Studio Saturday with Humblebeads

Welcome to Studio Saturday! Each week one of our contributors gives you a sneak peek into their studio, creative process, or inspirations. We ask a related question of our readers and hope you'll leave comments! As an incentive, we offer a free prize each week to bribe you to use that keyboard. The following week we choose a random winner.

This weeks winner is ArtZHodgePodge. Congratulations!

You have won a healthy helping of Bead Soup from Lori Anderson! Send Lori an e-mail with your address and she'll send out your yummy collection of beads.

And now it's time to join me in the Humblebeads Studio:

I was away from my studio for awhile after the Bead & Button show, enjoying a much needed vacation.  These were the last things from my crazy bead making frenzy the week or so before the show - cuff bracelet connectors.  This is the Garden series.  I also created a Willow series and a few Sea cuffs that will be available next week. 

These whip up so quickly and wear so well. You can wire-wrap these or use large jump rings to attach them to a chain or beads.


To ease back into creating after the post-travel funk, I've joined in the Muffin Tin Jewelry Challenge.  I've finished 4 pieces so far and then decided umm, let's try more pendants and chain so I can have 12 pieces done by Monday. 

12 pieces in a week may seem like a lot, but I see that some of you have risen to the challenge and finished already!  Even if you start today, if you make 4 pieces a day you could finish by Monday night. 

That's something I do when I set big goals for myself - like writing a book or preparing for a national Bead Show or creating 12 pieces in a week -  I break the goal down into actionable steps to complete each day or within an allotted time frame.  Grand goals can be completely overwhelming, Like getting ready for Bead & Button, I created over 800 beads in 8 weeks.  That seems crazy, but I broke it down to 100 beads a week - then down to 20 beads for 5 days a week - way more doable than creating 800 beads!

My tips for meeting your goals:

1. Create a goal, write it down and give yourself a deadline.

It's not a goal if it doesn't have a deadline and writing it down has all sorts of scary, life-affirming power when it comes to reaching for something you really want.

2. Break your goal down into it's smallest tasks - no matter how small a step, write it down and give it a deadline. 

Using a wall calendar or dry erase board, write down your steps on the dates you will work on them and then get rid excuses and fears and focus on that task for each day.  Even if you can only devote 15 minutes to your goals, you'll be surprised what working consistently on a project will result in over a weeks.

3. Plan a reward for when you meet your goal - maybe it's a day at the beach or a shopping trip. 

Whatever will motivate you, promise yourself that treat when you meet your goal.

4. Stay accountable.

Share your goal with someone who will keep you on track or if you don't have that support system share your journey on your blog.  Having your peers encourage you and not wanting to let them down can be a great motivator.
What is a goal you are currently working on or would like to start working toward? 
For me, it's my next book proposal.  No goal is too small or too big - we are all on our own path and have different needs for our jewelry businesses and hobbies.  Share it with me in the comments below and one random winner will be drawn to win one of my new cuff connectors. 

The Bead Biz- Elastic Bracelet Tips

Katie Hacker shared some tips with me for making an elastic bracelet. These tips were so good I just couldn't keep them to myself.

Jennifer asks: I have a customer who is asking about making stretchy bracelets, do you have a product you like for them? She is having a hard time keeping the knots tied. I was about to make some too and we both realized that you would be the expert to ask about this. If you have any tips or product names could you let me know? Thanks for your help.

Katie answers: For the stretchy bracelets... I like to use .08mm diameter because it is nice and thick but not too thick to tie good knots. I use Elasticity, which is made by Beadalon. They recommend a figure-8 knot (picture on package) to tie it, but I typically just tie a square knot. Try to put some tension on the cord while you're tying the knot, then pull all of the ends to tighten the knot once it's tied. I put a drop of jeweler's cement like GS Hypo on the knot, let it dry, then cut off any extra. If you can tuck the knot into a nearby bead, that will help protect the knot.Also, a word to the wise: remember that stretchy material is not as durable as beading wire. Stretchy bracelets are fun to make and wear but they probably aren't going to last forever.

