Thursday, August 27, 2009

Getting a Treasury 101 by KelliRene

Getting a Treasury 101


1) Check the status of both the main treasury and treasury west here:

http://craftopolis.com/index.php?com=tc

(This is a nifty tool that lets you know how much time remains on both

treasuries)

2) Choose your treasury "Title" and "Theme"


3) Prepare your treasury ahead of time using your Poster Sketch tool:

http://www.etsy.com/poster_sketch.php

This is where it is SO useful for members to have their "teamcac" tag in place on their items. So, when you search, add the key word you are looking for and add "teamcac" to your search. All members with that key word and tag will show up.

When you find an item you would like to add to your sketch, highlight and copy (control 'c') the listing number found towards the bottom just above the price. Then click in the item number box on your sketch and
paste (control 'v').

(You can shift your items around simply by clicking and dragging.)

*NOTE: Even though the actual treasury only shows the first 3 rows to the left (twelve items), you are highly encouraged to fill all spaces with workable items. Even the items that are on hold (to the right) are considered by the Etsy staff when choosing which treasury goes on
the front page.

**NOTE: It is now okay to add ONE of your own pieces to the treasury.

Just ONE.


OKAY! So, you now have your title and your treasury all ready to go!


The Clock is getting closer on one of the treasuries opening up. (Say, 10 to 15 minutes) Go to that treasury on Etsy:

Main Treasury:
http://www.etsy.com/treasury.php?ref=fp_nav_treasury

Treasury West:
http://www.etsy.com/treasury_west.php

Once that treasury page opens up:

1) Click on the last number (page) of the treasury.
2) Click "expiration date" a couple times until the lowest (soonest) expiring treasuries are listed on that last page.

Now you can see not only how many treasuries need to expire before it opens up, but you can also count back on the list to see the remaining minutes.

Here's a trick I do:

1) Write your title in the search bar above.
2) Highlight and copy your title (control C)

SO, when the treasury opens up and you are asked for your title, all you have to do is put the cursor in the box, and 'paste' (control v), then hit the submit button.


****HERE'S the important part*****
When the treasury is down to the last few before opening up, DO NOT HIT REFRESH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

~again~

DO NOT HIT REFRESH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know it's tempting, but you can easily lose your treasury by doing this. Just sit back, try to be calm, and wait for that box to open up.

There IS A DELAY after the last treasury expires. Sometimes that delay can feel like forever. But, even so, do NOT hit refresh. It WILL open up. And when it does, calmly click your cursor in the box and paste and hit the submit button.


And there you go! You now have a new treasury!


Okay, now the fun part! Open up your Poster Sketch in another window. Then, one by one, copy and paste your item numbers into the new treasury's boxes. (I'm not sure if there is a more efficient way to do this or not) Or, if you have not built your poster sketch, you can do your searching and pasting at this time.


Once it's all set up, PROMOTE PROMOTE PROMOTE!

It is good sportsmanship to visit other treasuries and leave positive feedback. It is also encouraged to click on each item in a treasury to increase it's chances of being noticed by the Etsy Staff.


That's about it. Hope I didn't forget anything!
Good luck and Happy Treasury Making!
Kelli.

Monday, August 24, 2009

Team Meeting


Here is a picture of Linda and Halo.
It is so great to see their smiling faces!

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Heart Smiles Blog Award

Team Christian Artists and Crafters


TeamCAC is growing so fast! Thank You Lord! The team members and moderators are searching for ways to reach out to others and be a blessing. Hosting a blog award is one way that we feel like we can be an encouragement to one another and to those around us on the internet.

If you have someone you would like to nominate, please convo a link to HamptonHouse or TeamCACModerators.

The main thing we are looking for is if it makes your heart smile. There will be awards given to team member blogs and non team member blogs every week. The winners will be posted on this blog. The award will be given out usually on Sunday.

The HeartSmiles Award was designed by Dionne @

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6912802

Dionne, thank you so much for sharing your talent with us! It is a blessing!

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Getting to know you CreekBedThreads aka Erin




What is your favorite quote? “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, for what is seen is temporary but what is unseen is eternal.”


What is your favorite movie? Chronicles of Narnia


What
is your favorite flavor of ice cream?I have a HUGE weakness for ice cream. So I pretty much love them all, with chocolate with peanut butter being my favorite. Dairy Queen’s vanilla sundae with hot fudge and peanut butter topping (gotta have both) is also a big favorite.


What is your three favorite things to snack on?Peanut butter MnMs Those cow tail caramel pieces Chips and salsa


Mountains
and snow or Beaches and water?Beaches and water definitely, mainly because that’s what I grew up doing every year for summer vacation. I do love mountains and snow, just never really been around it much so it’s not my ideal.


What is your favorite TV show? Wipeout  Hubby and I got rid of cable and don’t have an antenna, so we occasionally divulge in watching Wipeout on the internet. We laugh so hard, our favorite part is the big balls.
Do you have a hero, if so, who? why? Jesus Christ! I know that’s probably the “standard” answer, but truly, a man who is also 100% God, who would die the most painful death possible to save me from an eternal fire is certainly my hero!


What is your favorite song at the moment? Hmm… well, we’ve been listening to a lot of Fernando Ortega and Sara Groves… so anything by them. I think my favorite right now is probably “In the Girl There’s a Room” by Sara Groves, but really it changes daily.

