vol.25

VOL25 Etsy Shop Temporarily Closing May 7th - June 1st!

Hi! I wanted to let everyone know that my etsy shop will be TEMPORARILY closing down Sunday night, the 6th! I wont be re-opening until June 1st. We are taking a road trip out to Oklahoma. My husband's youngest sister is getting married and I'm supposed to be taking the wedding pictures! A little nervous again... but I am sure I will survive. Another of his sisters got married last year and I took her wedding pictures... but it is definitely not something I feel very experienced doing. It seems no matter how much I try to prep and prepare the morning of I still feel like I am kind of along for the ride, even with my extensive list in hand! :)

Well after plane ticket prices jumped again (it was going to cost us about 2300) we decided we would drive out this year. We've made the drive a couple of other times but never with Journey, so it should be fun and interesting! :) I always do a road trip journal   and this year I'm doing it again, but designing my own paper and printing it. :) I plan to have the paper up in the shop in a printable pdf file (similar to my project life cards) by mid June. Trin and Journey are going to have their own scrapbooks, although I think Journeys will be more like a coloring book. :)

If I have time I'll try to share more of what I am taking for the scrapbook/journal. I have a pretty hefty "to do list" and for some reason everytime I cross one thing off, I end up adding 2 more! :) You mommas know how stressful it can be packing for the little people in your life. At least the weather will be nicer and we wont need to pack anything too bulky. We also decided to sell the mustang, (although we havent listed it yet) and bought a 2007 Acura TL. I love driving it. We still have the Avalanche, but it is hard for the kids to climb up inside, and so the Acura has been SUPER convenient. They can now both get in and out on their own, and Journey can even buckle herself. LOVE it.

It has navigation and a back up camera, that was a real entertainer the first day!

Trins big nose is on the screen above!

I still havent taken any "real" pictures yet, these were grabbed with my cell. :)

So- if you would like to possibly make a purchase in my etsy shop before I close, I will be taking orders through Sunday night the 6th. At that point I'll need to vacation my shop and get BUSY packing/shipping. :)  

I hope you are having a great weekend! :)

p.s. My digital shop will remain open while I'm away, but customer service will be a little slower in the response department. ;)

 

 

Our motorhome featured on etsy's blog!

-yep! The title says it all, and I'm so incredibly excited to have Sharkey (our motorhome) featured over on etsy's blog this morning. He is beaming from side mirror to side mirror. -hah!

 

When Christine e-mailed me about featuring our motorhome in the next "Get The Look Decor" post I was somewhat shocked. Speechless ( and it is NO small feat to make me speechless ) is more like it. When I first opened my etsy shop the one hope I had was to be the etsy featured seller at some point. As far as I know there are no guidelines or tips posted anywhere to help acheive this. It was just one of those things I always hoped would "just happen". Well to the best of my knowledge this hasnt happened yet, so being recognized and contacted by etsy was kinda like the next best thing. :D I tried to contain my composure as I wrote and re-wrote back my reply. "Sure! You need me to stand on my head and dance circles in the middle of the street... NO problem!" Okay, I'm clearly joking... but I was that excited. :) Christine sent over some questions and I answered them, rambling and editing my answers on more than one occasion.  So intimidating to be featured on etsy's blog and have my answers read by SO many people! But also really really nifty at the same time! 

If you are just now finding me for the first time- Welcome! :) Also- Thank you etsy for featuring our motorhome. It makes all the hard work spent on the big guy even more rewarding!

Some posts and other stuff related to the motorhome you may find interesting:

-Driving him home for the first time!

-A walkthrough of the motorhome before much of anything had been done

-A short video of our first trip (minus one daughter who rode up early with my parents)

-Before and After pictures

Now if I can only get around to editing the final video of the finished walkthrough! :)

Buy 2 Get 1 Free Sale in my Etsy Shop!

