Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Grand Opening...My New Shop!!
(and some additional creative, scrappy goodness)

Well, I took the plunge. I decided to go for it. I opened an Etsy shop.

After thinking about it for a while, I came up with what I think is the perfect name for my shop. I knew I wanted my shop to revolve totally around things that can help people tell their stories. Homemade albums. Journals. Scrapbook stuff. Writing resources. So I came up with...My Story Designs.

I added my first items last night. These are some of the things you'll find there...




My shop description puts what I'm going to sell this way:

Every facet of your life…your story… is special. At My Story Designs, I’m dedicated to helping you treasure and preserve all of those moments through words and pictures. My Story Designs helps you capture all those moments…big and small…that make your story unique. Beautiful, handcrafted mini books, journals, photographs, scrapbook tags, holiday and vintage items (plus writing and scrapbooking resources) give you a voice to share your story.

I've got several other things I'm working on to add to the shop very soon (including my own, "naked," "assemble it yourself" kit designed around my "A Week in the Life" album that I'm almost finished with); and some designs to help us preserve our thankfulness during this time of year; and I want to get some Christmas items out there (since I'm totally In the Mood now and have bought maybe 20 Christmas gifts already; yay!)

The challenge, obviously, will be marketing my items. But I've got some ideas. And we'll see how it goes.

So, please GO and CHECK OUT my shop. And check back often. (I will post updates here on my blog, so you'll know when there's something new there.) And let others who like this sort of stuff know about my shop. Etsy is extremely cool and is filled with all sorts of great stuff. (Like so much cool stuff that you can spend hours and hours wandering around from shop to shop!) And shopping there is easy; you just sign up with a username and you can order away (using Paypal, but also with checks at a lot of places).

(Also....check out my sister-in-law Danielle's Etsy shop. She has the most beautiful bookmarks at her Reading Art shop; they would make awesome stocking stuffers for that person who loves to read!)

Now, can I share my latest project that I just finished up?

I completed my two albums about our experience with Delaney's softball World Series this past Summer. (Since it's November, I figured it was almost time to get it done!) One is a small little book just for Delaney...




And the other is a larger book for the entire family. For us to remember all the fun we had on the trip.

Since I had SO many photos from the trip, I needed to make it as easy as possible to assemble. So, I decided to actually alter a regular photo album and make it sort of "scrapbook-ey" with extra embellishments and room for journaling. I just love how it turned out!

Here are some of its inside pages...












This a really great "easy and friendly" way to do a scrapbook. If you aren't a scrapbooker, but kinda want to test out your creativity, this sort of technique might really work for you. I think it would be really great for a Christmas album, don't you?

(And it really adheres to my whole idea of why I scrapbook anyway. To get my story down!)

So...thanks for indulging my creative, crafty side this morning.

And thanks for checking out my Etsy shop! (Btw, I also have listed on my shop that I am able to do custom work as well. If you ever know of anyone who'd like a customized scrapbook or journal or anything in that area, I can help them out!) (Oh, and another btw...you can click on my shop anytime from those cool new buttons on my sidebar there to the right.)

Have a WONDERFUL Wednesday!!

17 comments:

Gretchen said...

You know, I'm almost ready to quit scrapping, Cheryl--to go completely the way of Snapfish or Shutterfly because I get so overwhelmed with all the embellishments. I love them so much, but they can overwhelm me. So...I love seeing your simple album style. You aren't devoid of ornamentation, but the story remains preeminent, and that's what I really like to see. Great lay outs.

I'm so excited for your Etsy shop. I hope it's a marvelous success for you. Blessings!

Anonymous said...

Happy Grand Opening. Very exciting to see you open up your own business.

I took a poke around and it looks good!

CONGRATS!!!!

Faye said...

Way to go Cheryl!! I stopped by the Shop and love the direction you're going :)
Congrats!!

hippo chick said...

You are such an amazing woman, Cheryl. How do you find time to do all the things you do? I stand in awe of you.

I haven't gone to the shop yet, but will do so right now.

Congrats! and good, good luck.

BTW, I just love the way you scrapped Delaney's summer. That is what I need to do as I'm sooo far behind.

~hippo hugs~
P.

hippo chick said...

I'm back. I love your Etsy shop. I told you I'd be your first customer and am about to place an order. I love it.

~hippo hugs~
P.

Auburn Kat said...

Wow! I'm really impressed, yet again!

Marjolein said...

I totally love your 2 scrapbooks about the games! I think what you did with the photoalbum is a great idea! And it looks really cool!

I'm going to check out your Etsy NOW cause I really like what you showed here!

Marjolein said...

I'm back! I love the things in your Etsy shop.... but I can't wait to see what kind of Vintage goodies you're going to put there! Please let me know, I love Vintage and have a hard time finding things here!

renee said...

Cute stuff in your shop. Good luck!

Unknown said...

Yay to the shop Cheryl!
Hope it does super well, your things are gorgeous!
Love the albums!

Lynilu said...

Congratulations!

Sandi @the WhistleStop Cafe said...

Good Luck with your new venture!
Now let me go to check it out.

Babydoll said...

Congrats on your Etsy shop!! I'm going to add you as a favorite on Etsy. I'm sure you'll do well! :)

Cheryl said...

I totally love your new shop! Since Anna is a "Senior", I am taking lots of pictures and would love to have the time to do a scrapbook for her. I have to work today but will come back when I have time to shop! Thanks and have a good day!

Adrienne said...

AWESOME! Congrats on the shop! LOVE the album!

Monogram Queen said...

I wish I had time to scrapbook I WILl check out your shop - I promise!

Sheila said...

Congratulations on your new Venture!!