Wednesday Item Challenge

Saturday's Natural History winner is somsstudiosupplies! This week's featured item are these gorgeous Center Drilled Maroon Garnets.

Wednesday Item Treasury Challenges feature one item from a shop - the item must be included in your treasury.  You could be featured in an upcoming Wednesday Challenge!  The featured Wednesday item is picked from the wining shop of the Saturday challenge. Everyone is invited to play - these challenges are open to all.  These challenges are also voluntary - never mandatory for team members.

This week's Wednesday Challenge Item: AAA Maroon Garnet Faceted, Tear Drop Center Drilled Briolettes.

The Rules:

1. You must include at least 8 Curation Nation team members - you can use the sidebar on the blog for a list of team shops, or search "curationnation" on Etsy.
2. Please follow our blog.
3. Put "treasury challenge" somewhere in the title of your treasury.
4. Put a link to this blog post in the comments of your treasury. This helps other people find the challenge and enter.
5. Post a comment here on the blog with a link to your treasury.
6. Tag the treasury "curation nation"
7. Tag the treasury "cn challenge"
8. Tag the treasury "somsstudiosupplies"
9. Include the featured item in the first three rows of your treasury.
10. DUE DATE: Wednesday, October 6.

Her winning treasury: Beasts in my Belfry:

Treasury Theme Keywords: October

Hey team!  It's time to round up the keywords from October's "From Etsy's Merchandising Desk" article in the Storque.  These keywords can be incorporated in the designs in your shop, your tagging, and your marketing.  As treasury makers, these keywords are important to pay attention to because these are the themes Etsy will be putting on the FP.   I'm going to pull keywords from these articles every month and list them here on the blog.  If you make a treasury with one or more of these keywords, be sure to tag your treasuries with the words!

source

Colors:

black

grays

deep purples

blood red

natural colors 

rusts

turquoise

rich earth tones

mustards

deep berries/wine

muted greens

gray/camel solids

classic and modern interpretations of holiday color schemes (orange & black, purple, green & black, yellow, orange, & white, red & white, green & red).

Themes:

Gothic

dark arts vampires

steampunk

anatomy

science

sci-fi/geekery

spooky dolls

Halloween decor

costumes

treats/favors

party ideas

ready-made accessories/makeup

intro to winter fashion

November entertaining

Thanksgiving

Gourds/pumpkins

vintage industrial farm accents

orchard/vineyard

classic fall fruits/vegetables

Woodland 

rich fabrics

the hearth

played-up textures

unconventional weddings

photo-booths/photo props

film/film strips

opal

Libra/Scorpio

Geometric

tribal

colorblock patterns/weaves

bold colors

stripes and shapes (chevron, triangle, and arrow)

warrior references

intricate beading

natural materials

feathers

leather

stone/clay

personalization

fingerprints

names/initials

portable gadgets

equestrian

Bows

layering

foliage

metallic

animal

plaid

brocade

cargo/military styles

bohemian

grandeur

decorative packaging

Baker's twine

kraft

personalized stamps

glitter

natural history

Forest animals

foxes 

bears

owls

feathers

acorns

pine-cones

nuts

wood-grain

branches/logs

leaves

taxidermy

raw minerals/stones

nests

claws

scientific chartsd

diagrams

bones 

antlers

species

Straight from the Storque:  "Tagging Tip: The seasonal terminology "fall" is primarily American English. Make sure to include the more internationally recognized term "autumn" in your seasonally appropriate item descriptions and tags."

Secret Santa Invitation

I know the leaves are still crunching underfoot, but it won’t be long before we are digging tunnels through the snow from our cars to our front doors (wait, maybe that’s just in Alberta). Either way, a great way to warm up this upcoming holiday season and share in the spirit of giving is to participate in the First Annual Curation Nation Secret Santa Exchange! Everyone is invited!

Participation is entirely voluntary. There is a FaceBook discussion on our team page where you can jot your name down if you are interested in taking part.

Kathy and Jessica will be putting all the names in a hat and drawing them on Oct. 15. On that same day, we will then send everyone participating a message on Etsy with the name of the person they are to “make” for. But, shhh! Don’t forget it’s a Secret Santa. Keep it under wraps until the receiver opens your package!

