Let's Get Ready to Scrapboook!

Alrighty...Granted "Scrapboook!" doesn't have the same ring as "Rumble!" It doesn't mean I'm any less excited to spend a day on my pages.

I finally met a local scrapbooker, cardmaker, cook and crafter extraordinaire and I'm looking forward to spending the second day on 2010 in my loft studio dusting off supplies I haven't touched for months! (I'll be spending the first day of 2010 in my studio, too...digging my supplies out from beneath Christmas paper and ribbon...and dusting.)

Look for new posts of paper bag albums, ShelyChic jewelry and pics of the general crafting chaos soon!

Free Gifty Boxes for the Holidays

How often do you toil over selecting the perfect gift, spend hours perusing every card in the store and pick up a gift bag on your way out?

Gift presentation is important. Packaging that intriques, delights, celebrates and excites the gift recipient is just another way to show how much you care. Gift wrapping showcases your gift - giving you a way to express your love and appreciation - even without words - to the one who will receive it.

Now through December 31, all jewelry orders from the ShelyChic Studio on Etsy will include FREE gift packaging. Don't forget, ShelyChic also offers FREE shipping for all jewelry orders mailed in the US.

Delight your friends with a ShelyChic gift and gifty box this holiday season. Packaging styles and colors will vary. Leave a note at check out to specify the occasion.

Bag Tag Brag Book

This mini book is perfect for school photos or photo booth shots! Tuck it in your purse or add it to a scrapbook page for an interactive 3-D embellishment.

A pocket holds a blank tag for journaling and is large enough for tiny mementos. It also makes a great birthday, greeting or thank you card. 3.5"Wx2.5"T [SOLD! Ask about a custom order.]

DIY crafty? This sweet book is a variation of the paper bag album. Click here for instructions.

Seriously, South Dakota?

Visitors from 36 countries, and 50 U.S. regions (including D.C.) have stopped in to the ShelyChic studio on Etsy since the site was launched early this year...People all over the world have browsed the shop, except for ANYONE in South Dakota. Hello, South Dakota? Are you there? I know you have the Internet. What gives?

I sent dozens of new pieces to The Chocolate Affair in Highland, Illinois. Browse and try on lovely pieces there, including an exclusive holiday collection with many mini crystal snowpeople.

You can expand your ShelyChic collection at upcoming benefits for the Nacogdoches Boys & Girls Club and Central Heights High School Theatre Club.

And, you can always shop ShelyChic on Etsy.

You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream. -Les Brown

Here's a fun project anyone can try at home. I was invited to contribute to a "card shower" thrown by the ladies at my church. I thought it would be fun to drop in with a paper bag scrapbook that can hold photos of the party and store birthday memorabilia.

Ingredients: paper lunch bags, binder rings, hole punch, scrap paper, ribbon, stickers and your favorite adhesive. Simple instructions can be found all over the web. Click here for a great step-by-step guide.

I included blank tags in the pockets for journaling, and a few with fun birthday quotes and personal greetings. Except for a few embellishments, the pages are blank so the birthday girl can fill the book with her own memories of the event.

Sunshine and lollipops and new photos for the ShelyChic Studio Shop...

Last week's dreary (yet much needed) storms have passed and I had the chance to shoot some new items for the ShelyChic Studio Shop on Etsy.

I've been digging into the new beads for a few projects. I've also had the chance to upcycle some old jewelry into new ShelyChic designs.

A sample of photos are included in this post...Calcite, Yellow Jade & Crystal ShelyChic Bracelet; Charming Bubbles Photo Frame ShelyChic Necklace with Crystal & Vintage Button Accent; Looks Like Candy Miracle Bead ShelyChic Bracelet with Vintage Button Charm [SOLD!].

Almost Aurora Borealis

Remember the fabulous Aurora Borealis crystal jewelry? This warm, pink, fire-polish, Czech glass crystal reminded me of the celebrated sparkling vintage accent.

Etched flower beads accent the crystals on this precious ShelyChic bracelet. 8" with easy-on, silver-tone, toggle clasp.

Gift wrapping is FREE upon request - please just leave a note when checking out. FREE shipping within the U.S. Leave a note to seller for international orders.

Bead Show!

I've spent many of the last few weeks making tons of gifts, but I haven't had time to post anything to the blog or ShelyChic Studio on Etsy.

When I stopped to make pieces, I realized I was a bit bored with the ShelyChic stash. I hadn't been bead shopping in ages and was just a few beads short of inspiration...with tons of half-finished projects and many unposted pieces.

Enter...a tiny ad in the local paper promoting a Bead Show at the Expo Center. I was so excited to shop for some new beads that I took an early leave from work on Friday, collected my son early from school and ran across town for a shopping spree.

My son Noble loves shopping for beads. He was delighted when the seller referred to little gems he found on the floor as "pocket beads.") Translation: Noble could collect them and put them in his pocket.)

While Noble rummaged for fallen treasures, I sorted through nearly 2,000 pounds of vintage crystal, handmade buttons, Czech firepolish crystal, Indian beads and gemstones. I picked up some common crystal and a few uncommon finds - including vintage alabaster pearl form beads, West German glass beads and hand-painted glass buttons.

I can't wait to get started on some new projects, but took a few moments (despite the rain) to shoot some existing pieces and post online in the ShelyChic Studio on Etsy.

