OCT TPT Treasury Challenge

Our October challenge is all about the holidays and items found in the 2700+ TPT member shops. That’s a lot of shops and a wide variety of fabulous things to discover!  Start by looking through the team posting threads (especially the ones with “SHOP PROMO” in the heading), do a search for “TPT” tagged items, or make your way through the member list – you’ll quickly fill a treasury no matter what search method is chosen.

 October Challenge Rules:

1. Open to all TPT members. 


2. Select one of the following four categories for the theme of your holiday treasury (pick any holiday in October, November, or December):

• HOLIDAY HANDMADE

• HOLIDAY VINTAGE

• I’M GRATEFUL FOR…

• THE HOLIDAYS WITH FAMILY, FRIENDS, PETS (could be family traditions, parties with friends, a gift guide for Fido… you get the idea)

3. Submit only ONE entry PER category but enter EACH category if you wish. (Anyone who does submit one entry for each of the four categories automatically becomes eligible to win the Grand Prize.)

4. Entries MUST be 100% TPT – use only items from TPT member shops to fill the 16 treasury squares.

5. Entries MUST be tagged “tpt team”

6. The challenge is open from October 6 to October 21. 2012.

7. Entries MUST be posted on the “OCT TPT Treasury Challenge” discussion thread. (Additional posts may be made on the following two threads: CURATOR’s Treasury Thread -OCTOBER and the 100% TEAM Treasury Thread – OCTOBER.)

 The TPT Leaders Will Select 5 Winners

Winners will be selected for the beauty of the treasury, the uniqueness of items found, theme interpretation, and overall creativity. Anyone who has submitted one entry for each of the four categories will be eligible to win the Grand Prize. Of the remaining contestants, there will be one winner for each category.

Prizes

The Grand Prize winner will receive an 8”x10” digitally printed photograph ($15.00 value) from SeasAndSeasons, a 5 pack of mix and match (winners choice) of fine art note cards ($15.00 value) from PatMcWhorter, and an ornament ($15.00 value) from AtelierDenise. PLUS, the Grand Prize winner will be featured in an article posted on the team blog. The four category winners will each receive an ad for their shop for one month on the blog. A special “thank you” to AtelierDenise, PatMcWhorter, and SeasAndSeasons for donating items from their shops for the challenge prizes.

Get Started with these Search Tips

• Review the team’s Promotional Discussion Threads such as: Shop Promo – List your FALL HOLIDAY items here!; SHOP Promo – Christmas Items Here; Shop Promo – OCTOBER New Listings HERE; SHOP Promo – Orange, Yellow and Red items here; Shop Promo-Post Listings with White Space Backgrou… ; etc.

• Do a search for “tpt team” tagged items.

• Peruse the membership list and randomly view the contents of member shops – also a great way to start your holiday shopping!

Here are two excellent examples of a treasury for our October challenge. So get started on your own entry! You’ll be amazed how fast and easy it can be to build a 100% tpt treasury!

September Challenge Winners!

What a fun September challenge!!  A special thank you to Val for creating such a fun challenge concept for our team.

Now onto the winners! Thanks to all that entered, these are our 3 winners!
BB Tar with this great color combo!

Cynthia from TheWhimsicalFrog with this great urban legend

Vickie from paperpiecesbyvicki gave us this scary jack the ripper treasury.

 And Lastly, Our team Leader Winner!!  So happy to bestow the winner crown to Pat from PatMcWhorter with this colorful urban legend!

Let’s Play Etsy Front Page Bingo!

We had so much fun playing bingo last week, here is a new bingo card for next week.  You can post here if yo get a bingo during the day.

For added fun, try making a treasury using only items from the bingo card.

COLOR YOUR TREASURY CHALLENGE!

