Kreadoe

Last Saturday I went to a big show with my mom. It was so exciting! This show had everything to do with being creative :) Lots of stands with companies and people, trying to show and sell what they have made. You can think of paper / cards (and everything that has something to do with it like stamps, ink, pencils, decorations), jewelry, glass, and even cupcakes and how to make that! It was awesome :)
We walked passed all the stands for at least 5 hours and I still didn't want to leave at the end of it.. Just so much to see, many ideas and hundreds of people sharing the same interest.

The whole show definitely opened my eyes and I got lots of new ideas to work with now! I bought a couple of new materials for techniques I have never used before. Getting exciting to try them all out!
I already tried out one; using distress ink. This is ink that you have to paint onto paper, same technique as aquarel, using lots of water. First of all you need some picture stamps. Then you can color in these stamps, make a nice card with it and voila! Done :) If only was it that easy... I love it, as I also get to draw / paint, but it takes lots of time.. But check out these cards and tell me what you think!

I also bought more materials, but I haven't gotten the chance yet to try those out. Maybe later this week. Will keep you posted! Check out these cards and more on www.designs4ever.etsy.com

Christmas prep

Again... a long time ago since I have posted my last post. A lot has happened since then, I must say. In the summer I moved to a new country, or even bigger, I moved to a new continent! Back to my home country; the Netherlands. And I'm loving it here! 

It's full time autumn here already, which means storms, rain, cold and almost all the trees have changed color already. It smells fresh and I can't wait to get onto my bicycle again to ride in the forest, before I come home and have a nice big cup of tea and read my magazine! Mmm...

I'm finally settled nicely again and I have even started making some new Christmas cards. The handmade greeting card business is much bigger here than in the States, so I have more competition. But I rather not see it that way, as I don't really try and compete. I am just doing what I love to do :) 

So I made some Xmas cards as the holidays are around the corner. Christmas stuff has appeared in the stores, so I decided it was time to bring out my cards and tools and to start creating some new ideas / cards!

I hope you like them. For more cards, you should check out my website www.designs4ever.etsy.com

Well, let me continue and try to put my 100 ideas on paper :) Till next time!

Getting the spirit back!

After a couple of weeks of no inspiration, I finally found it back :)

I'm happy again thinking of new ideas and making the cards. 

Sometimes that happens to me, not feel like doing anything! It's hard to actually pick up the materials again and start creating new cards. You would think it is relaxing, that you would always want to make cards, but for me it didn't work that way. 

But glad I'm back in the swing of things! Keep an eye out on my website for some new cards soon :)

Getting my name out there

Oh my, I can't believe where the time has gone! My last post was before Christmas and that is already 3 months ago... In the meantime a lot has happened!

Business wise I went to a craft fair for the first time. That was a lot of fun and I learned a lot as well. How to sell, what to say and you get more feedback from people, so you know where they are interested in. Online you only know where they're interested in, is when they buy something. But at a craft-fair you get reactions all the time.
After this fair, I realized I had to upgrade and change my website a little. Put some different type of cards online. So that's what I did, and we will see!

I find it quite hard to get my name out there; you have to advertise a lot and be out there all the time. There are so many others in the same business.. So even though I have started my business 4-5 months ago (and it feels much longer!!!), I still have the feeling that no one knows I exists.
It is just a hobby, but I have to compete with all the 'real' businesses. It takes time!! But on the bright side: I already had quite a couple of sales, that must say something!

In the mean time I am just enjoying the spring. Leaving Designs4ever for what it is, grab my book and sunglasses and go sit in the sun on my balcony! Somehow Georgia skipped the winter and has gone from autumn straight into spring / summer. The weather is great, although the pollen count is incredibly high. But besides that I love the warmth and sunshine. I bought some herbs and planted them in baskets. My first strawberries are about done and I can't wait to taste them. Gotta love life!! :)

Holiday rush

I was, like most of us, pretty busy the last couple of days / weeks! Some late presents still had to be bought, the last couple of things of food for the Holidays as well, and because we were going away I also had to pack the bags. Busy!! That's why I didn't get a chance to write anything at all. But now, with most pressure gone again, I can finally sit down with my drink and write down what I have been doing lately!

Well, that's quick and easy, because business wise nothing really has happened! Yesterday was the first day again after 7 days that I sat down behind the desk and took all the craft material out. After updating all the websites, and catching up with everyone, it was too late to still make some new cards. So that's what I did today! I will add some photo's tomorrow, as it is too dark now to take some nice ones. 

But the cards look great! It is a whole new style, never tried it before, but they came out awesome! :) 

They are very simple, and have a picture made out of wire on them. I put some beads on the wire and there is your animal. The cards look cute, and I hope they will sell soon! 

Let's hold thumbs..

Variety Packs

Time for a new post. The weekend has flown by and I have been busy! With the hubby away I could use all my time to create some new cards.
Slowly I have been making a couple of Love / Valentine cards, but mainly I have been working on some variety packs. In that way people don't have to buy 1 or 2 single cards all the time, but they can buy a pack of 8 or 10 all at once, which will save you quite a bit of money! These packs will have a variety of cards in them, like birthday cards, thank you cards, get well cards, love cards, new baby born cards and plain cards you can use for all occasions! I think it is a great idea!
And then the designs... I didn't want just simple standard cards that everyone can make, so I tried to create some different types / sizes of cards. Have a look for yourself! If you want to see more pics / info of the cards, check out my website on Etsy!

I am still playing around with ideas, and what I can combine together to make it work. Let me know if you have any ideas / suggestions / comments / requests!

Shopping!

So here I am, sitting down with my cup of tea, looking at all the stuff I bought. Do you recognize that?! I went to the store to get one small thing, and one thing only. Turns out... I walked back to my car with 3 full bags! Whenever I go to these craft-stores, I just have to buy stuff. It gives me so many ideas, and when I see all the craft-accesories, I just want them!
I decided, even though it is still a week before Christmas, to start focussing on Valentine. The new year is around the corner and before you know it, it will be half way February. So keep your eyes out for some Valentine / Love cards! They will appear on my website soon :)

So here I am, not knowing where to start. I want to make all my ideas straight away! Well, I guess I'll enjoy my cup of tea first, looking out of the window hoping for snow..