KdBuggie Boutique

Summer Series: Creating a Plant Journal

2013-06-07T14:05:00.000-07:00

My oldest only has 3 days left of school and I have been trying to come up with some ideas to keep my three little ones busy this summer!! Seriously... they are hard enough to keep entertained and happy during the school year when they are gone half the day.... how are we supposed to do it when they are home all day?!?!? I'm mostly kidding... but you know what I mean, right?

One idea I haven't completely finished formulating yet is to have a theme day each day of the week.

For example:
Monday - Reading Day:
Go to the library and read some new stories. Create our own story books.
Tuesday - Water Day:
Play outside water games or visit the local park with a splash pad.
Wednesday - Math Day:
Play math games and do puzzles. Try new recipes (measuring everything of course).
Thursday - Science Day:
Do fun science experiments, learn about animals, take a road trip to the zoo, go bird or bug watching, etc.
Friday - Fun Day:
(not that the others aren't fun!!) A day for play dates, video games, amusement parks, etc.

{Somewhere in there I have to fit in all the dishes, laundry, sweeping, mopping, scrubbing, cooking, and everything else... hahaha!}

During the summer I will be posting some of the fun themed activities that we are doing so you can join in the fun too!!! I'm calling it my Summer Series -- though technically you could do these things anytime!

As part of my brainstorming I came up with this fun plant journal. Each week on our science day we are going to check on some daisy seeds that we have planted in germinating boxes. Right now they sit in the playroom.

Here is what the journal page looks like:

{download here}

I planted the seeds this morning in germination boxes (purchased at Target). We will begin the journal today by taping one of the extra seeds (or maybe a couple) inside the box on the journal paper. Then each week on science day we will check on our seeds. My 6 year old can draw a picture and write a sentence or two about how it looks.

My 4 year old gets a different page to use for his journal. A bigger box for a picture and only two lines where he can write a word (or a couple) to describe what he sees.

{download here}

This is a great way to keep the kids in learning mode. They can practice handwriting, spelling, patience, and have fun with the coloring. It also encourages vocabulary development as they compose sentences. We can also study the stages of plants as they grow and talk about the different parts of the plant as it emerges from the soil. The littler kids can work on writing their numbers as they write the week number on the top of the page.

I also created a simple cover for their journals. They can choose to decorate their cover or leave it as is.

{download here}

Our journal will be complete the week our plants get planted in the yard. I figure it will last through most of the summer. Then the kids will have a fun book that they have created all about the plants they watched grow. Now I just have to hope my seeds work. I am NOT known to have a green thumb... or even a green pinky toe!!

Feel free to download your own pages and create a plant journal for your own kids!!

Have a great summer!!!

Beginning Writing and How to Document a School Year

2013-05-30T21:27:00.000-07:00

My 6 year old is a great storyteller and now a budding author and illustrator. I just LOVE how far she has come with reading and writing since beginning Kindergarten. Last week after finishing her homework for the day she said, "Mom, I want to write a story." I didn't think too much of it but helped her find the materials she needed. She even brainstormed a list of what people and things she wanted to include in her story.

Then she set to work. Here is what she came up with all on her own! For anyone familiar with little kid writing you'll get a kick out of the words she sounded out. {The translation is also included in case you get stuck!}

The Princess and the Superhero

Once upon a time there was a princess who was stuck in a tower by a witch and a dragon and...

... one day the princess saw a superhero and he saw the princess and they talked and talked. Suddenly the superhero saw the witch and the dragon and ...

... the dragon started breathing fire and the superhero brought out his sword and threw it at the dragon and he was dead. But the ...

... witch was making a magic potion and when the witch looked like the princess and told him {the prince} that she had a present for him. He looked and ran ...

... and the witch looked at him and she was good and they lived happily ever after.

------

It is seriously the cutest most creative story I have ever read by a 6 year-old. {Not that I'm biased or anything... haha!}

Her teacher asked her to bring it in to share with the class, so I scanned a copy really quick before letting her pack it in her back pack tonight.

I have been secretly ~~hoarding~~ holding on to most of the school papers that my daughter has been bringing home all crumpled up in her backpack each day. One of my summer projects is going to be scanning a bunch of them and compiling a photo book with the scanned images. I would LOVE to do this for each year {of at least elementary school -- but at least these first couple of years} for her and her posterity {someday} to look back on.

Plus, it is a fun way to just show her how much I love and appreciate everything she does and the value that we {as her parents} place on getting an education. Anytime I can find an extra way to show love to my kids I will! She will be able to see how much she has really learned and progressed this past year. Any photos, including her first day of school and last day of school photos, will be added to the book. Then I will also add an "All About Me" page as well as space on the first page for her to write her name.

What a great way to document it all!!

What do you do/have you done to record your child's school year!?!

Teacher Appreciation Gift Idea - Free Printable Tag

2013-05-23T22:51:00.000-07:00

I know for most of your this is a little late... but my school decided to celebrate Teacher Appreciation week at almost the end of the school year. If you have already had yours this year, Pin this idea and save it for next year!

As someone who spent two years working in an Elementary classroom I know how good it feels to be appreciated by both parents and students. I would get all kinds of fun and interesting gifts.

BUT... the all-time best gifts were those I could use in the classroom! Hands down!

Now that my oldest is in school I get to show my appreciation to her teachers. Here is what I came up with for this year.

I bought one of those clear, plastic paint can looking things at Michael's. I know JoAnn's has them too, although they are slightly different in size. I'm sure you can pick one up at any major craft store.

Once I had my container I went school supply shopping! One of my f-a-v-o-r-i-t-e things to do! YAY!!!! I bought crayons, pencils, and glue sticks -- the most requested, and most USED items in my child's classroom.

Now comes the fun part... getting it all to fit in that container. I found that the packages that the pencils came in didn't fit in the container... which was honestly okay by me since I like to cute things up a bit. I opened the pencil packages, tied the pencils together with some baker's twine and they fit PERFECT!