Perhaps I have just really miss seeing the merchandising desk report so, let’s talk color. If you are a color lover like I am, you should enjoy the release of the Fall Color Trends from Pantone. Perhaps more interesting than that are the combined color combos from within this group. Sure, in the past I have always thought of a Pantone color – let’s say tangerine, the color of the year – and paired it with a neutral beige or white, etc. What I am seeing in this year’s Fall fashions and home decor trends are these colors mixed within their group for striking contrast….tangerine with pink flambe for example.

So while you are creating your themed fall treasuries, why not emphasize the “Pantone Combo”? I know it sounds like food but just go with it.

Why not think of these color combo’s when creating jewelery Christmas gifts, snapping photographs, painting , upcycling, creating live plant arrangements, planning your wedding, decorating your home and even cooking in the kitchen?

Look at these lovely fresh, young, spirited colors Pantone has designated as the biggest trend colors for this fall.

So how about our monthly challenge – feeling up to one?  We thought it would be fun to create October themed treasuries featuring any TWO Fall Pantone colors in these categories AND titles:

Yielding the Harvest (rustic farm planting autumn canning vintage )

Autumn Bride & Groom ( fashion, parties, showers, gifts )

Haunting Stories  ( for Halloween – BUT you can not use tangerine and French toast together)

Bright Lights, Big City  ( urban legends – portrayal of any myth or expression that has been around a long time believed to be true …or…living in the city- fashion, home decor, trendy and chic )

Recap of the Challenge Rules:

1. You must chose a minimum of TWO Pantone Fall colors for your treasury for a combo (note on Haunting Stories that the combo tangerine and French toast is too much like the classic traditional expectation and we want to see something different)

2. You must choose ONE of the FOUR listed categories above for your theme AND title of your treasury

3. You must tag the treasury TPT, PANTONE COLORS & THE COLORS YOU CHOSE

4.  You may enter ONE treasury for EACH of the categories if you wish.

5. You must post your treasury on our special Challenge thread

6. Challenge will run from Sept 24-Sept 30 midnight EST

Winners will be chosen on the beauty of the treasury, the uniqueness of items found in the colors chosen and overall creativity. The winners will receive a month ad for their shop on our blog plus be featured in an article on our blog.

Here are some search tips. Most people do not tag their items with Pantone color names so you have to try several combinations in Etsy to find the colors you want. For example, if you are looking for Honey  Gold, try searching under light yellow, honey, pollen, yellow, gold, antique gold.  For chartreuse, use light green, lime green yellow green, pear green, light green and so forth.

We will be on the lookout too for team members who have items who have items in relevant colors schemes to post our our challenge thread as well!

So good luck and have loads of fun!

Here are our Leader’s inspiration to get you thinking. Special recognition to our newest leader Denise who took a front page with her Mr. and Mrs. Pantone treasury!

‘Autumn Bride & Groom’ by MDCardsandGifts

Inspired by tangerine tango and titanium. So modern for a fall wedding!

eclu $68.00	wedandroses $59.00	indigotwinwedd… $40.00	wedandroses $59.00
xoelle $36.00	SteliePrintabl… $50.00	andiespecialty… $300.00	roseandbirch $7.00
Geekworks $12.00	Waveoflight $51.00	Geekworks $10.00	ANGEEW $60.00
ModernShabby $75.00	TheVintageOran… $60.00	beckykazana $30.00	bellafiore2009 $46.00

Treasury tool supported by the dog house

‘Bright lights Big city’ by MDCardsandGifts

Inspired by Pantone’s falls colors Ultramarine Green and Olympian Blue

cogdellphotogr… $30.00	yiayias $60.00	FlotsamFurnitu… $375.00	suezcues $95.00
LEFTright $14.00	SolsticePrints $50.00	namedesignstud… $1350.00	WoofPoof $65.00
hillbillyfilly $62.00	PotteryHeaven $8.00	willynillybymi… $34.00	shoppe3130 $4.75
LovingLighting $169.00	sweetknitting $65.00	Zojanka $15.90	WhatsisWhosisW… $12.00

Treasury tool supported by the dog house

‘The soon to be Mr and Mrs Pantone’ by ArtNoel

The groom is ever so slightly under-dressed but the bride and the dog are ever so stylish:) The bride digressed slightly from the color theme with her antler chapeau.Pantone tangerine tango and olympian blue combo.

