Father's Day Printable Cards

It’s almost here, Father’s Day is around the corner! We still have a few days to prepare and to make things easier, here’s a pair of lovely printable card designs. If you already have a card have no fears, this can be a project that your kids can enjoy and make it their own. So, all the do-it-yourselfers and unique seekers out there, get your cardstock ready and let’s get to work!

You’ll need:

* Letter size cardstock in your color of choice.

* Cutting tools (cutting knife, surface and metal ruler)

* Your trusty printer!

* My printable Father’s Day card design.

* Photographs or kid’s drawings (optional)

1. Use your chosen cardstock to print out the card design. Make sure you pick a color  that is not too dark so that the design is visible. Separate the two cards by carefully cutting  across the horizontal line, right on the middle of the paper. Fold the cards down the dotted vertical line. Now you have two cards and you can write a message in the inside or proceed to step 2 (optional)

2. There are 4 angled lines on the back of the cards. Carefully use you cutting knife to cut over those lines. Make sure you don’t cut all the way to the corner edges! The cuttings will hold any picture or drawing that you insert in the card measuring 3.5” X 5” approximately. 

Kids will love making special art for the card or helping you pick fun pictures to put in there. If the card is for a new dad, your can use non-toxic paint to stamp your baby’s hand (or foot!) in the insert. Whatever you do, they’ll enjoy being involved making something that dad will treasure.

Have fun and please share pictures of your cards!

Natasha K.

*on Etsy*

*on Facebook*

PS: Don’t forget you still have a week to enter our June giveaway for a chance to get a mini plush robot! Thanks to Susan Ng for her wonderful blog post featuring my shop Jumping Birds!

 

Celebrate Brooklyn! Artist Lineup Part 3!

pj cobbs

pj cobbs

 

This summer the EtsyNY team is excited about selling for the 4th year in a row at Celebrate Brooklyn! in Prospect Park.   Today we will be taking a closer look at three of the artists that will be featured at the park all summer long.  

First we have J. Topolski who makes jewelry inspired by nature's curiosities. Her products show a fascination with science and the world's organic beauty. Skeletons, insects and the like are traditional art and design motifs, but hers incorporate the biological specifics more than simply the aesthetic. All work is handcrafted in Williamsburg Brooklyn, using techniques such as acid etching, wax carving, and casting epoxy resins. This is her second year at Celebrate Brooklyn. She enjoys being a vendor here because it is an opportunity to connect with people who would not typically attend a craft market.  To see her full line visit her shop at http://www.jtopolski.etsy.com.

                                                              j.topolski

                                                              j.topolski

Another wonderful jewelry line that will be featured at Celebrate Brooklyn is Be in the Moment. Be in the Moment is a handmade collection of enamel on copper jewelry with sterling silver and gemstone accents.  Be in the Moment was founded in 2010 with the goal of bringing beautiful, artisan enameled jewelry to a new audience. They use both new and traditional enameling techniques to create their jewelry, ending up with colorful and affordable statement pieces for every occasion.  See more at www.beinthemoment.etsy.com.

                                                                      &nbs…

                                                                                        be in the moment

Ever been walking around NYC and felt inspired?  The next designer definitely does!  It is PJ Cobbs who is a British-born artist who takes her inspiration from the streets, buildings and people of New York!  A former lifestyles journalist with a love for fashion and design, PJ found herself absorbing inspiration from different lifestyles and cultures around the world. After spending two years in Paris creating paintings and wearable art on silk, back home she found herself inspired by her surroundings while selling paintings in New York’s Union Square. When fans of hers started hanging the pieces as art, PJ began turning them into color-saturated canvases, featuring favorite neighborhoods and local spots like McSorley’s and Second Avenue Deli. These have now been turned into hand-cut 3D art, prints on canvas, shadow boxes and jewelry.  Her work has been worn by Queen Latifah and Heidi Klum, and featured in the New York Times, House & Garden, Continental Airlines and Essence magazines. And for the first time, at Celebrate Brooklyn!  Find more of her work at www.pjcobbsarts.etsy.com.

