Color Palette Generator

For me, finding the correct colors for a project can be hard. When choosing those colors for a design, alot of times, clients minds can go blank .Generally they will see an image and want  to use colors from the image .This is where a color generator is the perfect tool to use.
A color generator or color scheme selector is a tool for anyone in need of a color scheme. In most cases these online tools have the color codes attached and some offer extended features to help a designer build the perfect color scheme. There are alot of color generators out there, but I the following are a few that I like based on image uploads. There no order of favorites, just ones I prefer over the rest.


1. Big Huge Labs
  2. Color Palette Generator

 

 3. Degraeve
       (based on url, must have url of image . Cannot upload from computer)
 

 

4. Patorjk
     (based on url, must have url of image . Cannot upload from computer.
       Also, they allow you to choose your Hue variance, based on picture)

 

5. Photocopia
    (This is an extension of colorLovers, so you can log in with your colorLouvers login and save

     your  pics. You can use an url or load one of your Flikr pics  & choose your Hue variance, based

      on picture)

 

 

6.Pictaculous
    (This is an extension of Kuler and Color Louvers as they also give you suggest the closest color
      palettes already made.  They also let you download the palettes for easy install instead of     

      copy/pasting the color codes)

 

 

7. Cool Hunter
     (This site is good, but I do not like that the picture is autmatically sized to thumbnail & they
       only give you 5 colors with no variations.)

 

 

 

Read More

GRADE SCHOOL NOTE FOLDING: A LITTLE TUTORIAL

I remember the good ole days when you would pass a note to the person you liked or gossip with your BFF . Even though you are no longer in class, you can still keep it old school and send your note with some nostalgic flair. The following are a few creative ways to fold your notes, whether you are putting them in an envelope or handing them off to the person.

Enjoy and Happy Folding!

FULL TUTORIAL HERE

FULL TUTORIAL HERE

FULL TUTORIAL HERE

FULL TUTORIAL HERE

Read More

FAUX BAKER'S TWINE: A TUTORIAL

I came across this tutorial from UkMaryanne via The Frugal Crafter and though I like original baker's twine....this is pretty crafty ;)

All you need is white crochet cotton string, which can be easily purchased at any craft store and markers in the color of your choice. The Frugal Crafter used ProMarkers, or any other permanant marker like Pantone Markers, that you can get from any Art Supply Store. I suggest getting the Sharpie Glam Markers ,which are sharpies in a wonderful range of colors that you can get at any office supply store.
Gotta admit.....looks like real thing doesn't it? Don't forget to take a look at the video "how-to" below so that you can make your own "Faux Baker's Twine".

pictures courtesy of The Frugal Crafter

Read More

NEAT THINGS: EDIBLE SPOON

A disposable plastic spoon will take more than 20 years to decompose. This edible spoon is environment friendly. It is made from corn flour, whole wheat flour, baking powder, sugar, salt, eggs, separated milk, spices and herb. It is 100% biodegradable and 100% edible.
Now I will say that I dont know how long it will take to get "soggy" ........but  how long does it really take someone to eat  a bowl of soup?

 

Read More

New Mother's Day Cards

What better way to tell your mother how you really feel than with our new Mother's Day Cards from Gramkin Paper Studio.

Read More

Sell Your Ass Off: Seller Sites For Your Products ...Part 2

Etsy is clearly the "go to" place where crafters can sell their handemade creations , from Apparel and Accessories to Home Goods and even Artisan Foods, but is it the only place? Though Etsy does try to adhere to their strict "Handmade Motto", some sellers as well as buyers are concerned that Etsy may end up similar to what Ebay has currently become.....a reseller haven.

 

Now, don't get me wrong, Etsy is trully a great place to go and find unique items , new designers as well as as giving an individual an oppportunity to start their own business who may have never had the means to do so, but there are some other sites similar to Etsy where a "Crafter" can expand their business as well.  Selling crafts online can be a legitimate online job, and profitable if you know where to sell your items.

 As you can see there are plenty of other options besides Etsy for selling your homemade products, Just remember that not everyone's business is the same, so it's really up to you to decide which will work best for your business (volume/ sales, brand needs and etc).
Which ones do you prefer?

