The Feature Café ~ New Featured Seller + GIVEAW

Make sure to check out my other blog (The Feature Café) for this week's featured seller and giveaway!

GOOD LUCK (:

Are you hosting a giveaway right now?
What fun giveaways have you found around lately?

Monday Must Reads

How did I come up with this idea? Read here.


Photo "Jump For Happy Monday" © janeladalma

Every Monday I'll share some of my favorite posts from the week before! Think of it as a little "pick-me-up" to start your week (:

April 7th - 13th Must Reads

• EtsyFriends' Earth Day Challenge ~ Each team member made a challenge piece. Vote for your favorite & enter to win one out of ten sample boxes!
• How-to: Recycle Junk Mail into Paper Beads ~ GREAT tutorial for easily making your very own paper beads!
• MadeByGirl ~ This post is all about a fun photo tool called PhotoFunia!
• Craft Room Reveal ~ Keirstan, owner of The Pretty Neat Company (an organizing and ecorating help business), reveals one of her recent projects... an AMAZING craft room!
• Urban Easter Egg Hunt ~ Cute iJustine video!

Hope you enjoy this Monday Must Reads Collection!
Come back next Monday (April 20th) for a new set of links!

31DBBB ~ Day 7

^ Click to join! It's NEVER too late!

- DAY SEVEN -
Write a Link Post
^ Read more for details!

"It is day 7 in the 31 Day challenge and today’s task is to write a 'link post' - a post that links up to at least one other blog." - Darren at ProBlogger

Today's task has inspired me to do something new and unique with my blog. I've been trying to dream up something good for some time & today's task made my lightbulb click on.

A lot of people do, for example, Wordless Wednesday, posts... Posts in which they do not write, but simply share photographs of things. Most of the time there is a series of similar photographs like this one and other times bloggers just share funny comics like this one. "You've heard the expression -- A Picture is Worth a 1000 Words. That appears to be the premise behind Wordless Wednesday. One picture that tells a story." - By Barbara Crews, About.com

- My New & Unique Idea -
"Monday Must Reads"... Every Monday I'll share a few of my favorite blog posts found while doing my blog reading during previous the week. As my task was link other bloggers, I've linked a few blogs already (see above) and I'm also using my VERY FIRST Monday Must Reads post for my Day Seven task! Check it out here!


COME BACK SOON FOR DAY 8 OF THE 31DBBB!

31DBBB ~ Day 6

^ Click to join! It's NEVER too late!

- DAY SIX -
27 Must Read Tips and Tutorials for Bloggers
^ Read more for details!

"Today your task in the 31 Day challenge to Build a Better Blog is to do some learning from successful bloggers." - Darren at ProBlogger

For Day Six, Darren "...asked nine bloggers that I know and respect to nominate a few posts from their own blogs archives that they believe would be most helpful for bloggers wanting to improve their blogs."

- A Few Posts from the List I Found Helpful -
10 Reasons Readers Don't Leave Comments
How to Start (or Start-over) Building Your Personal Brand
40 Ways to Deliver Killer Blog Content

By reading these helpful posts, I've added a few more big things to my on-going to do list (:

If you are participating in the 31DBBB, which posts did you find most helpful?


COME BACK SOON FOR DAY 7 OF THE 31DBBB!

Happy Easter!

HAPPY
EASTER!



Check out these Easter facts...

• The name Easter owes its origin from Eastre, the Anglo-Saxon goddess who symbolizes hare and egg.
• Easter always falls between March 22 and April 25.
• Pysanka is a specific term used for the practice of Easter egg painting.
• From the very early times, egg has been considered to be the most important symbol of rebirth.
• The initial baskets of Easter were given the appearance of bird's nests.
• The maiden chocolate eggs recipes were made in Europe in the nineteenth century.
• Each year witnesses the making of nearly 90 million chocolate bunnies.
• Next to Halloween, Easter holiday paves way for confectionary business to boom.
• When it comes to eating of chocolate bunnies, it is the ears that are preferred to be eaten first by as many as 76% of people.
• In the catalogue of kids' favorite Easter foodstuff, Red jellybeans occupy top most position.