We are still working out all of the details, so if you have any ideas please share them. This is what we have so far…

All gifts must be handmade (of course!) and should be between $10.00 - $15.00 if they were listed in your shop.

The gifts should be sent out within the first week of December so that they all arrive close together.

Another fun idea, that is also optional, is to take a picture of your package and gift and write a little thank you to your Secret Santa. That we can then post them on the team blog and we can all share in the joy!

Treasury Challenge: Pounce!

runawaydreams has a kitty ready to Pounce!

POUNCE

Etsy has a great search feature for finding new sellers: Pounce. For this week's treasury challenge make a treasury using that great feature! Just pounce together a collection. Undiscovered shops always deserve a spotlight but maybe a "Just sold" shop will catch your attention.

Rules:
Post a link to your treasury here.
Post a link to the challenge in your treasury.
TAG: Curation Nation Pounce

Please comment on the other treasuries- if you tag the treasury "pounce" it will be easier to find it.
Happy Saturday!

NOTE: this challenge is an exception to the "8 curation nation members" rule :-)

Treasury Challenge: BuckToothedBunny

VirtueBusiness was nice enough to pick a winner of the Saturday challenge this week. We had to end it a tiny bit early so we could pick an item from the winner's shop for today's challenge. Congratulations BucktoothedBunny on your great treasury!

So The ITEM OF THE WEEK is from her shop, and it the LOVE LANGUAGES TOTE BAG: GRAY ON NATURAL: Cotton Canvas Tote Bag

The Rules:

1. Use at least 8 Curation Nation members. The list is on the right of this blog so you can click over and have a look around. They can be in any slot on the treasury.
2. Follow our blog (please).
3. Put "Treasury Challenge" somewhere in the title of your treasury.
4. Link back to this post. This helps other people find the challenge and enter.
5. Post a comment here with the link to your treasury.
6. Please make your treasury in Treasury East.
7. Tag the treasury "curation nation".
8. Tag the treasury "CNCHALLENGE".
9. Tag the treasury "BuckToothedBunny"
10. Include the featured item in the first three rows of your treasury. :-)
    

If a friend refers you- please mention who did in your entry- then they will also get the prize. Curation Nation Members- try to include your teammates? Not a team member? You can still win. If the item sells out feel free to make a treasury with any item from this great shop.
Please follow the guidelines Etsy sets out for making treasuries.

Front Page Round Up!

Good Monday morning to you!

From here on out, I will be posting team front page appearances on a weekly basis. As you can imagine, sometimes it's difficult to catch all of them. If I miss one, please do not be shy about sending me a message so I can include it!

In no particular order, our Congratulations goes to:

SeventhSphere

loveartworks

Blushie

3squares

Good job and a high five! Keep making those beautiful treasury lists!

Getting to Know MyLittleGirlsCloset

Hi there team! It feels like it's been awhile since any of our lovely team members were featured.  I have to apologize, I've been on vacation!  Here I am again though, and I'd like to feature MyLittleGirlsCloset.

source

Who inspired you to be an Etsian? I've been a buyer for years. My daughters inspired this shop. I really love making stuff for them and wanted to share my skill set with others. source What is your favorite thing about Etsy? I love that you can get unique things. I'm in several parenting forums and whenever someone posts a photo of their kids someone always comments with "my kid has the same shirt/dress/outfit" Shopping on Etsy this will never happen!   source   What is your favorite thing in your shop? I love this: http://www.etsy.com/listing/49890327/circus-monogram-toddler-shirt I've made it for each of my girls in several sizes and color combos.     source What is one thing you would like everyone to know about you? I love doing custom stuff. All the orders I've done so far have been custom pieces. I also don't feel limited to certain sizes or to girls stuff. I'm hoping to branch out and do a line of toddler boy clothes in the near future.   source

Saturday Treasury Challenge - Natural History

Pterodactyl (wants a cracker) by amberalexander

Ripped from the headlines - or, the Etsy Merchandising Desk.  This week's Saturday challenge is Natural History - think bones, science, feathers, antlers, raw minerals, stones, foliage, fungi, charts and diagrams.  Get creative - think creaky old museum or even go modern with it.  Have fun and good luck!

