Celebrating My Etsy Shop Anniversary - Guinea Pigs and a Special Offer!

Today is my Etsy shop anniversary and my guinea pigs are joining in the celebrations wearing some mini versions of my new printable party hats.  Keep reading to find out about a special offer too!

My shop, hfcSupplies, has changed quite a bit since I opened it back it 2010.  It was my second Etsy shop and I started it to sell craft supplies separately from my artwork.  At first I sold vintage buttons, clock hands and craft kits made from new, vintage and handmade items.  I introduced other craft supplies like card blanks, envelopes, baker's twine and washi tape. At the same time, I gradually started to try out printable products - starting with scrapbooking papers and collage sheets.  Now my shop is completely dedicated to printables, ranging from paper sets and digital stamps to invitations and party decorations.  I have learnt so much along the way!  I love drawing and coming up with new design themes, then applying these to different products - there are so many possibilities with printables!  The best part though is working with my customers - it's lovely to hear that my designs bring pleasure to other people.  Thank you to all my customers for supporting my business, you inspire me to keep making new designs.  I have lots of ideas for new designs and growing my shop and business, I hope that you will continue to enjoy the things I share!

My guinea pigs, Lily and Rosie, are modelling some of my newest products - printable party hats.  I've printed them guinea pig size - the ones in my shop are much larger (6 inches tall)!  So far you will find Safari Animal themed hats in my shop, but I plan to add more designs soon.  Lily (above) is also modelling a Wheels on the Bus hat - a sneak peek at a new party collection I am creating.

Special Offer!

To celebrate my shop anniversary use this code hfcAN10 to get 10% off your next order from hfcSupplies.etsy.com - the voucher applies to everything in my shop and will be valid until 30th June.

My Etsy shop now has Instant Downloads!

When I last wrote about EU VAT, in January I was still waiting to see exactly what Etsy would be doing before I made any changes to the digital items listed in my shop.  In February, Etsy posted this update on their blog, stating that they would be responsible for collecting and remitting VAT on Instant Downloads for all sellers.  The new system for collecting VAT from buyers is still not up and running as I write this, but Etsy have said that they will be paying VAT due on sales until their new collection process has been set up.  Therefore, I have decided to go ahead with making the changes to my shop!

Since 1st January, I limited the number of countries which my non-customised printables (including scrapbooking paper sets) were sold to, so that I could exclude sales to EU countries (except UK).  I am in the process of changing these listings to Instant Download which has several benefits;

• Etsy will handle the VAT, so I don't have to
• The digital items will be available to buy from all European countries again (yay!)
• The download will be instantly available; no more delays in me sending emails caused by global time differences.  So, hopefully, more happy customers!  As soon as payment has been confirmed, customers will be sent an automatic email with a link to download the files from Etsy.

Although it is quite a time consuming process for me uploading all the files to Etsy now, it should save me time in the long run.  I'm still working my way through my listings, but aim to have all non-customised digital items available for instant download soon.  That will include; scrapbooking papers, collage sheets, digital stamp sets, labels, tent cards, name place cards, bunting and straw flags.  All items with customisable options will remain as they are; I will continue to send emails with a download link for these.

If you are unfamiliar with how Etsy’s Instant Downloads work, you can see this article from their help section here: https://www.etsy.com/uk/help/article/3949?ref=help_search_result

Etsy TV ad

Have you seen the new Etsy UK tv ad yet?  It looks great and it’s really good to see Etsy being promoted to a wider audience too! 67 sellers took part in the filming in London but Etsy has also given all of us other sellers the opportunity to be involved by making our own customised versions of the ad.  If you watch this video right to the end you’ll see my shop details (for my craft and party supplies shop)…

If you have never used Etsy before I have a couple of great offers to share with you!

