Announcement: Shop Rebranding and New Logo!

Firstly, this blog hasn't really been used by me much- it's been a side hobby but I plan to post more here! I guess you're waiting to here what I have been keeping under the wraps for so long.....

I have redesigned the shop and the logo! This is a huge thing for me, as I've always admired small businesses that have consistent packaging and branding! This is something that I have been working on myself.

So, when I started Woodland Owl Trinkets, I downloaded a graphic design program! I started out with a simple font and bought the license for it so I could use it for my business and went from there! I wanted Woodland Owl Trinkets to be elegant, yet rustic with a light feel to it! Kind of like burlap and lace, which I love! From about September 2013 till now, my "logo" has simply been a font. I couldn't figure out how to use the program I had downloaded! So, I made do with what I knew at the time and simply used the font as a logo. I decorated my gift boxes with a doily, lacy like rubber stamp image and used kraft boxes to add that rustic, woodlandsy feel to the packaging. I also had a rubber stamp made in the font I was using as my "logo." I used kraft colored paper as a base for everything, used white pigment ink for my rubber stamps and put all the necklaces in a simple ivory organza pouch.

Recently, I've added some washi tape to the packaging: 

But I've always wanted something a bit more to go with the name "Woodland Owl Trinkets."

And so it began: my second attempt at branding! I wanted something I could use for my Facebook page, online shop, packaging, custom order cards, thank you cards, information pamphlets and business cards. I stumbled upon some graphics and found someone that had a few owls and feathers for sale as a digital file! I knew I had to use them. I had actually mulled and thought over it for a long time before I actually went ahead and made my purchase.

I wanted the new design to be elegant, rustic, slightly whimsical and have a woodlandsy feel to it. (I hope the owls and the feathers achieve that!). Some of you may have noticed that the shop has been updated.

So, without further ado, here is some of the packaging that I have redone!

From left to right: Information cards (some info about the meaning behind the nests), necklace cards that hold the necklace inside the box, and lastly, the design that goes on the front of the box

All put together: 

In the next while, I'll be updating and tweaking everything else. I'm so excited about the new design! What do you think??? :) Leave me a comment below, I'd love to hear from you! And now...for the surprise...


***Who will be the first to order with the new packaging in place? The first 3 people to order and complete a transaction on woodlandowl.bigcartel.com via PayPal will get a special little surprise with their order. It'll be a surprise. This surprise gift could be a pendant, hairpin, earrings, brooch, necklace or another small nest surprise!! ***

Customization at Woodland Owl

Here are some of the customization options available for the nest necklaces at Woodland Owl Trinkets!

Don't forget: Gift Certificates are available in the shop! 

New Year's Resolutions

Last year, my resolution was to cut down my sugar intake. I think I did okay, considering the sweet tooth I have for chocolate! I have to admit, there may have been a few times that I consumed a large bar of chocolate all by myself within hours. (Large as in 12x4 inches!!!). My other goal was to establish a small craft business, which I did! I am so thankful that I get to create things I love while making some extra money. The main reason I started my business was because I needed an excuse to make more nests! Go here to check it out! www.facebook.com/woodlandowl or woodlandowl.bigcartel.com

Printable New Year's Downloads from CelebrateMag

This year my resolutions are as follows: 

1. Blog! There are a few reason that I'd like to blog. The first one is so that I can document my crafty adventures. I'd also like to post tutorials of my own or links to tutorials that I stumble upon! My friends often ask me how I make my crafts- hat better way to show them than to blog about it? If my blog becomes popular, I'd love to help other small craft business gain some audience and exposure. :) Another added bonus to having a blog would be additional traffic to my little craft business :)

2. Go to church regularly.

3. Eat more veggies!

4. Focus on the things that are really important, such as relationships and people, no matter how much trivial things may bother me. (A leaky pipe isn't going to harm me, and all I can do is get it fixed).

5. Eat less frozen meals and cook from scratch more often. I know, this one is going to be a tough one- our family loves frozen lasagna! It is so easy to pop in the oven!

6. Make our house feel like a home. And blog about it! We moved into our townhouse last year, and I never got around to decorating or hanging pictures up. I think part of the reason is because I didn't know how to work with the couches we had. But we are getting new couches this January! I picked them out myself, so I know that it'll complement my decor preferences. Those who know me have probably already guessed that they are going to be purple couches. Yes! We are getting purple couches!   I'm going to be getting tons of inspiration from Pinterest! I'll be sure to document projects here!

Ikea

What were your resolutions last year? Did you accomplish them? What are your New Year's Resolutions this year? I'd love to hear about them! 

Upcoming Craft Shows

I'm going to be a busy little bee in the next few weeks! Here are my upcoming craft shows:

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November 15 (Thursday)- 3-9pm - Hillcrest Elementary at 18599 65 Avenue Surrey, BC

November 17 (Saturday)- 11am-4pm -Semiahmoo Secondary  at 1785 148 Street Surrey, BC

November 24 & 25 10am-4pm - Simonds Elementary at 20190 48th Avenue Langley, BC

November 30th (Friday)-  5-9pm - Christmas in Cloverdale at Cloverdale Fairgrounds 6050A- 176 Street Surrey BC in the Shannon Hall

December 1st (Saturday)- 10am-4pm - Christmas in Cloverdale at Cloverdale Fairgrounds 6050A- 176 Street Surrey BC in the Shannon Hall
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I am so excited for these Christmas Craft fairs. I'm excited for the Christmas season- I'll be decorating my house soon and I've even got some ideas to make the house smell like Christmas ;)

Here is a glimpse of the orders I was working on last week

Hope to see you there! Any tips on how to make the house smell like Christmas? Are you planning to go to any craft shows as a vendor or a shopper this year?

It's all in the details

I am super excited to be in a farmer's market this weekend. I have been working on branding my shop, and I have come up with a theme /feel that I am aiming for- a rustic-vintage-cottage-woodlandsy-feminine th em , soft colors, burlap, earthy undertones, and old sheet music. I don't know how to put all that into one word!

Here is a picture of some of my packaging. I am making a bunting out of lacey scrapbook paper. Oh! And the necklace display used to be a plain old white velvety material. I cut up some old music sheets and mod podged it onto the display. Gotta love that mod podge! :)

Please excuse the dark and blurry pictures... I was using my phone for vzythis :p


Hope everyone is having a great weekend :)

Crocheted Gadget Cozy Tutorial

First: A reminder- I am still doing a giveaway of one of my bird's nest necklace! Please go to www.facebook.com/woodlandowl for more details, and to enter through the GIVEAWAY tab! 

This one's pretty simple and straightforward- a crocheted phone cozy. I needed something to protect my phone, and I love crocheting so this happened!

Recommended yarn weight: Worsted
Recommended crochet hook size: 4.5-5mm

Row 1: Crochet a chain that is as long as your cellphone or gadget. (For me, this was about 9 chains).
Row 2: single crochet across chain, making 3 sc in the last chain. Do NOT turn.

Row 3: continue sc across the opposite side of the chain, making 3 sc in the last chain. Do not turn.

Continue sc into each sc, and keep going until the cozy is as long as your cellphone!  You will basically single crochet into a spiral as it builds the length of the cozy.

When you have reached the desired length, stop in the middle and chain about 6-7 to form a loop that will be part of the button enclosure. Continue along with your single crochets as normal.

This is a quick, easy little project that you can do in front of the TV, yet fun enough to keep your hands busy.

Bird Nest Necklace Giveaway!

 I just love making these bird nest necklaces! When I reach 50 likes on my facebook page (Woodland Owl Trinkets) I will be doing a giveaway :) Go to www.facebook.com/WoodlandOwl :)