Paper Peddler

More New Paper!

2010-02-24T18:54:00.000-05:00

I have been paper shopping again! I am happy to announce that I have 14 new awesome collections that I will be listing throughout the week. I haven't had a chance to photograph them all yet (we have had quite a bit of overcast weather the last couple of days). I took advantage of the last bit of sunshine this evening and was able to get a few pictures taken. I am also continuing my paper destash, talking myself out of keeping paper I have not used and offering them to my crafty customers who will be able to put them to good use. Be sure to stop by the shop and grab a great deal!

* Shop paper here

* Shop destash here

Just for the Heck of it.....

2010-02-21T11:15:00.000-05:00

My husband sometimes says that I have too much time on my hands (he doesn't fully understand my paper obsession but he tolerates it). Here is an example of one of those things I have done that gives him cause to say it:

I am always using a black Sharpie to label water bottles for my girls and myself (my oldest daughter & I want to make sure we don't drink after my little one,lol). I refill the bottles and keep them in the fridge. I take them with me every afternoon when I pick up my girls from school so they can drink them on the way home. I was getting ready to label new bottles before putting them in the refrigerator and got one of those "light bulbs over my head". I picked out some paper, three different prints but all coordinating, cut them into strips, added my adhesive and ta-da! I thought they were pretty cool so I took photos. My girls were really excited when they saw them. This idea would be really cool for parties, too. I don't think we'll ever have plain, boring bottles again:)

Birthday Gift Bag - Better than the present inside?

2010-02-20T22:50:00.001-05:00

I have found a new love....making what I like to call "Art Bags". I have listed one in my 2nd shop, Marmaduke Alley, and have a couple of more (that are awesome) to be listed soon. Here is one that I made today for a birthday present. I am so happy with the way it turned out - I may make a smaller version of it for my shop. I just had to share:)

Shop Sections - Adjustments and New items

2010-01-23T10:01:00.004-05:00

I have decided to make some changes to my shop sections and will be bringing back a few items that I haven't had in a while. My new Glitter Seals have been added to the "Seals 60/100 n Glitter" section (I know the section name leaves something to be desired but etsy limits what/how much I can type). I have also combined my mini notebooks with mini card sets in the newly re-named "MiniCardSets n Notebooks" section (again, section name....uughhh). I have added two other new sections and will begin adding items to them throughout the week. I have had these items in the past and am happy to bring them back in and to see how they will do. They are the "Paper Flowers n Buttons" section and the "Alphabet n Number Sets" section. I think the section names say it all. Check them out and see what you think:)

New in Shop - Glitter Envelope Seals

2010-01-19T08:21:00.012-05:00

I went to a local craft store to pick up another paper pad that has been selling really well and the shopping went so quickly that I started to browse around a bit. I just knew there was something else I could find to buy,lol. I ran across this gorgeous glitter.....very fine and sugary, and the colors were so pretty. I couldn't resist (though I had no idea what I was going to do with them, I knew I could find something). I came home and immediately had to play with them. I wrote my daughter's name on a scrap paper with glue and made a little design, sprinkled glitter all over and gave to to her (she loved it). The ideas started to flow and now I have a brand new and totally handmade item for my shop....(drum roll please) Glitter envelope seals!

I finally get the chance to use all of my awesome stamps and am loving playing with glitter (though I seem to be making a mess when I do). There is also a bonus for my girls. Any glitter that doesn't easily go back into the container gets dusted into a little bowl and I use it to sprinkle in their hair. I worked on a few different sets this weekend and have already sold one (the same day it was listed) which is a good sign that they should do well for me. I hope they do because I really enjoy making them and I have a ton of stamps and possibilities. I have even given them their own special section in my shop. Each pack has 30 seals and costs $4. Be sure to take a look: Glitter Seal Stickers

Oh Boy! New Paper!!!

2010-01-05T08:05:00.006-05:00

I had great luck when I listened to the little voice in my head that urged me to go buy some new paper (see photo,lol). I realized after a crafting slump (that was on and off for the last couple of months) that I was having mental blocks because my craft room had become overcrowded with too much paper (yes, it's true). So, I put myself on paper shopping restriction until I could manage to clear some of it out - I guess you could say I am a paper hoarder, that is, I have a hard time letting go of some of it. I always want to keep a little of everything for my own projects (that I rarely have time to work on, thus the paper build up). So, on this restriction I skipped the craft stores and was able to withhold buying paper for a couple of months (I was amazed I lasted that long). I think it was rather nice, and quite surprising to my hubby and girls that when we were out to dinner there were no requests from me to "stop by the craft stores for just a quick minute". There were even a few times that my oldest would ask after dinner (in her round about and hinting sort of way) if we were going anywhere after we ate, or straight to the question of if I needed to go to Joanns. She usually goes in with me while my younger daughter hangs out in the car with daddy (that is until I find that she and my husband have come inside because she had to go potty, it almost never fails). Though I normally love having an entourage with me, and the hubby is great for handling bags full of paper, I am usually glad he doesn't come in for my more serious shopping trips (so as not to hear how much my total is,lol). There are even times when I have my entourage at the register and I try to get my husband distracted and busy with the kids... then I whisper to the cashier not to say my total out loud (pretty bad, huh?).

So, I had been thinking about doing some new paper shopping and was looking online at a couple of my favorite scrapbook stores but I just got really irritated with it and couldn't continue to stare at the screen any longer. I had a dream that I was signed up for a scrap booking contest (strange because I love to scrapbook but really don't do very much of it). It was an amazing dream and I was really motivated and the ideas were flowing freely in the dream. I woke up the next morning with the urge to go paper shopping. After loading the family into the car (no one wanted to go) we were off. Boy oh boy! I couldn't believe the luck I had. Apparently, each of my girls had decided in advance who would go inside shopping with me. When we got to the first store, my oldest accompanied me (not a surprise) and at the second shop, my little one came with me (big surprise). My little one couldn't hack it though - it was in the buggy, out of the buggy, can I hold these, now I want in the buggy and whining when I told her she couldn't get back in because it was too full of paper pads for her to fit. There was a finishing wind up of her trying to organize my loose sheets of paper (and I had to ask her to please not touch them, I have those there for a reason and I don't want them getting bent), and a promise that we were aalllmooost done (as I continued to make sure I hadn't missed anything,lol). I was and am really excited to start listing these new packs, I came home with twenty new collections and I know everyone will love them! My hubby jokingly (I think it was jokingly?) asked me how many trips it would take me to get all my paper from the car into the house. I promised him it wasn't as bad as it looked, maybe I should have had my fingers crossed behind my back. Well, with hard work and paper dedication, I have spent the last two days cutting and photographing paper. Now I will begin to list them so be sure to come check out my paper section. I am still working on destashing some of my older (but still wonderful) paper collections so don't forget to take a look in my sale section while you're shopping. Happy shopping to all!!!

My paper section

Next Holiday Up....Valentine's Day

2010-01-04T10:53:00.004-05:00

Christmas has come & gone and a new year has begun... which means the holidays start over again. The next biggie is of course a celebration of love, Valentine's Day, and I have the paper for it. I am now listing my Valentine and love themed paper packs so be sure to stop by and check them out. I even have more of last year's pink favorite, K&Company's SMITTEN SPECIALTY (pictured above). I am also listing SEI's CHOCOLAT collection and Basic Grey's PORCELAIN collection (and a couple of others). Get a jump start on your love crafting - Valentine's Day will be here before you know it!

Happy New Year

2010-01-01T11:36:00.006-05:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!!!!!

I want to wish everyone a very happy, healthy and prosperous 2010. I'm looking forward to another great year on etsy. I am also looking to spend a little more time on my 2nd shop (Marmaduke Alley) so that I will have the chance to spend time making cards and scrapbook pages. I love my Paper Peddler shop, but I really do miss creating things with all of the beautiful paper I sell. Marmaduke Alley will give me the outlet to create and maybe even sell a few things (because you can't keep everything, right?). I am going to start adding items back into my Marmaduke Alley shop today and over the weekend. If you are interested in purchasing items from both of my shops, I will be happy to send a combined invoice to reflect the total of items and combined shipping - or - I can refund the shipping difference through Paypal (just add a note to seller at checkout). As always, thanks so very much to all of my customers, regular and new, for allowing me the opportunity to serve you. It is because of you all that I have the privilege to do what I enjoy and love. Thank you and Happy New Year!

FIND ME HERE:

* Paper Peddler

* Marmaduke Alley

Paper Ornaments for Pretty Trees

2009-12-19T08:40:00.000-05:00

I have a wonderful customer who owns Happy Baby, a baby boutique in Cape May, NJ that sells gorgeous handmade baby items. She wanted to do some light Christmas decorating this year and asked me to make 80 paper ornaments for her trees. We chatted on the phone to discuss her ideas and color scheme and I was really pleased with the end result. Below are photos of the finished project and the ornaments hung on the little trees in her shop.

