Gramkin Paper Studio

FAUX BAKER'S TWINE: A TUTORIAL

noreply@blogger.com (MG Designs) — Fri, 17 May 2013 00:28:00 +0000

I came across this tutorial from UkMaryanne via The Frugal Crafter and though I like original baker's twine....this is pretty crafty ;)

All you need is white crochet cotton string, which can be easily purchased at any craft store and markers in the color of your choice. The Frugal Crafter used ProMarkers, or any other permanant marker like Pantone Markers, that you can get from any Art Supply Store. I suggest getting the Sharpie Glam Markers ,which are sharpies in a wonderful range of colors that you can get at any office supply store.
Gotta admit.....looks like real thing doesn't it? Don't forget to take a look at the video "how-to" below so that you can make your own "Faux Baker's Twine".

pictures courtesy of The Frugal Crafter

NEAT THINGS: EDIBLE SPOON

noreply@blogger.com (MG Designs) — Sat, 04 May 2013 14:14:00 +0000

A disposable plastic spoon will take more than 20 years to decompose. This edible spoon is environment friendly. It is made from corn flour, whole wheat flour, baking powder, sugar, salt, eggs, separated milk, spices and herb. It is 100% biodegradable and 100% edible.
Now I will say that I dont know how long it will take to get "soggy" ........but how long does it really take someone to eat a bowl of soup?

New Mother's Day Cards

noreply@blogger.com (MG Designs) — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 15:25:00 +0000

What better way to tell your mother how you really feel than with our new Mother's Day Cards from Gramkin Paper Studio.

Sell Your Ass Off: Seller Sites For Your Products ...Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (MG Designs) — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 14:14:00 +0000

Etsy is clearly the "go to" place where crafters can sell their handemade creations , from Apparel and Accessories to Home Goods and even Artisan Foods, but is it the only place? Though Etsy does try to adhere to their strict "Handmade Motto", some sellers as well as buyers are concerned that Etsy may end up similar to what Ebay has currently become.....a reseller haven.

Now, don't get me wrong, Etsy is trully a great place to go and find unique items , new designers as well as as giving an individual an oppportunity to start their own business who may have never had the means to do so, but there are some other sites similar to Etsy where a "Crafter" can expand their business as well. Selling crafts online can be a legitimate online job, and profitable if you know where to sell your items.

As you can see there are plenty of other options besides Etsy for selling your homemade products, Just remember that not everyone's business is the same, so it's really up to you to decide which will work best for your business (volume/ sales, brand needs and etc).
Which ones do you prefer?