You can find Katie's blog here with more helpful tips on jewelry making.

This post was written by Jennifer Jangles. You can find more about her on her blog, Jennifer Jangles.

Getting Noticed - How to Connect with Blog Editors

As the editor of the Art Bead Scene, I'm often queried by jewelry designers and beadmakers asking various ways to be featured here. I thought I'd share some tips today on how to become part of a online community, connect with blog editors, and maybe even end up featured on your favorite blog.

(Pendant above by designer Rose Noble, featuring a fox from Humblebeads.)

(Typewriter pendant from Kylie Parry)

Before you sit down to type up that email to the editor of a blog, ask yourself this important question:

What is the main focus of this blog and what type of artists do they regularly feature?

Here on the Art Bead Scene we feature handmade beads by artists and jewelry that is created using art beads.  We also highlight unique findings, tools, business tips for those who sell jewelry and other news that relates to jewelry designers - like books, contests, events, etc.

So for example, someone who makes bridal jewelry with pearls and crystals wouldn't be featured here, unless they were making bridal jewelry with handcrafted artisan beads.  Then we'd be talking.

If you are searching for blogs to feature your handmade jewelry, look through older posts on the blog to see if you are a good fit for their audience. 

Here is a great article on introducing yourself to blog editors from Modish.  It's a must read!

(Spoken Words necklace by Judith B Designs.)

Now, there are ways to increase you chances of getting featured on a popular blog and one of them is to participate regularly in the discussions that are happening on the blog.  Yes, I'm talking about leaving comments - that's how we discover our readers and potential designers to feature.  Say hello and connect with the writers and other readers here on the blog.  Commenting - it's more important than you think!

Another way to increase your chances of being featured on your favorite blog - take amazing photos of your work.  If you sell online do whatever it takes to learn how to use your camera to take the best possible photos of your work.  It should be your number one priority when running an online business. There is no shortage of advice on this topic.  Check out all these helpful photography hints on Etsy.

The Art Bead Scene offers a few other ways for you to connect with us and our readers.  First we have our monthly challenge and love seeing what jewelry designers and beadmakers create from the inspiration pieces.  I'll share a secret - if you submit your challenge piece within the first week, your chances of being picked as a featured designer greatly increase!  And if you do join in the monthly challenge be sure to blog about it so we can feature you on the blog tour at the end of the month.

Also take advantage of Bead Table Wednesday - we share what's on our bead table each week.  Leave comments on the photos and blogs shared and you'll make all sorts of new friends!

Please don't email a blog editor and ask to be included in the links on their blog roll.  Those links are purely editorial and the editor's favorite picks.  It's a blogging faux pas to ask. 

(Birds on a Wire Pendant by Kylie Parry)

Submissions to the Art Bead Scene:

I'm always on the look out for a great guest post.  If you feel you have a topic you'd like to write about, email me and share your idea.  It could be a project featuring art beads, a lesson you've learned from your jewelry business, a tip you have to share, etc. 

I don't feature beadmaking tutorials here on the ABS.  While we adore art bead makers, our blog is written for jewelry designers who love to use art beads.

When you email me, be sure to include your website and blog link.  If you don't hear back from me, feel free to email again in a week to follow up.  I'm a busy gal and sometimes my to-do list is screaming at me while my emails pile up.  But please understand I may have to politely decline a submission.  It's not you, it may just not be a good fit for the blog. 

And don't spam me, don't email me just because you want to sell something.  Have a good story for me, share something amazing about your work or what inspires you.  I don't like spam any more than you do!  I like making connections and meeting interesting, creative people. 

(Baby Hedgies from Humblebeads.)

I'm often asked how I pick the beadmakers for the themes and treasuries that are posted here on the ABS. 

I'm more likely to pick a beadmaker I know and have shopped with.  This is where the editorial part comes in, I feature work here that I love. 

