New signs in my etsy shop

It’s been a very long time since I created any new designs for my etsy shop!  

This ‘Home Sweet Home’ wreath actually came to be because of a special request from one of the gals at my Post Office.  With as frequently as I am there shipping orders fro my etsy shop; they have asked ‘what I do’.  I gave them business cards so they could see my signs in my etsy shop.

One of the gals came across something on Pinterest that she wanted to replicate, and was asking for my advice on how to do so.  It was a wreath with ‘home sweet home’ in the middle (like this!) on some old wood slats.

As I was telling her how to do it, it occurred to me that it would be much easier to SHOW her how to do it.  I invited her to come over to my place where I can SHOW and tell her how to do it.  I already had a stencil very similar to the wreath she wanted, but I could NOT find a stencil anywhere that resembled what she wanted.

Sooooooo, I turned to my ‘go to’ stencil gal, Amie from ScrappinAlong and had her custom make the ‘Home Sweet Home’ stencil to my specifications.

By the way, through July 6th, she is offering a 30% discount on all stencil orders.  If you are in need of any stencils, NOW is the time to buy them!!

I had her size the ‘Home Sweet Home’ stencil to fit the center of a wreath stencil I already had, but of course it can be used alone too.  I was just using up whatever pre-painted scraps of wood I had on hand, and added the flourishes to fill the extra space.

She also designed this sign per my request; to go with the crowns I have in my booth at Stars.

The crown stencil for it is also available.  Since I’m talking about custom stencils, I may as well tell you about this one that Amie designed for me too!

It has a stencil of “… and God bless” then the entire alphabet in the same font so you can personalize the sign with any name.

What do you think about the ROUND ‘Home Sweet Home’ wreath sign??  It was a bit of an afterthought . .  . I’m kind of undecided on whether or not I like it round.  I was also thinking about a rounded one with a more scalloped edge around the leaves?? Just trying to come up with something new! I’m starting to get a little bored with making the same signs over and over again!

For the Portland area locals, Stars IS open this holiday weekend and on Monday, July 4th; 11am – 6pm.

As always, my booth is crammed full of goodies!!

Beach cottage decor in my etsy shop

It’s been a while since I blogged about my etsy shop; so here you go!  A post about the great beach cottage decor items in my blog.

LOTS of Framed white fingerling starfish.

Great hung alone, or in a group.

OR hang a sea glass wreath with a couple of framed starfish.

 This is the very LAST of the sea glass wreaths that I will EVER be making.  I had stumbled upon a ‘once in a lifetime’ AMAZING buy on the glass to make these; and I’ve finally used it all up.

For as ‘simple’ as they appear to be; they are EXTREMELY time consuming to make also.  There is NO way I could actually charge for the amount of time I put into them. Lesson learned.   Even though they were so labor intensive that they can’t be make ‘profitably’; they really are beautiful in person.

When I first got the sea glass and was sorting through it, I had set aside a few ‘extra pretty’ pieces.  Some uniquely shaped; perfectly round or square or like gumdrops.  they were just too special to mix in with all the other pieces on the wreaths.  So, I put together some little ‘treasure’ boxes for them.

I custom blended this glitter for these mermaid crowns.

And of course, beach cottage SIGNS in my etsy shop!

Half Price ‘Sign of the Month’ in my etsy shop

New month means a new HALF PRICE SIGN OF THE MONTH in my etsy shop.

Regularly $22.00; now just $11.00 while current inventory lasts.

Want MORE “half price action”?  Here you go!!  During the Stars Antique Malls Sidewalk Sale EVERYTHING in MY BOOTH will be 50% off!  Regular prices will show on the price tags; 50% discount will be given at check out.

As always, my booth is stocked to overflowing!

Vintage chenille bedspreads!  The bottom one shown is actually a bundle of TWO matching twin spreads.  Very difficult to find matching spreads.  I’m selling these as a SET only.  Regular price is $89.00 for the two.  $45.00 for the two of them during the sale is a STEAL!

A fresh batch of aqua and turquoise wall frames.

And lots of smaller ones (4″x 6″ – 8″ x 10″) with backing and glass.