The Rules:

1. Use at least 8 Curation Nation members. The list is on the right of this blog so you can click over and have a look around. They can be in any slot on the treasury.
2. Follow our blog (please).
3. Put "Treasury Challenge" somewhere in the title of your treasury.
4. Link back to this post. This helps other people find the challenge and enter.
5. Post a comment here with the link to your treasury. 
6. Please make your treasury in Treasury East.
7. Tag the treasury "curation nation". 
8. Tag the treasury "CNCHALLENGE". 
9. Tag the treasury "Natural History".

If a friend refers you- please mention who did in your entry- then they will also get the prize. Curation Nation Members- try to include your teammates? Not a team member? You can still win. I hope everyone I know enters. Several times. and I hope that the treasuries make the front page. Just a tip: Don't include yourself. You won't win. Follow the guidelines Etsy sets out for making treasuries.

You have until Saturday and good luck!

Treasury Challenge: InMyIgloo

Well Last Saturday the treasury challenge was "sapphire" and Deusprovidebit was kind enough to select her favorite one. The winner is InMyIgloo. Since She is the Winner her Shop will be featured in this week's Wednesday Challenge!

Are you ready for the challenge?

The item this week: Autumn Green Forest Bud Vase /Vessel 1970

The Rules:

1. Use at least 8 Curation Nation members. The list is on the right of this blog so you can click over and have a look around. They can be in any slot on the treasury.
2. Follow our blog (please).
3. Put "Treasury Challenge" somewhere in the title of your treasury.
4. Link back to this post. This helps other people find the challenge and enter.
5. Post a comment here with the link to your treasury.
6. Please make your treasury in Treasury East.
7. Tag the treasury "curation nation".
8. Tag the treasury "CNCHALLENGE".
9. Tag the treasury "inmyigloo"
   

If a friend refers you- please mention who did in your entry- then they will also get the prize. Curation Nation Members- try to include your teammates? Not a team member? You can still win. If the item sells out feel free to make a treasury with any item from this great shop.
Please follow the guidelines Etsy sets out for making treasuries.

You have until Saturday and good luck!

Breaking Out From My Box By Way of Photoshop Actions

It's easy to stay in even the prettiest of boxes.

Adorable Kraft Gift Boxes from PackNWrap on Etsy

Especially if it's a cozy, comfortable box. It's safe, familiar, and you know what to expect. Nothing is wrong with that, but what if one day you realize that the monotony of your box is digging your way toward a deep creativity rut? Believe me - I know that feeling! As much as I feel like I extend my creative outlets by leaps and bounds, it doesn't take too long for my box to start feeling comfortable and cozy. I'll hang out in my box for a while - maybe too long at times - and then my box starts feeling too small.

Lately, my box is feeling small. Again.

Therefore, it's time to move forward and I want to add to my creative repertoire. Normally, I would do so by trying a new art or craft, but not today. I returned a much more familiar platform - Photoshop. I've learned so much from the creative community that I wanted to start giving back so that others could learn from me.

Today, I made my very first set of Photoshop actions. If you're a collage artist, a photographer learning the ropes, or just thrive on digital manipulation, you'll want to take these for a test drive. The first photo below is the original image and the subsequent three are the actions I used on the original image. The download link is at the end of this blog post.

Enjoy!



Original photo by royalshot/sxc.hu



Antiquity - a high-contrasting, sepia-toning action with a subtle hint of graininess.



Sun Bleached - inspired by the effect the sun had on the cover of a book when I left in my back window. For a year.



Soft Fade to Black - a soft dose of tunnel vision.

Go ahead and download this set. If you're learning Photoshop, these actions are step by step and you can see how certain effects are achieved. Let me know what you think and I can learn from you!

Obligatory Download and Use Stuff:

Download and installation: The file you download will be an .atn file. To install the action set, simply open your Photoshop program folder > 'Presets' folder > 'Actions' folder. Move your .atn file to the 'Actions' folder. To load the action set in Photoshop, simply open the 'Window" menu and choose "Actions". This will open a palette window.

In the upper right corner of the Actions palette is a tiny arrow - click on it and choose 'Load Actions'. A window opens, allowing you to browse to the folder where your action set is saved. When you see 'Aged Photos.atn', choose it and click 'Load'. Done deal.