I'm also more likely to pick a beadmaker on Etsy.  It's easier to search for specific themes and I know the chances of finding some 'wow' factor images are pretty high.  That said, if I know what I'm looking for and know that a bead artist only sells from a website I will go check them out on their site. 

For beadmakers, I started an Art Bead Scene Parade Flickr group - this is a great place to share your beads. I do take notice! Add your art bead photos to the group, I want to see them.  I can't know every bead everyone makes, so posting things in this group would help us both!

If you have followed all this advice and you still haven't seen your work here on the ABS, don't despair - keep connecting with us and sharing your amazing work.  Your turn will come!

Thank you for visiting us everyday, leaving your wonderful comments and inspiring us with your creations.

The Bead Biz- Larger Pictures on your Blog

See the difference? Pictures make a blog and you want them as large as possible. If you're using blogger you have three choices for photos, small medium, and large. Large is all right but I wanted bigger so I did some research and found how to get those large beautiful pictures that I have seen on other blogs.

First you will need to upload your photo on a photo sharing site. I use Photo Bucket. I am sure there are others but this one is easy for me, the non techical person that I am. Once you have your photos upload. There is a box below the image that allows you to copy the image in html. That's what you will want to do.

Next start your new post in blogger. When you are ready to add your photo, switch to the Edit Html format. You'll find that link in the top right hand corner of your post. Paste your html that you copied from Photo Bucket into your post. If you want your big beautiful photo at the top then paste it right at the top of the post.

Once it's posted, switch your posting back to the Compose link. It's also in the right hand corner, right next to the Edit Html link. If the photo is too big then you can click on the corner of it and drag you mouse to make the image smaller.

Send me a link in the comments to your blog if you tried the larger picture, I would love to see it.

Enjoy!

This post was written by
Jennifer Jangles

The Bead Biz- Getting in the Groove

I know a lot of bead makers and designers are getting ready for summer shows, with myself included. I thought I would pass on a simple tip that helps me stay on task and inspired.

Do you ever sit down late at night or early in the morning ready to get to work and then feel overwhelmed with the amount of tasks at hand?

I know I get overwhelmed and don't know where to start. If you're like me it takes a couple of hours before I really get in the groove.

I have found when you are working and it's about time to stop, don't finish what your doing. Leave your necklace half strung, leave half of your Etsy listings unlisted, don't clean up. Leave it. Why? The next time you are ready to work you can just pick up right where you left off. When you come in to your studio space the next day and you see that half strung necklace and you still haven't had all your coffee, you can finish stringing it. Picking up right where you left off will get you back in the groove faster.

This post was written by
Jennifer Jangles

Trends from Etsy

Etsy is a great source to see what's on trend, they publish a monthly report.  Here is the May edition and some art beads that fit the themes. 

Hope: peace signs, cherry blossoms, Japan-inspired themes.

SusanLambert

Geometric patterns: triangles & teardrops, chevrons, stripes.

JessContreras

Unique findings: artistic headpins & toggles.

GardanneBeads

Garden themes like gnomes, mushrooms, snails, flowers, bees and butterflies.

Put a bird on it: birds, feathers and eggs are as strong as ever.

KylieParry

Locked away: keys, keyholes & lockets.

ClassicBead

Things to keep in mind for May - offer priority mail shipping for Mother's Day.

Graduation gifts are needed, create things that can be personalized with initials, school colors or the year. Owls are also fun for graduation as the go-to symbol for wisdom!

Wedding season is fast approaching - lots of opportunities there from Mother-of-the-Bride to the flower girl all need jewelry.  And brides are looking for unique thank you gifts for their wedding party.

