Last Day Of Pinterest Success

 

 

I have decided to endthe Pinterest Success series.  The reason being is because most of what I find all says the same things.  Here is a rundown:

 

1) Clearly define your curation process, your brand, and the purpose of the campaign.

2) Personalize it according to your brand.

3) Engage. Respond to comments, feature boards, run contests, promote others’ pins through likes, comments, and re-pins.

4) Include a “Pin It” button to your product pages to build the brand.



Most of the information and tips I come across all say the same thing.  How many times can you post about the same thing without you readers getting bored?  Here are the links to my other posts about Pinterest Success:  http://ggiftsg.blogspot.com/2013/01/pinterest-success-marketing-campaigns.html


http://ggiftsg.blogspot.com/2013/01/convert-pinterest-visitors-to.html

Treasury Tuesday: Kiss Me, I'm Irish.

Meet Me Monday

Over the weekend, my husband bought me a weaving kit.  I immediately started working with it.  I am making weaved handbags to be sold at Donna's Specialties which is a small multi-vendor market.  Eventually, I will be making these for my Etsy shop.

 

 

 

Here is a finished one.

 

Here is one I am working on.

 

So, my husband and I were discussing this and I said, I want a big one to make afghans with.  My husband said well, the board looks easy enough to make.  So, eventually, he is going to make me a big one!



Just a Ramble

 

 

What is everyone up to today?  I wish I could say I was getting orders ready to be shipped but I am still waiting for my first sale.  Until then I just keep plugging along with crafting. 

 

My shop will be donating 20% of all sales during the month of January to Newton's Angels.  http://www.etsy.com/shop/GrandGiftsGalore?ref=si_shop#

 

 

 

 

Hope you all have a great day!

 

 

 

 



Feature Friday

Nonoluna

Nonoluna's Handmade Wearables

 

Pink and Red 5 Strand Beaded Stretch Bracelet - Will Custom Make to Size

 

Dark Rose Alpaca Yarn Scarflette

 

 

Dainty Pink 3 Strand Beaded Stretch Bracelet - Will Custom Make to Size

 

 

 

The Driftwood Scarflette

 

 

 

 



Tutorial: Knifty Knitter Hourglass Scarf

When I was a kid, my grandmother tried to teach me how to knit.  Well, I wanted nothing to do with it.  I thought "That is for old people, it is boring, uncool".  Well, I wish I had paid attention.  I bought some knitting books that were suppossed to teach me how to knit but, I just couldn't grasp it.  A few years ago, I came across the Knifty Knitter.  I use it all the time and am still learning.  I am also always looking for new patterns and tutorials.  Here is one I found that I would like to share with you.

 

Hourglass Scarf Designed by Clella Gustin

SUPPLIES

Provo Craft Tools

• Knifty Knitter Round Loom (blue )
• hook
• yarn needle

Other Supplies

• 1 skein of Lion Brand Micro Spun (lime green)
• 2 skeins of Lion Brand Fun Fur Stripes (south beach)
• crochet hook

INSTRUCTIONS — Skill level: Intermediate

NOTE: This scarf is wide on the ends and narrow in the middle of the neck — like an hourglass shape—so that it fits the neck better.

Step 1: Using one strand of each of the yarns, wrap all the pegs on the loom.

Step 2: Turn around on peg 24 and knit back. Knit back and forth for 8". This makes a flat piece instead of a circular piece like a hat.

Step 3: Decrease one loop on the beginning of the next 2 rows, as follows: put the loop from the first peg on the hook and then put the loop from the second peg on the hook. Pull the second loop through the first loop and place the loop on the second peg. Now you will be knitting on 22 pegs instead of 24. Knit on these 22 pegs for 4".

Step 4: Decrease 1 loop on the beginning of the next 2 rows. Knit 4" on these 20 pegs.

Step 5: Continue this method, decreasing and knitting for 4", until you are only knitting on 12 pegs. Knit for 12". (This will be the more narrow neck section.)

Step 6: Increase, or add, one stitch on each end of the next 2 rows and knit 4". (To increase, simply wrap an extra peg on each end.) Increasing stitches creates the wider part of the scarf.

Step 7: Repeat this (increasing and wrapping 4") until you are knitting on all the pegs.

