Pop-Up Event At West Elm!

Happy Friday! I've been getting ready for the SF Etsy Pop-Up Shop event this evening (5-9) at West Elm Emeryville. If you're in the area, stop by to hang out with a bunch of wonderful, local Etsy sellers, enjoy some treats, and take advantage of special deals! Speaking of special, I'll have some of my handmade flowers for sale. If they do well I may have to take a bunch to Renegade!

Have a great weekend!

Top 10 Etsy Selling Tips

I wrote a guest post for one of my favorite craft and DIY blogs, The Crafted Life today! Head over to read my top 10 tips for a starting a successful business on Etsy. I hope they're helpful to you, and of course, feel free to ask any questions. I'll do my best to answer them!

New summer products in the shop!

Can someone explain to me how it's Friday already? I guess time's flying because I've been working on so many different projects. In addition to getting ready to sell at the West Elm Pop-Up Shop event in Emeryville next Friday and Renegade SF in a couple weeks I've been wrapping up a couple DIY projects and working on some guest posts for a couple other fabulous blogs. I can't wait to share those, but in the meantime I'll share a few brand new products that I just listed in the shop.



First of all, What the Flock? Available on white and magenta stock, this card features a flock of long-legged flamingos, just hanging out, asking the hard-hitting questions.



My friends and family know I love me a weiner dog. I can't believe it took me this long to design and a card featuring my favorite short-legged canine, but here it is! So Long! This card would be perfect as a "going away" card but would also work as an anytime card, because dachshunds are just so long, ya know?



New Vintage Trailer coasters. I have this design available on notebooks and cards, so I'm happy to add coasters to the trailer mix.



Speaking of trailers, Let's Go Camping features a Mini pulling a teardrop. Makes me want to plan a summer getaway to the redwoods.



And speaking of summer, Surf's Up! 



If you follow me on Instagram you got a peek at these designs. My new cacti and succulent cards and coasters are based on papercuts. I love them and I hope you do, too! Coming soon on tea towels!



Brand new thank you cards in black and swanky gold ink. This designs is also available as a rubber stamp so you can stamp your envelopes yourself.
 
That's a quick run-down of the new products I've added in the last week or so. All products available on my shop site or on Etsy here and here. Looking back it's no wonder I'm having a hard time keeping track of the days! I hope you have a nice weekend! 

DIY Origami Gift Box

After this post, I hope you've dipped everything you could get your hands on in dark chocolate! Here are a few ideas for how to wrap them up into a pretty package for Father's Day.



Here's what you'll need:

• Wax paper
• Colored papers, vellums, card stocks
• Cello bags
• Twisty ties

 To wrap the dipped caramels, cut a stack of wax paper rectangles, about 5" x 4". Place the caramel in the center, wrap and twist, salt water taffy style. Once they're all wrapped, place them in a cello bag and twist off with a twisty tie.

Fold up a few origami boxes to hold your bags of treats! I used this tutorial, but used a different paper size. It's not in English, but I found the photos easy enough to follow. If you have some trouble, check out my pics and quick instructions.



Start with a letter sized (8.5" x 11") sheet of paper. I used this great teal vellum. Trim .25" from the long side, making a 8.5" x 10.75" sheet. Fold in half, unfold, then fold the ends to the center crease, making 4 columns. Fold the other side into 3 rows, approximately 7 cm each. Fold two corners of one end in. Fold this flap towards the center. Fold this flap up, creating one side of the box. Fold the next two sides up and crease diagonally. Fold the last side of the box upwards, creasing the diagonal ends. Fit the ends into the pockets inside the box. Done!



Place your treat bags inside your new boxes. What I love most about these is there's a little pocket on the outside for a gift card!



Fold up a box for each of your treats. Impress your dad on Father's Day with his handmade (and delicious) gifts! Have a wonderful weekend!

DIY Chocolate Dipped Snacks

My dad is impossible to shop for. Yeah, sure, he likes books and magazines, but ones that are so specific I'd never be able to pick them out in a bookstore. He's not big on electronic gadgets, grooming products, or accessories. So, besides a trusty Amazon gift card, my go-to gift item for him is something he can eat! He loves snacks! His favorites are nuts, peanut butter, dried fruits, and dark chocolate. With Father's Day coming up this Sunday I decided to make a gift of some handmade treats.



Here's what you'll need to make your own:

• Peanut butter filled pretzels
• Dried apricots
• Fleur de sel caramels
• Dark chocolate & 72% cacao dark chocolate bars
• Cocoanut oil
• Parchment paper

Chop up the chocolate bars. I used two, 1.75 ounce bars. Using a double boiler on low heat (or just make your own like I did with a bowl on top of a sauce pan with about 1" of water in the bottom) melt the chocolate with about 1 tsp of cocanut oil. Stir until completely melted.



Dip half of the pretzel (apricot, or caramel) into the chocolate and lay on the parchment paper to set. Refrigerate to help set the chocolate (it's been hot here the past few days so this was necessary!).



I was able to dip about 1/2 bag of the pretzels, 20 apricots, and about 15 caramels with this batch of chocolate.

Tomorrow I'll be sharing some packaging ideas so you can make your treats into a nice little gift for Dad on Father's Day!

Around the studio

I made these fun zippy bags for Patchwork and Maker Faire and wanted to share them here. These aren't a standard item that I stock and I only have a couple left, so if you're interested, head over to my Etsy to snag one while you can! Mini bags are available in red and yellow.



These bags featuring my Retro Ranch print are extra special because I screen printed the fabric myself! Available in a bright coral and teal.



I've also been working on a few new designs.  Here's a sneak peek at one: a new papercut based on my own succulent collection.

Happy Friday to you! As if that wasn't enough of a reason to celebrate, today is National Donut Day! Treat yo'self.

5 Citrusy DIYs to Try

And just like that: it's summer! I'm looking forward to warmer temps, trips to the beach, and maybe an inner tube float down the river. Oh, and I wouldn't mind sipping on pink lemonade under a beach umbrella. Get a kick-start on your summer crafts with these citrusy projects!



1. Gemstone bobbypins by Tell Love & Chocolate (I need to make these - so pretty!)
2. Great paper fruits by Mr. Printables
3. Handmade citrus stamp by Say Yes
4. Washi tape thumbtacks by How About Orange
5. Citrus doormat by The House That Lars Built

*All photos via their respective sources.