Smilebox for Business

Create a free slideshow design This is a fun idea to add a little pizazz to your online promotions.  Smilebox is a free program that you can download to create slideshows, invitations, announcements and photo albums using your pictures.  Typical you would use Smilebox for family photos and virtual scrapbooking, but there is no reason you can't use it to show off your latest creations. There are tons of themes to choose - from simple and modern to cute and whimsical.  Of course, the trick is to pick one that compliments your photos and doesn't complete with them.  You can add a little music to your slideshow or not - it's up to you.  After you complete your project you can show it off on facebook or your blog.  A few ideas: Show off a specific collection in a slideshow. Create a photo album as a catalog to showcase your product line. Use it to create a step-by-step tutorial or show some process shots of how you create your work in s slideshow. If your photos are inspired by nature or art, pair up the inspiration photos (copyright free photos only) and the finished piece.  Take a few detail photos to include a few close ups. Create an invitation to an open house, upcoming show or online sale. Give a studio tour. Create a 'lifestyle' ad for your jewelry featuring images of your jewelry and inspiration images that relate to your brand or current line.  Like if you have a line of beach inspired jewelry mix photos together of your collection with photos from the beach, shells, sea urchins, starfish, etc.  If you have access to a model take photos of her wearing the jewelry sitting on the beach in a casual outfit, hair blowing in the breeze, sand between the toes.  You get the idea! The service is free, but you can upgrade to include more features and even print out your creations!  Have fun and if you make one using your jewelry, be sure to share it with us in the comments below.  I would love to see how creative you guys can be with this fun and easy program!



Pricing and Value

Brandi Hussey is offering an awesome free ebook on pricing.  If you are selling your jewelry to make a few extra dollars or running an empire - I recommend giving this one a read.  In fact, you should download it right this second, read it and then come back and read the rest of this post.

It brings up many good points, but two that have been on my mind over the last few months is charging what you are worth and charging prices that are going to sustain you over the long-haul.

There is a tendency among hobby jewelry designers to charge just enough to cover their materials.  I'm not calling anyone out on this or want to make anyone feel bad for doing that - what you charge is your own business and I'm only asking you to consider the following.  If you were paying someone for their time the amount you pay yourself, could you honestly look them in the eye and be okay with that?  Are you treating yourself fairly, asking for a living wage for your time or are you underselling yourself because of fear? 

Maybe you feel like since this isn't your 'real' work, you are just happy to make back your expenses.  Even if you love every minute of it and it feels like play, you are working and spending your time making something of value.  And you should get paid fairly for your time, skills and creativity.  Don't undervalue your work!

There is a saying from a historic labor strike where women reportedly carried signs saying, "We want bread, and roses too."  Don't feel guilty about wanting your business to provide roses too - don't be afraid to charge fair prices that allow for you to reward yourself for your hard work.  And not merely with covering your expenses or even just meeting your bills for the month.  Dream bigger, dream about your business providing luxuries. Dream about a business that could allow you to contribute to your family income.  Or provide for a vacation, yes artists are allowed to afford a real vacation.  Or heaven forbid, let's really dream here and set our sights on a business that could provide for the expenses of health care and a 401K! 

It's okay, you can have bread and roses too!

Women have fought long and hard battles to earn a fair wage, why would we undervalue ourselves when we own a business or we are trying to start a new business?  Stand together in solidarity with your handcrafting sisters and ask for what our time and talents are worth.  I don't want to see you burnout or give up on your dreams because you are working too hard for not enough pay.

I think undercharging often comes from a place of not feeling worthy and fear. Maybe you don't feel like a 'real' artist or feel like your local economy wouldn't support fair prices.  By arming yourself with a little business know-how and doing the gritty work of seeing how much money you are actually making or losing from your jewelry business, you will start moving in the right direction.

Jewelry designers of the world unite! You can have bread, roses and new beads!

Other resources:

Right Brain Business Plan - you can download the Kindle version on your PC or mobile device.

Business Growth Planner - from Crafting an MBA

Moving Ahead

I've been enjoying reading your dreams and goals for 2011 and thought I'd share some links to help you along the way.