Then I just arranged the crayons, and glue sticks so that you could see a little bit of everything as you look in the container. Then I kind of stuffed the other stuff into the middle.

I used my Silhouette (which I love) and some vinyl that I purchased from Pick Your Plum to create some cute vinyl letters for the outside of the container.

Once I had it all done and ready to go I put together a cute tag for my daughter to sign. I am currently debating whether to tie it to the handle or attach it to the lid.... jury is still out on that one... but it's printed and waiting for her to sign in the morning! I punched two holes in the top and tied some baker's twine to it {you can see it on top of the lid in a couple pictures}.

I have also made this printable available to you guys! So, be sure to Pin this post so that you can save this tag for the next teacher gift you are giving!!

I saw a similar version on Pinterest and LOVED it so I created my own!

Download yours here.

{This printable is intended for Personal Use Only.}

• • • • •

What did you do for your children's teacher(s) this year!?!

Designer Pillow Cover Tutorial {beginner level sewingl}

2013-05-01T16:19:00.001-07:00

It seems like almost everyday those deal websites (ie. Groopdealz, Very Jane, Zulilly, etc.) are running deals on designer toss pillow covers. Even at $10.00 plus shipping they can still be pricey. But they are so gorgeous!

Right now is that time of year when I get a little antsy to do my spring cleaning and update my decor to be in line with the changing season. So this week I decided to spruce up my home for spring and summer and add a *pop* of color by making some of my own designer pillow covers for cheap! I'm talking like $4 for the cover... total!

Want to learn how to make your own?? It is a beginning level sewing project. If you know how to measure fabric, cut fabric, iron frabric, and sew a straight line this is the project for you!

Here is what you need:

{These instructions are for ONE 16"x16" pillow. Be sure to adjust your fabric measurements accordingly}

• 1/2 yd home decor weight fabric (50-60" width) - I bought mine from fabric.com here (If you order more than $35 they will ship for free!!)

• measuring tape

• cutting mat and rotary cutter {or just fabric scissors}

• iron

• thread and sewing machine

• serger {optional}

I know my pillow is 16" but just to be extra sure, go ahead and measure the length and width of your pillow. Mine was 16" on the dot!

Time to cut your fabric. I added 1" to the measurements I took (16"+1=17"). You will need to cut three pieces:

• 17"x17"

• 17"x12" {2 of these}

**HINT: If you are using a pillow of a different size just add 1" to your length and width measurements. Then subtract 5 inches on one side to get the measurement for your two rectangle pieces.

Be sure your iron is nice and warm {and set to manufacturer recommended settings} and take one of the rectangle pieces. Place it right side down and fold over one of the long sides (17") about 1/2" and press. Because of the weight of the fabric I was using it wouldn't really stay down. So, I used a quick spray of starch to keep my ironed folds in place.

**HINT: If your fabric has a definite top and bottom to the fabric you will want to fold over the top of one of your rectangle pieces and the bottom of the other.

Then fold it over again and press. {repeat for the second rectangle piece}

Again, if you have a pattern with a top and bottom your pieces will end up looking like this once they are both ironed. See how the folded edge is on the top of one of the patterns and the bottom of the other.

Next, take your pieces to your sewing machine and run a straight stitch about 1/4" from the folded edge. I chose to add a second stitch next to it for a decorative look, but once stitch is totally fine.

Grab your square (17"x17" piece) and lay it face up. Then take your rectangle piece that has the bottom edge folded and lay that face down on top of your square piece matching the top two corners.Then take your other rectangle piece (with the top folded over), lay it face down on top of that and match up the bottom corners. Your two rectangle pieces will overlap a couple of inches.

{I goofed on my first one and switched which rectangle piece was on the top -- you can see it in my picture. When you do it like my instructions say, when your pillow cover is done the top flap will lay over the bottom flap on the back of your pillow -- one of mine is the opposite. Really, it's okay either way.... so if you goof on your first one don't go ripping out all your seems!}

Pin all the way around your pieces. Yes.... ALL THE WAY AROUND. The part of your cover where your two rectangle flaps overlap is how you will be turning your cover right side out.

I chose to serge around the edged of my pillow cover because it is easy and gives a great finished look to it. If you don't have a serger, just sew a straight line around your pillow leaving a 1/2" seam allowance. Be sure to snip the corners a little before turning it right side out but be careful not to snip through any of your threads.

Here is how the back side of your cover should look once the edges are sewn.

Use your iron to press the stitching around the edge.

Turn your cover right side out using the opening between the flaps. Press the sides with your iron.

Here is how the back looks now...

... and here is the front.

Now, just make a few more!

The envelope opening in the back makes it easy to take off and clean, or take off the cover entirely making it easy to change up your decor every now and again!

MIA lately...

2013-04-23T17:31:00.000-07:00

... here's why...

My poor baby had a cold a few weeks ago that turned into an ear infection. After a week on antibiotics she was starting to get worse. Back to the doctor we went for another round of stronger medication this week.

I'm hoping this will do the trick and I will be able to make a big blogging comeback!!!

It always makes me so sad when my babies are sick. :(

Reusable Wipes for Cloth Diapering: Tutorial and Giveaway!!

2013-03-27T14:32:00.001-07:00

I am brand new to the cloth diapering world, but I absolutely love it. Like, love love love it!! Why? Well, besides the whole "more environmental" aspect of it, it is a lot cheaper, it's totally easy, and seriously... could those cloth diapers be any cuter!?!? I. Think. Not.

Today I set out to make my own reusable cloth wipes for diapering. It's been tricky using the regular Huggies and Pampers wipes with reusable diapers -- yah, it kinda defeats the purpose of saving the environment -- but I was having to make a pile of used wipes for the diaper change and then carry them to a trash can to throw them away.

