Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Vote for EtsyKids Team in Handmadeology's Handmade Top 10 Team Challenge!

Who has the best Etsy Team in the land?  EtsyKids Team!  Please show your love and support for EtsyKids Team and vote for our team on Handmadeology's Handmade Top 10 as many times as you wish over the next 6 days!    



EtsyKids Team members can add 2 listings from your shop and have all your friends, family and fans vote for YOU!  Find out how to participate in this discussion on Ning:  Handmade Top 10 Etsy Team Challenge

Monday, June 27, 2011

The EtsyKids Photo Makeover Series Part 5: Final Challenge Winners!

Well, we've come to our final installment in the EtsyKids Photo Makeover Series. It's been a marvelous journey. I've learned so much while researching this series and I hope that you are feeling like a more confident and knowledgable product photographer. I've been truly impressed with the improvements that many of you have made with your photos. You should all be proud of your accomplishments! Remember that improving product photos is a process that takes time and doesn't happen instantly over night. Think back on that very first dress, hair accessory, toy, or painting you made. It wasn't perfect was it? And, I bet you've made lots of improvements in the quality and look of your products over time. So, congratulate yourself on all of the changes you have made with your photos so far. Practice makes perfect so keep making adjustments and improvements until your shop is full of photos that make you proud!

I want to send out a very big Thank You to everyone who participated in the challenges throughout this series. It's been such a wonderful experience to see your transformations and to watch your shops evolve. Thank you for participating and following along with this series!

And now I'd like to announce the three winning photos for the Final Makeover Challenge (in random order):

Congratulations to Michelle's Zoo on Etsy for her two winning submissions!

(before)
Here is the before picture of Taffy the Baby Turtle.

(after)
Now take a look at this adorable pink turtle!





(before)

(after)
Who can resist this sweet turtle now?

These adorable turtles are even cuter in their new settings! Notice the impact created with natural light and angles. Her pictures are clear and crisp, and you won't find any glare created by a flash. Nice work Michelle! Be sure to check out all of the adorable stuffed animals at Michelle's Zoo!


Congratulations also goes out to Sweeter Than Sweets for this winning submission!

(before)
It's important at times to be able to show several color choices or design options for a particular product we sell, but collage shots are difficult to include in treasures and they often don't catch the eye of potential buyers.

(after)
Tricia did a fantastic job with this group shot of her Perfect Bow Headbands! The mason jar holding the headbands creates the perfect display without being a distraction, and group shots like this often make great additions to treasuries. Way to go Tricia! Be sure to check out all of the lovely hair accessories Sweeter Than Sweets has to offer!


I'd also like to share with you some of my favorite photo transformations from the various challenges throughout this series. Check out some of these great before and after photos!

sugarbumps creations on Etsy


A&B Shoppe on Etsy


Felt Playground on Etsy

Congratulations to you all!
Be sure to stop by the EtsyKids Photo Makeover Series Facebook page to see more photo makeovers!

Want to read more? Check out these links:

Thanks for following this series! I wish you all great success with your product photos and your Etsy businesses! Here's to great photos, lots of treasury features, and tons of sales!



**Miss an installment in the EtsyKids Photo Makeover Series? Click HERE for the entire series.

Sunday, June 26, 2011

EKTT Weekly Treasury Challenge 24: 4th of July or Berry Sundae Blast

The winner of our latest weekly treasury challenge, BumbleFuzz Kids on Etsy, wants to celebrate the Fourth of July!  Cool off on the fourth with a berry ice cream sundae!


4th of July
Focus Items:  Start out the month with patriotic decor, outfits and accessories.  Stars and stripes, Americana, American flags, picnics, barbecues, grilling, spirits, fireworks, and summer sports.  Continued themes throughout July include folk art, primitives, country fairs, and rustic home decor.

OR

Berry Sundae Blast
Focus Items:  Seasonal Food - farmer's markets, community gardens.  Tabletop accessories, containers, tools and seasonal calendars.  Food options - gooseberries, strawberries, cherries, nectarines, peaches, raspberries, and blackberries.  Think Ice Cream Shop, old fashioned ice cream trucks, lemonade, popsicles and other options to stay cool in the summertime!  Summer Color Trends - honeysuckle pink, neon, coral, and orange.


1.  Submit as many treasuries fitting these themes in as many variations as you wish through Saturday, July 2, Noon EST.  

NOTE:  You MUST be a member of the EKTT to participate in Weekly Treasury Challenges! 

2.  Required Challenge Tags

etsykidschallenge24
etsykids tteam

(Copy and paste the challenge tags to ensure your treasury will be included in judging!)   Please also use applicable key words to tag--listed under Focus Items (above) and taken from Etsy's June Merchandising Report or Etsy's July Merchandising Report.  

Please do not use EKTT tags unless you are a member of the EtsyKids Treasury Team.  All EtsyKids are welcome to join.  See information on joining the EKTT:  Guidelines

3.  Treasuries must include 4 active and verified EtsyKids Team members. Please take this opportunity to feature either your partner or our June Featured EKTT Member, The Little LOVE Bug on Etsy, or both in a challenge submission.    

*Please see the EKTT Check List to curate according to guidelines. 

4.  The winning treasury will be chosen by Random.org.  Treasuries will be numbered from first submission (number one) to last treasury submitted.      

5.  All EKTT Curators are eligible to enter and win including current and past weekly challenge winners.

6.  Please do not include any treasury team tags other than the EtsyKids Treasury Team tag and related challenge tags on EKTT challenge treasuries.  Any challenge submission containing treasury team tags other than "etsykids tteam" will automatically be disqualified from winning.  Thank you for your support, EKTT Curators!

Prizes
Your winning treasury, links to your Etsy shop, and a shop listing you choose will be featured in an EKTT blog post announcing you as our Weekly Treasury Challenge Winner. Your Etsy shop and winning blog entry will be permanently displayed on the EKTT Winners page.  Your Etsy shop will be featured in a Craftcult Slideshow Mini on the top of our blog sidebar.  You will have the honor of choosing the next Weekly Treasury Challenge theme based on a focused idea from the current  Etsy Merchandising Report.