It's a Two Cheeky Monkeys Giveaway!

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED!

Some of you may remember that earlier this month I hit the 100 post mark for this blog (see here).  At the time, I promised that I would be running a giveway for a Two Cheeky Monkeys creation in the near future.  Well, almost three weeks later, I am finally having my giveaway!

 

 What can you win?  This striking set of bobby pins which I have tentatively named "Night Garden".   The set consists of a bright red vintage-style lotus rose bobby, a jet black dahlia bobby and a forest green vintage leaf bobby.  How do you enter the giveaway to win this set?  By doing one or all of the following:

Mandatory entry:

Visit either my Etsy or my Madeit store and  tell me what you like and why and/or tell me which of my ranges you think I should expand.

Extra entries:

a) Heart my Etsy store or your favourite item (and leave me your Etsy username)

b) Follow my blog publicly (or tell me if you already do)

c) Follow me on Twitter and leave me your Twitter username

d) Blog, Tweet or share on Facebook about this giveaway and leave me the link

e) Make a purchase in either of my stores during the duration of the giveaway and leave me a link to the transaction

Note: I would love if you would become a "like" on my Facebook fanpage, but I can't offer this as an extra entry since it is against Facebook rules.

Please leave a separate comment for each entry and also a way to contact you should you be the winner.

This giveaway will run until 3pm on the 4th of November 2010 (Australian Eastern Daylight Savings time) and is open to WORLDWIDE entries.

I will choose a winner using random.org

New Gift Wrapping Options

With Christmas getting ever closer, and after reading all your helpful votes, thoughts and suggestions from my last packaging post, I have decided to introduce a new jewellery/accessory gift wrapping option to both my Etsy and Madeit stores.  While I will keep packaging jewellery and accessory purchases in either tissue paper or my handmade envelopes, Two Cheeky Monkeys customers will soon be able to choose from some fancier packaging options for a small extra cost. 

I currently offer metal gift tins in a "gift wrapping" section in my Etsy store, but these are fairly small and are really only suitable for small earring purchases (such as my earring stud sets which come with a complimentary gift tin).  In the coming weeks I will be adding two different sizes of velveteen jewellery pouches to this section as well as a "gift wrapping" section to my Madeit store.  In the mean time, you can always purchase a metal gift tin to go with your earring purchase.

Tips and Tricks - Checklet Favoritizer and Etsy on Sale

This week's tricks of the trade are two more applications that have been designed specifically for Etsy sellers and users.

The first is a handy dandy new application named  Checklet favoritizer.  It was developed by ericj, a developer who just so happens to be married to an Etsy seller.  His fantastic new site allows Etsy users to organise their favourite or "hearted" items on Etsy by sorting them into categories or lists of similar items.  As both an Etsy seller and user, I am finding the Checklet favoritizer to be a very useful tool for separating my craft supply favourites from items I have "hearted" as potential gifts or for the Etsy Treasury lists I like to create.

To get started organising your favourite Etsy items, simply click on the "Get my favourites" button.

You will be then asked by Etsy to allow the Checklet favoritizer access to your Etsy account.  Click on the "Allow Access" button and then you will be re-directed to the favoritizer site.  This may take a while if you have a lot of favourite items.

You will eventually see a page of your favourite items, similar to the one above.  On the left is a sidebar where you can add or edit categories for sorting your favourites as well as choosing which category of items you would like to view.  For example, if I am shopping for a purse or tote, all I have to do is click on the "purses" category I created and I can see all of the purses which have caught my eye on Etsy.

The second Etsy application is called Etsy on Sale.  This useful site helps you to hold a sale in your Etsy store by changing the prices for you (so that you are not charged Etsy fees for refunded charges and do not have to resort to Paypal refunds), allowing you to manage and set the duration of your sale and allowing you to schedule future sales in your store.  So how do you use this fantastic tool?  Firstly, click on the "sellers" button at the top right hand corner.

You will then be asked to sign in using a Google account.  Most Etsy sellers should already have one set up to use Google analytics for their stores.  If you do not have a Google account, you can easily set one up by following the appropriate links.

Once you have signed into you Google account, you will be asked to click on the Etsy shop in which you wish to have a sale.  For sellers like me, who only have one store, this is very easy!

Next, click on the "Sales Events" link.

If you want to set up a new sales event or have not set up any sales events, the "+ New Sales Event" link is the one you want to click.  If you wish to edit an existing sales event, then click on that particular listing.

If you are setting up a brand new sales event, you will be directed to this page where you can choose when to start and end your sale, the discount you are offering and whether the discount applies to all of your store or just to a subset of your items.  For example, I could choose to have a 20% sale on the necklaces in my store and all other items will remain as full priced listings.
At this point, I should tell you that I have not used the Etsy on Sale application in my Etsy store, but I have heard from other sellers that it is a fantastic and simple to use tool for the sales they have run.  I am looking forward to using this new application soon and can only wish that someone would develop something similar for other online sites such as Madeit...

