Picnik: Photo-editing Now a Day at the Park

We've discovered Picnik.

I know, I know: 14-year-old facebookers have been using it for YEARS, but we finally decided to try it out over the weekend and are delighted with how easily we were able to improve the quality of our photos. If you sell on Etsy--or anywhere online, for that matter--you know how absolutely vital it is to have photos that both accurately and beautifully represent your work. Though our little point-and-shoot does a decent job, sometimes photos come out dark or too blue (?!), and we're left totally dissatisfied--and with far too few views of our products. We tried Aviary a few months ago but found it a bit too advanced for us. If you haven't tried Picnik, I'd recommend venturing over there, if for no other reason than playing around a bit. It was fun!

Here are some before & afters:
 

A little dark and dreary. Add a little light and...

 

BOOM! B-e-a-u-tiful. This also features our new 2mm typewriter font (that I'm in love with) and new tiny open hearts (instead of the dots we've been using). You can view the listing in our shop to see more photos.



Once again, too dark!

A little light makes a lot of difference! This really is a better representation of what we do. We also added our Etsy URL to this one. So fun! This is another new item in our shop. I love the treebine flourish at the bottom.

In other news...

• Our tools for sterling silver ring-making should come in this week (insert schoolgirl squeal here). I can't wait to make one for myself as well as for my friend Emily, who had a nifty idea for a thumb ring. I'll post photos as soon as I get the chance.
• We're also waiting on some nickel silver cuff blanks and sterling silver cuff blanks for bracelet making.
• We finally made some time this weekend to post a few new items, so be sure to stop by. Another new favorite is the minigram, which looks great alone or added to another one of the many fine choices in our shop. We also added a "sisters" necklace (pictured below) that comes with a pretty sweet deal for anyone wanting to purchase multiples.

Order the first necklace at full price and receive up to two additional necklaces for $5 off PER NECKLACE.

Thanks for taking a moment to stop by the blog! Enjoy your day. :)

Aluminum = DUD, plus a PROMO code!

My shipment of aluminum ring and bracelet blanks came in last week, and I am quite saddened to report that my experiments with said products proved quite disappointing.

Until today, I agreed with my friend Rach, who said "They'll look really nice in pictures, but people are going to be real disappointed when they get them in the mail." She was right on the latter count, but not so right on the former: I don't think they made very good photos. Sigh.

The ring, measuring 1/2" in width.

To give you an idea of scale.

I was pretty sad that the aluminum won't work out, but I suppose the ole adage "You get what you pay for" rings true (pardon the pun...) no matter what. As soon as Rio credits us for all the scrap we just sent them from my Christmas mistakes--yikes!--we'll place an order for the supplies we'll need to start stamping sterling silver bands. If you have an idea for text on a ring, please let us know! Whenever we introduce a new product for the shop, we always have to create samples for our photos.

Pictured below is one of the fonts that will be available on our rings.


New font: 2.5mm typewriter. We normally use 3.5mm fonts on our discs, but this mom needed a smaller one to accomodate a longer name. I seriously love this font and honestly would rather have started Becca Winslow Jewelry with it (rather than with corsiva). We're ordering a 3.5mm set soon.

 It's been a while since we offered any type of promotional code on the blog, so take 20% off your total purchase price by entering BLOG0111 when you check out. This offer expires 1/29/2011. Hope to hear from you or see you in store soon!

Enjoy your day. :)

Bird Cages & ESMTG Pieces

Today's post is a pictorial one! Enjoy. :)

Fine silver monogram with elegant birdcage. Measures approximately 5/8" and comes with or without your choice of stone or pearl. 

Also available with a leather cord.

Fly charm with elegant, empty birdcage. Silver plated pewter charm measures approximately 1/2" and is strung on a sterling silver bead chain, also availble with or without your choice of stone or pearl.