Applying the action: This part is super easy. Open your 'Actions' palette window and highlight the action you want to use by clicking on it. Hit the 'Play' button at the bottom of the window. (Hint: it looks like an arrow that you see on every playback device).

Creativity tip: Have some fun experimenting with Actions. When you're done with one action, apply another action for fun and unexpected results!

---

Jen Schroll is a crafty wife, doggy mom, and Curation Nation team member in Kansas who likes to create by hand, take photos, travel and stir the proverbial pot once in a while. Her blog, Simply Said, is all about having fun with DIY, Creativity and all kinds of paper goodness.

colormatch (a useful tool you should know about)

Hello team (and visitors)!  Today I have a fun little tool to show you that can help you when you want to make a color themed treasury.  26 Olive Street designed a tool that detects colors in a photo you upload and matches it to the colors in other items on Etsy.  You can save and upload a photo of an item that inspires you and build a treasury from there.  It would be great to use for your team challenges, but remember to include 8 team mates!  This tool is called colormatch.

 Your first screen looks like this.  You can upload a photo and choose keywords.  If you're searching for dragonflies, type in dragonflies.  If you're searching for hats, type in hats.  I just left it blank.

 I uploaded this from my shop:

colormatch then displayed a bank of colors it detected in my photo:

all of these are clickable, and when you click on one it brings up a selection of items that also have that color detected in the photo:

I clicked on one that caught my eye and it brought up this page:

Then you can click and access the Etsy page for the item:

This is a great way to build treasuries and works better than the Etsy color tool, in my opinion.  I hope you enjoyed this little tool!  (colormatch is not directly affiliated with Etsy, and all of the photos are screenshots from using the tool, unless otherwise credited.)

P.S. Etsy has released the October Merchandising Report in the Storque.  Feel free to check it out now... I will be posting the keywords I pull from the article closer to October.

LittleBugJewelry's Picks on the Front Page

Beautiful picks LittleBugJewelry- Congratulations on the Front Page treasury!

Treasury Challenge: Sapphire

Midnight Earrings Sapphire Blue Pearl Hearts from Rachellucie

Saturday Challenge: Sapphire

I was reading through the great post from Ashli about September Themes and I thought we should really do a challenge with Sapphires.

So that is the keyword: Sapphire

The Rules:

1. Use at least 8 Curation Nation members. The list is on the right of this blog so you can click over and have a look around. They can be in any slot on the treasury.
2. Follow our blog (please).
3. Put "Treasury Challenge" somewhere in the title of your treasury.
4. Link back to this post. This helps other people find the challenge and enter.
5. Post a comment here with the link to your treasury.
6. Please make your treasury in Treasury East.
7. Tag the treasury "curation nation".
8. Tag the treasury "CNCHALLENGE".
9. Tag the treasury "Sapphire".

If a friend refers you- please mention who did in your entry- then they will also get the prize. Curation Nation Members- try to include your teammates? Not a team member? You can still win. I hope everyone I know enters. Several times. and I hope that the treasuries make the front page. Just a tip: Don't include yourself. You won't win. Follow the guidelines Etsy sets out for making treasuries.

You have until Saturday and good luck!

An Autumn Wedding: A Winner

Congratulations HiyaPapaya
you have a beautiful eye for an Autumn Wedding and you Win!

Also congratulations RavensWhimsy on making a treasury challenge treasury that was featured on the front page. That is pretty impressive !

Treasury Challenge: Knot Original

Since KnotOriginal won the Saturday treasury challenge her shop will be featured this week! I thought she has so many soft and beautiful items- and I love how the red flower brings a happy pop of color.

Her item: The White Hot Summer Recycled T Shirt Handknit Scarf with a Bright Red Poppy Flower Pin. Eco Friendly, Reclaimed, Repurposed

that's quite the title.

Are you ready for the challenge?

The Rules:

1. Use at least 8 Curation Nation members. The list is on the right of this blog so you can click over and have a look around. They can be in any slot on the treasury.
2. Follow our blog (please).
3. Put "Treasury Challenge" somewhere in the title of your treasury.
4. Link back to this post. This helps other people find the challenge and enter.
5. Post a comment here with the link to your treasury.
6. Please make your treasury in Treasury East.
7. Tag the treasury "curation nation".
8. Tag the treasury "CNCHALLENGE".