Bonanza: is a site like Etsy that used to be called 1000 Markets. In order to make money online selling crafts and handmade goods, you need to list your items for sale. Roll your mouse over "Sell" at the top of the screen and choose "add item for sale". On this page you will be able to name your booth, select your accepted payment options, promote your booth, and import your items for sale from eBay or Craigslist. After that you can list items for sale. Your item description includes a photo, a title, a description, a category, a price, shipping options, and item specifics. It is free to list on Bonanza and you only pay a commission to Bonanza when an item sells.
UncommonGoods sells handmade and recycled items. The website doesn't say much about how to sell on the site, but I got on a live chat with a representative who said they are always looking for products to feature on their website and in their catalogs. To be considered you would need to send pictures attached to newgoods@uncommongoods.com.
Silkfair is another site lthat allows you to create your own store, select a pricing plan, add products, and start selling. Silkfair offers a 14 day free trial. Stores are free to $7.99 a month up to $24.99 a month, depending on which features you want. It is not solely for handmade items, they do allow commercially made items to be sold as well.
Supermarket is a trendy place to sell your creations. Here you are known as a designer. In order to start selling on this site you need to send your information (images, links, etc.) to the email address listed here: http://supermarkethq.com/signup/designer Send an email letting them know what you do with photos of what you do. If you are approved as a designer for Supermarket you will have a profile, logo, banner, and the ability to list items and collections for sale. When an item of yours sells the money goes directly into your own PayPal account. Supermarket then tallies up their commissions from your sales and charges your credit card every 30 days.
MadeItMyself is quite self-explanatory. If you want to sell your items here you have to first become a member. After registering as a member you can list your items for sale. You will be charged fees when you list an item and again when the item sells. Commission is 3% of the sale price. The Terms and Conditions currently state that they are waiving the listing fees.
DaWanda is a website like Etsy where you can sell clothing, jewelry, art, and supplies. Create your own shop on DaWanda. There are no current listing fees, but they are in the works. Commissions for products sold is 5%.
iCraft is a little different as they charge no commissions when you sell your homemade creations on their website. The rules are that you must be the creator, it must be handmade, it cannot be food or beverages, you have to submit a quality photo of your work, it must be brand new (not used), and your work will be reviewed for quality. Your store is known as your Creator Exhibit and you have to have at least one item there. In other words, there are alot of policies you must adhere to.
Folksy is a website that was created to showcase UK designers, artists and crafters. It doesn't say you have to be from the UK to sell. To start selling you would need to register, set up a shop, list your items, and promote your work. Unfortunately, didn't see anydetails on commissions. This site is the most like Etsy in it's appearance, application and ease of use.
ArtFire offers you a place to sell your handmade goods, vintage items, fine art, and more. You can start selling with a free account or a pro account for $9.95 per month. You will get a customizable shop where you can list your items for sale, accept PayPal, Google Checkout and Amazon Payments, you can create coupon codes, and easily promote your items via social networks.
eCreater is a free online marketplace with the look of Etsy, but the selling style and selection of Ebay.This makes sense, since it allows you to import your Ebay items to their marketplace. This site allows unlimited categories, upload up to 10 photos per listing, has Paypal & Google Wallet Support, your own URL and various other options.
Foodoro: Like the popular Foodzie , which was bought out by Joyus, this is the site for artisan food vendors in the U.S only. Foodoro is also trying to engage the food blogging community by implementing an affiliate program (like Amazon’s) that lets food bloggers earn a percentage on traffic they refer to back to Foodoro (the bloggers can also embed a widget of a product they are writing about in their blogs). There are no upfront listing/setup fees and sellers who join Foodoro are small, independent food producers with a high standard of craftsmanship (produce small quantities, use only the best ingrediants and make their goods onsite).
Zibbet: is a marketplace with no listing fees, no commission fees and a free level account with a 50 item limit. If you have more than 50 items in your store, you will need to upgrade to the Premium Level for $9.95/per month or $79 yearly. In addition, they have an Etsy importer.
Meylah: is a new marketplace that allows you to upload and sell goods instantly. Basic membership is free all you have to do is add your store name and you have an instant storefront. Because they are the new kids on the block, they may not have everything that you need if you are thinking about leaving Etsy.
Lillyshop: is so similiar to Etsy in look, design and interface. It allows unlimited free listings, a customizable shop , Google Analytics/Shop Statistics as well as a personal shop blog. It does not charge listing fees, re-listing fees or monthly fees. Lilyshop simply charges a 5% sales fee if you sell an item, but this percentage does not include the shipping price
Luulla: is a newer marketplace that is free to sell but with two pricing options for sellers. You can choose the "Pay-As-You-Go" option that the seller pays $0.10 USD per item listing for a period of 4 months and 3.0% selling fee on the item's sale price. Or you can choose the "Monthly Plan" where the seller is charged a flat fee of $9.90 USD per month , unlimited product listing and 3.0% selling fee on the item's sale price. The option that you have of having a store front is uploading your company "web banner" and your listing will be beneath that.

Don't forget to take at look at Part 1 of the Sell Your Ass Off Post!

Free Card Readers: Get Paid Anywhere with Paypal Here, Square & GoPayment

noreply@blogger.com (MG Designs) — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 15:17:00 +0000

Now that Paypal has finally gotten their act together and actually put out their Card Reader for your smart phone, Square has got some competition.

All of the Card Reader options, Paypal Here, Square and Intuit GoPayment, will send you a small credit card scanner for free when you sign up for a new account. Each scanner simply plugs into your smartphone’s audio jack and is easy to set up . Just remember that Paypal's card Reader
Each service offers apps for Apple Products , like iPhone as well as for Android...though for for those of you who are addicted to the "crackberry" , Intuit’s GoPayment also supports some BlackBerry phones.