This is for new buyers - £5 towards your first Etsy purchase (which you can use in my shop or any other Etsy shop!)  http://etsy.me/1w25MQF
Or if you have been thinking of setting up your own shop on Etsy this will give you 40 free listings! http://etsy.me/1yrxTLf

New Paper Crafting Kits

I’ve been a bit quiet on the blog recently, the reason is I have been working on some exciting new products and I’m finally able to show you what I have been doing for the last couple of weeks!  I am expanding the craft supplies section of my shop and combining my designs for scrapbooking papers with some gorgeous new supplies like ribbons, bakers twine and buttons.

There are 3 new collections of kits; ‘London Calling’, ‘Cupcakes and Roses’ and ‘Steampunk’.  Each theme will have a card making kit and embellishment pack.  I will also be selling separate sets of things like baker’s twine.  If these prove popular I will be adding more themes and colours too.

The London / British themed card making kit contains 5 cards and envelopes, printed patterned papers, collage sheet and embellishments such as ribbon, buttons and beads.  (I love the bunting grosgrain ribbon in this set!)

The embellishment pack contains the same embellishments in red, white and blue as the card making kit but more of everything – longer lengths of ribbon, more buttons, beads, brads…

This pretty Cupcakes and Roses themed kit has blank cards, patterned rose paper, hot pink stripy buttons, pastel green and pink bakers twine and more…

The Cupcakes and Roses embellishment pack contains more ribbon, buttons, beads etc than in the card making kit.  Each of the embellishment packs contains fabric covered brads which I have made using different patterned new and vintage fabrics.

The Steampunk card making kit contains card blanks made from recycled card, brown kraft envelopes, patterned papers and collage sheets featuring my steampunk illustrations and coordinating embellishments.

Inside the Steampunk embellishment pack are 4 different colours of baker’s twine, satin ribbon, mini spotty buttons, beads and more…

I’m also adding other craft supplies to my shop like this card of baker’s twine in 5 bright colours.

What do you think of my new supplies?  Is there anything else you would like to see me stock in my shop?

~*~ You can see all the craft supplies and printable papers I sell in my Etsy shop: www.hfcSupplies.etsy.com

3 New Hexley Postcards!

The sets of Clockwork Bird postcards have been so popular that I was getting low on some of the birds.  Since I needed to restock I thought it was a good time to get some new designs made into postcards too – so I now have 3 new postcards; the Clockwork Kingfisher, Clockwork Chaffinch and DORA (Deep Ocean Research Aid).

I updated my illustration of DORA for these cards – it now has a new background to match my Clockwork Birds and the border has been removed which makes it easier to print in different formats.

The new designs should be in my Etsy and Folksy shops very soon!

British Sellers on Etsy Treasury Challenge #16

The inspiration item for this treasury challenge is a pretty vintage tea party set from Second Home. 

I picked a theme of ‘Picnic in the Meadow’ for this treasury and found some lovely items from Etsy sellers – many of the items I featured are from UK based sellers too.

You can see the treasury in full here: http://www.etsy.com/treasury/Njc4ODE0MnwyNzIzMjA2NzE4/picnic-in-the-meadow

 

This is a British Sellers on Etsy Challenge entry! Anyone can play! Please go to www.etsy.com/teams/6966/british-sellers-on-etsy/discuss/10761821/ to find out more.

Etsy Shop - About Page

Last month Etsy launched a new 'About' page for shops - a place for shop owners to share a little more about their business.  I've been thinking about doing mine for a while but found it was harder than I thought to make.  Etsy has made it really easy to add your photos and text - I just couldn't decide what to write and which pictures to use!

Both of my shops now have an About page - what do you think?

For my craft supplies shop hfcSupplies...

For my art shop Hazel Fisher Creations...

If you have an Etsy shop but are yet to make your About page you might find these links useful...
www.etsy.com/blog/news/2012/introducing-an-about-page-for-your-shop/
www.etsy.com/blog/en/2012/tips-for-your-shops-about-page/
www.etsy.com/blog/en/2012/photo-ideas-for-your-shops-about-page/

Treasury Challenge Winner!

