Sunday, May 29, 2011

The Art of the Bigger Sale - Use Beautiful Tags

Ziegfeld Girls Toile Scrapbooking Tags-tags, collage,sheets, feminine, paris, toile, eiffel tower, digital, printable vintage papers, ziegfeld, kate bangs, new hampshire, pink, brown
When selling vintage or handmade items, don't use any old generic sticker, use your own unique beautiful tag and you can increase your sales. I designed this digital tag with bold colors and striking images. It draws customers in to take a closer look and best of all, it's a digital sheet so you can print as many as you need; whenever you need.

Here are some very good reasons to have beautiful price tags:
1. Your tag is part of your brand and when people see it they know it is your product. It tells customers you care about your product and it sets you apart from other sellers.
2. They are little pieces of art. I always remember the artisans and their products when I see a beautiful tag.
3. A tag is tactile. People love to touch things when they shop.
4. Your tag gives information about your business, services, and products. 

Here's a great tip:
An artisan once told me she gets a large chunk of her business from one simple line she write on her tag - Custom Orders Welcomed 


Kate


http://www.collagesheetgirl.com/

Saturday, May 28, 2011

New Secret Garden Scrapbooking Kits

Sercet Garden - Set 05 - Mini Kit-Digital Scrapbooking Kit

Take a look at our dreamy new line of scrapbooking kits by my good friend, Kate Clegg, artist and owner of Optic Illusions.

 These kits are so popular, you'll want them all. Each one is filled to the brim.

The featured kit, SECRET GARDEN has 6 beautiful papers and 25 gorgeous elements.

To see more, please visit our web site Collage Sheet Girl (www.collagesheetgirl.com).

Optic Illusions Scrapbooking Kits are featured on the home page and in Digital Scrapbooking Supplies

http://www.collagesheetgirl.com

Thursday, May 19, 2011

3 Simple Things To Increase Your Shop Sales

Do you sell vintage jewelry or smaller items on Etsy, eBay or your website? Here are 3 simple things you can do for greater success!

1. Great Photos... This is the most important thing you can do to increase your sales. You don't have to be an award winning photographer but do the best you can. Let people really see what it is you sell. Add a few different views of your item. Add close-ups and use natural light. As you do this simple thing, you will naturally get better and better.

2. Display... Never underestimate the art of display. Beautifully themed displays are like going to an Art Gallery and they will keep your customers coming back just to see what you have new in your shop. I like to use old papers and vintage photos.

3. Inventory... Have lots of items to choose from in your shop and add new items often. It will give your shop a successful look and feel. It also encourages multiple sales.
http://www.collagesheetgirl.com/

Good Luck and I wish you many sales! Kate

Decoupage Jars with Vintage Photographs and Rhinestone Glam


I love to recyle jars and bottles. It is sooo simple. All you need is some old Flea Market rhinestone bracelets, old photograph copies, and glue.
Nothing could be easier, just look at the beautiful results!

Here's how I made mine.

Clean the bottle.
You could print out your old images using sticker sheets.
Cut out image and seal with clear contact paper.
Stick image on front of your jar.
Glue rhinestone border.

For the pendant top, I made mine with soldered glass and one of my images sheets titled 'Inspirational Words'.

 You can purchase something similar at the craft store.

Want to make your own jars? To purchase my $3.00 digital collage sheets visit http://www.collagesheetgirl.com/

Have fun... kate

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Decoupage Furniture with Vintage Music Sheets

The name of my daytime business is www.periwinkle painters.com
We are interior painters, faux finishers and furniture painters. Here is a fun idea for decoupage I'd like to share with you.

 This is a lovely old Flea Market piece. We painted it a creamy white.
Then rubbed it with Burnt Umber oil paint just on the edges to give it a warm aged look.
I decoupaged strips of antique music sheet to the side panels and add a painted hydrangea on the drawer front.
Below are a few before images. Takes a lot of ugly to make pretty is what we say in the studio.



To see more decoupage lessons visit my paper web site http://www.collagesheetgirl.com/




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Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Making One Dollar Sweet Dream Baby Sign


Sweet Dreams Baby

I just love the Dollar Store and the $1.00 frames they sell. They are such a bargain! You can make oodles of these pretty little signs at that price.

