Just Because

So I visit my blog to keep up with the blogs I follow... and it's been too long since I've had a fabulous photo up. So there one is. This pic has been on my mind lately... I'd forgotten I'd taken it until my sis mentioned it. (sisters are somehow just fabulous like that) and now it's stuck in my head :). So here it is. I made her a tote with this for her birthday, but it came out a little screwed up since I used a REALLY old sheet of transfer paper... so I forgot to take a picture of it. oops. (oh, and I gave her other stuff too... I'm not that mean)

My Etsy sales are a little down too (read: non-existent)... so just because... 10% off any item purchased with this photo. And if you think this sounds like a fun idea, I may even make a point of doing this weekly. Each week having a sale on a different photo. Comment if you like the idea... visit etsy/email me if you want the photo ;)

available as any standard size commercial print from wallet to 16x20, greeting cards (approx 5x7), note cards (approx 4x5), magnets, gift tags, tote (with new transfer paper ;-P), or high resolution prints up to 8x10. All prints up to 8x10 (commercial or high res) can be matted for up to 11x14 frame. matting will be included in the 10% off deal. If ordering via etsy, mention this blog post to receive a 10% rebate on applicable items, or convo me for a special listing.

-Betsy

Coupon for me? Coupon for YOU!**

So I stopped in Michael's today to exchange a broken paint pen... Hopefully the new one works, cause it was definitely an "off the books" exchange. Nice lady though :).

In any event, I had a coupon, so I went to do my normal supply shopping that I do whenever I get a good coupon from Michaels. WELL, their note-cards? WERE ON SALE! So I didn't feel bad AT ALL getting another size in stock :-P. All photos on SomethingBetsy.etsy.com... are now ALSO available as NOTE cards - 4x5.5 (quarter fold size).

**And as a special "thank you" to those who read the blog (and to pass along my savings)... message me on Etsy with the photo you'd like, and the size card, and you'll get $2.00 off on a set of 10! All cards are signed and the title of the piece is written on the front.

Happy shopping!

-Betsy

P.S. If you don't want to join Etsy... but you want some cards... e-mail me ;)

Well, it's over.

I was all excited to post a contest - I thought that maybe the people who read my blog but didn't "follow" it (cause I know you're out there) would "follow" and that maybe a few new faces would appear. And a few more followers did come in, but... only ONE PERSON entered the contest!!!?!?!? 

Now, I LOVE her, and I MISS her dearly, but seriously - ONLY ONE!? 

Well... 

any of you out there who were thinking about it but thought my goal of 30 followers was too high and so "didn't bother"  

HA!

Fidelio my dear, I'm going to be needing that address.... :-P

 As an aside, while I didn't get 30 followers, I DID say I might be generous. Right HERE. So no complainin! :-P

If you've decided that you want your OWN set of memory cards, or that now you're sad you didn't enter... you'll just have to visit my Etsy Shop and request one or you can just be nice and leave a comment on my blog somewhere :)

CONGRATS MY FRIEND!!

-Betsy

Treasuries!

 I had one of my new photos displayed in an Etsy Treasury today - check it (and all the other stuff) out HERE

I was in another treasury earlier this month HERE

And I was featured on a Facebook Page HERE

My CONTEST is still running for a few more days too.

-Betsy

New Series - Beaches

First of all, I find it amusing that I've posted so much after saying I'm only going to when I feel like it, lol, but I did get a new series of photos up - all beaches - on Etsy. So I figured I should put it up here too :-P

I grew weary making ACEO's, so at the risk of losing out on sales, I removed all "one click" ACEO's from the shop - it's all standard-size photos or greeting cards now. :-P

These are a sampling... there are a bunch more!

Giveaways!

It's a good week for you all out there!

My friend Reina (who I was on the blog of earlier this week), has reached 100 followers (aka, Bloggy Friends) and she is having a giveaway!  So check out her page at http://sempergumbythelife.blogspot.com/2010/07/super-100-giveaway.html to get chance at a BUNCH of giveaways, one of which is from my Etsy shop!

So check her out, check out my shop, and enter in MY giveaway this month!

30-30-30

What's happening? If in 30 days, I have 30 followers, someone will get a $30.00 gift. What is this gift you say? A memory card set the likes of which will soon be featured in my Etsy Shop. It's a big prize for a little blog :) There's a caveat though - I have to have 30 followers by the end of the 30 days... So tell your friends, mention it on YOUR blog, and if you or they like what they see... follow away!! All entries will be done on THIS blog entry and a winner will be chosen at random via a website on August 27th. 30 days, 30 followers, 30 dollars.

These memory cards are pairs of photos are from my "May Flowers" collection on Etsy, and are assorted water lilies. Made entirely by Moi, it's a little bit of love to the lucky winner!!

Entry is super easy and possible THREE different ways! A winner will be chosen at random via a website program.

