you get a ton more ads to view. I decided to upgrade today since I had a little exta money from taxes, and the ads I view as upgraded are way better, things like starbucks and snapfish and stuff.

Next, Moola.com. This is like a game place. There are 3 games to play (4 when you earn .32 cents) and you pay nothing to join and you basically try to beat other players at these games and you can double your penny that you start with. It is fun if your bored and its 50/50 some people sware by it and some dont like it. I think it is because it takes time to build up your money, but if you are bored...misewell try right? If you would like to try moola send me your email address so I could send you an invite please! I mean you could go on your own, but misewell let me refer you =D. (P.s. If you loose your only penny, just play again they keep giving you your first penny)

An awsome thing I just joined is Mypoints.com! I really like this because you earn points and then can cash out for gift cards. If you love shopping online this is great because you can earn back points. They also have a new coupon thing and ive already used several coupons because they are good coupons! like free taco bell smoothie and stuff. Oh and you earn points when you use a coupon! Again you could go on your own, but I can earn points if you let me refer you, so send me your email address =D

----------------------
Side note:

Great nutrional website I just discovered.

Nutrition Data

DIY Recycle Tip 1

2008-05-16T14:27:00.000-07:00

Free Shipping Box Filler

So This is a new little series I am going to do. Anytime I think of some kind of something that is interesting with recycling I will share the wisdome or make a tutorial or something. Don't get to excited I have no idea how often this will be lol.

So the first idea, sick of paying like $4 for filler to ship your packages? Well you can Recycle! I don;t mean keeping old filler, even though you could do that to, I mean making your own.

What you need?

Old magazines or papers (Make sure it isn't full of personal information)

A couple plastic bags (depends on how big the box is)

That's it!

How?

Simply take the papers and rip out the pages and bunch them into balls and fill up the plastic bags until they are totally full then tie the top of the bag in a knot and stuff it in the empty space of your box. It can help keep stuff secure likst popcorn.

I used it to ship a school book back to the place that buys them back. I had this giant box and only 1 book so I filled 2 bags and stuffed it on top and the book wouldnt move in the box anymore!

I didnt think to take pictures because the idea came after, but next time i'll take pictures for you!

La Da Do

2008-04-28T13:14:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! Well time to blog again! Lets see, theres seems to be a lot of stuff going on. First, my birthday is coming soon (May 6) no im not doing anything special, just making my mom barbeque the weekend after (Although I just realized that weeked is mothers day right? lol) My semester is almost over. I still have a million things to turn in but its winding down to the end (like after this I need to go write a small paper). I bought Mario Kart for the Wii yesturday! Woo hoo. I only got to play a litte but super cool. The best thing is you can play online against people around the world! AND unlik super smash brothers, you can have 2 people from your system playing online at once (which workds perfect so I dont have to fight with my brother). Hammy went for check up and the doctor said he is doing better then expected, and the tube on his head, that only lasted 1 day before he got it off. But he has been perfect hammy because he never messed with the stitches. And in a couple days I have to sign up for my next semester classes, and for some reason I always get excited at the prospect of new classes haha! Well that is all I can think of, I probably would have wrote more but I have to run out the door and cut this short!

Hammy

2008-04-20T14:43:00.000-07:00

Update:

So he survived surgery and he is home now, going a little crazy because he has a funnel on his head. He cant manerver good and so I have to hand water and feed him plus clean the stiches and give meds everyday. Everynight I take off his funnel and sit with him for 30 mins so that he can feel normal ru on the wheel a little and hopefully eat something on his own. In 7 days there will be a check up and in 14 they will remove the stiches and he'll be normal again! I love my hammy.

New Etsy Feature Blog

2008-04-18T17:33:00.000-07:00

Hey readers! I havn't finished tansfering all the links I have on this blog, but if you would like your Etsy blog linked to my new blog that I created head on over and leave a comment so that I don't forget.

http://loveetsyfeedback.blogspot.com/

So what is this blog? You may have noticed I deleted the other blog because I realized I dont feel comfortable sharing my inner secrets lol. But this, this is Etsy related! Once every other day I will be featuring a new shop in a little twist to the normal featuring blogs. I feature based on Feedback! Check it out. I have been racking my brains for ways to feature blogs in a not so normal way and that finally came to me last night.

