Random Acts of Flair

Flair Readers Love These...

2011-02-08T12:21:00.000-05:00

Hey there! Long time, no hear/see/write/read - whichever you want to put it :D

How are you?

I'm doing well, still on Tumblr and Etsy. I do have a new niecynotes website open now: www.niecynotes.com if you want to check it out. But I really came over here to point out some of the popular Flair posts that Blogger has highlighted - a new feature that I really like! For some reason, it doesn't want to fit on the sidebar, so I'm making it a post for your convenience.

Here are the Top 5 Posts:

* My Newest Project: Toilet Paper Roll Art

* Innovative Gift - Felted Bird Mobile

* Marketing Finds: Photo 103 - Offline Software

* Innovative Gift - Bulletin Board Frames

* (Late) Flair Review - Samsung Gravity T

I'm so glad that you are all still reading Flair! It makes me happy to keep this up as a reference.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy your crafting!

Tumbl......r!!

2010-11-05T11:00:00.002-04:00

Hi everyone!

Remember those major changes for the blog? Well, here it is: I'm switching to Tumblr!

Yes, Tumblr. The new site will be called FlairNotes, where I'll discuss everything crafty and creative. I'll also mention some helpful tips in design and marketing. Google Friends, all is not lost. You can now follow me on Google Reader or your current RSS feed with the site flairnotes.tumblr.com (or RSS site flairnotes.tumblr.com/rss).

Why the change?

Well here's what's been going on. I've been on the Etsy kick for a while and haven't been treating my Flair readers right by posting consistently. Then I wanted to implement my Etsy stuff into the blog but I felt it was kind of out of place, so I started a niecynotes blog. But then the posts on my niecynotes blog have been about creative stuff too - and then I was stuck. I had to figure out what to do because I wanted to blog, but not "overblog" where I wouldn't enjoy it anymore. So now I'm joining Tumblr to mix the two.

What's happening to Random Acts of Flair?

It's still going to be here for reference purposes. I'm not going to shut it down until Blogger cuts it off lol. But there will be no more new content :-(

What's going to be featured on FlairNotes?

Here's what's going to be featured:

* Craft projects
* Innovative Gifts
* Design/Marketing help
* niecynotes Features
* Reviews

Tumblr is a work in progress for me because I have to treat it like an extended Twitter. That's how it's built. So hopefully, all the creative stuff I find won't be overloaded!

When does this Tumblr thingy start?

Well, it's up and running now if you want to check it out. I'm officially having a grand opening on Monday 11/8/10.

If you have any more questions, feel free to contact me. I'm still going to be on Twitter with both accounts - @niecynotes and @actsofflair.

Readers, I want to thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for being so patient with me, sticking with me for all these months and checking out my reviews and crafty projects. No other up and coming blogger could be so appreciative than me right now :D. Keep sticking with me on Tumblr!

November Changes

2010-10-29T21:07:00.000-04:00

Hello everyone!

I just want to let everyone know that there will be some major changes with the blog in November! Stay tuned here with more info and have a great weekend :D

Innovative Gift - Framed Pumpkin Patch

2010-10-27T11:30:00.001-04:00

Framed Pumpkin Patch via Embellishing Life

Oh too cute! Very fall-inspiring :D This is a framed pumpkin patch made of cardstock and other paper on a foam board. Very nice decoration for a fall-themed dining room or living room. You can even cutout leaves and do the same thing! Thank Jenny for the cool tutorial and find it here.

Marketing Finds! - Stats Wrap Up

2010-10-25T10:45:00.006-04:00

Hello all! Hope you're weekend was good :D

So, for the past few weeks, we've been learning about Blogger stats, web analytics and the coolness of it all. Now what?

Well, as far as this blog is concerned, I'm taking all the info I get and transforming some things. It's not a promise just yet, but I may add a tutorial here or there in the future :-)

What have you learned? Have you checked out your stats on your site/blog? If so, wasn't it interesting?

To recap, this is what we learned:
Take a look at your stats (whether on Blogger, Google Analytics or the like) and see what you find - you may be surprised!

Ask yourself questions:
* Is my content being read?

* Do the keywords (preferably, top 10) match my blog/site?

* How much of an online presence do I have?

* Which type of sites should I promote on?

Contrast, compare, and act!

And for some additional help, take a look at these helpful web stat links for future reference:

Using Web Analytics via Design*Sponge

Google Analytics Support

Google Analytics Tricks for Crafters: Benchmarking via Crafty Pod (there's a series of videos too)

Etsy Shop SEO in Six Simple Steps via SEOWebDesign

Using Keyword Research to Improve Etsy Sales via Everything Etsy

Tracking and Using Analytics - Part 2 via Everything Etsy ( part of a series)

Happy blogging/selling! =)

Flair Review - B*FRIN

2010-10-22T11:00:00.001-04:00

Hello people!

Goodness, it's been a while since the last Flair Review! I've been busy lately with niecynotes and preparing for the big shopping season. But I didn't forget my Flair readers! I think as far as the Flair Review, I'm going to post every other Friday starting today just to get a breather lol.

OK, today's review is a Philadelphia non-profit organization called B*FRIN or Bereaved Families' Relief Initiative Network. The program is wonderful and must be recognized! The goal of B*FRIN is to help low-income families who lost loved ones in death to finance and plan funeral arrangements and counsel ones during their bereavement. Not only does B*FRIN help bereaved families, but they also help counsel young children to stay in school and are involved in cancer awareness, such as breast cancer. B*FRIN sponsors breast health screenings, including bra fitting sessions, breast health counseling and more. Since it's Breast Cancer Awareness month, I thought I'll bring this aspect of the program out.

I attended a private bra fitting a couple weeks ago at a local spa, Natural Wellness and Spa (which is also wonderful!) sponsored by B*FRIN. It was very informative - did you know that up to 85% of women are wearing the wrong bra size? Deep. What's deeper was that I was one of them! (I'm a size bigger, but I'm not telling. I think that's just a little too much info in blog land lol). Not only did I find out the right bra size, I found out how to find the right bra and "take care" of my bras (hint: use wirefree only and handwash!), special medical conditions which some women have and early detection to prevent breast cancer.

If you want to know more about B*FRIN's Breast Health program, I suggest you contact them and schedule your free bra fitting. And if you would like to know more about their bereavement services, check out their site and contact them for more info!

* Note: I have not been paid to do this review. These and future reviews are my exclusive opinions. *

Innovative Gift - Leaf Runner

2010-10-20T11:00:00.009-04:00

Leaf Runner via Urban Comfort

This is such a nice way to dress up a table! This table runner by Suzonne at Urban Comfort was in a contest for Better Homes and Gardens but it won my "contest" as an innovative gift. :D This would be nice for someone who loves to entertain company at home and loves the fall. Check out how Suzonne made this by clicking this link.

*Oh and don't forget to come back and take my Updates survey here. Thanks! *

Marketing Finds: Keywords

2010-10-18T11:30:00.002-04:00

Welcome again! Hope your weekend was great!

As you know, I'm renovating the blog again - mostly the content. So the newer Marketing Finds! are kind of a walk-through of the content transition. And it was interesting to note that one particular post was the highest viewed of all time.To continue on from last week's post, I found some additional, interesting stuff about this popular Toilet Paper Roll Art post. So back on the Stats page in Blogger, I check out the most popular keywords:

Then I compared it to my Google Analytics top 10 keywords:

Ok. Now this can be good and bad.

Most of my keywords relate to the aforementioned post. Most others relate to artsy things like other craft projects and the Art Star Craft Bazaar I attended a few months back. So...

THE GOOD

* I'm artsy! So that shows :D
* The blog is viewed as creative
* Crafty projects are high in views
* Blog is found through different keywords

THE BAD

* No marketing related keywords - at all
* Lots of quick views

THE UGLY
Not really an "ugly." Just wanted to continue the phrase lol

This is really helpful for the new content! The best way to find out how people are getting to your blog/site is through keywords and web analytics. Here's a few questions to ask yourself:

* Is my content being read?

* Do the keywords (preferably, top 10) match my blog/site?

* How much of an online presence do I have?

* Which type of sites should I promote on?

Check out your stats and keywords, contrast, compare, and act!

What's On Your Mind?

2010-10-16T10:00:00.002-04:00

Hello Readers!

First off, let me just say how great you are by sticking up with me and my random blog changes! Have you ever got that feeling when you are at home and you want to rearrange your living room or bedroom or dining room and you just go for the gusto and do it? Yeah, that's me with this blog lol.

But this time around, I want YOUR input on it. So far, I received some good (but mixed) responses in my survey. But here I am again, stuck in the middle! Can you do me this one small favor and let me know what YOU think about the blog in 5 minutes or less? If you are cool with the idea, click the following link!

I sooooo appreciate it and as a token, I'm giving away a nice discount in my shop after you complete it. :D

Thanks so much!

Innovative Gift - Bulletin Board Frames

2010-10-12T11:30:00.003-04:00

Bulletin Board Frames by Shannon Makes Stuff

Too cute - especially with the pastel colors! A very nice idea for decorating the home and sticking reminders up. Shannon from Shannon Makes Stuff made these framed cork boards to hang next to her stairs. Very innovative idea for artsy ones who want to spruce up the house! Find out how she made these by clicking here.

Marketing Finds!: Blogger's New Stats

2010-10-11T13:55:00.000-04:00

Hey everyone!

I'm still in the middle of brainstorming new ideas for the blog, but I came across something pretty interesting during my "research." If you are a blogger on Blogger, did you notice the "Stats" page? This little page lists all the statistics for your blog - where people are coming from, the most read post, the audience and more. So, what did I come across that was so interesting?

(Click to zoom)

My highest-read post is the My Newest Project: Toilet Paper Roll Art from way back in April! Wow!

I had nothing to do with the project - really, nothing. I'm just a creative messenger! All credit goes to Homemade Mamas and Growing Up Creative for making up the innovative project.

So then, I tried to figure out why the post was such a big hit and I found this link through the "Traffic Sources" tab which led me here:

Someone named Samantha at TheNest.com suggested my link about the TP craft project! Then it snowballed into others re-linking to the blog! Pretty cool how web analytics really nail everything down. Thanks Samantha! And thanks to Blogger for creating the new Stats page.

If you are a Blogger blogger, why not take a look at your stats and see what you find - you may be surprised!

**Question to readers:Do you think I should add more crafty projects like this on the blog? Let me know either here, here or comment!**

Updates!

2010-10-06T19:39:00.000-04:00

Hello everyone!

Long time, no see huh?

Well for the past week or so, I've been focusing on my Etsy shop and I feel bad for neglecting this blog this whole time! I am thinking about changing more things around and figuring out when I want to do that. As I've mentioned before, this blog is a work in progress and once I think I'm satisfied, I want to change something else. So please bear with me!

In the meantime, if at all possible, can you complete this 5 minute survey about the blog? The survey is only confirming what you would like to see on the blog and everyone who takes it will receive a discount in my shop (yay)! So if you are interested, please take this survey for my sanity lol!

Flair Review - Cutter and Buck

2010-10-01T13:15:00.003-04:00

Hello again! Welcome to my second Flair Review! I wanted to review this wonderful bag I bought by Cutter and Buck. Now I did not get the bag from Cutter and Buck directly, but I bought it from a yard sale.

Yes, a yard sale. Don't get me wrong, I had no idea who or what Cutter and Buck was when I bought this bag, but once I did a little research (aka went on the site) I realized I got a HUGE deal on my duffel bag (I'm not telling how much just in case the Cutter and Buck people want to jump on me)! I will admit that I paid more than what the sellers were asking for and they were appreciative :D

I must show you the pics:

Nice, isn't it? I assume it is an older model since it was in a yard sale. I bought this just two weeks before I had to go to Virginia for the weekend and it was just perfect! Nice size, sturdy, and fashionable. If I had the money to go and buy Cutter and Buck items directly, I definitely would. The quality is excellent!

