Sadly, Tina of What We Keep had to drop out due to being over extended. Miss you, Tina!
So we decided the fun thing to do would be to put a co-host spot up for grabs! If you would be interested in co-hosting our brand new link up, please email us and tell us why you would be a good fit. Tell us what you sell or what service you provide, and any other info you think we might like to know! You can find my email link in the sidebar ~ just look for the little purple heart. Or leave a comment following this post if you’d rather.
If we get several responses we may open it up to more than 4 co-hosts. All who respond will also be entered into a pool of guest host spots!
I can be too serious if I’m not careful. So I have to purposely inject a little humor in my day to lighten up and feel happy some days. My goal today is to infuse your day with some of the best medicine there is, laughter. I admit to experiencing all of the following awkward scenarios, and dare to say some of you have too.
The Ear Lock:You go in for a hug and your ear has its own agenda ~ to hook up with the other person’s ear. Awkward.
The Pinball Glance: You’re caught glancing at someone, you look away then look back, just as they look away and look back, triggering a pinball effect of shifty glances that neither party can seem to stop.
Where’s the fire? You’re sitting around in a group and everyone leaves the room simultaneously, except for you and the one person in the group you haven’t met or don’t know. You are tempted to bolt out like the room is on fire but your civilized voice keeps you there, trying to think of something to say.
The Intercepted Wave: You’re caught in the middle of an across-the-room, person to person wave. You’re pretty sure the person is looking right at you, and since you don’t want to appear rude, you wave back, just as you turn your head to see the real target of the wave. So you do what we all do in that situation, smooth your hair and act as if nothing happened.
The Deer in Headlights Eater: You walk into the kitchen unannounced and surprise someone just as they’re hunched over a piece of food, looking up guiltily. You act as though you don’t notice but it’s too late ~ the animalistic vibe is out there.
If you felt uncomfortable while reading any of these examples, then I have done my job today. If I made you laugh, then you have made my day.
Welcome to the very first Swap & Tell! A link up for shop owners trading products and posting reviews!
This link up is all about helping one another get exposure for our products and services. We all know that advertising can be very expensive, so my co-hosts and I are so very happy to be offering a way to get your name out there to new audiences for the cost of a trade, while helping fellow shop owners in the process. Speaking of co-hosts, I am pleased to introduce you to Donna at Distressed Donna Down Home and Heather at Woods of Bell Trees . These lovely ladies each have unique and fun blogs and personalities, each with a growing following. Be sure to pay them a visit! Your link will show on all three blogs simultaneously, meaning more opportunities! If you are just now finding out about Swap & Tell, you can read more about it here.
I’m so ready to get to the swap, but first, please read the rules:
*This link up is a SWAP so please ONLY link up posts that contain a picture of an item you would like to swap and have fun shopping around! Links that are not for swap will be removed to preserve the authenticity of the link up.
*Link up a post from your blog, Etsy, Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram that contains a picture and description of your swap item, using a permalink to your specific post not your general URL from your chosen source.
*Look around at the other links until you spy something that interests you. Visit as many as you like and when you find something you’d like to swap for, leave the other person a comment with a link to your posted item.
*Once you have committed to a swap, please edit your post with a note that your item is already swapped so you won’t continue to get offers.
*Exchange address info with your swap partner. Each person will pay shipping for the item she/he is sending.
*Please be prepared to ship your product no later than one week from the time the swap ends. (The timetable for services will be worked out between those swapping.)
*Product reviews should be posted no later than two weeks from the time the swap ends. (The review timetable for services will be worked out between those swapping.)
*The review should contain a photo of the product received; your own scoop on the product; and a link back to the product, shop or person (their choosing). (The review for services may or may not include a photo, details to be worked out between those swapping.)
*Please include the Swap & Tell button or text link back to your host in your linked post.
*Etsy does not allow outside links within a product description. So if you are swapping a product from Etsy, the workaround is to post it on a blog, Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram before linking up.
* Please follow your host, Tarnished Royalty with one of the following methods:
And finally, have fun and remember, it’s all about promoting and helping one another. The value of the swap is in more than the products received, but in the exposure you will receive from reviews. A swap means a review for your product too!
Hey! Swap & Tell link up starts Wednesday, so I’m here to show you what I’ll be swapping. As you may know, I design jewelry and I also do graphic design, and I’m passionate about both. For this swap, I’m so happy to share with someone this pair of earrings I created from vintage brass buttons and gold tone chain.
They are pierced, hook style, and measure approx. 3 1/2 inches from top of button to bottom of chain.
Here I am wearing a similar pair.
The link up officially starts Wednesday, and is open for early birds starting Tuesday night at 7PM central time.
The first Swap and Tell link up swap starts Wednesday, and the excitement is building! My co-hosts and I have received a lot of questions as well as encouraging comments, so it’s time to share the ins and outs of linking up. The unique concept, with a general description of how it all works can be found here. The following Q & A details the specifics of what will be required from those who participate.
Swap & Tell Q & A
Q. Is this link up like others for general posts about DIY, recipes, decor, etc.? A. No, this link up is tailored to shop owners for the promotion of their products and services.
Q. How do I let someone know I would like to swap products? A. Just visit as many links as you like and leave a comment with the one you want to swap with
Q. Do I have to swap every week? A. When you swap and with whom is completely left to your discretion. Remember, it’s all about promoting and helping one another. A swap means a review for your product too!
Q. If no one “bites” can I offer the same item the next week? A. If you don’t make a successful swap you are free to offer the same item again.
