May Giveaway

Eliza K Prints May Giveaway!

Over $80 in prizes! We've got some awesome shops offering a ton of great merchandise! In order to participate you must have a U.S shipping address. Use the Rafflecopter at the bottom of the post to enter!

Stock up on your choice of $20 worth of PDF Sewing Patterns from Mixy Mitzy. 

Shop Section: PDF Sewing Patterns. So much to choose from!

Visit Mixy Mitzy on Etsy, Facebook and Wordpress.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++

A $20 credit to Eternal Girl: Henna Inspired Hand Drawn Jewelry and Greeting Cards. 

Visit Eternal Girl on Etsy, Facebook, Twitter, Blogspot and Pinterest

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Win this awesome Coral Charm Drop Bracelet from Piece and Tranquility Jewelry which retails for $27!

 Visit Piece and Tranquility Jewelry on Etsy, and  Facebook. As an added perk, Eliza K readers get a special coupon code! For 10% off your purchase, enter in: ELIZAK10 at checkout! Valid until June 15th.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

A $20 shop credit to KAD designs: "custom invitations, wedding sets, and all the little details that go into your special day"

Visit KAD Designs on Etsy, Facebook, and Twitter. 

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

A $20 shop credit to ARTDesignsbyannaart: Handmade Jewelry

Visit on Etsy and Facebook.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

----------------------------a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sweepstakes Cash Sweepstakes

Cork Coasters: A How To Revisited

This blog post originally appeared on this blog in 2012. This is one of my all time favorite tutorials and I wanted to re-visit it. Stay tuned for new tutorials this summer!

This has been something I've wanted to try for a long time, but haven't had enough cork to do so! We're not big wine drinkers and as you can see from the photos, we only really drink one brand. I like the uniform look only using one brand accomplished, but I think it would be fun to mismatch as well. This project also fits in with my goal of trying to create less waste and use things I already have. Don't throw away your cork! There are so many innovative things you can do with it!

First: Assemble your cork!  

 

This is easiest if you simply keep them all together from the start rather than having to search through a million drawers to get the right amount. I keep mine in a plastic baggy in the pantry.

Second: Placement.

 Choose corks that fit well together. Some are oddly shaped and difficult to stick to each other. Save yourself some grief during the gluing process and create your layout before you start gluing. Make sure the way they are positioned that they are touching on all sides!

Third: Strategy

  I'm not particularly graceful, and when it comes to glue I'm downright clumsy. I almost always get it on something or someone (usually myself). Figure out the best way to glue them together so they'll stay with everyday wear and tear. Follow these tips to get the desired outcome below!

- Glue the middle two together first. These will be the most difficult. Follow the instructions on your glue and if it says "hold together for 30 seconds" be safe and double it to 60. Follow the gluing order using the diagram below!

- Crazy glue is just that, crazy. Make sure you are gluing on a surface that you don't care too much about, and that you a wearing scrub clothes. You're going to get glue somewhere, trust me.

When all is said and done you should have a coaster that looks something like this:

What do you usually do with  your leftover cork? Let me know in the comments!

Guest Post: Top Four Tips On Using Pinterest for Garden Inspiration

Jaime from Barks Blog shares her top four tips on using Pinterest for garden inspiration.

I've always been fascinated with gardens.  Perhaps it was because "The Secret Garden" was my very favorite book as a child.  I would find myself spending countless hours pining over beautiful gardens in magazines. As an adult I loved those "over the top" spaces so much that I just put off working on my yard since I felt like I didn't have the time and money for glossy perfection. In fact, I had let it fall into total disrepair.  Then one day inspiration hit.  I decided I could make something magical in my own space with some hard work and creativity.  I decided to forgo high-end perfection for quirky whimsical charm.  I am a little eccentric and my house is a little weird (it has two front doors), so having a creative yard was a good fit.  I decided to take my passion for upcyling and apply it to my yard.  I started to think outside the box about what I could use for inspiration. And my friends, pinterest is a gold mine for ideas and inspiration.   I have a pinterest board where I collect all of my off beat outdoor ideas. In light of the warm weather, I thought I would share my top four tips for using pinterest to create a magical outdoor space.  But first, here is a little glimpse of my own going yard renovation.  I can't wait to get some new pictures in a couple of weeks when all my flowers in bloom.

