New items listed on LoveUPaperly

Hi All!

I am going to try to do a better job of blog posting this week.

Between school and other necessary life things, oh and working all day, can't forget about that, my blog posts have been suffering.

I didn't think that my time management would be an issue, but it is!

Anyway, I did some shop revamping yesterday and listed some new items that I want to share with you.

The first one is a paper heart bracelet listed for $8 on LoveUPaperly.

Cute, right?  I think it's young and fun and sometimes you just want to wear your heart on your wrist!

I listed a new card as well.

This is a sentiment that I am always expressing to Meridyth because she loves me no matter what, so I thought why not make a card because other people may feel the same way I do!

It is listed on my etsy shop, LoveUPaperly, for $3.

Inbetween my Anatomy studying I have also been making other things that I would like to list on my etsy shop.

For a little background, I discovered of love of creating three-d sculptures in grad school when I did a series of miniature beds that I made to go with a grouping of photographs that I had worked on all semester.

This ties into that idea of making small worlds.  Here is a hint of more things to come!

Lots of Love,

Jess

New Listing on LoveUPaperly: Pretty, Delicate and Sculptural Paper Necklace

Hi All!

Is anyone else wishing they weren't working today?  When I walked outside I was amazed at the low humidity and the beautiful sunshine.  I drove to work with the windows down and Good Times by Carlie Rae Jebson and Owl City blasting out of my speakers.

Today I wanted to share with you a new listing I just posted on LoveUPaperly!  I have been hard at work on this item and I am so excited to finally have it completed.

It is my first paper necklace in lovely shades of blue and black.  It snaps on both the right and left side which allows for easy on and off access.  I think the thing I love most about it is how sculptural it is.  It looks like you are wearing a piece of art and I can see any woman wearing it with a simple black dress.

I'm very proud of this piece!  It is listed for $25.  Check out more of my work on my etsy site.

Lots of Love,

Jess

Made to Order Paper Earrings on LoveUPaperly

Hello Everyone!

I hope you all have been having a good weekend so far.  Mer and I vacuumed the house, went to Dunkin Donuts (I will talk about my Dunkin Donuts obsession at another time), and then I banished myself to the basement to finish some projects that I look at during the week and don't finish.

Today I finished a great pair of earrings for a lovely Nurse at work who has the bluest eyes.

I listed them on LoveUPaperly and I would love to make a custom pair of paper drop earrings for you!

To make the earrings I cut the shapes out of thin cardboard and then cut out magazine strips and slowly cover the cardboard in layers and layers of the strips.  I think the final outcome is funky and delicate at the same time!

The ear loops are sterling silver and the earrings are coated in a water resistant coating so the earrings can be worn in the rain but not in the shower!

I would love to make a pair for you so definitely check out my shop, LoveUPaperly.

Lots of Love,

Jess

New Listing on LoveUPaperly: Delicate Paper Earrings

Hello!

I have been working sooo hard on adding new items to LoveUPaperly.  I start school in one week and I am taking two classes this semester plus working full time, so I am trying to finish some projects before I have to come home from work and study!

Today I listed a pair of earrings I have been working on.  Honestly, I love them!  They were exactly what I was imagining.  Delicate, pretty, bright and only $12.

Check out more of my paper jewelry on LoveUPaperly.

Lots of Love,

Jess

New Listing on LoveUPaperly: Chunky and Bright Paper Bracelet

Hi Everyone!

I am sitting working on my etsy shop.  I think the hardest thing to do is write up the listings and figure out the photographs.

Making the product is sooo easy compared to all the other stuff!  Does anyone else wish that it would sell and promote magically by itself?!  I just want to CREATE!

Back to the real world!  I have listed a new item that I absolutely love!

It is another bracelet.  I love the shape which is square on the top of the wrist and then fans out into a chunky bangle.

The bracelet is completely made out of paper which makes it Eco-friendly and it is bright and hip which will make you want to wear it with lots of outfits!

I am selling this for $15 on LoveUPaperly along with other jewelry!

Lots of Love,

Jess

Photographing Products

Owning my own Etsy shop has been a series of trials and error for me.

Learning what I think my products and worth, how to actually make money selling them, packaging, and most of all the photography.

I am a photographer.  For two years I owned my own wedding photography business and supported myself doing it.  However, I consider myself a lifestyle photographer.  I like taking pictures of people, of events, weddings, families, and snapping photographs of my daily life.

Taking pictures of products?  Very, very different!  I especially have a hard time with products that are three dimensional.

I listed my first paper bracelet about a week ago.  Honestly, I wasn't sure about the photographs.

I think there are a few problems. 
1.  The image may be too dark
2.  The background is too busy and the wood that I placed the bracelet on is too dark.  I think both detract from the product and the customer can't see the textures and the colors clearly.

I started looking on the internet and realized that most products that I am attracted too were much lighter.  Taken with a white background so that I was really able to see exactly what the product was.

I decided to do a mini photo shoot and see what I could do.

First, I do have a nice camera!  I was a photographer, remember?!  It is a Canon 5D.

Second, I do have some lenses and I decided to use my 28-70mm so I was able to zoom in on the product.

Third, I wanted a bright light source that I could point at the product in the direction I wanted.  I am able to change the warmness or coolness when I am editing the photograph.  I decided to use my craft light which I bought at Walmart years ago for $15.

I took two pieces of plain white paper and used a stool I use at my craft table also bought at Walmart for $12.  I set the whole thing up against the wall.  I put one piece of paper on the stool and the other on the wall to make the white background.

I took the two finished bracelets and snapped away at all different angles.  The setup does not look professional but it definitely worked!

I am happier with these photos!  I think it is easier to see the bracelets.  I think the shapes, the texture, and the colors stand out against the white background.

I am going to keep working on it, but I am calling this experiment a success!

Until tomorrow,

Love,

Jess

Handmade Paper Jewelry

Hello All!

I have been hibernating, not feeling well, these past two weeks.  However, like any true artist when I am feeling sad, what do I do?  I CREATE!

I have so many ideas percolating for my shop, LoveUPaperly.  Unfortunately, it feels like there is not enough time in the day to do it all!

My latest listing is for a beautiful paper bracelet.

I love paper jewelry and have been making it for about two years.  I have sold one ring before, but I stopped selling it because the task felt daunting.  The items take a long time to make and each one is labor intensive that I didn't want to give them up!

However, I love to make it and have received many compliments on them so I decided I really wanted to start to sell them.

I will eventually do a tutorial how I make this, but for now I will just explain.

First, I cut out the shape I want from thin cardboard.  Then I use strips of magazine pages.  I look for interesting colors and patterns.  I layer these using a decoupage method (modgepodge).  The whole process of layering and getting it how I want it to look took about ten hours and lots of gluey hands!

I then covered the bracelet in two coatings of sealant making the item water resistant.  Finishing the bracelet off I cut tiny strips of Velcro so it is easy to put on.  Since it is so lightweight and comfortable it also stays put all day!

I am selling this bracelet for $7.50 on LoveUPaperly.

Lots of Love!

Jess