Now.... I have cute, super soft, reusable wipes that I can just wet with a little bit of water, wipe my little one clean, and toss in my wet bag with the dirty cloth diapers. Then dump it all in the laundry and I'm good to go!

I order some of the softest ever fabric from an Etsy shop called Vancouver Bamboo. The shop is located in Canada (duh!) but they will ship from the U.S. My package arrived within 2 days of it being shipped. The owner was so awesome to deal with. I ended up overpaying a little for shipping so she threw in an extra 1/4 yard to account for the extra $ I spent. Love it! Great customer service. Great!

Okay, enough gushing over the shop, back to this amazingly soft fabric. It is 100% Organic bamboo terry cloth. Here is the one I purchased.

{photo courtesy of Vancouver Bamboo}

It is called the Baby Terry fabric and is perfect for the cloth wipes I made as well as cloth diaper inserts, wash cloths, bibs, and so much more!!!

So... how did I make them!?! Simple. Cut a 8" square out of the fabric and serge around the edge. That's it. Easy peasy! If you don't have a serger you could ask around for someone who does to see if they could do it for you, or fold each side over twice and straight stitch along the top.

If you want a double thick wipe, sandwich two squares -- right sides together -- sew around the square leaving an opening of about 2". Snip your corners, turn your square right side out and stitch around the top to hold the two pieces together and close the opening.

Honestly though, if you like to sew and you don't have a serger you should get one. I used credit card points and redeemed them to Wal-Mart to buy mine. It has probably been the BEST thing I have redeemed points for... ever!

I made a ton of these little guys and filled up an empty Huggies wipes box. Oh yah... did I mention that!??! These are the perfect size to store in there. Just fold it in half and plop it down in.

BUT.... I actually ended up making a couple extra. Lucky you!

Want a chance to win some!?! I though so. ♥

I tied up 6 of these cute guys as a gift to one of you lucky readers. {yah... I love you guys!!!}

If you don't use cloth diapers... use them for wash cloths, hankies, face wipes after meals... or for yourself! They are so soft you'll want to! Promise!

Here's how to win:

• Take 2 seconds and become a follower on the blog and leave a comment that you did (with your email so I can tell you when you win!)

• Leave me a comment. About anything!!! Tell me about the weather. Tell me your favorite cloth diaper brand. Tell me your dogs name. Doesn't matter, just say something. ☺

• Share this post on Facebook or on your blog and leave me the details.

That's it! Easy huh?

The winner will be chosen by random.org on Wednesday April 3, 2013 so be sure to get those entries in!!!

Welcome Spring!!

2013-03-21T11:11:00.001-07:00

Yesterday was officially the FIRST day of Spring, and really, our weather here couldn't have been any better!

We spent some time in the backyard yesterday afternoon where we found a patch of clovers that had several lady bugs in it. I happened to be in the house when the big kids discovered the lady bugs and the way they were screaming you would have though they discovered gold! Ha!

My cute little one had her first real grass experience. It was so fun watching her discover something new!

{Don't judge me because of the pacifier. She was trying to eat the grass.... so I gave it to her to keep her little mouth busy! lol!!}

She loved pulling up the grass and touching it with her cute chubby fingers, but she wasn't all that sure about crawling on it.

How is the Spring weather treating you!?! Is it nice or still a bit on the cold side!?!?

Craft Room Tour - Fabric Storage Wall

2013-03-19T11:31:00.000-07:00

I have been working on a little {okay, HUGE} project at my house: organizing my craft room.

You may have seen my preview post here. Today I'm getting down to some storage specifics. What I used and how I make it work.

Here is how my craft room/office has been looking for a while.

You can see why it wasn't working for me anymore. Since starting to sell fabric in my Etsy shop I had to find new ways to store larger quantities of fabric.

I had been using two small bookshelves (from Target) but even they were starting to get too full and fabric shipments would sit in the shipping boxes until I could get them on my shelf.

Not to mention all of the other sewing and crafting supplies that had begun to take over my little craft room.

So, what's a girl to do!? Beg and plead her hubby for a trip to IKEA to get some organizing necessities! Thankfully, I have the best husband in the world and we got our date night to IKEA a couple of weeks ago!

{He laughed at me taking pictures of our trip to IKEA... but really, I was so excited I couldn't help myself!}

We didn't have a chance to put them together that weekend, so.... I (with the help of my little ones) put together three tall Billy Bookcases while the Mr. was at work. I should have just waited... but it's like getting a new present that you can't touch or play with. So, I took matters into my own hands.

I will say, it would definitely have been easier with another adult to help, but we ladies know that we can get a lot of difficult things (sometimes nearly impossible things) accomplished if we are determined enough.

I got them up, in place, and shimmed ...

Yes... my floors really are that uneven. My craft room and the kids playroom, is an addition to the back of our home.

But, all of that hard work totally paid off!!!!

I am in LOVE with the way it turned out. I'm not completely done with the rest of my craft room, but I was so excited (*squeal) to get this part done that I just had to share it with you guys!!!

I used three Billy Bookcases from IKEA for my fabric wall storage. They are the perfect depth (11") and all but the middle shelf are adjustable so it's perfect for fabric storage!!

Here is an overview of what I have in my fabric storage wall....

... and here is the breakdown.

The top of all three of my bookshelves hold my full bolts of regular sized cotton fabric.

All of these fabrics came directly from the manufacturer on bolts which makes it really easy for me to just take it out of the shipping boxes and stick them on the shelf. Easy peasy!

If you don't buy direct from the manufacturer but buy long yardages of fabric at a time here's what I suggest. Go to your local JoAnn's or Hobby Lobby (or any fabric store for that matter) and ask them if they have any cardboard bolts from old fabric that they don't need anymore. They can't really reuse them so if they have any on hand they will generally give them to you.