Step 8: Knit until you are 8" from the last increase.

Step 9: Use a crochet hook to remove the loops from the loom. Take the first loop from the loom and chain through. Take the next loop off and chain through both of the loops. Continue until all loops are taken from the loom. Do the crochet stitches very loosely. Pull the end of the yarn through the last loop and pull tight. (You may want to crochet a chain stitch at the beginning of the scarf to make the ends the same width.)

Note: This yarn covers up the stitches. To be able to see the adding of stitches, use knitting markers or safety pins to show increases and decreases.

 



Pinterest Success: Marketing Campaigns

 

Steps To Take When Beginning A New Campaign:

 

1)  Clearly define your curation process, your brand, and the purpose of the campaign.

 

2)   Personalize it according to your brand.

 

3)  Engage.  Respond to comments, feature boards, run contests,    promote others’ pins through likes, comments, and re-pins.

 

4)  Include a “Pin It” button to your product pages to build the brand.

 

Follow this link to learn about the following topics  http://www.seo.com/blog/secrets-launching-successful-pinterest-marketing-campaigns/

 

 

Come Up With Unique Content Ideas

Know What Types of Content Gets the Most Pickup and Drive the Most Traffic

Learn How to Increase Visibility

Bring Targeted Traffic

 

AUTHOR:

• Greg Shuey
• Posted: June 05th 2012
• Comments: 4 responses

Read more: http://www.seo.com/blog/secrets-launching-successful-pinterest-marketing-campaigns/#ixzz2Io7J8nLE

 











Treasury Tuesday

Forever In Blue Jeans

 



New Listings

These are items I listed in my Etsy shop yesterday.

 

 

I Love Books Bookmarks

 

 

 

Reading and Writing Bookmarks Set of 2

 

 

Purple Fusion Bookmarks set of 3

 

 

Love, Family, Friends Magnets Set of 3

 

 

Plastic Canvas Heart Collection Magnets Set of 3

 

 

Earth Tones Glass Magnets Set of 21

 

Meet Me Monday

 

 

 

Last Monday, I told you about Donna's Specialties.  Well, I will be setting up my booth space February 1, 2013.  I will be carrying my handmade items there.  These items will include knitted hats, scarves, afghans, handmade soaps,  homemade spice rubs (soon), and much more.  I am very excited! 

 

 

A little about Donna's Specialties and Market Place.

Location:  5289 College Hill Rd

               Vernon Center, NY

 

Hours:  Mon-Fri 11-5

     Sat 10-4

      Sun 11-3

Closed on major Holidays

 

The shop is filled with Antigues, Gourmet Kitche, Candles, Primitives, Local Artists, and much more. 

 

Local vendors include:

Woods-n-Things of Westmoreland

Jim and Sharon Moffitt of Vernon Center

Joanne Doyle of Clark Mills

Joan Aiken of Clark Mills

Think Back When of Lee Center

 

And now me!



Feature Friday

HomemadeGourmet 

 

 

Shop Owner  Hannah Swick

 

 

 

 

Electric Guitar Sugar Cookies

 

 

 

 

 

Giant Pumpkin Sugar Cookie Favors Bagged & Bowed

 

 

 

12 Elegant Monogrammed Sugar Cookie Favors

 

 

 

Birdie Sugar Cookies

 



Tutorial: Stamped Valentine’s Day Candle

My husband and I don't celebrate Valentine's Day.  We feel it is just a commercial Holiday for card companies and candy companies to make money.  We celebrate our love everyday and our anniversary is our Valentine's Day.  That doesn't mean I don't make crafts for the day of love.  I found this great craft on Dollar Store Crafts.

 

 



 

Step one: Cut a piece of tissue paper to fit around your candle.

Step two: Stamp the tissue paper. First, I covered my paper with a text stamp that has the definition of love. Then I stamped the heart image over the text.

Step three: Wrap the stamped tissue paper around the candle.