HatasticUK $16.00	ecofriendlyfre… $45.00	dejavintagebou… $135.00	morion $37.00
LuxeMutt $69.95	Stilltreejewel… $10.00	doublespeak $150.00	necklush $29.00
KMalinka $325.00	madamaRobe $15.00	riina6undesign $80.00	Bunnys $15.00
MightyVintage $9.00	aLilJazzJewelr… $14.00	WeddingAmbienc… $7.50	oenopia $38.00

Treasury tool supported by the dog house

‘Urban Legend’ by ArtNoel

There are alligators down there:)Pantone French roast and Titanium

taraville $120.00	ArtifactVintag… $825.00	walkonthemoon $32.50	BrianTuchalski… $44.99
kimolsonphoto $60.00	maryandmaudest… $30.00	CoyoteMarmalad… $22.00	AnimalArtbyKay… $20.00
cocomo $9.00	SansEpochVinta… $38.00	RodmasCreation… $3.00	genemachine $20.00
woodandpipe $32.99	twinheartsvint… $60.00	JacquesElixar $32.00	sunsetshutterb… $6.50

Treasury tool supported by the dog house

‘Yielding the Harvest’ by PatMcWhorter

Combining Fall Pantone Colors, French Roast and Bright Chartreuse

thepcpress $24.00	APCphotocreati… $35.00	mkcphotography $35.00	JensMark $20.00
clementseye $35.00	artgirlcreativ… $12.00	Eienblue $15.00	CaptureBeautif… $25.00
allisonosterta… $15.00	PaciorkyArtStu… $55.00	JANNYSGIRL $23.00	DonnaWalker $150.00
TracyLizotteSt… $400.00	natalya1905 $17.50	alery $35.00	WonderfulLifeF… $12.00

Treasury tool supported by the dog house

‘Haunting Stories’ by SeasAndSeasons

Where nightmares are born…This tribute to Halloween uses two colors from Pantone’s 2012 Fall Fashion Guide. They are:French Roast 19-1012Rose Smoke 14-1506

GathererGreatT… $25.95	meghancolley $150.00	dylanmurphy $20.00	SurrenderDorot… $29.89
TheIDconnectio… $10.00	bauerart $24.00	ArcaniumAntiqu… $15.00	TRDphotography $6.00
ZoeAmaris $28.95	FinePointStudi… $200.00	TheNeonGargoyl… $24.99	PWKPhoto $9.99
sharkfrog $15.00	EmptyCage $98.00	JohnAndColleen $25.00	OnTheWallByYok… $28.00

Treasury tool supported by the dog house

‘Yielding the Harvest’ by SeasAndSeasons

The Olympian Blue and Honey Gold from Pantone’s 2012 Fall Fashion Report were the inspiration for this farmhouse kitchen. Fabulous vintage finds will be used to cook and preserve the harvest before a blanket of snow covers the ground.

NewLIfeVintage… $5.00	TeaWorksCottag… $15.00	swancreekcotta… $30.00	JodysVintage $27.50
SwankyPlaceApr… $37.50	exquisitEXCHAN… $30.00	SusanNolker $38.40	SweetBeeHoney $4.00
tinaproduce $25.00	AtticAntics $24.50	ChristinaDowdy… $45.00	martasrose $20.00
fromlosttofoun… $7.95	630photo $25.00	Friesenliese $14.95

Treasury tool supported by the dog house

Etsy Front Page Trends

Since Etsy’s Merchandising trends blog has been missing in action the past couple of months, I thought I would share my observations about what is “hot” for Etsy front page.