                                                                      &nbs…

                                                                                                 pj cobbs

Celebrate Brooklyn! starts tonight, June 4, be sure to stop by the EtsyNY booth to check out all of the fantastic designers!

Annie  www.BrooklynOwl.etsy.com

MEET the ARTISAN: Featuring Jumping Birds© + GIVEAWAY

"MEET the ARTISAN" is a blog series that spotlights Etsy New York Team artisans and their craft. In this feature, we learn more about Natasha, the creator of Jumping Birds©

Q: What is Jumping Birds? Can you briefly describe your business for us?

A: Jumping Birds is unique goods for children and babies handcrafted one by one, with love for charming yet minimal details and construction quality. I strive to design and make items that will be enjoyed by little ones for a long time and that will stimulate their imagination.

Q: Some artisans develop their products to meet consumer needs, while others craft products based on things and/or experiences that inspire them. What is the inspiration behind your business?

A: When I design I find inspiration everywhere. Vintage children’s clothes and toys or my own daydreaming, anything sets me going. My mind is always filled with ideas (it’s a bit chaotic at times!) and eventually one of them is realized and becomes a tangible item. Also, the fact that I have shipped all around the world and the dream that one of my goodies might become a family heirloom to someone, is so encouraging! Of course, my children - always “jumping” about - are an endless source of inspiration.

Q: Oftentimes, each artisan has a different strategy and objective for their business. What are the next steps for you and your business?

A: At the moment I’m very happy with the size of my business. It allows me to come up with new designs and develop new ideas, one step at a time. I’m also enjoying doing a few local fairs whenever I can. I love talking to customers and finding out what they like. I’m hoping to be ready for wholesale in the near future and explore that side of business.

Q: As many artisans look to grow and further develop their businesses, do you have some advice that you can share with fellow artisans?

A: Whatever your craft is, make sure you’re passionate about it and that you absolutely love the making process involved. Experiment with other mediums and techniques or take a class, if possible. I think learning new things feeds my creativity and brings new inspiration. This will ultimately keep you relevant and unique.

Special thanks to Natasha for sharing with us. You can find her products showcased on her Etsy shop at www.etsy.com/shop/JumpingBirds. And, details of her special product GIVEAWAY are below. Please enter for your chance to win one of her beautiful plush robots!

Jumping Birds© June GIVEAWAY:

June 1st is Children's Day! And, Jumping Birds© is giving away a handmade, Mini Green Plush Robot! 

A sweet little robot sure to make a statement in any child's room. This cutie can be used as nursery decoration, as a huggable plush,  throw pillow or as a soft stuffed toy (kids really enjoy playing with them!) Backed with a chevron fabric in coordinating colors.

This Giveaway is for one (1) Mini Green Plush Robot. 

APROX. MEASUREMENTS
7.5" high x 6.5" wide

Handmade of cotton/linen fabric and gently stuffed with poly-fil in her smoke-free, pet-free studio.

Like Jumping Birds© on Facebook and enter to WIN here! 

Entry period ends at 11:59pm on Monday, June 16, 2014!

 

Published by Susan Ng of Naturally Susan's


Celebrate Brooklyn Artist Lineup Part 2

Happy Friday! We have another installment of who will be selling at Celebrate Brooklyn! in Prospect Park this summer. First up is sustainable designer Elena. 

simply nu

simply nu

A graphic designer for over a decade, Elena of SimplyNu decided to swap the computer for power tools after a 4-year renovation of her old house. "Using processes and techniques that respect the environment, I design and make by hand green items in my home workshop, an old converted garage, in South Queens." Elena uses materials that are local, salvaged and reclaimed for her housewares, and she uses organic or natural materials for her soaps, candles, plush and pins.  SimplyNu is excited to be back at Celebrate Brooklyn for the second year, with newtoys and a few of the same classics: soaps, coasters and more. To see all of the collections, check out at simplynu.etsy.com