So besides that today was a traumatic day. Last night I went to check on Hammy (the beloved Hamster you know) and he was bleeding all over and had a swollen and giant soar on his back area. I started crying and couldnt sleep all night I thought he would die. We took him to the vet with a coupon for the visit to only be 10 bucks, but found out that he had a tumor and needed surgery. There was 4 options. Take him home and do nothing and let him bleed all over where I can't hold him and be in pain. Put him to sleep because "hes only a hamster." Pay for cleaning the wond so he could at least not bleed (130 bucks) or give him surgery (230 bucks) after much talking we decided to give him surgery. Yes it IS crazy but he really is not a normal hamster. He has never ever bit anyone for any reason, he4 only peed on me 2 times when I first got him now he never pees. Hes so calm and I can tell he loves me. So my mom paid 120 and I paid 100 (my birthday is coming so its like a present). I alsmo put him to sleep but I just couldnt. Some people have took care of hamsters and they have lived to be 6 years old. I REALLY love my hamster and I could NOT take his life away when it wasnt time. Ill let you know if it is successful. I have to go clean his cage now for when he returns.

Layout Changes

2008-04-15T22:11:00.000-07:00

Well well! Here I am again I feel its been a little while so time to blog! As you might notice I changed my layout of my blog and managed to get a 3 column layout going. I really like it and as time progresses and I get maybe some pictures to line the top it will look cooler. A fellow etsier helped show me the direction to go to get information on changing my layout. She also has a really cool shop so check her out:

DaibeBeads.etsy.com

I really like this from her

On other news I decided I will probably start selling hand carved stamps. I know I said before I made 2 big ones to make like art prints with them, then I made my own with DAMdesigns on it and since I think im pretty good and I think its a good way to kind of create an art for people of something fun like stamps I think I will start. I plan on starting to make some designs and stuff, what I have to wait for is my birthday is coming soon so I am going to get the other supplies I need (to make them more official for selling) so I have to wait to get those before I can sell the stamps, but do look soon for maybe some tags with stamp prints or cards or something.

Well on other news, Craftymamamia made her own website further inspiring me to want to get on the ball with mine. I have like half the HTML written from the class im taking and ill buy a domain after the class is over in a few weeks and finally set that up. Hmm...

Oh ya had a sale today! I was super excited! lol. Be sure to take my new poll on the right bar please =D

Sick

2008-04-07T12:08:00.000-07:00

Greetings from a recovering sick person lol. Been a little while since my last post so I thought it was time to come in. Lets see, I was sick for the last week with a fever. It was the kind of sick you dont see coming, you know one minuet your doing crunches to try and work on your fat, and the next minuet your haking uncontrollably in bed with a fever. Ya it was that kind. So I didnt get much done other then a few homework things that I HAD to turn in. Before I got sick I tried my first shirt method and while it turned out ok I dont like it to to much, so ill have to wait till like xmas to try again that way I can ask for a few professional supplies for a present... lol.

On the other side I carved 3 stamps. 1 small recycle stamp to use on envelopes when I reuse something and 2 big ones of art that I will eventually be using to make ink prints. Those turned out awsome. Im just trying to figure out how I want to sell the prints, which im pretty slow so it may be awhile before it comes to my store lol.

Well, oh ya. I got an early birthday present from my nanny. It like another camera but its like a 5.1 digital camera AND camcorder thats the size of a small camera and fits WITH my other small digital camera in the bag. I dont have a video camera so this is cool it rus off memory cards so no need for disks uless I want to take it off the computer so I dont have to like spend that money all the time. Its really cool the only thing I have to invest in is a AAA battery charger for it because I dont want to be spending hella money on batteries, but I looked and target supposidly has one for like 20 bucks so ill go check it out. I think the first thing ill try it on is my hammy. I also might try taking my next product picture with it and see how it turns out. its great I can finally video tape when I go on vacation and stuff! Woo

Ok well thats all for now. I really must do some HW

New Blog and Such

2008-03-26T12:16:00.000-07:00

Well hello everyone! I have been working on some changes over the last like 2 weeks as well as working on a huge amount of school stuff (midterms ick) lol. Remember the soap thing I was talking about? Well it turned out ok but I dont think it is good enough to sell people so I let my mom take the ones I made...since she likes them lol. So I gave up on that. There is another bath and body type thing I plan on making but not until we move, or find out were not moving, or something so that I have more space.

