To Etsy or not to Etsy...

I'm curious to know how many of you use Etsy to sell your crafts online. I'm considering using Etsy this way to sell my letterpress work, but wonder if there is any real benefit to it. Why not just sell directly from my own website, right? I guess there is the added exposure, but they take an extra percentage of your sale on top of what PayPal already takes - so is it worth it? Anyone have any experience with Etsy?

Recent Creations...

Not too much to report other than I've been printing like a crazy person and beginning to resent the coolness of the basement. The weather in Vancouver has frankly been horrible lately (by horrible I mean I'm considering moving to Arizona so that I can dry out from all this stinkin' rain!!!), and instead of the basement being a nice place to cool down from the summer heat, it's just dark and cold. Oh well, such is the life of a person with no above ground spot for her press :) There are worse things in life - enough whining.

I got my banner made at Kinko's for my table at the Got Craft show. I know some people loathe Kinko's, but the one near me is staffed with intelligent, helpful types, that know what "dpi" and "bleeds" are. I've never had a banner made before, but I'm very happy and I think it will look nice on my table. My camera batteries died, so no photo yet, but will post soon.

I've got more cards to work on for the show, and I've got to figure out my pricing structure and table layout. Still lots of work to be done!

Happy letterpressing!

p.s. all designs © 2007 Sunlit Media

A Bun in the Oven...

I haven't had much of a chance to sit still lately - as I prepare for the Got Craft show, but I thought I'd post one of my cards that will be for sale at the show. I have three friends that are recently pregnant, and I noticed a lack of cards on the market that express a "Yay, you're pregnant!" message. So here is my creation...

(For those of you who like my "process" posts, I apologize, but I am short on time - so you only get to see the end product :)

Happy letterpressing!

Special Delivery...

Well, I have been plugging away getting ready for Got Craft, and things are coming along slowly. I still haven't gotten to any printing, but my supplies have been arriving one-by-one, so receiving all the packages has been exciting!

My big 25 lb order of paper and envelopes from Crane arrived the other day. I ordered a bunch of 8.5 x 11 Lettra packages, and a set of envelopes. Crane's customer service is wonderful, by the way. Good people on the phone, sent my order quickly, and when I called for a delivery date they called me back a.s.a.p. and sent me an email. It's always nice to know where your order is :)

I also received my yellow ink from US Litho Supply - they were quick to send as well, and the service was better than what I received when ordering direct from Van Sons. In any case, I won't need ink for a while now as I have red, blue, yellow, black and white. You can pretty much mix anything with that.

I also sent my order off for three photopolymer plates from Boxcar Press - and as always, they were very helpful and quick with the turnaround. Anthony at Boxcar even fixed a little goof I made on one design with the opacity, which was much appreciated! I heart Boxcar Press. I can't wait for my order to arrive! Then I can get to my printing!

In the meantime, I've spent time at Essential Packaging - the only packaging store I know of out in the 'burbs where I live. I bought some plastic bags to hold my cards for the craft show, some paper bags to hold my sold items, envelopes, and a few other items. I shouldn't be allowed in that store, I always buy more stuff than I need.

I'm also working on figuring out my display for the craft show - I've never done this before, so I need to figure out my layout and how I will display the cards and stationery. I've got some ideas for laying things out, but need to think about it some more.

As I wait to receive my plates and get started with the printing, my dog has been patiently watching me open my boxes of goodies. I know he secretly wants to eat the UPS and FedEx men, but he controls himself rather well...

Happy letterpressing!

Got Craft?

It looks like I'm going to be spending lots of time in the basement...Nope, I'm not turning into a recluse, but I was just accepted as a vendor for Lotus Events' Got Craft? craft fair being hosted here in Vancouver on July 21, 2007. So, I will be launching Sunlit Media's letterpress line of greeting cards and stationery at the show!

Let me tell you, it's not Grandma's craft fair! Lotus Events has rounded up 20 local designers from the Vancouver area that will be offering all sorts of cool items for sale. So, mark your calendar! Come on down and talk letterpress with me!

My next few posts on the blog will chronicle my printing process in prep for the show...

So what was first on the agenda?

I had to order some more Lettra paper from Crane - I just love this paper, and so does my press. Too bad my lame paper rep in Vancouver doesn't have any and wouldn't return any of my calls...I had to order direct from MA, USA. Yippee, more brokerage fees are on their way! Sometimes living north of the border stinks when you have to order supplies!

I also ordered a can of yellow ink from US Litho Supply in Spokane, WA. Van Sons in NY disappointed me a bit with their customer service (told me to confirm shipping to Canada, which I did three times, but took over 3 weeks to get three jars of ink to my home). Let's see how US Litho Supply does...it's gotta be faster if it's coming from Spokane to Vancouver (crossing fingers...).

I have a few designs ready to go for photopolymer plates, but I want to have a few more others to offer at the show.

I've also got to get my sales table design ready - I know some crafters have really nice little set-ups for selling their wares, so I've got to do some planning, get some fabric for my table linens, and so on...

I've got lots to do before July 21st!