1) Comment on THIS blog entry! If you like the blog, follow it, but following is not required to win.  Remember though, that the goal is to get 30 followers, so if I don't reach 30... there's no prize :(
2) Go to my Etsy store, and comment HERE what your favorite photo is.
3) Tell me here what KIND of photos you'd LIKE to see in the shop - the kind that might make you buy one. ;)

So tell your friends about this blog and this contest! Remember, unless there are at least 30 followers after 30 days, the cards will get posted on Etsy for 30 dollars instead... so pass the word! Or keep your eyes on my shop and buy them then :-P.

Visitors

Sorry all for not posting as diligently... more visitors in today, they leave on Friday and my Parents come in... but no worries, I'll take pretty pictures of the "secret family recipe" that I'll be making on Friday (it's on the back of the box of flour, so maybe I'll share it anyway) with you next week.

Other than that, I've found some cool blogs of late - http://andersonfamilycrew.blogspot.com/ in particular... as well as http://her-nanigans.blogspot.com/ - you should check them out! All about taking photos as part of regular life... something I need to work on doing (shockingly, as this is a blog attached to a photography store). More on those soon-ish. :-D

Also, I have officially opened www.somethingbetsy.com - which automatically directs you to my Etsy shop, but may someday hold many a photo and be able to take orders - I'm all about the baby steps.

So yes, it's only wednesday, but I'll probably just see you next week... if you're lucky, you'll get another post on Friday... we'll see :-P

And don't forget to follow... contest info coming up REAL soon!!

It's still July?

I'm just realizing that we're still only about 1/2 way through July... and SO much has happened in our house! We've had Marine Corps Ceremonies, gone home for a family party (Zimmer Day), visited with friends we haven't seen in TOO long, got an ice-cream maker, had family in to visit for a few days, and gone to a baseball game with my sister.

Still in store for this month is a visit from another friend, and two weekends of parents! (All fabulously wonderful, exciting, happy things, I'm just amazed it's all happening in JUST JULY)

No wonder why I'm so pooped this weekend (and blogging, because it involves lying on the couch with my laptop in the AC)! Also in the coming weeks is me *hopefully* getting "running" again, and getting some more photos uploaded to Etsy, as well as putting up some new items.  I think I'm feeling a summer contest coming up too... so don't forget to follow me so you'll know RIGHT when I unveil it.

Time to start thinking about dinner... I think we'll revisit some favorites tonight - garlic marinated sirloin, some grilled veggies and baked potatoes...

it's stinkin hot today!!!

So I went outside to mail a few more etsy orders (yay!!!) and on the way in, I decided to stop and weed some of the garden (hubby keeps talking about how it needs to be done, which translates into "Betsy, please weed the garden some day soon" - not really, but HE'S surely not home to do it during the week!). So I stop and manage to pull out TONS of this creeping grass that I noticed has choked out at least one of the bushes that HAD been growing there.

In the process, I noticed I was sweating - because a bead fell off my forehead onto my cheek!

I came in, and took this pic with my webcam, because I was outside, mostly standing still, for less than 30 minutes. I suppose I should have listened to the weather channel people when they said "heat advisory in effect" huh?

At least I got 2 more orders in the mail, and the garden looks a MILLION times better!

Treasury a week?

If only these treasury listings resulted in a SALE a week! :-P

But feel free to check it out anyway :-P

The Gates of Summer 

in

  June Brides 

by

CupBoardSoaps 

at

Etsy.com

(woah - that's a lot of links!)

Friday? Already?

Is it really Friday? Really? OK, I guess I can post something again. I haven't done an Etsy update in a while. While we were in our moving phase, I was put in 2 treasuries and sold an item! Pretty good for doing absolutely NO advertisement AT ALL. 

The treasuries are... 

grimmandgrete with In the Mood for an Ocean Voyage

and

hippiekingdom with National Good Neighbor Day

Go check them out!

Time to brag (again)

So I thought this week was going really slow

I didn't have any sales or hopes for sales last week on Etsy

and nothing so far this week... 

and then I got a message - 

"You've been chosen for a Treasury"

OK, it didn't really say that.  

But it should have, 

cause that's what it meant!

You can check the treasury out if you click HERE, 

but can you find my photo?  

(notice the ability to cheat? I'm so nice to you.)

So that's exciting. 

And I was asked by someone if they wanted to trade ACEO's with me (Art trading cards).

I don't collect, but someone wants one... 

...just not enough to spend $3.00 on it.

Possibly coming soon to Etsy are going to be 

Magnet ACEO's (Wallet sized photos for your fridge)

Wine Bottle Labels - Customizable

 Memory Card Games - Series Based, or choices by you

And of course... a new series.

But that's all going to have to wait until June.

Actually - I have most of the "May Flowers" memory card game finished... 

so lemme know if you want it :-P

The rest really has to wait.

I sold a photo... I sold a photo...

Apparently, my photos as photos are better than my photos as super-cool mats. :-P

Who'd-a-thunk?!?

I'm pretty stoked about the "Saturday shoppers" out there, being as I have gotten an order each of the last two weekends. Hopefully they'll order when I'm HOME on a weekend too!

Maybe later this week, I'll even post a few more pictures. 

