Learning How to Sell Online

Honestly, I've been feeling like I'm in a bit of a blogging rut lately.  It's the end of the year and blogging topics are the last things on my mind right now. So lets get back to basics. My blog is my journal, my very-public-not-entirely-just-for-myself journal...but still my journal. So what would I write about if I were keeping a physical journal? (How I'm bummed that I'm not keeping a physical journal right now?) I would blog about how I made my first ever Etsy sale last week!

Now, I've sold my creations before. (Mostly at craft fairs, commissions, and through friends.)  I've just never sold anything specifically through Etsy. Last year, in the months before the start of 2013, I made a small goal to make my first sale on Etsy. (My shop is a little over a year old.) I, however, failed. Now, a year later from that goal, I've finally succeeded. There was even a time this year I was debating giving up. I did not renew my Etsy listings and listed some things on Storenvy with no luck. This October I decided to give Etsy another shot and it happened! I made a sale!

I know that one sale does not mean I can quit my day job and start calling myself an entrepreneur, but it's a start. I am going to buckle down and really start taking my shop seriously now. If you own an Etsy shop and have any advice or tips I would be so grateful!

If you are interested in my shop it's called Nerdy Monsters and can be found at: NerdyMonsters.etsy.com
I sell handmade designer plushies, jewelery, accessories, and more.
I am also starting to send out a shop newsletter which you can sign up for here.
The monsters and friends are also on Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr.

J.

Stay updated with MagicCatJenny on Bloglovin

Vanellope von Schweetz (Wreck-It Ralph) - Disney themed costume party 2013

My Vanellope von Schweetz costume (from the film Wreck-It Ralph) was put together with one quick trip to Target. It was right before a Disney themed costume party my (visiting from Sweden) cousin, Kavita, held in her summer apartment here in Los Angeles on March 15th. It was so great! Kavita spent the summer of 2013 in LA taking some classes and doing some touring. She met a big group of (mostly Swedish) international students and they all decided to through a big Disney themed costume party one night. Her and her two roommates (also Swedish) filled their small apartment with Disney decorations, food, and drinks. They even organized a team based trivia game. I realize I could have gone with Ariel or Jasmin costumes but I (of course) wanted something new. As a result my costume was not compleatly accurate, (dffinatly not con worthy) but it worked and I even got my friends Vince and John to be Fix-It Feliz, Jr. and Turbo. (he could not find overalls last minute to be Ralph) Also pictured is my friend Kirstin, dressed as Esmeralda from The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

J.

Stay updated with MagicCatJenny on Bloglovin

Video: Christmas Time

My friend (and awesome co-worker) Alysia and I decided to make our own Christmas tag/questions/would you rather/guess that Christmas movie quote/thing. Enjoy!

Alysia's video is coming soon, her channel: http://youtube.com/alysiarusso
J.

Stay updated with MagicCatJenny on Bloglovin

Ariel (The Little Mermaid) - Comic Con 2007 & 2008

Ariel is one of my favorite costumes I've made. I bought a ginger wig and made the sea star hair clip which I used to create a swooping bangs effect. The top is a purple bra with handmade fabric shells sewn on. I have to give credit to my mom for figuring that out. I really lucked out with the skirt when I found green zig zag sequin fabric in the Fabric District. I created a skirt from it and sewed on the light green to the bottom to create a fin effect. All of it was done without any patterns. Ariel was a big hit the first year I wore her but when I brought her back the next year, with Aquaman by her side, we could not go a few steps without getting mobbed by photographers.

J.

Stay updated with MagicCatJenny on Bloglovin

Embroidered Hoop Art

I've seen the idea of using cross stitch hoops as frames for embroidered wall art. I've also seen people use solid pieces of fabric in them and hanging them up. I wanted to try it out so last Christmas I made two as gifts. The 'Mean Girls' quote is made with all felt and the deer silhouette is made with t-shirt fabric and a thinner felt. I don't know if this is something I want to sell in my shop yet but if could be fun to take commissions for. What do you think of them? Which one is your favorite?

