Queen Bee Market at Snap!

I am so excited!! Queen Bee Market is going to be at Snap! this year! And you want to know what else is exciting?? I am a vendor!! I just want to help get the word out so you are aware of when it is.  Hopefully I get to meet some of you! 

Queen Been Market is known for their amazing vendor's displays, so even if you don't plan on buying anything, you should just come to see the amazing craftiness of these women.

Building a successful Handmade shop

I am writing this post with some tips I have learned since opening my shop almost 3 years ago. They might not work for you, but they have worked for me and you might be able to go away with some useful information, I hope! My shop is in no way overly successful so if you don't take the tips I say seriously, I get it.  

{it seems that EVERYONE has an Etsy shop these days, which is awesome! I think sometimes I prefer to buy things from someone who made it themselves rather than Wal Mart or Target.  I have been asked by friends where to start or what to do because it is overwhelming at first! These are my tips}

This could be a free item, a discount code for future purchases or even a personalized note.  No one wants a generic "to whom this may concern" note because that shows you don't care.  I am honestly grateful for every single sale I get and I want my customers to know that.  I also include my business card with each order to show other ways to interact or contact me.  Even if the buyer doesn't use twitter or blogs, its still nice to let know you have those social media platforms.

I ship my prints in a flat mailer.  It's white and boring.  Therefore I love mixing it up with Washi Tape and writing the purchasers name in pretty colors.  If you sell jewelry or sewn items, wrap it in tissue paper.  Make the product more attractive with the way you package it.  I also purchased a customized address stamp for my orders from Anne Marie Loves paper.  It's so handy and plus its adorable.  I just placed another custom order from her for a stamp that says "Handle with Care".  Not only is it cute, but it helps get the package there in 1 piece.

It's annoying when it takes forever to receive a purchase you made.  I also tend to not buy from shop that say they don't ship the product out until 14 days if I can find it elsewhere.  I have designated my Mondays and Thursdays as my post office days.  Then, my orders are mailed out fairly quickly and everything runs efficiently.

You have a product that you are obviously passionate about.  Sales might not come right away, but that might not mean it's because people don't like what you are offering.  You need to get the word out there. Let people know who you are.  Platforms like twitter, instagram, and pinterest are perfect for that.  Keep working towards your goal of $ and you will see success.  If you don't have a budget to sponsor other blogs, then maybe think about ad swapping.  It's free and fun! 

Craft Fair Display and New Color chart

Since I have some amazing handmade markets coming up, I have been thinking of new ways to display for my prints.  It can be kinda tricky on how to display them since they can get really messy.  On Saturday, Daniel made this pocket shelf so I can put my prints in here to display efficiently as well as it looking nice.  What do you think?? I am still debating on a color, but I think I want to paint it baby pink with some bright turquoise or yellow stripes...we will see.



Also, I created a new color chart for my shop! My old one had like 30 colors and now there is 54!! I love color so the more the better.

Craft Night??

So you have heard of Book Club, but why isn't there a monthly craft night?  I don't have time to read books anymore, even though I wish I could, but I seriously can always make time for crafts.  I am ALWAYS bookmarking DIY projects on Pinterest that I wish I could do, but I need a little push.  I am proposing an idea...Lets start a monthly craft night where us ladies gather together and all make something awesome. I have provided some really cool crafts that I have found recently, that I really really want to make.

1.2.3.4.5.6.7.

If you live in the Utah County area and would be interested, email me! 

dianawinksmith at gmail dot com. 

I think this would be so much fun to get to know other people and also make fun crafts together!

My grown up girl

The other day, Olivia was watching her toons and I was just playing on my phone (typical) and I looked up at her and she looked SO grown up. I was just like woah when did that happen.  It's crazy how fast time flies when you don't think about it, but when you do, it goes even slower. Part of me wants to relive old memories of her as a baby, but I am sooo excited for the future with her and Harrison.

Alycia Business Cards

Alycia from the Crowley Party asked me to design her some business cards!  

These cards are so her style (yes we are friends in REAL life too)

She is such a fun loving girl with a great personality and was so happy to make these for her.

Life with and without Kids

So I have been thinking and talking to Daniel and my friends lately about this topic. I thought it would be interesting to talk about on my blog. We had Olivia a month after we had been married 2 years. 2 years is not that long. Olivia was a surprise. Our original plans were to get pregnant maybe 3-4 years down the road in our marriage when we were done with school...everyones plan right?  Luckily, she changed our plans otherwise we wouldn't have known such happiness and pretty sure we wouldn't have had Harrison right off the bat either.

But before we had kids, I can't even remember our lives.  I mean, I can remember vacations, bad days, and blurry days at work, but the actual routine of waking up, eating, driving to work and school have been erased.  I don't remember my thoughts or what I worried that much about.  I don't even know what I spent my money on or why my house was ever messy.  Even why the laundry never got done! It was just to the two of us.  Isn't it funny how one small human being can totally change that all.  And even change our plans for the future by us wanting to have another one so soon after.  Just my thoughts at the moment and I am incredibly blessed that our "plans" never worked out.