Ice Blue with white glitter snowflakes

Beautiful embossed Swiss Dot Blue with glitter Snowflake

3 Layer glitter Reindeer and shades of blue

White Glitter Reindeer on Raspberry

3D Pop Reindeer on Raspberry

3D Reindeer on light blue

Shimmer white snowflake on Winter Wonderland

3D Raspberry Pop with Glitter Snowflake

SUPER SALE - BIGGEST DESTASH SALE EVER!

2009-12-10T22:57:00.004-05:00

I am ready to "revamp" my shop but have to do some major craft room destash cleanup first. In order to clear out some of my inventory, I am having a HUGE sale. Paper packs, tag sets and even envelope seals are on sale. I haven't decided how long my sale will run - it will depend on my mood. It could last until the end of the year, a week, or even a couple of days. Please help me destash my craft room - it is feeling somewhat overwhelming right now and I can't see bringing anything new in until I create a little room. The deals are really great!

VISIT MY SHOP HERE

MY BIG PROJECT - 275 Altered Notebooks

2009-11-30T08:00:00.000-05:00

Most of my fellow EtsyPaper Team members know that I have been somewhat MIA from the team recently because I have been super busy with a very large project. I am happy to report that I have completed the project and my customer is very happy with the results. She is even looking to have me do it again in the near future. So, what was the BIG project? I received a convo asking me if I would be interested (or even be
able to) cover 275 mini-composition books for a Wizard of Oz Knitting club. I accepted, they provided the paper and we were on the way to getting them done. I took some photos along the way ..........

I received a huge (and quite heavy) stack of paper from my customer. I immediately covered one of the notebooks to check the paper and layout.

One Hundred down...........One Hundred Seventy Five to go.............

All done! Here is a group of them.......

They ended up shipping in three Flat Rate boxes. The first box weighed 13lbs., the second box weighed 11lbs. and the "spill over" box weighed 7lbs.! That's a total weight of 31lbs. , and that is A TON of paper,lol. I am looking forward to doing another large project like this. I think the key is to prepare everything first (gather all materials, pre-cut paper,etc.) and then to divide the project up into sections. Work on it some each day. I laughed and said I would probably never want to see another notebook when I was done, however, dividing the project up over the time I had to complete it, kept me from becoming bored with it. I will gladly do it again!

Envelope Seals - New Packaging

2009-11-29T19:16:00.008-05:00

I have updated my packaging for envelope seals. I wanted to find a better fit with a more professional look and here is what I came up with:

I got a great deal on these little hang bags. I was making constant trips to Target to buy Cello bags with no closure, a lot of space around the seals and a bag of 50 cost me $3. I was able to buy 1000 of these for $16! Talk about a great deal:) Another plus for these bags is that I can fit most of my mini-card sets into them and also some of my paper piecing sets. I never realized I could get so excited over plastic bags, lol. I have plenty of new envelope seal sets to fill the bags up with. I am going to be listing them throughout the week - most of the sets are of course Christmas and Holiday themed but I do have some beautiful new everyday sets as well. Be sure to visit my "Envelope Seal Stickers" and "Seasonal/Holiday Seals" sections to shop. If you are interested in where my bags came from, I have included the link below. I should also mention that I purchased bubble envelope mailers for a HUGE discount at the same place. I was buying them from Staples - a pack of 12 cost $9.99. I bought a bulk pack of 50 for about 1/2 the price. For those of you who are sellers in need of bulk quantities, this place is the way to go!

Good Supply Shopping:

Paper Mart

BLOG NEGLECTED - Back into the swing of things

2009-11-28T09:20:00.003-05:00

WOW! I can't believe we are at the end of the year already. I have been working on a couple of big projects and have really neglected my blog. As my projects are winding down and finishing up, I am trying to give some much needed attention to other areas of my life (like house cleaning and laundry). My blog is also one of those areas. I have quite a few posts I have been wanting to put up and will be doing that throughout the week. Thanks to everyone for checking in on me - I'm back now!

BIG, HUGE SALE!

2009-10-24T23:50:00.002-04:00

TOO MUCH PAPER! TOO MUCH PAPER! There, I actually said it (or typed it). As much as I LOVE paper, I am becoming overwhelmed with it and have decided to reduce all items in my shop's Sale/Destash section. Everything in the sale section is $2 and under. The new section name is "$2 and Under SALE". The sale will run until 10/31. PLEASE HELP ME DESTASH!

STALKED!

2009-10-21T08:15:00.006-04:00

Just as I was considering turning off the laptop and closing down shop for the night, I received a convo that caught my attention. I had been "stalked". I followed the link provided and found a wonderful site called "Etsy Stalker". My shop had been featured along with several others for newsprint items. I am really impressed with the site and am going to explore it further. Etsy Stalker is an online Museum dedicated to featuring and promoting cool finds and awesome sellers on etsy. I have provided a link below and recommend you check it out. I was really excited and have to say it made my night! Thanks to Curator Violet for choosing my little newsprint tree embellishments.

Etsy Stalker: Home page

Combining Shops

2009-10-17T20:40:00.009-04:00

The holiday season is upon us! I know it can be hectic so I have decided to combine my two shops. Everything in my second shop, Marmaduke Alley, will be moving over to my main shop (Paper Peddler) over the weekend. I will now offer my handmade cards, card sets and other paper craft goodies all in one place. I am also offering free secondary shipping on all of my single cards - browse around and enjoy!

Taking the "Twitter plunge" - Times Two!

2009-08-04T11:03:00.007-04:00

I have finally taken the Twitter Plunge! I am still feeling my way around Twitter and am learning how to use the site best - so far, so good. Right now I am using it to connect with fellow EtsyPaper Team members and other sellers. I also use it to add updates when I post on my blog, or list new items in my two shops.

I have also started a Twitter page for the EtsyPaper Team. I have a team Twitter partner (Amy of Avlor's Imprints) and she is somewhat of a twitter expert (and a big help to me and the team!). We thought Twitter would be an excellent promotion tool for the team and team members.

I would love for you to follow me and my team on Twitter! You can use the links below or on my blog sidebar - thanks & happy tweeting:)

Paper Peddler on Twitter

EtsyPaper Team on Twitter

By Popular Demand - Now Listing Fall, Halloween and Christmas Items

2009-07-28T11:15:00.012-04:00

Though I'm not ready to say goodbye to Summer, I have had several requests and inquiries for and about Fall, Halloween and Christmas papers. I am happy to announce that I have, and am currently listing seasonal items for Back to School, Fall, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. I have quite a few new seasonal paper finds as well.

Currently Listed are:

(K&Company) Johnny Yanok - Fall Harvest Specialty

My Mind's Eye - Academy

K Marcella - Scarlett Collection

DCWV - Fall Sparkle

The Paper Studio - Halloween Mod

Soon To Be Listed:

(K&Company) Tim Coffey - Fall Specialty

Me & My Big Ideas - Harvest Specialty

(K&Company) - Halloween Specialty

K&Company - Christmas Cheer

If you are interested in a pack that you don't see listed yet, convo me and I'll be happy to create a special listing for you. I have added a seasonal section to my shop where you can take a look at what's new. I am also listing a few tags, envelope seals and assorted other seasonal items soon, as well:)

Custom Card Order for Baby Boutique

2009-07-20T19:17:00.016-04:00

Even though I no longer sell handmade greeting cards in my Paper Peddler shop, I do make and sell them in my second shop, Marmaduke Alley. I also have a wonderful customer with a brick & mortar baby boutique who purchases my cards to sell in her shop. She recently placed an order and says the cards have been selling everyday since she put them out. Great news and hopefully she'll be ready for more soon. I thought I would share a few photos of the cards here - Enjoy!

I also had the opportunity to use some of the beautiful handmade paper I have purchased from my friends on the etsypaper team. I purchased the pink, green and brown handmade paper from CS Paper & Beads on etsy and the blue paper is from Ragqueen on etsy.

Interested in my handmade cards? I list them in my second shop, Marmaduke Alley , and I love and welcome custom orders:)

I've Been Paper Shopping Again!

2009-07-18T11:09:00.005-04:00

I have been paper shopping again and I am so excited to list my newest finds! Just look at the list below to see what you will find popping up in my shop over the weekend and next week:)

NEW PAPER COLLECTIONS:

K&Company - GREENHOUSE COLLECTION

K&Company - GYPSY BABY

K&Company - ECO MODERN

American Crafts - BACKYARD

My Mind's Eye - ACADEMY

KI Memories - MOSAIC

DCWV - ECO STACK

DCWV - SORBET

DCWV - MI CASA

And.....BIG DRUMROLL PLEASE.......

Brand New AMY BUTLER - LUCKY FLOWERS Collection!!!

If you would like to purchase a pack but don't see it listed in my shop yet, just drop me a convo and I'll be happy to go ahead and list it for you. I will also be listing school themed and fall papers soon (even though I'm not ready for fall just yet). I am going to continue to add more SALE items in order to make virtual room (and craft room space) for all of the new papers I have brought in.

Movin Paper - ALL DCWV Paper Pack Samplers On SALE!

2009-06-20T14:20:00.007-04:00

THE BIG SALE CONTINUES!!!!!