Pinterest Inspiration and Tips:

1.  Don't be a copy cat.

I always try to put my own spin on pinterest ideas.  It's not that the ideas aren't great but I just like to do it my own way.  Use someone else's creativity as a spring board. I took the ideas of a small butterfly from left over tin and used it to inspire me to make a big flower out of some leftover sheet metal I had in my barn.  It doesn't mean I didn't love the little butterfly, I might make some in the future, but I created something unique to me and my yard.  Originality is always more fun.

                                        

2.  Not everyone on pinterest is an expert.

Do your homework! This is really true with plants (The GardenWeb Forum is a great place for gardening tips).  While lots of folks on the internet are legit, I've been burned a few times by believing what I've read on a blog.  I'm not going to post any false pins, because I believe people mean well, but I've read some post that just weren't true.  Before you apply a homemade insecticide take a few seconds and look around the internet to make sure it is legit.  Just because you saw it on pinterest doesn't mean it works.

3. Stop and read tutorials.

 Yes, this seems straight forward but as someone who is always running around like a crazy person, I tend to skim over posts.  This totally bit me in the rear when it came to our fire pit.  I saw a post and I thought the writer used retaining wall stones for their fire pit.  The thing is, they didn't.  They used stone specially made for a fire pit.  I didn't realize this error until we were in our yard rearranging a whole much of retaining wall stones trying to figure out why they wouldn't make a circle like the one on the blog.  I kept saying "but I saw it on pinterest."  Finally my husband asked to see the post.  I think he almost tossed the phone at me when he realized we bought the wrong stones.  Ooops.  He is awesome, so he made it work (which turned out much cheaper than fire pit stones, though eventually over years of extended use, they might break down) but it would have been much easier if I had taken a few extra minutes and read the post.

4.  You don't need to spend a ton of money.

Pinterest is overflowing with inexpensive ideas for your garden.  Take your time and use what you have.  For example, a super cute planting bench from old pallets. I've also made planters from old cans.  I line all of my beds with cardboard.  It is free (I get it from our local hardware store) and it keeps the weeds at bay.  Much cheaper than buying bed lining   Think outside of the box when it comes to your garden.  I love re-purposing and recycling  I also recommend getting your plants from the clearance section.  You can also get free plants from craig's list (or raid your friends yards).

 

Do you have any suggestions or tips for using pinterest for garden inspiration?

 You can see more of my ongoing backyard transformation here.  Please feel to free to follow along with me and my family as we attempt to create a life full of creativity and adventure on our blog, www.barksblog.com.

Erin Inspirations: Eliza K Prints April Sponsor

A few of my favorite pieces from our April sponsor, Erin Inspirations! 

Guest Post: Adirondack Patterns Shares Their Online Success Story

Are you an up and coming Etsy seller? Have you been on Etsy for a long time with little to no reward? Maybe you have a moderately successful store and want to push things to the next level? Adirondack Patterns is an established Etsy shop with over 2000 sales, a large fan base and a unique product. Read their top five tips for selling online below!

"Adirondack Patterns is a collaboration between twin sisters Laura and Julia who's love of sewing and crafting for their children expanded into the creation of an online ETSY store. Just celebrating our 3rd Anniversary of being in business, Adirondack Patterns has grown to include over 80 patterns and tutorials; including those on cloth diaper sewing, complete instructions on several variations of Waldorf dolls, clothing tutorials, and accessories (sewn, knit, and crochet) for little ones and adults alike. All of the patterns and tutorials are very simple to follow and almost all of them have detailed photos for every step of the process."

Adirondack Patterns Top 5 Recommendations For Online Success

1. Spread the word! Social media (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Blog advertising) are great avenues for getting news about your business out there!  Make a Facebook page, and ask all of your friends to like it, ask them to share it with their friends, and so on.