Now, I'm not suggesting you go in and ask for 20 of them.... instead, just ask for a couple. Then go back in a few days or the next week and ask for a couple more. Be inconspicuous. :)

On both of the outer shelves I have a middle section where I store all of my washed fabric. These are prints that I have purchased for crafting and sewing projects as well as larger left over pieces from previous projects.

I use these comic book boards to store all of these pieces of fabric. The bookcase on the right (shown in the above photo) stores all of my pre-washed fabric pieces that are under 1 yard.

The bookcase on the left (shown above) is where I store all of my pre-washed fabric that is more than 1 yard, but less than 3 yards. Why less than 3... because if I wind more than three yards on my board it becomes too bulky... and not as neat and pretty looking. (ya, I know... it's an aesthetic thing).

In the middle bookcase I store some of my prettier packaging materials. I keep all of my bakers twine and packaging twine as well as my business cards.

You may remember my tutorial on how I store my smaller amounts of baker's twine here. I have found that it is so much easier (and cuter) to store them on spools than all wrapped up and tied. Right!?! Not to mention they stay nice and neat {not all tangley <--- yep, made that word up!}

Next to my spools of twine is a small square white dish that holds some of my business cards so that I can easily grab them and slip one in to the packages I ship. I actually painted the inside of it on a cruise -- my hubby probably laughed that I wanted to go paint something -- but it is one of my favorite pieces. Not because I painted it, but because it the perfect size for corralling all the little things that don't really have another home.

My larger rolls of twine I store in this gray bucket. I found it in the one spot at Target. Seriously.... they have some cute storage stuff in there sometimes. I think this bucket was a whopping $2.50 and I LOVE it!

Just in case you are wondering {because I know someone out there is...} I buy all of my twine from The Twinery. They have the absolute cutest colors and every so often they run a special on GroopDealz so you can get a really awesome price!!

The bottom shelf of my bookcases (yes, all three of them) are filled with the larger bolts of fabric that I have.

The minky and chenille fabrics, and the 58" chevron in my shop I purchased by the bolt so they came on the cardboard bolt already... again, super easy to store that way! The other utility type fabric (the blue rib knit and white flannel) I purchased several yards of and picked up some empty bolts at my local JoAnn's to be able to store them on.

So for now... that's what I have done. I still have the other 3 walls in my craft room to go! Ha! I'll post more updates as I get them done. I LOVE being organized and, hopefully, I have shared a couple tips for storing fabric that might help you out!

Just for fun.... because who doesn't love a good before and after...

Recipe: Muffin Crumb Topping (dairy-free alternative)

2013-03-08T10:17:00.000-08:00

Muffins for breakfast are great! But why not make then even greater!?!? This muffin topping is the perfect addition to any muffin recipe. Honest! One try and you will never eat a plain muffin again!!!!

I make mine dairy-free due to allergies in our home, and it is just as good as the original recipe. I promise!

Crumb Topping Recipe:

1 cup flour

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/3 cup granulated sugar

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1 stick butter (or dairy-free margarine)

1/2 cup quick cooking rolled oats

DO NOT MELT THE BUTTER. Cut the bold butter into small squares. Combine all ingredients using gloved hands or a pasty blender. Mix together until it forms crumbly pieces (clumps) that are about the size of a pea. Top the muffins before baking. Extra mix can be stored in a zip top bag or sealed container for a month.

That's all... super easy, and really, really, delicious!!!

ENJOY!!!

Craft Room Renovation Sneak Peek {fabric storage}

2013-03-06T15:35:00.000-08:00

If you follow me on Pinterest you know that I have been pinning craft room inspiration since day 1! Like, literally!!

Well guess what!?! I finally got a chance to redo my craft room, well... at least part of it ... for now! ha!

My sweet hubby decided to let me renovate because we are having a birthday party for our oldest in the next week and a half. He didn't want our friends (who haven't been to our home yet) to see my crafting space the way it has been for years!!!

So, thank you to my daughter for turning 6 so I could fix my craft room!!!

This is just a quick sneak peek though... so no specifics just yet. I know... it's mean... but I want to get it all done and photographed before sharing it all with you.

So... stay tuned.....

Room for full bolts of fabric for sale in my Etsy shop.

Mini bolts for me to use for sewing projects.

More mini bolts for smaller pieces of fabric.

Watch for another post with links to everything I used... plus more photos!!!

------

{Updated - Here is the post with all of the links to everything I used to create this super organized fabric storage!}

FREE Valentine's Tag Printable

2013-02-11T20:04:00.003-08:00

Just a really quick post to share these cute tags with you! The background design is from Erin Bradley Designs. These cute tags will fit a 3" or 2.5" circle punch.

Or.... use them as squares. They look super cute tied to a valentine treat bag {which is what I have done... sorry, my camera is on the fritz and I didn't get pics} or attached to a vase of flowers, a box of chocolates {.... ya, I'm dreaming!}, or a baked treat!

{download here}

Etsy Seller Series: Setting Up Shop Part 2 {Info & Appearance}

2013-02-08T03:30:00.000-08:00

{To view all posts related to the Etsy Seller Series, click on the button on the right sidebar!}

Welcome back!!! We have already talked about how to get started, and how to set up your Profile Page. Today we are going to talk about how to set up your Info & Appearance Page.

Part 2 -- Info & Appearance

Log in to your account and move your cursor over "Your Shop" on the top right of your screen. Then click on "Info & Appearance".

When you click on it, this screen will show up:

I already have my Shop Name set up, but this is where you will type in the name of your shop. {You should have already decided on that when you were getting started.} You need to have your shop name decided upon before filling out this page. Etsy will allow you to change your shop name only once so you need to make sure that you like what you have chosen.

Next is your Shop Title. This appears under your profile picture and at the top of your shop. It is best to just retype the name of your shop.

