Are you an Etsy seller?  I know you have to be excited about the upcoming holiday shopping season.  Make the most of those amazing holiday sales with some Etsy business tips from Everything Etsy!  One of my favorite ideas is to create simple gift sets or bundles for easy gift giving!  Make shopping easy and you’ll have happy customers!

Art and business go together perfectly if you ask me!  Growing a handmade business can be a total dream come true.  Getting paid for creating what you love is an amazing thing.  I know you’ll enjoy this post, The Beautiful Mix of Business and Art, on Etsypreneur. 

This felt business card holder was a quick little project I stitched up last weekend for my cards.  Sometimes you’ve gotta make something for yourself!

Some of you might know that I’m a major felt fan!  One of my Etsy shops in nothing but felt & felt hair clips and pins.  So, I have just about every color you can imagine!

Make one for yourself! Your cards will never look so dressed up!

Here’s how…

1.  Cut Your main color of felt to measure 4” x 7” and your top color 2” x 3 1/2”.   Cut a little something to decorate the front with a bit of personality.  I chose to cut a few funky flowers.

2.  Fold up from the bottom just over 2 inches.  You need it to just cover you cards, so use one to as a guide.

3.  Start stitching in the bottom corner with 6 strands of embroidery floss.  Work your way around using a simple running stitch.  Finish with a knot on the back when you reach the bottom again.

4. Attach the flowers {or other decorative felt} to the front piece of felt.

5.  Position the front piece of felt and attach it with a couple strands of embroidery floss in a matching color.  Trim all over and you’re finished!

Add your cards and your all set!

What kind of projects have you made with felt?

~Kim

Have you ever noticed that your mood can change for the better when you have fresh, new ideas?

One of the best ways to get your creative ideas flowing is to take a stroll through an Arts & Craft Show on a sunny day. Now I’m not suggesting you stop at each booth and purchase a little something. That would not help! What I am suggesting is that you stop and really take a close look at the things that make you say “WOW!” Let’s call it “Art Appreciation Day.”

After you’ve enjoyed some art, stop for a frozen lemonade or roasted almonds. Treat yourself! Think about all the beauty you have just seen and how you might incorporate some of that into your own home. Maybe you noticed the same beautiful color over and over again. Then, paint something that you already have that color. Just because a certain color scheme is in style, doesn’t mean it will work best in your home.

Maybe, you think you would like to try working with clay or painting ceramics. Trying something new has been proven to make people happier. Just be sure to start on a small scale and not overwhelm yourself with 5 new projects at once.

Little things can make a big difference, you just need to stop and figure out what YOU like first! Taking the time to discover and enjoy new things will help you to know what works in your life.