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Unofficial Etsy News (from etsynews.com)

Big News: Rokali returning as Etsy CEO

According to this just-published Storque article, Rob Kalin/Rokali will be returning in 2010 as Etsy’s CEO. Maria Thomas, acting CEO for nearly two years, will be leaving Etsy. Here is the article (authored by pesmou and Rokali) in it’s entirety: Rob Kalin, a.k.a. Rokali, is an Etsy founder. As 2010 begins, I will return to [...]
 

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Acadian Crochet shared their photo on Facebook 16 hours ago
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Just relisted, fun collection of vintage recipe books:…
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We Love Etsy News

We Love Etsy in the Wall Street Journal!

We were featured in the Wall Street Journal on March 6 in an article about Etsy! Check it out!

Tell us about the shops you love!

Write a review of an Etsy shop you love and we'll feature your Etsy items on the review page.

Reviews are permanently archived on the site, and the newest reviews are displayed on the homepage, so they're a great way to promote your own shop while promoting your favorite Etsy shops!

Want to add your Etsy items (EtsyMini) to your We Love Etsy page? Read this.

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The Craftaholic

Sales? 24 Replies

Started by The Craftaholic in Buying & Selling on Etsy. Last reply by Holly Johnson Jan 25.

Blog Posts

BLOOMERIE FAB!

MAKE SOME APRONS WITH ATTITUDE! ("apron-ology" available now at Bloomerie Fabrics)

Books, magazines, patterns, and natural fibers for sewing, quilting, crafting & beyond. Check out…

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Posted by BLOOMERIE FAB! on January 28, 2012 at 10:30am

Scarfs Boutique

Thats the way, thats the way, I do things!

Posted by Scarfs Boutique on January 26, 2012 at 2:42pm

Victoria Baker

Winter blues yarn bowl giveaway

Win a yarn bowl

I'm giving away this hand thrown yarn bowl - unfortunately it is a second but if you'd like to give it a home just complete the survey below.

Along with the bowl I'm also giving away a hank of 'Fro' yarn in a lovely blue, red and orange colourway so once you receive it you've got something to put inside it.

Read the rest -…

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Posted by Victoria Baker on January 24, 2012 at 7:21am

Handmade Craft Show

New Etsy Shop Banner Sets

Rhonda Jai now offers Etsy Shop Sets in addition to single Etsy Shop Banners. Each Etsy shop set is a 3 piece set containing an Etsy shop banner, avatar and reserved listing banner.

 

With over 100 different banner designs Rhonda Jai makes it easy to find the banner to fit your shop.

 

If you need additional banners…

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Posted by Handmade Craft Show on January 23, 2012 at 10:00am

from japan with love

Coffee And A Cupcake To Go Miniature Food Ring By SouZouCreations at Etsy

Coffee And A Cupcake To Go Miniature Food Ring By SouZouCreations at Etsy…

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Posted by from japan with love on January 23, 2012 at 12:30am

The Storque

Valentine’s Day Candy Box Diorama-Rama

Heather Atkinson is an artist, crafter and creator of narrative vignettes inspired by all things obsessive, haunting, and bizarre. She utilizes various media, including photography (digital and analog) and found objects, to populate the worlds she imagines and creates. For more information, visit her blog. (P.S. Heather abhors writing bios and bribed her BFF Tonya to write this for her.)

There is simply no argument – the handmade valentines of elementary school are simply the best valentines ever. Period. Recapture the edible paste and construction paper high of your youth with a project suited to your more mature (debatable) tastes and refined skill set. You can use big kid hot glue, fancy paper and even knives! Why not make a freaking rad DIORAMA for your valentine?

Here’s how!

Heather Atkinson

You’ll Need:

  • Heart-shaped cardboard candy box, preferably with contents emptied into tummy. May I recommend Russell Stover as a fine choice?
  • Assorted ephemera: Decorative paper, photos, postcards, drawings, clip art, wrapping paper, paper dolls, hair, etc. – the only limit is your imagination and your box size.
  • X-acto knife with fresh blade and/or small scissors
  • Box cutter with fresh blade
  • Pencil
  • Metal ruler
  • Brush – soft bristle or sponge
  • Decoupage medium – I used the fancy stuff but good old Mod Podge never fails!
  • Glue stick
  • Corrugated cardboard. A shipping box destined for recycling is ideal.
  • Glue gun
  • Optional: Small piece of plastic or mylar, masking tape, specialized miniature lighting

Heather Atkinson

1. Decide on a theme and plan out the scene you want to create in the diorama.

You will want at least three layers to create depth: background, middle ground and foreground. The lid of the box will be the topmost layer with a viewing hole cut out, and the interior bottom of the box will be the background. You can also decoupage the bottom of the box if you like.

Heather Atkinson

Heather Atkinson

2. Gather all of your ephemera and have it prepared.

Plan what items will go where and in what order. I recommend photographing your plan or sketching it as you will have to dismantle to build up from the background to the foreground. I chose a “sea-captain-death-at-sea-mermaid-true-love-rescue” theme and used an old postcard; clip art scanned, scaled to size, printed and cut out; pages from a poetry book; and vintage wrapping paper.


Heather Atkinson

3. Decoupage the box with your choice of background layer – you’ll build on top of this. This is a base layer to cover the obnoxious scene and brand name on the candy box. Follow manufacturer’s instructions labeled on your gel medium of choice.

Let dry completely. (Again – let dry completely!)

Trim excess paper from around both pieces using your X-Acto knife. Immediately after use, tightly close the lid on your gel medium and wash your brush in lukewarm soapy water. Helpful hint: Check the opaqueness of your paper before beginning. A translucent or light colored paper may require a double layer.


Heather Atkinson

4. Measure and use X-Acto knife and metal ruler to cut a viewing window from the box lid according to your design plan. This will create your viewing window.


Heather Atkinson

Heather Atkinson

5. Now it is time to start creating your scene! To make your interior scene, start with the hindmost layer and build forward creating layers of interest. Use pieces of corrugated cardboard to build up the backing of your scenery. Loosely trace the object and cut cardboard to fit within the lines. Apply hot glue from your glue gun to stick layers of together. (I added a black cardstock background to the bottom of my box covering the cardboard. To do, simply trace the heart shape, cut out, and glue in place. )

Heather Atkinson

Heather Atkinson

6. Carefully place your inner pieces in correct order and hot glue gun in place. It is helpful to make a light pencil mark delineating where each layer should be placed. Make sure you view the subject with the lid on and looking at it straightforward before setting the final display. Arrange and decoupage the layers of your lid design – remember build from back to front overlapping to create visual appeal. Let dry completely. If desired, glue lid in place so diorama is tightly secured.


Heather Atkinson


Heather Atkinson

7. Add special details such as a ribbon around the outside of the bow, an image on the back, lighting inside, attach a wall hanger, etc. You can add lights ordered from a specialty hobby or dollhouse supplier to put inside the box out of sight for a special glow – this will really show off depth! Simply use a dab of glue to apply. This is a sure fire way to impress.

If you want to be extra profesh you can add a pane to your window using plastic or mylar. Cut a piece of plastic slightly larger than window size. Glue and/or tape it to the backside of your window. Clean as needed with glass cleaner.


Heather Atkinson

A special thank you to Artifacts for the loan of the styling props – including the eye popping plastic lace and hot pink tablecloth seen in the photos above. No boring stuff allowed!

More Things to Make | Shop Valentines on Etsy

 
 
 




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