Step four: Heat the tissue paper with a heat embossing tool or a hair dryer. As the wax melts, the tissue paper will seem to disappear into the candle, leaving only the image. Be careful to keep moving your heat tool so you don't burn the tissue paper or create uneven dimples in your candle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For a tutorial to make Pixie Dust Necklaces, click here: http://ggiftsg.blogspot.com/2013/01/tutorial-make-pixie-dust-necklace.html



Treasuries I Have Been Featured In

Convert Pinterest Visitors to Subscribers

 

Keep the visitors that you attract.  How?  Your sidebar is what every visitor sees, on every page.  Treat it like a power tool.  First, add a photo of yourself because your readers want to know who is behind it all.   Second, showcase tutorials and your best content.  Your want visitors to see more than just the post they clicked on to get to your blog.  Give them a dozen images to help them find more great content from your blog.  Third, simplify your sidebar.  Lose the blog awards and all the different stats counters, you only need one,  and feature yourself. Allow people to subscribe to your blog by putting it at the top. Feature that  eBook you wrote or promote something you’ve created.  Encourage people to visit your sponsors.  Enable people to explore your content and connect with you.  Give image links to your best content.  Fourth, link to your best content from everywhere.  The most effective way to keep people browsing around your blog is to link within your posts.  Don’t forget that prime “end of post” spot!  By linking to your best content at the end of your posts, you’re giving them a chance to stay and enjoy themselves a little more, and hopefully decide your blog is worth coming back to.  Give your visitors a great experience, and they’ll stay.

 

 

Sponsor ads - If you have a dozen ads in your sidebar, you may want to think about scaling back on your sponsorship program.  Why?  Because the more ads you have, the more you’re diluting your visitors’ attention.   Keep the focus on your blog. Don’t send people AWAY from your blog and onto your sponsors’ sites before they’ve had a chance to get to know you and see why they should come back.

 

This post is a condensed version from The Blog Maven. 

 

For a more in depth reading please visit The Blog Maven at  http://www.theblogmaven.com/how-to-convert-pinterest-visitors-to-subscribers/

 

For more Pinterest Success Tips, click here  The Ten Commandments of Pinterest



Treasury Tuesday

New Listings

Here are some items I have listed on Etsy over the last few days. 

 

 

The Elegant Collection Gift Tubes Set of 2

 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/119862249/the-elegant-collection-gift-tubes-set-of

 

 

Rolled Brim Hat

https://www.etsy.com/listing/119864384/rolled-brim-hat?ref=v1_other_1

 

 

Multicolored Loop Eternity Scarf

 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/119865371/multicolored-loop-eternity-scarf?ref=v1_other_1

 

 

 

The Elegant Collection Gift Bags Set of 2

 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/120088019/the-elegant-collection-gift-bags-set-of?ref=v1_other_1

 

 

Valentine's Day Cards Set of 2

 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/120091069/valentines-day-cards-set-of-2?ref=v1_other_1

 

 

Elegant Collection Gift Boxes Set of 2

 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/120478222/elegant-collection-gift-boxes-set-of-2?ref=v1_other_1

 

 

The Elegant Collection Gift Tubes Set of 2

 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/120481352/the-elegant-collection-gift-tubes-set-of?ref=v1_other_1

 

 

Be Mine Sock Cupcake

 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/120484390/be-mine-sock-cupcake?ref=v1_other_1

 

 

 

Love Struck Sock Cupcake

 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/120486604/love-struck-sock-cupcake?ref=v1_other_1

Meet Me Monday

Meet Me Monday~~ This is where I tell you a little about myself, things I am working on, things I've done etc....


Hello, how are you today?  Well, along with having an Etsy shop, I am also a vendor at a place called Vernon Variety Shops in Vernon, NY.  This is a market place that offers a variety of items from many vendors.  I had to take some of my items in on Saturday. I sell my handmade items, vintage, and a variety of other things. While there, I was talking to another vendor that also has a booth in another store quite like Vernon Variety.  As I love these places, I asked my husband if he wanted to go check it out.  It is a new place and so, we went.

The name of the store is Donna's Specialties and Marketplace which is located in Vernon Center, NY, which is just up the road from Vernon.  So, of course, we looked around a bit and my husband loved the setup.  It looks like a little country store.  He started talking to the person that was working there about booth space.  Then he said to me, "I think your handmade items will fit in really good here."  He proceeded to ask for details about booth rental.  Then he asked to see an available spot.  Well, I fell in love with the spot.  So, I am now on a quest to get some more crafts done to hopefully rent this spot beginning in February. 