Each has a system of "items" to which you can add pictures, descriptions, and prices for the things you sell. The items appear on the main screen, and a simple tap will add an item to the invoice. Square makes entering custom amounts much faster with an easy-to-access keypad; in GoPayment, you have to create an item for the special amount you want to charge.

Once you have the items and charges ready, simply tap the Charge button to proceed to swiping the card. You do have the option of manual card entry in place of swiping, and Square will allow you to record a transaction as cash.
The next step is the signature, if one is required. (Square has added the option to skip the signature for transactions under $25.)
Receipts from Square say they're from Square, while receipts from Intuit say they're from the email address you have registered with Intuit.

All the services transfer money automatically into your registered bank account. Intuit takes that information at sign-up and treats each credit card transaction as a bank transfer, promising funds in your account within two or three business days. Square pulls money into your Square account, and, after verifying your bank account, pays out every evening. Paypal Here puts the money into your linked Paypal account immediately, after verifying the account when upon the initial sign up.

Square is easier to track when it comes to fees. If you swipe a card, you're charged a flat 2.75 percent with no transaction fee. If you manually enter the numbers, it's 3.5 percent with a transaction fee of 15 cents.But we careful, there are some hidden cost/restrictions.

For no monthly fee, Intuit GoPayment charges swipes at 2.7 percent with no transaction fee except on American Express cards, and at 3.7 percent if you key the number in. For higher-volume businesses, Intuit offers a plan that takes only 1.7 percent swiped and 2.7 percent keyed in, for a $13 monthly fee; if you do more than $1300 in sales a month, you'll prefer this plan

Paypal Here charges a flat 2.70 percent and no transcaction fee. There is no check processing fee and there is an easy way to contact customer service. The advantages of Paypal Here is that it also utilizes eBay's technology so that merchants can scan items they sell into their "item lists" . This allows for a "fast checkout experience" for customers. In addition, Paypal is available in Canada, Hong Kong and Australia . Plus, alot of major merchants are now taking Paypal as payment, so it is just easier to integrate your buisness with them.

To find the best payment option for your business really just depends on several things.

If your business is already using Paypal for check-out, then Paypal Here is the best option for you. Easy linking, to your existing account, ability to issue refunds and straightforward to use, this is definately the best option for you.
If your business is already a popular accounting software, if you're currently using other Intuit merchant-services products, or if you frequently run over $1300 in sales monthly, then GoPayment is a good choice.
If you're looking for somthing simple . straight forward and easy to use , but can deal with restrictions and fine print, then the Square system is a good option. .

What option do you think is the best?

D.I.Y: Nail Art

noreply@blogger.com (MG Designs) — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 13:20:00 +0000

Normally, I am not into the crazy nail art, but I came accoss this D.I.Y from the Beauty Department and thought they were pretty.... yet tasteful for the office, lol
I love the color comobos and though they used Robins Egg Blue, I think the Bow Mani would look great with pale pink, black and white.
They use the Essie brand of nail color (that you can get at Target or your local drug store like Walgreens), but I actually prefer the OPI Brand of Nail Polish.....of course you can use any brand that you want.......( even the Dollar Store Brand, lol)

Full tutorial for the Turquoise and Gold Stone

Full tutorial for the Bow Manicure

photos courtesy of the Beauty Department

$12 Photography Set Up

noreply@blogger.com (MG Designs) — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 13:16:00 +0000

If you have not taken at look at Handmadology's post about a $12 photography set-up, you definately should!
Made with foil and a cardboard box, this setup by photography pro Mariano, will definately get the job done.....who needs a fancy lightbox anyway, lol

Check out the $12 Photography Set-Up

Hot Chocolate Cookies

noreply@blogger.com (MG Designs) — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 20:37:00 +0000

I could wax poetic about chocolate and marshmallows all in one cookie, but I won't. This recipe for Hot Chocolate Cookies via Pipandebby is amazzzzing! Hot Chocolate in a cookie? Why didn't I think of that.

