Getting Organized - Is That Ribbon in Your Gutter?

While surfing the net, I ran across this really neat idea for ribbon storage.

Megan of, www.kanzlerthoughts.blogspot.com shows us how to install a piece of vinyl rain gutter to our work area to hold our spools of ribbon.

I thought this was a really unique idea.

Look how nicely it fits in there.

To find out how she did this, visit her blog, www.kanzlerthoughts.blogspot.com

Thanks for visiting!
Deena Davis
www.byyourhands.com

Selling Online --- Top 10 Ways To Promote Your Business on a Shoestring Budget

One of the main things to remember when you are selling online is you need to promote your shop/items. Adding things to your etsy or artfire shop does not equal sales, you have to get  the items out there for others to see.

You don't have to have a huge budget to get yourself noticed. There are a lot of ways to market your items that are absolutely free.

I've compiled my top 10 list of places that I use to promote my things on a regular basis.

1. Facebook/Twitter... Show off your stuff to your friends by using social networks. There are others besides facebook and twitter, but those are the two I use most. (hint: don't post your links only... be social and talk about other things too)

2. Banner/Link Exchanges... Trade links or banners with others that sell online. Most are happy to exchange.

3. Forums... If you are a member of a forum, and the forum allows for it, show off your things once in a while. As with social networking, you can't use a forum for solely showing off your things... you have to be social and talk about other things too.

4. Topsites... Topsites are FREE to join and they get seen by many. There are many many topsites out there, choose one that is in your market.  We have several topsites for different venues and sellers, I will list those at the bottom of this post.

5. Groups... Join an Etsy group or an ArtFire guild and connect with others that sell things too. Most groups are set up to help promote each other.

6. Blogs... Blogging is a great way to feature your items so others can get to know you and see your items. Set up a blog and make friends with other bloggers in your area of expertise. You can exchange links with them.

7. Online Marketplaces... there are many many online marketplaces. Most will be themed to a certain genre such as primitive crafting, or boutique clothing. Most of these marketplaces are very inexpensive to advertise on.

8. Online Magazines... Craft magazines have popped up all over the internet and are a perfect place for crafters to advertise. You can purchase ad spots in the magazine or sometimes even on the magazine's website. www.creativetimesmagazine.com is one of the original online craft magazines. They have many readers too!

9. Business Card/Flyer Exchange... Ask your crafty friends to do a business card exchange or a flyer with you. When they sell something, they include your flyer or business card in their outgoing package and you do the same for them. Bette and I have been exchanging flyers for quite some time now.

10. Advertise Locally... Hang up a flyer or packet of business cards on community bulletin boards. I've seen this type of advertising at the grocery store, post office and laundry mats.

As I mentioned before, Bette and I have several topsites that are free to join. They also have some paid spots that are very low cost. Here is a list of our topsites...
Top 100 Etsy Shops
Top Printables and Graphics Sites
Top 100 Pattern Sites
Top 100 Handcrafter Blogs
Top 100 Artfire Shops (this one is BRAND NEW)

And finally,  here are three busy websites that are free to advertise on.
http://primitivecrossroads.com/
http://www.theprimitivehandmadedirectory.com/
http://www.craftsitedirectory.com/


If you have other ideas for promoting on a budget, please post a comment. We'd love to hear from you.

Thank you for joining us!
Deena Davis
www.byyourhands.com

Time Saver Recipes ----- Slow-Cooker Chicken Taco Soup

Fall is in the air,  the kids are back in school and crafting is in full swing for those who do fall and winter craftshows or have an online shop.

I don't know about you but for me summer cooking is hit or miss.   Where I live it is just too hot to spend much time in the kitchen.     But I love using the crockpot at this time of year.    It is wonderful to know that once I assemble all the ingredients in the crockpot I can forget it until dinner time.

Today I want to share a recipe I found on  The Baking Beauties blog.

The Baking Beauties started out as a regular food blog in 2008  but not too long afterwards  it became a gluten-free recipe blog.    You can still find recipes like this under the previous recipes category.   But if you have been in search of gluten free recipes you will find some great ones on the Baking Beauties.

Slow-Cooker Chicken Taco Soup

This was a staple in our house all last fall and winter.   I doubled some ingredients in my large crock-pot and froze leftovers in individual containers for lunches.


