Etsy Labs Archive

Join us at the Storque...

2007-09-19T10:47:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! We here at the Etsy Labs are super excited to announce the Launch of the Storque, Etsy's new and eagerly awaited e-zine! (Which is really just a fancy way of saying super-duper blog.) We're excited about our latest feature, and we hope that you will be, too.

From now on, you can find us and all our tips, how-to's, advice, events, musings, and ramblings over there! There is so much good Etsy content on the Storque for you to read and be in the know...and if you are specifically interested in only what we here in the Labs are writing about, just click on our featured column: Etsy Labs.

Come on and join us, we can't wait to hob nob with you in the Storque!

As always, you can help support Etsy and promote the site with Etsy Merch:

Etsy
Buy Handmade
EtsyLabs

Texas Does New York

2007-09-18T12:15:00.000-07:00

The Texas street team is coming out this month to sell their wares and teach us how to square dance! (Even though its more than probably that none of them actually know how to square dance. But we here at the Labs are intent on square dancing this month!)

If you're in the neighborhood come on by EtsyLabs (325 Gold St., Brooklyn, NY) for some fresh Texas goods! Friday Sept. 28 from 6pm-8pm and Saturday Sept. 29 from 1pm-9pm. The Texas Street Team is giving away door prizes and representing over 40 Etsy sellers from Texas!

Sellers you already know and love like:

katinkapinka.etsy.com narchi.etsy.com muttsywonder.etsy.com

We know a lot of you can't make it but might like to join in our excitement so we're holding a little giveaway. Check out the forum post to see how you can win a big bag of Etsy ~~junk~~ merch!

Spins & Needles Party * Fri 9/14

2007-09-14T16:00:00.000-07:00

Spins & Needles is a Canadian group that travels about hosting parties that are a combo of crafting and dj-ed music. On Friday, September 14, they're coming to Etsy Labs, and the party will be on! Bring your own project, or craft along with the projects that we'll have here (DIY plush monsters, fused glass beads, and more). The fun starts at 8PM and goes to whenever...

Please rsvp@etsy.com if you think you wanna come so we can get a headcount. There will be a $5 cover which gets yer beer & crafting supplies. See you then!

21+, por favor

Paper Night!

2007-09-14T09:21:00.000-07:00

If you missed last Monday Craft Night you missed out on Doritos, KitKats and good old crafting fun. Don't miss this Monday's paper themed night! We'll be doing Origami, Gocco, as well as anything else you like whether its paper or paperless activities. Should I bring my Wii and we can play Paper Mario or you can take turns trying to beat me at Wii Tennis? If you can I'll give you a big bag of Etsy goods! Do not miss it.
xo
Danielle

Hot Tip of the Day: Resizing your photos the easy way!

2007-09-14T08:45:00.000-07:00

Ever wondered how some sellers always seem to have their images perfectly sized and cropped to make the perfect looking thumbnail?

You want the secret? Well, search no further and check out this great little video tutorial I found on YouTube all about how to resize your photos!

Resizing your photos can also be useful for emailing your photos. Keep in mind, to get that perfect looking thumbnail in your Etsy shop, crop your photo into a perfect square just the way you like it...that way, your image will show up just as you planned!

Tip of the Day: Putting Etsy Mini on your Myspace Page

2007-09-13T10:24:00.000-07:00

1. Log into your Etsy account.
2. On the far left you'll find 'Etsy Mini' go there.
3. Choose whether you'd like to display items you are selling in your shop or items you have hearted. Then choose thumbnails or the larger gallery views and how many columns and rows you want to display.
4. Now at the bottom of the page you'll see the code generated for Flash - highlight the code and right click to "copy".
5. Log into Myspace and edit your profile. Click into any catagory you want your Etsy Mini to appear. Right click and paste. Now save.
6. Voila! Etsy Mini on your Myspace page.

Online Video tutorial tomorrow, be there!

2007-09-11T09:49:00.000-07:00

Join me this Wednesday, September 12th, at 3pm EST for super simple tutorial all about making boxes from your recycled papers! All you need is two pieces of paper, a pen or pencil, and a pair of scissors and you're ready!

Meet me in the workshop room with your supplies at 3pm sharp and we'll begin!

