Create an Etsy Shop Banner With Picmonkey

 Here's a super easy way to create an Etsy shop banner without having to download a certain program and learn how to use it from watching youtube videos! I used to have to download GIMP, an editing program whenever I wanted to create my Etsy banners. And I always forget how to use it because it seems a little complicated. Today I was feeling like making a change to my shop banner but I couldn't find the GIMP program on my computer and was not about to download it again! So I went to Picmonkey and figured out an easier way! Let me show you!

Head over to the Picmonkey website and click "create a collage."

Click the little mountains icon and a box will pop up allowing you to pick the image you want to use for your background. You'll want to choose a photo that does not have large images on it because they will most likely be cropped off due to the size you will need to make this banner. Some ideas of what you can do for your background image could be taking a photo of a patterned piece of fabric like small floral print or polka dots, or maybe even doodling on paper. You could also find free background images online too!

Now open the "FB Cover" layouts selection and click one of the options.

I chose the first option and then hit the "x" in the corners of the extra boxes to make it one big blank rectangle, for one photo. But if you are wanting multiple photos on your banner, then choose what you like.

Next, click the little paint palette and move the spacing all the way to the left. This just makes it to where there is no white border around the image.

Make the image box narrower by clicking onto a side of the box and moving it.

Go back to the little mountains icon and click and drag your image into the box.

Now click "Edit" which will open up all the photo editing options.

The rest of these instructions are how I did mine, but I'm including them anyway just to show you and give you the idea.

Open up the "Overlays" section which is located under the "P" icon (the heart, star, and word bubble icon), and choose any of the label options if you want to insert any of the images offered. I chose the rectangle from the "Geometric" section.

I changed the size, color, and faded-ness (is that a word?!) of the rectangle. Adding this rectangle is mainly for helping my shop name stand out against the background.

Position the image where you would want it to go.

Now you can add your shop name to the banner. Open up the "P" and you'll find all the fonts available. Click add text and fill in the box that pops up on the screen. Edit it how you like and position where you want it.
{You can add another text box if you are wanting another section of words but in a different font}

Ah, looking nice!
Now click "save" which is right above your image.

Before saving to your computer, you want to change the image size to 760. That's the only number slot that I changed and then saved it to my computer.

Ta-da!! A new fresh look!

I hope this works for you! I'm not too techy with all the measuring, sizes, editing and such of photos when it comes to things like this, but I just know it worked for what I wanted. So hopefully it can work out for yours as well. I'd love to know if you use this idea and how it turned out for you! Leave a comment and link to your shop if you'd like!

Thaaaaanks and happy editing!

Buy 1 Get 1 Free Earring Deal

Here's a special deal for you!

Buy any 1 pair of earrings in my shop and get 1 pair of earrings of equal or lesser value for FREE!

* This Friday and Saturday only * 

{10th & 11th}

** when you purchase the pair of earrings you want, be sure to add in the "notes to seller" section which free pair you would like! ** 

Now come on over and check out the earrings section in my shop! 

Craft Show Details, Details Details!

Only 4 days left until it's Craft Show time!! I'm super excited and a little nervous. A couple nights ago I took down my whole display and did a practice run with packing it all up. I'm using my two large rolling luggage bags and we'll have to carry a couple of my larger displays. Then I set the whole display back up in my living room... ya, it's still here, crowding us out! 

I think I'm obsessed with little details! Little things that make really cute finishing touches.. I have way too much fun with all the little details! 

Like...

 I made myself a little name badge to wear for the show! 

I made a flower, cut a cardboard circle out and painted it with chalkboard paint :) 

I think it's just adorable.

... made up a bunch of extra business cards in case I run out of my nice profesh ones.

I'm keeping them all out together, so people can just choose whichever one.

... every different product has a printed photo price tag.

... I changed up my scarf display by adding a little wooden rack on top to drape a scarf over so it's not in the way of the other scarves while customers are browsing. And I also made a little chalkboard sign to let customers know they are welcome to try them on. Picked up a pack of 6 wooden rectangle pieces at Walmart, painted it with chalkboard paint, drilled a hole (ALL BY MYSELF! hehe) and hung it with twine. I definitely like the updated scarf display much better. (and I finished the other scarf I was working on).

... a bowl of free stickers!! Who doesn't like free stuff?!

Made the little chalkboard label with a piece of cardboard and chalkboard paint and glued it to a clothespin. 

... some of my products aren't labeled with my shop name, like my rings and earrings, so I made little tags to slip them onto the items when they are purchased, except for my scarves- I put them on those. I'd rather not have them already on the other items because I'm just picky like that.

... I labeled a few of my other products. 

Nutrition Facts: 100% Metsy MADE :) 

(like my all my button earrings.. I don't think I made enough of those little label tags above and I didn't feel like making more of them.. so I did it the lazy way and just cut up leftover papers I stamped and taped them on

... hand stamped "thank you" stickers to seal my customer's bags.