The one thing that I'm NOT liking, is that in order to get a matte photo printed, I have to wait like, a week. Because there are NO PHOTO SHOPS in east-jabib-j-action-ville. Just Walgreen's and Walmart, and those both do matte (or luster) by mail only. What the heck? Ok, OK, there's the "Flash Foto" booth next to the sketchy bar attached to the tattoo parlor (I wish I was kidding), but I'm wary pulling into the parking lot, let alone walking up to the window.

I really hope that when we get to Virginia, there's a "regular" photo shop nearby... if not, oh well. Walmart will have to do.

I feel extra crafty this week!

Extra Crafty Week! Got some good stuff up on Etsy, and got some WONDERFUL comments (though not on here :-P) Spent some time at the craft store on base, and did a LOT of painting! The project is a surprise, but when it's finished, I will DEFINITELY share.

I'm also realizing how busy the next bit of time is going to be!

AND... I've been posted on another blog!!  A meditation blog writer found my goodies on Etsy and asked if she could work it into her blog... so a bit of free advertisement! Fabulous!!  You can see the article/blog/plug here.

AND I sold some artwork! whoo hoo! It's a GOOD WEEK! This is the first artwork I've sold on Etsy :) I'm liking it!!

SERIES UP!!

WHOO HOO! I finally got all my 'Pathways' Series up!

The photos are all displayed as ACEO as I mentioned last week, but I have all 16 of the Pathways Series up and available, as well as all my options for printing. Go me!

Now on to the next Series... I'm thinking Flowers... it will be May shortly after all, and April Showers bring May Flowers :-p

In the mean time... pick your favorite image that's up there now, and comment here on it. Lets see how many comments I can get ;)

a BIG new step!

So... after much odgeda (sp? it's more a sound than a word...) after much... anxiety/nervousness/confusion/etc... I finally figured out how I plan on posting my photos on Etsy. Like, the regular old photo photo's. Not the fancy schmancy specialty mats that were up there already. So it's becoming a photo shop FINALLY. I only put up 8 actual PHOTOS today, but I have another 8 ready to go. It's a process to get them up, so I'm gonna spread the wealth a little bit.



So they're up there as ACEO - Art Collecting Cards essentially. $0.75 each, and then there's some listings for the standard size prints. Hopefully I'll quickly get up the "Photo" listings for standard size photos and a listing for greeting cards, then people can look at the photos, and order the size/type they want - without doing the whole custom order thing (which is great, because customers don't seem to be SUPER psyched about having to do everything custom-wise).

With any luck, I'll get the other 8 photos for "April's Pathways Series" up and the other ones up and you'll all decide that they're awesome and you need some 8x10's for your house. :-P

My Etsy Adventures this week!

So I knew that after last week, I had to SOMETHING with my Etsy-Adventures. So I got the blog all blinged out with links to my Picasa galleries and instructions on how to buy marvelous stuff from me! (note the new pages to your right :-P) And I made sure that all my artwork was listed as "Fine Art" so people MIGHT actually SEE it when they search now?  (Here's hoping at least).

I also investigated the Alchemy archives and bid on a few people's requests. It was enlightening to see what people were asking for. I sometimes wish I could actually be focused enough to really hone in on one medium... but what fun is that? I suppose you need to be famous before you can be really successful at things that are all over the place... like these celebrities who have fragrance collections, and reality celebrities who went from tabloid news to fashion designers somehow.

Either way, I DID get a new posting up. My Military Thank You Cards! (also available with any artwork found in the Picasa Gallery)

Isn't it marvelous!?! :-P

So check out my gallery, and let me know what you think. 

Which art piece is your favorite?

I can't believe I was this productive!

I got myself moving today and took care of a bunch of Etsy work!! I uploaded a bunch of stuff... completed some unfinished projects and reworked a bunch of my photos. I also reduced some prices, but to make it even MORE exciting - I'm giving a friends and family discount on my items!  Purchase an item through Etsy, make yourself a follower of this blog and make note of it and the friends and family deal in the notes to seller... and get $2.00 back on your purchase!  But do it soon because it only lasts till May 15th!

"They" say you shouldn't put all your stuff up on one day if you can avoid it. I've been such a slacker, that it doesn't really matter. I'd be nice to get people to STAY at the shop for more than 30 seconds, so I need to fill-er up! Especially since most of the stuff is made and sitting in my house waiting! :-P

So today I was able to list...

A white knit fashion tam:

 

A blue baby tam:

The Brewski Tag:

A wine glass tag:

And one more specialty mat (as well as updating all my old specialty mat photos)

WHEW! 

New Etsy Posting!

So time for another Shamless Plug for my Etsy Site!

I posted a cute little green hat that was too small for Hubby's melon. I'm fairly certain it would fit a "normal sized" person however :-P

Tomorrow, my goal is to be inspired again and get the other boatload of Etsy items I have stashed in my craft room up for sale, and possibly finish the 4 that are sitting waiting immediate completion... or the 1 sewing project hiding under my desk... or those knit booties I'm so excited about... or another painting...