These boxes are good for so many things including:

quick and simple storage
organization
pretty packaging
gift giving
get creative...we know you can!

Don't have time to make it to the online workshop? Follow these step by step directions with the photos in our previous tutorial featured in the Labs blog.

See you there!

Craft Night Tomorrow!

2007-09-09T10:54:00.000-07:00

...and everythings going to be alright. alrighhhhhht!!

Tomorrow is the first of many exciting, amazing, crafty, snazzy, sweet and salty Monday Night Craft Nights! Free mini-tutorials to get your creativity buzzing. Free time and almost free reign of the crafty resources we have here at EtsyLabs. Come on out and play with us. We may play a movie. It may be Pan's Labrynth or we might just watch The Hills. Who knows? Oh and snacks. Who can craft without snacks?

When: Mondays, duh! 4pm to 8pm.

Where: EtsyLabs, 325 Gold St. 6th Fl., Brooklyn, NY (Flatbush and Myrtle)

HOT TIP: Discover the Joy of Letterpress at The Arm, Brooklyn

2007-09-06T13:12:00.000-07:00

Have you been hankering to learn to letterpress? Or, maybe you already have the know-how, but lack your own press? The Arm in Brooklyn, NY is the perfect space to print!

The Arm is a public letterpress studio well equipped for printing anything from business cards to 20" x 30" posters. Equipment includes: 5 Vandercooks, 2 C&P Pilots, an antique Challenge paper guillotine, various wood and metal type, and a Boxcar base. They offer letterpress workshops, one-on-one instruction, and hourly press rental for the experienced. It's a terrific space, not to be missed.

For more details or to set up a time to visit, contact:

dan@thearmnyc.com

The Arm Letterpress

281 North 7th St.

Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Also check out:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/thearm/

http://myspace.com/thearmletterpress

http://www.thearmnyc.com/

Get started with simple jewelry projects!

2007-09-05T08:04:00.000-07:00

A quick search of youtube.com for "Tutorial" and "Etsy" netted me this easy peasy idea: Making briolette charm drop necklaces

Brought to you by Itsyourlife! Check out her shop at itsyourlife.etsy.com

Art bArter video and photobooth...good times

2007-09-04T13:45:00.000-07:00

What fun we had at the Etsy bArter here at the Labs! Not sure what the bArter is you say? Well you can read up all about it here.

Check out the latest photos and some great video from the event here at the Labs below! Word on the street is there was wii tennis games projected and played all over the labs walls!

bARTer @ Etsy Labs! from sahadeva and Vimeo.

We also had an amazing handmade photo-booth which you can see the evidence of:

For more photos and info about the DIY photo booth, click here.

Hope to see you at the next bArter!!

Tip of the Day: How to knit

2007-09-04T10:18:00.001-07:00

Ever try to teach yourself how to knit from printed instructions? It's impossible! Check out this PDFcast from Craftzine.org. Beautifully photographed instructions for the new knitter.

Tip of the Day: How To Make A Record Bowl

2007-09-01T12:46:00.001-07:00

Learn how to transform an old record into a new bowl.

Labs Wall Project: September progress!

2007-08-31T09:14:00.000-07:00

September brings in new entries for the wall and big smiles on our faces:

The wall is almost halfway full of art works sent in by Etsy members who might not be able to make it out to the Labs to say hello, but know that a small piece of them is always here with us while we work away! We still need your help to fill up the rest of the wall...I wonder if it can be done by the holidays????

Haven't heard about the Wall Project yet? Catch up on the details in this post and this forum thread to see how you too can get involved!

We'll keep you posted as it fills up!

Last Fridays Trunk Show * Etsy Green and Clean Guild

2007-08-30T12:00:00.000-07:00

Next up the the Etsy Labs' LastFridays art party/trunk show series:

The Etsy Green and Clean Guild makes soaps, bath and body products, makeup, and scents. On Friday, August 31 from 6-8PM, EGCG will be hosting a trunk show shopping party at the Labs. We'll be browsing the wares for sale, listening to 80's music, enjoying blender drinks, and playing with samples of these fabulous products.