*** The "OFFICIAL" Yart Sale is all done but I have tons more items to destash. You can still find tons of terrific deals in the "BIG SALE" section and I will be adding more as the days go by. I have also reduced shipping on all sale items with free secondary shipping on all sale items (excluding paper packs).

MORE ON SALE: ALL DCWV Paper Pack Samplers are now on SALE for only $3 each. Regular price is $4 each. The sale runs now through Friday, June 26th.

DCWV PAPER PACK LISTINGS

BIG SALE LISTINGS

Some Much Deserved Attention

2009-06-17T09:12:00.008-04:00

WHEW! It has been quite a while since I posted to my blog and it deserves some attention. I have done a little updating with my background and text colors, and have added a couple of new features. I am ready to get back into a more regular posting routine. I have to say the EtsyPaper Team blog has kept me pretty busy (I am in charge of updating and posting to it for the team and have been trying to keep it going by posting often). I think it is going well but I do need to update a few things on that blog as well. Maybe today should be blogging day.

In the spirit of "updating", I am also planning on spending some time with my second shop, Marmaduke Alley. I have been enjoying creating new items for the shop and am now ready to start listing. I am also going to include posts for Marmaduke Alley on my Paper Peddler blog. Thanks to all of my blog readers for checking in even though I have been a bit neglectful with my posting. Rest assured that that is changing as I type:)

I wish everyone a happy and crafterrific day:)

$1 Deals - Look what I found!

2009-05-03T14:01:00.005-04:00

I ran across this little gadget at Michael's Craft store. It is used to help "antique" or "distress" paper edges. It was only $1 and I couldn't resist! I used it for the first time recently when I made the gift bag set for my hubby's birthday and thought it was really cool. What a great buy:)

A Slow Project...Just getting Started on a bit of Family history

2009-05-01T09:39:00.010-04:00

Well, I have started on a new scrapbooking project! I love looking through old photos when I'm at my parent's house and I ran across a box full of them when I was visiting for Thanksgiving dinner last year. As I got to the middle of the stack I found a pile of very old black & white/sepia photos from my mom's childhood. Old photos of friends, family & days gone by. I knew that my mom (being non-creative) would allow those photos to sit in that box indefinitely so, I quickly confiscated them. I did tell my dad that I was taking them, though. I grabbed some really great supplies made just for this type of project and after sitting in my own box for quite a while, I am in the beginning stages of scrapbooking all of those wonderful old photos.

I had a "lull" in the shop last weekend and thought it would be a good time to get started. I have gathered everything together and started sorting the photos. My grandfather celebrated his 90th birthday on April 5th but is still sharp as a knife so my plans are to take a day and sit down with him to see what he can tell me about the photos and the people in them. Then the fun can really get started. I really love to scrapbook but honestly, don't get the chance to do it too often. That means this will be a S.L.O.W. G.O. project for me. I am excited nonetheless. I have taken a few photos of the beginning stages and will update on the blog as I slowly go along. It is so important to preserve the memories of the past and a little bit (or a lot depending on what my grandad can tell me) of family history!

New Bags!

2009-04-27T12:49:00.010-04:00

Today is my hubby's 48th Birthday! I have recently been into making gift bags (ever since I made Valentine's Day bags for my girls) and thought the occasion deserved a cute bag or two! This is what I came up with and I absolutely LOVE the set!!!! I am hoping to get the chance to make a few more and list them for sale in my shop. The paper I used on these (pictured) was K&Company's NEW DayDreams Collection. The paper is so cool I am not sure if I want to sell it in paper packs yet. I may have to hoard it all to myself:)

2009-04-22T16:27:00.001-04:00

Paper Piecing Crazy

2009-04-16T22:18:00.013-04:00

I finally got the craft room ALL cleaned up and organized (and now, messy again) and I took to the craft table. I think I have gone paper piecing crazy! I have always enjoyed making piecings but the ideas just seem to flow smoothly right now so, I am taking advantage. It doesn't hurt that they have been selling pretty quickly either. The Spring themed sets sell really well at this time of year and I am loving putting all of my new paper collections to good use. I am also offering free secondary shipping on all paper piecing sets this month.

My girls have even taken an active role in the paper piecing process. I choose a simple design (so far just trees) and I let them decide which style of tree they want to make, and I also let them choose the paper (with a tiny bit of guidance, of course). Then I show them which buttons to push on the cutter. We always make one extra of each and I give it to them to glue together and use in their artwork (I glue the ones I list in my shop). They enjoy seeing their creations listed on the computer and when their set sells, I give them the money. They love being a part of my shop and get really excited when one of the sets they helped make go to a good home. I hope they take away good memories from helping mom with her craft shop!

My 2nd Shop - Welcome to Marmaduke Alley

2009-04-13T09:02:00.007-04:00

I haven't spent a lot of time on promoting it, but I do have a second etsy shop. I opened Marmaduke Alley in September, 2008 and have had a few sales (I actually had my first sale within a day after listing items). I spend so much time creating and stocking supplies in Paper Peddler that I really miss actually creating other things like altered notebooks, cards, premade scrapbook pages...paper crafting in general. I was originally adding these type of items into my Paper Peddler shop but it seemed very cluttered (after all we only get 10 sections to organize). So, I decided it might be a good idea to open up another shop with the purpose of having a place devoted only to the paper crafts I have made. I haven't added much of anything to the "new shop" in a while but thought I would work on it this week. I am slowly adding some of my cards, bookmarks and other paper and gift things and will see how it goes. It is my hope to sell a few things here and there so it will allow me a chance to be creative (other than supply type things) and maybe even experiment a little with some new techniques. Stop by and take a look, let me know what you think!

What do you get a Paper Peddler for a birthday gift?

2009-04-09T11:17:00.007-04:00

Yesterday I celebrated my 32nd birthday! My hubby and girls took me shopping and one of the craft stores we went to has apparently updated their scrap booking section. I was in paper heaven. So many new paper collections, in high-quality, top brands. I started loading the buggy up like crazy! I did good and put a few things back (it will give me something to look forward to when I need a "paper fix"). So, I came home like a kid with new toys and the family knew they would find me in the craft room the rest of the day (week,lol). I have started putting the paper to good use and will soon be listing paper packs from the new collections!

MULTIPLICITY - I wish there was three of me

2009-03-28T11:15:00.004-04:00

I was feeling quite overwhelmed and busy the other day (but it was a happy & satisfied busy) and I thought how great it would be if there were three of me. I would have me #1 "live" in the craft room. Running my shop, EtsyPaper team, blogs, newsletter (which I have yet to put out this year:( ), and crafting non-stop! Me #1 would not need to stop and eat food or even sleep - just etsy 24/7. Me #2 would take care of the house (cleaning gets thrown to the wind when I'm busy crafting), play and spend tons of time with my girls and hubby. Me #2 wouldn't have to even go into the craft room. Me #3 would handle everything else. Me #3 would do the bills (always on time), school volunteering and committees, and errands. I don't know if me #3 would eat and sleep? Since there is only one me, and I have to take care of all the things me #1, #2, and #3 would do, I am considering buying a book about "Time Management", lol!

Envelope Seals Galore

2009-03-17T08:32:00.012-04:00

After many requests & custom orders for larger quantities of envelope seals, I am happy to announce that my shop will now offer envelope seals in packs of 100! I am starting out with a small selection of customer favorites/best sellers such as the Amy Butler BELLE collection (my #1 selling seal set), and will add different collections throughout the month. A pack of 100 seals cost $10.00 (that's only $.10 per seal). I will continue to offer plenty of my regular 30ct. packs as well. I am starting out slowly with the larger quantity packs but will gladly take requests for 100ct. packs not listed in shop. I can make these larger quantities in almost any paper collection currently listed in my shop. Interested? Convo me!

Using Your Cricut Scraps - Something Fun for the Kiddos

2009-03-16T08:49:00.010-04:00

For all of you Cricut machine owners & lovers: I thought I would share this idea because it is a good way for your little ones to feel like they are included in your creative endeavors, as well as finding new uses for the scraps you might just throw out!

Spring is here again and I am starting to add lots of pretty paper piecing sets back in shop. I cut out a long strip of balloons for a custom order and added the leftover paper to my scrap box. My younger daughter (who loves to go through my scrap box) was using the cutout strip to trace the shapes onto paper and color them in. As I continued to use my Cricut to make new paper piecings, I began to take the shapes cut from heavier/thicker" card stock sheets and set them aside for her. They make terrific stencils and she now has an over sized envelope full of them. She gets excited each time I tell her that I have added new shapes for her to trace. She and her sister spent a good part of the weekend tracing the shapes and creating garden themed artwork. It's always nice to have your children happily creating art while you "work" on your crafting and this idea is something that will keep them busy (even if only for a little while) and happy to have such a cool mom that shares shapes from her "fancy cutter"!

Back to Blogging....

2009-03-11T11:22:00.003-04:00

Whew! March is came in like a lion!!! I had an absolutely terrific, but extremely busy week last week. I am now all caught-up and ready to go again. I was the busiest I've ever been in shop - I sold a total of 95 items from Sunday, 3/1 - Sunday, 3/8. It was amazing! My EtsyPaper Team was also featured on Blockhead Radio Saturday morning, so I was busy trying to get things together for the live radio webcast and promoting the event as much as possible throughout the week, including running and posting on our team blog. Now that we have the show behind us and orders are all caught up, I am ready to resume blogging here and adding new spring pretties to my shop. So, on to the next thing...

