Somewhere Over the Rainbow There’s a Craft at Etsy

 Etsy  1 Response »
Apr 262011
 
Custom T-Shirts

photo courtesy of FunkyJewelleryUK

You don’t have to be like Dorothy and bump your head in order to travel over the rainbow to find the magic of color. With Etsy, the bright, bold and beautiful colors of the rainbow are only a mouse-click away. Below you will find a few examples of handmade creations that make good use of a multitude of colors:

Colored Pencil Bracelet

When looking for a unique way to accessorize, Funky Jewellery UK offers an array of colorful options. Fun and funky, choose from a bracelet and necklace made with 100% recycled colored pencils. The necklace comes with a silver plated chain extender for those who’d like to adjust the length. Funky Jewellery UK also offers the Multicolored Zip Necklace made out of a rainbow of zippers.

photo courtesy of HotPinkPrincess

Rainbow and Black Layered Tutu

Tutus are a popular piece of clothing for young girls and extremely adorable on babies. HotPinkPrincess uses a combination of bright rainbow colors with black to create a sassy fashion statement for little girls. This particular piece is available in the following sizes and can also be customized in the colors of your choice:

0-12 months 7 1/2″ long
12-24 months 7 1/2″ long
2T-5T 10″ long

photo courtesy of partypoofers

Rainbow Round Rug

Made from upcycled T-shirts, partypoofers created this rainbow floor decoration out of a tie-dye jersey knit bed sheet and an assortment of like-new colored T-shirts. After washing the tees, a thick yarn was made, which was crocheted into a rug. Measuring about 3 feet in diameter, you can easily add a splash of color to any room or brighten up your pet’s day.

Rainbow Splash Necklace

photo courtesy of slashKnots

With the eye-catching beauty of multi-colored semi precious stones and glass, slashKnots offers crocheted necklaces, such as this rainbow dream. The combination of amazonite, jade, sodalite, freshwater pearls, vintage glass, and new jade create an undeniable conversation piece. An added bonus – the necklace is waterproof – making it a delightful accessory for a day at the beach.

 

 

Repurposed and Upcycled Train Cases on Etsy

 Etsy, In the Spotlight, Interviews, Recycled Crafts  Comments Off
Jan 272011
 
Custom T-Shirts

Designer: Judy Valencerina

Etsy Shop: Remixed Vintage

Started: May 2010

Judy Valencerina is a creative jack-of-all-trades, who sings jazz, writes songs, graphic designs, and upcycles vintage items amongst other things. With collage and decoupage techniques, Judy transforms vintage luggage, jewelry boxes, old signs, and other gently used items into one-of-a-kind creations. You can also request customization.

Remixed Vintage focuses on repurposed train cases. Judy gives vintage train cases a new life, which her customers use to store cosmetics, jewelry, small tools, art supplies, photos, fashion accessories (such as scarves and belts), special trinkets, and other keepsakes.

Judy’s style…

Judy enjoys birds, butterflies, and flowers. “I like incorporating imagery from nature in my pieces. The paisley raindrops remind me of flowing water or rolling clouds. I also love digging through old children’s books and maps to find shapes and colors to cut by hand.”

What is your most favorite customized design for a train case? And why.

“[Designing train cases] all started with my music. When I played small gigs around the LA area, I’d have to tote my merch (CD’s for sale & email-list, flyers, tip jar) around with me… so I bought an old train case at a boutique in Ventura to use for displaying all the little doo-dads. Around the same time, I was designing with paper cutouts for the jacket/sleeve for my homemade CD. I decided to give the train case the same treatment. At every gig, I’d receive so many compliments on the piece, and suggestions that I should sell them online because they were so unique. This is my all-time fave case, as it got everything started.”

Where do you find the items that you customize?

“Most of my cases are found at antique markets in the southern CA area – Long Beach, Pasadena Rose Bowl, and Ventura County Fairgrounds. I find many different styles this way. People seem to favor the older era cases from the 40′s through the 60′s. The newer Samsonites from the 70′s are okay, and usually in better shape – but it’s such a thrill to find an older piece that is still in awesome condition at a good price. I also like antique shops, thrifts stores, & eBay.”

Stay Connected to Remixed Vintage

Etsy Shop: http://judythejazzcat.etsy.com/

Facebook: http://facebook.com/RemixedVintage

Twitter: http://twitter.com/RemixedVintage

Eco-Friendly Business Ideas for Etsy

 Etsy, Recycled Crafts  Comments Off
Dec 232010
 
Custom T-Shirts

An increasing number of consumers are embracing the notion of purchasing goods that take into consideration the planet and environment. Recycling materials, repurposing objects, and choosing sustainable materials are popular methods of making money on Etsy. Why do shoppers go crazy over green products? Because the above-mentioned goods are handcrafted, unique and one-of-a-kind. A couple of ways to establish eco-friendly Etsy shop practices include:

Recycled Goods

Recycled goods involve the transformation of old, used, or discarded objects or trash into works of art and other handcrafted creations. For example, some crafters collect vintage watch parts to make unique jewelry pieces. The rubber from old bike tire inner tubes has been used to create high-fashion tote bags. Broken bike chains have been turned into can openers.

Other ideas include:

  • Recycling bottle caps into refrigerator magnets.
  • Recycling old dominoes to create fashion pendants.
  • Turning broken vase pieces into beautiful mosaics.
  • Using the material of discarded medical scrubs to make men’s ties.

Upcycled or Repurposed Goods

Upcycled or repurposed goods are created when a crafter breathes new life into a used item. A repurposed good is one that serves a different purpose than originally intended – for an intended longer period of time. For example, a roll of duct tape can become a crafter’s new material of choice. Repurpose the sticky adhesive into colorful goods, such as credit card holders, wallets, and even handbags.

Other ideas include:

  • Using an old teacup as a decorative holder for homemade candles.
  • Create bathmats using discarded plastic bags.
  • Turning a used Coke bottle into a decorative vase.

Sustainable Goods

Sustainable goods provide environmental, social and economic benefits while protecting the planet. Sustainable goods involve the eco-friendly extraction of raw materials and the final details of creation. For example, products made out of bamboo are sustainable because the plant saves other trees from use, and bamboo is easily replaceable in a short amount of time. Bamboo is made into a wide range of goods, including furniture, cooking utensils, toys, and clothing.

Eco-Friendly Packaging

If you are unable to work with recyclable or sustainable materials as a crafter, there are other ways to incorporate eco-initiatives into your business. For example, packaging plays an important role in running a business. A few eco-friendly business practices to consider include using biodegradable packaging peanuts, recyclable packaging materials, recycling your own boxes, and filling large boxes with crumpled magazine pages.