Click on any of these links for a sneak preview:

Coffin Color
Lollibomb
Magickal Realism
Martinsville Emporium
Soap
Xiane

The party happens at Etsy Labs, 325 Gold St., 6th Floor. Brooklyn, NY 11201. Please rsvp@etsy.com...see you soon!

9/2 Skill Share: the Coptic stitch

2007-08-30T10:25:00.000-07:00

book by Your Secret Admiral

On Sunday, September 2 from 3-5:30 pm , we will be hosting an informal skill share on how to bind books using the Coptic stitch (the exposed spine method that results in the type of book pictured above). Please bring paper to fill your book and covers (such as covers from old books, boards from board games, bookboard, etc.). We will supply the rest.

To RSVP or if you have any questions, please contact julie@etsy.com.

Tip of the Day: Shoe Box Shelves!

2007-08-29T14:32:00.001-07:00

Do you have a shoe-buying problem? Do you have a surplus of knick-knacks? Two wrongs DO make a right! Take your shoe boxes and glue them together like a one-sided ziggurat to make a snazzy little display for small treasures or books. Apply craft glue to hold it together and fill the bottoms with rice or cans to keep your unit steady. If you're one for the post-modern ad design-as-display leave the shoe boxes as is, if not simply cover them with contact paper, paint or fabric.

This "specialized" stacking process can also be used to make a quick and sturdy staircase, if you substitute cinder blocks
for steps and use some plywood to box it all in. Be precise when measuring your plywood frame so that the cinder blocks don't wobble. Cinder blocks are cheap from your local hardware store, and often can be found laying around.
This would be good for that loft bed you have to climb a ladder to get into, or for your backyard deck. It would even make a nice display for potted plants in the garden.
Now you can stack your achievements to new levels while I work on my graphic design skills, yikes!

Seller Shout Out: whileshenaps

2007-08-29T08:40:00.000-07:00

Today I am really feeling the soft sculptures made by "whileshenaps:"
I always love and appreciate when a plush artist really takes it to the next level...I also can really appreciate a cute softie...but just by looking at the pieces in this Etsy shop I can tell that a ton of time and attention go into making each piece.
One of the best parts of whileshenaps is the fact the title means what it says...this crafty lady actually makes all of her soft sculpture during the day while her daughter is taking her nap! Looking for some good reading or the crafty musings of whileshenaps? Check out her blog here and make it one of your daily reads!

Sell your wares this Labor Day

2007-08-28T13:35:00.000-07:00

JDub Records is throwing a BBQ on Labor Day (that's Monday, September 3) from 3-9PM, and they've told us about an opportunity for craftspeople such as yourself to sell there. It will cost $50, and you can sell what you want and demonstrate your craft if you like. Tables and electricity will be provided. Vendors should get there at 2PM.

The BBQ sounds pretty awesome: There will be music from JDub artists and friends, along with a Kosher vs. Vegan BBQ cookoff (you’ll be the judge), live silk screening, a craft village presented by Etsy, face painting, bocce, magic, and most importantly, a 30-foot inflatable water slide (bring a bathing suit or be prepared)!

The 'cue will be at 400 Carroll St. (between Bond & Nevins) in Brooklyn. Just take the F to Carroll or the R to Union.

Interested? Send an email with a link or photos of your product to aaron@jdubrecords.org and CC jen@meanredproductions.com. Happy Labor Day!

apron by vital.etsy.com

Hot Tip of the Day: Photoshop and Gimp 101

2007-08-28T09:48:00.000-07:00

Have you been hearing a lot about Photoshop lately and all the wonderful things everyone says it can do to better your photos? Are you curious?

Do you have Photoshop and feel lost with how to use it or just need a little refresher course?

Well, you are in luck, because I found this great 50 minute tutorial all about using Photoshop for beginners!! Just click the play button to watch it right here:

Your product photographs on Etsy are essential to your success, because the photos are the only way your customers will be able to see what they are potentially buying. They cannot see it in person or pick it up and touch it. Using Photoshop or other photo editing software programs is such a great way to really make your photos on Etsy stand out from the crowd and get those initial clicks that just might lead to your next sales.

There are actually a ton of great Photoshop tutorials on Youtube that you can watch and learn from absolutely for free! Just search for the issue you need help with and several different videos should come right up! Here's a wealth of information for the beginner in Photoshop right here!