^^ Facts found at here!

Hope your holiday is fabulous & safe!

31DBBB ~ Day 5

^ Click to join! It's NEVER too late!

- DAY FIVE -
E-Mail a Blog Reader
^ Read more for details!

"Today’s task in the 31 Days to Build a Better Blog challenge is all about building community on your blog and making an impression upon readers by giving them some personal attention." - Darren at ProBlogger

How fun right? I always try to answer any questions left in my comments & today I'm taking the extra step to thank some of my readers personally (:

THANK YOU TO ALL MY FOLLOWERS!
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR LOYALTY!


COME BACK SOON FOR DAY 6 OF THE 31DBBB!

31DBBB ~ Day 4

^ Click to join!

- DAY FOUR -
Analyze a Top Blog in Your Niche
^ Read more for details!

There are a few blogs out there that I honestly check everyday I'm on the computer. Some are blogs I just find interesting, but a fair amount of them are blogs "in my niche" and I wanna keep tabs on them (: So today's challenge was pretty easy. I visited the craft/handmade/indie blogs I ALWAYS visit and took some notes. I also took Darren's advice and searched for other craft/handmade/indie blogs. I found some really great ones & took more notes. I plan to do this as often as possible for about a week & then compare notes to see what works and what doesn't (:


COME BACK SOON FOR DAY 5 OF THE 31DBBB!

31DBBB ~ Day 3

^ Click to join!

- DAY THREE -
Promote a Blog Post
^ Read more for details!

Day three's task was super easy & a wonderful idea! Most people, including myself, only promote their blog's main page. Example: Promoting http://manniemandiblenews.blogspot.com as opposed to an individual blog post, like this: http://manniemandiblenews.blogspot.com/2009/04/31dbbb-day-2.html.

Darren had a lot of ideas on how to drive traffic to your blog by promoting individual blog posts! He suggested to have a side bar on your blog with recent posts, or change your forum/email signature to have a link to a recent post. He suggested linking with other bloggers or leaving a comment on other blogs/forums (with your post link) that your blog post directly relates too! He also suggested to use all the social network/bookmarking sites out there, like Digg & StumbleUpon!

- How I Promoted My Day 2 Blog Post -
I like to use SocialMarker.com! SocialMarker is "Automated Submission to social bookmarking sites. Highest submission speed possible less then five minutes to 160 bookmarking services. Supports multiple user accounts." If I feel submitting to a certain site doesn't fit for any given post, I just skip it (: Try it out! I submitted my Day 2 post to Digg, Twitter and StumbleUpon.


COME BACK SOON FOR DAY 4 OF THE 31DBBB!

31DBBB ~ Day 2

^ Click to join!

- DAY TWO -
Create a List Post
^ Read more for details!

I like to write lists. Sometimes I just write them for fun (: I've decided to list my amazing Etsy team members from EtsyFriends'! Check out each shop, please! All of them are so creative and unique!

- My List -
http://aggieray.etsy.com/ (Linda)
*Beautiful handmade Handbags, accessories and more

http://allthangsoldbutnew2u.etsy.com/ (Missie)
*A little bit of Everything for Everyone!

http://AlwaysChic.etsy.com (Stacy)
*Never spend a day being ordinary

http://Angelicgems.etsy.com (Angel)
*Elegantly funky jewelry

http://amozarkian.etsy.com/ (Amy)
*Greeting cards, magnets and various art

http://Audj33.etsy.com (Audra)
*Mixture of photography and paintings

http://avidhunter3.etsy.com (Beth)
*monkee baby creations

http://babymoon.etsy.com (Sheila)
*All natural baby care products, jewelry, totes and slings

http://beckynot.etsy.com/ (Becky)
*Adorable crafts to support Doggy and Kitty rescue.