How I made My Sign
I made 2 signs, one for a girl and one for a boy. Printed them out using a Glossy Kodak Photo Paper 4" x 6" using my home printer and simply framed them with my super $1.00 frame.




I did paint this frame a creamy white using Ben Moore Linen White paint just because I have that at home. You could use any creamy white paint and get the same results.
Want to make your own?






Have fun visiting my site http://www.collagesheetgirl.com/
My signs are a bargain tooo. You are welcome to sell what you make. If you do, I wish you much success! Kate

Monday, March 21, 2011

Decoupage Your Flea Market Finds With Roses


Make a beautiful romantic collection of recyled small items.

Simply paint and apply an image. It couldn't be easier.
Then sell them in your shop or website, share your re-purpose pretties as handmade gifts for birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, births, or even house warmings.

Everyone loves a handmade gift. It says you really care about them and the environment.

These are my own handpainted roses from my Decoupage Your Romantic Flea Market Finds E-Book CD Lesson, which is found on my website http://www.collagesheetgirl.com/
Enjoy, Kate

Friday, February 25, 2011

Queen of Everything!


How Funny Is This! I often purchase my vintage images from auctions. I search though 1000's of listings looking for that one unique image before I put in a bid. Then I bid high, knowing I have only one chance to win and bring another specialty item to my customers.
When I saw this one, I just had to have it. This fairy cat postcard was originally black and white. I loved the postmark date of 1906, grungy worn edges and wear and tear; perfect for vintage inspired arts.
To view this and other selections, visit my website http://www.collagesheetgirl.com/
Enjoy, Kate

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Free Vintage Photo for visiting my new web address.

I finally changed my name. I have been thinking about it for months,

I am now COLLAGE SHEET GIRL... 'cause I sell collage sheets and I'm a girl.... and it's easier to remember and find on the search engines.







Anyways, the new website http://www.collagesheetgirl.com/is up and running! Please come bye and take a look and grab this beautiful free vintage image while you are there.

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

How To Make Toile Clip Boards

Recently a wonderfully creative customer asked how to make French Toile clip boards. I came up with the following two methods: One using Fabric and another using Paper.

I searched through my archives and assembled the most popular patterns in a collection of 6 sheets as shown above. These sheets available in my store can be used with these decoupage instructions or the images can be printed out on sticker sheets easily purchased at local office supply stores.

PAPERS
Purchase an unfinished clip board at a local craft store
Unscrew the metal clip
Paint clip board color of your choice
Print image sheet on 8 1/2" x 11" sticker paper
Peel backing off
Apply to clip board
Remove excess paper with exacto knife
Screw metal clip back onto clip board

FABRICS
Purchase an unfinished clip board at a local craft store
Unscrew the metal clip
Paint clip board color of your choice
Cut fabric to size
Apply one layer of ModgePodge decoupage glue
Apply fabric to clip board
Coat with three more layers of ModgePodge
Let dry between coats
Screw metal clip back onto clip board

Thanks for looking and please visit my site: http://www.collagesheetgirl.com/
Kate

Monday, February 7, 2011

How To Paint Shabby White Furniture

What do you think of this front page lay out? I've been fine tuning my Photoshop skills while working on my newest lesson. It should be ready soon. I've painted and sold furniture for years and am so excited to pass on what I've learned. There are so many ways to paint furniture.
This lesson teaches how I paint and the products and techniques I use to change flea market cast-offs into Shabby Vintage Finds. It is a fast easy-paced painting lesson with artist's tips so you can paint pieces for sale or for your home that have a warm French Country or Shabby n Chic look.

Thanks for looking and please visit my site: http://www.collagesheetgirl.com/
Kate

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

They don't take photos like this anymore

I just love the look of vintage Zeigfeld Girls.They are just so gorgeous and I love the Drama Glama in each and every photo.
It is snowing outside and I just finished shoveling with my husband. I should be making dinner but....