J.

Stay updated with MagicCatJenny on Bloglovin

Review & Giveaway with Datevation

Looks like Datevitation is getting around the blog world, well the silly romance bug has bitten me too. I've always wanted to do some sort of coupon book date grab bag idea filled lovey-dovey gift thing for Jim and now I have, and it was super easy!

(The packing is so cute!)

I'll be honest with you, at first I was not sure about these little books. I'm crafty, I could make these myself no problem. However, once I browsed through the site I saw the real benefit of them to me, date ideas! They have over 500 of them (wat?!) Now, I don't know about you, but I have a problem with 'choice anxiety.' What that means to me is that I love having adventures but can never decide what kind. Should we go on a dinner date, museum, movies, etc. etc. etc.? Most of the time, I'm sad to admit, we end up doing the same thing over and over again. There's nothing wrong with the 'classics' but new adventures can be great...if we could just make up our minds.

(I chose things like aquarium trip and wine tasting...but these 'adult' options are pretty adorable when it's stick figures are re-enacting them.)

So I got a Datevitation book for Jim with 5 date ideas for when we can't make up our minds. He loved it and we have already used one up (Observatory date!) A cute option they have is to add your own photos (of your faces) to the little cartoon bodies, but I thought the characters were too cute to not use completely.

They also have the option to do non-romantic 'dates as well. I almost wish I had browsed these options before I made my book for Jim. I'm curious to see what the activity ideas are for 'family dates'!

(I actually really love the idea of parents giving these books to their kids. Quality time!)

So the lovely people at Datevitation have set up a giveaway so one of my readers can win a free book! Just check out the Rafflecopter widget bellow to enter. If you just can't wait, they also have offered a coupon code for $10 off + shipping ($13.50 total off). Just enter ‘MAGICCAT’ at checkout. Make sure you get your orders in by December 13 if they are Christmas gifts.

Also, if you want to double up on your chances, head on over to Chantilly Songs, becouse she's hosting a Datevitation giveaway too!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Stay updated with MagicCatJenny on Bloglovin

Photo an Hour >> November 30th

The very last day of November was during my Thanksgiving break. That means I slept in. It was not until after breakfast and lounging around for a while that I remembered this project. So, it start's a bit late in the day. Only one more month till this project's done!

Past Photo an Hour:
January

February

March

April

May
June
July
August
September
October 

12:00pm >> The beautiful poinsettia my mother gave me. It's a Christmas plant so hopefully I can keep it alive till then.

1:00pm >> It's after Thanksgiving so that means it time to get out the Christmas decorations!

2:00pm >> Just a little bit of cleaning and organizing.

3:00pm >> I found book of Christmas crafts from when I was a child, so I made a penguin!

4:00pm >> Watching bad Christmas movies and enjoying my pumpkin candle. (don't know why, but I love taking photos of candles)

5:00pm >> Measuring the ingredients for the pies I need to make. (I broke one of those pyrex dishes this morning, I'm so mad.)

6:00pm >> Time to start peeling apples! (I watched so many bad Christmas movies that day)

7:00pm >> Mmmmmmm.

8:00pm >> Cooking!


9:00pm >> Party time! 

Sometime after 10:00pm >> You know, that time of night. When you and your friends model all of your friend John's vests. He numbers them...

J.

Stay updated with MagicCatJenny on Bloglovin

Pine Tree Ornaments

A few Christmas's ago I made some cute little pine tree ornaments for myself and some friends. The design was based off of one my mom used to make for local craft fairs and for gifts as well. They are mostly the same, I just added little faces to turn them into cute characters. Since it's the holiday season I thought I'd share with you these photos. I might make some more this year or I might make something different. I'm not so sure yet. Till I decide, let me know what you think of my little pine tree gang.
J.

Stay updated with MagicCatJenny on Bloglovin