 

fritz and fraulein

fritz and fraulein

Another sustainable business at Celebrate Brooklyn! this season is Fritz & Fräulein.  A sustainable accessories company based in Brooklyn, was founded in 2012 by Stacy Hauger, naming her company after her inspiring Great Grandfather and as an homage to her German heritage.  In her Fort Greene studio, she designs and creates functional, modern accessories for tech, travel, fashion and home using her 1929 industrial Singer.   Fritz & Fräulein aims to pass along a bit of history while reducing its environmental impact by using sustainable and reclaimed vintage materials from the turn-of-century to the 1980s. The Fritz & Fräulein collection featured at CBK will include special editions of their clutches, card holders, blankets, totes and toiletry bags.  We look forward to their first season at Celebrate Brooklyn! and also welcome you to check out their full line at fritzandfraulein.etsy.com.

 

jess switaj

jess switaj

Father's Day is coming up, how about a tie with the Brooklyn Bridge on it? Jes Switaj is an independent fashion and accessory designer based in Brooklyn, NY. She relocated to NY from Phoenix,AZ, where she received an Associates in Fashion Design from Phoenix College. In 2007 Jes was honored with the Designer of the Year award at the first ever Scottsdale Fashion Week. For the second year in a row you will be able to find her at Celebrate Brooklyn offering screen-printed silk neckties, silk bow ties and printed t-shirts. Her designs include lovingly hand-crafted silk clutch purses and one-of-a-kind women’s wear, available online at jesswitaj.etsy.com. Her work features bold, graphic designs and intricate patterning mixed with lush, natural fabrics such as silk and wool.

 

sarustar

sarustar

Speaking of natural, how about some Prospect Park dirt jewelry? Be sure to check out Sayo's SARUSTAR jewelry.  SARU (monkey in Japanese) + STAR (my grandma Stella) = SARUSTAR, a personal amalgamation of what her business/ life/ the act of making things is to her.  It is the playful and sometimes haphazard way things come together to make life beautiful. Put simply, she makes what she loves.  She loves surprises and hidden meanings, and likes to keep herself amused.

Sayo's full collection can be seen at  sarustar.etsy.com

This will be SARUSTAR’s second year at Celebrate Brooklyn!

There will be so many fantastic, unique and one of a kind items at the Etsy NY booth at Celebrate Brooklyn! in Prospect Park this summer.  We have 3 more installments introducing you to the artists.  Be sure to check back!

Tracey Toole

https://www.etsy.com/shop/traceytoole

Are You Ready to Craft? Are You Ready to Party? Lets Meet at the Etsy Craft Party!

The time is here fellow makers, crafters, and Etsy lovers to meet across the globe (and in DUMBO) to celebrate Etsy's annual Craft Party! This year's theme is "Recapture: bringing new life to your photographs" and focuses on transforming photographs into display-worthy works of art using a variety of craft supplies and creative techniques.  Visit the Etsy Craft Party Page for more details including details on how to host your own party!

Samples of some photos retouched.

Samples of some photos retouched.

Etsy New York Team Members will be on hand to help Etsy staff put on this large craft event on Friday, June 6th between 5:00 pm and 8:30pm at the Manhattan Bridge Archway Plaza.  The event in DUMBO is free and open to the public. To reserve your space, please visit Eventbrite.

This year's Craft Party highlights include:  a video made by the Etsy Design Team projected on the bridge. Each guest will get their own embroidery DIY kit to embroider photographs that includes one unique vintage photograph, as well as a kit friendly coloring kit for the first 50 kids.  On each table will be a tablecloth with photobooth frames drawn on for easy photographing and instagraming!  And of course, food trucks will be on the premises for those hungry crafters.

Etsy has been encouraging other hosts to share examples of the DIY ahead of time.  You can see some lovely examples of embroidered photographs if you search the hashtag #craftparty.

To view images from past Etsy Craft Parties around the world, visit Flickr.  If you're hosting a Craft Party, you may find some inspiration sorting through the photos.

We hope to see you next Friday as we celebrate crafting, community, and the spirit of making new friends and sharing in the power of craft.