... And I'm bringing a little table to have behind my display with me to hold my cash box (yes the colorful little box.. got it at the dollar store) and my little pink thrifted basket for holding my packing goodies.

... and of course, I have a little tub of all my random essentials, extras, and things I might need while there at the event.

How's all that for details, details, details??? 

I think I'm officially ready for Saturday! 

Not quite sure what to expect, but I'm excited to try this nonetheless! :)

Have you already seen the rest of my display table and craft show prep?

My First Craft Show!

Ever since I opened my own Etsy shop I've been dreaming and wishing someday I could be a part of a craft show and rent a table and make an adorable display. I drool over craft show display tables all the time! Seriously, you can see my Pinterest board here. Well, guess what?! It's actually happening now! I was thinking about doing the big fall market craft show here in town, but realized it would be way too much money and work for my very first craft show. So I found something smaller to participate in through kijij.ca under "events." It's an Ovarian Cancer fundraising event and it's only $20 to rent a 6ft table, and tables and chairs are provided, .. and it's inside. It's a show up and pay kind of thing, so hopefully I get a spot for sure! Anyway, I've been working really hard at finding and making displays for my products and I wanted to share all my work with you! I'm super excited. 

 

Hubby helped me make my necklace display. I love it! Three wooden dowels I picked up from the hardware store, and a flat piece of wood from dad inlaw's scrap pile. I stained it too. Since I have no idea if the tables provided will be by walls, I wanted to make sure all my displays were free standing.  {inspiration}

This huge frame came from the thrift store for $4 and I hot glued twine strings to the sides so I could pin on my earring cards with mini clothespins. I found a couple bracket pieces at the hardware store for cheap so we screwed them on the bottom corners so it would stand. I love it!!!! I didn't want to paint it because all of my display stuff is kind of a rustic antique wood look with whites and pinks.

I found this little silver swivel piece at the thrift store as well for like $2. 

It's perfect for my button earrings!

For my infinity scarves I'm using this thrifted basket. I don't have a lot of scarves made and I'm currently working on another. They really don't take long, but this one's taking me awhile cause I've been working on a ton of other things as well.

I made display cards for my baby headbands! I had been wondering how I could display them and I was just going to put them in little plastic baggies, but I like this so much better! Recycled cardboard, .. just like all my other product display cards!

I love that my beautiful baby niece gets to show off my headbands! 

I really like my price tags, by the way. I saw that idea somewhere on Pinterest and just had to do it too. I think it's perfect to have your product photo and price together.. no room for confusion. {although I do need to edit this price tag to include the size of headbands}

My rings are in my favorite little milkglass dish that is filled with clear filler bead things I picked up at the dollar store. Love how they just poke right in and stand upright.

I'm using a couple of my cute dollar store plates for displaying some hair accessories.

Picked up a cheap plate and bowel at the thrift and glued them to this candle holder I already had to make this super cute tiered stand for my hair clippies! I just love making my own displays! 

My magnet display is a dollar store pizza pan along with a large frame stand I picked up at the thrift store.

Look at this adorable little piece I found for .99 cents at the thrift store! It's so cute, and just had to bring it home. And it's so perfect for displaying my business cards! I love vintage bicycle things! It totally matches some of my shop display stuff, like my cardboard earrings cards {they are stamped with a vintage bike stamp, and some of my hair pin cards}

 
I thought it would be cute to display my stamped gift tags as though they were spilling from this milkglass goblet piece I have. Not sure though... 

These are the little baggies I'm using for customer sales- so cute right!?

I got a pack of brown paper lunch bags from the dollar store, cut the tops off with decorative scissors and stamped my favorite bicycle stamp along with my custom shop stamp. So adorable!

My banner is made from some burlap material I found at Walmart. I printed out my letters and then laid the letters behind the burlap triangles and because the material is kind of see through I was able to trace on top with paint! Came out so cute! I just hot glued the triangles to white ribbon and will hold it in place with little safety pins.{banner inspiration}

And here it all is together!
{ignore the wooden rack on the wall. That's what I normally hang my necklaces on}

I got a mirror from the dollar store so customers can try things on!
I thought it would be cute to use my little decor wall boxes for height and more display area.

I came across this cute little craft show apron tutorial using a pillowcase, so I found this pretty floral pink pillow case at the dollar store and my mom in law sewed it up for me. I did the ribbon ties a little different. I love love love my little craft show apron! I'll keep my calculator, pens, paper and whatever else I might need in my little pockets! I'll feel so organized!

So what do you think?!

Any tips or suggestions from any pros out there? : ) 

The event will be held Saturday, July 14th. I still have a few things to finish up before then. I'll let ya know how it all turns out.. with photos to share of course!

Stay tuned... !