* Note: I have not been paid to do this review or take these pictures. These and future reviews are my exclusive opinions. *

Flair Review - Orbit Gum

2010-10-01T11:15:00.006-04:00

Hello! Once again, I'm participating in a BzzAgent BzzCampaign and this time, it's about Orbit Gum. Not particularly about the gum flavors but about the packaging - my forte. I'm supposed to analyze the new packaging of the gum and let me tell you that they are all cute! I love the bright colors and intricate - mod designs.

I had five packs originally and I gave some away to family and friends. In the meantime, I used a BOGO Free coupon that BzzAgent supplied me and bought two packs for .69! Just so happen CVS had the Orbit on sale and with the coupon knocking off $1.29, I got 28 pieces of gum for .69. How's that for ya!

Anyway, one of the packs I bought was so pretty that I just took pictures of it.

Isn't it cute and bright and bubbly (no pun intended lol). As you can tell, I made good use of it, eating and sharing all but one piece of gum. The only issue I have is that it is a bit hard to take the gum out (have to use a little muscle) but it's ok.

So if you run into any packs of Orbit, be on the lookout for the new packaging and pick your fav!

* Note: I have not been paid to do this review or take these pictures. These and future reviews are my exclusive opinions. *

Innovative Gift - Photograph Lampshade

2010-09-30T13:30:00.008-04:00

Photograph Lampshade via Someday Crafts/Completely Coastal

This is absolutely creative and easy! I just loooove it! Use your digital photos and transfer paper to make a new lampshade in your living room, bedroom or den. Find out how to make this cool project at Someday Crafts via Maya at Completely Coastal.

Marketing Finds: Photo 104 - Outro

2010-09-30T11:30:00.000-04:00

Hello everyone!

I know you are wondering why I left the face of the earth for a few days...sorry! After my weekend trip in Virginia, life just totally caught up with me and as always, I'm thinking of switching things up (mostly with the blog). Before I wrap up the Photo series, let me update you with "programming updates":

* The Innovative Gift post will come today (yay)

* There will be two Flair Reviews this Friday (double yay)

Ok, the Photo Series Wrap-Up:

So from the past few weeks, what have we learned about taking great photos for the web?

* Learn the basics and always find great lighting no matter what! (Photo 101)

* Learn and apply photo terms in order to take better pictures. (Photo 102)

* Get to know offline photo software that can enhance your photos (but remember not to over-enhance!) (Photo 103)

Overall, being patient and learning photography step-by-step will result in better online photos for your business/blog and positive feedback.

Here are a few of my fav photo sites and articles:

Article via JOYouz

Article via Kelly Hall

Enjoy and keep snappin'! :D

Innovative Gift - Felted Bird Mobile

2010-09-21T11:30:00.001-04:00

Felted Bird Mobile via CraftStylish

This is too cute and on time! My friend is having a baby shower this weekend for her baby boy and I wanted to make something. This may be it! Find out how to make this cute handmade mobile at CraftStylish.

Marketing Finds: Photo 103 - Offline Software

2010-09-20T13:07:00.001-04:00

Hi everyone! Hope you had a nice weekend!

Today we're going to discuss photo software. Most of you know about Photoshop, but did you know there were free alternatives? Here's a list of software you can use for photos:

* Picasa - This will only work if you have a Google account. With this, you can download the program on your desktop, upload photos on it and edit it in the Picasa program. There are many editing options and you can make things out of your images- collages, movies, slideshows, screensavers, banners and so much more. Great for the photo-editing beginner.

* Paint.Net - This almost looks like Photoshop just switched around a bit. But if you never worked with Photoshop before anyway, Paint.Net is easy to use. Very clear directions and buttons are user-friendly. However, there are a little less editing options to use. All in all, there's no difference in photo quality compared to popular software programs - just free :D

* GIMP - I like GIMP. Very close to Photoshop and graphic. However, you do have to download a Ghostscript (also free) in order to save or open certain files. Another thing is that it saves all photos in RGB format (yet, another term I'll explain in a minute). If you simply want to edit your photos, this is a nice program to start with.

Ok, now for some terms:

RGB vs. CMYK
RGB is Red Green Blue. CMYK is Cyan Magenta Yellow Black. RGB color is good but CMYK is better because you will get true color on your photos. Remember, when you open a new document in any photo editing program, make sure it will be saved in CMYK format.

Ok, got it. So what the heck is...
.JPG/.JPEG? - Joint Photographic Experts Group. Most images are saved this way, but JPEGs lose some quality and comes out a bit fuzzy when overused. When you make a image smaller using a editing program, it compresses the "info".

.PNG? - Portable Network Graphics. This format saves photos in true color (that CMYK thing again!) and is better used for the web. When editing pictures, you will not lose quality, even though the file size is small.

.TIFF? - Tagged Image File Format. This saves in a bigger file size and mostly in RGB. It's best to save black and white photos in this format. Most cameras can save photos automatically in this format and is the "more acceptable" format for pro photographers.

.GIF? - Graphics Interchange Format. This particular format is widely used for saving images with one or two colors and is mainly used for cartoons and animations. The quality of the image is not affected and is a smaller file.

For more info on photo editing, here are some helpful sites (with step-by-step photo directions):

*Top Photo Editing Tips (PC World)

* GIMP Tutorials (About.com)

* Edit Your Digital Photos with Picasa (LifeHacker)

* Paint.Net Photo Editing Tips (About.com)

* Image File Formats (Wiki)

Come back next week for the final part of the Photo series!

Flair Review - Sweet Babies by SistaGirls

2010-09-17T11:30:00.000-04:00

Welcome to the Flair Review! Today I'm talking about Sweet Babies. What are "Sweet Babies", you ask?

A Sweet Baby! via my cell camera

The picture doesn't do any justice (this is probably a good example of "bad lighting" if you were following my photo series). In real life, these are so cute and bright - and fairly big.

It's funny how I found out about these Sweet Babies - via friend and friend of mom. Let me explain:

A friend of mine was asking around offering to make "sweet babies." I was curious to know what these were and before I could say anything, my sister opted to get one. Within a week's time, the sweet baby arrived to my sister, full of Jolly Rancher hair and body. So cute and creative! Little did I know that my younger friend was helping the producer of these babies - Nadyne - who is my other older friend's mom! Crazy connection! I also found out that she sold them on Etsy at one point! I'm not sure what happened to the Etsy business, but outside of Etsy, these things are booming!

If you would like one of these, I suggest contacting her on the Etsy site via convo.

* Note: I have not been paid to do this review or use these pictures. These and future reviews are my exclusive opinions. *

All About Niecynotes

2010-09-14T12:15:00.002-04:00

Do you shop niecynotes? If so, you'll be ultra excited when I tell you that I have a new, exclusive blog dedicated to niecynotes! (yay) It's at niecynotes.blogspot.com. On the blog, I will announce new items, giveaways, discounts and plenty more! And if you Google Friend Connect to it, you will receive 20% off your next purchase (ends 9/30/10; I'll email you the deets). Yes, 20% off just being my niecynotes friend :D

Thanks for your support and I hope you enjoy it!

Innovative Gift - Chalkboard Talk Bubbles

2010-09-14T10:30:00.001-04:00

Chalkboard Talk Bubbles via Oh Happy Day

I am seeing these boards everywhere! It looks so easy to make! I found this cute version on Oh Happy Day by Jordan Ferney. I love how small these are, perfect for placing all over the house for little reminders (especially if you have kids who need to do some homework/chores). Very cute indeed! Find this tutorial here.

Marketing Finds! - Photo 102: Terms

2010-09-13T11:00:00.000-04:00

Hello there!

Welcome back to my Marketing Finds! Photo Series. Today's focus is on the terms of photography. There are lots of photo terminology out there that it can be confusing. How does learning these terms relate to marketing? In a nutshell...

Understanding terms + taking better pictures = more positive returns in online shop or blog

So here's a "cliff notes" version of the more popular terminology:

* Aperture: The hole inside the lens which allows light in. The smaller the hole, the less light comes in for a picture.

* Depth of Field: Measuring the distance and focus of a background or subject. Portraits would need a shorter depth of field while a landscape or panoramic photo would need a wider depth of field. For example, you would want a beach picture to have a larger depth of field, focusing on the ocean, the sand and maybe even the seagulls. A portrait picture of you and your kids would measure a smaller depth of field.

* DSLR/SLR: Digital Single Lens Reflex/Single Lens Reflex. There is a mirror inside the camera that sees the image as it is. While taking the picture the mirror reflects the image into the viewfinder and quickly shifts over to allow the light in. Pretty deep and technical stuff, but it takes a clearer, more precise picture than point and shoots.

* F-Stops: The size of the aperture by 1.4. The bigger it is, the more light comes in. Example: A photo with f/9.7 aperture has plenty of light.

* Focal Length: The distance of an image from a subject through the lens. If a lens is focused 200mm out, the lens is 200mm long and is a closer picture. A 35mm lens would take a further picture.

* ISO: The sensitivity of the image sensor compared to the amount of light coming in. A higher ISO would likely catch light in darker environments than a lower ISO.

* White Balance: The color balance of a photo, making sure the image has true colors - the white is white, the red is red. It's best to adjust this on the camera to create the best picture, since every place you go has different lighting, whether fluorescent, incandescent, sun, night, etc.

Using these definitions, think about how you can change some camera settings and create better photos. I urge you to practice and not give up because it will get frustrating! In the end, a nice picture will be in place for a new sale :D

Stay tuned for Marketing Finds! - Photo 103 next week, where I'll talk about photo software!

(Late) Flair Review - Samsung Gravity T

2010-09-10T18:46:00.000-04:00

Hello there! Sorry for the late Flair Review! I'm here now and today I'm reviewing my newest phone the Samsung Gravity T. If you follow my blog, you should know about my phone woes for the past 10+ months. So I finally upgraded my phone and got this beauty - my first touch screen phone!

This phone is great all around - a slider with QWERTY keyboard, great screen, nice web service, fun and easy texting, three "home" screens, drag and drop menu items and even visual voicemail (instead of calling your voicemail service, you can go to an app to listen to the voicemails)! The 2 MP camera takes nice photos and the sound quality of the actual phone is clear on both ends.

I do have to say that you have to get used to the touch screen. Remember to push the "lock" button on the right side of it each time you are not using it because it will call/text someone by accident!

If you drop your phone often (like me), you can buy a nice case or cover on eBay for a reasonable price :D

Here's a CNET review of the phone (if you cannot see the video below, click here):

If you are looking for a new phone, I strongly suggest this Samsung Gravity T!

* Note: I have not been paid to do this review or use these pictures/videos. These and future reviews are my exclusive opinions. *

Innovative Gift - Faux Leather Belt

2010-09-08T11:30:00.001-04:00

Faux Leather Belt via Leafy Treetop Spot

Isn't this cute? Nice touch for fall fashion coming up. Found this innovative gift at Leafy Treetop Spot. This is a nice gift for the DIY fashionista in your life :D Check out the tutorial here and make one yourself!

Marketing Finds! - Photo 101: Intro

2010-09-07T14:40:00.000-04:00

Hello everyone! Finally, a new informative post! lol

As mentioned in the previous post, I am starting a new format for Marketing Finds! Each month, I will focus on one specific avenue of marketing your product/business instead of mixing it up completely every week. So for this month, I'm focusing on photography! Fun!

A little background:

I love taking pictures. Just love it. I've been taking pictures since I was 13 when my friend gave me my first 35mm camera and a photo album. I love to capture moments and expressions that people can look back at and say "aww, I remember that!" or "oh, why did I look like that!" It's just fun for me :D

After college, I took up a job at The Picture People and I learned so much - lighting, angles, head shots, group shots and more. I used a SLR camera and had lots of fun with it. Post-Picture People, I use a regular point-and-shoot Sony Cybershot to take these shots (which is being sold over at niecynotes):

Pretty nice, huh?