Remember I entered the British Sellers on Etsy Treasury Challenge #10?

I love finding new items on Etsy and bringing them together to make treasuries (they normally take me ages to do so I don't get around to doing very many) so it was really exciting to hear that my treasury was picked as the winning entry to the challenge!! :D

It means that I get to choose an item from my shop to be the inspiration item for the next challenge.  I decided to pick this Fish themed printable gift box as I hope that it could inspire lots of different themes!



To enter the challenge simply create an Etsy treasury around this item - the winner will get to choose something from their shop as the inspiration item for the next challenge.  For more information on the challenge please go to http://www.etsy.com/teams/6966/british-sellers-on-etsy/discuss/10386824/

I'm looking forward to seeing what everyone comes up with! :)

British Sellers on Etsy Treasury Challenge #10

I missed the last few challenges so thought it was time to have another go!
So here is my entry - inspired by Blossoming Silver's lovely lampwork bracelet (top left) I chose a British glass theme...

You can view the treasury in full here.



Please go to www.etsy.com/teams/6966/british-sellers-on-etsy/discuss/10246208/ to find out more about the challenge.

So what are printables?

It's only a little over a year since I started designing printables and not long before that I didn't know anything about them.  The more papers I design, the more ideas I have - I never knew how much I would enjoy designing patterns! :)

I thought today I would write a post on how the printables work for anybody who's not familiar with them...

Unlike buying ready printed scrapbooking papers and embellishments, printable papers can be printed and used as many times as you like.  (So they save you money and you have no postage to pay!)  You receive a jpg (or pdf) file with the printable design and then print it at home onto any type of paper or card you like that will go through your printer.  If you don't have a printer you can take it to your local printers.

In my shop I currently sell printables for craft projects - like cardmaking/ scrapbooking and more recently I've introduced party printables - from personalised invitations to bunting and cupcake toppers.  You can keep things simple or embellish them with as much glitter, ribbon, gems etc as you like!

Here's an example of how an order works when you buy a set of scrapbooking papers from my shop.  After you have placed your order and I have received payment I will send you an email with a link to an album containing the high resolution 300dpi jpg files.  Click on the link and this screen will appear...

You will see thumbnails of all the papers in the set.  Click on a thumbnail to view the full size image...

From here you can open or save the file to your computer by clicking on Download.

Now you can print!  For best results I recommend using photo paper and your printer's highest quality setting - play around and see which papers you like best!

If you have any questions about printables please let me know!

Fish Printables part 2

I'm launching the next 3 products from my fish range today...

First up is a pair of printable gift boxes...

The design of one box features lots of fish and the other has a simpler pattern of spots and fish scales.  I've decorated the box photographed using a little fish tag, some fancy eyelash yarn and blue stranded cotton.  These little boxes are perfect for giving small gifts in a unique way - they could also be used as favour boxes at parties.

I have decided to expand my range of printable products by designing more items for parties.  It's simple to achieve a themed party with little more than a printer and scissors - if you're feeling more adventurous the printables could be embellished too.

These tent cards (there are 4 designs in the set) come blank with the option to personalise - they're great as thank you cards but could also be used as food labels...

Also new in the party range are these name place cards.  The full sheet includes 8 different fish designs...

More printables in the party range will be released tomorrow! :)

If you like these fish printables why not enter my giveaway for a chance to win any 4 printables from my shop!

Crafty Giveaway!

To celebrate reaching 100 likes on my facebook page I have decided to hold a giveaway!

The prize is any 4 of my printables - you can choose any combination of scrapbooking papers, collage sheets or gift boxes.  The printables are all my own original designs and the winner will receive them as high resolution 300dpi jpg files.  You can print them as many times as you like to use in your own crafting projects.  Here is a small selection of my designs, see the full range of printables here.

The printables can be used for so many different craft projects...
From making gift boxes for giving small gifts like sweets...