Here comes the branding part of your shop -- your Shop Banner Image. This is the graphic that is shown at the very top of your shop. A lot of the time this is one of the things that draws people to keep looking at your products. It needs to be inviting, and include your shop name and maybe a tagline. You can read more about branding here. If you have ordered custom graphics from a designer you can go ahead and upload your image here. If you are creating your own image you can view the file specifications here to be able to put your image together and save it in the right size and format.

The links section is great for advertising! You can add the hyperlink to your Facebook and Twitter accounts so that you can keep in touch with your customers. Having a Facebook page is a great way to offer special discounts and sales as well as get to know your customers a little better. I am not big on Twitter, but I have my Facebook page set up so that it automatically tweets all of my Facebook posts. This section lets customers "like" your Facebook page and follow you on Twitter by clicking on the icons on your shop page.

Here is the biggie on this page -- your Shop Announcement. This is the place where you will want to write a brief greeting to your customers. Include any pertinent information such as: shipping costs and where you are willing to ship to, coupon codes or promotions, general information about your products, how long it takes to complete orders, etc.

You can always change the wording in this section so that you can keep it up to date! The first 2-3 lines of your announcement will show up when customers view your shop home page so you want to put the most exciting things in those first two line! Customers can then click on your shop announcement to view the rest of it.

There is a small box under the Shop Announcement where you can view how your shop and announcement will appear on a google search.

The last section is the Message to Buyers.

Message to BuyersEnglish

We include this message on receipt pages and in the email buyers receive when they purchase from your shop.

As stated, the message you type in this text box will appear when customers make a purchase. You can include information about shipping times here or a brief message thanking them for their purchase. I also include a note about payment being due at time of purchase.

Be sure to click on "Save Changes". Then to take a look at your shop click on the shop icon at the top left of your page. .

• • • • • • •

Up next:

Setting Up Shop Part 3 - Shipping & Payment

Etsy Seller Series: Setting Up Shop Part 1 (Your Public Profile)

2013-02-06T03:30:00.000-08:00

{If you are new to this series, be sure to check out the first post here on getting started.}

Today we are talking about setting up your shop! Now that you have decided on your name, your branding, and got your finances in order it's time to set up your shop so you are ready to go!

part 1 -- Your Public Profile

• • • • •

Once you register for your Etsy account you can login to set up your shop.

When you first login your screen will look similar to this one:

Move your cursor to the top right where it says "Your Account" and then click on "Public Profile".

You will be shown a screen that looks like this:

You can add your profile picture and information about you on this page.

Your profile picture is what customers will see when you interact with them -- via conversations. You can choose to set this up as an actual picture of yourself {which some people find to be more personal} or as a graphic image to keep with your branding. It is completely up to you and your personal preference. I have tried it both ways in my shop, and have dealt with other Etsy sellers who have theirs both ways and honestly... it doesn't make much of a difference.

Your name is displayed on your shop page under your shop name. It is nice for your customers to know who you are. You can put just a first name if you prefer to keep some privacy.

Your city let's your customers know where your products will be shipping from. Personally I display both the city in which I live as well as two other prominent nearby cities. This way if people haven't heard of my particular city they will have an idea of where I am from.

Your birthday is only shown when someone clicks to view your profile page. It is not shown on your shop homepage. I'm honestly not sure what the reason is for displaying it, but I have gotten birthday wishes before from other Etsy members. :)

The About section is really important!. This is where you can share about yourself and what you do. Think about these questions when you sit down to write:

• What do you do?

• What do you like to do?

• When did you start your love for ______? {sewing, painting, crafting, etc}

• Why did you open your shop?

• What is your inspiration?

• Where do you do your ______? {sewing, painting, crafting, etc. -- home office? studio? outdoors?}

• Who is your product for?

• What can people use your products for?

Your Favorite Materials is a place for you to list the things you most like to work with. This is a great way for customers to get another glimpse of what your product is.

At the bottom of the page is a section that looks like this:

Include on
Your Profile

This area is for you to choose which things are shown publicly on your profile. you definitely want to check "Shop" so that customers can view your shop from your profile page. I also suggest you click to show your "Treasury lists" and your "Teams". Choosing to show your "Favorite items" and "Favorite shops" is up to you. As for me, I keep those private. I don't want my customers knowing where I purchase supplies from. I also use my favorites for inspiration and to keep track of the competition. :)

• • • • • • •

Up next:

Setting Up Shop Part 2 - Info & Appearance

Paper Bakeware Review

2013-02-05T10:58:00.000-08:00

I don't know if you have come across these in your craft stores at all, but I saw this paper bakeware the other day and just had to give it a try!!

It is oven safe and is stiff paper so you don't have to have a baking sheet under it. They come in several cute colors and a couple different sizes.

This package came with 6 pans. They are 2.5"wide x 7" length x 1.8" high.

I baked some banana bread in mine (the recipe filled up two of these paper bakeware loaf pans) kept one for us and gave the other away to a friend.

I absolutely love, Love, LOVE these pans!! Like seriously, LOVE them!! It took a little longer than the usual baking time, but they turned out so stinkin' cute!!!!

They are super easy to use. You don't have to grease them ... BONUS!!! You don't have to take them out of a pan to give it to a friend --- nor do they have to return a pan to you... double BONUS! Plus, all you need to do is wrap it up in some cellophane and you have a really cute gift! It doesn't get much easier than that, and it looks like you went to a lot of trouble to do it all.

I added a cute magnetic notepad to the bottom of mine that I bought at the one spot at Target. The colors matched the stripes on the pan perfectly! Then I placed it in a small cello bag and topped it off with some bakers twine and homemade tags and voila! Done!

These would make cute Valentine's treats. They are wide enough you could fit 3 cupcakes in them, or make a delicious pound cake... or just about anything!

I created a PDF file you can download with several sizes of these thinking of you tags and the enjoy tags.