USE YOUR INACTIVE LISTINGS ON ETSY!

2009-02-23T10:16:00.009-05:00

WAIT! Don't delete those unwanted listings, use them!!! I have found a great way to save money on your etsy shop listings and thought I would share. I have a few pages worth of "Inactive Listings" in my etsy shop, things that I change my mind about selling or someone purchases them in a custom listing, or things that are close to expiration. I have started to use these inactive listings to my benefit. I figure why not? I have already paid for them. So, one of the main things I use them for are custom/reserved listings for customers. I usually use an inactive listing that is really close to expiration, say in a week or so. All you do is go into the listing you want to use and edit the information to fit your needs. Because this custom listing may be far along in your shop search results, I would suggest you convo your buyer with the listing link once you have set it up (so they can find it easily). I also find inactive listings are great for items that are a day or two away from expiration - things you want to give a little more time but without putting them at the front of your shop and without paying a new re-list fee. I even use them for some "leftover" or "destash" items that I prefer to just slide into the shop. Sometimes I just don't care about certain items rolling through the front page on etsy and I don't want to add another fee to my bill. Remember, you have already paid for your inactive listings so USE them to save a little money here and there!

It's easy!

Go into your "inactive listings"

choose one with an expiration date that will give you the amount of time needed for the newer listing

Edit and add the new listing title, description, photos, price ,etc.

Finalize and your done

Save money!

SWAP BOT UPDATE!

2009-02-19T10:03:00.001-05:00

Time for an update on Swap Bot - I found SWAP BOT through a few of my sales that were for swap bot trades. I finally got curious enough to take a look and found it to be a really cool site. It's simple. You sign up for free and you can look for swaps to participate in or you can host your own swaps. There are swaps for any and everything. After the sign-up deadline for you chosen swap(s), you are matched up with another participant and sent their name and shipping address. It's that simple! Then you basically do a trade or swap. After you receive your swap items you will rate your partner on a 1-5 scale and they rate you. I have participated in two swaps so far that were very easy and fun. The coolest thing about my second swap was that it resulted in a sale for my shop! I received a note in the message to seller box (on a purchase receipt) that the buyer had been partnered with me for a "card candy/ scrapbooking embellishments swap". She looked at my swap bot profile which linked to my shop and she made a purchase. How cool! I think Swap Bot can be a great advertising tool for your shop, especially when you participate in swaps that relate to the type of products your shop sells:) I will definitely be participating in more swap bot swaps!

VALENTINE'S DAY 2009

2009-02-16T08:48:00.016-05:00

Valentine's Day has passed and I wanted to share a few photos of the girls and their handmade Valentines for school. The girls made foam ladybug bookmarks (over 50 of them) and I made them each a cute Valentines bag to carry the bookmarks in. I was originally only going to cover the bag with pretty heart paper but once I got started, I got a little carried away. I figured with all of the great paper crafting tools I have why not go all out. So, I added a first initial on each bag and a layered paper flower. I thought they turned out really pretty. I sat them on the table with all of the bookmarks in them and the girls were really excited and surprised to find them in the morning (they didn't know I was going to make bags for them). I overheard them saying "WOW!" and my little one kept saying, "They're Beauuuutiful". I think I may have to start making my own bags for gift giving!

ETSYPAPER TEAM NEWS FLASH

2009-02-12T09:45:00.006-05:00

I AM NOW THE PROUD OWNER OF THE ETSYPAPER TEAM SOCIAL NETWORK ON NING!!!!

I joined the etsypaper team in January of 2008 and I absolutely loved (and still do) the team. The Paper Team is a wonderful group of paper crafters and paper lovers that provide advice, support and friendship to each other. Everyone was happy to contribute their expertise and time to push the team along and make it a great one. Sadly, I have watched the participation level dwindle and decided to do my part to help the team grow and flourish. I want every single member to be a proud participant of the team! I want the team to be full of fun so that members stay motivated and continue to enjoy their etsy shops and their love of paper crafting. There are also several other team members who were feeling the same about the lack of member participation and excitement. Together, we are working hard to make some needed changes and bringing the team "back to life". Cat (a.k.a YMBD) , started the Etsypaper Team social network in January of last year and she did a terrific job. The ning site is our team hub where we post our photos, ask and answer each others questions and keep up to date with what's happening on etsy and with our team. She (Cat/YMBD) has been very successful with her etsy shop (I have to admit I studied her shop as a model for my own), and she has also adopted a child so needless to say she stays super, super busy. She just doesn't have the extra time to devote to the ning site and so she has passed it on. I jumped on the opportunity to take over the site. I just hope I can make the team proud!

GETTING READY FOR SPRING!

2009-02-09T10:04:00.006-05:00

Valentine's day is almost here and it's time to get ready for Spring! I will keep a few Valentine's Day items in shop but am moving my focus to all things Spring. I have started "planting" bunches of paper flowers sets in shop and I also have a huge selection of Springy paper packs. Stop by the shop and grab your little bit of Spring!

THE POWER OF ONE - LISTING QUANTITIES IN YOUR ETSY SHOP

2009-01-28T22:53:00.006-05:00

When I started selling items on etsy, I often wondered why other people would only list one item at a time. I always listed in twos or sometimes even threes. I watched successful shops and soon began to follow in their footsteps, listing quantities of one. I wanted to share this with my fellow etsy sellers because I believe it has worked really well for me. Even though I often have 2 or more quantities available at the time of listing an item, when I list one at a time I have the opportunity to be "seen" each time I re-list. I list one, sell one, and instead of the remaining quantities sitting in my shop and getting older, the re-list is scrolled back onto the front page giving me more visibility and possibly new visitors into my shop. It also gives equal time for the item to be listed without expiring. So, what if your customers want to purchase more than one item at a time you may ask? Well, it has been my experience that the majority of buyers wanting more than one of something will convo you and request more than one. Another good point, etsy makes re-listing a sold item extremly quick and easy! Listing in ones really keeps things moving in your shop!

NEWLY DISCOVERED - SWAP BOT

2009-01-26T13:28:00.005-05:00

Swap-Bot, I've just discovered it & think it is a super cool idea! Over the last couple of months I have had a few sales where customers asked me to send the purchase to a different address and include a note about a swap on Swap Bot. The last time got me curious so I set out to take a look. Swap-Bot is a cool site for trading/swapping pretty much anything you can think of. People come up with ideas for what they want to swap and set guidelines for the trade. After you sign-up, you'll receive the name & address of another person participating in the swap and boom! You send your swap items to them and they send swap items to you. There is literally any & everything to swap. If you have an idea, you can host your own swap. I am excited to say that I have signed up for my first swap (for valentine/ heart themed stickers) and will be sending them out tomorrow. I will post later about how everything went!

*SWAP-BOT* Check it out: http://www.swap-bot.com/

SETTING SALES GOALS ON ETSY

2009-01-22T08:53:00.002-05:00

On March 1st, Paper Peddler will celebrate its first birthday. I have learned so much about running a little business this past year and am very happy to have been able to have such a wonderful experience. I am looking forward to another great year in 2009. Once my business started taking off, I began to set little sales goals for myself. My goals were set in how many items I wanted to sell by the end of the month, or how many total items I sold over the entire time my shop had been open for business. I would set a goal like, "I want to have a total of 200 items sold by the end of the month". I usually fell a little short but was still extremely happy with my sales. Now, my business has grown (and is still growing), and I find that my goals are being met before the end of the month and I am setting "extended goals". My goal for January was to have 850 items sold by the end of the month. I am at 860, so I have extended it to 875. So, as I approach the end of my first year, I have set a goal of 1000 items sold by March 1st. I'm on the way there and want to say thank you to all of my wonderful customers who have helped me along the way. 1000 here I come!

NEXT BIG HOLIDAY - VALENTINE'S DAY

2009-01-07T08:53:00.007-05:00

Well, I made it through Christmas and a new year has started. Next holiday to tackle...Valentine's Day, of course! I love Valentine's Day crafting. I love the colors, I love the love theme, and I love that Spring is just around the corner! I have a ton of Valentine's paper, envelope seals, papercuts and the list goes on and on.... I am adding more each day so check out my shop for your love day crafting needs!

* You can browse through the sections or search word "Valentine" to see all of the pretty new items in shop: www.paperpeddler.etsy.com

NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION - PAPER PEDDLER NEWSLETTER

2009-01-03T10:36:00.006-05:00

O.K. So, I had the best of intentions with my newsletter in 2008 but didn't set aside enough time to put one out monthly. This year, I will be putting more time into creating and sending out my newsletter. I got wonderful feedback from subscribers and really want to make an effort to "make it happen" in 2009. I am currently working on January's newsletter and hope to send it out on or before Friday. Be on the lookout - of course Valentine's Day will be the main topic and I promise to make it fun!!!