I just realized a week or so ago, that there has now been 14,000 people that have favorite'd my etsy shop! That is quite the crowd of people... and although I run the risk of tooting my own horn, it is some pretty exciting stuff if you think about it! :) 

I wanted to celebrate and decided to do a Buy 2 Get 1 Free Sale! It has been ages since I've done one. Ever since etsy rolled out coupon codes, I've opted to go that route... but I've had numerous customers tell me they preferred the buy 2 get 1 free sales over a discount... so here it is:

The details:

For every two 20.00 prints purchased you will receive a FREE 20.00 print of your choice. You can also purchase 2 16x20 prints and receive a FREE 16x20, basically you can purchase 2 of the same priced item and receive a third item of equal or lesser value. Please do NOT add the free print to your cart, but DO include the title of your free print choice in the message to seller upon checkout. :)

IMPORTANT: This is just a 72 Hour sale (not a week long sale like usual) so you'll need to get your order in before 4:30 PST Monday, April 16th! That is, if I've done my math correctly! :D

I really am so appreciative of all the support I've been fortunate enough to receive over the last few years. :) If you've purchased from my etsy (or digital) shop... Thank You! :)

Last day to save 35% off in my etsy shop

Hi!! Unfortunately I have no quote prepared for today.... YET.. I know SHAME on me! :) I'm working on so many different projects right now, and looking forward to wrapping them up in the next few days.

I did however just want to drop in and remind you that today is the last day to save 35% off any art in my etsy shop. :D

So rush on over, and grab your favorite print! ;)

etsy shop sale + new art!

It has been awhile since I've offered a 35% off sale in my etsy shop... and in honor of owing the IRS taxes I've decided now is as good a time as any to roll out another sale. ;)

So, if you've had your eye on one of the new prints I've just listed... now would be the time to snatch it up! I've also just added quite a few new pieces to the "Wherever We Are Together" collection!

The shasta inspired trailer (caravan, camper) just may be my favorite. :)

Also, felt nice to finally have a motorhome in the collection! This one was inspired by a Dodge Travco. Remember the post I did on Myrtle? I loved her! :)

Also... added an apartment building, for all my city life dwellers! :)

... and I couldnt forget horse lovers out there that spend alot of time on the road! :) Gotta love a horse trailer with a comfy bed. ;)

Also, did I tell you my newly designed packaging came in? So I have fresh goodies/extras to go out with all orders:

So- that is my big update! The sale will expire March 20th... just about a week from now... and here are the details:

35% off your entire order in my etsy shop! To receive the 35% off you will need to enter code: SPRING35 upon checkout. EXP: 3/20 Happy Shopping!

*If anyone feels like tweeting, sharing or pinning this post I would so appreciate it! :)

Enjoy The Sunshine- a new print!

I just listed this new print titled "Enjoy The Sunshine"  in my etsy shop a few minutes ago. Some of you may remember me talking about working on awhile back... well I FINALLY finished it. I created it to remind myself to dwell more on the positive things in my life. I tend to be somewhat of a pessimist/worrier by nature, and I hope this will remind me that I need to enjoy the bits of sunshine in my life. Even if it is a cloudy, and gloomy day there are pieces of sunshine in my life... I just need to take the time to find them. :) I hope you have been enjoying your weekend! :)

Closer look at the new art listed...

I listed 4 new art prints in honor of Black Friday's 40% off sale (going on through monday) and my last post was so loaded with information, that I didnt feel like I could elaborate on the new pieces much. They definitely needed they're very own post! :)

So- I think my favorite from the new batch of art is this print:

Always be Different 24.00 in VOL25 etsy shop

This was one of those prints (there seems to be lots lately!) that I really struggled with, and I have a few other revisions saved along with this one. I kept playing with colors... something more subtle, something more bold, I originally had 4 feathers along with the quote... and I played around with they're arrangement a BUNCH. So, not only was I struggling with color... but I was battling with the layout too. :) I have a habit of leaving photoshop open pretty much all the time. It drives Jaydon crazy. When it starts running really slow, I will finally close it out and re-open again. :) Anyhow, I was working on this piece at night, and things just werent looking right to me. I left it somewhat frustrated, and went to sleep. The next morning I woke up with Jaydon and glanced at the above image on the computer. It felt right, and completely finished! In fact, I loved it. So I saved it and called it finished. :) 

I always find it amazing how leaving something for a bit and coming back to it gives me a completely different outlook on something. Sometimes the exact opposite happens. I finish a print and the next morning it doesnt feel finished, or I'm just not happy with it for one reason or another!

I think this print has characteristics that remind me of an instagram photo- it has a lovely cross processed warm look to it. Maybe I'm crazy in thinking that? lol

The other two prints I finished were created with your laundry room in mind. :) My original laundry room art has been selling very regularly for the last couple of years and I thought it was time I created a newer series. I also struggled with these two. I started out with handrawn clothespins. Wasnt loving it, and after wasting bunches of time trying to make them work, I decided to photograph some of my clothespins and manipulate them in photoshop. After that the whole thing came together fairly quick. :)

Laundry Day Series 24.00 a piece in my etsy shop

The last print was actually a revision of a print I had listed over a year ago. I wanted to bring it back in more of a coffee themed color palette. :)

Coffee Spoons 24.00 in my etsy shop

So- I'm curious do you have a fave out of the bunch? :)

Also- Dont forget that there is currently a Black Friday 40% off sale in my etsy shop. It expires monday night at 11:59 PM.