{download here}

Etsy Seller Series: Getting Started

2013-02-04T11:16:00.001-08:00

Hey there everyone! From time to time I get questions about running my own Etsy shop. While I can't give away all of my secrets, I CAN share some tips and things that I have learned from my years of selling on Etsy.

I have put together an Etsy Shop series of posts to help any of you who may be wanting to get started on Etsy and don't know how to begin or for those of you who are already selling and may want a couple extra pointers --- and everyone in between!

Today's post is all about....

Naming your Shop:
The trick is to come up with a name for your shop. You want it to be something fun and catchy! Something that your customers will remember and that anyone looking at your listing would be interested in checking out. Some of my favorites that I have come across are : No Whining Pleez, Melon Headz Doodlez, Happy Organized Life, and Elastic by the Yard. The first two are fun and creative names... the others give a real simple picture of what they are selling just by looking at the name.

Once you decide on a name do a quick search on Etsy for the name. It is always possible that name has already been taken and you will need to brainstorm a little more. Think about the products you will be selling, and think about the kinds of customers you will be selling to. Bounce some ideas off of your friends and family... see what they think about your ideas. Odds are if they like it, others will too! ♥

Once you have decided on a name it's time to set up your shop!

Branding:
This is one of the most important things about your shop/business. Branding. It is what sets you apart from everyone else. It is what your customers will remember your shop for. Once you have decided on your name it will be a little easier to figure out your branding. If you have a really cute shop name you will most likely want to create a set of cute logos and designs. However, if you choose to use your products as the basis for your shop name maybe you will want to include a picture or two in your logo designs. If you have a modern name, then maybe a mod design.... and so on.

The great thing about Etsy is getting to know other sellers. There are A LOT of graphic design Etsy sellers out there. Some sell easy template designs that you can customize yourself while others will create entirely custom graphics just for you! A few of my favorite are: Erin Bradley Designs, Simply Graphics, and Kelly Jane. They offer a mix of custom and pre-designed logos. If you are going to have a blog or facebook page -- which I absolutely recommend {more on that in a different post} -- I suggest you choose a custom design so that you can have your designer create graphics for your shop, your blog, and your facebook page. Part of good branding is being consistent!

If you dabble in graphic design as I do, you can create your own personal branding using your own images or purchased images. The benefit: it's cheaper and you have more options on how you want things to look. The downside: it's a lot of work!

Tax and Licensing:
This one you will need to do some research on. Google your city and state government pages online and find out what types of businesses need licensing. Personally I had to pay a fee to my city to be able to have a home office. Not all cities work that way so be sure to look it up.

You WILL need to pay taxes to your state. This, again, will require some work on your part to find out where to apply for your business license and taxes. Be sure to keep on top of paying your taxes {as often as they are required} those late fees are hefty!!

Finances:
This is another BIG one to get your shop started. You will need to invest some money to start up your business. The amount that you invest will be determined by the products you are selling so I can't give you much advice here. The general rule in business that I have been taught is that you should at least break even your first year and start to turn a profit in your second.

Be sure to set up a specific bank account JUST FOR YOUR BUSINESS. This is the easiest way to keep track of everything. You can monitor your spending, your profit, and reinvest in your products as the year goes on.

You also need to put together some way to keep track of everything. If you are the kind of person that like to keep written records then you should either purchase some ledger paper or look for various template that you can find for keeping track of everything. I have found a great Etsy seller who offers a digital download of printable pages for Etsy shop owners.

This set by Happy Organized Life

comes with pages for just about anything you might need! Seriously! I have found that as much as I like having everything right at my finger tips it uses a lot of paper and that's just an added expense for me that I want to avoid. If you work better though using pencil and paper then this is a great set to get. There are other sellers who offer different designs and pages so take a look around.

For me... I choose to go the digital route. A few years ago I purchased a file from an Etsy seller that came as an Excel spreadsheet. It had lots of pages, graphs, and calculations that helped me to keep track of everything. As the years have gone by I have realized that I don't need all of the things that came with that worksheet. So, I recently created my own and I am sharing it with you!

The excel file has 4 sheets to it: a sales tracker, a purchase tracker, an inventory tracker, and a totals sheet so you can keep track of everything at a glace.

The Sales Tracker let's you enter all of the information regarding any sales that you have, including:

date

order# (for easy searching)

item sold

buyer name

quantity

sales price

shipping charged

shipping cost (so you can see the difference in what you are charging if any)

tax collected (makes it easier to pay your taxes)

totals

coupons used (for you to keep track of the number of people using it)

sales type (etsy, facebook, boutique, etc.)

payment type (cash, credit, paypal, etc.)

shipped?

shipping date

shipping method

and tracking #

The Purchase Tracker helps you to keep track of any and all purchases that you make throughout the month. You can break it down into the cost of the actual material, then the tax and shipping that you pay on it. This will help you to determine the price point you should be selling your items for. (more on that in another post)

The Inventory Tracker can be used to keep track of your in-stock inventory, especially if you are selling supplies versus handmade products in your shop. You can update your inventory and your listings in your shop as items sell.

Then the Totals page is simply that. It keeps tabs on your monthly totals for spending, revenue, and ultimately your monthly profit. At the end of the month you can access everything and adjust your prices where needed. (again, more on that in another post)

Download your free copy of the excel file here.

You will want to start keeping track of everything regarding your business finances right from the beginning, so as soon as you get started with your shop decide on a method to record everything and DO IT! It's easier to start from the beginning rather than trying to back track to put in all the missing information.

• • • • • •

Up Next:

{Setting up your Etsy Shop}

Tutorial: Easy Jeweled Headband

2013-01-29T12:49:00.000-08:00

When Whippy Cakes was closing their doors I snatched up a super cute jeweled headband for my little one. BUT.... as babies do ... she has grown {and so has her head!}. Her cute headband doesn't fit her anymore, and I'm totally bummed because I loved it. It is simple, cute, and can be worn with anything!