2. Take amazing, clean, crisp pictures featuring your product! You can tell a lot by a glimpse, and if your shop has poor photos, the chances of someone taking a second look is less likely.  Clear backgrounds, natural lighting, along with details of the product will help the item sell itself.  Take pride in your shops appearance.

3. Offer excellent customer service, and value it! Feedback on ETSY is huge, it helps a person decide if your product is a hero or a zero. It makes it easier for the customer to buy your product instead of someone else's.  If a customer has a problem, address it as best you can, offer a refund if applicable, offer an exchange if that is preferable, or send them a free sample! Apologize for the inconvenience and ask what you can do to make their experience better.. Calm the waters before it becomes a negative to the business. One bad feedback can drop your percentage of positives immediately and have a lasting effect. Offering a solution might not get you positive feedback, but it will hopefully prevent negative feedback.

4. Offer discounts and promotions!  Every few months we try and offer a coupon code for a weekend for our loyal customers and Facebook friends.  Even a 20% discount is appreciated and utilized! I know some of our customers wait for that discount, and that is OK! We love any and all business.  

5. Change it up! Change your product pictures, change your logo, anything that can draw in a new eye, some people gravitate to some colors, so they may not have seen your item before if it wasn't in an eye catching hue for them. Make sense? Also we recommend adding a new item every now and then.  Over the past 3 years we have grown from 30 items to over 90 items in our shop. Creative, useful, well made items are always in need! The more you create, the broader clientele you can reach!

Newbie Mistakes to Avoid

1. Avoid at all costs getting in over your head! Start small and grow slowly.  Don't make 20 of the same item until you see how it sells.  You are wasting valuable time and resources

2. Don't think that just because you think it is cool or useful that every one else will.  People are individuals and they may not like what you make. Don't worry, just take their suggestions, and use it as a stepping stone. Take the majority of what people are saying and use it to your advantage. As for the nasty people in this world, let it roll.  

3. Don't feel obligated to discount or be haggled with. You are basing your prices on what you value the product and your time to be. If people don't want to pay the prices then wait until there is someone who will. You might be desperate for a sale, but you are worth it to charge what you feel is a fair price. That is why you can offer the discounts! 

Visit Adirondack Patterns on:

Etsy     Blog

Thanks Adirondack Patterns for sharing your experience at Eliza K! 

Eliza K Prints ShabbyApple $50 Giftcard Giveaway!

Shabby Apple $50 Giftcard Giveaway

An Eliza K Event

Left to right: 1 2 3

Shabby Apple is offering Eliza K Prints readers a chance to win a $50 giftcard to their site.

This contest is open to US residents with a valid US shipping address. How to enter:

+Mandatory entries worth 1 point+

+"Like" Shabby Apple on Facebook 

+ Head to Shabby Apple and choose your favorite dress or item, then come back and leave a comment with a link to it.

+Optional entries worth 3 points+

+ Follow Eliza K Prints on Twitter

+ "Like" Eliza K Prints on Facebook

+ Follow Eliza K Prints on Pinterest

Make sure to leave a separate blog comment for each entry. (i.e "I liked Shabby Apple on Facebook")

Here are a few of my favorite items from Shabby Apple!

Navy Lace Dress $102

Twin Palms $74

Contest will be open until April 30th!

Online Sweepstakes Sweepstakes

Weekend Food Prep and Goal Update

This is  my 3rd installment of Weekend Food Prep (view February and March) and I'll admit this ones a bit of a failure. I often try new ideas on the weekend only to find they don't stay fresh very long or just end up languishing in the fridge. Not very frugal or healthy! I started Weekend Food Prep with the idea that it will help me accomplish one of my new years resolutions: Eating Smarter. My new goal is to be a bit more selective on what I make, how much I prepare and only making enough for the first few days of the week. That way I not only get ahead on my planning, but waste less in the process. Make sure to stop by The Lean Green Bean, the founder of Food Prep and a big inspiration!

