New website - new blog

Hi everyone! This blog will no longer be updated as I have a new website and blog along with it, please go check it out at www.artofchelsey.com
Thanks!

2013 Yuletide Basket Giveaway!

16 Team members have gotten together this Holiday Season and all donated some wonderful items to create a Yuletide Basket Giveaway! Yours truly is one of them :)

'The Florida Etsy Street Team (FEST) 2013 Yuletide Basket Giveaway' by FEST

Win ALL 16 items listed here!! comment and favorite for chances to win! Drawing Dec. 14th Prizes mailed to the winner Dec. 15th counted entries will be 1 comment per person per day , & favoriting this treasury will give you another chance to win!

Team Fest Yule Bask... PennyBoperoo $13	Team Fest Yule Bask... asitcomesitgo... $0.2	Team Fest Yule Bask... PatricianCrea... $0.2	Florida Etsy Street... TeamFEST $1.2
Team Fest Yule Bask... LuckiiArts $0.2	Team Fest Yule Bask... LangsonsJewel... $0.2	Team Fest Yule Bask... beadloverskor... $0.2	Team Fest Yule Bask... EstiloMargot $0.2
Team FEST Yule Bask... YorelNaturals $0.2	Team Fest Yule Bask... WayfarerPrint... $0.2	Reversible Fabric B... alemahboutiqu... $0.2	Team Fest Yule Bask... HuffShuffLane $0.2
Team Fest Yule Bask... FromBeths $0.2	Team FEST Yule Bask... alyssacritter... $0.2	Reserved - Christma... NoRhymeOrReas... $4.5	Team Fest Yule Bask... RecreationalA... $6

Treasury tool by StylishHome.

All you need to do to enter is go to the Treasury Listing and comment to be entered! You can comment once per day, as well as favorite the listing for an additional entry!

The Drawing will be on Dec. 14th, items will be mailed out to winner on Dec. 15th (so they can make the best of all those holiday prizes!)

Here is an updated list of participants in this event:
1. FEST.etsy.com
2. pennyboperoo.Etsy.com
3. langsonsjewelrybox.etsy.com
4. huffshufflane.etsy.com
5. luckiiarts.etsy.com
6. beadloverskorner.etsy.com
7. EstiloMargot.etsy.com
8. alemahboutique.etsy.com
9. asitcomesitgoes.etsy.com
10. WayfarerPrints.Etsy.com
11. PatricianCreations.Etsy.com
12. norhymeorreasonat40.etsy.com
13. recreationalart.etsy.com
14. alyssacritters.etsy.com
15. YorelNaturals.etsy.com
16. FromBeths.Etsy.com

And an additional shout out to a team member who is helping to cover shipping for this great basket, LuckiiArts 

So what are you waiting for! Go check it out and enter - share with your family/friends so they can enter too!

How to make a personalized invitation from a digital template

How to make a personalized invitation from a digital template

So, as an ol’ photoshop pro, I sometimes am guilty of not considering how the other half operates (seriously how do you survive?) I recently ran into this problem head on when a client ordered one of my instant download invite’s – only to discover she had no idea what to do with it! Unfortunately I was out of town and was not able to respond or help her, thus losing a client and having to issue a refund, not to imagine the frustration on her end… I have decided to turn this bad experience into a learning opportunity for others.

Now, as anyone can tell you there are 100’s of ways to add text to an image and customize a file. For the purpose of this tutorial I am going to pick an easy (and free) method’s to edit one of my invitations (this one here). At the end of the tutorial, I will mention a few other sites/programs (also all free) that are great to utilize.

http://www.fotor.com/

I actually discovered Fotor today for the purpose of this tutorial. I like it because it is very easy to use, completely free, and I didn’t have to sign up or download anything to use it!

Step 1: Go to http://www.fotor.com/ and click on “Open a Photo”

Step 2: On the right of your screen go to “Add Photo” then “Computer”, then select your previously downloaded invite template.

Step 3: Add text! First click on the “T” in the green circle to get to your text area, then scroll through the font’s in either “Local” or “Online”. Once you find one you like, click on it and hit “Insert Text”

Step 4: You can use the tools to edit its color, size, ect. The color eyedrop tool is my favorite because I can use colors straight from the invite! Don’t be afraid to play around so you understand what these do before you move on. At any point you can edit your text by clicking on it.

Step 5: Repeat step’s 3 and 4! Just keep adding text until you are happy and have everything you need.

Step 6: If you are feeling extra adventurous check out their other tools, add clip art, ect Oh! And it will ask you to apply your changes before switching tools, always do so.

Step 7: Save! Go to the share icon and save as a jpg, highest quality on the slider bar.

Step….. YOUR DONE! At least with the design work. Now you can upload to facebook, print at home, or at a store.