For those who want to see their projects in magazines this year:
Submit Your Jewelry to Magazines from Lorelei Eurto

For those who want to submit to contests and maybe win big:
Beading & Jewelry Making Contests from Michelle Mach

For those who want to do craft shows:
How to Start Doing Craft Shows by Lori Anderson

For those who are hungry for business advice and want to get more out of your efforts I suggest you add these blogs to your daily reading list:
Tara Gentile
Scoutie Girl
Craft MBA

Don't forget to play along with us at Bead Table Wednesday. 

Photo from Jenn Judd Rocks!

Holiday Boot Camp - Week 5

These last few weeks for the Etsy Holiday Boot Camp have been filled with juicy tips and great advice.  Here are the ones that I found most useful with a few extra links added in:

1. Catch up on the Etsy Boot Camp here.

2. Marketing:
    Quick! The Holidays Are Coming and I Have to Start Marketing Online
    3 Worksheets to define your brand and market
    Targeting Customers The Key to Marketing Your Business

    28 tips to reach your target market

3. Tags for Black Friday & Cyber Monday Weekend (11/26 - 11/29)
    1. Black Friday Etsy, 2. Cyber Monday Etsy, and 3. Free Shipping Etsy.

You can add these tags to your listings if you are going to offer a special during that weekend.  Only use the tags that are applicable, you can use more than one if it fits.  Add them now - Etsy is searching through these tags for upcoming holiday promotions, sellers are using them for treasuries and bloggers are using them to find content!

For more tips on tagging your work and current trends read the Etsy's Merchandising report for December.

4. Make your shop gift-buying friendly.  Consider creating sections based on price or other easily searchable sections such as Stocking Stuffers, Gifts for Teens, Luxury Items or Gifts under $25, Gifts under $50, etc.

Bonus tip: You can't sell from an empty cart, work on filling up your Etsy shop and keeping it full.  Earrings and pendants are the ticket for this time of year.  Create multiples of the same design and relist them.  It's easier and quicker to make 5 pairs of earrings in 4 designs than 20 different designs - you'll cut down on time photographing and writing the listings too.

(Jewerly pictured above from: Erin Praiz-Hintz, Lori Anderson, Shannon LeVart and Lorelei Eurto.)

Let's Talk "Loss Leaders"

Ceramic Component by Elaine Ray

As many of us prepare for the upcoming season of makin' and creatin', we are undoubtedly spending time thinking about what will sell. An elusive question that usually changes the answer on us right after we've invested mucho deniro into one of our ideas. However, there are a few strategies that we can focus on that have been researched and proven and I would like to talk about one of them today; Loss Leaders.

 A Loss Leader is defined by an article sold at cost that leads the customer to other more profitable purchases (r1). For instance; XBox consoles are sold below cost (materials and labor) but is made up in the very profitable, high selling, video games. In the handmade market, it can be priced high or low; it doesn't have to be cheap, it just has to be popular with your buyer.  A sculpture that sells well at a trade show priced at $100 is positioned strategically in the sellers booth to catch the attention of their buyer and move them forward onto sculptures that have a much greater profit margin.

Let's translate this to our niche of handmade jewelry. As a jewelry designer you may have one of a kind pieces. They took for-ev-er to design and even longer to assemble, their worth and their cost is and should be pretty high. But a booth full of high end designer jewelry is only going to attract one type of buyer. There are only so many collectors of high end artisan jewelry and unless you want to keep going home with containers full of gorgeous jewelry, you will need to work for a variety of buyers.

That brings us back to your loss leaders. An item that is popular, can be created quickly and priced effectively, therein catching the eye of a broad range of buyers. One of my past loss leaders were pendants. I could create nearly 10 to 12 an hour and their low cost in materials made for an attractive low price. I used them in booths and online. There were a lot of them and their bright colors and bold graphics were eye-catching to a lot of people. They led the buyer in to more elaborate pieces that sold for higher profit, not as often, but they still sold.

Think about your skills, what you enjoy doing, what simple jewelry item can be created in large production and offered at an attractive price to a variety of buyers; simple charm bracelets, briolettes on lever backs, pendants with add on chains. My plan for my own loss leaders this year is to utilize all the fantastic talents being offered in the art bead community which will serve a duel purpose of supporting other artists while still appealing to a broad range of buyers.