Smells and Memories

Today's post is a light-hearted bit of fun as I continue to revel in the (sometimes) warmer  and sunnier weather that has descended on Melbourne.  With the warmer weather comes some of my favourite smells, such as the smell of deliciously ripe mangoes.  The smell of mangoes always reminds me of warm summer weather and Singapore, the land of my birth (one of my aunts owned a house with a beautiful mango tree in the front garden).

Another smell I love is the scent of vanilla.  Its sweet smell reminds me of home-baked cakes and biscuits, ice cream (always consumed in large quantities in the summer time!) and summer outings wearing vanilla-scented body products.

So what are your favourite smells and why?  Do they remind you of a favourite holiday or simply of your favourite person or time of the year?  Feel free to share with the rest of us!

Feature Friday and Special Offer - Amaria's Paper Works

This week's featured artist is a fellow Melburnian and Melbourne Etsy Street Team member.  Her stores are full of fantastic creations for little girls (and boys), so without further ado, let me introduce you to Amaria of Amaria's Paper Works.

Four seasons magnetic dress up doll

Tell us a bit about yourself.

I live in Melbourne, Australia. I am a full-time Mum and a primary teacher on family leave.

Describe yourself in five words.

Five words to describe myself would be: creative, impulsive, disorganised, easygoing and welcoming.

When and how did you first start crafting and creating?

I have always loved painting, drawing and making things. As a child my birthday wish list always included a packet of plasticene, some new Derwents and "grey-leads" and a sketch book! For me, art is a way to unwind and take time to think while my hands are busy. 

Clothes set for size 1 dolls

What do you create and what are your favourite materials with which to work?  And when and how did you start selling online?
Before becoming a mother, I found my creative outlet through painting - usually with acrylics. My paintings are mostly inspired by our beautiful Australian landscape.
Since having children, however, I haven't had the opportunity to work on this kind of thing for a while - apart from the lack of time, there is the question of where to set up my easel without little people "helping" me!

Then, almost a year ago, I was at a Church conference with lots of friends. My sister and I were sitting at a table one afternoon, chatting over a coffee, when she brought out some paper dolls I'd made for my niece years ago. She told how she had used them to tell a story to a Sunday School group and kept them spellbound.  Then she said, "You know, you should make these to sell!"
I wasn't convinced at first - but as we were talking, the table filled up with children who wanted to have a closer look at the dolls. Several Mums stopped to look and comment. Even one of the Dads sat down and played with his son for a while. They all agreed with my sister, and one of the other Mums told me about an online marketplace called Etsy…

So after some trial and error (the original dolls were made of laminated card and the clothes attached with blu-tac!) I started to make the magnetic wooden dress-up dolls you see in my shop today! I paint the original figures and clothes - or draw them on the computer. Then I print them and mount the dolls on 3mm craft wood, with a magnetic sheet sandwiched between the layers. I cut them out with a scroll saw, varnish them and add a magnetic strip on the back. The clothes are laminated so that they last a bit longer when small children use them and they attach to the dolls with magnets.
Most of my sales so far have been for personalised dolls. Apart from the opportunity to create new and unique pieces, my favourite aspect of these is getting to know the customer a bit; every order has a story behind it, as individual as the child the order is for!

Personalised magnetic dress up dolls

 Where can we find you online? 

Etsy store: http://amariaspaperworks.etsy.com
Madeit: http://www.madeit.com.au/storecatalog.asp?userid=11198
Blog: http://amariasreviewsandgiveaways.blogspot.com/ 


Amaria's Special Offer: Amaria is kindly offering Two Cheeky Monkeys readers one free clothes set with the purchase of any doll from her shop. Simply mention this blog feature in a message when ordering.

Floral Madeit Finds

If you didn't already know, I really, really like Spring!  Even though Spring heralds the increase of my hayfever and allergy problems, I love the (generally) warmer weather and the beautiful Spring flowers which appear.  So to continue my celebration of my favourite season, here is a floral-themed collection of Madeit finds.

Floral newborn headband by Precious L'il Things

Japanese floral cushion by bespoke belle

Vintage floral meadow bunting by Dance in My Garden

Colourful retro maxi skirt by Funky Monkey

Wishlist Wednesday - My Christmas List

Today I have put together a rather eclectic wishlist Wednesday with items I would gratefully accept for Christmas!  Some of these are handmade, some or not and some are for the benefit of others...enjoy.

Magnolicious Tapas Bowls by atelierBB

A year of primary schooling for children by Tear Fund Australia

Balloon Girl Wall Clock by snowfawn homewares

The Crafty Minx by Kelly Doust