Ways to Eat Smarter and Reduce Waste

A Follow-Up to My Green Goals

I started out this year with five goals to go green(er). One of my goals was to only buy what I can eat. I feel I've done pretty well with this goal and a lot of it has to do with being so far from fast food, convenience stores and quick fixes. As a household we've made a lot of progress on meal preparation, freezing and smarter buying. Now, we do have it a lot easier than most households in that we don't have children. There are only two of us to worry about! But I think these tips can easily be adapted to fit any household. Since starting this in January, here is what we've learned...

1. Buy in Bulk: but only if you can eat it before it expires.

We've been going to Costco pretty regularly in 2013. But not for everything. Costco can be pretty tempting. You can get a lot for a reasonable price and I think the tendency for most people is to go overboard. If you want to get the most for your money at Costco, follow these simple steps:

• Don't go in without a list. Ever.
• Buy the staples. Things like pasta, canned goods, bread etc.
• Do not buy extras or treats. You'll get bored of them and end up throwing them out eventually.
• Plan the rest of your shopping around Costco! Go their first, evaluate if bulk is better, then find the rest of your items somewhere else.

2. Plan Your Weekly Meals: 

This may seem like a no brainer but I've only recently started thinking ahead in terms of meals. After my boyfriend went full on vegetarian I found that I was eating less meat. I had to actively plan a meal with a meat protein in order for it to happen. And while I admire vegetarians, I have noticed the tendency for most of them to over indulge on carbs and starches when they aren't being pro-active about their protein substitutes. And I am a protein monster. I need it every meal or I get weak and cranky. Weekend Food Prep has been a big part of planning because I can do a lot of the prep work (marinating, chopping etc) on the weekend.  Planning my meals has helped me:

• Manage my undiagnosed hypoglycemia. (Or "monsterness", whatever it is, its awful, and protein is the only cure)
• Avoid opening up frozen cheese pizza more than once a week
• Minimized our after work grocery store trips to "find something for dinner"
• Encouraged use of our new crock pot!

3. Don't Use Pinterest For All Recipe Inspiration

As with most internet trends, Pinterest was incredibly awesome before corporations found out it existed. I've noticed an alarming number of pins that are obviously planted by marketing companies and expected to viral. Bloggers are also abusing Pinterest to hawk their sponsored posts and they seem to be crowding out the user-generated, organic pins with genuine recipes. If I find something I like on Pinterest, I tend to look elsewhere for the recipe.  Pinterest is basically a fantasy pinboard of all the things we wish we had or did. Its not for everyday life, and while its a good place to start, its not the end all be all. When meal planning:

• Use the 4:1 ratio. Use tried and true recipes for the majority of your week, and something new and exciting once a week. 
• Make room for indulgence. If you deprive yourself constantly, you'll find yourself making trips to the store for bad eating decisions. And wasted money!

My April Food Prep (in which I broke all the rules)

From left to right:

I've been eating a lot of yogurt and granola lately. I learned the hard way that making this in advance turns the satisfying crunchy granola to mush. It didn't help that the bananas came along for the ride.

An ambitious pin. That very appetizing looking corn dip had mayonnaise in it and thus ruined all the delicious ingredients. Won't be making that again.

Everyone all together. Yogurt, granola and fruit, Roasted potatoes, spaghetti sauce, corn dip, asparagus and leftover bread dough (which apparently you should bake quickly or else it will ferment).

Make sure to head over to the The Lean Green Bean for some real food prep inspiration! Hopefully my future ones will be more successful!

you will find me:

Little House DIY Linky  - Heart and Soul Tuesday Blog Hop -  Whole Foods Wednesday - Wildcrafting Wednesday - Party Wave Wednesday -  Healthy 2Day Wednesdays - Frugal Days Sustainable Ways - The Mommy Club - Your Green Resource - DIY Thrifty Thursday - Thank Your Body Thursday - Nourishing Resolutions Carnival - Tasty Traditions - Simply Natural Saturdays - Sunday School Blog Carnival -  Make Your Own Monday - Clever Chicks Blog Hop - Monday Mania - New and Better Moms Link Up - Fat Tuesday - Anti-Procrastination Tuesday - Family Table Tuesday - Teach Me Tuesday - Wicked Awesome Wednesday -  Domestically Divine Tuesday - HomeAcre Hop - Simple Lives Thursday -