Bronze Clay Worry Bead by Jennifer Tough

The last art show I attended, I arrived with my mom early in the shows opening. A glass artist had a table near their booths opening that featured delightfully tiny $10 bowls. On the other side of the table full of tiny bowls they had mini glass ornaments priced between $5 and $10, equally delightful. They sparkled in the sunlight and drew us in where they had more elaborate glass items for much higher prices hung behind them and arranged around them. We marveled at their skill and collected a business card, but we were not able to purchase anything but a glass bird ornament for $9.

Hours later as we pass this glass artists booth while leaving, I see they have sold out of tiny bowls and their baskets of mini glass ornaments have dwindled considerably. I look in the booth and see 5 empty places where huge art glass bowls had hung. Without knowing exactly what they brought in money wise, I knew they had a good show. This is a perfect example of the loss leader pricing strategy working for the artist.

I hope this article helps you consider a way to become more profitable at your next show while still staying true to your authentic self.
Much Love & Respect,
Shannon LeVart

missficklemedia.com   
 
referenced;1 -Investopedia

Biz Tip - Booth Banners

As some of you are gearing up for your Fall and Holiday selling season I wanted to share a great resource for banners.  Check out Vista Print for inexpensive and nice quality banners.  You can have them printed with an image that you create, like the one on the left, or use one of their images, like the one on the right.  Templates are available on the site.  It was super easy to create in Photoshop.  The image printed out great, they are durable and roll up for storage. If you sign up for Vista Print's email list and wait for a promotion, you can get one small sign for free!  Their large signs, which are 6 ft long, start under $35. 

Hot tips for great booth designs:

Add in texture with fabric, dishes, plates, etc.  I love those leaf plates, I think they were for candles and I picked them at the end of the season one year from my grocery story.  You never know where you might find a good display idea.

Add height to your displays: I used planters turned over for small shelves.  You could use baskets, small decorative boxes, window glass blocks, etc.

Raise the tables - use pvc pipe or bed risers.

Choose your colors to compliment your jewelry style.

Refurbish old necklace displays by covering them with fabric, just glue it to the backside with a hot glue gun.  I used grey dupioni silk in the ones above.

Think outside the box!  I used nests for bowls - these would like cute with a pair or two of earrings nestled inside or a special bracelet.  I found the nests at Hobby Lobby.

Want more booth ideas?  Check out the Jewelry & Bead Booth flickr group.

Add a Cool Shopping Widget to Your Blog

One of the things I like most about blog hopping is being able to click over to someones online shop or etsy store front. Easily. Right then. When I have $25 to $35 in my paypal that won't be missed when bill time comes around.
  I do not want to scroll up and down their blog, picking through awards, gadgets, followers, twitters that point me back to their blog, facebook updates that tell me what they are making for dinner;  hunting for the thing that grabbed my attention in their post that I could be buying RIGHT NOW.  I want it right there at the top.
  I know. I'm demanding. But more importantly I'm a buyer of handmade goods. You've got me. I'm here, interested in what you are doing. I know someone who would want that necklace. Or that pair of earrings would look fantastic with my sisters new shirt. My neighbor did something nice and I'd like to get her a gift certificate to your shop. Why can't I find it? Now!?! Never mind, I have to go get my kid out of the mud and I won't be back to the computer until after dinner. You've lost me.

Here are a couple of options that will allow you to capture your buyer with minimal effort and avoid losing them in the busyness that is your blog.

