I have been grappling with wanting to move forward with Bella LuElla doing invitations. The current circumstances are pretty much dictating that. I am currently trying to debate how to go about this.
The biggest problem is, not just making sales (which are none) but I am now in the hole because of listing fees and other fees putting me into the negative.
I have been weighing my options about things and I may temporary close my Etsy shops.
I will leave my Zazzle shops because they don't charge you to list items and keep them listed. Their platform is more protective of sellers.
So if you have made your way here for why my Etsy shops are closed, these are the reasons. I can not support a company, give them money out of our mouths to while I get nothing and am charged higher fees.
It also isn't the art based platform it was when I opened my first shop in 2009. I haven't been happy with the changes over the years, but continued to just move with their new models, make sense of it and try to keep making money.
Etsy is tanking itself now. And I think I want to jump ship and make alternate plans before they completely sink and go under.
2020 has really been just a major roller coaster ride.
Monday, May 11, 2020
Tuesday, March 12, 2019
March... 2019?
I haven't been the best with updating my blog or staying up on Facebook posts. I have been extremely creatively busy these last couple of years.
I have now began to dabble in costume making, special effects make up and acting. I have continued to work on my Etsy and Zazzle shops and have grown them tremendously.
But, I have also began doing some acting and landed my first part in a Murder Mystery Dinner that starts at the end of March. I am very, very excited about that! I have also got a spot as a Crone Sister in the Banshee Manor Haunted House this October! So, I have had a lot going on.
New designs so far this year is a beefing up baby shower invitations and color variations on my Bling designs. Mardi Gras this year has not been as busy as the years past, so that was a bit of a disappointment, but I did do some new Masquerade designs.
This week I am working on spring and fairy designs. We have had a long, wet winter in my neck of the woods and has really left me longing for spring and lots of color!
Check out my new designs here: https://www.bellaluella.com/
And on Zazzle: https://www.zazzle.com/bellaluella
I will showcase a few of my favorite recent designs below!
Thanks for stopping by!
I have now began to dabble in costume making, special effects make up and acting. I have continued to work on my Etsy and Zazzle shops and have grown them tremendously.
But, I have also began doing some acting and landed my first part in a Murder Mystery Dinner that starts at the end of March. I am very, very excited about that! I have also got a spot as a Crone Sister in the Banshee Manor Haunted House this October! So, I have had a lot going on.
New designs so far this year is a beefing up baby shower invitations and color variations on my Bling designs. Mardi Gras this year has not been as busy as the years past, so that was a bit of a disappointment, but I did do some new Masquerade designs.
This week I am working on spring and fairy designs. We have had a long, wet winter in my neck of the woods and has really left me longing for spring and lots of color!
Check out my new designs here: https://www.bellaluella.com/
And on Zazzle: https://www.zazzle.com/bellaluella
I will showcase a few of my favorite recent designs below!
Thanks for stopping by!
Thursday, December 14, 2017
Wait.. What? A year has gone by?
We are nearing the threshold of another new year being ushered in. And, I honestly have no idea where last year went. I, to be frank - you be Diane, did not accomplish much of what I set out to do. So, my new task is to figure out why. What happened?
Honestly, I have kind of been at a loss. I need to build and move into a new area. I have just been unsure which way to go. I was going to do party planning and party props and include photography. Still seems like a great idea, but, honestly, going at something that large alone, just seems daunting.
In other exhausting realizations, Etsy has made a lot of changes. A lot, a lot a lot a lot. And some not for the good, at least for most sellers. Many shops have tanked since they done whatever they are doing with listings and where they show up and where they are advertised. But, beyond that, it has been hard to keep up with their ever changing system and trying to change over 900 listings every single time they want to implement some "new and improved" change has just been tiring. I know I am not alone with it just wearing down on people and exhausting the last bit of patience they have left. I know I am not alone standing at the end of this year just burnt out and feeling pretty uncreative and uninspired. This is the first holiday season where I have had to PUSH myself to put up a tree, to try to be festive and not clock someone.