Without further ado…

Peter Pan Collars on Hangers (or dressmaker mannequins)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Origami – Geometric patterns are still hot, but having them made out of paper puts them over the top!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tiny Legs – miniature anything for that matter.  These bookmarks seem to be a front page main stay.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shoes – All sorts of shoes are showing up on Etsy front page (sometimes tiny shoes to go with the tiny legs).  Vintage shoes seem to be extra hot.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Things that say Etsy in the picture.  Write out Etsy’s name in your product photo and you hotness factor goes up!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clutches – I love the sheer variety of clutches you can get custom made.  P.S.  Horns are popular now, so this specific clutch is a double threat!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This Lady – I see her often with these funky cool necklaces.  Oh and neon colors are hot…

 

“Not Quite White” backgrounds – If you take a look, most of these have a grayish white background, not bright white.  Gray is the new white space.

All these items were from front page treasuries from the past week.  What trends are you seeing?

Join me for Etsy Bingo!!  See how long it takes you to get a bingo today and post your results here.

Etsy, Oh Etsy, Where Have You Gone?

Anyone missing the merchandising desk?  I thought maybe August’s absence was a fluke but September seems to be MIA as well. Funny, I thought they used these tips for judging things like….oh I dunno…..the front page!!!!!!!  So if our guidelines are gone for FP treasuries, what is the new standard?

Well, you know what? We can make our own.  So I am introducing the first TPT Merchandising Desk, September 2012. Even if it is already September 10th! Let’s face it, a lot of this is common sense, repeat themes, seasonal holidays and the like so maybe we can write one just as well with maybe a bit of TPT fun and quirkiness thrown into it.

Okay, let’s see, you start with a picture first…okay. I’ll be right back.There – isn’t he a cutie pie? This sets the mood for the article.

Okay. The first section seems to be the common sense section. We all know that with September comes our time limit of only four months to Christmas and Hanukkah and Kwanzaa, three months to Thanksgiving, and one month to Halloween. So now is the time to concentrate on gearing up for the entire holiday season. Work on your shop items with appropriate tagging, revamp old titles and improve any pictures you deem necessary. If you only have one photo of your listing, consider using the other available photo slots . Consumers want to really see what they are buying and you want to sell, sell sell!

All these holidays for treasury makers is like being a kid in the candy store.  No lack of good material here. Hmmm….insert another picture here. Okay.

That looks pretty Halloweeny! By the way, these pics are from TPT members posting there items on our September threads.   After all, it is promotion!

So in September we focus on the changing of the season, autumn colors and fashion, Pantone’s Fall Color trends, and prepping for the upcoming holidays.

While we concentrate on fall, remember the other half of the world is going into spring.  So what traditions come in the fall?  School has already started but are you ready for some football?  Tailgating? Camping trips? Hiking in the woods? Ocktoberfest means beer and lots of it so parties, German festivals, beer steins.

Did you know Halloween is the all time leading Adult holiday? Etsy is full of truly unique and wonderful quirky and spooky items. Time to par-tay!!! Steampunk Halloween items are in vogue – have you seen the banners? Awesome!

Think change in weather to cooler temps which means layers in fashion, revamping your home decor to more deep, warm and comfy surroundings.  Popular themes will center around the harvesting of crops, gathering of friends and family around festive tables , fireplaces and apples – lots and lots of apples. DIY kits for making beer, herb infused oils, candles and the like. Think in terms of winter planting, rustic farm settings, pumpkin patches with frost and big fat harvest moons.

Look for old school fashions with an upcycled twist. Mixing fabric textures, knitted and oh yes, those glorious felted items. Leather is never out of style.  Think of fall outdoor sports and sport gatherings, bonfires, cookouts and patio parties for donning casual clothes. Don’t forget to work on your Halloween costumes. Vintage clothing and patterns offer creative souls fantastic costumes for those fun parties. Halloween is the start of the traditional season of parties!

Consider looking at least six months ahead for future brides. Winter and Spring weddings are being planned now so make sure to include these seasons in your shop. Try using an unusual Pantone fall fashion color combo for wedding themes and go crazy with some zany off the wall Halloween weddings.