If a friend refers you- please mention who did in your entry- then they will also get the prize. Curation Nation Members- try to include your teammates? Not a team member? You can still win. I hope everyone I know enters. Several times. and I hope that the treasuries make the front page. Just a tip: Don't include yourself. You won't win. Follow the guidelines Etsy sets out for making treasuries.
The voting is usually narrowed down to a few treasuries that fall in the guidelines and then anyone can vote for a winner!

You have until Saturday and good luck!

Treasury Challenge:

The Wednesday Treasury Challenges will now be featuring winners from the Saturday Challenges! I think this is a thrilling way to get in lots of treasuries- you don't have to be on the team to win.


The winner of the August 28 Chiaroscuro Treasury challenge was KnotOriginal with her Sapphire Dreams Treasury. I was super impressed with all the treasuries.

Congrats to Cookstah!!!

Congratulations Cookstah for your fantastic front page!

Treasury Theme Keywords: September

Every month, Etsy posts a "From Etsy's Merchandising Desk" article in the Storque.  Etsy sellers who are on top of their game read these posts and pull keywords to benefit their own shop.  These keywords can be incorporated in the designs in your shop, your tagging, and your marketing.  As treasury makers, these keywords are important to pay attention to because these are the themes Etsy will be putting on the FP.   I'm going to pull keywords from these articles every month and list them here on the blog.  If I miss any, feel free to add them in the comments of these posts.  Jen (Polestar) addressed doing this in her brilliant forum post, "How to get into Thousands of Treasuries". 

 

source

So.... here is September's list of keywords:

cookouts
family
sports
beer
festivals
back to school
college
new job
first apartment
wardrobe/decor updates
office/organizational supplies.
autumnal tones
industrial farm accents
orchard/vineyard
classic fall fruits/vegetables
woodland
natural colors
rich fabrics
the hearth
Halloween
costumes
creepy
unconventional weddings
Sapphire
Virgo
Libra
leather
equestrian
animal
plaid
brocade
geometric
military
over-the-top
grandeur
football
tennis
Oktoberfest
Celebrity
pop culture
plays on words
vampire
folk
photobooth
Halloween classic colors:  orange, black, yellow, white, red, green, purple
forest animals
foxes
bears
owls
feathers
acorns
wood-grain
branches
logs
leaves
Colorblock
stripes
shapes
warrior
customization
monograms
quotes
fingerprints
numbers
gadgets
clever
natural history
taxidermy
raw minerals/stones
claws
scientific charts
diagrams
bones
antlers
species
turquoise
richer earth tones
mustards
cranberry
deep berries/wine
muted greens
gray/camel solids

 

What to do now?  Make treasuries expressing these themes, ideas, and concepts and TAG your treasuries with these keywords.  Etsy will be searching for these things to choose their FP's.  More helpful tips are included in the post.  I hope you found this list helpful!

Getting to Know Garden22DesignStudio

 Hi team! It's time to get to know Cristy, from Garden22DesignStudio.  She also runs a vintage shop called Garden22Vingtage. Cristy was also the winner of the Itsastitch treasury challenge, so I thought it was time to share a little about her here. 

source

Angie: Who inspired you to be an Etsian?

Cristy: Nobody really inspired me, I was told about Etsy by our Realtor while in the process of selling our house in Indiana and moving to Texas last summer. After getting settled in here, I went to check out the site and became obsessed and finally took the jump and opened my shop mid January.

source

Angie: What is your favorite thing about Etsy?

Cristy: I love that I have found a group of fellow artists that have given me so much support through Curation Nation. I am actually kind of a shy person (!!! shocking I know) so I am so happy to have found so many talented community members that I can personally trust to ask if I have a question, and so many that I now count as friends. This team rocks.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/54050284/early-autumn-glow-8x10-fine-art-print">this photograph.
I took it on a day that I remember fondly as a pretty awesome family adventure :)

http://www.etsy.com/listing/54050284/early-autumn-glow-8x10-fine-art-print">source

Angie: What is one thing you would like everyone to know about you?