The last time I was at JoAnn's I came across some "ribbon" {because it's in the ribbon section, but not technically ribbon} that was exactly the same as the jeweled headband. So, I examined my headband at home and decided to try my hand at making my own!

Want to make your own??

I was totally surprised with how easy it was to re-create the headband. LOVE IT! Simply, cute, and easy... does it get any better!?!?

You could make one for you, for your kids... or {and this is my thinking....} create some as party favors for a princess party! {my daughter is coming up on her 6th birthday and I'm seriously thinking of making one for each of her friends}

Here's what you need:

1 spool of jewel craft ribbon {like this one}

1 spool of 3/8 white satin ribbon

1 package round elastic cording

glue gun and glue stick

ruler

scissors

First step.... take a measurement. Using a measuring tape, or a string, measure how big around your headband needs to be. Then cut your pieces.

My baby's head was 16.5" in diameter at the point where her headband would rest. I cut 12" of the jeweled "ribbon" and 5" of the elastic. The point where the elastic and the headband will join will be hidden behind her ears.

{If you want to be sure that yours is hidden too, measure the diameter of your head, then measure the same area from ear to ear going over the top of your head. Subtract that from your total measurement, add 1/2" and that is the length for your elastic.}

Next.... warm up your glue gun. Put a small drop of glue on the BACK of the jewel on the end. Then glue the tip of your elastic to that jewel. To create some extra security on mine -- since it's for my little one -- I placed the end of my elastic on the last jewel and slid it up to the second to last jewel. Repeat for the other end of your jeweled ribbon and the other end of your elastic.

Then .... take your white ribbon and cut a piece about 2 inches long. Use a lighter or candle to heat seal both ends of it. Then cut it in half.

Use your glue gun to glue the UN-heat sealed edge to the back of one side where the elastic and jewels are glued together.

Continue gluing and wrapping the ribbon around the junction until you get to the end of the ribbon. Your heat sealed edge should be on top. Repeat for the other side.

Then dress up your little one and take some cute pictures of your little princess!!

So close ... you can't tell which is the original!

I love how sparkly it is without being totally blinged out!

Free Valentine's Day Printable Cards

2013-01-25T10:09:00.000-08:00

I know most of you probably though I had dropped off the planet! Ya... it's been that LONG since a post. Well, rest assured I am still here!!

I created a cute Valentine's printable for all of you! Yay!! The awesome thing about it is, well... it's free, and it's simple! So you can totally embellish these little cards to your hearts content. ♥

PLUS, if any of you happen to be Project Life-ers, I sized these cute cards to fit in the 3x4 pockets of your pocket pages. {bonus♥}

Feel free to print out as many of these fun hombre heart cards as you want. Attach a cute candy and have your child print their name and they can pass them out to their friends. Pass some out to your co-workers. Leave one in your mailbox for the mailman {or woman}. Attach them to a Valentine's gift for your special someone -- or for a friend.

I purposefully made the outside line very light in case you wanted to leave it off of your creation entirely, or leave it on and it creates a cute border!

Also.... because I love you guys... I have put together matching heart flags. You can cute them out and use them to embellish your cards, or use them for something else entirely!

Want to get your hands on them!?! They are all on ONE PDF file. If you want a full sheet of a specific color, please leave a comment with your email address and I will send you one!

{download}

Please be sure to become a follower --- if you haven't already --- so you can take advantage of all of my freebies!

This file is for personal use only. Please do not sell the file or the products. Thanks!

Recipe: Gingerbread Cookies {Dairy and Egg-free recipe included}

2012-12-12T07:50:00.003-08:00

Nothing says Christmas like the smell {or taste} of gingerbread. One of my all time favorite things about the holidays are homemade cookies and gingerbread men are the BEST! Especially when they are homemade.

Don't these look absolutely di-vine!

If you happen to have egg or dairy allergies, here is the frosting I used for my little gingerbread boys and girls. It is Betty Crocker's Cookie Icing. Easy to use and perfect for the allergies in my family!

Want to make some of these tasty treats at your house?

1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup molasses
3 1/2 cups allpurpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. ginger
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. cloves
1/3 cup water

Cream butter and sugar thoroughly with electric mixer. Beat in molasses. Blend all dry ingredients. Alternately add blended dry ingredients and water to the butter-sugar mixture. Dough will become stiff, so that last dry addition may need to be blended by hand. Work dough until it is smooth in consistency. If dough sticks to your hands, lightly dust them with flour.

Roll out dough to approximately 1/4 " thickness on the back of a greased cookie sheet. Punch out gingerbread patterns. Bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes.

For dairy-free cookies:

Substitute butter with a dairy free butter or margarine.

For softer cookies:

Personally, I like my gingerbread cookies a little bit on the softer side. If you want yours softer, substitute 1 cup of corn starch in place of one cup of flour. Bake at the usual temperature for the usual amount of time and your cookies will come out nice and soft!

For Gingerbread house pieces:

This recipe is also great for making gingerbread house pieces because once cut, the pieces retain their shape! Simply use a set of house cookie cutters or fashion your own pattern pieces. Follow the baking directions from the recipe.

Enjoy the holiday season!!! Be sure to pin this recipe to share with your friends!

Calling all Etsy Sellers ......

2012-12-03T13:39:00.002-08:00

Things have been pretty slow around here on the blog lately... I'm still around, just enjoying some holiday fun with my family! I am putting together some posts for this month, so I hope you keep coming back!! :)

I get questions from time to time about how to make the most of being a seller on Etsy. I am thinking of putting together a series of posts to address some of the questions I receive. So, here's what I want to know....

What questions do you have about being a seller on Etsy!?!?!

Please comment below with your questions so that I can HELP YOU the most with this series of posts!!

Some examples:
• How do I price my items?
• How do I list an item?
• How do I get customers to look at my items?
• How does shipping work? Where do I get supplies?
etc....