Ingredients:

• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 (16 ounce) can chili beans
• 1 (15 ounce) can black beans
• 1 (15 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
• 1 (8) ounce can tomato sauce
• 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
• 2 (10 ounce) cans diced tomatoes with green chilies, undrained
• 1 (1.25 ounce) package taco seasoning
• 3 whole skinless, boneless chicken breasts (My variation:  I precook the chicken and dice it up)
• shredded cheddar cheese (optional)
• sour cream (optional)
• crushed tortilla chips (optional)

Directions:

1. Place the onion, chili beans, black beans, corn, tomato sauce, chicken broth, and diced tomatoes in a slow cooker. Add taco seasoning, and stir to blend. Lay chicken breasts on top of the mixture, pressing down slightly until just covered by the other ingredients. Set slow cooker for low heat, cover and cook for 5 hours.
2. Remove chicken breasts from the soup, and allow to cool long enough to be handled. Stir the shredded chicken back into the soup, and continue cooking for 2 hours. Serve topped with shredded Cheddar cheese, a dollop of sour cream, and crushed tortilla chips, if desired.

Here is what I add to this recipe to have leftovers for lunches :

• 1 (16 ounce) can chili beans
• 1 (15 ounce) can black beans
• 1 (15 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained

I have also substituted cooked ground beef for the chicken and it is good,  too.

I would like to thank Jeanine from www.thebakingbeauties.com for allowing us to post her recipe here.

Hope you enjoy today's recipe.
Bette
www.byyourhands.com

Do you have a tried and true time saver recipe you would like to share with our readers?   Email me at byyourhandsblog@gmail.com   

Trash to Treasure --- Shutters

Today I am sharing some nifty ideas on what to do with old shutters.

I love this first idea from She's Smart.

 The shutter is side ways,   add decorative brackets and a shelf across the top and hooks on the bottom.   Great for an entry way.

Here is an unusual use for shutters.   Learn how to make an earring holder on Eating, Etc.

Make a plant stand out of them.    Instructions on Ehow.

Here is an altered art note holder from Altered Artworks.

Then of course you can always restore them and use them indoors,

or outdoors.

Thanks for visiting today.
Bette
www.byyourhands.com

Today's Featured Artists --- The Old Farmhouse Gathering Etsy Team

Today's featured artist is actually a group of artists that belong to an Etsy team,   The Old Farmhouse Gathering.

It is a talented, professional group of artisans who create everything from Primitive to Shabby Chic, with an old fashioned flair!

Here is just a small sampling of some of the team's handmade items you can find on Etsy.

Beautiful hand painting from the Fox Glove Folkart shop.     http://www.etsy.com/shop/foxglovefolkart

Adorable handmade mice from the Warmth shop.   http://www.etsy.com/shop/Warmth

Awesome handmade wood furnishings from the Firecracker Kid shop.   http://www.etsy.com/shop/firecrackerkid

Lovely handwoven baskets made by Rose.    http://www.etsy.com/shop/basketsbyrose

The OFG Team is having a Halloween celebration on Etsy right now.   Just search HCOFG under handmade on Etsy to see all the wonderful items for sale.

Here is a treasury I put together of some of the items in the celebration.  If you click on a picture it will take you to that artist's shop.

'Halloween Celebration' by HandmadeByBette

Halloween Primitive Spooky S... Primgal $12	PRIMITIVE GRUNGY HALLOWEEN C... VintageKeepsak... $33
Primitive Stitchery HALLOWEE... wvluckygirl $9.99	Primitive Folk Art Halloween... CaveCreekStudi... $25
Washcloth - Crochet- Purple,... tinsandtreasur... $4	By Pumpkins Fat Pillow Thecountrystor... $15
Wool Appliqued Pillow Pumpki... TeresasPrimTre... $14.95	Fall Floral (Terrye French) ... adorablecc $49.95
A Tiny Bit of Halloween barbsheartstro... $12	Handpainted Scarecrow -Harve... catsdesigns $21.95
Pumpkin Head Tucks Set of Th... RustyThimble $14.99	A Touch of Sunshine - Wicked... atouchofsunshi... $22
Primitive Red Rooster Poultr... YorkiesPrimiti... $10	Folk Art Halloween Witch Spi... raggedyjan $30.98
Mouse, Jack-o-Lantern, Bucke... MotherlodeToad $20	The House Of Spooks Sign, HC... icehousecrafts $16.99

Generated using Treasury HTML code generator by Whale Shark Websites.

Some places to find the Old Farmhouse Gathering.

The Old Farmhouse Gathering will soon be having their annual  Holiday Gift Basket giveaway.   Details will be available on the team blog in a few weeks.
http://oldfarmhousegathering.blogspot.com

You can visit most of the individual shops on the OFG Artisan Blog.
http://oldfarmhousegatheringartisans.blogspot.com/

There is also the team cooking blog with recipes from the members.
http://oldfarmhousecooking.blogspot.com/

Thanks for visiting today.
Bette
www.byyourhands.com