Beautiful Sapphire is the birthstone and zodiac signs are Virgo and Libra, changing over on September 24th. Let me go find a piece of jewelry to insert here.

Did mention that these photos are coming from TPT member items because they were tagged TPT and I could find them easily?

Now, since it is the 10th of Sept already, I have abbreviated the fun TPT calendar of events to days that simply begged for a treasury theme. Let’s face it – some days are just plain boring. None of that here!

On a serious note, of course tomorrow is Patriot Day with the WTC Remembrance. None of us should forget and there are probably treasuries already on Etsy with this theme. Since there are no other notable dates, we shall move on to the more obscure.

THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER

As an entire month, we celebrate Baby Safety, National Sewing, Read a New Book and “Women of Achievement”. Both Classical Music Month and Piano Month are in Sept. For our food groups, we are not as exciting as previous summer months with only Chicken, Honey and Rice ( sounds like a recipe) earning celebrity status.

SPECIAL DATES OF SEPTEMBER FOR GREAT THEMES

9/12 – Chocolate Milk Shake Day

9/13 – National Peanut Day, Positive Thinking Day and Scooby Doo’s birthday

9/14 – the First Department Store opened in 1848

9/15 – Both Make a Hat Day & Hispanic Heritage Month begins ( Sept 15 – Oct 15)

9/16 – Collect Rocks Day

9/17 – Citizenship Day ( Constitution Day) and National Apple Dumpling Day – yum!!!   Goes with that chicken, honey & rice.

9/20 – the First RR Station opened

9/21 – International Day of Peace

9/22 – Dear Diary Day

9/23 – Checkers Day

9/24 – First Toy Store opened

9/26 – Johnny Appleseed’s birthday

9/28 – Chinese Mid-Autumn or Moon Festival and the first Airport was opened.

9/29 – Scotland Yard was formed in 1829.

So there you have it. May this “merchandising desk” by TPT give you some ideas for treasury themes and that maybe, just maybe, Etsy might notice!

 

 

August Treasury Challenge Winners!

We gave you a challenge to make a treasury based on another shops “about” page or profile page.  All entries did a fantastic job!

We picked the winners based on the best interpretation of the inspiration shop’s profile.  We have 3 excellent winning treasuries.

‘Let There Be Cowgirls’ by gabrielsmommy

Inspired by the profile of: Modred Vintagehttp://www.etsy.com/people/Modred12

Collection of Wee Print… Modred12 $18.00	Country roads, take me … AugustPark $12.00	middle of nowhere nebra… chelseamello $20.00	60’s Era M Irish Li… TheFlyingWorm $24.95
Vintage Dan Post cowboy… honeyblossomst… $51.99	Omaha, Nebraska Love Pr… amycnelson $32.99	NEW ITEM 5ft x 5ft Viny… SwankyPrints $52.99	Pet Cat Portrait, Cat (… dolangeiman $250.00
Country Girl Crochet Wr… merrynwhimsy $20.00	Cute Metal Cat ID9 PalanderMetalW… $65.00	Nebraska by County – 11… SniffStudio $20.00	Cerulean blue Arts & Cr… CamasCreekPott… $30.00
Vintage Cat Carrier Ani… tessiemay $35.00	Vintage farmhouse woode… AnitaSperoDesi… $52.00	Country Girl Leather Je… dgierat $14.00	Little Sign- Country Gi… Katiesclaycorn… $5.00