So how does photography relate to marketing? To sell anything online, you need good pics. Maybe even great pics. The better the picture, the more credible you look. The more credible, the more positive feedback from customers/consumers/readers. You don't need a fancy-schmancy camera to take nice pictures. But you do need the following:

* Great lighting - Natural sunlight is best, but if there's no sufficient light, try using halogen lights (like those little lights from Ikea). Nicole from Making It Lovely, gives us this nice tutorial about product photography and lighting.

* Great angles - Have fun with moving your camera (and body even) by taking photos on an angle, from below looking up, from the side or from the top looking down. You can also utilize the zoom-in/zoom-out buttons to feature a detail in a product.

* Great photo software - Of course, Photoshop is the top option. But if you can't afford it or have run out of free trials for it, try out Paint.Net or Gimp. They are free alternatives to Photoshop and have similar features. Or if you have a Google account, try Picasa on your desktop. All of these software programs enhances your picture - whether to lighten up dark spots, adjust the hue and saturation and much more (I'll explain what those are in the future posts). The main thing about using these programs is to enhance and not replace. You don't want to spend more time adjusting your picture; rather, you should spend time photographing the picture as best as possible.

* Lots of patience: If you feel the pictures aren't coming out the way you want them to, it's ok. You are learning and it does take lots of practice to get them right. Don't beat yourself (or camera, or computer) up!

That's it for now. Stay tuned next week for Marketing Finds! - Photo 102...

Back in Business!

2010-09-05T11:00:00.007-04:00

Hello, hello everyone! I'm back!

My schedule has been crazy, but I'm back in business again and have been working on a few projects during my "break." The biggest projects have been reorganizing this blog and my Etsy, niecynotes.

Blog Changes:

As you can tell, the design is a bit more simplified and more organized. I took away the Biz with Flair and sponsor option, but I am replacing it with a new blog roll (in addition to the crafty one) for crafters to receive FREE advertising! I figured this will help new, upcoming and veteran crafty people show off their stuff :D The roll will be coming soon and I'll post updates on it.

I've also made a Find Me page where you can find me on Twitter, Etsy, BlogFrog and more. You can even grab a blog button from the page as well.

Another big change is the content. You know how every week I feature a new trend in marketing in my Marketing Finds! series? Well I'm featuring a new trend in its own series every month, every Monday starting September 7th - even though that's a Tuesday lol. After Labor Day, everyone should be off "vacay" mode and back on work/school/think mode again. I'll still have my weekly Innovative Gifts (on Wednesdays) and Flair Reviews though!

So far, that's it for updates on the blog. If you need help or are new, visit my New to Flair page and get a nice little tour :D As far as the Etsy changes, I'll update you with that info next post. In the meantime, check out the renovations!

Switcheroo!

2010-08-31T16:00:00.000-04:00

Hey everyone!

Long time, no write! I'm switching things around once again so if you see the site looking weird, don't worry, it's me playing around :D I'll formally blog to you soon!

Thanks for your patience!

Update!

2010-08-02T11:00:00.003-04:00

Hello all!

It's been a short while since my last post, but I haven't forgot about you! I'm getting new things under way as we speak - new Niecynotes items, new blog posts and more new things coming your way. It's a whole reorganizing project I'm working on, so be on the lookout this month for changes!

I can't wait! Can you? :D

Marketing Finds - Email vs. Social Media

2010-07-15T10:15:00.001-04:00

Hello all! Well since things have been a little crazy lately and I missed a marketing post, I wanted to try to catch up and share some with you today.

Email verses Social Media. Who knew there was a little "war" between the two? I found this topic very interesting when I read about Ben and Jerry's removing their email subscriptions for social media. Which is best nowadays? It does seem like the social media world is taking over, but email is still kicking alive! However, are emails time-consuming now? This goes along the same line with this other article from Marketing Vox asking marketers to use the "less is more" approach in their emails.

Personally, I'm a bit torn between the two. I still love getting my Old Navy and VS Pink emails (among other ones as well) about special deals and promos. But I also like getting their tweets on a sale, since it's short and to the point. Plus it's portable when it comes via text message :D

What do you think: would you rather get an email or a tweet/update about your fav brand? Have your brand/blog been successful with email subscriptions or social media? I would love to see your comments on this!

Long time, No See...

2010-07-13T10:00:00.002-04:00

Hello everyone!

Oh goodness it's been so long and so much happening! I apologize for not keeping up with my posts!

My vacay was good. I took lots of scenery pics from-the trip so get ready to see those in an upcoming post soon. I did have a bad experience at the hotel I was in - bedbug bites! Ewwww to infinity! The bites were so bad that I broke out in hives and had to go to the ER. I'm ok now at home, but boy oh boy, that hotel's corporate office is going to hear it from me!

Meanwhile, when I came back home to Philly, it was crazy hot - 100+ degree weather two days straight! Needless to say, I was under the air conditioner most of the time :D

There were some other crazy things happening including getting readjusted to home stuff, my internet cutting off and on and going to two funerals in one day (two of my friends at home lost their parents - different people, same day - just wild). So as you can tell, lots of stuff is going on.

With that said, I think I'm going to take some time off with the blog. Not too long though - just enough time to regroup. I'm all over the place! I will schedule some posts very soon - including the trip photos :D My Etsy is still down and I'm working on some rebranding projects and new items, so get ready for that too.

Thank you all for being so patient with me and hello new followers! I'll keep the tweeting alive as much as possible too :D

No Posts!

2010-07-02T10:00:00.002-04:00

Sorry folks, no Flair Review today or Marketing Finds on Monday. I'm still on "vacay" and will resume posting either late Tuesday or early Wednesday. However, cruise around the blog and comment on anything you like! I'll be back soon :D

Innovative Gifts - The Best Of...

2010-06-29T12:30:00.041-04:00

Hello!

This week I'm showing "reruns" of Innovative Gifts due to my vacation this week. I found some nice ones and hopefully these will be fun for you to make as a DIY gift! These are in no particular order - just some of my favs :D Click on the title above each pic to visit the tutorial site and choose your next project.

Innovative Gift - Book Vase

Innovative Gift - Photoweave

Innovative Gift - Pillowcase Messenger Bag

Innovative Gift - Stenciled Onesie

Innovative Gift - Spoon Rose

Innovative Gift - Sunburst Mirror

Innovative Gift - Button Bouquet

Have fun making these! Let me know how it goes ;D

Marketing Finds - The Best Of...

2010-06-28T11:30:00.003-04:00

Hello! Hope your weekend was great!

You know how you see reruns on TV when the show is on hiatus or the cast has a break for the week? Well, that's sort of the case here - except no video here! LOL

I'm on vacation until July 5th, so I "scheduled reruns" of my Marketing Finds! series. Look for the same deal tomorrow as I "rerun" my Innovative Gifts.

So without further ado, here are some of my favorite Marketing Finds from the past few months:

* Branding

* Time Your Tweets

* Blog + Craft Business Reads

* Offline

* Social Media Searches

* Site Rankings

* The one that started it all - Marketing Finds!

I hope you enjoy these! Have fun :D

Flair Review - Neutrogena Pink Grapefruit Scrub

2010-06-25T12:00:00.001-04:00

Hello again and welcome to another Flair Review! This week, I'm focusing on facewash. This has got to be the best facewash I've had in years! Everything about Neutrogena Pink Grapefruit Foaming Scrub is great - the fruity smell, the gentle "scrubbies" and the lasting results.

I began using this last year and liked how it treated my face. I've tried other facewashes (if that's a word) before and I still had oily skin with occasional blemishes. Plus, they did not have anything natural in it - like the fruit extracts.

My face feel and look smoother and more relaxed. For anyone with oily to normal skin, you have to try it out!

* Note: I have not been paid to do this review or use these pictures. These and future reviews are my exclusive opinions. *

This post is sponsored by...

Innovative Gift - Hand Towel Tote

2010-06-22T14:40:00.000-04:00

Hand Towel Tote via Sweet Charli Boutique/ Tatertots and Jello

Awesome project for the beach-goer! I love how easy and timely it is! Check out this tutorial by Kami at Sweet Charli Boutique via Tatertots and Jello.

This post is sponsored by...

Va-cay!

2010-06-21T15:00:00.001-04:00

Starting June 25th until July 5th, I will be on vacation with some friends - but don't fret! I will schedule limited posts for you to enjoy. Feel free to browse around some older posts, some of my favorite links and even my sponsors here and here. Enjoy!

I will have little to no email access so any emails to me will be replied to when I come back during that first week of July. In the meantime, this week's posts may be posted later in the afternoon due to my packing and getting home stuff together :D

Thanks for your patience!

Marketing Finds! - Timing Yourself

2010-06-21T14:03:00.000-04:00

Hello Readers!

I apologize for the late post, but I've been so busy (you'll see why in my next post)! I found this good article about timing yourself - scheduling everything that you have to do each day. Ironic that I'm late writing this post about timing lol!

Here's a couple of articles that can help with making the best schedules for your creative business:

4 Ways to Beat the Social Media Clock by Arik Hanson of PR Breakfast Club

Time Management 101 For Creatives by Amber Jordan (Mommy the Marketer) of Etsy Momentum

Currently, I'm working on changing my schedule and finding the right one. Summer is always hectic with me and I'm trying to do good and make a schedule to stick to. Do you have a daily routine that you stick with? Tell us all in the comments section!

This post was sponsored by...

Flair Review - Jomar

2010-06-18T11:30:00.042-04:00

I absolutely love Jomar. If you have never heard of this store, visit here ~> jomarstores.com

Looking for new fabric to make a skirt? Dress? Shirt? Bag? Shoe (yes even shoe!)? How about buying ready made items for cheap? Then you must visit this wonderful place.

On Tuesday, I went to the Jomar in South Philly with my friend. I was inspired to make a skirt because she made a few dresses from fabric she found here. I always wanted to sew and make stuff, but I didn't have much of the skill and items needed to do it - like a sewing machine. So as we went inside the store, we headed to the fabric department upstairs and it was so beautiful! Ok, beautiful in a "warehouse" kind of way :D

I was overwhelmed by the different materials and colors. I saw a black stretchy lace fabric and a white stretchy fabric and thought this would be cute as an overlay skirt. Boy oh boy, did I pick the most difficult beginner's project! But I made it - with a lot of patience, help and my friend's sewing machine.

And guess what? With the extra material, I made a shrug and cami too! (Pictures coming soon!)

And to think, I bought 4 yards of fabric for $4 ($4!) and made a whole outfit to wear over and over *yay me!*

So happy. Now I must make more!

* Note: I have not been paid to do this review, use these sites, or take these pictures. These and future reviews are my exclusive opinions. *

This post was sponsored by...

Innovative Gift - White Jersey Necklace

2010-06-15T11:45:00.004-04:00

White Jersey Necklace via I Heart Jenny's Art

Wow! Make a necklace out of a t-shirt. Now how innovative is that!

Jenny from I Heart Jenny's Art has this amazing tutorial here. If you need to give a grad a cute gift but are running low on the moolah, I urge you to make this DIY gift for the jewelry/eco-friendly lover!

Marketing Finds! - Tweets for Creative Beginners

2010-06-14T11:30:00.093-04:00

Hello everyone! Welcome again to Marketing Finds!

Today is about tweeting and branding your artistic self. It's kind of a mix between my branding post from last month and my latest tweets post from last week. However, this is kind of a "Twitter 101" for creative people who are new to Twitter.

Lori from Fine Art Tips has an article called How to Brand Yourself as an Artist on Twitter. This is good for the artist/designer who is new to Twitter and wants to know how to use Twitter effectively to promote their business (and self). Reading this article also helps out the "twitter-veterans" out there too.

