Saturday, May 29, 2010

Caturday

I was saving this one for my birthday last Caturday but in all the excitement I forgot to post the feature. 

caturday birthday

And here are a few more for you to enjoy.

 

 

 

cat-got-you-a-box 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But 

 

 

 

 

 

Mai religion

 

 

 

 

 

Crap now what

Click here to read more!

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Tutorial: How to Set Up a FaceBook Store Front

There is a new application that allows you to have a store front on your Facebook page.  I installed the application on my Fan page.  It is easy to use, once you set it up. The initial installation can be a little confusing.
You can check out my Store Front on Cheryls Purple Cow Fan Page.
Here is a list of things to have ready:
  • Email account you want to use for this application
  • Your PayPal account username
  • Your Store Name
  • A brief set of store policies
  • Your Facebook Fan Page
You must have a Facebook "Fan" page to install the "Shop Now" tab.  Please refer to my tutorial "How to Create a Facebook Fan Page" if you need help creating your Fan Page.
Sign in to Facebook and go to the "Payvment" Fan Page.  http://www.facebook.com/payvment
FB Storefront 1st ScreenYou may choose to "Like" this page if you want, but it isn't required.  Click on "Go to Application" and you will go directly to a screen that asks if you want to allow this application to have access to your information.  If you want to install the application you must choose "Allow". Note: If you click on install tab on the first page you will be taken to another screen where you click to install the application, adding a step.  FB Storefront screen 2 allow access Once you allow access you are taken to this screen:FB Storefront 3rd Screen  In order to fill in the payvment secret Key you will need to click on payvment dashboard.  The link is right under the box for the secret key.  The link will take you to the payvment registration screen.  FB Storefront payvment login Click on Register Now.  Fill out the registration form on the next screen.  Once you fill out the registration you will need to check your email for the activation code. Click on the link in the email to activate your account.  You will be taken to the login screen.  Login to your account.The next screen will have your API key and your Secret Key listed.  You will need this Secret Key in a few minutes.FB Storefront 4th Screen keysFrom here you can click on the “Account” tab.  On the next screen click on Retailer Settings to be taken to this screen.  FB Storefront 5th Retailer settingsYou will need to fill in your retailer settings on this screen:


  • Your PayPal username is the email address you use for PayPal
  • Name of your storefront
  • Email address that you are going to use
  • Information concerning your store policies.

Go back to Facebook and paste the secret key into this box.  Fill in the rest of the information and click save.  You have just created your storefront.  The next screen is the dashboard:Facebook Storefront Created Click on Attach to Facebook page.  You will be asked to verify that you want to add it.  When you do you are taken to your Fan page.  Click on the “+” tab and click on the “shop now” icon from the drop-down menu.  You have just added the “Shop Now” tab to your page.  If you click on that, you will see a “coming soon” announcement. Facebook Store Front coming soon Click on Initialize  The button changes to “Go To Store Settings”  click on that.  This is what the next screen looks like:FB Storefront Turn on store Click on turn store on then click on Yes launch it.  Now you can go to your Facebook page and click on the shop now tab  

This tutorial has taken you through adding the application and the tab to your Fan Page.  I will be working on a tutorial for adding items and other things you can do with your store front.  Look for it soon!

If you use this tutorial and you find errors or omissions, please contact me so that I can make corrections.  If you have any suggestions please contact me with those too.
Click here to read more!

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Handcrafted Jewelry from Cheryl's Purple Cow | Everyday Living

My Etsy shop was featured on the "Everyday Living" Blog.

 

Here is a link to the feature. You can also apply to have your shop featured while you are there. Handcrafted Jewelry from Cheryl's Purple Cow | Everyday Living

Click here to read more!

Artisans For Awareness

Cause Awareness is very important to me. I was diagnosed with epilepsy in 2005. That diagnosis changed my life. Epilepsy gave me a wonderful gift for designing and creating jewelry. One of the ways I "give back" for this gift is through my Awareness Jewelry. I make jewelry featuring the awareness ribbon beads and charms. I have a shop on Etsy, Cheryls Purple Cow, where I sell my designs. I also have a "Shop Now" tab on my Facebook Fan Page where you can purchase anything that I make.
Mother and Daughter Leukemia
Awareness Stretch Bracelet
by Cheryls Purple Cow

I featured an article on my blog last year called " The Story Behind Cheryls Purple Cow". I know that there is usually a similar story for each artisan that creates awareness items to sell.


I want to know your story!!

When I created this blog it was my intention to devote the same amount of time to both promoting Awareness and to promoting my shops. I am working on changing the direction of the blog to include Awareness.

I will still have the same features, series and tutorials. I will be adding a feature called "Artisans For Awareness" or "Crafters With A Cause". I haven't decided yet which one I want to use. Feel free to comment with your opinion.

The new feature will tell the stories of artisans who support specific causes and the story or reason behind their support. The story may be in the style of an interview or with the artisan as a guest blogger.


Diabetes and Heart Health
Crystal Awareness Bracelet
by Cheryls Purple Cow
If you create Awareness pieces or if you know of someone who does, and you want to share that story with my readers, please contact me. I would love to feature you. This is your chance to plug your Cause and your shop.


If you actively support Epilepsy Awareness I would also like to feature you. i can either set-up some interview questions for you to answer or you could write your own story as a guest blogger. This would be a great opportunity to bring a little more attention to your efforts towards epilepsy awareness.

