new business cards

{photo credit: me}

i'm so excited to share my new business cards with you guys! it's been a long time since i've had updated business cards. the last ones i ordered were pretty cool and didn't cost me that much to order, but they were still missing that special something. i have been thinking about what i wanted my new cards to look like and considered making them myself, but i didn't want them to turn out looking like a bad art project. after some research on pinterest and etsy, i decided to go the route of rubber stamp business card. so very happy with how it turned out!

{photo credit: me}

{photo credit: me}

{photo credit: me}

i found sam on etsy, and she was the sweetest and coolest girl to work with. her shop is yournewfriendsam, and she is so talented. she does lots of custom design work, hand lettering, rubber stamps, and photography. i highly recommend her for any custom design work! she was always very quick to respond to my questions and emails, and once i decided on what i wanted my stamp to say, the turnaround time was super quick. my stamp was in my greedy hands in probably about a week!

{photo credit: me}

the thing i like so much about using a stamp as my business card is that i can never run out of cards. when my stock is running low, i don't have to re-order online and wait two weeks for them to arrive. i can simply stamp up a bunch of fresh cards! and by using different colored inks and papers, i can customize how each set turns out.

thank you sam for designing such a beautiful stamp! it's like i'm a real artist now.

{photo credit: me}

giveaway

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hey all! just a quick post today to let you guys know about a giveaway samantha at elah tree is doing with a piece of my jewelry! samantha has an amazing blog and runs a fabulous etsy shop. i have been enjoying getting to know her through our emails and from reading her fun posts. she is a sweet girl and super talented to boot! she made an awesome sidebar button for my blog (see on right side) as well as an amazing new banner for my etsy shop. i am way impressed with her work. i would have tried and failed miserably to make those things on my own. thank you, samantha!

head on over to her blog for a chance to win and stick around and get to know samantha while you're there. happy monday! 

etsy swap 2014

{photo credit: me}

i recently participated in the etsy swap 2014 hosted by meg and amy and had a blast! the person i was assigned to "stalk" and shop for was the ever-cool jess from writing in red lipstick. based on the short bio i received about her and from reading up on her blog, i found out she lives in virginia and has a thing for bees and woodland creatures. oh yes, i could definitely work with this. i got to work scouring etsy for some choice gifts and it didn't take me long to find some items to send to miss jess. here is the little package i put together for her.

{photo credit: me}

{photo credit: me}

{photo credit: me}

when i got the fox brooch in the mail, i wanted to keep him for myself! how cute is his face? i was stunned by the intricate detail of the stitching. i thought the cookie cutter would be a cute idea since jess hails from virginia, and i also included some chocolate bars because a gift isn't truly complete without a little sweet. hope you liked everything, jess!

the lovely kiki from in its time had my name, and i can't say enough good things about this fun package! she really did her research and got all of my favorite things. peanut butter, the cutest hand-stamped spoon, hexagon stud earrings that i have honestly been eyeing for a long time, and my favorite candy bar. thank you, kiki! you are so sweet and thoughtful to put all of this together!

{photo credit: me}

{photo credit: me}

had a blast both giving and receiving some great etsy finds. thank you again for hosting this swap, meg and amy. looking forward to next year! head on over to the link-up and check out what the other bloggers gave and received! you can also search #etsyswap2014 on instagram. etsy love forever.

new in my etsy shop

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after a long absence, my etsy shop is back up and running! i have been busy listing a bunch of fresh pieces, and i'd love for you to stop by. i still have more to list, but i will add them little by little as i go along. it feels good to be back.

happy birthday little etsy shop

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today marks humrightalong's first birthday! 

release the balloons. cue the big band. confetti, confetti, confetti.

the process leading up to me starting an etsy shop was slow. i was afraid. what if i'm completely in over my head, and it's a huge flop? i was lazy. ehhh, i'll do it tomorrow. i have a bunch of shows to catch up with on hulu. i was indecisive. what should i name my shop? what should i name my shop? what should i name my shop?

i had to learn how etsy worked and figure out how much i needed to charge for shipping and where i needed to order my supplies and what kind of supplies i even needed. i had to decide what kinds of items i was going to sell and how much i was going to charge for them. i needed a shop banner. i needed to write my specific shop policies. it took some research, some guesswork, and a good amount of nagging from close friends and family before i finally opened up shop last july. 

