Busy Busy Busy

So Were have I been for the last couple of weeks? Well I have been super busy getting ready for an event(I am so excited this is Creative Corners first event)

My cousin began selling Initials Inc and asked If I would go in half for a table at an event this weekend!  I was thrilled to get the invite and have been working hard getting ready for it

Making pendants for sale, making a display, ordering business cards(super excited about these and I can get matching items for my shop later-- the only thing is they dont match my current theme directly but I think they coordinate)

My cards I ordered may not make it in time so I will have to print temporary cards, order forms, and decide if I am going to offer a giveaway.

I am also starting a newsletter for the Creative Corner-- you will be able to sign up right here on the blog-- included in every newsletter will be a coupon and a newsletter only pendant--Pendant of the month that will only be available to newsletter subscribers!

My day job (college instructor) very busy there too-- getting ready for Graduation, finals, and a new quarter with classes never taught before! Definitely ready for my summer break:) it will give me more time for Creative Corner:)

I hope this blog post finds you well
 Check back soon for updates about the event:)

Happy mother's day

I would first like to wish my mommy a very happy Mother's Day!

I hope that all of my wonderful customers have a happy mother's day too!!!!


A treasured moments pendant custom with my moms daughters birthstones in crystals

A couple of custom pendants

I have the most awesome customers

We have to remember our nana's and Mimi's this weekend

Pricing your work

Probably the hardest thing about selling your handmade products is pricing them. You dont want your prices too high but you don't want them too low either. I have read several blogs, and articles on how to price your work, I just recently realized I am making nothing probably going in the hole actually:( this was very hard news for me to hear and see.

This time on ETSY I have made several sales both online and off, I began researching how to make my business official and begin keeping books, it was only then that I figured out I was not making as much as I thought I was

I want to give an example
For my scrabble tiles I had listed them for $5.95
Expenses to make the tile--$2.18
Fees to sell the tiles-- $1.50
Shipping fees--$2.82
Total cost to make --$6.50

Wow that brings me to negative 0.55

I found this formula to price your work

Labor cost+ materials+ expenses x 2.5= retail value

For my scrabble tiles it would be

3.50+ 6.50(I have already added the materials and expenses together) x2.5= $25.00

That is a little too steep but that is what it retails for I am selling the for $8.50 for a regular tile and 12.00 for a custom photo pendant

I really didn't want to increase my prices but in order to make a profit I have to. At 8.50 please realize I only bring in $2.00 per tile sold

New trend in jewelry now available in treasured moments

As I have searched for jewelry inspiration I keep seeing these interesting but beautiful pieces.
Handstamped sterling silver with GPS coordinates of a special location, home address, just about anywhere.  I though yeah I can do that on my scrabble tiles and offer yet another option for my wonderful customers

I am going to offer the scrabble tiles completely custom you choose the color, you choose the font, you choose the coordinates.  It will be easy to do through the ETSY shop 

Go to this website to see your GPS coordinates-- just type in an address you want and it will generate your coordinates

1. Purchase the listing
2. Choose your font
3. Choose your background color
4. in notes to seller please give the coordinates (you can copy and paste from the website)
5. checkout using paypal the fastest and safest way to pay online
6. you will receive an e-mail confirming order 
7. You will receive a shipping notice e-mail with tracking number
8. receive your pendant and remember to come back and give feedback-- it really helps 

You say I really like this idea but not sure what I would use as my coordinates, here are some ideas
*a special vacation location
*home address if you live away or a college student to remind you of home 
*long distant relationship 
* your vacation home address
* an upcoming vacation and you could say meet me there
* and more 

now take a look at the pendants ( no editing done on these photos, sorry I just took a quick photo to share here)

Until Next time
Happy Crafting
Danielle Co

Tile letter

Part of the fun of getting my pendants is the ability to customize the back letter to something you want like an initial!

I have lots of custom orders in person ( not through etsy ) that wants special letters. I had a situation last week that really made me feel bad, I had a customer request a letter that when I got back to my studio didn't have one?????? Out of 300 tiles and missing a letter:( I contacted the customer and explained what happened, thankfully she is very understanding and said she would wait there was no hurry. I placed an order through my vendor which usually ships out within 2-3 days post payment.... Not this time it has been 1 week and the tiles won't be here until Monday. Which means it will be Wednesday before I can deliver it. Now keep in mind my customer is being super awesome about the whole thing I don't like it and will do everything I can so that it won't happen again:)

I have changed my policies on requesting tile letter, trendy kitty pendants will be on random tiles and only treasured moment pendants will be on letters of your choice. Please keep in mind that tiles are in limited qty.

I want to express a huge thanks to all of my awesome customers that are keeping me super busy:)

Processing times

I have had several questions regarding processing times, I decided I would explain my process here

For treasured moments pendants

* I create the digital image or crop your digital photo down to size
* I get the tile ready
* I adhere the image onto the tile and let it sit 24 hours
* I apply the epoxy/resin on top of the image on the tile and let it sit 24 hours
* I package up the tile pendant
* I mail or deliver the pendant charm

For trendy kitty pendants
* I get the digital collage( usually purchased from etsy) ready
* I get the tile ready
* I adhere the image onto the tile and let it sit 24 hours
* I apply the epoxy/resin on top of the image on the tile and let it sit 24 hours
* I package up the tile pendant
* I mail or deliver the pendant charm

The total processing time for a pendant is a little over 48 hours

I work Monday-Saturday, only ship Monday-Friday, typically Saturday is spent photographing new pieces, marketing, listing on etsy, or working on orders!

These times are for my normal everyday orders not holiday or large orders which need additional times