You can either email me or leave a comment if you are interested. I moderate all comments so your information will not be published if you leave it in the comment.
Click here to read more!

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Caturday is Back

I missed posting the last 2 Caturdays. Two weeks ago I was in Atlanta and last week Mars was in retrograde. Sounds good, right?


There's more just click on the "Read More"















And here is the rest of it.

Click here to read more!

Monday, May 10, 2010

Un-Cluttering My House Sale

I am going to have a sale this weekend in my FaceBook Store Front. Before I talk about the sale I want to tell you what initiated the need for a sale.

In the book Zen and the Art of a Clean House the author talks about the relationship between the condition of your home and the condition of your life. "You put a house in order and you put your life in order. All the trash weighs you down. You might as well drag it around on your back, the dirt, the mess." In other words when your home is organized and clean then your life is organized and you things are basically good. But if your house is cluttered and really needs some work then your life is in pretty much the same condition.

I have found that to be very true. I have also found that when I am constantly feeling frustrated about everything, a good house-cleaning does wonders.  I have been very frustrated lately to put it politely.


Some of the clutter that weighs me down is all the crafting supplies I have. They fill all the closets and any free space in my small apartment. My husband has been gently suggesting that I downsize my storage needs.   I finally agree with him.  The box in the picture is the first of about 7 boxes of crafting supplies.



This is a very short list of items:
Foam Shapes
Wood Shapes
Wood Plaques
Wood Boxes
Beads
Basket Making Reed
Small Gifts for Gift Baskets
Baskets
Candle Holders and Votives

I am going to be listing the supplies (and anything else) in my Facebook store. To get to my store, you go to my Facebook Fan Page and click on the Shop Now tab. The pictures you will see when my store opens are the featured items. Click on the drop-down menu on the left-hand side that reads "Browse by Category", choose a category and you will see all the items in that category.

I will be uploading pictures to the photo albums on my Fan Page if you want a sneak peak. I have a lot to get done before Friday so I may not have time to answer questions especially because the info will probably be in the listing.

Did I mention that Facebook Fans get an additional 10% off the sale prices?


Click here to read more!

My First Customer Appreciation Photo

I received my first customer appreciation photo today in My Extra Beads feedback. When a customer leaves feedback on a transaction, they have the option to add a photo that includes the item they purchased. I really enjoyed seeing the necklace that was created using beads from my shop. Isn’t this beautiful?




I contacted my customer to find out if she minded me including the picture in this article. I found out that she also has a shop on Etsy, Andy’s Treasures.


I am by nature a curious person and I love to see what everyone is selling so I just had to go look at her Etsy shop. There are several items in the shop that really intrigued me.


I really like these Blue Moon Earrings. The thing that comes to mind when I see them is that "Once in a Blue Moon" usually refers to something good that doesn't happen very often.


Here is an excerpt from the shop policies:

“I use all kinds of materials, as I am always coming up with new ideas. I work very hard to make sure that my designs are different, interesting and pretty. I love to make simple designs, but I venture out occasionally as you will see. I also take pride in providing high quality and durable products.”

Another design that I really like is this pair of Bright Spring Earrings. The colors used in these earrings remind me of Spring.


I enjoyed looking at the designs in this shop, they are unique and innovative. You ought to check out Andy’s Treasures too.

I enjoyed receiving the Customer Appreciation Photo so much that I have been excited about it all day. 


I plan to encourage more customers to send in photos of the designs they create using my beads by posting those pictures on this blog for all my followers to enjoy. Click here to read more!

Saturday, May 8, 2010

How to Create A Treasury East


Etsy has created a new Treasury environment.  You can now make a Treasury whenever you want and you can have as many as you want. But, how does the new Treasury East work?

First we'll review some basics.  A Treasury is  a poster created by a Curator that shows items from different Etsy Artists. Sometimes there is a theme (Valentine's Day, Green things), sometimes the items are from shops that are friends or teammates of the curator and sometimes the items are just things the curator likes. Treasuries in Main or West only last 48 to 72 hours and you can only catch one of these Treasury spots if you are in the right place at the right time. 

Treasury East is a different story.  You can create one at any time and you can have as many as you want and they don't expire. 


Here are the steps for creating a Treasury East. 

The first thing you need to do is figure out which items to include and arrange them in an Etsy application called "Poster Sketch".  You will need the item number for each item you want to include.  The url for an item looks like this: 


http://www.etsy.com/listing/44962313/green-organ-donation-awareness-ribbon

You need to copy the number only.  

Open the poster sketch by going to this address: 

http://www.etsy.com/poster_sketch.php

The poster sketch screen looks like this:
Poster Sketch 
I cropped the middle out of this picture, but you get the idea. 

Enter each of the item numbers in one of the 16 boxes like the one outlined in green.  After you enter each number, click on OK and the picture of the item appears.  Once you have done all 16, you can arrange the pictures using your mouse to drag and drop. 

When the pictures are arranged the way you want them it is time to claim your Treasury East at this address: http://www.etsy.com/treasury/

The top of the main screen looks like this: 
Create A Treasury East 1
Just click on "New Treasury" and you will be taken to this screen: 

Create A Treasury East 2 
Fill out the information for your Treasury Name and Description.  Enter your first item number in the first box and press "Enter" on your keyboard.  Repeat this until you have entered all 16 items.  Then click on "Save This List" at the bottom of the screen and you have created a Treasury East. 

Click here to read more!