Q. Can I offer gift cards in the swap? A. Absolutely!
Q. Does the product or service I offer need to be of a certain monetary value? A. No, the range of items offered will be varied, both in type and value. It is up to each participant to decide the suitability of the value of their item as well as the item of those offering to swap. Again, the value of the swap is in more than the products received, but in the exposure you will receive from reviews.
Q. What about shipping? A. Exchange address info with your swap partner. Each person will pay shipping
for the item she/he is sending.
Q. I only have large items in my inventory that can be costly to ship. How can I participate? A. Yours is a case for when gift cards are the perfect swap.
Q. Will I receive a plug for my shop on the party? A. Although there will be featured swaps from time to time, the “plug” you will receive will be from whoever you swap with, not on the party itself.
Q. Will you offer sponsorship spots? A. As the party grows we will offer sponsorship spots.
Q. How long will the link up stay open? A. Each link up will be live for 4 days.
Q. What are the time requirements for shipping the product? A. Please be prepared to ship your product no later than one week from the time the swap ends. (The timetable for services will be worked out between those swapping.)
Q. What are the time requirements for posting the review? A. Reviews should be posted no later than two weeks from the time the swap ends.
(The review timetable for services will be worked out between those swapping.)
Q. Can my link be from Etsy, or does it have to be from a blog, Facebook, etc.? A. Etsy does not allow outside links within a product description. So if you are swapping a product from Etsy, the workaround is to post it on a blog, Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram before linking up.
Q. If I don’t have a blog how can I post a review? A. If you don’t have a blog, you must have Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram on which to post a review.
Q. What is required in the review? A. The review should contain a photo of the product received; your own scoop on the product; and a link back to the product, shop or person (their choosing)
*The review for services may or may not include a photo, details to be worked out between those swapping
Still have questions? Please leave them in the comments and I will promptly give you an answer! Hope to see you Wednesday!
P.S. For those of you that prefer video instructions, I’ll be posting one of those just for you so keep watching!
Well, here we are. At the end of a year long journey. Has it really been a year? We have looked at pearls from every angle, how they’re made and how to make them into something unexpected. We spent time appreciating their beauty as displayed in history, fashion and decor. We looked at a handful of scripture references from the Bible that use the pearl to illustrate valuable truths. We used them to make everyday and seasonal decor, items with practical uses like bookmarks, photo holders and gift bags, and spruced up items in our closet like sandals and scarves, belts and bags. And now it’s time for the final Girls Want Pearls project.Since we have our Creator to thank for the beauty of pearls, and all the beauty around us, I have decided to conclude the series with a project that points to Him. It is my pleasure to show you how to make a
Cross Sun Catcher
Here are the supplies you will need:
20 gauge wire
4 pearl strands with graduating sizes from small to large to small as shown
sparkly beads in three sizes OR a sparkly cluster type earring
any type of ribbon, torn fabric strips or leather for hanging the cross
Step 1
Cut 2 pieces of 20 guage wire, approx. 20 inches in length. Take the first wire and bend it approx. 8 inches from one end. This will divide the portions for the top and bottom of the cross. Starting with the smallest pearl, string the pearls onto the 8 inch portion of wire keeping their graduating sizes in order from smallest to largest, then largest to smallest to form the top of the cross. Curve the wire strung with pearls to form a loop. This is the top of the cross.
Twist the “tail” wire around the center where the bend is, twice to secure and let the tail remain.
Step 2
Repeat the process from step one to form the bottom of the cross. Twist the tail wire as in step 1, leaving an approx. 1/2 inch gap between the two loops and let the tail remain. Take each pearl loop and twist the entire piece at the center two or three times to tighten.
Step 3
Take your second piece of wire and bend it in half. This divides the portions for the two horizontal cross pieces. String the pearls on in the same manner as you did for the vertical cross pieces, twisting the tail wires to secure and leaving 1/2 inch between the two loops.
Step 4
Lay the horizontal cross piece over the vertical cross piece, lining up the wire centers. To secure and tighten: Take each end of the horizontal piece and wrap it around the vertical cross piece center, bringing the loops around to opposite sides from where they started. Take each end of the vertical piece and wrap it around, pulling the loops around to be on opposite ends from where they started. Take one of the 4 wire tails and wrap it around the center 2-3 times and pull to the back of the cross. Bring the other 3 wire tails to the front of the cross.
Step 5
Take one of the wire tails and string a large bead onto the center. Wrap the wire around the center of the cross to the back and twist together with the one you pulled to the back in the previous step.
Step 6
Take a second wire tail and string on the medium size beads.
Step 7
Wrap the beaded wire around to encircle the center bead. Bring the remainder of that piece of wire to the back of the cross and twist together with the other two wires.
Step 8
Take a third wire tail and string on the smallest beads.
Step 9
Wrap the beaded wire around to encircle the previous row. Bring the remainder of that piece of wire to the back of the cross and twist together with the other three.
Now you’re ready to add the hanger. Take your chosen ribbon, leather, etc. and tie around top loop of cross, slipknot style. Tie again at the top.
As you look at the cross in your window, may you be reminded to take up your cross. As the jewels on the cross catch and reflect the light of the sun, let’s reflect the light and love of the one who went to Calvary to show us how to live beautiful lives.
Thank you to all my readers who let me know how much you enjoyed this series. I hope you keep coming back to read my posts ~ you never know what could be coming up next!
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Speaking of what’s coming up next, here’s a brand new way to create visibility for your product or service through a link up, starting Wednesday, August 13!