Another good article is a bit older, but still can apply. It's an article by an artist named Dan called 5 More Twitter-Specific Marketing Tips for Artists who Tweet. Similar to the above article, this concentrates on Twitter etiquette and how not to just tweet, tweet, tweet about your business; rather, be involved and promote others.

Have you found any success using Twitter for your creative business? Let me know!

Hey before you go, check out my newest sponsor!

Notes to Self Giveaway Winner!

2010-06-11T12:00:00.018-04:00

Who's that?

Congrats Jen!

I'll be emailing you today!

Thanks to all the entrants for your support! This giveaway was more of a success than the last and being the giver that I am, I want to give all the remaining entrants and supporters a special "thank you" gift. Expect an email from me very soon with more details!!

Flair Review - CouponCabin

2010-06-11T10:00:00.004-04:00

Hello everyone! If you're expecting the Notes to Self giveaway winner, it's coming up - don't worry!

Today's Flair Review is about the site CouponCabin. You may be thinking how in the heck does this relate to creativity/crafting/etc?

Think about it.

Where do you go to get craft items? The store. What do you use to get those lovable items? Money. Wouldn't you like to save that money, maybe even for more craft items? Yes. :D

I discovered CouponCabin sometime last year. One of my friends referred it to me and now lives by it! As the ultimate "Coupon Connie" who keeps a separate section in her wallet for coupons (as mentioned before), I enjoy using this service to get really great deals for just about everything!

I mostly use it for food, but I found that I can get amazing deals at craft shops, clothing stores and even local shops her in Philly. The best part about it is that it is free, legit, online or printable, and has a broad range of stores for everyone to search through.

Here are just a couple of crafty shop deals: M&J Trimming and JoAnn's.

I especially like that CouponCabin is connected with other discount sites like MallWalker (local mall deals), SeatCity (events and concert deals), TripFit (travel deals) and LuxGoddess (designer deals).

If you never experienced CouponCabin before, now is the time, especially in this crazy time where people are scrapping for pennies !

Enjoy and happy shopping!

* Note: I have not been paid to do this review or use these sites. These and future reviews are my exclusive opinions. *

Still Time!

2010-06-10T12:00:00.003-04:00

*UPDATE: Giveaway is now closed :-( *

Watch for the announcement of the winner tomorrow!

Hey folks!

There's still time to enter the Notes to Self Giveaway! A winner will be announced tomorrow, June 11th. You have until 11:59p EST (8:59p PST) tonight to enter for a framed print!

Do not enter on this post, but click on the link below to enter! Have fun :D

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Have You...

2010-06-09T17:15:00.000-04:00

...added your creative blog to my Blog Roll? If you haven't, go right ahead and add it on today by clicking this link!

Innovative Gift - Sunburst Mirror

2010-06-08T11:30:00.002-04:00

DIY Sunburst Mirror via Adorkable Annie

Gorgeousness!

I'm sure that's not a word, but isn't it gorgeous? I love how it was made from simple items from around the house and the craft store. Annie from Adorkable Annie shows us how to make this do-it-yourself sunburst mirror. This is a nice gift for those soon-to-be-college-bound grads who needs something to jazz up their bland dorm room.

Check out Annie's tutorial here.

Marketing Finds! - Time Your Tweets

2010-06-07T11:20:00.049-04:00

Hello everyone!

I hope your weekend was great! If you haven't already, don't forget to enter my Notes to Self Giveaway here.

Ok, ok, back to marketing.

I read this article on Marketing Vox about timing your tweets. When is the right time? In the article, there was a link to Tweet O'Clock where you can enter your Twitter name and find out where your tweets have the most activity based on your timezone. If you are one that has bunches to do and want to schedule your tweets for specific times, here are some popular tweeting programs to check out:

I especially like HootSuite because it's easy to use and it's always updated. Plus, it keeps me organized - this would be great for someone who has multiple social networks. All of them can be added within the HootSuite interface!

So if you are looking for some tweet-organization, check these out. If you use any of these (or others), tell me your opinion!

Newsletter Out Today!

2010-06-04T12:30:00.001-04:00

My first newsletter comes out today! Need marketing and business help all in one place? Sign up to receive the Biz with Flair newsletter by clicking the picture above.

Flair Review - Sidekick LX

2010-06-04T11:30:00.006-04:00

Hello everybody!

This week on the Flair Review, I'm talking cell phones.

I had a Samsung Trace back in 2006. By 2008, it was time for me to upgrade and so I upgraded to a Samsung Blast - which I loved dearly. Unfortunately, I lost it on the trolley (public transportation) last year and a deductible + two replacements later, I was forced to go back to my Trace.

But what happens?

The Trace eventually broke on me too. Just a week ago! Two important buttons broke (the * and the 0) and my sister found her very old Samsung T209 (pictured on right), with no camera, no easy texting capabilities or anything!

I admit, I am a text-o-holic and picture grabber so these were a necessity for me (isn't that sad? I remember back when cell phones were non-existent and everyone used calling cards, pay phones and *gasp* landlines exclusively). I sent a mass email to friends and family about a text-friendly, camera phone that I could borrow.

It was a blessing, because my best friend had a Sidekick LX for me - to HAVE! She has Cingular and a cool Samsung Impression so she didn't need it. So excited and still trying to work it a bit more, I love the coolness of the Sidekick LX. Very sleek and lots to do with it. Big, bright screen, nice organizer, good text capabilities and camera phone. I can charge it on the computer with my MP3 cord plus, Tetris is on it *squeee!*

I do have two drawbacks: 1) the size (a little bigger than my older phones) and 2) I have no internet plan, so I can't take full advantage of it!

Here's a nice short video from CNET explaining some features of the Sidekick LX:

Isn't it nice? I'm glad to have it!

* Note: I have not been paid to do this review or use these pictures. These and future reviews are my exclusive opinions. *

One Shoulder Ruffle Shirt

2010-06-03T12:15:00.000-04:00

This is waaay too cute and easy to do!

One-Shoulder Ruffle Shirt via Erica Domesek/Craftzine

I wanted to make this part of my Innovative Gift series, but I just couldn't wait. And it's so hot out, why not make some cute clothes? Check out this tutorial by Erica Domesek (from P.S...I Made This).

Don't forget to enter and...

Biz with Flair

2010-06-02T12:30:00.007-04:00

Want to sponsor my blog and promote your site at the same time?

Also, catch up with the latest marketing and business tips in my Biz with Flair newsletter every month! The first letter comes out this Friday (June 4th)!!

Have fun!

By the way...

Innovative Gift - Photoweave

2010-06-01T14:00:00.003-04:00

Photoweave 1 via Photojojo

I love this idea! Weave a photo to add dimension and uniqueness! I found this idea on Photojojo, where photographer Nicole Sheikh teaches us how to make one in different ways. Here's another photo:

Photoweave 2 via Photojojo

Isn't this cool??!

Check out the short tutorial here.

Speaking of framed prints, don't forget to win one by entering here!

Notes to Self Giveaway!

2010-06-01T13:00:00.028-04:00

* Giveaway now closed. Winner announced tomorrow!! *

Hello again!

It's time for a giveaway! Wooooo!!

I'm giving away one of my prints from my newest line, Notes to Self from my Etsy shop, niecynotes. Here's a few to check out:

How to enter:

Simply tell me which Note to Self you would like to win by commenting on this post! The winner receives one framed print of their choice. Nice gift for yourself or others! Unfortunately, the frames featured are for home *aww, shucks* but trust that the frame sent with your print will be cute :D

Tweet your friends (mentioning @actsofflair), comment about it and you'll get another entry!

This will end June 10th with a winner announced June 11th via Random.org.

Have fun!

Grand Things in Store!

2010-06-01T12:00:00.087-04:00

Hello everyone!

If you have been following me lately, you may have noticed that I've been talking about this big announcement and different changes happening on Random Acts of Flair and my Etsy shop, niecynotes. I'm here to announce the updates as follows:

* You know how I offer different marketing strategies every Monday (Marketing Finds!)? Well, I'm going to take a step further and offer a monthly newsletter called Biz with Flair. In this newsletter, you will find previous marketing posts, a featured business site, questions from readers and much more! Sign up for it here.

* Would you like to sponsor my blog? Crafty people who has an Etsy, Artfire, or other handmade site can email me or take a look at the Biz with Flair page to check out the details. For bloggers, get free advertising by adding your blog on the Blog Roll.

* Since I have a bunch of things lined up for the blog, I felt I needed to shake things up for my Etsy shop, niecynotes. Well, I'm pleased to announce a special newsletter dedicated to niecynotes. In this biweekly newsletter, you will find special discounts, news, and even giveaways! Sign up for that here.

* Speaking of giveaways, I am also pleased to host a special giveaway featuring my newest line of Notes to Self. The giveaway post is coming up after this - so look out!

I'm so excited and I know this may be coming so quickly for you, but take your time. Relax and explore everything at your own pace. I want to thank all my readers for everything and keeping up with me. I told you this would be grand!

Big Things Coming!

2010-05-31T14:00:00.002-04:00

Hey, if you've been following my tweets and/or read my post from last week, you'll remember that I mentioned a big announcement coming June 1st! Just a reminder: be here tomorrow!

Ok, now go back to relaxing on this off-day Monday :D

Marketing Finds! - Blog + Craft Business Reads

2010-05-31T11:00:00.001-04:00

This is actually a continuation from last post about marketing and business reads. Boy oh boy, I have found some great info!

How to Keep Your Blog Active - Stay Organized While Blogging: Seven Simple Steps via Handmade Marketing
Are you a bit on the unorganized side? Maybe you have way too much to do? This is a MUST read. I looked at this article and I thought well, I do some of these anyway. What's the benefit? Then I saw the last tip: Give yourself a blogging timeframe. That, my friend, is what I need to practice! I can stare at the computer for hours, but when it comes to doing other things, I slip because I'm so wrapped up in what-to-do-next-on-the-blog mode. Don't get me wrong, I love to blog. But when it comes to the point of thinking about it constantly, it's gone to a new level. Have any of you experienced this? If so, take a look at this article and recharge your batteries!

Writing Posts and Articles to Support Your Crafts via Glue Gun Crafts with Craftzilla
Want to show off your crafts on a blog but not sure where to start? Check this article out as it highlights the use of keywords and special descriptions to get your site noticed on the search engines. It's a very detailed and simplified article that really helps. There's even directions on how to utilize those little header tags for post titles - so it could look like this:

Big Post Title

Little Post Title

Newsletter Art Marketing Tips that Work! via Lori McNee at Fine Art Tips
Now this is something to think about: newsletters. Anyone thinking about starting a newsletter for their blog or crafty business should take a look at this. Lori's friend Brian shares his newsletter campaign promoting his fine art - with only four steps. Four! One thing I took note of was the very particular goals he set up in making this a successful campaign.

Great reads all around! Which did you like? Which was the most helpful for you?

Flair Review - Apple Champagne

2010-05-28T11:00:00.058-04:00

Doesn't that sound good?

Sorry to break it to you, but I'm not talking about the drink (aw man *fingersnap*). Rather, I'm going to review a really cool Etsy shop with extra cute stuff! Yes, AppleChampagne has just about everything in shop - jewelry, prints, paper goods, and even mystery grab bags. I recently purchased a pair of earrings from them and I looove them!

These are Hexagon Silver Mesh Earrings and they are a little over 2" in length.

As you can see, they are a work of art. How they wrap this wire around it must have taken some work and patience. Here's a close up of them.

Aren't these the cutest?! I haven't had the chance to wear them yet, but I figure that these would look nice with a frilly top, some denim bermuda shorts or regular jeans and some ballet flats (cooler colors like blue or brights like yellow would be nice to mix up with). Actually, these would look nice with a solid color dress - not too dressy though. I'm thinking Old Navy dressy like this or this.