*If you are not currently a newsletter subscriber, you may sign-up in the "newsletter sign-up" box on the right side panel of my blog - You will not be disappointed!

JANUARY CHARITY

2009-01-02T09:49:00.004-05:00

JANUARY CHARITY - ST. JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL

I have decided to continue to raise money for St. Jude Children's through the end of January. 50% of every card or card set purchased from my shop will be donated at the end of the month to this worthwhile charity. Thanks to all who purchased cards in December!

MY HANDMADE HOLIDAY

2008-12-10T10:45:00.011-05:00

This year I have decided to keep Christmas spending low and I have also decided to give handmade as much as possible. I wanted to highlight some of my great handmade finds and creations on the blog over the next couple of weeks. Maybe you'll find inspiration for handmade gift giving this year? My first handmade gift is this great little personalized necklace (which will actually spell "Natalie"). It is going to be for my younger daughter's 4th birthday (Dec. 28). I ordered it from a fellow etsy shop owner and can't wait to get it. You can find her great little shop (Daisy Chains) here: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5000527

HANDMADE PAPER CREATION - SANTA CARD

2008-12-08T13:42:00.005-05:00

Here's another cute card I made using pink handmade paper from my etsypaper team pal's shop: CS Paper & Beads. I think it may be time to purchase some more beautiful handmade paper soon.....

THE BIG PAPER SALE!

2008-12-06T18:18:00.005-05:00

I have too much paper (if that's even possible) and need to clear a bunch out. This weekend I will be adding tons of sale/destash paper packs and lowering prices on some of my regular paper listings (including Christmas packs). I am also offering FREE secondary shipping on envelope seals, minicard sets and all sale items (excluding paper packs). Drop by and bulk up on paper because I am ready to send some your way!!!

shop sale/destash link: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5661870

NEW IN SHOP - PHOTO TAG POCKETS

2008-12-05T17:22:00.006-05:00

Something new for scrapbooking - Photo Tag Pockets! I thought these would be a wonderful way to add several photos to a single scrapbook page. They are oversized tags with plenty of room for small, wallet sized or cropped photos and room on the back of each tag for journaling. Each set is held together with a brad and fit nicely into a matching "tag pocket". You just glue the pocket to your page and the photo tag set slides out and fans open to reveal your photos. A great solution for having too many photos and not enough room to display them all! I will begin listing these over the weekend. You can find them in the "Tags and Journaling" section or follow the link: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5661870&section_id=5343159

HANDMADE PAPER CREATIONS

2008-12-04T08:56:00.006-05:00

Today's handmade paper creation is this bright and cheery Christmas card. I used green handmade paper with inked edges, glittery holiday print paper, and a hand-stamped Christmas tree with jewel accents. My girls' school is collecting handmade Christmas cards to send to our troops so I will be donating this one to them. I thought it would be very appropriate since Chrystal's (she supplied my handmade paper)hubby is a proud member of the United States Marine Corp (oohrah!!!). If you would like to purchase handmade paper, please visit CS Paper and Beads: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5323828

HANDMADE PAPER CREATIONS

2008-12-03T09:42:00.006-05:00

I had fun making these tags! They feature pink handmade paper from CS Paper & Beads which I embossed with a cute little Christmas tree in the center. The embossing really stands out in person but is a little harder to see in the photo. You can view more photos of these tags as well as my other handmade paper creations by clicking the flicker box to the right. I have these listed in my shop in the "Tags and Journaling" section. If you would like to purchase some handmade paper, please visit CS's Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5323828

HANDMADE PAPER CREATION

2008-12-02T21:16:00.011-05:00

Here is a great card I made showcasing beautiful cream handmade paper purchased from my etsypaper team pal, CS Paper & Beads. I love the way it turned out! If you would like to purchase handmade paper, please visit her shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5323828

MY ETSY PAPER PAL - CS PAPER & BEADS

2008-12-01T23:15:00.007-05:00

I can't get enough of handmade paper! This month I am promoting one of my fellow etsypaper team members - CS Paper and Beads. She has a terrific shop full of gorgeous handmade paper, great cards and a few beaded goodies. I have personal experience with her handmade paper (some of which is made using my paper scraps) and am very happy to promote this seller and her products. I thought a nice way to show off her handmade paper would be to create with it. I have a nice little stash that I purchased some time ago and figured this would be a good opportunity to use it. Each day this week, I will show off my handmade paper creations. Feel free to stop by CS Paper and Beads and purchase some paper for your own crafting pleasure - you will not be disappointed!

Visit CS Paper & Beads: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5323828

DECEMBER CHARITY

2008-11-29T10:48:00.007-05:00

It's a new month (well, almost) and time to choose a new charity organization. One of the main things I think of when I think about Christmas is kids, so I thought a charity that helps children would be a perfect choice for December. I chose St. Jude Children's Research Hospital as my charity for the month. St. Jude Children's hospital does a lot of wonderful research and work in fighting childhood cancers and they never turn down a patient because of an inability to pay. You can explore their website here: http://www.stjude.org/stjude/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=f2bfab46cb118010VgnVCM1000000e2015acRCRD

I will donate 50% of all card and card set sales in December to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. You may shop my cards by following this link: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5661870&section_id=5767297 Card sets are just $6 for a set of four and single card prices vary. This is a great opportunity for you do a little shopping and help a very worthy cause at the same time. Let's make a difference in December!

A "Greener" Paper Peddler

2008-11-25T14:10:00.003-05:00

SHOP ANNOUNCEMENT:
In a effort to save some trees, orders will no longer include invoices unless they are requested. If you would like an invoice for your order, please add a note to seller in the message box and I will be more than happy to include one. All retail shop orders will continue to recieve an invoice with their orders. Thank you very much for your understanding in this matter - your business and continued support are greatly appreciated!

HAPPY VETERAN'S DAY!

2008-11-11T09:14:00.004-05:00

JUST FOR FUN - THIS DAY IN HISTORY

2008-10-30T09:58:00.005-04:00

I thought it would be fun to start a "this day in history" post so....

On this day in history, October 30, 1938 - Radio broadcast of The War of the Worlds, starring Orson Welles, caused nationwide panic among listeners. The radio adaptation of H.G. Wells's War of the Worlds caused a nationwide panic when listeners thought aliens had landed in New Jersey. It was perfect timing considering the following day was Halloween!

NEWSLETTER NEWS

2008-10-27T10:45:00.005-04:00

Just a note - The next Paper Peddler newsletter will be distributed via email on November 15th. I'm gearing up for Christmas and am putting together what I hope will be an enjoyable newsletter. If you haven't already signed up, you may do so by entering your email info in the newsletter sign-up box on the right side panel of this blog. Happy crafting!!!

THE TRAVELING PAPER PEDDLER

2008-10-25T10:46:00.009-04:00

The Paper Peddler has had many new travels since the original post in July so, I thought it would be fun to update the list of countries PP has "traveled" to.

PREVIOUS LIST:

Canada
Australia
Israel
United Kingdom
New Zealand
Greece

NEW TRAVELS:

Italy
Japan
Russia
Turkey
Poland
Germany
France

NEW and IMPROVED MINI-CARD SETS

2008-10-04T10:19:00.004-04:00

All mini-card sets now have "lick & stick" envelopes. I began to think about my mini-card envelopes and noticed they weren't the kind of envelopes that could be "tucked in". I didn't think most people would want to use ugly tape either so I found a way to apply glue that's just like the "BIG" card companies use. TADA! Lick & stick - now go buy some mini-cards!!!

NEW HALLOWEEN GOODIES IN SHOP!

2008-09-29T09:43:00.004-04:00

October is almost here and we all know what lurks around the corner... HALLOWEEN!!! I have tons of wonderful Halloween paper goods in shop now and am adding more on an almost daily basis. Spooky sparkle paper pack samplers, mini-card sets, envelope seals and even a couple of great DIY kits and gift sets. Grab your Halloween papercraft supplies now because they're going fast! Click on the link below or search word "HALLOWEEN" in the shop search box to see all of the wonderful items listed for sale!

Halloween goods: http://www.etsy.com/search_results_shop.php?search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_5661870&search_query=halloween

NEW POSTS COMING SOON!

2008-08-17T10:26:00.004-04:00

It has been just a little less than a hectic month so far with custom/retail orders and my girls going back to school but I am getting into the new swing of things. I am planning on posting to the blog this week so check back. Thanks to all for your support!

NEW FOR AUGUST - NEW STUFF TODAY

2008-08-01T10:54:00.004-04:00

Get ready for TONS of new items in shop - I will begin listing all of the new and wonderful items as promised in my July newsletter throughout the day (and week). Lots of NEW K&Company, DCWV, making Memories and more. Paper packs and samplers, envelope seals, paper piecings - something for all paper lovers. Be sure to check in with the shop, you are going to love it!!!

AUGUST CHARITY - ATLANTA 2 DAY WALK FOR BREAST CANCER

2008-08-01T10:45:00.005-04:00

The Atlanta 2 day walk for Breast Cancer takes place in late September. I have done pretty well with selling greeting card sets for this cause and have decided to extend this charity through August. To read more about this, check out my original post under JULY CHARITY. You may also donate without making a purchase by clicking the link below or the link on the side panel "Alicia's Page". Thank you so much for your support!

