Brand New Sprinkles Sparkles Website!!

It's LIVE!

Sprinkles Sparkles new style website has just been launched!!

www.sprinklessparkles.co.uk

Please, have a good mooch about, and also let me know if you come across any errors on the site. One will always slip away from me!

The new bottle top magnets have been photographed and put up on the new site. 

You will also find:

Necklaces, Bracelets, Earrings, Rings, Pendants, GemBugs!, Kilt Pins, Handbag Charms, Bookmarks, Hair Accessories and Scarf Clips available, and for sale. 

Weekend Roundup!

On Saturday I popped along to the Royal Bath & West Royal Showground for The Stitch and Creative Crafts Show. Again this year it was manly dominated by card and paper crafts, so not much jewellery, or other craft relative hobbies.

I did buy a few bits and bobs though. Few buttons, brooch clips, craft papers, few beads (prices were a little high though) and some bottle tops!

The bottle top are going to be make into fab magnets!

Look out for them on my website in the very near future!

Here is a pic of the show. I must point out that it was taken with my new camera!!

What a totally exhausting day!

When I got back I thought I would make a start on making some badges with my new craft paper! Only to get onto the second badge, and my badge maker broke!

So if anyone has Super BadgeIt maker going cheap, or even the proper metal badge making kits at a very discounted price let me know ;) (thanks Caz ;))

I was bidding on Ebay last night for one, only to be piped at the post at the last 10 seconds by 20p! Argh!

Update! I now have a badge making kit.
It was at a bargain price of £2!!

Yesterday, Sunday, after my badge making disaster, I got to work on the bottle top magnets! I left them over night a magnetic board, just to make sure they dont slip. Thankfully they don't!!

Sniiiiif

Yesterday I was struck down with man flu! Can you believe it? A few days after Easter, when I should be eating my chocolate eggs, I get a cold! So now they are just sitting there, until the sniffles go away, and I can munch on them without getting even more bunged up!

Finally today, my beads arrived! YAY! So this afternoon I started making 20 bag charms. I've managed to photograph 10 of them so far, I'll do the other set later on. 

Here is one of them.

This is the red heart bag charm. There are another 9 of them, all in different colours. Go check them out on my site, or on misi.

(you can see all the individual charms on my own site, as on misi I can only post 5 pictures)

Also I want to say a BIG Thank You to all the Misi girls last night (you know who you all are!) for an hilarious evening last night on the forums!! 

Gazebo!

My parents came back from shopping Friday afternoon with a pressie for me! 

A GAZEBO! 

I was ecstatic! It means now that I can attend outdoor craft fairs. Being a fairy 'bog standard' garden gazebo, I was a little worried about it sturdiness. One gust of wind and off it flies along the field! 

So today, with the help of my dad, we put it up in the back garden to test it out! It's not bad at all! I'm going to nip into the camping shop and get some extra pegs, just for safety sake, but I'm so happy with it! 

I took some piccies of it being put together. (I took the pictures with my phone, so they are not all that special). As you can see, our garden is not quite big enough for it!

   

 

   

I'm very excited about my little shop! Of course, when it gets used, ill blog it. But that isn't until June/July time.

This Week

Thought I would do a round up of my week instead of an individual blog every day.

First off I have added 7 new items to Misi. Click the link to see my new creations ;)

Secondly, I came runner in the Misi Easter Egg Hunt! I'm so chuffed, haha. I managed to find 22 out of the 25 eggs. I won a wonderful easter anigurami bunny, handmade by reeneegurumi , and a beautiful easter necklace handmade by zoewoods. Also free listings to misi aswell.

Congratulations to enchanted too who also came runner up along with me. Jane and Zoe who both got a Chocolate Bunny from Cocoapod.

But I cannot forget to mention The Pink Fairy Cake who came 1st, and won a gorgeous Gifford the bear handmade by tollykit, and his and hers egg cups handmade by Patchwork Daisy .
How did she find them all?!

I dont have any pictures of my goodies yet, but when I receive them I'll post them up.

Here are the eggs I found!! ------>>

I've got myself all Twitterd up on Monday.
If your would like to follow my day of crafting, eating, and general rantings, look for sprinkles_ or click 'follow me' in my twitter feed on the right. (remember the underscore! sprinkles was taken and sprinklessparkles was too long!)