I did finally think of something to try on the new front, handmaking shirts with some of my art on it. Ok this is not a new idea, but I just thought of a good way to do it and I have this cool art piece I made the other night (not listed) that im going to try as my first design on a shirt. Ill be heading to the store sometime soon to see if I can find all the supplies I need lol. I guess if I cant find the supplies I wont venture trying....yes I refuse to pay $7 shipping to get the stuff online lol.

What else? The new blog I made is for my writing creativity. Please check it out when you get a chance. I will probably update that blog the most. I also changed my prices around in my store some and decided to close my ecrater store for now (I still have the store, just nothing in it).

Well besides that I can't think of much to say except that David Cook is my Idol Favorite and Jason Castro is the cutest guy I have ever seen. lol.

Long Time No Blog

2008-03-13T17:57:00.000-07:00

Well well well! I think it has been like a month since I had time to come in here and make a post! Haha. Mainly this happened because there was a week with no computer and another week where I barely had the computer and then after that I was playing catch up with all my online classes so I kind of lost time to take care of my little blog! lol. Whats new for me?

Well I joined a top 100 and I made my way to number 10 recently which was exciting. Want to help me? Check out the list, visit my store and leave me a good rating! =D

Here is the link for the Etsy top 100. There is still a little space left too for new shops.

http://perfecthandmadesatetsy.gotop100.com/index1.html

Here is the screen shot!

Other store news. I'm finally working on making a website for my store. Its corresponding with an HTML class that im taking so it will be a little while before its done but when the class is over im going to purchase some domain thing and set up the page! Im really excited and im slowly working through the codes now.

I also made some new marker art, it is in my etsy store.

I also am going to take a stab at this soap project. If it works I might sale one thing of fun soap in my store! Its being made right now so ill let you know how it goes.

Other then that, the house is ready to be sold and I am really hoping we do get to move.

Well Ill try and post more often now! Glad to be back!

Etsy
Buy Handmade
DAMdesigns

Super Slow

2008-02-08T15:05:00.000-08:00

I know I apologize for being away for so long but I have been incredibly busy! Lets see I think I have a photo of the pencil drawing I did, the first pencil work in like 5 or maybe 6 years.

Yes, literally took a picture of it because I have to get some spray for pencil work or else it will smear in my scanner lol. I actually did get a can and went to use it and then realized it was missing the sprayer so I was kind of scared and decided not to risk anything and just throw it away before it like burts or something haha. Anyways the drawing is of my hamster of course and I think it turned out pretty good.

I also did the pendant painting. I made 5 of this design and it looks awsome.

It is mimicked after my large art pieces of this same print. To see more work check out my store (link in the right bar)

Anyways besides that nothing to new store and creating wise. School started and I have so much to remember this time that I literally made a 2 week calendar to break down everything day by day so that I only have to read like 15 pages per book per day, but of course theres 5 books lol so it still adds up but it keeps it more interesting then being stuck reading 50 pages in the same book. At the end of those weeks ill have to do it again and it takes like an hour to break down all the assignments haha.

Well ill keep it short.

Check out the new Friday Sale Thread in Etsy and Participate on Fridays by adding your sale. The thread will always start at 3pm Etsy Time.

http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5459158

WINNER of this week's EtsyFriend's I spy! Miyaw (Review)

2008-01-22T16:43:00.000-08:00

This weeks winner of the EtsyFriend's Official Ispy Game is Miyaw! Her shop is home to awsome soap products as well as beautiful jewelry pieces. I have personally tried her 8 ounce Soap Foamer in the Apple Jack & Peel scent and it smells wonderful I use it all the time just to get the smell on my hands.

But dont take my word for it, check out her shop and try it for yourself. Why you are there browsing you will also come across many wonderful pieces of jewelry all at great prices.

Click Here For Miyaw's Shop

Keep an eye out on Monday's in the Promo section of Etsy Forums for more rounds of EtsyFriend Ispy for your chance to win free exposure! For more information on the Etsyfriends team please Click Here.

Super Multi Tasking Capabilities

2008-01-21T13:42:00.000-08:00

Well I have been busy busy as normal! Lots of things going on as always, today I got mail (yes it is a holiday lol) but I got the textbooks that I ordered for my classes which all technically start on next Monday but I can start all of them today. I am feeling a little overwhelmed by everything that I have taken on, but I will be fine. I always am lol. After I write this post I will be cracking open the box and looking at the books haha.

The other day I worked on making a whole bunch of bookmarks. Like that was all I did for crafting that day and im still not done with the project but when I finish I will have like 80 bookmarks which is all that I have prints to make with.