So, to sum up... I haven't blogged in a year, feeling worn down and trying to muster up some inspiration. BUT!!!!! Yes, BUT, I have managed to do a few new designs. One of which I think will be fun, a mardi gras baby shower. This was a custom request that just turned out beautifully.
Honestly, I have kind of been at a loss. I need to build and move into a new area. I have just been unsure which way to go. I was going to do party planning and party props and include photography. Still seems like a great idea, but, honestly, going at something that large alone, just seems daunting.
In other exhausting realizations, Etsy has made a lot of changes. A lot, a lot a lot a lot. And some not for the good, at least for most sellers. Many shops have tanked since they done whatever they are doing with listings and where they show up and where they are advertised. But, beyond that, it has been hard to keep up with their ever changing system and trying to change over 900 listings every single time they want to implement some "new and improved" change has just been tiring. I know I am not alone with it just wearing down on people and exhausting the last bit of patience they have left. I know I am not alone standing at the end of this year just burnt out and feeling pretty uncreative and uninspired. This is the first holiday season where I have had to PUSH myself to put up a tree, to try to be festive and not clock someone.
So, to sum up... I haven't blogged in a year, feeling worn down and trying to muster up some inspiration. BUT!!!!! Yes, BUT, I have managed to do a few new designs. One of which I think will be fun, a mardi gras baby shower. This was a custom request that just turned out beautifully.
I actually have been trying to work on some new designs, but unfortunately they have been sparse. Another one I do love is this new New Year's Eve design:
There there has been at least a wee bit of productiveness! Well, I think that is all for now. I have thinking to do. I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas!
Friday, December 9, 2016
What is to come in 2017
I typically don't set New Year's goals. But, I do have some goals this year I would like to reach. I have started working on them already. One, was rebranding and reworking my logo and all my page designs. So far this evening I have gotten half way through most of them. I still have Twitter, Zazzle and YouTube to update. I am hoping to add more designs this year, as well as my party printable packages, hand made items and vintage items I find. I currently have three Etsy shops, a Zazzle Shop, a website and now I am adding listings to purchase on my Facebook site. I am hoping I don't overwhelm myself.
Back to my goals. I am hoping to add more clipart, more designs to Zazzle and start selling on my website. I am also moving forward with several handmade items. Tall order for someone who can barely blog. It is a lot to keep up, especially being a one woman show here. But, anyhoo, my brain is a bit fried from working on too much techie stuff today, but I thought while I was updating graphics on my blog, I would also do a post.
If you are on my Facebook page, you may have noticed several albums I have added regarding party and party decor. I have been going back and forth for a few years now about party planning and moving toward party backdrops and photography. Every time I have set up a studio outside my apartment, I just wouldn't go. Twice I have done this. I attempted to move back into the shop where Bella used to be by my apartment and I just couldn't get any work done there. So I am attempting to clean out space again in my matchbox of an apartment. I just seem to create and work better on my own time clock, whenever I want in my pajamas. It is how I work best. So, having said all that, I am hoping to set up a studio space this coming year to create party props and other pieces.
I recently did several pieces for my granddaughter's fifth birthday. The theme was Wonderland. So it was appropriately named "Avari in Wonderland." I got another chance to flex my sculpting, painting and creative muscles with physical pieces. I am going to showcase some before and after pieces below, as well as photos from the party. Enjoy and more to come soon!
Back to my goals. I am hoping to add more clipart, more designs to Zazzle and start selling on my website. I am also moving forward with several handmade items. Tall order for someone who can barely blog. It is a lot to keep up, especially being a one woman show here. But, anyhoo, my brain is a bit fried from working on too much techie stuff today, but I thought while I was updating graphics on my blog, I would also do a post.