Tuesday evening I went and spilt my glass of lushes red wine all over the coffee table where my keyboard and mouse is, myself, the carpet and the curtains!

We tipped the keyboard up, and let all the wine drip out. Lukily it didn't effect the mouse. The keyboard dried out, but a couple of the keys were a little sticky :( So I went and got myself a lovely new keyboard and mouse set. And its PINK!!

Today I added myself to UK directory. Their aim is to build up a directory of handmade crafts within the UK. They would love your support too.

An Easter Review

What a lovely few summery days we seem to be having. I hope it lasts, it's really brightening up the year, of which, hasn't been particually great.

This morning I started going through some of my stock, mainly the items that are listed up on my website, and misi, and reviewed some prices of many pieces.

Anything from £1 to £20 has been knocked off many products!

Go on! Have a look :D

MISI

My Website

Adding to the list of dissapointments, but holding my chin up

One craft show weekend I was really looking forward to be taking part again in this year, has been 'slightly altered' . They are not having a craft marquee this year, although we have been offered a trade stand.
I am reluctant to take up this offer as I am not really looking to compete against fair trade and bulk bought items. Plus the fact I will have to buy a gazebo stand, and I can guarantee I will buy the one that will blow away and leak!

So now, due to very very poor amount of shows this year, I have decided to hold up on the DIY jewellery kits, even though they were coming along well, and launch them next year instead.

One thing I am really really looking forward to taking part in is the Little Book of Misi 2nd Edition, that artsbymimi is putting together. Anyone who has a shop on Misi can join in. The criteria is available to read on the Misi forum.
Thank you Amy!

Off to the fair

I popped along to an antiques fair this weekend at The Royal Bath and West Showground in Shepton Mallet.

I went with my parents, and a couple of their friends to trawl around, what seemed to me, to be just a load of old junk! Bits of wood claiming to be an 18th century table, what looked more like a fantastic meal for wood worm!

Taking advantage of the beautiful weather, we toured the outside marquee stalls first, grabbed a tea and bit of choccie cake, and started the walk-a-bout indoors. Again, more junk, and overpriced brightly coloured vulgar crockery!

So... time went on, still checking out all the over priced bits and bobs, until finally, an vintage jewellery stall that wasn't over priced, with many many baskets and old biscuit tins of tangled up jewellery, which was either broken, or pendants without a home.

I was rummaging for ages and ages until I came across a gorgeous heart shaped pendant. It was grubby, but nothing a bit of silver cleaning cloth couldn't fix! I knew exactly what I was going to do with it, so here is a pic!

and a close up

Available at my MISI , ETSY and my website

I also bought a couple of other pieces, but I have not got as far as cleaning them up yet. But I'll keep you posted!

My Birthday treat! 10% OFF

As it's my Birthday today,
I am offering 10% off everything in my MISI store,
and to blogger readers only,
10% off everything on my Website!

If you see anything you fancy on my website, email me!
Please include what you would like to purchase, and in the subject box write 'Blogger Discount'
I will send you your very own paypal invoice that includes the 10% discount.
If you use the 'add to cart' buttons you will not receive your discount.

MISI discount is available from the 15th March -16th March 2009, and my website discount is available from the 15th March -22nd March 2009.

Have a fabulous day!

★ Now Open & Updates★

My new MISI store is now open!

click the image to go to my site or click here

Updates

Craft Events - There are still no 100% confirmed events still for 2009. I'm just very very unfortunate this year that everyone I contact is fully booked. Seems the credit crunch has inspired people to open their crafts boxes, start making and selling!

Shops - There are still many places to shop for Sprinkles Sparkles goodies.

If you are in the UK, UK price listings are at:
http://www.sprinklessparkles.co.uk/ - my main store
http://sprinklessparkles.misi.me.uk/ - my misi store.
www.folksy.com/shops/Sprinkles - my folsky store
http://sprinklessparkles.artfire.com/ - my artfire store (this seems to be a new feature!)

For prices in $'s my listings are at:
http://www.sprinklessparkles.etsy.com/ - my etsy store
http://sprinklessparkles.artfire.com/ - my artfire store
please let me know if artfire in your country is displaying your currency.