When I received these in the mail, I thought it would be pretty small, but check out this comparison:

Yup, it's floss. Well a floss container. If you think about it, doesn't the design remind you of metal floss wrapped around a hexagon? LOL

There's a matching necklace that I am thinking about getting as well, so I think I better hurry up and get it! AppleChampagne has so many more products in store + discounts + free shipping, I am sure you would go crazy like I have :D

* Note: I have not been paid to do this review or take these pictures. These and future reviews are my exclusive opinions. *

I've Been M.I.A ...

2010-05-28T09:30:00.002-04:00

...and I apologize to all my readers and fellow tweeters! So much has been happening this week! Actually, it began last Saturday when my sister was in a car accident. She has some neck and back strain, but she'll be ok though. She's off work for a week (which is always good) and I, as well as my family, have been with her in "shifts" so to speak helping her out with the kids and housework - and making sure she gets rest (she's one of those "do-everything" mommies - but who isn't, huh?)!

This may continue throughout next week, so I'm going to schedule some posts ahead of time and keep posted with your comments. I will be here on June 1st when I'll announce my big announcement so stay tuned for that :D

So, thanks for your patience!

Life happens... lol

Innovative Gift - Pillowcase Messenger Bag

2010-05-25T10:30:00.004-04:00

Pillow Cover to Messenger Bag via Living with Punks

How cute is this!

This is a great gift for a new grad going to college! Actually, this is just a great summer gift for any bag wearer (I'm sure you can make this "mannish" for a guy with the right fabric and style :D). I found this tutorial at Living with Punks and Susan does a really great job - so easy to make!

Check out how to make this here.

Marketing Finds! - Business Reads

2010-05-24T11:00:00.003-04:00

Hello everyone! Thanks for stopping by! This week on Marketing Finds!, I'm going to highlight a few good business reads I found. Here's a list I compiled:

* How to Effectively Use Social Media to Market Your Business (by Diane Gilleland -aka Sister Diane)
I read this and was like WOW. Such a good read. Basically, Diane says that the best way to market your business is through relationship building or "engagement marketing." When you announce a new item in shop, don't just say "Just Listed" - tell the consumer a story. There's more great advice, so check it out!

* How to Market Your Small Business with No Budget (By Bantam Live, via Mashable
Bantam Live, a social media agency lists four strategies that social media marketers use to build their online presence - with little to no money.
     ~> Become an Expert
     ~> Cultivate Super Users
     ~> Ensure People Can Find You on the Web
     ~> Offer Ad-Funded Payment Options
More detail as to what these are and how they can help you can be found in the article.

* Build A Better "About" Page (by Sarah on Makery)
Another eye-opening article. I'm still working on this, hoping that everyone accepts mine lol. Very good article about setting up an "about" page on either a blog or a selling site like Etsy. It's very easy to fall into the trap of explaining your life story, but Sarah says if it doesn't fit in with the blog, then you've lost your reader. Another big thing about this page is that it tells the reader what they are supposed to do - become a loyal reader, subscribe to a newsletter, or purchase something from your shop. I suggest any online blogger and/or seller to read this article carefully!

These are just a few reads I stumbled upon. What are your thoughts?

Who Knew...

2010-05-21T18:44:00.000-04:00

...I would've won my first Blog Award today? *yay*

I was home, left for a long while and came back to find this :D

I've been honored for the Trendy Blog Award by Christin from Pregnant...with Power Tools! Thanks so much! I do appreciate it :D

Really, I want to thank everyone for their support - my family, friends and definitely my readers! You all help sustain the flair in this blog lol

Now allow me to share the love (and the rules):

* To receive this award, promise to share this with 10 other BLOGS that you think are Trendy too.
* Post about your award in your blog.
* List your Top 10 Trendy Blogs.
* Share with them.
* Leave a link to the Trendy Blog Button.
* Tell them they need to give this award out to 10 as well.

My ten are...

CaitiDid Designs - Caiti has some very interesting reads here. Whether it's about life, about the newest book or interesting food she found, it's always something to look forward to!

Crochet Spot - Love the versatile patterns and the crochet help! Rachel is so helpful and such a creative and patient person. I'm so sure creating these patterns took a bunch of time.

How About Orange - Great designs and crafts - not to mention, "freebies" lol Plus, what's not to love about orange? Jessica does a great job with her creative posts and design work. Oh and I love her TimeWasters posts - so funny!

Tatertots & Jello - The name is just priceless! Love the crafty info from this blog. Jen also offers lots of good tutorials for everyone (with great picture directions).

Crush. - Always there to promote, promote, promote! Lots of Etsy goodies and giveaways found here, not to mention her own huge Blogmania giveaway in September!

Delia Creates - I adore the photos here. Her posts are always simple and to the point - with the added pictures. Delia is such a great photographer!

The Wug's Backyard BlogSpot - Very inspiring and encouraging stories and poems here :D I always like hearing about life stories of others and Debbie always add a piece of flair in every post with a summarizing poem.

I Am Momma - Hear Me Roar - I love this name too - and the banner! Really good craft ideas here with great picture directions :D

DillyDally and Flitter - Creativity is spread all around this blog - you'll see bangles in one placeand upcycled tutorials in another - check it out :D

Salty Pineapple - Always something new and fun on this blog. The mix of Utah with a Hawaiian twist adds flair in her projects. Very creative indeed!

Boy, I wish I could give more blogs this award (why is the limit only 10?).

Flair Review - ShineBlast

2010-05-21T11:30:00.069-04:00

Last week, I mentioned my love for smooth shea butter and discussed Belle Butter's brand. This week, I'm talking about lipgloss. Yes, lipgloss.

This one is actually from Covergirl - it's the ShineBlast. I received this and a ShadowBlast free about two weeks ago from this survey I'm taking. I'm a BzzAgent ("buzz agent").

Before I get to my review, let me explain what a BzzAgent is. BzzAgent is a word-of-mouth marketing service that uses the consumer to rate products. If you are a BzzAgent (a consumer) you get to try different products based on the level of "honeycombs" (your participation on the site) you earn. It's pretty cool if you ask me. This Covergirl survey is the second one I've participated in.

Speaking of, let's go back to the review!

So I got this ShineBlast lipgloss and I really like it! Very smooth, non-sticky and it glides on very nicely. When I first opened it, it smelled like candy!

Then I noticed the little ridges on the applicator which holds a good amount of gloss.

I did think there would be more color. I have the Smolder color and to me it's best to apply on top of plum or berry colored lipstick.

I haven't tried the ShadowBlast just yet - I'm waiting to get all dressed up to try that out :D Overall, I give this a "thumbs up" and a "try-it-out" lol. Do you have a favorite makeup item you like?

* Note: I have not been paid to do this review or take these pictures. These and future reviews are my exclusive opinions. *

New in the Shop: Grad Stuff

2010-05-18T13:30:00.001-04:00

Based on my commencement post yesterday, I am in a "happy graduation" mood. So how about a party?

If you are having a party for your grad or having your own grad party, check out some invitations I'm offering on Etsy:

U R Invtd Grad Invites

Know a rapid text messager who speaks, write and acts out in text language? Ok, maybe not "act." In any case, this is great for a new grad who is ready to celebrate!

Invited Grad Invites

Another invite for the bold. Big bold green "invited" signals that you are invited to something special. Great for those "straight talkers" who wants to tell you the who, what, where.

Class of 2010 Invites

A basic invite for those who aren't interested in too many frills. Simple star design with Class of 2010 in an airbrush font and cute little mortarboard/tassle combo on the zero!

Now for any party, there are always gifts. Why not add a gift tag!

Congrats, Superstar Gift Tag

This tag comes in threes and is adorned with a ribbon to wrap around a gift or gift bag. Instead of writing on a small tag on a bag, use the full 2" x 3" card to write your special message!

Wonderful Person Gift Tag

Another gift tag for the wonderful grad in your life! Still in sets of three, you can send these to more than one grad or save them for another gift!

I hope you enjoyed these! Feel free to check out more over at niecynotes.etsy.com. More items are coming soon!

Innovative Gift - Stenciled Onesie

2010-05-18T11:30:00.002-04:00

Yesterday in my post, I mentioned that I saw a lot of baby stuff at the art fair on Sunday. Onesies, t-shirts, stuffed animals and so much more. So I figured, why not feature an innovative gift for babies! Yeah! And so I found this:

Stenciled Onesie via Rookie Moms

The "Rookie Moms" Whitney and Heather dub this "the easiest ever baby shower gift" - and looking at the directions, it is! For anyone searching for baby shower gifts, buy a pack of onesies and make these. Wrap them up nice and mom will never know you made them (unless you tell them - now that would ruin the fun *heehee*). Check out the short tutorial over at Rookie Moms here.

Hey if you would like me to feature your crafty tutorial or item as a "Innovative Gift", just shoot me an email at missddt(at)gmail(dot)com. Always looking for unique DIY ideas!

Commencement

2010-05-17T13:30:00.001-04:00

 commencement [kəˈmɛnsmənt](n): the beginning; start

Ahh, what a time. I can't believe it's been exactly two years since I graduated college! Wow!

Photo by Jim Graham, 2008 (Flickr)

It was May 17, 2008. I touched the grounds of Widener University for the last time. For some reason, I was a bit nervous - don't know why. I went through three previous graduations already! But I was so happy and excited about that day. And it could not have been a better day either - the sun was shining, the air was crisp and everyone was in a great mood.

This past weekend, Widener had it's graduation and I'm so proud of those graduates. Really, I'm proud of any graduate. It's a great accomplishment! Four years can go by so fast and you really feel that you "know-it-all" when you leave :-) Seriously, no one "knows-it-all" and life can be unexpected...

I graduated with a degree in Communication Studies concentrating in Public Relations and Advertising. Three months before I left, I really had no clue about what I was going to do afterward. At that point, I just wanted to leave - my schedule was hectic since there was a mix-up with my credit status (meaning I had 6 classes + 1 internship + a huge senior project which was not the best) and some of the people around me was not making my situation any easier. AT ALL. So once I graduated, I took a "normal" retail job until I found my "perfect" job. I did find it 7 months later - unfortunately, 9 months after, I was laid off.

So now what?

Well, I'm still asking that question. At one point, I thought my degree was a waste because I didn't get to do the things I wanted to do with it. But you don't always get what you want - at least the first time :D After a series of events and reflection, I'm much better now. There was no point of being mad or sad about something that was out of my control - especially with this economy! Recently, I've been freelancing, working on my online design business and writing to all of you! That should compensate for something huh?

So all those 2010 grads, congrats! Enjoy your life and make the best of it! If things don't work out like you planned it to be, that's life LOL! No really, if things don't work out as planned, find alternatives and don't stress. Everything will roll into place and sometimes it's something you would not have expected.

Marketing Finds! - Page Load Tools

2010-05-17T11:15:00.001-04:00

Hello everyone! It's Monday - time for Marketing Finds!

This week, we will discuss page load time tools. Don't you hate going to a site that takes so long to load? Then what do you do - cut it off and on to the next website, right? Think about this: what if your site was a slow loader? If you have a website of any sort, I suggest using these tools to manage your load time and make sure no web traffic is affected!

I found three main tools - free tools at that - to test your page's load time:

* Pingdom Tools - tools.pingdom.com
One of the easiest and most visual, this site lists the load times in a colorful graph. All you have to do is enter your URL (found on the address bar) and the bar graph with explanations pop up. All links, images and scripts for that particular page is analyzed and shown so you can pinpoint and make changes. Great site for the visual learner :D

* Web Page Analyzer - http://www.websiteoptimization.com/services/analyze/
Another great load tool, this is more wordy and number-y if you like that. Even though it's a little techy, this lists the download time for those with 56K and T1 internet bandwidth connections. This also gives you exact recommendations for your page.

* Website Speed Test - www.iwebtool.com/speed_test
Very simple test. All this does is list the time of page download. You can enter up to 10 URLs at one time BUT you are only allowed 5 free test requests. So if you enter 10 URLs, test it, then click off the browser window and reopened it to test another URL, you already used 2 requests.

