Alberta Team on Etsy Spring Sale!

Alberta Team Spring Sale April 29 – May 5
*Please check all Shop Announcements for Specific Sale Details*

Accessories, Bags and Purses
http://www.etsy.com/shop/barefootclips 15% off (code SpringSale)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/frogprincessdesigns 10% off (code SPRING)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/j2studios 10% off (code SPRING)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/kabukikreations free shipping
http://www.etsy.com/shop/dearange 10% off excluding shipping (code teamsale)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/bumblebeeetuna 10% off
http://www.etsy.com/shop/everydaydiamonds 10% off (code albertateam2011)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/nanabrowns 15% off (code FIFTEEN)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/handmadetherapy 10% off (code albertateam10)

Art, Fine Art, Photography, Home Decor and Housewares
http://www.etsy.com/shop/jenndphotography 50% off (code SPRING2011)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/taibossigai 15% off all items (code SpringSale)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/bellissimadesigns 15% off excluding shipping
http://www.etsy.com/shop/sandistone 15% off
http://www.etsy.com/shop/ljangphotography BOGO prints
http://www.etsy.com/shop/niknaksglass 20% off entire order (code ALBERTA20)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/glasscircus 15% off (code Alberta)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/Sybillinart 15% off excludes chains (code ABTEAMSALE15)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/j2studios 10% off (code SPRING)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/coconutpalmdesigns 20% off (code ALBERTASALE20)

Bath and Beauty
http://www.etsy.com/shop/Maplecreeksoap 10% off for the month of April (code Spring)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/KCSBathhouse 15% off (code ALBERTA15)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/Claracoco 15% off

Ceramics, Pottery , Glass, Crochet, Knitting, Needlecraft and Quilts
http://www.etsy.com/shop/thewickedpotter 15% off (code WICKEDSALE)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/sixbabygirls 20% off entire order (code teamsale)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/glasscircus 15% off (code Alberta)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/niknaksglass 20% off entire order (code ALBERTA20)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/kabukikreations Free Shipping
http://www.etsy.com/shop/ufer See shop announcement for details
http://www.etsy.com/shop/hdawnparratt 10% off excluding shipping (code abteam10)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/wickedpendants 10% off (code WICKED10)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/barefoottams 15% off (code SpringSale)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/knittymaxx 10% off (code ABSPRING)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/irishknitz 10% off entire order (code Spring10)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/hilaryshats 10% off (code alberta10)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/minibytes 10% off (code M1N1S)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/magpiequilts free Canadian shipping

Children and Toys
http://www.etsy.com/shop/barefoottams 15% off (code SpringSale)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/barefootclips 15% off (code SpringSale)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/handmadetherapy 10% off (code albertateam10)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/Maplecreeksoap 10% off for the month of April (code Spring)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/littlejumpingbeans 10% off (code maysale10)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/thebellefleur 15% off excluding shipping (code SPRING15)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/mamaswoodshop 15% off (code spring15)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/minibytes 10% off (code M1N1S)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/piggyandbear 10% off (code SALE10)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/coconutpalmdesigns 20% off (code ALBERTASALE20)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/bennyandboo 10% off (code Springsale)

Jewelry
http://www.etsy.com/shop/jewelsbyjasmin 10% off (code SPRING)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/bellissimadesigns 15% off excluding shipping
http://www.etsy.com/shop/dearange 10% off excluding shipping (code teamsale)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/rozzie 10% off (code ABSPRING10)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/tinged 10% off (code SPRINGFEVER)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/wickedpendants 10% off (code WICKED10)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/kabukikreations free shipping
http://www.etsy.com/shop/stonewillowjewellery 20% off (code SALE20)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/overtherainbowbridge 10% off (code SpringSale)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/heretodaybeadworks 20% off (code TeamAlberta2011)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/sixbabygirls 20% off entire order (code teamsale)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/niknaksglass 20% off entire order (code ALBERTA20)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/glasscircus 15% off (code Alberta)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/bumblebeeetuna 10% off
http://www.etsy.com/shop/junquete 15% off (code sale15off)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/3urbanmonkeys 15% off excluding shipping (code Spring15)

