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Hello!!! Wow– time flies, doesn’t it? I can’t believe it’s Tuesday already!
Each and every week I scour the interwebs and gather the best tutorials, tips, and informative links to help with your handmade craft business. In addition, I’ll post links to cool crafty DIY projects, and blogs I think are worth following. I hope you find something useful and helpful! If so, please let me know. I would LOVE your feedback!
- Top 40 LOW BUDGET Advertising and Promotion Ideas for Etsy Sellers

Hopefully there will a few new ideas or new articles here that will help make things happen for you and your shop!
When you want to quit because it’s just not worth it
You know most startups fail “only” because the founders stop working on them, and often, it’s because it’s emotionally draining.
The New Facebook Fan Page Can Boost Your Etsy Sales – Part 2
Other ways to increase your brand recognition and help other brands at the same time.
(You can find Part 1 in this post.)
Create Your Own Backgrounds for Your Pics
Fabulous tutorial on how to create your own textured boards for those who are tired of taking pics on plain white boards.
Writing a Business Plan
Do you have the feeling it might be time for the next step but you’re not sure what that next step is?
DIY- Bunting 101
Whether you are planning a bridal shower or picnic reception, these little flags provide major impact with humble materials and a little elbow grease.
If you know of any good handmade craft marketing resources I should include in the next Crafty Connections post please don’t hesitate to email me, or leave the link(s) in the comments section! I would love to be able to share these great resources with everyone! Thank you so much!
Colorful Flag Toppers, via mayicarles’ shop
As you know, I’m passionate about handmade. I’m also really passionate about helping other creative entrepreneurs achieve their goals, which is why I feature Etsy artists and post links/tips to help with marketing their handmade goods every week.
This is why I’m so incredibly excited tell you about a new website I’m involved with. April Bowles-Olin from Blacksburg Belle. has created an amazing website that is the one place to find all the information that you need to build a successful creative business. It’s called ARTreprenuer: The Art of Turning Creative Dreams Into Reality.
Some of the fabulous resources and features you’ll find each and every month are:
You’ll also find resources that deal with accounting, and legal issues with running your creative business.
PLUS. SO. MUCH. MORE.
Seriously, go check out the ARTrepreneur site for more details:
ARTrepreneur: The Art of Turning Creative Dreams Into Reality
I’d love to be a part in helping you make your creative dreams a reality!
See you there!
-April
http://www.creativeapples.etsy.com
Hi!!! Thanks for stopping by! I’m really excited to bring you this week’s Crafty Connections!
Each and every week I scour the interwebs and gather the best tutorials, tips, and informative links to help with your handmade craft business. In addition, I’ll post links to cool crafty DIY projects, and blogs I think are worth following. Enjoy!
- No creative solopreneur is an island: Breaking the habit of social isolation

Breaking the habit of social isolation is hard to do if you prefer to work alone and like/need a lot of time by yourself in general.
7 Dazzling Ways to Ignite Your Creative Spark
If you currently feel like you’re sitting in a dark cave and the fire of creativity refuses to be ignited, you’ll find seven ways to ignite your creative spark.
Learn How: Using Hoot Suite
What do I love about Hoot Suite? So many things. Here’s how it makes my online life so much easier…
Improving Your Etsy Listings: Item Descriptions
When customers are searching sites like Google for something specific, the first 160 characters of your item description shows in the results. It’s important to utilize that small amount of text to grab potential customers attention.
Marketing that Speaks without the Slimy Ways + 40 Ideas to Get You Started
It seems sometimes in conversation the word “marketing” feels like a four-letter word. Beyond the fear, confusion and overwhelming feelings it can instill into the heart of many-a business owner, marketing seems to also just feel so icky sometimes.
DIY- Six Paper Flowers
Here you’ll find 6 of the best DIY flower tutorials. If spring hasn’t sprung where you are, you can make your own flowers instead of waiting for them to grow!
If you know of any good handmade craft marketing resources I should include in the next Crafty Connections post please don’t hesitate to email me, or leave the link(s) in the comments section! I would love to be able to share these great resources with everyone! Also, are these links helpful to you? Let me know! I appreciate the feedback!!!! Thank you so much!
Hi! I’d like to welcome you to this weeks Crafty Connections! Each and every week I scour the interwebs and gather the best tutorials, tips, and informative links to help with your handmade craft business. In addition, I’ll post links to cool crafty DIY projects, and blogs I think are worth following. I hope you enjoy this weeks links!
- Make Your Blog 1047% More Readable
I can’t actually promise your blog will be 1047% more readable, but these tips will get you well on the way…
- The New Facebook Fan Page Can Boost Your Etsy Sales – Part 1
If you haven’t switched over yet (or even if you have), take note of a few ways that you can boost your handmade shop exposure and sales with your Facebook fan page.
- 8 Business Tips to Help Handmade Sellers This Week
Here are some business tips that will help handmade sellers.
- Embrace Your Strengths, Let Your Weaknesses Go To Hell
If we could take our weaknesses, work on them, and became the most improved version of ourselves, with no weaknesses at all, why wouldn’t we do it?
- Share and be proud
Not only is it ok to be proud of the products you make, it’s essential to the success of your business.
- DIY Molly’s Sketchbook: Bunny Finger Puppets!