What kinds of music do you listen to? I listen to mostly Christian music, but hubby (and therefore me) has been convicted lately to make sure the Christian music we’re listening to is glorifying to God and to check out the personal testimonies of each artist. I used to love country music, so it’s been a bit of a change, but we’re getting used to it! Chris Rice, Sara Groves, and Fernando Ortega are some of our favorites.


How long have you been creating? I’ve been creating all my life! I’ve always been a very artsy/creative type of person, and I used to do lots of crafts when I was younger. I’ve always drawn and painted. I used to get my mom’s old sewing machine out and fight with it occasionally, but never took it very serious until lately. Etsy opened up a whole new world to me, allowing others to see my work and even buy it! You mean someone actually wants to buy what I make?!?!?! I never grew up expecting to sell the things I make, but I’m loving it now. That occasional sale keeps me going!

What inspires you? A lot of my ideas just sort of pop into my head at really random times… but if I am struggling with inspiration, I try to pray about it, and spend some time looking through Country Living (I love this magazine. It is great. A whole bunch of people doing things I love to do, and making a living out of it!), or going outside and spending time in nature. Hence Creek Bed Threads.


Is there any kind of music you listen to when you create? Not usually, I typically am so engrossed in what I’m doing, music would either be a distraction or just not noticed at all! I work very intently.


What's your biggest artistic disaster to date? Hmmm… I’m not sure, really. Most of what I make turns out alright, though when I was younger I made some pretty hideous Christmas ornaments!


What's your favorite piece that you've done? Well, one of my favorites that is in my shop is the love pillow made out of scraps that were lovingly sent to me from Anita (AMKreations)! It was special to me that I was able to use discarded pieces of fabric that had been Anita’s, and that were too small to be used for her bags, but I could still turn them into something pretty! My other favorite is a painting I’m working on at home; though it needs some attention… it’s been forgotten lately. It’s a painting of the egg photo I have in my other store (AuntEsThings). I dyed the eggs with my husband and my younger cousins; we had a great time doing it, and it’s a wonderful memory.


What's the best advice you were given when starting out?The best advice I was given is to be confident in your work, and to list new items often!


Do you have any advice to give others? Just keep doing what you love. I obviously haven’t had “great” success on Etsy, so I’m not sure that my advice is worth much, but I think it’s so important to not just cater to your customers, but to do what you really think looks good and do what you’re inspired to do. It’s important to keep customers in mind, but I think that if you’re confident about what you’ve done, and you really love what you’ve made and are proud of it, customers will come.


What's coming up for you; any big plans artistically? I just started a website, so I’ve been working on that, hoping that I can draw in a “non-Etsy” crowd. I also will be doing my first craft show in November, pending acceptance. I really hope that I can go to the craft show, I think it’d be a good venue for me.
Where can we find you? Both online and in stores.http://www.creekbedthreads.com/EtsyI am just starting to consign at a local shop called The Monkey’s Trunk in Mars, PA. Nothing there yet, but I hope to take some things down tonight, actually.

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Prayer Tuesday...Praise

Good morning Etsy friends and fellow Christians. This morning started out slightly rough for me. I drove into work only to realize halfway there I forgot something at home. Since my husband and I carpool we went the full way to work, dropped him off, then I turned around and went back home. On my drive I decided to count it a blessing to be able to spend some quiet time alone with God. I turned off the radio and just opened up my heart.
My heart lately has been desiring a need to know my Lord more and right before the words of all my needs and hurts came pouring out, I stopped and realized- how often do I just thank Him and praise Him for all He has so abundantly blessed me with. For how much He chooses to love me day after day? For His bountiful grace?
It was at that moment I paused and thought of all He has done for me. I started to pray, but not just over my list of things and needs, but with praise. I praised Him for the small things- like the beauty of nature, the changing of the seasons, the majesty of the sky. How much He is evident in nature, how often He chooses to show us a small part of Him in all He has made. I thanked Him, truly for all He has given me. As I started it was easy to go on and on and on....HOW MUCH He has given me, and I realized how easy I forget. I forget yesterdays provision, last months blessings, last years needs met.... And of course the simple things that I ask for throughout the day. How often does He hear thanks from me? How often does He receive the praise He is soooo deserving of?
I want to challenge you today to reach out and praise Him, stop and thank Him for what He has given you. You will be surprised that once you start, you may not be able to stop.
Today's post is different than Prayer Tuesday, it's Praise Tuesday. Please stop and leave a praise for something He has done for you. And not really for me to hear, but for all of us to see how great is our God!!!

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Prayer Tuesday

Good morning etsy friends. It's Tuesday and I'm excited to once again invite you to share your prayer requests here. I can promise you I will pray for each one as you share them.
How great is our God that takes time to listen to each petition we make? I am feeling so small, compared to the greatness, the hugeness of who God is.
Last night I watched a message by Lois Giglio on Youtube. It was about the greatness of God. I wanted to share it with you and encourage you to watch it if you'd like. It will encourage you, inspire and maybe move you like it did me. If you would like to check it out go to Youtube.com and in the search field type in "Lois Giglio How great is our God."It has five videos, and it's pretty awesome.
I pray you have a beautiful Tuesday and I will be checking in to see your requests. Or maybe you would like to share a verse or a praise. Let this be a place of encouragement and growth. Let me leave you a verse I read today that I love:
"Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.
He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength."

-Isaiah 40:28,29