HAPPY AUGUST!

Alicia's Donation Page: https://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=254912&supid=224444690

Paper Peddler Cards for Charity:http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5661870&section_id=5414716

ANOTHER TERRIFIC ETSY FIND - ALL NATURAL BOO BOO PACKS

2008-07-29T10:46:00.003-04:00

Well, here is another great etsy find - boo boo packs from the Home Grown Pillows shop. When I posted my sock monkey feature, I ran across these really cute sock monkey fabric boo boo packs. I purchased one (my youngest, Natalie seems to have some kind of injury at minimum once a week- she's like an Evil Knievel) and have already used it a few times. These boo boo packs are just great! They are all natural, filled with flax seed and can be kept in the freezer or heated in the microwave for a warm compress. The boo boo pillow covers are removable for cleaning and the shop has a ton of cute fabric choices for the pillows. Another wonderful thing about my boo boo pack is that it is flexible. No stiff ice packs here. The flax seed is loose so the boo boo pack easily wraps around heads, hands, scraped knees - you name it! It is a nice cooling pack but not too cold (or wet) like the frozen packs or bags of peas (lol). I even used it this morning when the sloppily packed items in the refrigerator decided to come flying off the shelf and the BIG & heavy pickle jar hit my finger (OUCH, IT REALLY HURT!). The seller was also great, she provided fast shipping and easy to follow directions on the care, maintenance & use of my boo boo pack. This shop also offers neck, back & eye wraps as well as pretty throw pillows. You really should check it out! I highly recommend HOME GROWN PILLOWS!

Home Grown Pillows etsy shop link:

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5562706

NEWSLETTER COMING!

2008-07-27T20:11:00.004-04:00

The Paper Peddler newsletter is in the works and will be distributed shortly. I had plans to send it out yesterday but unfortunately, the site I use has been under maintenance. I am currently working on it and hope to send it out late tonight or in the morning. I want to apologize for the delay and I hope you find it worth the wait!

NEW IN SHOP - RECYCLED GREETING CARD GIFT TAGS

2008-07-25T22:06:00.008-04:00

I have had a bag full of "old" greeting cards sitting in my craft room for way too long and have thought long and hard about what to do with them. These are my "discards" (no pun intended) for various reasons such as: My card crafting style has changed and I just don't like them anymore, glue issues (like cards curling up), or there's something just not not quite to my liking . Some are in great shape but I recently updated my card shop and styles and these just don't fit in with the new cards. So what should I do with them? I've put too much time, effort and supplies into them to trash them. I've considered donating them, but who would need this many cards and I hate to send out less than perfect cards with my shop name on the back. That's not good advertising! So... this bag has been staring at me and I have moved it around the room quite a bit but no good ideas. I don't know what happened but I am definitely getting the whole "go green" fever and then the idea came to me. I am turning these cards into gift tags! I grab a random handful of cards and go to town with the scissors! Trim the edges, round corners and punch a hole - Boom! Brand new (and very lovely) gift tags. Re-purposed! I will be adding these gift tags to my shop over the next couple of weeks (I have A TON of cards to cut up). The sets will vary in style and colors and each set will have at least 20 or more tags. Put them on everything that needs a stylish tag! Check them out and let me know what you think!

SIGNUP! SIGNUP! SIGNUP!

2008-07-25T14:11:00.003-04:00

PAPER PEDDLER'S 1ST NEWSLETTER IS BEING DISTRIBUTED VIA EMAIL TOMORROW - SIGNUP TODAY FOR:
*new items announcement
*shop sales & promotions
*a quick and fun scrapbook layout
*crafty tool product review
*paper pad backing craft project

SOMETHING FOR THE BIRDS - CHECK OUT THIS ETSY SHOP!

2008-07-24T11:47:00.007-04:00

My family have recently (over the last couple of months) become avid backyard bird watchers. My husband set up a few bird feeders and a couple of birdbaths and we jokingly call our backyard setup a "bird sanctuary". The girls have taken a great interest in birds and we spend dinnertime watching the birds feed and listening to them chirp. We have our dining table set up in front of our sliding glass doors so our view is up close and personal (though we do have to tell our youngest daughter to sit down quite a bit because she is always getting up to see the birds).

I recently ran across a new etsy shop that sells hand painted gourd birdhouses. My husband had mentioned that he would love to have a gourd birdhouse and when I found the shop I knew one of these birdhouses would make a perfect anniversary gift for him. The shop was so full of beautiful choices that it was very hard to choose only one. I decided to go with the one that had originally caught my eye. The shipping was great and I received my order very quickly. I was in love the minute I pulled the birdhouse out of the box! Bright colors and a "kooky" design - I was so excited that I didn't bother to wrap it. I couldn't even wait until my anniversary (which is on Tues. 7/29) to give it to my husband. He's on vacation this week and I thought he could enjoy it more while he is around the house. He was/is very pleased with it as am I. If you are looking for a fun & stylish birdhouse (even if you're not), you just have to take a look at earthwormartwerks etsy shop. The shop motto is, "if it don't move, PAINT IT!". I am SUPER pleased with my little birdhouse and will definitely purchase more from this terrific shop in the near future!

Check out the shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5971659

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SYDNEY!

2008-07-22T09:37:00.006-04:00

My oldest daughter, Sydney is celebrating her 5th birthday today! We are going to surprise her with breakfast at IHOP (she has been wanting to eat there for the last month or so) and then we are taking her and Natalie to the Georgia Aquarium (she doesn't know that yet either). I'm looking forward to a fun day. HAPPY BIRTHDAY SYDNEY!!!!!!

RING THE BELL FOR ANOTHER BRICK & MORTAR SALE!

2008-07-21T11:13:00.003-04:00

More BIG & EXCITING news!!! My paper piecings and paper flowers will be offered for sale at the Lillstreet Art Center in Chicago in their retail shop. I was contacted over the weekend and am super excited! The art center features adult classes, workshops and children's art camps & classes, as well as a cafe, art gallery and artist residents. They thought it would be fun to offer my items for sale to art students. If you are curious, their website is listed below. SUPER COOL!!!!!!!

Lillstreet Art Center: http://www.lillstreet.com/mm5/about.htm

TOO MUCH PAPER - GOTTA DESTASH!

2008-07-16T21:33:00.005-04:00

I was doing one of my "SUPER CLEANINGS" in the craft room and it hit me... "I HAVE TOO MUCH PAPER"! . So, in an effort to make make room for even more paper (that I really don't need but have to have) I will be adding assorted paper packs to my Sale category over the next week or two. Take a look and I'm sure you'll find some paper you just have to have.

SALE CATEGORY LINK:

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5661870&section_id=5343162

NEWSLETTER NEWS!

2008-07-12T10:28:00.003-04:00

I am making plans for my 1st Paper Peddler newsletter which will be distributed the last week of July. I am also planning on putting out a regular newsletter once a month. It's going to have lots of good stuff - simple & fun projects, featured customers & etsy shops, organizing tips, promotions, and more. Sign up is simple! You'll find the sign-up box on the blog side panel. Just enter your email address and a pop-up box will appear. I promise you will not be disappointed. Sign-up today!

THE TRAVELING PAPER PEDDLER

2008-07-09T23:44:00.008-04:00

When I started looking at a way I could provide "instant gratification" for my international customers, I thought it would be fun to list some of the countries Paper Peddler has traveled to (shipped products to) so far. I hope to add many more!

PAPER PEDDLER'S TRAVELS:
*CANADA
*AUSTRALIA
*ISRAEL
*UNITED KINGDOM
*NEW ZEALAND
*GREECE

NOW SHIPPING WORLDWIDE!

2008-07-09T19:34:00.003-04:00

I have had a lot of requests to ship outside the U.S. & Canada lately and have put a good bit of time into answering convos, researching and giving shipping quotes, and creating custom listings for my international customers. After some studying and research on the US Postal Service site, I am happy to announce that I have come up with a (cost & time effective) way to provide international shipping. My international customers can purchase from my shop right away without having to convo back & forth over a couple of days. International shipping (outside of the U.S & Canada) is as follows:
$3.00 for the first item
$ .60 for each additional item (except paper packs)
$2.00 for each additional paper pack

NEW POST COMING!

2008-07-08T09:08:00.004-04:00

I have been staying pretty busy the last couple of days but I have plans for a few new blog posts. For all of my loyal blog readers (& anyone else interested), I am planning on spending some blog time time tomorrow - so please check back!!!

A FUN TRADE - MY 1ST ETSY TRADE & A NEW LOOK

2008-07-05T10:50:00.005-04:00

I've had quite a few etsy friends who have participated in trades and I have finally done one, too. I was contacted by a fellow etsian who wanted to do a trade for a paper pack I had listed. He designs shop banners and offered to make one for me in exchange for the paper. Well, it was a great trade! Take a look at my new banner! I am using it in my shop and also for my blog. I do love my original banner (of course! I designed it), but I thought it would be fun to have another one to change my "look" from time to time. It's like a new pair of shoes! The trade was easy and I am definitely willing to participate in another one sometime!