http://BusyBeadLady.etsy.com (Edyie)
*Artisan jewelry handmade necklaces, earrings, bracelets

http://Carapace.etsy.com (Sarah or Carapace or Cara)
*Armor against a gray day

http://ChristinaColwell.etsy.com (Christina)
*Mixed Media Folk Art

http://craftedfromtheheart.etsy.com/ (Rhonda)
*crocheting, jewelry, and scrapbooking

http://creation.etsy.com (Lindsay)
*Knitted accessories and more

http://creationsbycaseyfink.etsy.com (Casey)
*Creations by a Mom who has Creativity + Ingenuity + Common Sense

http://creativethings.etsy.com/ (Christi)
*knitted toys, jewelry, scarves

http://designedbykrhf.etsy.com (Kimi)
*Swimwear, lingere, and accessories for all.

http://designsbymisschris.etsy.com (Miss Chris)
*Unique, high-quality, and affordable one-of-a-kind creations

http://devancarol.etsy.com/ (Devan)
*Jewelry, tins, and supplies

http://dylnic.etsy.com (Karen)
*KC's Handpainted Boutique

http://earthmamahyde.etsy.com (Jesse)
*eco-friendly crafts

http://fancy.etsy.com (Sarah)
*trinkets and gifts

http://fuzzysheepcrafts.etsy.com (Chris)
*Homemade just for ewe!

http://gabbeyxxx.etsy.com (Gabbey)
*Feminine hair pieces and jewelry with a little edge.

http://gabrie.etsy.com (Gabrie)

http://GeckoJewelry.etsy.com (Jeanna)
*Handmade Jewelry and supplies

http://haannh.etsy.com (Han)
*100% hand painted batik on silk fabric.

http://herbjungle.etsy.com (Linlee)
*Bath and beauty products

http://hildeguardslair.etsy.com (Sharon)
or http://critterhabitat.etsy.com
*chainmaille jewelry, amigurumi and sculptures

http://ihemstitch.etsy.com (Kendra)
*Hemstitching is a series of reinforced holes that are around the edge of the blanket so you can add a decorative crocheted edge

http://jadedmind.etsy.com (Dianna)
*Are you Jaded?

http://JustforFunCrafts.etsy.com (Sheila)
*crafts I do just for fun!

http://kaleidoscopekorner.etsy.com/ (Nikki)
or http://heavenlybaubles.etsy.com
*jewelry, rag quilts and other great gifts

http://kraftykrew.etsy.com (Rita, sister and mom)
*Plush, knits and bags

http://KrazyFashion.etsy.com (Brittany)
*Krazy is how I like it!

http://kuncekrafts.etsy.com/ (Melissa)
*candles and scrapbooking

http://laurawallstaylor.etsy.com (Laura)
*one-off pottery

http://liko18.etsy.com (liko18)
*Liquidating my inventory of baby apparel and accessories!

http://lizzyboo.etsy.com/ (Elizabeth)
*Prints, Checkbook covers, coasters, and more.

http://lmgdesign.etsy.com (Lisa)
*'Pieces of Me' recycled puzzle pieces

http://lollysnestegg.etsy.com (Lolly)
*Dog bandanas, bears with clothes, and pretty jewels

http://miyaw.etsy.com/ or
http://greetingsfrommiyaw.etsy.com/ (Nadine)
*jewelry, leather crafts, and others - and greeting cards

http://mondrysyknotshop.etsy.com/ (Jenn) ~ Co-Leader
*Therapy pads, postcards, scrunchies and knot jewelry

http://mvincent.etsy.com/ (Mannie)
*Handmade goodies just for you ~ jewelry and Crochet

http://mycozycreations.etsy.com/ (Kimberly)
*headbands, crayon cozies, and more.