ESMTG heart. This acronym is practically a banner which our church rallies behind. It means "Every Soul Matters To God" and reminds us that everyone--no matter race, religion, socioeconomic status, etc--is a beautiful creation of God. Because they matter to him, they should matter to us, too. All proceeds from the sale of any ESMTG jewelry will benefit the Assemblies of God World Missions.

Another ESMTG piece, this one on a 1/2" silver plated pewter charm strung on leather cord.

ESMTG tags. Choose silver plated or copper plated pewter. The tag comes on a base metal chain and measures approximately 1.25" x 3/8". This one will be the more "economical" ESMTG piece. :) We like it because it could easily be for a girl OR guy & can be stamped on both the front and reverse sides.

Each item pictured above will be listed soon in our shop, so check back! If we're not listing them fast enough for you, let us know.

COMING SOON...
*Some seriously affordable, personalized alluminum rings and cuff bracelets!

We'll post photos as soon as we've played with them a bit. :)

Serendipitous Monograms, Bird Cages, & Task Lists

Lately we've been trying to figure out some creative ways of using our 6mm monogram alphabet stamps. Below are a few things we've done so far. We'd love hearing what you think!



This one is a completely serendipitous creation: I accidentally double-stamped the D, which created a shadowed look. Lol. I don't think I'm good enough to reproduce these results...just yet.



Another variation on the previous design. We're really loving the rounded squares. When you see them in the shop, they will, of course, have a hole punched and be attached to a necklace. :)



A variation on an item already in our shop, which you can purchase here. I'm not crazy about this photo--working on a new one!

 We also began listing our very popular GPS necklace again (We took it out of the shop for a few months so we could revise its description and add a few customization options). Three of the five sales we've made so far this year have been this necklace! It is one of our favorites, too.

Commemorate where it all began! Stamped on the brass tag are the GPS coordinates of the place you met, fell in love, got married, etc. A "secret" message is then stamped on the second, hidden brass tag.

On the horizon: We ordered a bird cage design stamp, which I'm seriously excited about! We also ordered an 8mm cross design stamp, but I'm not AS crazy about it. I'm hoping it looks much cooler "in person." In any case, after we've played with them a bit, I'll post photos of what we've created.



 In the new year, we're trying out a daily task list. Each day has its own list of tasks; some of them are unique to the particular day, whereas others repeat. Unfortunately, we had to spend the first day of the year organizing the workbench again, which put us off schedule a little bit; however, I really think we'll be able to adhere to it on average weeks. We'll probably need a modified task list for Mother's Day and Christmas. We're hoping that this will help us streamline our creative process and thus serve our customers better.

...and that pretty much brings you up to speed on what we've been up to! We hope you were able to stop by Summer's blog and enter the giveaway this week!

Blog Giveaway: Sumo's Sweet Stuff

Hi everyone!

As mentioned in the last post, we're starting the new year with a new giveaway. Summer, a fellow Etsian, has been gracious enough to host it on her blog, Sumo's Sweet Stuff. Be sure to stop by this week (beginning at 10 a.m. January 3rd) for your chance to win one of our Blessed Mother necklaces. All you have to do is leave a comment on Summer's blog stating your favorite item from our shop, Becca Winslow Hand-Stamped Jewelry. At the end of the giveaway, she'll announce the winner and--after you tell us which birthstones to add--we'll ship it to you! It's really fun to see what items everyone likes.

I'd also encourage you to take a peek around the rest of Summer's blog, which is chalked FULL of great, crafty ideas. Summer's Etsy shop, temporarily on vacation for the holidays, is an equally nifty little place to check out. I'd recommend favoriting it for later. My favorite so far: the Reece Tunic (pictured left)!

I confess two weeks of no orders has been a nice break, but I'm about ready to pull out the hammer again... and the pliers... and the bubble mailers... and the shipping tape... and my favorite pens for writing thank you notes on my awesome stationary by Rachel Stafford Designs...

Woohoo--fun times are ahead!

Enjoy your day! :)