If you do not already have Photoshop and are looking for a free but similar photo editing alternative, check out GIMP. It is often used as a free software replacement for Photoshop and can be downloaded for free right here. You can find similar Youtube tutorials for GIMP on Youtube just like these.

And for a simple GIMP tutorial on how to make a banner, press the play button and look no further:

Happy learning and can't wait to see all of your awesome new photos and banners!!

Win These Beads and Bead Happy!

2007-08-27T14:54:00.000-07:00

Oh four LUXURIOUS strands of pandas and angels and some other beads! Aren't they sweet? They were donated to the labs a while ago and they haven't found a good home yet. Perhaps they could make their way into your etsy shop? All you have to do is answer the following quiz questions correctly and post a link to a cute kitten in your reply to this blog.
1. Name one etsy seller who's shop is less than a month old.
2. Name an etsy seller who's been in the news.
3. How many people's work contribute to the etsylabs blog?

Good luck! Don't forget the kittens!

Tip of the Day

2007-08-27T08:35:00.000-07:00

EtsyRecycle Yahoo Group. Get free stuff and give away what you don't need. Brilliant!
textile art by meltedfabrics.etsy.com

Recycle your paper and MAKE BOXES!

2007-08-24T13:08:00.001-07:00

So I’m sitting here at my cluttered desk wishing I had more organizational boxes to put all my “stuff” in , you know? Right! Then I realized I had all these great pieces of scrap paper that were about to be recycled anyway, so I used them to make my own desk boxes. You too can make fabulous boxes of your own with papers of all kinds for all sorts of uses from desk supplies to really great packaging and gift boxes! All you need is paper and scissors…we’ve all got those!

You need a square piece of paper. Yours isn’t square you say? Simple: fold it diagonally along its side like so and cut off excess strip underneath fold and voila, you will have a perfectly square piece of paper ready to work with!

Fold paper from point to point in half and repeat on other side:

Now fold all four corner points to the center and it should look like this:

Fold opposite page point to paper crease and repeat on all four sides:

Unfolded, your paper should look like this, and the four squares in the middle of the paper will be the bottom of the box (your almost there!):

Now fold each corner point to the first available crease on all four sides:

Flip it over and get ready to use your scissors:

Now make cuts on two sides just to the edge of the four boxes in the middle. 4 cuts total, 2 on each side:

Now fold in the sides to make the side of the box:

Fold the opposite side as shown. You will have two points touching in the bottom of the box with two tabs sticking out.

Now fold the other two tabs in to make the remaining sides and you should have all four corner points in the middle bottom of the box:

All you gotta do now is reinforce your creases with a pen or marker…I used my trusty sharpie and you’ve got your box!

Feeling ambitious? Make another one slight larger for a lid!

Tip of the (Yester)day: Don't sell yourself short

2007-08-24T10:13:00.001-07:00

When selling your work, be mindful of pricing. Figure out what you are paying for materials, pay yourself a fair wage for your time, and consider operating costs like Etsy fees, Paypal fees and shipping/packaging expenses.

Many sellers come up with a formula for pricing their items. You can get some good advice here and here on the user wiki.

Don't forget wholesale vs retail! Most wholesale buyers assume the retail price is double the wholesale price. If you are hoping to be "discovered" through your Etsy shop by a boutique or two or twelve, make sure your prices reflect this. If they are not, state this in your shop.

Above all, don't let other people's underpriced items discourage you. For whatever reasons, some Etsy sellers just aren't charging a realistic price for their work. Maybe they just consider Etsy a hobby instead of a business, or they don't really need the income. Its useless to get angry about this! A business that isn't covering its costs has no hope of growing or succeeding in the long term. Focus on developing your designs, customer service and innovation---and make sure your prices are fair. You deserve it!

online barter begins!

2007-08-23T10:10:00.000-07:00

The online barter is full! 28 etsy artist have posted pics of the pieces they are going to swap with each other! Everyone has rated each other (super secretly) and will be given points based on their rating. They now will face off in a series of games to collect more points. It should be fun. To keep an eye on the action and see more of these artist's amazing work have a look at our flickr group!
http://www.flickr.com/groups/etsybarter
Sorry if you missed the original post inviting artist to sign up!