So, are you ready? Test your site out!

Art Star Craft Bazaar - Updates + Pics!

2010-05-17T09:30:00.005-04:00

Hey everyone,

It's a little early, I know, but I just have to show you what happened during the Art Star Craft Bazaar yesterday. Here are the pics with respective links to shops!

There was a guy playing an accordion right at the entrance. Kinda weird he was sleeveless...

There was a nice crowd of folks going to different crafters, especially on a Sunday!

Beautiful ceramics from Amy Esther

Cute assortment of monsters from Phil Barbato!

I just had to take a pic of this little guy - too cute. And these crafters were making more on site!

Lots of great things here at Louella Press via Two Paperdolls

Speaking of letters and such, look at these designs from PepperSprouts

She even has coasters and felt!

Ladies, you would love this - it's like a "fanny pack" but modern and fashionable from Yellowcake

If the accordion man wasn't good enough for you, how about this band - The Invisible Friends

And you know I couldn't leave Penn's Landing without a pic of the Delaware River and Camden Waterfront!

All in all, I had a great time! You kind of had to be an artsy, crafty person to enjoy it in full. I went with my older brother who is a designer and businessman so we were in the same "mind frame," as it were. I saw some really cool things there and some not so cool/cost ridiculously high things (someone tried to sell a stuffed crochet animal for $400 - and expect to sell it at an outside craft fair - mmm...sorry). Oddly enough, there were a lot of people selling stuffed monsters and animals, baby shirts and onesies. Even ones with skulls and crossbones on it LOL.

I would attend this again and if you missed it, I hoped you enjoyed the pics and try to make it next time!

Flair Review - Belle Butters

2010-05-13T16:52:00.001-04:00

I love shopping.

Not only am I a shopper, but a coupon clipper too (I keep a certain section in my wallet separate for coupons). I'm affectionately called "Coupon Connie" by my sister - not sure who "Connie" is, but she sure knows how to shop! It's gotten so bad that I influenced my friend to use coupons and now she has three store cards and faithfully uses coupons to shop and buy items really cheap. Recent example: she bought two pairs of flip-flops, five shirts, two pairs of sunglasses, earrings and a ring for $12 for goodness sake!

I admit, I created this monster.

Ok, so where am I getting at here? Well, since I have a small shopping "addiction," I figured I'd review some of the items I bought from certain retailers and sellers and share it with the world every Friday (I pushed the button too early since it's Thursday, but in any case, let me know if you like this series or not in your comments!). My first Flair Review goes to Belle Butters, an Etsy shop run by Tasha (mstashab) that sells handmade body butters with the main ingredient being shea butter.

I have eczema on my forearm bends - sorry I don't know the "politically correct" name for it, so I guess I'll say my "elbow". On top of that, I discovered that I have sensitive skin like my mom. What?! So I looked for different lotions and a bunch of them said "with shea butter" or "with oatmeal" or "with cocoa butter." After buying expensive medicated lotions - which worked for a while and hurt my wallet - I decided to look for natural alternatives.

Since I saw so many lotions with shea butter, I bought some from the local street vendors and beauty supply stores here in Philly but they were so hard to take out of the container! I literally had to press my fingers down to grab hold of it. I know that is the texture for real shea butter, but I wanted soft shea butter so I researched online and found Belle Butters.

My Whipped Shea Butter (home pic) from Belle Butters

Tasha sells this wonderful Whipped Shea Butter and I fell in LOVE! It's so soft, so smooth and you can almost hear the air bubbles when you grab hold of some. It made my skin so moisturized, I don't even have to reapply any more later in the day.

Check out the texture here! (home pic)

I am a definite follower of this stuff and I look forward to buying more - especially her Mango Moisture Butter and Double Agent Butter. All of her products are for skin and hair and has various natural oils that adds to the moisture benefits.

Close up of my butter - you can see it's used! (home pic)

So if you haven't had a chance, visit her shop and find your fav!

* Note: I have not been paid to do this review or take these pictures. These and future reviews are my exclusive opinions. *

Art Star Craft Bazaar

2010-05-13T10:00:00.000-04:00

It's coming! The Art Star Craft Bazaar that is. Well, it's going to be here in Philly this weekend, so if you live near or planning to visit Philadelphia, PA, come check it out!

Where: Penn's Landing on Columbus Boulevard between Walnut Street and Chestnut Street

Date/Time: Sat. May 15th and Sun. May 16th from 11a - 6p

What is it? It's an outdoor arts and craft show in which crafty people sell their products to the public while being juried by the Art Star Gallery and Boutique (the sponsors). There will be music, food and giveaways! It's going to be beautiful this weekend and all those crafty things and the view of the Delaware River will make it especially appealing :D Plus, it's great for the whole family!

I'm going to have a very busy Saturday so I'm going to try to make it on Sunday. I can't wait - this will be my first craft show I've ever attended and I wish I was a part of it with my crafty things. That's ok though, I just hope I have enough moolah to buy things lol. In any case, here is some more info on the event!

Hope you can make it too!

Innovative Gift - Domokun iPod Nano Case

2010-05-12T11:00:00.004-04:00

Domokun iPod Nano Case via Anna G.

This is too cute, especially for the music lover. I found this on Cut Out and Keep, a site where crafters share their tutorials. This particular one was created by a user name Anna G. She has some other great tutorials so check them out as well! All in all, if you're looking for a great gift for a new graduate (hint, hint, the music lover) then this may be it! Take a look at the tutorial here.

Hey if you would like me to feature your crafty tutorial or item as a "Innovative Gift", just shoot me an email at missddt(at)gmail.com.

A Few Updates

2010-05-10T16:16:00.000-04:00

Hey, just want to update everyone with a few updates on the blog:

* I changed the nav bar just a bit - adding "Shop" (on Niecynotes) and "Blog Roll" buttons. On the bottom of the blog is my "Contact" button where you can ask me any question directly.

* I have a blog roll! Click on the Blog Roll button on the nav bar or "Check these bloggers out" button on the left to insert your blog and see other cool ones.

* On the right panel, you'll see a BlogFrog button. I have a small community, but more members are coming by. If you're interested, stop by :D

* Temporarily, I took off Facebook, but it will come back soon. Just want to experiment on a few things.

Like I mentioned before, this is a work in progress! More updates coming soon!

Marketing Finds! - APIs

2010-05-10T12:16:00.000-04:00

Hello everyone! I hope your weekend was beautiful!!

Now you may be looking at this week's post title and wondering:

1) What the heck is an API?
2) How does it relate to marketing?

Well, allow me to explain - in the best way possible :D

An API is an application programming interface. What? Basically it is a set of tasks and rules that allows a computer program (like software) to function and make it easier to use for the user. They are usually called "apps." Ohhh, ok.

Here are the top 5 APIs (according to ProgrammableWeb):
* Google Maps
* Flickr
* Youtube
* Twitter
* Amazon eCommerce

Have you used any of these? Aren't they easy to use? Don't they serve a purpose to help you in some way? So how does it relate to marketing?

The obvious apps to help you with marketing are Twitter, YouTube, Flickr, Facebook and even Blogger and other blogging services. It is so easy to post something, add a link and send it off to the world to bring in customers or readers. Isn't that cool?

Over the weekend, I saw this Etsy API service called Tools4Etsy. Really, I found it by accident. I was just Googling my Etsy shop and found that is was connected to this site. Then I found out that it lists just about everything on it! From who "hearted" your shop to your number of sales to "who's hot" to "what's hot" and more! I thought it was kind of scary at first but then I realized this is a good marketing opportunity. You can learn about your shop, how it compares, what to fix/keep, and how to promote. They have advertising opportunities on the site, so if you're interested, check it out.

So now do you get the whole API thing and how it helps you? I hope you say yes ;-)

What do you think? I want to hear...err, uh, see your lovely words :D

Drumroll Please

2010-05-07T00:09:00.001-04:00

Number 6

lilDdownunder!

Congrats!! Contact me via email and let me know which invite from niecynotes you would like to have (along with colors and info)!

To everyone, thank you for entering my first giveaway! Surely, more of these will come in the future. Oh, and I love all of your comments, by the way :D

Unanimous Craft + Last Day for Giveaway!

2010-05-06T10:00:00.001-04:00

Has anyone heard of this? It's a site called Unanimous Craft and it is for all "indie" (independent) sellers and crafty people - whether you are on Etsy, Artfire, Big Cartel, your own site, or even a blog! A member can submit resources (those sites), rate it and review it free of charge. There is a premium account for $10 but you can still do a good amount of stuff without paying. And guess what? If you get enough good ratings, you can be featured on the home page - isn't that cool? So check it out when you get a chance :D

Oh, and today is the last day of my blogiversary giveaway! I'm giving away a set of 20 invitations of your choice from my Etsy shop, Niecynotes. So click on the button below to enter by 11:59p EST tonight! I'll announce a winner tomorrow (so exciting!!) via Random.org. Tell your friends!

Innovative Gift - Spoon Rose

2010-05-05T12:00:00.003-04:00

Spoon Rose via Can't Stop Making Things

Ok, I have seen this post everywhere and think it is the coolest thing ever! Make a rose out of plastic spoons - that's right, plastic spoons. This can be transformed to a brooch, a hair pin or even a gift topper. This lady is talented! Check out the tutorial by Gail at Can't Stop Making Things.

And don't forget to...

BREAKING NEWS! GIVEAWAY EXTENSION!

2010-05-03T18:25:00.000-04:00

There's new info on my Blogiversary giveaway - it has been extended until FRIDAY MAY 7TH.

I want to be nice and fair and give everyone a chance to win this. Free personalized invites are great to win and I don't want to limit it to just 3 days. I want to help you out! Baby showers, engagement dinners, housewarmings and more parties are coming up!

Enter the giveaway through this link and scroll down to the bottom of post to view the entry data.

~ PLEASE DO NOT ENTER ON THIS POST OR IT WON'T BE COUNTED! ~

The official winner will be announced on Friday, May 7th and picked via Random.org.

Have fun everyone!

Marketing Finds! - Branding

2010-05-03T11:00:00.052-04:00

Hello everyone! Hope you had a good weekend! I surely am as I am hosting my first giveaway in honor of my 3 month Blogiversary *yay* If you didn't get a chance, enter today to win 20 personalized invites from moi after this post :D

Ok, now to marketing!

Lately, I've noticed a few blogs that are changing their design. For example:

Trendy Treehouse:

Button Before and After

The Girl Creative:

Header Before

Header After

I'm sure there are more blogs doing the same thing, as I am working on a new "branding campaign" myself. So what is branding anyway? How does it affect marketing strategies and what are the benefits?

(Warning: I'm going to sound like my college prof in the next few sentences)
"Branding is the BIG IDEA *waving arms in circular motion* of what you offer to the table! It is your identifying mark - the thing that makes you differ from the big guy. It is your consumers perception of your product or service. Perception is KEY and you can live by it or die by it!"

Yes, Carolyn (my professor) was a bit wild, but she explained it well - arm movements and all.

Branding is important and is the identifying mark of your product/service - whether a blog or online shop. In order for it to work, you must deliver what you promise to bring "to the table." So your name, logo, slogan/tagline (if you have one), product/service must all coincide with one another. This will make you even more credible. If you have this at least, congratulations - this is your brand :D Here are the parts and benefits of a good brand:

* Clear message
* Credibility
* Connection with target audience
* Consumer motivation
* Creation of brand loyalty

I actually did not intend for the five C's but it worked out :-)

Think about some brands out there. What restaurant has gold arches? What drink has a red, white and blue circle? Who has that logo with red and white circles? Of course, you know these as McDonald's, Pepsi and Target. Did you have to think hard? Do you have a emotional bond with them? Are they credible resources?