http://myissag.etsy.com/ (Melissa)
*crochet - wash cloth, hats, scarves, children, adult

http://MyPaperEden.etsy.com (Ivy)
*Beads, charms and acessories made from paper

http://Nyblaque.etsy.com (Ny or Andrea)
*Conservative Cool to Eco-Friendly Artisan Jewelry

http://porcelynns.etsy.com (Lynn)
*porcelain artist and a multi crafter

http://randomscraps.etsy.com (Andi)
*'handmade cards and gifts'

http://recupefashion.etsy.com or http://Recupefashionnstuff.etsy.com (Recupe)
*specialize in recuperating stuff and making it new

http://retroreesa.etsy.com/ (Reesa) "Doll Clothes/Vintage Dolls/Retro Jewelry" or http://reesasfavorites.etsy.com/ "A Variety Shop"

http://RhisBitsAndBeads.etsy.com (Rhi, or Lori)
*Where Quality Meets Affordable

http://ShopDavinia.etsy.com (Marlene)
*Purifying the mind, body and soul .

http://sosorosey.etsy.com/ (Jen or Soso)
*crochet bowl, coasters, upcycled creations

http://swiedebie.etsy.com (Swee)
*Cutsies for U and Your BB

http://SquaresOfFlair.etsy.com (Emily)
*Handcrafted personalized pendants with style

http://sygnetcreations.etsy.com/ (Amanda) ~ Team Leader
*travel neck pillows, blankets, pouches and key chains

http://tabasc1.etsy.com (Toni)
*Sweet Tabasco ~ jewelry and home decor

http://www.tagsandbuttons.etsy.com (Danelle) ~Co-Leader
*buttons, tags, matchbooks, and other promo items

http://thehoneyfitzfactory.etsy.com (Jennifer)
*Handmade Sterling Silver jewelry

http://thetopcat.etsy.com/ (Teresa)
*Jewelry and accessories for doggies

http://UniqueCharm.etsy.com (Leslie)
*From the everyday to the awesome

http://zappyturtle.etsy.com/ (Nikki)
*reclaimed treasures

Someday soon I'd like to list all the social networking sites I use, all the fun, free internet games I like to play, and more!

COME BACK SOON FOR DAY 3 OF THE 31DBBB!

31DBBB ~ Day 1

^ Click to join!

Yesterday (March 6th) was really day one, but I'm posting late, sorry!

- DAY ONE -
Develop an Elevator Pitch for Blog
^ Read for more details!

This was a difficult task for me. Asking me to write something describing my blog that lasts only 30 seconds (or 100-150 words) is asking a lot! Back in high school, in my English classes, I had to summarize whole chapters in one sentence. Are you kidding? I had the hardest time doing it. My teacher tried helping me with activities such as telling the story of The Three Little Bears in 25 words are less! I wanna see you try that, hehe!

- My Elevator Pitch -
"All about my handmade business and the tools I use to be successful."

13 Words - My lucky number, yay!)

This is will probably turn into an ongoing task, so check back for a better/improved/new one!

COME BACK TOMORROW FOR DAY 2 OF THE 31DBBB!

31DBBB!

Click ^ Sign up with me?

I've been a follower of Darren at ProBlogger for quite some time now. His blog is such a powerful tool for any blogger (: When I heard he was doing his "31 Days to Build a Better Blog Challenge" again, I HAD to get involved!

He has done the "31 Days to Build a Better Blog Challenge" in the past, and is back again with a new and improved approach. He has changed a few things & also added a forum for participants to communicate & share ideas!

From Darren...
"Every day for 31 days I will send you a short email with a link to an post. The post will contain two things: (1) A task for the day (2) Some brief teaching to help you implement the task! The idea is simple. By the end of the 31 days you’ll have learned 31 aspects of blogging and put them into practice. It is designed not only to fill your head with knowledge ABOUT blogging but give you some concrete things to do to actually DO something with the knowledge."

It's NEVER to late to sign up!! As of right now there's already 9200 people involved! Join us?

I can't wait to see my blog evolve & I can't wait to see yours grow either! If you are participating, leave a comment to let me know so we can help each other out!