Now, some other online programs that will allow you to add text (and do other awesome things as well):
https://photo-editor.canva.com/

http://pixlr.com/editor/

http://www.sumopaint.com/

http://www.splashup.com/

Some companies, online and storefront, that you can order prints from (and also edit):

http://photo.walgreens.com/walgreens/welcome

http://www.snapfish.com/photo-gift/welcome

http://www.cvsphoto.com/home

http://www.shutterfly.com/

http://photos.walmart.com/walmart/welcome

http://www.target.com/c/target-photo/-/N-5a1wg

I hope you will find this tutorial helpful, please comment below about your experience with any of these programs (or others). And if you are on the hunt for some invite templates feel free to check out my etsy shop (insert shameless self promotion)

-Chelsey

Swagbucks: Worth a try?

So I know this is primarily an art blog, and that I havn't posted in awhile, but I wanted to take a second to share my experience with a site called Swagbucks.



It is a combination of alot of things; search engine, small game host, survey spot, online videos, special offers, ect... All while offering you "Swagbucks" to do these things, which you can exchange for things like cash or prizes.

•Run "SBTV" in the background while I do other things, earning me 50pts per day.
•Play a few games, 10pts per day.
•There are various other short video's and other easy activity's, about 30pts per day.
•Search and Win, about 15pts per day.
That alone gives you about 100pts per day, not to mention all of the higher paying offer's or surveys you could qualify for. At 450pts you can buy an Amazon gift card (or save up a little more for a paypal one).

I have been a member for a really long time, but only in the past two weeks have I re-discovered its potential and new updates. In that time I have earned about $20 worth of points by not doing very much, just enjoying my time online and maybe a little extra time doing other things, so I wanted to mention it incase anyone else would like to give it a try.

New adventures! Custom shoes/hats

So I got bored this weekend and thought, "what have I been wanting to do for awhile?"

Paint on shoes! I loved how they came out and am now going to be selling them etsy and hopefully a few local shops! CHECK OUT MY SHOP BY CLICKING HERE

The result:

Time Lapse colored portrait

I have recently been trying my hand at Time Lapse, just so people can watch my process when I do a portrait. This is pretty low quality because its done via a phone app, but still awesome (if I do say so myself). Check it out and let me know what you think!

The finished piece:

Team FEST coupon book!

Just when you think it can't get any better - it does! Team FEST has done it again by compiling an AWESOME collection of discount codes in one easy to use coupon book! And whats even better? It is only $1.20! And because its a digital file, there is no wait time, just simply download and start shopping!
CLICK HERE TO GO CHECK IT OUT

The Florida Etsy Street Team Coupon Book contains coupons for several shops of members of The Florida Etsy Street Team (FEST). FEST is a "Warm & Sunny" group of crafters who LOVE the handmade movement! Team FEST is a friendly group of artists who all share the amazing luck of living in the Sunshine State. We work together to inspire each other, advertise and promote our businesses, support each other’s efforts, laugh together and make friends along the way!

Here is a list of Shops that have coupons included in This Florida Etsy Street Team Coupon Book:

WayfarerPrints.Etsy.com - 20% of total purchase of $10.00 or more
- FromBeths.Etsy.com - Buy 1 Get 1 Free Personalized Party Centerpiece Signs. Get one Free Matching Sign for Each 1 Purchased. (Max of 2 Free a $20.00 Value)
- PennyBoperoo.Etsy.com - $5.00 Off of any purchase of $20.00 (before shipping) for any online purchase
- Recreationalart.Etsy.com - 50% off of any online purchase
- GentlemansVintage.Etsy.com - $3.00 Off of any purchase of $7.00 (before shipping) for any online purchase
- Nouveauniche.Etsy.com - Code may be used once for 10% off any purchase, collector may sign up for email newsletter to receive additional discounts and exclusive promotions
- SocksKnitPalace.Etsy.com - $5.00 off purchases of $25 or more (before shipping)
- Sharon'sCandleShop.Etsy.co - 30% discount on minimum purchase of $20.00
- VisionsInJewelry.Etsy.com - Buy one pair of earrings, get one pair of earring at equal or lesser value
- AntsyArtist.Etsy.com - Get a 20% discount on $10.00 minimum orders (before taxes & shipping fees), this coupon cannot be combined with other offers/coupons & custom orders excluded
- Just4U Wearables.Etsy.com - $5.00 off purchases of $25 or more before shipping
- LeesEarringBoutique.Etsy.com - Coupon specifics: 25% off ANY purchase of handcrafted gemstone jewelry (can be multiple items in a single purchase)
- TheWoodenBee.Etsy.com - 15% off min. $10.00 purchase
- barefootprincessita.Etsy.com - $15.00 off of any purchase of $50.00 or more. One store purchase per coupon purchased per customer
- LastSummerTreasures.Etsy.com - $5 off any purchase of $20 or more (not including shipping)
- Stoneforestjewels.Etsy.com - Redeemable for every order you place 10% off expires only when book does
- KellyWarrenPhotoArt.Etsy.com - 10% off any purchase until coupon book expires
- HappyShackDesigns.Etsy.com - 10% off any purchase until coupon book expires  

And more are continuously being added! 
Go Buy yours now!