1.) Add an etsy mini to your blog side bar.
(these instructions are for pc users.)
First, log into your etsy and scroll down the left side until you see "PROMOTE" click on that. You are taken to a page that says Build your own etsy mini.
 You are given 3 choices; the first is items to show. Click "items from my shop". These items are your Featured items. You choose which items will show up in the top 3 photos of your shop and the items that are featured in your etsy mini by clicking on the gray star in the items title under Currently for sale . Arrange these featured items by clicking on Featured items and clicking the up and down arrows.
The second choice is choose an image size. This is up to you. I clicked both options to see which looked better on my blog and ultimately chose - Thumbnail.
 Your third choice is choose layout. You can add as many as 5 columns (down) and 5 rows (across) to your side bar. But the point is not to have your whole shop on your blog, rather a showcase of easily accessible work. Plus 5 by 5 doesn't fit on a lot of blog side bars.
 By now you have an etsy mini preview below your choices. Do you like it? If not, change a few of your choices, if you do like it, simply select all in the code box shown below the preview and right click copy. You are now ready to add this beautiful sampling of your finest goods to your personal blog.
 Do this by clicking Customize up at the top of your blog. Click on Add a gadget and scroll down the list until you see the option HTML/JavaScript - add third party functionality or other code to your blog. Click it!
 You are given a place to title your etsy mini, why not use your business name? Then you right click in the box and choose paste. The code will be entered into your box. Don't forget to save!


 2.) Add a cr8tivity slide widget to your blog.
Go to to http://cr8tivity.com/ . Type in your user name. Click the button that says Widget. Copy the code in the top or bottom box. See your little box on the side there? Isn't that pretty and eye catching?
 To add this nifty widget to your blog, repeat the same steps as with your etsy mini;       
Click Customize up at the top of your blog. Click on Add a gadget and scroll down the list until you see the option HTML/JavaScript - add third party functionality or other code to your blog. Click it! Fill in the info and paste your code into the box. Save it and arrange the new widget where it will be seen easily. Save your changes.

 Now view your blog and rejoice. You have just made it that much easier to fulfill a shop-a-holics need.

I'll check for questions in the comments so please ask if I can assist you. 
Much Love and respect,

Shannon
missficklemedia.com

Design Custom Earring Cards

You don't have to be a graphic designer or even hire one to create professional looking earring cards that you can easily customize with your own images!  The answer - Zazzle!

Here you'll find a great selection of earring cards created by designers and artists.  I created 3 different styles playing around with the idea and you can customize them with your own image, text and colors.

When you find a design you like, click on it. Under the product image will be a button that says "Customize It".  Click that button and you'll get to a page that looks like the one above. Where I've circled the area, you'll find the buttons to customize the design. To change the image, click "change image." You can make the image larger or smaller and move it around.* Do the same to change the text.  You can also change the text and background colors to match your brand.

*If there is a yellow caution sign on your image, the print quality is too low and you'll need to pick a bigger original image.

When you have the design you like, purchase and you are done.  Shipping starts at $4.00! 

You'll have to punch or drill the holes.  Check out Jen's quick tip for that!

It really is that easy. 

Find Earring Cards:

Earring Cards from Heather Powers

Search for Earring Cards from other Zazzle designers

Material Connection Disclosure from Heather Powers:

I have a material connection to Zazzle. Some of the links above are my affiliate links and I will earn a commission on purchases made via these links.

The Bead Biz - Earring Holder

Check out these great earring holders I found online. Beth Miller who is a silversmith and jewelry artist made them. If you click on her name it will take you to her site. She gives instructions and a supply list for making them. They would be great and inexpensive for an art show.

This post was written by Jennifer Heynen of Jangles

The Bead Biz- Organization

In my on going quest to be organized I am loving my new cookie sheets. I bought mine at the dollar store so I got quite a few for not much money. They are great for carrying everything. I use mine for bead making, kiln loading, jewelry assembling, and more. They can be washed when the get dirty and they stack all together when they are not being used. I have thought about lining some of mine with fleece for laying out beads, It think it would work well.

I wish I could take credit for this great tool but it was my best friend, and art bead maker Theresa Dart of Lily Studios who has used them for years. She keeps all her beads throughout all of her assembly steps on cookie sheets. It just took me five years of watching her use them before I finally went and bought some myself. I am glad I did, I hope you don't wait as long to try them.

This post was written by Jennifer Heynen of Jangles