via

{INGREDIANTS}

1 stick (4 ounces) unsalted butter

12 oz. chopped semisweet chocolate (bars)
Stir frequently over medium heat until smooth. Let cool for 15 minutes.
In a medium bowl, whisk together:
1 1/2 cups flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
Using an electric mixer, beat together:
1 1/4 cups light brown sugar
3 eggs, at room temperature
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

{INSTRUCTIONS}

Beat on low speed until smooth, 2 minutes. Mix in the cooled chocolate mixture just until blended. Add the flour mixture in 2 batches, mixing on low speed until just combined. Refrigerate the dough for at least 1 hour.
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper. Using a tablespoon, scoop the dough and roll between your palms to form 1-inch balls. Arrange about 16 balls 2 inches apart on each cookie sheet, flattening slightly. Bake until the tops of the cookies crack, about 12 minutes.

Meanwhile, cut 7.5 ounces of semisweet chocolate (bars) into 1-inch squares. Snip 8 marshmallows in half crosswise and stick 1 square of chocolate onto each of the cut sides

Remove the cookie sheets from the oven and gently press a marshmallow half, chocolate side down, into each cookie. Bake until the marshmallows are just softened, about 4 minutes. Transfer the pans to racks to cool for 5 minutes.
Grate 5 ounces of semisweet chocolate over the hot cookies. Using a spatula, transfer the cookies to the racks and let cool. Repeat the process with the remaining dough, marshmallows and chocolate. Bake each batch on a clean sheet of parchment paper.

D.I.Y Circle Scarf

noreply@blogger.com (MG Designs) — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 20:46:00 +0000

As the owner of almost every color of the American Apparel Circle Scarf, I am kind of on the fence about this D.I.Y. Though its genius, I think I am just a little mad that I didnt think of this before I gave all my money to that company!.....

Come on Ilene

Organize Your Stuff

New Products: Valentines Day

noreply@blogger.com (MG Designs) — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 14:25:00 +0000

With Valentines Day fast approaching, dont forget to tell your
loved one how you really feel!.

New Valentines Day Card from Gramkin Paper Studio.

D.I.Y : Closet Book Nook

noreply@blogger.com (MG Designs) — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 14:13:00 +0000

I must say that this Closet Book Nook by Thrifty Decor Chicis fantastic and easy to do. By taking an unused closet ( that's an oxymoron if I ever heard one) and adding shelves and seating, you can make a fabulous space for reading. Though it is children's size, they do actually have a pic of an adult in there, though how comfortable they would be for an extended amount of time is debatable.

I could definitely see a "store-able" ottoman, that can easily be placed underneath the bench ( where the basket of books are located) that an adult can pull out and lounge comfortably.

Don't forget to take a look at our Children's Play Kitchen D.I.Y as well.

BUTTERMILK DOUGHNUTS

noreply@blogger.com (MG Designs) — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 02:41:00 +0000

Who doesn't love a doughnut? When you say the word you either get visions of that Krispy Creme "Hot Glaze Doughnut" sign or Homer Simpson drooling over one while pretending to be at work.
There are may versions and ways to make doughnuts at home but the following from Eating Out Loud is one of my favorites:

{INGREDIENTS}:
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups sugar
5 1/2 Tablespoons butter
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon nutmeg
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 cups buttermilk
4-5 cups flour

DIRECTIONS:
Beat eggs with sugar.
Add butter, baking powder, nutmeg, baking soda, buttermilk. Mix thoroughly.
Slowly add 4-5 cups of flour until well combined until it becomes somewhat stiff.
Chill the dough in the refrigerator for a few hours. Roll out the dough on a floured surface until 1/2 inch thick.
Cut out the doughnut shapes using an empty can and the end of a wooden spoon for the holes. Fry them in 375 degree oil until golden brown.
The recipe makes 3 dozen doughnuts, so you may want to cut it in half so you don't go into a diabetic coma.