Let's go back to Trendy Treehouse and The Girl Creative. Both of them have a few things in common -

* Creative (of course)
* Look is cohesive with their message (sharing crafty things and helping others; Trendy ~> handmade products and promos and Girl ~> blog design/"secrets" and promos)
* Clean-cut designs that focuses on the content of their respective messages
* Consumer (or in this case, reader) loyalty - check out the followers!
* Allows reader to be motivated by something or to do something (from cool crafts to "follow me on Twitter")

There is a bit more to branding than just cohesiveness. Check out these blog posts here and here from Handmaiden by Sharon about branding your blog and craft business.

Enjoy :D

Things Are A'brewin'

2010-05-02T10:00:00.002-04:00

Hey there! How is everyone?

First, I want to thank all my followers - old and new - for following me! I really do appreciate it and I am inspired to write creative things everyday because of you. *awwww*

So, from my last post, you saw that I made a few changes with the design and I added a Facebook Fan Page AND I have a great giveaway for 20 personalized invitations (don't forget to enter)!

In addition, I'm going to begin some "renovation" work on Random Acts of Flair throughout May. That's one of the reasons I have been promoting the survey on the top left panel. I want to see what you - the people - want from this blog :D By early June, I expect to have some improvements in areas and some great add-ons for you to have (like freebies and giveaways! lol).

Expect some things to be "a'brewin" in May!

Special Announcements!

2010-05-01T00:00:00.003-04:00

** FOR GIVEAWAY SCROLL TO BOTTOM **

Hello all!

If you followed my tweet yesterday about my special announcements coming up today, thanks for coming by!

It's been almost three months since I wrote my first post back in February on this blog. I always wanted to have a blog because I love to write, be creative and help people in the process. In honor of that, I wanted to share some new changes on Random Acts of Flair!

For starters, you see a new post border (the red flowers) underneath this post and a new signature - simple changes to spruce things up. How about the right sidebar - what do you see there? Yes, that's right, it's a new button for my Facebook Fan page! I am officially on FB and you can join in the fun! On Facebook, I will post new pics, display some Niecynotes items for sale, and have other cool things for you to enjoy. I'm still working out the kinks, but surely by the end of this month, you will see improvements :D

And here's the biggie - I am hosting my first GIVEAWAY from my shop niecynotes! After all that excitement yesterday with Blogmania, I figured, "hey, this is fun! I think I want to try it out myself." Sooo, if you haven't checked it out, here are some of the things I offer in my shop:

Packs of 3 Gift Tags

Mini Notepads

And even invitations!

Like what you see? Win some of it!

I am offering a set of 20 personalized invitations (whichever one you like and with envelopes) for you! Here's how to enter:

Comment on the item you like on niecynotes and link it in your comment ~ 1 entry

Extra entries!! (very optional)
Follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway (leave a comment and let me know) ~ 1 entry

Follow my blog on a Reader, Email, Google Connect and tell me here ~ 1 entry

If you already do some of these things still let me know :D

The winner will be picked via Random.org and will be announced on Friday, May 7th!

To everyone, thanks for reading and celebrating my 3-month blogiversary with me!

Have fun!

It's Here!

2010-04-30T00:01:00.000-04:00

Blogmania that is! What is it? Well only the biggest giveaway event!

As mentioned last week and yesterday, my bookmarks are up for grabs in this event through crush.blog. Follow the button on the bottom to view the other 27 Etsy items and enter!

All you have to do is say "hi" to Crush and you're entered! If you bought anything from any of the sponsor shops during this past week, you have a second entry automatically entered *yay*

And how about this: I am offering a way cool deal in my Etsy shop, niecynotes. Convo me the code BM10 and receive 25% off any order! Yes, you saw right, 25% off. NO MINIMUM ORDER.

The code only last until 11:59p EST (or 8:59p for you West Coasters out there), so hurry!

Check out the fun by clicking the giveaway button below:

Boy oh boy, I'm real excited! All this giveaway talk is making me feel really generous (hint, hint)...

Get Ready

2010-04-29T12:00:00.001-04:00

Tomorrow is a big day for bloggers, Etsy sellers, and blog readers - it's Blogmania!

Last week, I mentioned that my bookmark was being featured as a giveaway item on Crush.Blog. I also mentioned that I would have a HUGE surprise for everyone. Well, here it goes:

Tomorrow, from 12:01a EST to 11:59p EST (or 9:01 PST tonight to 8:59p PST tomorrow), I am offering a 25% discount for any order in my shop, NiecyNotes! No minimum order required! All you have to do is convo me the code BM10 before you order and 25% of your order will be cut! *yay*

So be prepared! New items will be added today and I'll tweet reminders throughout the day!

Happy shopping :D

Balloon Pops!

2010-04-29T00:01:00.000-04:00

Over the weekend, I was part of a decorating "team" for a rainbow/balloon/kids party. My sister, our friend and I were in charge of making balloon pops. The "lead decorator", Barbara, (love her to death!) thought about this cute idea.

I quickly took pics on my cell phone - excuse the quality

Sorry I don't have picture directions, but if you had to make over 100 of these little guys, you would forget to take pictures too :D But to make these, here's what you need:

* Lollipops, like Tootsie Pops or Dum-Dums

* Tissue Paper

* Ribbon (we used the paper-y kind)

First, cut the tissue paper in squares, just enough to cover over the lollipop
Next, wrap them up ( I kind of twisted them, similar to the actual wrapper)
Then, tie a ribbon around the twisted part

There you have it - Balloon Pops!
By the way, everyone loved them *yay*

I'm linking up with House of Hepworths

Join her first party!

Innovative Gift - Felt Dahlia Corsage Brooch

2010-04-28T13:25:00.000-04:00

Lately, I've been on this flower craze. It's all over my blog, can't you tell? I'm also loving the brooch idea. So what did I find?

Felt Dahlia Corsage Brooch by Megan Reardon

Pretty isn't it? I found it through OnePrettyThing on Holidash.com and it was by Megan Reardon. The project is slated for Mother's Day, but really it can be for anytime! Imagine if there were alternating colors - wouldn't that be pretty too?

I love it because it's easy and cheap to make. People, it's made with felt - probably the cheapest craft item you'll find in a Michaels, JoAnn's or AC Moore (literally in the cents). There's no excuse not to make it :D Check out Megan's tutorial and make it yourself!

Have fun!

Marketing Finds! - Offline

2010-04-26T11:25:00.004-04:00

Hey everybody! Hope you had a great weekend!

Welcome to the 5th installment of Marketing Finds! For my new readers, every Monday you will find very helpful tips in promoting a business or site. In this post, I'll discuss using offline strategies to boost your exposure online. Yes, it sounds a little ironic, but you'll understand after the post :D

Some of these ideas were taken from my Want to Freelance post way back in February. Others were things I found or experienced during the weekend:

Make a business card - If you don't have one by now, get one ASAP! Yes, it is the techie age and everything and almost everyone is online and may even have LinkedIn, but haven't you always been told to write everything down? A business card lists everything about your business - name, logo, pictures (if any), website, sales/discount, Twitter/Facebook, blog - EVERYTHING on one little matte coated 2" x 3.5" card. It's a summary of your business and the more creative it is, the more impressed the receiver is. Even if the person you give the card to loses it, you never know who may find it, view your site and become your next reader and/or customer.

Participate in trade shows/craft shows/seminars - Lots of networking involved no matter where you are. People get to see you face-to-face and get to know the real you, not just the one who has a bunch of tweets or the one who has the most interesting and creative blog posts. It may sound a bit scary to introverts (like me) but it really can be helpful. In these environments, you represent what your brand is and you even learn some things that may help you in the future.

The obvious: Word of mouth - Word of mouth advertising is the most effective advertising out there. Think about it: did someone suggest a great clothing store to you just because they had an enjoyable time there or has anyone suggested a favorite coffee or recipe that you now have as a staple in your home? Now put it into marketing your blog or business.

Tell others about what you are doing - are you writing a blog about saving money? About taking great photos? Are you selling the prettiest jewelry that would be nice for weddings or are you selling those bold wall decals that will look great in someone's living room? Tell people about this and if done right, I guarantee some interest will be peaked!

Experience that just happened last week (using 2 out of the 3 above)

I told my sister about my niecynotes business and gave her a business card. One of her friends at work has a catering business that he wants to promote and she brought out my card. He needs business cards because he said "Hey I need business cards." So now I'm on the road to making business cards. *yay*

See how offline marketing can still be effective? There's more to this offline marketing business, but that's for a future post :D.

Tell me, what are your offline marketing techniques?

What Are Your Thoughts?

2010-04-25T23:44:00.000-04:00

Hello everyone!

I first want to thank my new followers for following me here and/or on Twitter. I followed a few new blogs myself over the weekend and am continuing to look at more as I go along :D

I am thinking about changing some things around and I want to get your thoughts on the matter. Sooo, that is why I posted a new button leading to a short survey:

This is to provide a better blogging experience for you. I apologize for sounding like some "big-time" corporation hounding for responses lol! No, really I do want to add and subtract a few things and to get to know my readers a little bit better. If that isn't enough incentive for you, there is a reward at the end of the survey *yay*

So to take the survey, click the button above or on the right panel. Thanks so much!

Blogmania Giveaway!

2010-04-23T00:26:00.001-04:00

Hi everyone!

I wanted to remind you of the big giveaway next Friday (April 30th) over at crush.blog - Blogmania. My bookmark (on right) is featured as one of the 27 (and counting) prizes up for grabs on the blog!

This isn't just any bookmark either. Have you ever read a good book, and wanted to remember your favorite chapters? Well with this bookmark, you can write on the back and keep it in your book! There will be three of these little guys for all of your fav books. To win these bookmarks and many other great Etsy finds, all you have to do is say "hi" to Crush on the 30th and you're entered!

The items are wonderful and if I wasn't featured, I would definitely enter this giveaway! Lots of cool Etsy shops are being featured, so enter, enter, enter!

And for those who love a deal, I have a special one for my entire Etsy shop, niecynotes, only on that day. I won't say anything until the day gets closer (heehee). All I can say is that it is HUGE.

24 hours + 27 items = 1 winner

Will it be you?

My Newest Project: Toilet Paper Roll Art

2010-04-21T19:14:00.000-04:00

For the past month or so, I have been collecting toilet paper and paper towel rolls for a future crafting project. My creative instincts just knew that saving these bad boys would spring up a crafty idea. So far, I've collected about 15 rolls (and counting)!

Then just yesterday, I found this - Recycled Wall Art from Homemade Mamas.

Recycled Wall Art via Homemade Mamas

The design on the wall is made from toilet paper rolls! *Yay* They were inspired by another post by Growing Up Creative. Look at theirs:

via Flickr

via Flickr

O-M-G! I am loving this!!!

So I will make this very soon. I'm debating on whether I want to collect more rolls or not. In any case, I definitely have to hit up Michaels or JoAnn's to get spray paint. Can't wait!

When I make it I will be sure to post the results!

Innovative Gift - Book Vase

2010-04-20T11:00:00.006-04:00

Have an old hardback book that is collecting dust? Well, wipe it off and make a Book Vase!

Book Vase via lillyella

This Book Vase was created and posted by lillyella just last week and was featured on One Pretty Thing. This is a great way to create a handmade gift for cheap or nothing at all. Follow this link for directions on how to make one yourself!

My Version - Tissue Paper Flowers

2010-04-19T16:52:00.000-04:00

Over the weekend, I finished making vase full of paper flowers! It was inspired by two posts I found from Folding Trees and Intimate Weddings. I blogged about this a couple weeks ago and thought the idea was so cool, that I made my own (the tissue paper version):

Isn't it pretty!!

Ignore the fingerprint smudges. I was so in a rush to take the pic, I forgot to wipe them away!

A close up. I used tulle to fill the vase in, since it looked so empty before. I also wrapped a little tulle and ribbon around it.

I love how this picture came out! So pretty.

What do you think?