Paper Goods
http://www.etsy.com/shop/mygrandpaspen 20% off (code springsale20)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/hdawnparratt 10% off excluding shipping (code abteam10)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/craftedbylindy 10% off entire order excluding shipping (code SpringSale11)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/ljangphotography BOGO prints
http://www.etsy.com/shop/j2studios 10% off (code SPRING)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/stampedtreasures1 15% off excluding shipping (code Spring15)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/irishknitz 10% off entire order (code Spring10)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/kojozo 10% off (code ALBERTA10)

Supplies, Vintage and Wedding
http://www.etsy.com/shop/squirrelstock 10% off (code abteam10)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/MyGrandpasPen 20% off (code springsale20)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/tooaquarius 20% off (code Spring1120)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/claychicks 20% off (code Spring1120)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/sixbabygirls 20% off entire order (code teamsale)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/cestlaviedigital Get 4 digital kits for the price of 2 (see announcement)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/j2studios 10% off (code SPRING)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/junquete 15% off (code sale15off)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/suzie2q 10% off (code ABSPRING10)

The Slow Road to 100 Etsy Sales

http://www.etsy.com/listing/33836983/crossword-happy-birthday-handmade-card

I had my hundredth sale today – it’s been a very long time coming. I thought it might help some of you for me to let you know what I’ve learned over the last few years.

I opened my Etsy store in June of 2008 – that’s right, 2008. Prior to that I had spent several months lurking on the forums, planning and trying to think of just the right name. Not only just the right name, but just the right profile etc etc etc. After that I spent until the fall of 2008 coming up with just the right product. Are you seeing the common theme here? PERFECTIONISM is my first lesson – let go of it. Plan but don’t be like me and have to cover every single situation, product choice, punctuation mark before finally acting.

FEAR was a tough lesson for me. Don’t be afraid to be yourself – my style is very different than many others here – I can’t create things that aren’t me.

I had some early success and it was fun – joined a great team and kept doing all my fabulous research on the forums and searching around on Etsy and other sites on the net. TIME WASTERS is my next lesson – make sure that time that you spend on your business is actually spent on your business, not on all the things that feel like they’re your business but they’re not. Sometimes it’s tough to figure out what is and what isn’t but if your sales aren’t increasing and you feel like you’re spending your whole life on here, whatever you’re doing might just be a time waster.

I would go through fits and spurts of listing, trying new things, branching out...sometimes listing several times a day, sometimes not listing for days or weeks or months. CONSISTENCY was a huge lesson for me and something I’m still struggling with. Momentum is something that you have to work hard to get and still work hard to maintain. Whatever level you wish to work your business at, work it at that level. I take the summers off because we don’t have internet where I spend the summer. That kills my momentum every year and I feel like I have to start all over again. I’ll be changing that this year.

My last big lesson is DONT TAKE ANYTHING PERSONALLY – there will be customers, situations, other sellers, technology, product indecision – it’s all part of a business. Do your best, make things right and chose to let go of things that you just can’t control. I wasted two whole months trying to make a situation work that was just doomed from the start and the situation was making me feel horrible. I should have walked away when I first realized I couldn’t let it go.

I’ve really enjoyed Etsy and the great people I know here. Above is one of the first listings I created for Etsy and a link to a similar card.

Baby's First Year Album

I absolutely love this little album - it's 3x3 - perfect size for a shower gift or special keepsake for a new mom! Over the next couple of days I'll be listing them in blue and green too. I'm always happy to make custom products if you can't find exactly what you're looking for.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/71995443/album-baby-first-year-butterfly-handmade

Etsylush...and a new predecorated album!

I wanted to show you this new site created by a member of the Etsy Talent Hunt team- it's called EtsyLush and it's a curated site for us to show off our favorite creations! It was made by EurekaGuides http://www.etsy.com/shop/EurekaGuides. http://etsylush.com/

Here's a new chipboard album I finished yesterday just in time for Mother's Day! http://www.etsy.com/listing/71718900/mom-pre-decorated-purse-shaped-chipboard

Still on spring break...

http://www.etsy.com/listing/71595933/cards-mini-crochet-flower-note-cards-set We have a two week spring break going on here - life is definitely different with lots of people home. I was able to create these adorable mini cards! I've been teaching myself to crochet and really like these little flowers. And with the glittery paper I think they're just fun!