Besides being adorable, these little puppets are a snap to make.
If you know of any good handmade craft marketing resources I should include in the next Crafty Connections post please don’t hesitate to email me, or leave the link(s) in the comments section! I would love to be able to share these great resources with everyone! Also, are these links helpful to you? Let me know! I appreciate the feedback!!!! Thank you so much!
Hello! Welcome to this weeks Crafty Connections! Each and every week I scour the interwebs and gather the best tutorials, tips, and informative links to help with your handmade craft business. In addition, I’ll post links to cool crafty DIY projects, and blogs I think are worth following. I hope you enjoy this weeks links!
- Why I’m Changing My Email Newsletter (and some thoughts about newsletters in general…)
Four months into this adventure, I’m re-thinking the project.
- Business Tax Planning For Procrastinators
It is too late to change the outcome of your year, but you can spend some time making sure you find every expense possible before you file.
- How to Overcome 3 Common Barriers to Success as an Artist
The good news is that each of these barriers has an antidote that you already have within your grasp to becoming a successful artist.
- 10 Subtle Lies That Cripple New Bloggers
Along the way you may bought into “rules-of-thumb” that sound right but are really holding you back. These lies are killing your blog.
Empowering Ways To Use Twitter
Good news: There are ways to get people thinking beyond the 5-second attention span (empower others) AND actually glean substance for your own work (empower you) from your T-interactions.
If you know of any good handmade craft marketing resources I should include in the next Crafty Connections post please don’t hesitate to email me, or leave the link(s) in the comments section! I would love to be able to share these great resources with everyone! Also, are these links helpful to you? Let me know! I appreciate the feedback!!!! Thank you so much!
As if I didn’t have enough projects started around the house, I’ve embarked on a HUGE new endeavor– Learning how to make granny squares and creating a granny square blanket. I know– seems a little lofty for a such a novice like myself, but I’m really excited about it. Right now I’m practicing and I have to admit– I LOVE it. I’m playing around with two different styles of squares that seem pretty easy (I’m still learning how to read patterns) and different color combos.
In the meantime, here are some fabulous granny square tutorials for you to check out and try!
Summer Garden Granny Square from Attic 24
Heart Granny Square from Lilley Stitches
Crochet School: How to Make a Granny Square from Meet me at Mikes
Granny Square Joining Tutrorial on Carina’s Craft Blog
How to crochet a blanket from yvestown
If you’re working on a project or know of any other awesome tutorials out there– I’d love to see it! Post a link in the comment section!
Have a great day!
Hi! (I’m back!) Welcome to this weeks Crafty Connections! Each and every week I scour the interwebs and gather the best tutorials, tips, and informative links to help with your handmade craft business. In addition, I’ll post links to cool crafty DIY projects, and blogs I think are worth following. I hope you enjoy this weeks links!
- Need More Customers? 5 Ways to Get Them to Know, Like, and Trust You
You need to “romance” potential customers and get them comfortable with what you have to offer.
- Patents Copyrights and Trademarks Oh My
Everything you wanted to know about patents, copyrights and trademarks.
- 10 Opportunities You’re Missing on Thank You Pages
Don’t just give them a recap of their order, use this page as a opportunity for another conversion.
- 10 Blogs to Spark Your Creativity
One way to access our creativity, I believe, is through inspiration from other amazing minds.
- Recap of Craftster’s 2011 Indie Trend Report
How can we predict trends so our items are on the forefront of a rush, rather than ignored in online shops or stuffed behind a row of boots in a buyer’s closet?
- DIY- Crafty Spring Bouquet
a cute homemade gift idea for Mother’s Day – or an adorable addition to girlie birthday parties, baby showers, or bridal showers!
If you know of any good handmade craft marketing resources I should include in the next Crafty Connections post please don’t hesitate to email me, or leave the link(s) in the comments section! I would love to be able to share these great resources with everyone! Also, are these links helpful to you? Let me know! I appreciate the feedback!!!! Thanks!
Hi! Welcome you to this weeks Crafty Connections! Each and every week I scour the interwebs and gather the best tutorials, tips, and informative links to help with your handmade craft business. In addition, I’ll post links to cool crafty DIY projects, and blogs I think are worth following. I hope you enjoy this weeks links!
- How to Market your Small Business with No Budget
Focus you efforts (time and money) on something that’s more likely to get results.
- Start the New Year with a Marketing Calendar
Marketing and merchandising for seasonal occasions is an essential part of boosting sales, and doing it effectively means planning ahead.
- Building and Marketing your Facebook Page
Facebook offers a lot of opportunity for marketing your business, but how do you make the most of it and where do you start?
- 10 Things to do Daily for Entrepreneurs
Rediscover the importance of the “to do list”.
- Using etsy’s circles and activity feeds to research your ideal customer
When it comes to finding out who your ideal customer is, there’s no better place to start then with people who have already purchased your products.
- DIY-Sweetheart Pin Cushion Tutorial
Having cute things around you help motivate you when you are being creative!
If you know of any good handmade craft marketing resources I should include in the next Crafty Connections post please don’t hesitate to email me, or leave the link(s) in the comments section! I would love to be able to share these great resources with everyone! Also, are these links helpful to you? Let me know! I appreciate the feedback!!!! Thanks!