Please let me know what your questions are so I can be sure to answer them!!

Thanks!!

Katy

Black Friday Sale!!!

2012-11-21T21:03:00.000-08:00

This year I am offering a fun way to shop! My ENTIRE Etsy shop will be on sale for

4 WHOLE DAYS!!!

Take advantage of the BEST deal (20% off) on black friday and shop from the comfort of your computer {or your smart phone .. hehe}!!!

If you miss the sale on Friday, then catch up with 15% off on Saturday and Sunday.

If you happen to live under a rock and didn't hear about the sale until Monday, no worries... you can still take 10% off all day on Monday!

Just enter the coupon codes at checkout and you are set! The coupon code will deduct the given percentage from your order total (not including shipping). If you are in California you will still be charged sales tax.

*The coupon code DOES NOT apply to custom orders. It is for current listings in the shop.

**Coupon codes will be valid as I can set them up {I'm only human... and although you may be shopping at 2am... I may not be awake! ♥) Most likely the will take effect as late as I am up on the night before. The codes will be inactive as early as I can ~~drag myself out of bed~~ wake up in the morning.

***Offer is NOT valid on prior purchases. So, please don't ask.

Just a reminder... I now accept both paypal and credit cards, so you can shop whichever way is easier for you!

So, head on over to the shop and be sure to "favorite" ♥ all of the goodies you want! They will go fast!!!

Happy Thanksgiving, and HAPPY SHOPPING!!

Wacky Weather!!

2012-11-12T12:36:00.000-08:00

It was fuh-reezing this morning (ok, at least compared to our usual So Cal weather!). I bundled up my little bundle of joy!!!

With all the crazy weather going on lately across the globe... I would love to know what's going on in your neck of the woods!

Hopefully any of you on the East coast are hanging in there and didn't suffer too much in the wake of Sandy and the snow storm!

Now that my boutique is over I am totally excited to get back to sharing fun tutorials again! I can't to start sewing, crafting, and getting ready for the holidays!!!

PLUS... as soon as I can get some pictures taken I will have a TON of new items in my Etsy shop at great discount prices just in time for the holidays!!!!

Fun Friday Link Up!!!!

2012-11-02T08:44:00.003-07:00

Welcome to the new Fun Friday Link Up.

Because this is my blog... and I can... I am sharing a couple of cute pictures of my little one wearing a couple of the headbands that I sell.

For anyone who may be local... I am participating in a boutique at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim on November 10th from 8:00-noon. Please stop by and say hi! I would love to meet you!!!

... and if you are looking for some fun gifts to give this holiday, it's a great place to get some shopping done!!!

Have a great weekend!

If you have a fun recipe, craft project, etc. that you want to share, link it up!!!

{and spread the word to your fellow bloggers to stop by and link theirs up too!}

Mingle Monday - 10.22.2012

2012-10-21T15:14:00.002-07:00

Can you believe it!?!

Visit as many of the linked blogs that you like!

Please keep all links family friendly!!

Have fun!!

Mingle Monday - 10.15.2012

2012-10-14T15:14:00.000-07:00

Hey there! Sorry for skipping out on the hop last week... but I'm back today!!

I am super busy trying to get ready for a boutique at the Disneyland hotel in a month! Yikes!!! If anyone is here in sunny So Cal or will be the weekend of Nov 10th, I would love to meet you at the boutique! It is sponsored by a Women's conference, but the boutique is open to everyone! There are TONS of handmade goodies there ... perfect for doing a little holiday shopping!

PLUS, if you stop by and see me you can pick up a FREE SHIPPING coupon code for my Etsy shop!

In the meantime, I will be working to stock my shop, get products ready for my boutique, and trying to keep up on my blog posting! So... bear with me!

• • • • • • •

I am starting an additional link party on Friday's for everyone to link one of their favorite posts from the week to. It will be called Friday Fun! You can link directly to any one of your personal posts. It can be crafting, sewing, cooking, decorating, just about anything goes!

Make sure you come back Friday to link up!!

• • • • • • •

Visit as many of the linked blogs that you like!

Please keep all links family friendly!!

Have fun!!

Recipe: BBQ Sausage and Veggies

2012-10-12T11:03:00.000-07:00

This was one of my favorite dinners as a kid and has become a favorite of my kids as well! It's the perfect meal after a cold and stormy day.

This is a super easy 1 dish meal! If I plan ahead far enough in my day I try and cook this one in the crock pot ... making it even easier!!!

Here's all you need:

1 polish sausage -- I switch off between using kielbasa and smoked chicken

1 Tbsp diced red onion -- or any other onion you have on hand

any fresh or frozen veggies that you want

your favorite BBQ sauce

1/4 c. brown sugar

If you are using your crock pot, just dump everything in and let it cook all day!

This time I used a skillet and cooked mine on the stove top. If you choose to cook yours this way too then follow these easy directions for a super delicious meal!

1. Slice your sausage. Mine are fairly thin since I have little kids.

Chop your veggies and dice your onion.

2. Drop your onion and sausage in the skillet on medium heat and stir until the sausage starts to brown up a little. You don't need to add any oil or butter because the fat from the sausage is enough.

3. Once your sausage is beginning to brown add your veggies. (If you are adding frozen corn -- I suggest you wait to add it until the VERY END ... I find it gets rubbery otherwise.) Then add in your BBQ sauce. You can really put as much or as little as you like ... this one is up to personal taste really. I add a tablespoon of water to mine to thin the sauce out a little because my kids think BBQ sauce is too spicy on its own. ☺

4. Stir your BBQ sauce into your sausage and veggie mixture. Then add the brown sugar. Heat thoroughly and serve hot!

This would be delicious with some homemade corn bread or any warm bread!! Sometimes we serve it with rice or roasted potatoes!

MMMM..... delicious!!!