1. Bonanza: is a site like Etsy that used to be called 1000 Markets. In order to make money online selling crafts and handmade goods, you need to list your items for sale. Roll your mouse over "Sell" at the top of the screen and choose "add item for sale". On this page you will be able to name your booth, select your accepted payment options, promote your booth, and import your items for sale from eBay or Craigslist. After that you can list items for sale. Your item description includes a photo, a title, a description, a category, a price, shipping options, and item specifics. It is free to list on Bonanza and you only pay a commission to Bonanza when an item sells.
   
2. UncommonGoods sells handmade and recycled items. The website doesn't say much about how to sell on the site, but I got on a live chat with a representative who said they are always looking for products to feature on their website and in their catalogs. To be considered you would need to send pictures attached to newgoods@uncommongoods.com.
   
3. Silkfair is another site lthat allows you to create your own store, select a pricing plan, add products, and start selling. Silkfair offers a 14 day free trial. Stores are free to $7.99 a month up to $24.99 a month, depending on which features you want. It is not solely for handmade items, they do allow commercially made items to be sold as well.
   
4. Supermarket is a trendy place to sell your creations. Here you are known as a designer. In order to start selling on this site you need to send your information (images, links, etc.) to the email address listed here: http://supermarkethq.com/signup/designer Send an email letting them know what you do with photos of what you do. If you are approved as a designer for Supermarket you will have a profile, logo, banner, and the ability to list items and collections for sale. When an item of yours sells the money goes directly into your own PayPal account. Supermarket then tallies up their commissions from your sales and charges your credit card every 30 days.
   
5. MadeItMyself is quite self-explanatory. If you want to sell your items here you have to first become a member. After registering as a member you can list your items for sale. You will be charged fees when you list an item and again when the item sells. Commission is 3% of the sale price. The Terms and Conditions currently state that they are waiving the listing fees.
   
6. DaWanda is a website like Etsy where you can sell clothing, jewelry, art, and supplies. Create your own shop on DaWanda. There are no current listing fees, but they are in the works. Commissions for products sold is 5%.
   
7. iCraft is a little different as they charge no commissions when you sell your homemade creations on their website. The rules are that you must be the creator, it must be handmade, it cannot be food or beverages, you have to submit a quality photo of your work, it must be brand new (not used), and your work will be reviewed for quality. Your store is known as your Creator Exhibit and you have to have at least one item there. In other words, there are alot of policies you must adhere to.
   
8. Folksy is a website that was created to showcase UK designers, artists and crafters. It doesn't say you have to be from the UK to sell. To start selling you would need to register, set up a shop, list your items, and promote your work. Unfortunately, didn't see anydetails on commissions. This site is the most like Etsy in it's appearance, application and ease of use.
   
9. ArtFire offers you a place to sell your handmade goods, vintage items, fine art, and more. You can start selling with a free account or a pro account for $9.95 per month. You will get a customizable shop where you can list your items for sale, accept PayPal, Google Checkout and Amazon Payments, you can create coupon codes, and easily promote your items via social networks.
   
10. eCreater  is a free online marketplace with the look of Etsy, but the selling style and selection of Ebay.This makes sense, since it allows you to import your Ebay items to their marketplace. This site allows unlimited categories, upload up to 10 photos per listing, has Paypal & Google Wallet Support, your own URL and various other options.
    
11. Foodoro:  Like the popular Foodzie , which was bought out by Joyus, this is the site for artisan food vendors in the U.S only. Foodoro is also trying to engage the food blogging community by implementing an affiliate program (like Amazon’s) that lets food bloggers earn a percentage on traffic they refer to back to Foodoro (the bloggers can also embed a widget of a product they are writing about in their blogs). There are no upfront listing/setup fees and sellers who join Foodoro are small, independent food producers with a high standard of craftsmanship (produce small quantities, use only the best ingrediants and make their goods onsite).
    
12. Zibbet:  is a marketplace  with no listing fees, no commission fees and a free level account with a 50 item limit. If you have more than 50 items in your store, you will need to upgrade to the Premium Level for $9.95/per month or $79 yearly. In addition, they have an Etsy importer.
    
13. Meylah: is a new marketplace that allows you to upload and sell  goods instantly. Basic membership is free all you have to do is add your store name and you have an instant storefront.  Because they are the new kids on the block, they may not have everything that you need if you are thinking about leaving Etsy.
    
