FEST: #estyfest

Showing posts with label #estyfest. Show all posts

Friday, April 11, 2014

Featured Friday - The Wooden Bee

Oh my! I have sure been on quite the hiatus! Going to start a few things back up (yay!). I will be changing the posting approach to "Featured Friday" so that only one shop will be featured a month. The shops coming up will be a mix of some left over interview's from last year, as well as a chance to get to know our Team Leader's who help put together and manage our Etsy Page.

This Friday's interview is with Bee, owner of The Wooden Bee

Tell me a bit about yourself and what you sell:

Hello! My name is Bee, a nickname from school that stuck. The Wooden Bee sounded like the perfect name for our reclaimed wood business, when we opened three years ago. I try to stay as involved as possible with our Florida Etsy Street Team. They are great resource of artist and info for an Etsy shop like myself. I specifically help out with FEST Twitter and Facebook feeds.

Favorite piece you have made- and why?

Oh this has to be the hardest question. I love all the things I make. My husband often asks, "Is that for you or a customer?" when eyeing a new custom piece in the workshop. One wedding anniversary we made ourselves a reclaimed wood frame. It is probably my favorite. Beautiful cherry wood and salvaged glass, frame a bee printed on antique paper.

What inspires you?

The wood. It still amazes me how much BEAUTIFUL, unwanted wood is out there. 100% of our wood would have otherwise found itself in a landfill. We drive all over Central Florida collecting quality hardwoods for our shop.
CHECK OUT PIECE TO LEFT

Favorite part about living in Florida?

The weather. We can spend 365 days outside... gardening, playing, and enjoying mother nature here in the sunshine state!

See yourself in 5 years?
Gardening, playing mom, and upcycling wood. I love my life, so I hope too much doesn't change.
CHECK OUT PIECE TO LEFT

What would I find in your refrigerator right now?
Lots of fruits and vegetables. If I'm not growing them, I'm getting them from a produce coop. My newest thing is flavored water! There is always a bottle in the fridge. Just add some lemon, cucumbers, herbs, or whatever you like to filtered water. It's so refreshing!

If you could have any pet what would it be?

If you could have ANY pet, what would you have (why and name)? I want chickens! lol I dream of the day that we have a little backyard coop with some hens and fresh eggs! Do you name chickens? Maybe something like Hattie, Clover, and Flo? :)
CHECK OUT PIECE TO LEFT

Thank you for letting me interview you and all the hard work you do for our team. Remember to go show The Wooden Bee some love <3
-Chelsey
As it comes, it goes

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

How to make a personalized invitation from a digital template

How to make a personalized invitation from a digital template

So, as an ol’ photoshop pro, I sometimes am guilty of not considering how the other half operates (seriously how do you survive?) I recently ran into this problem head on when a client ordered one of my instant download invite’s – only to discover she had no idea what to do with it! Unfortunately I was out of town and was not able to respond or help her, thus losing a client and having to issue a refund, not to imagine the frustration on her end… I have decided to turn this bad experience into a learning opportunity for others.

Now, as anyone can tell you there are 100’s of ways to add text to an image and customize a file. For the purpose of this tutorial I am going to pick an easy (and free) method’s to edit one of my invitations (this one here). At the end of the tutorial, I will mention a few other sites/programs (also all free) that are great to utilize.

http://www.fotor.com/

I actually discovered Fotor today for the purpose of this tutorial. I like it because it is very easy to use, completely free, and I didn’t have to sign up or download anything to use it!

Step 1: Go to http://www.fotor.com/ and click on “Open a Photo”

Step 2: On the right of your screen go to “Add Photo” then “Computer”, then select your previously downloaded invite template.

Step 3: Add text! First click on the “T” in the green circle to get to your text area, then scroll through the font’s in either “Local” or “Online”. Once you find one you like, click on it and hit “Insert Text”

Step 4: You can use the tools to edit its color, size, ect. The color eyedrop tool is my favorite because I can use colors straight from the invite! Don’t be afraid to play around so you understand what these do before you move on. At any point you can edit your text by clicking on it.

Step 5: Repeat step’s 3 and 4! Just keep adding text until you are happy and have everything you need.

Step 6: If you are feeling extra adventurous check out their other tools, add clip art, ect Oh! And it will ask you to apply your changes before switching tools, always do so.

Step 7: Save! Go to the share icon and save as a jpg, highest quality on the slider bar.

Step….. YOUR DONE! At least with the design work. Now you can upload to facebook, print at home, or at a store.

Now, some other online programs that will allow you to add text (and do other awesome things as well):

http://pixlr.com/editor/

http://www.sumopaint.com/

http://www.splashup.com/

Some companies, online and storefront, that you can order prints from (and also edit):

http://photo.walgreens.com/walgreens/welcome

http://www.snapfish.com/photo-gift/welcome

http://www.cvsphoto.com/home

http://www.shutterfly.com/

http://photos.walmart.com/walmart/welcome

http://www.target.com/c/target-photo/-/N-5a1wg

I hope you will find this tutorial helpful, please comment below about your experience with any of these programs (or others). And if you are on the hunt for some invite templates feel free to check out my etsy shop (insert shameless self promotion)

-Chelsey

Friday, October 18, 2013

Featured Friday - Old Red Barn Production

This Friday's interview is with JL Jordan, owner of Old Red Barn Production and Beyond The Lens Cap

Tell me a bit about yourself and what you sell:

I grew up on a farm in Illinois, but have been in Florida for many years and I have survived raising 4 kids. My mom always had a crochet hook in one hand and a camera in the other with a craft she’s creating on the table, so I guess I am following in her footsteps. I have two shops: Old Red Barn Productions sells craft and yarn items, while Beyond The Lens Cap sells photos.

Favorite piece you have made- and why?

Maybe it’s because I have the attention span of a gnat, but my most favorite piece is the one I’m working on. I always get so excited about starting a new project.
CHECK OUT PIECE TO LEFT

What inspires you?

Nature and animals and colors and shiny things.
CHECK OUT PIECE TO LEFT

Favorite part about living in Florida?

No snow. This winter when you all up north are shoveling snow, I’ll be sitting on my back porch sipping lemonade and saying, “I sure love living in Florida”.

See yourself in 5 years?

Hopefully alive and well with a crochet hook in one hand and a camera in the other with a craft I’m creating on the table.
CHECK OUT PIECE TO LEFT

Zombie Apocalypse! Quick, what skills do you use to help those around you?

You do realize that zombies are so misunderstood. Why, who wouldn’t be cranky looking like that? Instead of running around half naked in all kinds of weather, they could use a good hat and scarf with a nice necklace to make them feel pretty. Then I could take their picture and when the flash went off and blinded them, we could all run like heck (sorry, I was taught not to cuss in public – well, actually I was taught not to cuss, but we won’t tell mom, ok?).
CHECK OUT PIECE TO LEFT

What would I find in your refrigerator right now?

Five gallons of milk. I only shop for groceries once a week and we love milk. The check-out lady at the store always asks when I’m getting my cow. I would, but I don’t think my HOA would approve.

If Hollywood made a movie about your life, what would it be?

They’ve already made “Gone With The Wind”.
CHECK OUT PIECE TO LEFT

If you could be a superhero, what would you want your superpowers to be and your name?

“SuperMom” I’d be able to juggle four things at once. Fly around town in my mini-van. And have eyes in the back of my head. Oh wait, I do. Hmmm. Never mind.

Thank you for letting me interview you (and answering so many of the fun questions!) Remember to go show Old Red Barn Production and Beyond The Lens Cap some love <3
-Chelsey
As it comes, it goes