You can eat them plain, add powdered sugar, add cinnamon and sugar. Or as Eating Out Loud suggests, a nice glaze:

SIMPLE GLAZE:1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2-3 T milk

They divided the glaze into four bowls and then added
1 T raspberry preserves in one
1 T blueberry jam in another
Maple flavoring in the third
Generous amount of freshly ground cinnamon in the fourth bowl

*Each bowl will only glaze about 2 doughnuts, but it was done to try out the different flavors

*NO COOKIE CUTTER? TRY A CLEAN CAN

Neat Things: All-In-One Breakfast

noreply@blogger.com (MG Designs) — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 21:18:00 +0000

I don't know if this is ingenious or ridiculous, but either way, you have to see the Retro Series 3-in-1 Breakfast Station by Nostalgia Electrics.This little station includes a Toaster Oven, Griddle, 4-Cup Coffee Maker and 15 minute timer. Though it is suppose to be used in your kitchen, I have visions of some college kid plugging this up next to his bed , about to burn their dorm down.
Just when you think they broke the mold this this one, take a look at their other appliances.......something tells me I may end up buying something, lol

This Hot Dog Toaster is probably a poor college kids dream,lol

Happy Halloween! The Best Pet Costumes

noreply@blogger.com (MG Designs) — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 16:36:00 +0000

Though I am not a fan of dressing up your pet...... In the spirit of the Halloween Season, these are some of my favorite pet Halloween costumes (the Ram Cat is my fav, with the Star Wars Whippet a close second!). Happy Halloween from Gramkin Paper Studio!

via

Cute Handmade Halloween Costumes

noreply@blogger.com (MG Designs) — Sun, 28 Oct 2012 15:47:00 +0000

With Halloween fast approaching, some of us are still in need of a costume for the kids. The following are a few costume inspirations and some cute D.I.Y/tutorials .........If all else fails, you can keep it old school and cut two holse in a sheet to be a ghost!

Sock Monkey Tutorial via GrosGrain Fabulous

Wolfpup Tutorial via Rust and Sunshine	Old Man From Up ( no tutorial, just cuteness!) via Auburn Soul Photography

Raining Cats and Dogs by RealSimple and really all you need is stuffed animals and a glue gun!

Bat Costume Tutorial & Download via AlphaMom

Halloween No-Sew Mask Download via Tutorial by PrudentBaby

Download Day: Awesome Halloween Downloads!

noreply@blogger.com (MG Designs) — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 01:34:00 +0000

With Halloween fast approaching, I couldn't resist some fantastic Free Halloween Printables!
I’ve listed an awesome list of printable that you can download, print, and decorate with. There is a little something for everyone, whether you need a full range of decorations or just something to add an extra touch to your already fantastic party!

You can go to each site and download the ones you would like or if you would like all of them, you can download every printable listed by clicking here!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Labels via Matthew Mead Style

Halloween Party Set via Hostess with the Mostess

Labels or Tags via Talkcraftytome

Spooky Labels via design.wash.rinse.repeat

Lunch or Treat Bags via itiswhatitis

Halloween Party Set via Second Sister

Spooky Shadow Makers via Minieco

Mini Owl Treat Bags via Domestifluff

6 Different Treat Boxes via welovetoillustrate

Collection of Halloween Printables via partyboxdesign

Halloween Invitation via babalisme

Boo Eyeglasses via babalisme

These designs and more via Macula Art

DIY: Clementine Candle Redux.. Jack-O- Lantern

noreply@blogger.com (MG Designs) — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 16:50:00 +0000

Recently, BooksNBits took the Clementine Candle Tutorial one step further.
She created a Clementine Jack-O-Lantern for Halloween and it is fantastic.
She posted a video tutorial that you can see below. The music when trying to light the wick is hilarious.....so make your own Clementine Jack-O-Lantern this halloween!

Go to the :Original Clementine Candle Tutorial

photo of clementine jack-o-lantern courtesy of shawncampbell

D.I.Y Chalkboard Notebook

noreply@blogger.com (MG Designs) — Sun, 07 Oct 2012 23:57:00 +0000

The back-to-school season is up in full swing and this Chalkboard Notebook from warmhotchocolate is a great way to personalize the experience for your child.
Just stock up on those 25 cent black /white composition note books , a can of chalkboard paint and a sponge brush to complete the D.I.Y.......just don't forget the a piece o chalk!