Anyways I just added this sheet to the site. Use them on your projects when you want a little Glam Dram yourself! visit here http://www.collagesheetgirl.com/
Kate

Saturday, January 9, 2010

My eBay Paris Postcard



I love eBay. It's a wonderful place to find one of a kind items. When I saw this beauty, I just had to have it. There is just something so special about this vintage Paris postcard. The colors are so soft and perfectly worn and the original writing is the icing on the cake.
So I bid high and won. I feel it was worth every penny I paid to add it to my catalog. I am so glad get to share it with all my customers. This image, once tucked away in a drawer, is now in the hands of many an altered artist making the world a prettier place.
Thanks for looking and please visit my site: http://www.collagesheetgirl.com/
kate

Friday, January 1, 2010

Altered Decoupage Furniture

Here is an example of using large poster images to create romantic decoupage furniture. As you can see I have used this decoupage theme many times and it always is a great seller!
Thanks for looking and please visit my site: http://www.collagesheetgirl.com/
Kate

Romantic Pre-Raphaelites

I love the look of these beautiful Pre-Raphaelite paintings. They are ultra vintage romantic to me. I often use the larger poster sizes to use on decoupage furniture. I find posters at local craft stores or online at Art.com.
This smaller version collage sheet I made can be used on smaller projects. This and similar items can be found on my web site: http://www.collagesheetgirl.com/
Kate

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Vintage Bad Boys

Vintage Bad Boys
There are so many image sheets filled with beautiful ladies, I thought in honor of the upcoming holiday I would put together a sheet of vintage bad boys for a new twist on Valentines Day.
These guys are Smoking Hot.
Vintage photos of smokin hot tough guys and an old time firefighter.
This sheet is in my etsy shop
www.TheShabbyPinkCottage.etsy.com Click on the orange name link above!

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Haunted New Hampshire a Fanciful Places Brookdale Farm Hollis NH






Halloween is truly one of New Hampshire's favorite holidays and our local farm stands always do this holiday up in style. One of my favorite farms to visit this time of year is Brookdale Farm in Hollis, NH. There is apple picking, pumpkins and ice cream and all around family fun on the outside. But for me, the magic is on the inside.

I love all the fresh local produce, baked goods and gourmet foods. Plus, there are two rooms filled to the rafters with one of a kind home accessories, holiday decorations and artful gifts for sale.

But my absolute favorite is the Halloween area. They have the most amazing display of vintage inspired Halloween decorations. This display is so beautiful and glittery. Chock full of paper witches, black cats, owls, hand painted pumpkins and they are all sparkling under the romantic chandeliers and string upon string of Halloween lights. It's a real feast for the eyes!

It's all Treats with no Trick for anyone who loves to decorate for the Halloween holiday.

Brookdale Farm 41 Broad Street Hollis, NH Phone 1-603-465-2240
Web site http://www.brookdalefarms.com


Sunday, September 27, 2009

Make a Vintage Halloween Spell Bottle



How fun! This witch bottle sold last week. I love making them and having them around the house. I made this bottle with my vintage Halloween images that I sell on my web site and my home made sticker technique. I'll teach you how.
Be sure to visit my web site for more fun Halloween images to make your own Vintage Spell Bottles.

How I make stickers Instructions

First I cut out my image
Place face down on 2 inch packing tape
Press image into tape
Cut out image leaving a little tape around the image
Now I have a sticker!

For larger images use clear contact paper.

Heres a tip: If you are selling your stickers, you may want to seal the back as well. To do this, start with your picture face up on the taper. Cut out the image exactly, leaving no extra tape; then follow the instructions above.

For a touch of Glam I used an old rhinestone earring I put on using E-6000 Glue.
Thanks for stopping by!
Like to see more vintage witch images? Visit me @ www.printablevintagepapers.com

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Witches in a Bottle





Fall is coming and it is the perfect time to add a little magic. So to celebrate the changing of the seasons, I've decided to add these two WITCHES IN A BOTTLE in my Etsy shop TheShabbyPinkCottage. Plus it gives me an excuse to shop for more vintage bottles and costume jewelry. Heeeee

Monday, August 17, 2009

Decoupage Romance



Decoupage Romance. It is just amazing how you can purchase a few old items from the flea market and with just a little paint and paper change them into romantic finds. Here are a few of mine. The roses are decoupaged but have the look of hand painting.