DIY jewellery kits - are still 'under construction'! And are still due to be launced end of March, beginning of April. They will be available on my main site, and misi to start with.

Thats all for today. The past week has been packed with advertising, marketing, and concentrating on the jewellery kits, oh, and the trip to Ikea!

ps: free delivery is now only available at www.sprinklessparkles.co.uk

New DIY Jewellery Kits

Since Christmas ☃ I have been toying with the idea of making and selling DIY jewellery kits. They will be going on sale end of this month, beginning of April, prices starting from £3.50 (roughly $5) for a beginners earrings kit.

All kits will include instructions, beads and findings to complete the projects, although you will have to supply your own tools.

I will be starting with beginners kits, earrings, necklaces and bracelets, all in a matching set, so you will be able to make your own handmade jewellery.

Also available will be mobile phone charm, and handbag charm DIY kits, all for beginners.


Here is a sneaky peek of one of the kits...

Fairy Quintessence

Today wasn't the best day for pottering out and about in the garden, so I bought the fairies inside with me, and made this bracelet.

I'm always left with a handful of this, a bit of that, and one of them in my bead stash, so I put them together and came up with this enchanting bracelet.

It consists of dyed freshwater pearls and a large blue glass heart. Little added detail of hematite stars, silver flowers and a hanging silver fairy finish it off.

As usual its available on my ETSY store and my website

24 days 'til Mothers Day

Yes!

That's right. 24 days!

Sounds quite a long time really, but before you know it, we will be blogging about how we celebrated the day with our mum's, and gloating that we made or bought the best present!

I got back into the swing of things today, and made a gorgeous, warm gemstone necklace.

The inspiration came from a leaf toggle clasp I found a couple of weeks ago in my local bead store.

I found all my gemstones, piled them all into the middle of my bead board, mixed them up (yum!), and started placing them randomly around my board until I decided on the design.

Here it is finished, and available on etsy.

It's been more then a week....i know,

but family circumstances this past week and a half have stopped everything from moving forward.

Just bear with me a few more days while I get back on my feet

x

New sister store - Sprinkles Sparkles Crafty Bytes

Here we go... Sprinkles Sparkles Crafty Bytes has just officially launched today on ETSY. 

Don't laugh! I know the selection of goods is limited today, but daily i will be adding new items, keeping it fresh, and spreading the listing out during the day for more exposure. 

So, what's it all about.. alfie!

This sister store is about crafty bits and bobs for your jewellery stash, card creations or sewing box. Small quantities, low prices and reasonable shipping costs. 

There is more to come soon.... I'm not telling you what, you will just have to wait a few more days! 

Artfire.com

Early this morning I was browsing forums and came across Artfire.com. 

Its fairly new, only a few months old. Its free to list up to 10 items, no commission either, only the usual paypal fee's if thats what you agree for payment. So I've decided to go for it. Its another brilliant way of getting 'out there' in the handmade craft market.

I will be trying putting up new items daily, as your new items are posed on the front page. Its very ETSY like. 

Alot of complaints have been heard, that its not very easy to use, not much traffic blah blah, but the more people that use it, the more traffic it creates, the more feedback they get to improve the site. 

I personally have found it very easy to use. Everything I needed is in my account area. They even have badges to pop onto your blog, sharing for social sites! Here is my studio 

Craft Events

Small update!

As last years Heddington & Stockley Steam Rally was very successful, despite the weather being absolutely awful, I will hopefully have a stall there again this year.

Im still waiting for the entry forms to be sent out, but if im successful getting in again this year the dates are Saturday 4th July and Sunday 5th July 2009 from 9am.

New Blog.. and new address

Finally I get my hands on Sprinkles Sparkles blog spot address after a year! 

Its been an extremely slow year so far, sales wise. I guess it's not helping that I am having extreme difficulties with getting into craft fairs this year. 

So far 1 craft fair is booked. Castle Combe Steam Rally Saturday 30th May & Sunday 31st May 2009. You will find me in the Craft & Model tent, supporting The Wiltshire Air Ambulance.

Here I will have 2 tables, and I'll be selling my own jewellery creations along with beads, findings and Make Your Own Jewellery kits. I hope to see you there!