A fellow etsier gave me an idea and look for a new style pendant in my store soon with a mini hand painted version of one of my paintings (providing I can coat it with the spray I have) and if it all goes well I will eventually make some of my other paintings! Yay.

Also on the newer front I finally confronted my fear and picked up a pencil to draw in pencil. I havnt finished but it looks like it is actually coming out good and if I dont mess it up ill be sticking it in my shop soon too. Pencil is a fearful meadium to me right now because I was really good before and then I stopped drawing with it. When I draw in pencil I like to draw real stuff and not abstract like I do with all my other art forms. I forgot how much I love drawing in pencil though and I cant wait to finish.

Well I better run but if you are reading this on Monday check out our Ispy game and play! It costs you nothign and you can win a prize. (Click Here)

Giftbearer Review #6

2008-01-21T13:37:00.000-08:00

Specializing in high-end indigenous jewelry, Giftbearer creates unique pieces that are not only beautiful but seem to tell a story on their own. In her store you will find an array of gorgeous jewelry pieces including bracelets, rings and earrings.

Her Story:
“Pippit Carlington has been creating art ever since she was 2 years old. At age 5 she wascomposing songs on the piano; teaching herself to play by ear. She often found herself re-designing things she saw around her, in 6th grade she constructed the class mascot; a 4 foot-tall owl sculpted out of paper mache, and in junior high she began selling various art items she had made.”

Check out her shop today and see what awaits.

Giftbearer’s Shop Click Here
Giftbearer’s Blog Click Here

Team EtsyFriends Theme Of The Month

2008-01-19T15:31:00.000-08:00

One of the many fun and exciting things that members of Team EtsyFriends do together is make items to go along with each months Theme. This month (For February) our theme was "Let the Romance Fill the Air," and with over 40 items made and created, it was a huge success. Team members were creative with their items and all came up with a unique perspective of our theme and made items that not only went with the type of stuff they sell in their shops, but also fit perfectly with the theme. Right in time for Valentine's Day you can go to

Etsy.com

And search for

effeb

(or simply click here)

to find a ton of unique, exciting and affordable items to get your loved ones, or yourself! Check it out today. :)

For more information and how you can join EtsyFriends click here.

New Item! Journals...

2008-01-17T18:47:00.000-08:00

Well I am excited to introduce a new useable form of my artwork! Handmade and cut mini journals/sketchbooks! Check them out in my store, only 1 listed so far but I do have 4 made and 1 in the process haha.

DAMdesigns.etsy.com

This is just a short update. I will be reading everyone's blog either late tonight or tomorrow to catch up! I hope everyone is doing good!

WINNER of this week's EtsyFriend's I spy! Creative Things (Review)

2008-01-15T13:56:00.000-08:00

This weeks winner of the EtsyFriends Team Ispy game was CreativeThings. Full of bunnies and bracelets, wash cloths and gloves, her shop is home to a fun collection of handmade goodies. Being an owner of one of her Cell Phone Cozies I can personally attess to the fact that her knitting is good and I personally love my little cozie and it perfectly fits around my cell phone.

She not only makes items to be sold as is, but she also takes custom orders on things like her gloves and wash cloths. She also has several cute jewelry pieces and sells wonderful decorated boxes to put your trinkets in. Why don’t you hop on over to Etsy and pay a visit to her shop! (I didn't even mention her scarves made of super soft yarn!

Creativethings.etsy.com

Congrats Creative!

Keep an eye out on Monday's in the Promo section of Etsy Forums for more rounds of EtsyFriend Ispy for your chance to win free exposure! For more information on the Etsyfriends team please Click Here.

New Items New Store

2008-01-12T13:17:00.001-08:00

Well I thought it was about time that an update was due in my little blog here! Lets see there is a lot going on in my real life which is why I have been slow with everything. There is a like 50% chance I may be moving and I should know within a week if this is something I will have to deal with. Hopefully if we do it will be to a good place.

I also have been registering for classes, since we may move I am taking everything online this semester so that I can be free to go anywhere. Lucky for me the school owed me $100 which was put towards what I owed this time. I still have to buy books though which is looking to be upwards from $300.