All the other booths in Stars will be ‘on sale’ too; at varying sale % depending upon the individual dealers.

HALF OFF ANY ONE SIGN IN MY ETSY SHOP – Through June 12, 2015 only

I usually do a ‘half price sign of the month’ in my etsy shop.  As the end of May is fast approaching as well as my impending move; I was pondering what the next sale sign should be, since it’s availability will be shortened when I take my shop ‘off line’ for the move.

I’ve got a HUGE inventory of signs made for my etsy shop, which is usually a gratifying feeling.  Notsomuch when I think about packing and moving them though.  So, I smashed those two conundrums together and came up with a “HALF OFF ANY ONE SIGN SALE” in my etsy shop; now through June 12, 2015.  (the date I take my shop off-line to move.)

Read through this listing in my etsy shop for the particulars of how to get your 50% off any one ready made sign in my etsy shop.  (simply enter the specified coupon code at check-out)

THE 50% OFF SALE PRICE APPLIES TO:

*** ONE READY MADE SIGN ONLY.  NOT SETS OR SPECIAL ORDERS.

*** NOT VALID ON ANY OTHER ITEMS IN MY ETSY SHOP.

*** ONE HALF PRICE SIGN PER MAILING ADDRESS.

***  OFFER EXPIRES JUNE 12, 2015.

***  LIMITED TO CURRENT IN-STOCK ITEMS.

This is a ONE TIME offer that I will probably never EVER run again,  So if you’ve been wanting one of my signs, but holding off because of the price . . . get your half price sign NOW.  

Visit my etsy shop HERE.

Framed starfish

Will be putting these items in my etsy shop in the next day or so, in the newly added ‘BEACH COTTAGE DECOR’ section.

Set of two ‘floating’ white fingerling starfish, mounted on 8.5″ x 7″ (outside edge measurement) distressed aqua frames.  $37.95 + shipping.

These are REAL dried starfish; 7-9″ across.

Either frame can be hung either horizontally or vertically.

This second pair of frames is slightly deeper and larger, measuring 9.25″ x 7.25″.

The deeper aqua frames are distressed.

This set will also be $37.95 + shipping.

Single distressed turquoise frame is 7.5″ x 9.5″ and 1.75″ deep.

This one is $21.95 + shipping.

Unique 10.5″ round wood distressed aqua frame; $24.95.

I have three of these 9.5″ x 11.5″ distressed oval white frames with mounted starfish.

These are individually priced at $27.95 ea + shipping.

NEW! Beach cottage decor ~ in my etsy shop

Some large and small starfish plaques.

The large ones are 11″ across; have a sawtooth hanger on the back and are sold individually.

These smaller ones are 5″ frames; sold in set of three, as shown.

These small one have a sawtooth hanger for hanging on the wall and a removable wood peg for sitting them on a flat surface.

And I finally used up the last of my beach glass on these wreaths.

This one is light green and white.   These wreaths take take several days each to make.  Each tiny piece of glass has to be carefully hand selected to fit together just right, and is then glues in place. Once one layer is full, I have to let the glue dry for 12 hours before building the next layer on top of it.  There are approx 12 layers of glass on each wreath.

I make my sea glass wreaths on FLAT wreath forms instead of the tubular looking styro wreath forms.  But they are NOT flat once I’ve built up all the layers of glass.   I just think this way they are a bit more ‘organic’ looking.  Although it does take a LOT more glass this way!  The one made using the styrofoam wreath forms just look to ‘perfect’ to me.

Once I’ve added all the layers of glass, these beach glass wreaths are VERY big and full.  I even partially cover the back with glass so no bare spots will be visible when they are hung.This one is a brighter green with bits of aqua.

This is the back.  Not as completely covered as the front, but enough that you don’t see any bare spots on the back when it’s hung on the wall.  (and yes, the ARE very heavy!)

Looking at the side angel you can see how deep they are, and why that little bit of extra glass on the back is important.

Darker blues and aquas.

Such pretty colors!!

All these items are available to purchase in my etsy shop.

MORE half price signs in my etsy shop!