Marketing Finds! - Site Rankings

2010-04-19T11:30:00.058-04:00

Hi all! Welcome to another installment of Marketing Finds! I hope your weekend was very enjoyable :D

This week, we are going to focus on website rankings. Where can you rank sites for advertising and promotion purposes? Do you know your site's ranking? Here are a few sites to help you (followed by definitions of certain terms below):

Alexa - www.alexa.com
This site is good for detailed rankings, looking as deep as traffic stats, searches, demographics and even related links. If you are into graphs and numbers this is the site for you.

Google PageRank - www.prchecker.info
Great for "instant gratification." This site will let you know how high your page ranks in Google search engine. It goes by a scale between 1 and 10 - 10 meaning the highest and 1 the lowest. You can even embed a button showing your rank on a blog or website. A good helper in determining a plan for an advertising/social media campaign to get the word out.

QuantCast - www.quantcast.com
Another number cruncher site, this lists not only monthly traffic stats and ad reports, but all audience demographics - age, sex, race, income, and even education ( I have no idea how they found that). It's pretty cool and informative.

* For those who are lost about web marketing terms, check these links below *

What is traffic?

What are demographics?

What is a Social Media Campaign?

So far these are the only ones I've found to be the most helpful (and "legit looking"). Do you know of any that I may have missed?

To My New Followers...

2010-04-19T10:50:00.002-04:00

Hello there! Thanks for following me! And thanks to Tara from Trendy Treehouse for hosting last week's blog linking "party." I will take a look at your sites as well so lookout for me :D

I hope you enjoy the creative projects and sites I find on the 'net, as well as the marketing/social media help. It's pretty fun over here :-)

Coming up next post (and every Monday) is Marketing Finds!, a series about new sites, advice and strategies I find to help you market your blog or site.

In the meantime, feel free to peruse the site for more goodies and tell me how you feel!

I Won!

2010-04-17T11:05:00.000-04:00

Hey, I was just informed that I won Crush.Blog's Join the Party Giveaway! A $15 Target Gift Card is worth the joy (more crafty stuff for me :D).

At the moment, they are having another giveaway that ends tomorrow (April 18th). It's all connected with their biggest giveaway event BLOGMANIA on April 30th (and one of my Etsy items is featured)! The winner will receive a hand-stamped necklace from The Rusted Chain.

Check out the giveaway and have fun!

Food Inspired

2010-04-16T10:00:00.004-04:00

I love to bake! Cooking, eh, so-so (yes, there is a difference :D).

Triple Layer Chocolate Cake

Photo via Gwendolyn Richards from Patent and the Pantry

While surfing the 'net for baking sites, I began to go bookmark-crazy. But I stopped (a little) and decided to link to a few of those sites here and share the delicious goodies!

Here are a few of my favorites:

~ Food Gawker
Just looking at the front page makes you want to grab the food right off the computer! I love looking at this site because it links to all different "foodie blogs" (like Patent and the Pantry, above). The site collects recipes from bloggers who make these wonderful creations and post them to one site. FoodGawker is also connected with CraftGawker and WeddingGawker, which makes for more interesting projects. :D

~ All Recipes
This site is for ones who want to find "basic" recipes for all occasions. I usually go here to find quick recipes for lunch or dinner. Pretty good selection of recipes and most are user-submitted! If you are the "Martha Stewart" or the "Rachael Ray"of your house, sign up and submit your special recipe here.

~ Betty Crocker
Good ol' faithful Betty. I remember my mom having this HUGE (and I mean huuuge) Betty Crocker book when I was little. By the time I was able to use it, some pages were torn, other pages had spills on it, and the book was coming out of its binding. So she "upgraded" to a newer, thinner book, which still had some of the same great recipes. Frankly, if you can not cook, you must get this book! Betty doesn't just show you how to make something, she teaches you. For ones who are intimidated by the book, check out the site with lots of help.

Other sites that I particularly like are Joy of Baking, Pillsbury, Epicurious, and Cooks.

What are your favorites?

Late Post...

2010-04-15T16:53:00.000-04:00

Sorry everyone! It's been kind of a rough day, but I will have a nice post up tomorrow (hungry anyone? - hint, hint).

For now, here are a few inspiring posts from other blogs that I was especially interested in. Take a gander at these helpful posts and tell me what you think!

From Caitidid Designs: Thoughts On: Accomplishment

From CraftyPod: CraftyPod #113: Kari Chapin Answers Your Crafty-Business Questions

From Creature Comforts: Thoughts: What to Do When Your Work is Copied

From EverythingEtsy: Using Twitter For An Etsy Business

Do you have any posts you would like to share? I'd love to hear about them!

Pretty Flowers!

2010-04-14T13:00:00.000-04:00

During my morning out today, I saw a bunch pretty greenery! One thing I saw was this flower bush (taken by my cell phone - sorry about the quality).

I just thought it was the prettiest color...but what is it? Does anyone know?

Have you seen any pretty flowers lately yourself?

Marketing Finds! - Social Media Searches

2010-04-12T11:37:00.000-04:00

Hello! Welcome to another installment of Marketing Finds! It seems like I do this every Monday, so that's what it will be - every Monday on this blog, find some online marketing tips to help you with promoting your site/blog.

Today is about social media search sites. Do you know where all your Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, FriendFeed, Youtube, Buzz updates are going (besides the original location)?

Check these sites out:

Who's Talkin? - www.whostalkin.com
Who's talking about your site? Where does your site lead to? Who's Talkin is a social media search tool that gathers all the places connected with your site, whether someone blogged about your site, linked you on Twitter or even if it's in the news! Very helpful to see where your site is connected.

Social Mention - www.socialmention.com
When I first saw this, I said 'wow'. Very detailed analysis of your site/keywords. It lists the reach ratio, the last mentions of your brand on social sites, the top users and so much more. This is great to use to see where your brand stand in the online world.

Samepoint - www.samepoint.com
Samepoint is a mix of both sites above, except it is more "conversation" based. It lists results from discussions related to your site - from blogs to wikis to podcasts and more. It even breaks down the "positive" and "negative" keywords within a post. Another helpful engine to look out for.

Do you know of any I missed? Feel free to comment!

Thanks!

2010-04-12T10:30:00.010-04:00

First to everyone, I hope you had a lovely weekend!

To all my new followers from New Friend Friday (and past NFFs): thanks! Welcome aboard and I hope you enjoy my posts :D If you haven't done so already...

* Feel free to make comments on any post
* Check out my about me or links pages
* Follow my tweets or blog on the right
* Enjoy yourself! :D

* Get ready for the next post about my new online Marketing Finds! *

Stay Positive

2010-04-09T11:00:00.002-04:00

I have been on Etsy for a little over a month now and unfortunately, there hasn't been any sales as of yet. However, I told myself to "stay positive" and keep on going. I do have a few customers outside of Etsy that are interested in my invites and cards, but I thought having an online presence would boost me up.

I started renegotiating things about my business and what I should do. Simply put, it was either a) leave it for now or b) keep it going. Then I found an article via One Pretty Thing's Crafty Reading Roundup yesterday.

The title said it all: Staying Positive in a Negative Economy. It was by an Artfire seller named MommysDream who's post was picked up on Handmade News. She really broke everything down as far as business goes. According to her, in a nutshell, we should:

* Make goals
* Work hard
* Ask for help

We should also reaccess the effectiveness of our business. She lists a number of questions to evaluate.

For those who are struggling with their shops, I strongly suggest you read this article, as well as the encouraging Quit Your Day Job articles on Etsy. Read them and stay positive!

Wedding Coming Up?

2010-04-08T11:00:00.002-04:00

Need cheap but stylish decorations? Maybe even a centerpiece? Wedding very close?

Well look no further - check out these really cute paper flowers, one from Folding Trees and the second from Intimate Weddings.

Aren't they gorgeous?

I don't have a wedding coming up (maybe somewhere waaay in the future :D) but I do have a close family friend who is getting married this August. The colors are canary yellow, black and white (very pretty) and it's at this place - both the wedding and reception! I almost can't wait!

Ok, back to decorations.

The flowers from Folding Trees were created with tissue paper, while the ones from Intimate Weddings were made from cupcake liners. Both were great ideas and hopefully this will help brides-to-be with last minute updates for their weddings!

Trust the Bowtie or Trust the Butterfly?

2010-04-08T10:00:00.001-04:00

The "Butterfly" quote from It's April Already post on April 1st:
"I do anticipate the wonderful weather coming here in Philly. It was said to be 80-degrees on Saturday (wooo, more Rita's for me)! The old saying "April showers bring May flowers" is kind of deceiving. I mean, has the weather really been normal lately? Between the heavy rains and crazy snowstorms in the winter, who knows what to expect for spring. It may well be 90-degrees by the end of April."

Meterologist Glenn "Hurricane" Schwartz (the "Bowtie"):

Upper 80s yesterday in Philly - in early April! "Hurricane" from NBC10 said it in the first few seconds! But didn't I call it first? We all can "trust the bowtie" (Schwartz) however, what about the "butterfly" (me)?

Ok, ok, I am being silly. I'm definitely no meteorologist - but wasn't I close though? :D

Random Acts of Flair

Flair Readers Love These...

Tumbl......r!!

November Changes

Innovative Gift - Framed Pumpkin Patch

Marketing Finds! - Stats Wrap Up

Flair Review - B*FRIN

Innovative Gift - Leaf Runner

Marketing Finds: Keywords

What's On Your Mind?

Innovative Gift - Bulletin Board Frames

Marketing Finds!: Blogger's New Stats

Updates!

Flair Review - Cutter and Buck

Flair Review - Orbit Gum

Innovative Gift - Photograph Lampshade

Marketing Finds: Photo 104 - Outro

Innovative Gift - Felted Bird Mobile

Marketing Finds: Photo 103 - Offline Software

Flair Review - Sweet Babies by SistaGirls

All About Niecynotes

Innovative Gift - Chalkboard Talk Bubbles

Marketing Finds! - Photo 102: Terms

(Late) Flair Review - Samsung Gravity T

Innovative Gift - Faux Leather Belt

Marketing Finds! - Photo 101: Intro

Back in Business!

Switcheroo!

Update!

Marketing Finds - Email vs. Social Media

Long time, No See...

No Posts!

Innovative Gifts - The Best Of...

Marketing Finds - The Best Of...

Flair Review - Neutrogena Pink Grapefruit Scrub

Innovative Gift - Hand Towel Tote

Va-cay!

Marketing Finds! - Timing Yourself

Flair Review - Jomar

Innovative Gift - White Jersey Necklace

Marketing Finds! - Tweets for Creative Beginners

Sponsored by: Belle Butters!

Notes to Self Giveaway Winner!

Flair Review - CouponCabin

Still Time!

Have You...

Innovative Gift - Sunburst Mirror

Marketing Finds! - Time Your Tweets

Newsletter Out Today!

Flair Review - Sidekick LX

One Shoulder Ruffle Shirt

Biz with Flair

Innovative Gift - Photoweave

Notes to Self Giveaway!

Grand Things in Store!

Big Things Coming!

Marketing Finds! - Blog + Craft Business Reads

Big Post Title

Little Post Title

Flair Review - Apple Champagne

I've Been M.I.A ...

Innovative Gift - Pillowcase Messenger Bag

Marketing Finds! - Business Reads

Who Knew...

Flair Review - ShineBlast

New in the Shop: Grad Stuff

Innovative Gift - Stenciled Onesie

Commencement

Marketing Finds! - Page Load Tools

Art Star Craft Bazaar - Updates + Pics!

Flair Review - Belle Butters

Art Star Craft Bazaar

Innovative Gift - Domokun iPod Nano Case

A Few Updates

Marketing Finds! - APIs

Drumroll Please

Unanimous Craft + Last Day for Giveaway!

Innovative Gift - Spoon Rose

BREAKING NEWS! GIVEAWAY EXTENSION!

Marketing Finds! - Branding