...to greeting cards...

...cupcake toppers, gift tags, bunting and more!

I hope they inspire you to make something!  What would you make?

For your chance to win

Leave a comment on this post with your idea of what you would use the printables for.

Please make sure you leave your entry by midnight (GMT) Monday 7th May to be in with a chance to win.  The winner will be chosen at random on Tuesday 8th May.

For an extra entry become a follower of this blog and for a further entry 'like' my facebook page.  Just include a note in your comment here to say that you follow and / or 'like'.

Please remember to leave me a way of contacting you if you win - an email address, Folksy or Etsy username or link to your blog.

If I'm unable to contact the winner within 2 weeks another winner will be picked.

I look forward to seeing your ideas for using the printables! :)

Printable Easter Gift Boxes

The daffodils are coming out in my garden and blossom is appearing on the trees... it won't be long until Easter now!  So today I am releasing two new printable gift boxes perfect for little Easter eggs and other small gifts :)

One of the boxes has a pastel egg pattern and the other features a design with tulips and daffodils (this one would also be great for other Spring occassions like Mother's Day and birthdays).

 

Each of these boxes prints onto 8x10 inch (A4) paper and measures 2.5 x 3.5 x 2 inches when made up.  I decorated the box photographed using eyelash yarn and a little flower tag made from layering punched paper flowers and a gem centre.
You can buy the templates to print and make yourself from my Etsy shop or Folksy shop.

Steampunk Printables Part 3

Here's the next product from my new set of Steampunk themed printables... a pair of gift boxes :)

As well as being great for Steampunk fans I think they would be a good way to wrap gifts for men.  I have designed two templates; one has clock hands, cogs and stripes on and the other has clock hands and a grey spotty pattern.

Each box measures 2.5 x 3.5 x 2 inches when made up.  You can embellish your boxes any way you like - I have decorated the box photographed using a brown silky yarn, a letter tag, photograph of an old key, tiny cog and some wire.

See a tutorial on how to make the gift boxes here: http://hazelfishercreations.blogspot.com/2011/08/printable-gift-box-tutorial.html

The printable templates are available from my Etsy shop and Folksy shop.

Printable Steampunk Labels

Here's the second product in my new set of Steampunk printables - a sheet of labels which you could use in scrapbooking, cardmaking, as gift tags, book plates....

The sheet comes as a high resolution 300dpi jpg file and measures 8.5 x 11 inches (A4).  There are 8 different labels; each measures 2.4 x 3.5 inches.  These labels are available to buy from my Etsy shop and Folksy shop.

PS. Remember the Treasury Challenge #6 I posted about last week? My 'Steel' entry was one of the runners up! :)  Congratulations to Jane who won with this treasury!

British Sellers on Etsy Treasury Challenge #6

Here’s my entry to the British Sellers on Etsy treasury challenge #6…

The inspiration item is the Recycled Ring Pull necklace – I chose a steel theme to my treasury :)
Please go to www.etsy.com/teams/6966/british-sellers-on-etsy/discuss/9828044/ to find out more about the challenge!

Pick of the Week

This year I'm trying to be more active in the British Sellers on Etsy team, so this week's Pick of the Week is 16 items in one treasury featuring items from British Sellers on Etsy team members. Click on the picture to see the treasury in full.

Pick of the Week

Better late than never, here is last week's Pick of the Week...

I love the colours and dream like quality of this illustration by Kailey Lang.  "Fishes Wishes", originally painted in watercolours, gouache and ink, is available to buy as a 7x11 inch painting from her Etsy shop: bumblebooHandmades

Pick of the Week

Pretty porcelain decorations for Christmas...



Buy this set of 5 ornaments from LaNiqueHOME on Etsy.

Ginger

I felt like drawing a guinea pig today... so painted this little ACEO :)

This original pencil and watercolour painting of Ginger the Guinea Pig is available to buy from my Etsy shop.