14. Lillyshop: is so similiar to Etsy in look, design and interface. It allows unlimited free listings, a customizable shop , Google Analytics/Shop Statistics as well as a personal shop blog. It does not charge listing fees, re-listing fees or monthly fees. Lilyshop simply charges a 5% sales fee if you sell an item, but this percentage does not include the shipping price
    
15. Luulla: is a newer marketplace that is free to sell but with two pricing options for sellers. You can choose the "Pay-As-You-Go" option that  the seller pays  $0.10 USD per item listing for a period of 4 months and 3.0% selling fee on the item's sale price. Or you can choose the "Monthly Plan" where the seller is charged a flat fee of $9.90 USD per month , unlimited product listing and 3.0% selling fee on the item's sale price. The option that you have of having a store front is uploading your company "web banner" and your listing will be beneath that.
    

Don't forget to take at look at Part 1 of the Sell Your Ass Off Post!

 

Read More

Free Card Readers: Get Paid Anywhere with Paypal Here, Square & GoPayment

Now that Paypal has finally gotten their act together and actually put out their Card Reader for your smart phone, Square has got some competition.

All of the Card Reader options, Paypal Here,  Square and Intuit GoPayment, will send you a small credit card scanner for free when you sign up for a new account. Each scanner simply plugs into your smartphone’s audio jack and is easy to set up . Just remember that Paypal's card Reader  
Each service offers apps for Apple Products , like iPhone as well as for Android...though for for those of you who are addicted to the "crackberry" ,  Intuit’s GoPayment also supports some BlackBerry phones.

Each has a system of "items" to which you can add pictures, descriptions, and prices for the things you sell. The items appear on the main screen, and a simple tap will add an item to the invoice. Square makes entering custom amounts much faster with an easy-to-access keypad; in GoPayment, you have to create an item for the special amount you want to charge.

Once you have the items and charges ready, simply tap the Charge button to proceed to swiping the card. You do have the option of manual card entry in place of swiping, and Square will allow you to record a transaction as cash.
The next step is the signature, if one is required. (Square has added the option to skip the signature for transactions under $25.)
Receipts from Square say they're from Square, while receipts from Intuit say they're from the email address you have registered with Intuit.

All the services transfer money automatically into your registered bank account. Intuit takes that information at sign-up and treats each credit card transaction as a bank transfer, promising funds in your account within two or three business days. Square pulls money into your Square account, and, after verifying your bank account, pays out every evening. Paypal Here puts the money into your linked Paypal account immediately, after verifying the account when upon the initial sign up.

Square is easier to track when it comes to fees. If you swipe a card, you're charged a flat 2.75 percent with no transaction fee. If you manually enter the numbers, it's 3.5 percent with a transaction fee of 15 cents.But we careful, there are some hidden cost/restrictions.

For no monthly fee, Intuit GoPayment charges swipes at 2.7 percent with no transaction fee except on American Express cards, and at 3.7 percent if you key the number in. For higher-volume businesses, Intuit offers a plan that takes only 1.7 percent swiped and 2.7 percent keyed in, for a $13 monthly fee; if you do more than $1300 in sales a month, you'll prefer this plan

Paypal Here charges a flat  2.70 percent and  no transcaction fee. There is no check processing fee and there is an easy way to contact customer service. The advantages of Paypal Here is that it also utilizes eBay's technology so that merchants can scan items they sell into their "item lists" . This allows for a "fast checkout experience" for customers. In addition, Paypal is available in Canada, Hong Kong and Australia . Plus, alot of major merchants are now taking Paypal as payment, so it is just easier to integrate your buisness with them.

To find the best payment option for your business really just depends on several things.

1. If your business is already using Paypal for check-out, then Paypal Here is the best option for you. Easy linking, to your existing account, ability to issue refunds and straightforward to use, this is definately the best option for you.
2.  If your business is already a popular accounting software,  if you're currently using other Intuit merchant-services products, or if you frequently run over $1300 in sales monthly, then GoPayment is a good choice.
3. If you're looking for somthing simple . straight forward and easy to use , but can deal with restrictions and fine print, then the Square system is a good option. .

What option do you think is the best?

Read More