If you are on my Facebook page, you may have noticed several albums I have added regarding party and party decor. I have been going back and forth for a few years now about party planning and moving toward party backdrops and photography. Every time I have set up a studio outside my apartment, I just wouldn't go. Twice I have done this. I attempted to move back into the shop where Bella used to be by my apartment and I just couldn't get any work done there. So I am attempting to clean out space again in my matchbox of an apartment. I just seem to create and work better on my own time clock, whenever I want in my pajamas. It is how I work best. So, having said all that, I am hoping to set up a studio space this coming year to create party props and other pieces.
I recently did several pieces for my granddaughter's fifth birthday. The theme was Wonderland. So it was appropriately named "Avari in Wonderland." I got another chance to flex my sculpting, painting and creative muscles with physical pieces. I am going to showcase some before and after pieces below, as well as photos from the party. Enjoy and more to come soon!
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| These are my grand babies! |
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| Tea Party Set up for all the girls |
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| Mad hatter decor I created from an old snowman hat |
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| Mushroom props I created |
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| Water bottle wraps |
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| Number 5 I created and decorated |
Friday, October 7, 2016
New Halloween Invitation Designs
I am not sure how I managed to get new Halloween designs done this season, but thankfully I did!
I wanted to showcase my newest Halloween Designs for 2016!
I wanted to showcase my newest Halloween Designs for 2016!
You can find my complete line of Fall and Halloween invitations here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/BellaLuElla?section_id=13536623
Vivi's Fairy Tea Party
No posts for almost a month, then two in one day! I am working on uploading party pictures from my granddaughter's previous birthday party photo shoots. We are planning for my oldest granddaughter's birthday in November now, "Avari in Wonderland."
I currently have three granddaughter's and one one the way. Vivi, currently the youngest, had a fairy tea party for her first birthday. Here are some images from that party we set up.
I currently have three granddaughter's and one one the way. Vivi, currently the youngest, had a fairy tea party for her first birthday. Here are some images from that party we set up.
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| We love a good tea party! |
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| Lots of fairy yummies |
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| Avari is the oldest, and is always our best model |
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| How beautiful is fairy Vivi? |
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| The birthday girl! |
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| All three of our little fairies! |
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| Fairy Naomi celebrating |
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| Loving Fairy Sisters! |
We love to throw the girls parties as you can see. Not only do we get to make the girl's wishes come true, and give them some beautiful memories, but also we get to decorate and take pictures!
Naomi is Three Under the Enchanted Sea!
I have been super busy but have been wanting to make the time to show off pictures from my granddaughter Naomi's 3rd birthday party. We had had several parties that I haven't shown off yet and hope to blog about them since we are preparing for an upcoming one in November.
For Naomi's 3rd birthday, we decided to do an "Under the Enchanted Sea" since she LOVES mermaids so much!!!!
As you can see, we had lots of fun creating for the party and watching the girls enjoy the party! Find lots of ideas on my Pinterest Boards: https://www.pinterest.com/cynthiamorshedi/
For Naomi's 3rd birthday, we decided to do an "Under the Enchanted Sea" since she LOVES mermaids so much!!!!
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| My oldest granddaughter in her mermaid outfit and shell tiara |
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| Lots of fun extra touches |
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| I used brown sugar as sand under sweeties. These are vanilla wafers with icing and edible pearls |
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| All the girls in their outfits and tiaras |
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| My daughter made these really fun Octopus Dogs that were a hit |
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| Mermaid thrown |
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| Crown and wand |
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| Lots of pretty jellyfish lanterns |
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| All the little mermaids |
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| Rock candy made lots of fun "jewels" for eating |
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| The wand and crown I made |
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| Enchanted Sea Water |
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| One of my favorite pictures of Naomi's dress with lots of shells on her mermaid train |
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| I made several crowns for the party which I loved doing! |
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| Our sweetest little Naomi |
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| Mermaid Naomi loved her party! |
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| I created this image for the back of the invite. I also had it printed on a canvas for the table |
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| This is the back of the invite |
and invites at my Etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/BellaLuElla
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