*If you are looking for a custom shop banner, visit James' etsy profile and send a convo with your request. He can be found under the user name Ajagee24701 - look him up! He does excellent work!!!

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!!!!!!

2008-07-04T10:33:00.013-04:00

Here are a few Independence Day inspired items in my shop:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=12608421
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=12444106
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=12317801

Have a safe & fun 4th everyone!

SOCK MONKEY CRAZY!

2008-07-02T16:57:00.016-04:00

Sock monkeys are really popular right now (& I happen to think they are really cute!) so, I have added a couple of sock monkey themed items to my shop (and will be adding more). I thought I would do my own little "blog treasury". Take a look at the links below to see some of my favorite sock monkey listings from other etsy sellers - Enjoy!

A few of my favorite Etsy Sock Monkey Listings:

*http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_list_10&listing_id=12998860

*http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_list_3&listing_id=13028906

*http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_list_12&listing_id=10353762

*http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_list_3&listing_id=12721619

*http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_list_3&listing_id=9816055

*http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=vl_other_1&listing_id=12970597

*http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_list_9&listing_id=12947918

*http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=10906689

*http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_list_16&listing_id=9021643

PAPER SCRAPS ORGANIZATION IDEA

2008-06-30T22:36:00.012-04:00

THIS IS FOR ALL OF MY FELLOW PAPER LOVERS OUT THERE!

I'm the Paper Peddler and so I have plenty of (my husband would say WAY too much) PAPER!!! I wanted to share a great way of organizing all of your paper scraps. This has worked wonderfully for me and I hope you can use the idea. This method works really well for those of you who purchase paper pad collections. I use a large accordian file case system and it holds plenty! I label each section with the company/brand name and the collection name. When I have scraps, I put the collections together in an envelope (the Hallmark kind because they are a good size) and write the name of the brand & collection on the outside. Then file away in the appropriate spot. DONE! A simple & super easy way to help you stay organized!!!

Helpful notes:
*I keep blank sticker labels so that I can add new collections or labels when needed.
* I use envelopes so that I can file 3 or 4 different collections in the same section. (like I said, I have a ton of paper)
* Ask for envelopes at a card store or big box store when they are getting ready to reset after holidays. I got a huge stack of envelopes from the greeting card rep that services my husband's pharmacy.
* I do have to go through the scraps every now & then to make space for new scraps (I can usually tell it's necessary when the file will not snap closed).

NEW CHARITY FOR JULY - ATLANTA 2 DAY WALK FOR BREAST CANCER

2008-06-28T10:39:00.011-04:00

July is almost here and that means it's time to choose my next charity of the month. This month I have chosen a wonderful charity - this month is extra-special! My best friend Alicia was diagnosed with breast cancer just a few days before Christmas (2007). She has gone through Chemotherapy and is now going through radiation treatments. So far, she has done wonderful and is beating her Cancer. We have been friends since we were ten (for over 20 years) and the news that she had Cancer hit me pretty hard. Alicia is a strong girl and is doing the Atlanta 2 Day Walk for Breast Cancer, which will take place September 20-21, 2008. This event will raise money to fund programs that provide early education, diagnosis, research, treatment and much more. I have chosen her walk as my July charity.

*REMEMBER* 100% of all greeting card sets sold in my Paper Peddler shop & 50% of all card sales from my Chickadee Cards shop will go to Alicia for the Atlanta 2 day Walk for Breast Cancer!

I am including links to both of my shops and also to Alicia's personal donation web page if you would like to make a donation without making a purchase - Thanks in advance for your support and generosity!

Paper Peddler: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5661870&section_id=5414716

Chickadee Cards: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5337635

Alicia's Page: https://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=254912&supid=224444690
(Alicia & me - 1994)

MORE NEWS TO SHARE - ON THE CHICKADEE CARD FRONT

2008-06-27T13:52:00.014-04:00

I was contacted in March by a lady who owns a company that hosts cupcake decorating parties. She was looking to add a "cupcake boutique" to her online website and offer cupacake themed items for party favors/upgrades and for sale to customers. She was admiring my cupcake puzzle card and wanted to offer it in her online shop. I replied to her request but didn't hear back from her (so I figured she wasn't interested or didn't like my pricing). Guess what? She contacted me a couple of days ago because she didn't see the puzzle listed in my Chickadee Cards shop. She wanted to know if I was still interested - Of course I was! She explained that she is still tweaking the site to add her cupcake boutique but has definitely decided to offer my puzzle - yay!!! I will post more when her site is finished - I just thought I would share the news!

WOW! THAT'S A LOT OF CARDS!!!

2008-06-24T14:38:00.007-04:00

Well, here it is. This is a photo of the completed order (my 1st retail order) - it includes 108 mini cards & envelopes and 100 hang tags. They have been packed up and shipped out!

NEW IN SHOP - ENVELOPE SEALS!

2008-06-23T12:51:00.011-04:00

Another great use of all the pretty & cool cardstock scraps - envelope seals are now in shop! They come on sheets and have permenant adhesive (just like all of the stickers I collected & loved when I was a little girl), in sets of 30 and cost $3 per pack. Each seal measures 1.75" or 2" (depending on the set). I have listed them in the newly re-named category: Mini Cards and Seals and have included a link below. I am selling sets in "collections" - Amy Butler, K Marcella, Making Memories and more. I will also be selling mixed sets soon. I've sold a few sets so far and will be adding a ton more so be sure to stop by and take a look!

A few good uses for seals:
*envelopes (well, of course!)
*scrapbooking embellishments or journaling spots
*close up bags & packages
*hold ribbon on a gift
*just to look pretty

In my shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5661870&section_id=5343167

ALTERED NOTEBOOK

2008-06-22T23:00:00.013-04:00

I have always admired "scrappy" items like altered notebooks and have wanted to try making one myself for sometime. I finally took the plunge and created this one last night. I used card stock from K & Company's WILD SAFFRON collection and I love the way it turned out! I am considering selling these in my shop but I am keeping this one!

EXCITING NEWS!!!

2008-06-19T10:11:00.005-04:00

I am super excited! I have always wanted to be able to say that my products are sold in a shop(s) outside my own and now I can! I was contacted Tuesday afternoon by a lady who owns a baby boutique in Cape May, New Jersey (Happy Baby). She was interested in offering my mini cards for her customers to purchase and also in hang tags for her packaging. After a few emails and a phonecall, I am happy to announce that I will be filling these needs for her (hopefully on a regular basis). I've already got a large custom order to fill!

In addition to this wonderful news, I was contacted Tuesday night (same day, I am on a roll) by another lady who will be opening an online baby boutique (Happy Chickadee) in August. She was interested in using my mini cards and hang tags for her shop packaging. Again, after a few emails I am happy to announce that I will be supplying these items for her and already have a huge order to fill. I am hoping to have a long lasting relationship with both of these shops - so wish me luck!

APPLE TREES

2008-06-16T17:25:00.004-04:00

Just thought this was cute - my oldest daughter (Sydney, who will be 5 in late July) brought me her drawing and in an instant I knew exactly what I was looking at, APPLE TREES! I mounted it on red cardstock and then put it in the artwork frame purchased just for my girls' special works of art. This fun drawing is now hanging in my craft room and every time I look out the windows (which is quite a bit), my eyes are drawn to her little apple trees hanging in the frame between the two windows.

HANDMADE PAPER - I'M IN LOVE!

2008-06-12T09:41:00.004-04:00

ETSYPAPER TEAM - HANDMADE PAPER

I belong to a "street " team within the etsy selling community called The etsypaper team. We are over 100 members strong and have our own social networking site where we can communicate and share ideas and photos of our paper related products. A few months (or so) ago, one of our members started a forum looking for suggestions on what to do with paper scraps. There were a lot of great ideas and after one thing led to another...... we decided that we should send our scraps to two of our members who actually make their own paper! I sent a 2lb. box of scraps a couple of weeks ago and everyone else is doing the same. This is a much better solution than just throwing scraps in the trash (you can only imagine how much paper 100+ paper crafters can go through!). We have tagged the handmade paper - Etsypaper street team paper. They (our paper makers) are also donating a portion of their handmade paper sales back into our street team fund. The papers are wonderful! After purchasing from both team members, I have a new paper love. The colors are bright and have a great texture, as well. If you are interested in buying handmade paper, the links to each shop are at the end of this blog (and also listed on the side panel).

Etsypaper team members who sell handmade paper:

Ragqueen (pictured paper above)

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5328180
CS Paper & Beads

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5323828

HOORAY FOR MDA - MAY CHARITY UPDATE

2008-06-10T20:31:00.003-04:00

Well my hubby was "arrested & released" from "jail" this afternoon in the MDA, 2008 fundraiser event. Our goal was set at $1200 and though we didn't quite reach it, we came in close with a total of $1016. We are very happy about that! Thanks to all who donated and purchased card sets from my Paper Peddler shop! The money is going to a great cause. We will continue to have our donation page set up through the month of July if there is anyone who wishes to donate but missed our main deadline. I will keep the link on my blog side panel or you may click this blog title or link below to be directed to our MDA donation web page. Thanks again to all - your generosity is much appreciated!