I will stay at Vernon Variety but if I start doing really well at Donna's, I might just pull out of Vernon.  We shall see........

 

 

 

Feature Friday

 

 

http://www.etsy.com/listing/119916026/long-leaf-earrings-gold-leaf-dangle

 

 

 

 

http://www.etsy.com/listing/115680384/knitted-beanie-snowman-button-black-hat

 

 

 

 

http://www.etsy.com/listing/117382414/knitted-cowl-in-pearl-womens-neckwarmer

 

 

 

http://www.etsy.com/listing/96348550/victorian-style-hair-clips-ivory-and

 

 

The above items are brought to you by 

SparklingAccessories
Handmade jewelry & hair accessories

 

 

To see more from this shop, click here http://www.etsy.com/shop/SparklingAccessories?ref=seller_info

 

 

Other Feature Friday Posts you might like: 

http://ggiftsg.blogspot.com/2012/12/feature-friday-marys4everflowers.html

 

 

 http://ggiftsg.blogspot.com/2012/12/feature-friday.html

Tutorial: Make a Pixie Dust Necklace

I found this on dollarstorecrafts.com.  What a cute idea!

 

 

Project estimate:

• Nail art glitter bottles, package of 8 for $1
• Ribbon
• Beads
• One head pin for jewelry
• Pliers

 

Please note: These bottle are very small so they are not appropriate to give to children who still put things in their mouths. You may also want to consider gluing the lids onto the bottles depending on the age and activity level of the recipient.

 

Step 1: Make the charm

Select beads that coordinate with the glitter and ribbon you will be using. String the bead(s) onto the head pin. Make a loop to attach the charm to the necklace as follows:

• Leaving some space above the top bead, bend the head pin down with pliers. (now is a great time to go ahead and loop it around the ribbon instead of threading the ribbon through later)
• Grasp the top of the bend with your pliers.
• Using your hand or a second set of pliers, wrap the end of the head pin around the top of your charm.
• Clip off the excess and use pliers to press against loop.

 

 

 

 

Step 2: Add the glitter

String your favorite bottle of glitter onto the ribbon with your charm.

Step 3: Make the necklace adjustable

 

 



That's it! Making these necklaces is quick and fun. You can coordinate your glitter color based on the occasion (just empty the bottles and refill with your glitter of choice): Make pink and red necklaces as valentine's gifts. Use green for St. Patrick's day. Or create an assortment for a pixie party and let each child pick their favorite color.

 

For more of what Carissa did with these, please follow this link:  http://dollarstorecrafts.com/2012/12/tutorial-make-a-pixie-dust-necklace/

The 10 Commandments of Pinterest

Source: amyporterfield.com via Vibranz Health on Pinterest

Treasury Tuesday

Winter Blues By Grand Gifts Galore

 



My Office/Craft Room

 

Well, while my son was home from college for Christmas, he used my office/craft room for his bedroom. Although he cleaned up before he left, my stuff was a mess b/c it was kind of hard to get in there. So, I have been spending the morning getting it back together.

Take a look at these links for before and after pics.  There is still more to be done. 
http://ggiftsg.blogspot.com/2012/12/my-officecraft-room.html

 http://ggiftsg.blogspot.com/2012/12/my-officecraft-room-part-2.html

 

The Elegant Collection

 

 

 

 

 

Just listed these in items in my Etsy shop.  Look for more from the Elegant Collection coming soon! To see more about these items and others, click this link  http://www.etsy.com/shop/GrandGiftsGalore?ref=si_shop

 

 

 

 

Elegant Collection Gift Boxes Set of 2

https://www.etsy.com/listing/119496869/elegant-collection-gift-boxes-set-of-2?ref=v1_other_2

 

 

 

 

Elegant Collection Gift Tags Set of 8

https://www.etsy.com/listing/119500273/elegant-collection-gift-tags-set-of-8

 

 

Feeling Ignored

 

Ok, so, I belong to about 23 teams on Etsy.  We play the games, you know, link exchanges, favorite this, favorite that, follow me etc, etc......   Well, out of the 23 teams that I play these games in, I am lucky if I get 1 person to return the favor.  So, what am I doing wrong?  Is there something else I should be doing?  Would love some feedback and advice.  Meanwhile, I will keep playing in hopes that people will start noticing.