Treasury tool supported by the dog house

‘The Tale of a Tinker’ by babydolldressup

Inspired by the Tattooed Tinker! http://www.etsy.com/people/TattooedTinker

Copper Flower Sculpture… TattooedTinker $45.00	Irish Moss in Concrete … airyobsessions $28.00	Irish Services’ Eig… PhotosPast $10.00	Hammer & Anvil Salt and… MostlyVintage $12.50
Tools of The Trade – Vi… becaruns $12.50	Red Wing Size 14 D Men&… MetropolisNYCV… $95.00	Pendant – Scarab (n3) -… SchneiderGalle… $29.00	The Shed PrittyPics $15.00
Sphinx, 8×12, Fine Art … j2studiosphoto… $30.00	Aged Egyptian Pharaoh s… 2VintageGypsie… $5.00	COPPER RECTANGLE 18 gau… Forgeron $6.95	8 x10 Custom Canvas G… canvasdesigns1 $49.00
Wallet Celtic Knots Iri… nanioriginals $25.00	Vintage Map Pendant of … CarpeDiemHandm… $10.00	Vintage Cowboy Hat Felt… vetabartholome… $28.00	Coin Ring – Ireland – 2… TheRingTree $44.50

Treasury tool supported by the dog house

‘”Daddy Made This”‘ by GoldenGray

This treasury was inspired by Ian’s About page:http://www.etsy.com/shop/arkwoodUK/about/

Personalized Name Wood … arkwoodUK $20.00	Wooden spoon, Cherry 11… DyerWoodcraft $15.00	Father and Daughter Cut… starflycreatio… $10.00	A Father’s Hands VictoriaRudd3D $650.00
DAD a Daughters First L… AppalachianPri… $14.00	Personalized Stainless … CustomGiftUSA $7.95	Father and Daughter Pho… fotostrudel $42.00	SALE – 2009 Sterling Si… BeadingHeartCo $1.85
Brass owl family of thr… honeysticksvin… $25.00	Cuff Links…Custom Pho… thesleepingdog $27.50	Custom Personalized Fam… myclearstamps $14.85	Custom Cuff Links for F… craftedbykerst… $96.00
4 – Year 2011 – Antique… BirdysDesignGa… $2.00	Family 12.5×23 vinyl … VinylLettering $7.99	Personalized Personaliz… ElizabethBonur… $35.00	Baby’s Head in Fath… ReiDesigns $60.00

Treasury tool supported by the dog hous

Top Contenders:

‘A Touch of Whimsy’ by garfieldhr

Inspired by the whimsical dreams of Anya and Natasha from WhisperTrees!

Trees Inside of me … WhisperTrees $18.00	White Wings – moder… papermoth $35.00	Vintage style Gum L… sirtom $70.00	sterling silver or… redsofa $60.00
This is collector LucyMurmu $18.00	Stoneware decorativ… madebymanos $28.00	Raindrops Keep Fall… caryndrexl $49.00	deer print, antlers… FollowTheRaven $20.00
Lovers Man&Woman,Ar… BinyaminaNaor $39.00	Champs Elysees Cera… MaaPstudio $52.00	Limited Edition Fin… SilentMStudio $50.00	Old niello silver A… ArmorBijoux $500.00
The Mountain Maker,… AdrienArt $30.00	Illusion 8×10 Black… NovelPhotograp… $25.00	Surreal fine art ph… kanelstrand $30.00	The Bubble Factory … MyAntarctica $21.00

Treasury tool supported by the dog house

‘For The Soul’ by LaDomna

Inspired by and featuring ArtdeLimaginaire

Fine Art Print – Bl… TheWishForest $20.00	16 x 20 GICLEE PRIN… ArtdeLimaginai… $25.99	Halloween decor, Or… judeMcConkeyPh… $30.00	OVERSTOCK The Haple… meluseena $18.00
Original Encaustic … SwallaStudio $149.00	Across the Field 5x… obsoleteworld $10.00	A MOMENT IN TIME – … floorartetc $15.00	Flowers.24inx36in h… Kanayoart $349.00
Peacock Photograph … Maximonstertje $120.00	Autumn Riders – Ren… EmilyBalivet $65.00	Fairytale Photograp… Maximonstertje $30.00	Water Nymph, 8×12 i… MerlePaceArts $35.00
Overgrown House 4×6… ComptonsCreati… $5.20	in dreams i walk wi… mkendall $30.00	Fine art giclee pri… ImagineStudio $30.00

Treasury tool supported by the dog house

Keep a look out for our September challenge coming soon!

xoxo

Maggie