There is also a 50% off sale in my digital shop (photographer photoshop resources) Also ending Monday night at 11:59 PM

VOL25 BLACK FRIDAY SALES- going on now!

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New in the etsy shop:

4 new art prints JUST listed:

A) Always Be Different

B) Laundry Day Series- LOVE

C) Laundry Day Series- XOXO

D) I Measure My Life In Coffee Spoons (redesigned!)

Also a much anticipated new product finally making its way into VOL25's etsy shop - the addition of these super cute Polaroid Sized Art prints:

They make perfect stocking stuffers, and also work really well as a unique gift tag. I've been talking about adding these to the shop since last November? I finally quit talking about it, and just did it! :) I'll have more art printed and available in this format in the coming months... but for now I'm stocked up on these little guys. :)

So... in the etsy shop there is a .....

going on! :) Just use this code:

USE CODE BLKFRIDAY

SALE EXPIRES: 11/28/11 @ 11:59 PM

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New in the DIGITAL SHOP

I finished up two new overlay sets for the digital shop's black friday release! :) "Edgy corners", and "Stuck On You" digital sticky tape... both were really fun sets to create/play with. :)

In the digital shop there is a rockin...

Yep! 50% off... on anything and everything. :)

USE CODE BLKFRIDAY

SALE EXPIRES: 11/28/11 @ 11:59 PM

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So, those are the crazy good sales! :) Are you excited to start shopping? I'm seriously going to be doing some shopping myself and I'm hoping to get most of my Christmas shopping done within the next week. We'll see how well that goes. ;) 

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope those celebrating the holiday are having a nice one. :) We're just about ready to head out the door to my parent's house. Bringing waaay too much food with us! But isnt that just a given? Anyhow, I'm really excited to kick off the BIG BLACK FRIDAY SALES!!! So, tonight after getting back, I'll probably go ahead and sit myself right here at the computer and start both the sales a few hours early! ;)

As I type this, Trinity is reading everything I say. I guess that way I can hear how silly I talk. Although at this point she is adding in some giggles... that I dont remember typing. lol

( I just had to educate her as to what "lol" means) Do I really want to start that?

Okey doke... really though- we need to go.

Happy Thank You Giving! As Journey would say... :)

We are busy busy preparing for black friday!

This past week I had quite a few boxes dropped off at my back door:

Lots of cardboard... bunches of envelopes, mailing tubes, plastic sleeves, end caps... you know, the fun stuff? :) Actually, I wouldnt consider it to be the fun stuff, but definitely necessary. Me and Trin spent time at the table stuffing cardboard into plastic sleeves, stuffing envelopes etc. etc. :) She really likes to help, and I can't complain.

I'm trying to be as prepared for the holiday rush as possible. Having orders as ready as possible, saving me bunches of time during the packaging process. I'm also stocking up on some of the more popular prints:

My printer was running non-stop a couple days ago. :) It defintitely feels good to be prepared.

Oh- did you hear, this season we are including littlest pet shop toys with select large prints? 

I'm kidding... but if you do happen to find one in your package, you can thank Journey for that! She really cant resist playing in the wall of mailing tubes. I think it is her way of helping...

Silly girl. :) So... I bet you're wondering just what sales VOL25 will be having for black friday? Well, here is the break-down...

VOL25 ETSY SHOP:

40% off storewide sale

VOL25 DIGITAL SHOP:

50% off storewide sale

All sales will start Friday morning at 12am, and will run until 11:59 PM monday night!! :)

To add to the excitement, I'm also planning to release a couple new prints, AND some new digital goodies.

I'm definitely getting excited, it is a ton of work those few days, but so much fun. :) Today the rest of my packaging is scheduled to be delivered... and this time it IS the fun stuff... printed goodies and all. :) Are you ready for the holidays yet? My mom and I went and picked up our groceries for Thanksgiving on Monday. Felt good to get it done, and beat the crowds. :)

So... are you planning to get out early for the sale on black friday, or are you shopping from the comfort of your computer? :)