Tons of New ShelyChic Sweets for Mom

I still owe shoppers more of the exclusive products from the "Mirror, Mirror" movie set, but I switched jewelry cases and worked on a few inspired pieces that will make great mothers' day gifts (shop now for May 10, 2009!).

I've also added FREE shipping and FREE gift packaging for all jewelry (excludes Crafty Elements and *NEW!* NobleChic Destash listings).

Don't forget to scroll down for the ShelyChic blog contest....No entries yet...You could be #1 (like Smitty Werbenmanjensen).

You can also follow the ShelyChic Studio on Twitter or look for me in the Etsy Chatrooms (in all of my spare time).

Alas...You missed your chance to purchase the gorgeous garnet & pearl bracelet featured in this post. It was sold as a birthday gift...The kids are garnet birthstones and the mom's birthstone is pearl....To make it more special, the sterling magnetic rose clasp is also fitting to the birthday girl; her maiden name is Rose.

"Mirror, Mirror" Movie Inspired ShelyChic Style

I spent my Sunday on the sets of "Mirror, Mirror," a feature film shot in Nacogdoches. My son (left) played a dual role in the movie.

We brought along a vintage Samsonite train case filled with beads to pass the time between make-up, scenes, coloring and crafts service.

The movie won't be released until October, but ShelyChic shoppers have a chance to buy the jewelry hand-crafted on the set at the ShelyChic Studio Shop on Etsy.

"Mirror, Mirror" exclusives include rings, bracelets and earrings. All are unique. Some of the photos were also shot on location. Please be patient....It was a long day of filming and I have several ShelyChic sweets to upload!

I spy a crafty contest....

Post your I Spy rhymes inspired by this photo filled with crafty elements, including paper, stones, findings and a lovely spring butterfly sticker.

A clever winner will be chosen from the posts and I'll contact you to mail* the I Spy Pack for your own creative project.

Happy rhyming!

*Available to ship to U.S. addresses only.

And now for something completely different...

I'm still making jewelry, but I have a new puppy and she loves to jump in my lap...while it's full of beads. So I've been trying out some alternate crafty efforts.

I bought a few darling paper bag scrapbook albums from a sweet Etsy shop called Amanda's Altered World. I was so inspired by the no frills construction (and the frilly embellishments) that I made a few. Two were given as gifts and one is slated for an online auction benefiting the Texas Blueberry Festival presented by the Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce. (The online auction will also feature a ShelyChic button bracelet.)

In addition to the paper bag albums, I've pulled out my fuzzy yarns from the scrapbooking vault and learned to crochet. I used an entire skein of fuzzy yarn on what can only be described as a "wooby" by my son (he's already staked his claim). I'm also working on a chocolatey scarf. I'll post pics if it ever comes to fruition.

These projects are not completely Polar Bear (the dog) proof. She's chewed her way through more than a few stickers sheets and markers. She also unraveled a skein of yarn. Nevertheless, the clean up beats crawling around to pick up tiny beads!

ShelyChic Spring Fling

Spring is in the air at the ShelyChic Studio. Pink and lilac beads, crystals and buttons are in bloom! Check out this whimsical little charm bracelet. Adornments include vintage buttons in sweet girly hues, Czech glass and cherry quartz charms. 7.5" with clasp.

Available exclusively in the ShelyChic Studio on Etsy.

P.S. If you want to plan ahead for Mother's Day, gift wrapping is free of charge upon request - please just leave a note when checking out

I admit, I'm a bit obsessed.

I installed Google Analytics on the ShelyChic Jewelry Design & Crafty Destash site on Etsy, and I keep logging in to track my visitors. In three days, the ShelyChic Studio has netted visitors from 17 states, the District of Columbia, Germany & Australia. Facebook has sent the most referrals, Facebook is followed by Google through organic searches. Google's Analytics are terrifically detailed, so I can track visitors from daypart, city and keywords (like "fancy lanyard clasps," "paper jewelry design" and "shelychic"). Best of all, Google Analytics is free.

King Regiment Vintage Button Bracelet

I know ships and sails are summertime fare, but I adore this ship-shape vintage button bracelet. Navy and red debossed "71:King Regiment***" buttons share a chain with milky-white buttons. 7.5" with clasp.

It's only $21 at the ShelyChic Shoppe on Etsy - mmpeck.etsy.com.

Gift wrapping is free of charge upon request - please just leave me a note when checking out.

Hurry! I might change my mind and keep this one!

About ShelyChic

Someone once told me that I'm not an artist because I just string beads. She sucks.

I don't think I'm an artist, but I can't sit still. I've been playing with beads since I was 5 years old and my mom dragged me to her doll studio. The beads kept me busy and out of her hair.

I've always loved beads. I used to treasure each one and organize them meticulously in cupcake tins, tackle boxes, jewelry boxes - any containers I could find.

My brothers (who were jerks when we were young) loved to flip my bead collection into the gross brown shag carpeting we had in our living room. I would spend hours picking through the pile until I collected as much dirt as treasure. When my parents vacuumed (about once a year) all of my unclaimed beads rattled through the device.

I still have boxes and bags and tins of beads and I'd love to share them with you via fun bracelets, sweet earrings, colorful necklaces and funky rings.