I’ve been offering a monthly ‘half price sign’ in my etsy shop for a while now.  All of a sudden last night, FIVE of the sale signs sold within minutes!    (The ‘deal’ is, that when they’re gone, they’re GONE.  I’ll list more of them once I get them made, but at the regular price.) Most months it’s not a problem, and the sales signs DO last through the end of the month.

But, I don’t want to be ‘one of those people’ who says “There’s a sale!” quickly followed by, “but we’re sold out!”  So, I was feeling the Christmas spirit big time and I ADDED three more sign styles to the half price sale for
December!

NEW “HALF PRICE SIGN OF THE MONTH” in my etsy shop

Happy September!  This has been a record hot and dry summer for us here in Oregon, and I am SO ready for fall weather!

A new month means a new half price sign on the month in my etsy shop!  This months half price sign is a BRAND NEW design instead of an old favorite.

“LOVE & HAPPINESS” (regular price $24.00) NOW REDUCED to $12.00 for the month of September, and while the current supply lasts*.

*(When current stock sells out, more signs will be added, but at the regular price)

Shop early for the best color selection.

A few more new signs just added to my etsy shop also:

BIG (approx. 14″ x 15″!) “TRULY  MADLY  DEEPLY” SIGN.

And a couple of ‘custom’ versions.  The one on the right is in my booth at Stars (2 of them) The one in the center is being saved for a gift.

New colors of “What happens at Grandma’s . . .” signs; in my etsy shop AND at Stars.

My own original design; “The French Market & Brocante” sign; on etsy only.

“OFFICE” sign; etsy only (for now)

Garden sign in my etsy shop only (for now.)

Will add more signs ‘in general’ to Stars when I get more made.  Right now I need to start ‘stocking up’ for the fall craft show!  Just 2 months away!!

HALF PRICE SIGN OF THE MONTH FOR JULY

New month, new half price sign special in my etsy shop.

Small laundry sign regularly priced at $19.95; now just $10.00 (+ shipping)  Sale valid via my etsy shop only.

I just made a nice big batch of them for this sale; lots of colors to choose from too.

Sale price is valid on current existing inventory only.  Sale ends at the end of the month OR when current stock sells out; whichever comes FIRST.  More of the small laundry signs will be listed again thereafter, but will then sell at the regular price.

Creating new sign designs

Been doing some more ‘mixing & matching’ with my stencils to create some new sign designs.  

I honestly can’t decide which top/bottom border I like best.  Which do you think looks best and why?  The original stencil was like the one on the right, but with the border at the bottom ONLY.  I really prefer the ‘balance’ of the borders on the top and bottom.

I designed this specialty sign shape a while back upon request from an etsy customer.  The customer flaked out on buying the custom sign, which left me with the leftover special sign shape.  What do you think about the borders at the top and bottom of this one??

I’m really trying to stay away from using the stencils ‘as purchased’ by changing things up a bit and creating more unique designs.  etsy is getting bigger and BIGGER and there is starting to be a LOT of the SAME items being offered by a multitude of different shops.  Hoping that having designs that they don’t see all over the place and over and over again will give my sales a much needed boost.

New style “Junk Collector” sign.  (Original stencil that I purchased was JUST the words; plain and simple.)

And it’s a perfectly fine sign like that.  I’m just trying to create more signs that people haven’t ‘seen everywhere’ already.

New style “Salle de Bains” sign; again, I just added the borders.

“Parisserie” with borders.  Can’t decide if I like this one better, or the “French Patisserie” below better.

With “French” being is such fancy scrolled letters, I’m thinking the borders would be TOO much added to this one.

ALTHOUGH . . . . the scroll lettering on this “Guest Room” works fine with the added borders.   hmmmmmm . . . .just MIGHT have to give “French Patisserie” with the borders a try!

And this is the sign that the borders came on.

“Laundry” has become my top selling sign; and I do already have it in several versions and sizes.  Just added this one to my repertoire.

Bathroom signs are a close second in sign popularity in my etsy shop; so I added this new design.

Looks like a string of dry days are headed our way.  I feel a furniture painting marathon coming on!