Our MDA donation page link: https://www.mdaevent.org/ParticipantInfo.aspx?j=f9fc1db6-899a-4e1a-ad89-3543882a911c

ANOTHER GREAT TREASURY - ANOTHER GREAT CAUSE!

2008-06-08T23:35:00.003-04:00

I have been featured in another treasury for a cause! This treasury was selected by DZ Designs (who also happens to be my 1st featured clever customer). She chose the theme Breast Cancer awareness and titled her treasury "What a Pair". Check it (and all of the featured sellers) out by clicking the link below!

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=49527

ETSY TRESURY WEST!

2008-06-05T11:46:00.003-04:00

I've had a lot of luck being featured in treasuries this week by my wonderful fellow etsypaper team members - I've been in 3. It's always nice to be in a treasury. Today I've been featured in a treasury picked by someone outside of the etsypaper team. I woke up to a wonderful convo this morning telling me that my MDA card sets were being featured in a treasury west titled "cards for a cause" (a terrific theme!). The curator also told me that she chose 2 more of my MDA sets as alternates - backups if some of the main featured items sell out. It was such a nice surprise, be sure to check the treasury out!

CARDS FOR A CAUSE
treasury west link: http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=12081

COMING SOON!

2008-06-03T21:53:00.005-04:00

Mini cards, paper pack samplers and pretty paper flowers have done well for me but I am looking to add a couple of new things to my shop soon. I have been working on a few ideas and will soon be offering envelope seals, collections journaling tags (journaling with a twist), and I also hope to add "DIY" kits/packs, as well. Keep your eyes open for these fun new items! They will certainly make an appearance in my blog when I begin listing them.

JUNE SPECIAL - MINI CARD SETS

2008-06-01T12:00:00.014-04:00

ON SALE NOW THROUGH JUNE 30th - mini cards & envelopes sets!!! All mini card sets have been reduced to $3.00 for the month of June. Mini cards are one of my top 4 sellers - regular price is $3.50 a set. The pricing has been adjusted (to $3.00) and they are ready to go. You'll find lots of my favorite cardstock collections like Amy Butler, K & Company, DCWV and even the newest LOTUS collection from Amy Butler and I will be adding more throughout the month. Be sure to stop by and grab a couple of sets. They're perfect for gift tags and enclosures, lunchbox notes, friendly little hellos, love notes....the list goes on & on.

HOW CLEVER! MY 1ST FEATURED CUSTOMER, DZ DESIGNS

2008-05-31T16:07:00.016-04:00

So Exciting! My 1st featured "crafty customer" is DZ DESIGNS. DZ has a great little cardshop on etsy where she's done very well! I love browsing through her cards because she always has something new to offer. Birthday cards, invites & save the dates, Faher's Day , love, wedding & baby cards (oh, my) - If you want it, she's probably got it! If you are looking for top quality, handmade cards, you have to visit her shop. Look with caution though, with so many wonderful choices it may be hard to decide which beautiful cards to buy! Just take a look at a sampling of her wonderful cards (these were made using supplies from The Paper Peddler):

Birthday card using 3D party hats and "Party" sparkle paper piecing. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=11490160

"I'm there for you", Breast Cancer Awareness card made using pink awareness ribbon diecuts.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=11625649

Birthday card using sparkle ballon bouquet paper piecing. Simply stated, but beautiful.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=11489990

VISIT DZ DESIGNS :

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5376609

* If you would like to be my next featured "clever customer", please send me an email at: mypaperpeddler@yahoo.com

Be sure to include your name, email address, photos of your work (attached, please) and the link to your etsy shop if you have one.

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! to DZ DSIGNS for allowing me to feature her beautiful cards on my blog!!!

RAISING MONEY FOR THE MDA (Muscular Dystrophy Association)

2008-05-17T16:30:00.008-04:00

Two years ago, my husband was contacted by a representative from the MDA (Muscular Dystrophy Association, a.k.a. Jerry's Kids) about helping to raise funds that would send local kids (with Muscular Dystrophy) to summer camp. The theme was that he (along with other participating business owners/managers) were being sent to "jail" and had to raise "bail" money to get out. We were able to to raise just enough to bail my hubby out and it looks like he is going to jail again this year. (What a criminal!) It is our goal to raise enough money to send two kids to summer camp this year. It costs $600 per child to attend a week of camp, so we are hoping to raise at least $1200.

In my own effort to help raise funds, I am now selling blank greeting cards (in sets of 4) in my shop and I am donating 100% of all greeting card set sales to "bail" my hubby out of jail (the MDA). Each set is top quailty, features beautiful designer cardstock papers, and comes tied together with a pretty ribbon (they would make an excellent gift). They are selling for $6.00 a set (not a bad price for what you get, huh?). So, if you want to help a great cause and would like a beautiful set of notecards, just visit my shop and grab a set or two!

MY ETSY SHOP - MDA GREETING CARD SETS link:

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5661870&section_id=5414716

If you would like to make a donation, please visit my husband's online collection site at: https://www.mdaevent.org/ParticipantInfo.aspx?j=f9fc1db6-899a-4e1a-ad89-3543882a911c

THANKS IN ADVANCE TO ALL!!!

A CRAFTY EVENING

2008-04-12T18:57:00.004-04:00

TAKING A BREAK

I am ahead of the game as far as creating and listing new items go, so I plan on doing a little scrapbooking this evening. I am currently (and have been) working on scrapping my youngest daughter's #3 birthday photos. Princess theme. I plan on adding some photos of my crafty work when it's all complete (check back in a few months, haha).

THE DAILY BLIP - MINI NOTECARDS, BIG ON STYLE

2008-04-03T16:43:00.012-04:00

My Mini Cards - put them to use!

My mini notecards were one of my top 3 sellers in March and I can understand why. They may be small, but they're big on style! I use great cardstock from favorite designers/collections like K & Company, Amy Butler, and K Marcella. All mini cards measure 2.5 or 3 inches. The mini cards come in three different styles. They come in a flat (postcard) style, standard folded style and also a flat, silhouette cut design. They come with or without envelopes, though the standard folded style with envelopes are the most popular. I am steadily "stocking up" on mini cards and trying to keep new papers/designs fresh and fun.

Mini-card Uses:
1. mini- cards (I guess that's a no-brainer)
2. gft tags
3. gift card enclosures

4. journaling spots for scrapbooking

5. little love notes to your honey

6. lunch box notes

These ideas are just a sampling but I know that there are probably a hundred uses not listed - use them for whatever!!!!

MARCH - TOP 3 SELLERS

2008-04-01T16:40:00.013-04:00

These are the top 3 selling items for the month of March.

1. Paper Flowers

2. Paper Pack Samplers

3. Mini notecards &
Mini cards with envelopes

MY 1ST MONTH AS THE PAPER PEDDLER

2008-04-01T12:52:00.007-04:00

WOW!!!!!!

Today marks the 1 month anniversary of The Paper Peddler on etsy (and hopefully there will be many more to follow). I am having tons of fun with my new shop and have sold 70 items from March 1 to April 1. I am keeping busy replinishing sold items and creating new ones, and have gotten wonderful feedback from my customers! I have even had the opportunity to create a few "custom orders". I am loving it and can't wait to see if the upcoming month will be as full and fun !!!!!

Pretty soon, I will begin featuring some of my customers "creative works" using my products and I hope you will enjoy taking a look. I have had quite a few repeat customers which help me to realize that I am in the "right" business for me and I may have possibly found my niche (I hope).

So, I guess to sum it all up I just want to say......

Thanks everyone for a great 1st month!

THE DAILY BLIP - BUTTON, BUTTON, WHO'S GOT THE BUTTON?

2008-03-14T11:46:00.009-04:00

PAPER BUTTONS - all the pretty without the bulk

O.K. So people are loving these diecut paper buttons. I cut them using popular designer cardstock/paper collections and have sold almost every set I list within a day or two of listing. They look great, have nice details like scalloped edges, come in square and round shapes and four different sizes. Talk about variety! Plus, since most of the cardstock I use is doubl-sided, you get even more options in the "look" you want. I only have one set listed right now but never fear! I will be making MORE button assortments to list this weekend! Be sure to check them out. If you would like a certain color scheme or designer paper you don't see, feel free to contact me and I will certainly do what I can to make it happen for you!

THE DAILY BLIP - Paper Posies

2008-03-10T16:06:00.013-04:00

*** Pretty Paper Posies***

Spring is approaching and you will soon find a lot of these "paper posies" blossoming around my shop. They are beautiful to look at and so much fun to make! They have 3-4 layers that are held together with a brad in the center and are crinkled to create a look of softness like real flowers.

Think of all the great things you could do with these flowers!!!!!!

Ideas:

*scrapbooking

*cardmaking (both obvious ideas but still fun)

*decorating (I've seen a suggestion of putting a bunch of these "pretty side up" in a bowl or vase for a table decoration)

*attaching to gift tags, gift bags or presents

*anything else you might think of!

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=10152114

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=10141277