Let see what else? I opened up a shop over on Ecrater!! It seems cool over there so we will see how it works out, but there is no like...mingling like in Etsy. Check it out though I listed a few bookmarks and ACEOs so far.

http://www.damdesigns.ecrater.com/

I also finally started using my laminating machine and now I am an addict! LOL. I have listed 4 bookmarks so far 2 in Etsy 2 in ecrater. I am making around 20 right now (multi tasking). I can also use the machine to make stickers so I have printed some label type things and made them into stickies! YAY!

For my biggest loser diet I have lost 6 pounds so far but this week I probably have gained like a pound back ive been slacking but today I picked myself up again and im doing good so hopefully by weigh in on Tuesday I will loose at least like 2 or 3 pounds lol!

Well I guess that is all for now! I better run.

WINNER of the First EtsyFriends I spy! Joeben Designs (Review)

2008-01-08T00:26:00.000-08:00

Congrats to our first winner of ISpy!

Joeben Designs (atheinert.etsy.com) is home to cards, note cards and custom invitations. With great prices and unique designs, like cards featuring colorful origami shapes and characters, her newer shop is home to lots of fun and cute pieces. Check her out on Etsy today!

Joeben Design's Shop (Click Here)

Resolutions

2008-01-05T21:50:00.000-08:00

Well I thought I would write a small list of my 2008 goals and resolutions, both for my shop and personal life.

1. Loose weight and fit into size 9 or less haha

2. Get as many sales as possible on Etsy, at least 200 or more

3. Be a good leader in Biggest Loser Etsy Style

4. Keep my good GPA and do good at school (I have a like 3.7)

5. Be more social

6. Have a crazy fun vacation in the summer

7. Do my first craft/art show and hopefully more than 1

8. Stay organized

9. Make lots of new art pieces...or well lots of new Etsy listings

10. Find good ways to advertise

11. Finally do my hair probably at the end of summer (style, cut and color including pink)

12. Start taking more pictures

13. Try and start piano again

14. Begin getting good at pencil art again (I used to be really good until I lost time)

15. Make 1 more in person super good friend to have around

DAMdesigns

Silver Dragon Creations: Review #4

2008-01-04T10:05:00.000-08:00

Pinks and purples and pastels are the colors used most often in Silver Dragon Creations’ Jewelry pieces. All of the colors that she uses most blend together to create a great atmosphere in her store as a whole. Her pieces are beautiful and each one has its own unique feeling to it. From bead work to pretty ribbons all of her jewelry looks fantastic.

Here is her Bio:

“I have always been an artist and one of my earliest art memories is also one of the influences that has stayed with me from the very start. I was four years old and my nursery class had a field trip to a local museum in Rochester NY. I was completely mesmerized by the textiles and beadwork of the native Americans. I don't know how long I stood there just gazing at the work and absorbing all that the creator had to say.”

Come stop by her store today and see her wonderful work for yourself!

SilverDragon’s Shop, Click Here

SilverDragon’s Blog, Click Here

EtsyFriends

2007-12-30T11:39:00.000-08:00

Items in the new EtsyFriends Charity Shop:

Etsy
Buy Handmade
EtsyFriendsCharity

An official new Etsy Team!

EtsyFriends is a new Etsy Street team made up of members from all over. EtsyFriends shops sell a variety of items. It is a team for people who want to try and make real friends from the Etsy world which in turn helps promote Etsy as a whole and all the individuals in the team!

EtsyFriends has 3 founding members:

CraftyMamaMia
DAMdesigns
Sygnetcreations

If you would like to join EtsyFriends, Contact: a.follis@yahoo.com

Links and more fun info

Visit our Blog
Visit us on flickr
Visit our Google group
Visit us on EtsyLove
Our Etsyfriends Myspace
And our Yahoo Group

Entyqua Review: # 3

2007-12-28T12:56:00.000-08:00

Becki from Entyqua designs started making earrings 5 years ago and now creates all types of jewelry pieces and hair accessories with a unique flare and style. Her work uses a combination of beads, color and design to create something simple yet full of life.

And here is her story: "I do mostly Jewelry I started making jewelry about 5 years ago when I was trying to work from home. I ordered a Earring making kit and worked my heart out on them for weeks. A little light came on and said Why am I only doing earrings? I went to my first bead store and well the rest is history. My style and techniques have just blossomed over the years I have several items currently in stock and more are added all the time!"

To see more of her work visit her store or blog:

Entyqua's Store Click Here

Entyqua's Blog Click Here

She also has another store with cards and jewelry boxes:

Card and Box Store Click Here