"Lost My Day Job" Chapter Five: Depression, Etsy Induced Stress, and Shipping

I have to be honest. I am failing miserably at focusing on ColieArt. I've done nothing I said I was going to do, have not followed through on thing I've started, I haven't even posted here since March. 

When I first starting seriously creating it lifted me up out of a terrible bout of depression. Over the years since it has helped keep my depression at bay. Recently I've been experiencing some difficulty, in addition to my regular depression I am dealing with a few serious problems. So far, this time, creating hasn't helped...I hate to say it but sometimes it has even become a source of stress. 

OK. I've got my new goal. Working my etsy shops will not be a source of stress. I will figure out what is causing the problem and fix it! 

  The first thing that comes to mind is shipping. Two of my last 3 orders have been to the UK, I paid $12- $13 but only charged $8. I can't afford to lose $5.
    How do I fix shipping? I've noticed that etsy will now calculate your shipping costs for you! I wonder how long I've been missing out on this? Are you using this feature? If so I'd love some advice! If not, well, now is the time! I'll be sharing my process for those of you that are interested. 

So, go to your shipping profiles. 

I went to my shipping profiles and found like 5 different profiles I had created over the years so the first thing I did was delete everything. 

Then I click on the orange "Add a shipping profile" button. The first thing to fill out is the shipping costs and what do you know? "Calculate them for me" is recommended! 
There is a link to a handy article about "Calculated Shipping" there which I will share with you here: "Calculated Shipping"

You plug in where you want to ship to and then select up to 6 USPS services to offer your customers. 
Up until now I have only offered USPS First Class. I have not consistently offered international shipping because it's been a pain to estimate shipping charges! Guess that solves that. 

This is nice: there is a place to add a handling fee and etsy says the buyer will not see it separately! I learned the hard way that tissue, ribbons, boxes, bubble mailers...all add up. 
This sucks: there doesn't seem to be an easy way to apply the new shipping profiles to listings...if I try to do it in batches it won't work because each listing needs to have its weight and package dimensions entered first. You might as well apply the new shipping profile while your doing that- one listing at a time.

Pressed Flower Phone Cases!

Just googling around I happened upon these beautiful I-Phone cases! Aren't they lovely? I'm just going to share a few of my favorites...

This one is from House of Bling

This is from ShopOhMyGoodies

And this is from MattFlowerShop

hCoCoJoJoOriginals

DIY Shadow Box/Frame

I used scrap-booking paper that had a pattern on both sides to make this one to house a little brass Buddha.

I made this one from card stock to frame an ATC.

Here is how I made the frame for the ATC: 

I cut a piece of card stock down to 5" x 6"

I make 4 score lines, 1/4" apart on each side. On the long side I cut the edges flush with the innermost scored line of the short sides. As for the short sides: the innermost 1/4" gets cut flush with the score line of the long side; the next 1/4" gets cut at an angle; the next two 1/4" sections get cut up from the angle, taking 1/4" off. 

This is what you end up with! Have fun and feel free to contact me with any questions!

Loopdedoo: Thread Wrapped Bracelets

Loopdedoo

I picked this up at Jo Anne's with a 40% off coupon and I am pleasantly surprised at how fun and easy it is to use.

Check out some of the bracelets I made with it! I decided to make matching buttons from polymer clay for clasps.

Set of 3 Thread Wrapped Bracelets

Blue, Chartruese, and Purple Thread Wrap Bracelet 

Blue, Green, and Brown Thread Wrap Bracelet

Purple Ombre Striped Thread Wrapped Bracelet

DIY clear pocket for art journal

Want to add a little clear pocket to an art journal page to maybe put dried flowers in or a ticket stub?

I use a sheet of transparency paper, a metal ruler and my solder iron. Fold a sheet in half or use two sheets and heat up your iron. If you want a square or rectangle grab a metal ruler and slowly run your iron along the ruler. You want to make sure it melts through both layers to get a good seal and clean edge. You can make a pocket any shape though just free hand it with the solder iron!

DIY craft storage project

 I previously posted this toilet paper roll upcycle into storage project 

and I've been loving them but I wanted something similar to put my ink bottles in so I  came up with this

I used an oatmeal container and some cardboard

I cut the bottom off and in half

I took a piece of cardboard and cut it so that I could add strength to the bottom and make the back wall

I scored it and folded it and then glued it to the bottom

I ran some packing tape all around the inside to attach the back wall part but also to protect the cardboard in case the ink bottles leak and then ran it around the outside for additional strength. I made the back wall a bit taller than the rim of the container