To complete the back-to-school projects, try the D.I.Y Chalkboard Lunchbag tutorial.

photo courtesy of warmhotchocolate

Neat Things: Knitted Stools

noreply@blogger.com (MG Designs) — Sun, 26 Aug 2012 17:58:00 +0000

These Knitted Stools by textile designer Claire-Anne O'Brien are phenomenal. With a combination of hand and machine knit stitches, these tools are not only art but also functional. Now if I can just find out where they sell these so that I can get one!

Free Landing Page with Kickoff Labs

noreply@blogger.com (MG Designs) — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 11:54:00 +0000

Planning on launching a website? Need to generate buzz for your brand while you are finalizing your options? Try Kickoff Labs , a service that allows the user to create a beautiful custom landing page plus access to social and email marketing tools.
This custom landing page can then direct your customers to your various social media sites, other websites, links and even a newsletter sign-up sheet. The best thing is that it can all be done in less than a minute, though customizing can take a little longer.

Creating a basic landing page is free and allows you to sign-up 50 people max to your newsletter. Paying customers , starting at $15 a month, get more options, like the ability to tweak SEO settings, add widgets, send email newsletters, and more.

All in all, Kickoff Labs is a great and affordable option to make your small business more professional.

Pros: Affordable options, easy to use beta interface, sleek designs. Also users are able to add a newsletter, Facebook, Twitter and a variety of other social media links.
Cons: Free page only allows you to do one thing....create a page with the Kickoff Labs logo splayed at the top.

Vintage Suitcase Chair & Pet Bed :D.I.Y

noreply@blogger.com (MG Designs) — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 01:40:00 +0000

This Vintage Suitcase D.I.Y is brought to you via See Kate Sew (pictured above right)and it is genius!

Made from a recycled suitcase , fabric and 4 leg post, this is so customizable ( ottoman, pet bed) that the possibilities are endless. Depending on the suitcase size,use for a pet bed, ottoman, child seat or for an adult ( but if it is for and adult, I suggest very thick sturdy legs)

You need:

vintage suitcase
4 legs
4 screw on leg attachments
1 piece of thin plywood cut to fit inside your suitcase
Foam or pillows to fit in your suitcase
Fabric / Suitcase sizes vary so you'll have to figure out how much pillow or foam you want to make your cushions how you want them

For complete tutorial go to See Kate Sew

---------------------------------------------------
Variations:

This makes a great dog bed, just add short ( 2" post/knobs) or none at all. Though a short cut is to just place a large (slightly larger than the suitcase) pillow into a suitcase and you can make it with or without the lid.
If you do keep the lid on, the best part is that when company comes by, throw the dog toys in the pocket and just close the lid !

Variation 1: Full Suitcase with back

You Need:

Vintage Suitcase or any hard shell suitcase
Tools (hammer, drill-ribbon or strap material)
4 “feet” (wooden doll heads/these work well because the have a flat side
Gorilla glue or other heavy-duty glue
2 large snaps
Pillow
Pillow Cover ( suggest a lovely pattern)

Instructions:

Clean that suitcase! Febreeze any musty smell and repair any damage to the lining.
Measure for pillow. Using a tape measure, measure the width plus the depth of bottom suitcase cavity x 2. This gives you the width of your pillow. Then measure the height (from front to back) plus the depth of the bottom suitcase cavity x 2. This gives you the height. You must add the depth of the suitcase x 2 or else your pillow will end up too small.
Sew your pillow together. Put right sides of fabric together and sew around leaving about a ½ inch seam allowance. If your suitcase has rounded corners you might want to round the corners of your pillow. Leave an opening for stuffing. Turn pillow right side out and stuff. Sew up opening by hand.
Optional: Tuft your pillow. You can use two large buttons, heavy-duty thread or upholstery thread and a long needle. Using the long needle sew the buttons on the pillow. Enter the front of the pillow and exit at the back, repeating this over and over. This will make nice tufts and give your pillow some shape and a more finished look.
Attach a strap to the back of the suitcase so it will not close on your pet.Place a mark about 4 inches in from the back of the suitcase on the top and bottom of your suitcase. Open the suitcase and measure the distance between these marks, making sure your measuring tape is taut. Cut a strap using that length plus about 1 inch. Attach snap tops to both ends of the strap following manufacturers instructions. Now depending on your suitcase this part is tricky. Improvise if you need to, every suitcase is different. Choose a drill bit that will be just large enough for your snap shaft to fit through. Drill a hole on the top and bottom of the suitcase at the marks you made. Be careful of the suitcase lining. Attach the snap bottom to your suitcase following manufacturers instructions. Like I said this can be the tricky part, you might need to use a craft knife to clean up the hole and make it just right for the snap. Be creative. Once you finish this part, you should be able to snap on the strap and it should keep the bed open and not allow it to close on your pet. It can also be removed when you want to travel or close up the bed.
Attach feet. Once again, every suitcase is different; you may need to be creative with this step. The pic above are painted wooden dolls heads with gorilla glue at the bottom of the suitcase. Clean the area you are gluing very well and sand the area of the wooden dolls head and make sure it has no paint on the contact point. You may also be able to screw the feet on depending on what you are using.

Variation 2: No Back

You Need:

Vintage Suitcase or any hard shell suitcase
Tools (hammer, screwdriver)
Pillow
Pillow Cover ( suggest a lovely pattern)

Instructions:

Open the suitcase and examine how it is hinged together.
If it is screwed together, then you just need to unscrew the top half of the suitcase from the bottom half. If it is attached by some other means, then you will have to use your inner aggression and hammer it off.
Discard the top half of the suitcase.
Cover a pillow with the fabric of your choice.
Place the pillow in the suitcase and tuck the corners in or you can make your own custom pillow.

Don't feel like D.I.Y'ing it? Then you can purchase one of these lovely ones from Atomic Attic!

STOREFRONT: Indie Made

noreply@blogger.com (MG Designs) — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 16:27:00 +0000

Looking for a low cost alternative to host your company website? Try Indie Made.

According to the website, Indie Made is a simple, reasonably-priced online service that combines a blog, a photo gallery, an event calendar, and a shopping cart, all in one. which you can have in as little as 120 seconds....though , if you want it the best it can be, it will probably take you a little longer.

After you sign up , you choice one of the 3 monthly plans ,ranging from $4.95-19.95 . Once you have chosen, you can set up your store, design, add a blog post, gallery/images and separate pages for your company.
In addition, there are several features that beneficial to the small business owner , such as a

Shopping Cart: No merchant account necessary — you just need a PayPal™ account. Your customers can pay with credit and debit cards. And IndieMade doesn't take even a bit of your sales.Though the shopping cart design is very similar to Big Cartel.
Blog on your own website. With IndieMade, visitors can read your blog, grab a feed, and buy from your store all without leaving your site.This is useful, if you are tired of having a separate blog on another interface.
News:Showcase and tag press and reviews you've received, or share big announcements with your fans.
Company Calender to share dates and details of shows, parties, classes, or special events you're planning
Video Embedding ( Youtube/Vimeo, etc) Embed audio snippets or videos on your site. Include song samples for albums you're selling, or post videos of your work in your blog.
Reporting : Run reports on your orders or customers to get a handle on sales cycles and discover your most popular products. Print out invoices to ship and not to mention Google Analytic integration.
Inventory Control: You can also control the amount of easily reproduced items available, so you don't sell more than you have in stock.

Have an Etsy Store? they also let you import your etsy store listing.In addition , they have a lot of good articles about starting and maintaining your business on their own site blog.
With different, easy to change themes and custom url integration, Indie Made is definitely a low cost alternative to the pricier alternatives.

Pros:Some great features and support. The fact that there is a shopping cart is worth it. Clean , simple website themes and easy to use controls.

