Etsy getsy....

Well, I'm not normally one for shameless self-promotion, given I'm a typical self-depracating artist, but as I've spent so much time redoing my studio and repackaging my work I thought I'd better get off my bum and list them on Etsy, especially as I opened the account a year ago but have been too nervous to get going...it's not like selling at fairs and events where you can talk to people and help them choose what's best- especially with my crystal therapy pieces. 

I haven't added much yet- it takes so long and I'm not sure the pics are good enough, so I'd appreciate some feedback if you wouldn't mind visiting my Etsy shop and let me know if there's something I can do better... and I've also set up a coupon if you feel like treating yourself to something funky and functional... type in CREATIVITY10 in the coupon section and it'll take 10% off your purchase.

I shall be adding lots of things over the next month, now I'm getting the hang of it, so look out for my artwork, textiles, journals and chainmaille.... 

And don't forget I prefer to make crystal pieces to order, that way I can choose crystals to work in the areas that you need to focus on, so if you fancy a really personal healing piece of jewellery or accessory just email me at kalona@kalonacreativity.co.uk. While I appreciate alot of people value therapy sessions, I prefer to think that something specifically created will be a longer term aid because it will always be with you.

Have I gone too far in my shameless self- promotion?

Making paper gift bags...

Wow! I've done it again... I seem to spend less and less on the internet as weeks go by... probably not a bad thing, but even so, it's making it hard to catch up.

Following on, and continuing to redo my studio I've repackaged all my jewellery and accessories with  newly designed cards and bags. I hadn't realised how much stock I still had, so it was good to see it all out at once again. They're all done now so I needed something nice to send them off in, and being fed up with those bulk-buy plastic bags I decided to make my own. So much fun, and you really get into a routine when you are doing 30-40 at a time.

Here's how they turned out- I've created 3 lots so far, each with a different paper; brown parcel paper, crafting magazine and a big glossy arty magazine.

These are the brown paper bags... I've added a tutorial in the How To- Crafts section.  I've added printed labels, and now my own design "recycle" tags. They are so simple to make I shan't be buying another bag again! And if you use different size magazines you can get different sized bags. I recommend gluing 2 glossy sheets together to make a large gift bag and keep the pages upright. They look great if you coordinate your magazines/paper to your stock...

here's a few... using a papercraft mag, and  a glossy art mag....

Double-spread  papercrafting mag, and my own tags....

And single glossy pages

Have a look at the tutorial and have a go... you'll enjoy how easy they are, and it'll save you an arm and leg in future pressie wrapping! If you're like me you'll have been saving all your gift-wrap from years passed so here's a chance to use some of that up!