i am so very glad i did. from my very first order (thanks, dad!) to my very latest order (thanks, mrs. felix!), i have enjoyed myself immensely. when i check my email and i see an order notification, my insides get a little wobbly, and i feel a rush of excitement. 

over the past year, i've shipped orders to north carolina, south carolina, washington dc, louisiana, california, maryland, michigan, las vegas, and ohio. (!!!) to the remaining states, territories, and districts: i'm coming for you. 

i've made very special custom orders for people who wanted to remember their loved ones. i've made silly custom orders for people to give to their best friends as inside jokes. i have even recently added a few new styles of beaded necklaces and earrings which i am really excited about.

thank you to everyone who has supported me by being my personal cheerleader or who has show their support by purchasing an item from my shop. it means so much to me, and i am beyond appreciative.

as a way of saying thank you, i am offering free shipping on all items purchased this week (monday, july 22nd-sunday, july 28th). just enter code "FIRSTBIRTHDAY" at checkout, and the shipping cost will be waived.

so, uh, i guess this is the part where i shamelessly plug my own shop. GO BUY SOMETHING. 

new in the shop!

{photo credit: me}

ok, guys, new etsy pretties are here! i have been tinkering away at my dining room table turned craft workspace, and i am proud to present you all with some new necklaces. 

keep in mind that i also do custom orders. {they're my favorite.} so, if you like what you see, convo me with your special request,  and i will be at your service. 

enough with the reading! head on over to hum right along and do some browsing. 

sneak peek

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i've been busy crafting up a storm over here. here's a little sneak peek at one of the new necklaces i'm adding to my etsy shop! stay tuned. more to come. 

big huge ginormous announcement

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drumroll please. bang some pots and pans around, too. if you could get a choir of small children to start singing hallelujah that would be just about perfect. 

why?

because i finally opened my etsy shop! HUZZAH! (confetti machine, gogogo). i have been putting it off for years, ya'll. probably five or something. how embarrassing. i have had about a million different excuses for why i didn't have one. reasons ranged from i don't have time to ugh. i feel fat today.

i've been doing a lot of thinking lately about what i want to do in life and what am i good at and blah blah blah. it dawned on me that what i really like to do is be crafty. i like to make things. i like cutting paper and playing with glitter and snipping chain and fastening jump rings to lobster clasps. i like simple, pretty arts and crafts.

{photo credit: me}

i believe God has given me this gift of creativity, and i realized that i was not properly using it. by making excuses for not opening an etsy shop, i was putting my talents to waste in a sense. i don't expect to make a gazillion dollars by doing this (a million would be fine), but i do expect to make friends, get my name out there, make mistakes, learn how to be a "business owner", be brave, come up with new ideas, be inspired, make myself proud.

during the beginning stages of when i seriously started re-thinking my etsy shop i read this post by kelly ann of the flowerchild dwelling. 

"the moral of the story: you can do it. don't you dare listen to anyone who tells you that you can't. whatever it is that you want do, whoever you want to become... go for it. it will be hard, and frustrating, and stressful, and emotional, and scary... but it will be one of the greatest things you will ever do. you will meet people who will make you stronger, who will make you cry, who will lift you up, who will change your life, and who will push you to be better, because they know you can be. you will create things you hate, and things you love, and things you never knew you could create. you will find your your strengths, and your weaknesses. you will grow, change, and be stretched. you will be better, stronger, and more brave every day."

kelly ann is an amazing designer and photographer, and while her business is bigger than mine will ever be, her message encouraged me to just jump in and start. no more excuses. no more fear. no more laziness.

{photo credit: me}

so, now that i have made you cry tears of sweet emotion with my heart wrenching post, please head over to my shop and browse a bit! (or buy something. i highly suggest that). i am starting with my hand stamped coin necklaces and see where that leads me. i plan to add more stock as i go. 

two final things:

a great BIG shout-out to my dad for being my VERY FIRST ETSY SALE! daddio, you rock. 

thank you to everyone who always asked if i had an etsy shop. i finally do.