Cons: If you are looking for fancy layouts and themes, this may not the site for you. If you don't know any coding or have a friend who you can bribe into doing it, you are pretty much stuck with just the designs/features that they already give you. To get a custom url, you automatically have to upgrade to the 2nd ( $11.95) price tier.

Tiffany Red Velvet Cake Balls

noreply@blogger.com (MG Designs) — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 08:32:00 +0000

Though the Cake Pop and the Cake Balls originated from Bakarella, people have really taken the idea and run with it, creating some fantastic creations, such as this Tiffany inspired pretty Cake Ball from AudreyKateRae.

Now, its even easier to make these, with the new "Bake Pop" Pan or the even better "Cake Pop Maker" for $20.

For those of you who would like to try making your own Cake Pop or Cake Ball, try the following recipe:

::::::::::Red Velvet Cake Balls::::::::::

1 box red velvet cake mix (cook as directed on box for 13 X 9 cake
1 can cream cheese frosting (16 oz.)
1 package chocolate bark (regular , colored or white chocolate)
wax paper

::::::::::Instructions::::::::::

1. After cake is cooked and cooled completely, crumble into large bowl.

2. Mix thoroughly with 1 can cream cheese frosting. (It may be easier to use fingers to mix together, but be warned it will get messy.)

3. Roll mixture into quarter size balls and lay on cookie sheet. (Should make 45-50. You can get even more if you use a mini ice cream scooper, but I like to hand roll them.)

4. Chill for several hours. (You can speed this up by putting in the freezer.)

5. Melt chocolate in microwave per directions on package.

6. Roll balls in chocolate and lay on wax paper until firm. (Use a spoon to dip and roll in chocolate and then tap off extra ).

]IF YOU WANT TO MAKE CAKE POPS. Just follow the directions on the Cake Pop Maker or bake in your oven with a Bake Pop Pan. Both methods use a box cake. Then just insert LOLLIPOP STICKS into the cake balls or rolled balls ( if using recipe above) and then dip in to the chocolate mixture. Lay on the wax paper until firm.

please note: only melt a few pieces of chocolate bark at a time because it starts to cool and thicken. It’s easier to work with when it’s hot

If you are using a bake pop pan or cake pop maker, the texture will be different. These pans/makers will give you a truer cake taste/texture.

picture and recipe courtesy of Bakarella & AudreyKateRae

Homemade Liquid Body Wash

noreply@blogger.com (MG Designs) — Sun, 10 Jun 2012 00:59:00 +0000

This liquid soap tutorial from One Good Thing by Jill is the best as well as the simplest that I have come across. With the high cost of liquid body wash these days, this is really is "budget luxury".

INGREDIENTS
6 cups water
3 Bars of Soap grated (recommend DOVE)

Put the soap and water into a pan on the stove on medium heat, stirring occasionally until all the soap is dissolved.

Transfer to a glass jar or bowl and allow to cool (at least 24 hours), then pour into a plastic bottle for shower use! (It will thickens as it cools).

Please note that because Dove has a lot of moisturizer in it….the 6 cups of water is perfect. If you try another type bar soap it will turn out too thick with only 6 cups of water. It can still be done…you’ll just have to experiment with the amount of water.

To make your own fancy jar w/pump as pictured above go to: Icing on the cake

photos courtesy of One Good Thing By Jill

Neat Things: Luggage for Hard-to-Fit Places

noreply@blogger.com (MG Designs) — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 02:09:00 +0000

If you are one of the many that covet the " Louis Vuitton Steamer Trunk " then you will love Williams British Handmade. This company creates original designed handmade storage and luggage items for those "irregular" spaces...Yes, they are real, functional suitcases!

All of the items are bespoke or limited edition and according to their site, each brass frame design is handmade by a metal worker and every stitch is done by hand using traditional saddle stitching. They even take custom request.

Though I cannot imagine taking one of these when I travel ( I am envisioning, ladies with gloves , hat and an air of aristocracy, lol), this is what I call a "functional piece of art"......and worth every pretty penny it is going to cost ! I do wonder if the airline will charge you extra since its and odd shape?

photos courtesy of Williams British Handmade