Cristy: I can't think of anything that I really want people to know about me, so you get my oddest quirk: for as long as I can remember, I have found 4-leaf clovers. Granted, not NEARLY as much since we moved to Texas, but I still find them. I will just be walking and I see them. It is so strange. My husband calls it the worlds most worthless talent, but don't let him fool you as I know he is secretly jealous. Try as he might, he has yet to find one, ever. It is such a pleasure to be on a walk with him and at the end, hand him a small bouquet of various sized 4 leaf clovers :) Maybe this St. Patrick's day I will finally put them to good use on some cards or something.

source

 It was great getting to know you, Cristy!

Saturday Challenge; Autumn Wedding

Pair of Balsam Fir Sachets from SewnNatural

Garden 22 had a beautiful suggestion for a treasury challenge- an Autumn wedding. SimplyInvitingCards is an October bride and I love the fall.

This week's Challenge: An Autumn Wedding.

The Rules:

1. Use at least 8 Curation Nation members. The list is on the right of this blog so you can click over and have a look around. They can be in any slot on the treasury.
2. Follow our blog (please).
3. Put "Treasury Challenge" somewhere in the title of your treasury.
4. Link back to this post. This helps other people find the challenge and enter.
5. Post a comment here with the link to your treasury.
6. Please make your treasury in Treasury East.
7. Tag the treasury "curation nation".
8. Tag the treasury "CNCHALLENGE".
9. Tag the treasury "Autumn Wedding".

If a friend refers you- please mention who did in your entry- then they will also get the prize. Curation Nation Members- try to include your teammates? Not a team member? You can still win. I hope everyone I know enters. Several times. and I hope that the treasuries make the front page. Just a tip: Don't include yourself. You won't win. Follow the guidelines Etsy sets out for making treasuries.
The voting is usually narrowed down to a few treasuries that fall in the guidelines and then anyone can vote for a winner!

You have until Saturday and good luck!

Congratulations opendoorstudio!!!

It's lovely, isn't it? Congrats opendoorstudio!

Congrats DollfaceDeville!!!

Congrats to DollfaceDeVille and those featured on this front page team treasury!

Treasury Challenge: Raceytay

I've been a little behind lately. as in really behind. We are redoing our kitchen and our bathroom downstairs. But today I've been working on the basement. I decided I wanted to learn how to tile everything myself. I can say now I can tile bathrooms and backsplashes and floors and replace floors. and refinish cabinets. I am in love with my tile saw, but my husband understands.

I still need new art for the kitchen. So I decided this week's item challenge should feature something I have been thinking about buying: a beautiful print from Raceytay's etsy shop. I need an 8 by 10 and a coordinating print.
maybe your treasury could have a coordinating print.
or not.

Wednesday Treasury Challenges feature an item and Saturday challenges feature a theme. Theses challenges help you get better at making treasuries. After we narrow it down, we open voting to everyone. The Prize? You get advertising on our little curation nation blog!

Wednesday Challenge Item:

Blueberry High Key, a fine art food photography print (5x5) BOGO SALE

Are you ready for the challenge?

1. Use at least 8 Curation Nation members. The list is on the right of this blog so you can click over and have a look around. They can be in any slot on the treasury.
2. Include the Blueberry High Key photograph in the first three rows of the treasury.
3. Follow our blog (please).
4. Put "Treasury Challenge" somewhere in the title of your treasury.
5. Link back to this post. This helps others find the challenge and enter.
6. Post a comment here with a link to your treasury.
7. Please make a treasury in Treasury East.
8. Tag the treasury "curation nation".
9. Tag the treasury "CNCHALLENGE".
10. Tag the treasury "janae's kitchen" if you want- I guess that isn't mandatory.
    

If a friend refers you- please mention who in your entry- then they will also get the prize- advertising on our little blog! Curation Nation Members- try to include your teammates. Not a team member? You can still win. I hope everyone I know enters. Several times. And I hope that the treasuries make the front page. Just a tip: Don't include yourself. You won't win. Follow the guidelines Etsy sets out for making treasuries.

Item Sold Out? Pick another item from the shop and mention that in your comment on this blog.

I let the person who made the item pick the winner for these unique item challenges.