Looking for an Etsy or Artfire alternative?

It's not easy to find a venue to sell your handcrafted items, your craft supplies, or your vintage finds. Sometimes a major venue like Etsy.com or Artfire.com can make major changes that will effect your business negatively.

Some people feel that there are no alternatives out there for selling their items other than Etsy, Artfire, or even Ebay. But there are two sites out there that are slowly gaining momentum, and they both offer great tools to help you succeed with your business.

The first alternative is Zibbet.com. It is Australia based, however, anyone in the world can set up shop. They currently have a free basic account where you can list up to 50 items for free, and they also have a month-to-month premium account as well as a yearly premium account. Currently their monthly price is $9.95 and their yearly price is $79.00. At the time of this post they are offering a free 45 day premium trial using code 45FREE, and it expires in 3 days.

To check out their complete list of features follow the link below:

http://www.zibbet.com/sell

I opened my Zibbet Shop in 2009, and to date I have sold 2 items. They do not have much internal traffic, and their site can be slow. But their admin is quick to answer questions, and there are a lot of great items for sale. The listing process is easy, and you can import your Artfire and/or Etsy shop items into your Zibbet shop using their free importer.

The other alternative is Craft is Art. It's a fairly new marketplace that accepts supplies, vintage items, and handmade items. They offer you the option to accept payments via Google Checkout, Amazon Payments, Authorize.net, PayPal, and Checks/Money Orders.

They have a basic pay as you go account as well as a premium monthly or yearly account. Premium accounts can offer multiple quantities, variances (colors, sizes, etc.), and so much more. You can either pay a monthly fee of $8.99 or you can pay for a year for only $79.99. You can also import your Etsy and/or Artfire shop items into your Craft is Art shop as well as your feedback score if you choose to.

They also offer you the opportunity to have a free for life account if you refer 5 people to open a premium shop. I need only two more people to use my referral codes, and my shop there will be free!

If you plan to go premium there (either monthly or yearly) please use one of my referral codes:

7H5C6

85FUY

To check out their full list of options and tools follow the link below:

http://www.craftisart.com/1337art/sell

Craft is Art is very quick to submit your products to Google, and you can set up your Google Analytics account so you can track your traffic. I've sold 3 items there to date in my shop, and I get a lot of internal traffic as well as traffic from search engines. I only have 17 items for sale there at the moment, but I have very high hopes that my business will be successful on this venue.

Etsy and Artfire succeed through their sellers, but if their sellers leave to other venues, these new venues can succeed too. It's the beginning of the year and now is a great time to think long and hard about your business, and what you believe will help you succeed.

Artfire Artist Feature - kickinskreations

It is important to show the world the charm of handcrafted items, and I plan to do this one artist at a time.

Today I feature kickinskreations from Ellenville, New York. She makes beautiful candles in the shapes of baked goods, alcoholic beverages, and so much more. Each one looks good enough to eat.

Below you can find her interview:

1. What is the first memory of crafting that you can recall?

I first started out making soap.


2. What are some of your favorite past times?

I love to create new candles, also line dancing.


3. What do you specialize in?

I don't really have one area, but I prefer to make the candy dishes.

4. What made you decide to open up a shop on Artfire?

I read up on it and looked at the shops, seems like a great way to get my items out there.

5. How did you choose your shop name?

My name came from my yahoo name "kickin" which in turn came from my line dancing.

6. What are your hopes for the future?

I would like to have my store be a success and in turn make my family's life all the more better.

7. How do you feel about custom orders?

If there is something a person wants and I am able to make it , sure I would.

8. Try to sum up your workspace in as few words as possible.

My kitchen.

9. Is there anything else you would like to add?

Life sometimes throws curves, I needed to find something to help me get around that curve and kickinskreations is helping me do so.

You can visit kickinskreations studio:

http://kickinskreations.artfire.com

and you can email directly at thisthatanthensome@yahoo.com


Thank you so much for reading!!

-
Christina
CM Designs dba 1337 Art
[Elite Art for the elite at heart.]

Featuring jewelry for men and women, awareness items, bookmarks, brooches, cards, cell phone charms, clip on earrings, cuff links, hair accessories, wine charms, and more!

You can also find _1337 Art on:
Twitter / Myspace / Live Journal / Deviant Art / Etsy / Artfire

Stud Post Earrings.

Are you in the market for stud post earrings and are unable to find them? I offer then in a constantly growing variety of sizes in gemstones, shells, aluminum roses, and cat's eye fiber optic glass. I pierced my ears last summer for the first time, and I am in love with the idea of stud earrings. Please feel free to check out my shops for my current selection:

http://1337art.etsy.com/

http://1337art.artfire.com/

Thank you so much for reading!

-
Christina
CM Designs dba 1337 Art
[Elite Art for the elite at heart.]

Featuring jewelry for men and women, awareness items, bookmarks, brooches, cards, cell phone charms, clip on earrings, cuff links, hair accessories, wine charms, and more!

You can also find _1337 Art on:
Twitter / Myspace / Live Journal / Deviant Art / Etsy / Artfire

Ajdjss Guild "Spring Cleaning & Treasure Hunt" Event

Artfire.com is a community dedicated to buying and selling. Welcome to Artfire, the premier online marketplace for handmade products designed by artisans around the globe. Our free community is designed for artisans to buy and sell their works, while celebrating unique handmade items and designs.

Arfire offers member guilds where people with similar interests can join and participate in promoting each other and Artfire. One of the guilds I am apart of, the Artfire Jewelry Design and Jewelry Supply Shops, is currently running a Spring Cleaning & Treasure Hunt Event. Basically all active shops have a special "Spring Cleaning" section that offers discounts on select items.

To find active AJDJSS shops, use this tag in the Artfire.com search: ajdjss guild

The event began on April 17th, and it is running through May 1st.

Please follow the link below to view my Artfire Studio and be sure to click on the "Spring Cleaning" section to see great deals on great items handcrafted by me.

http://1337art.artfire.com

For more information about this event as well as the Treasure Hunt please visit the official AJDJSS blog below:

We are also open to new members. You can find our group on Artfire below:

Artfire Jewelry Design and Jewelry Supply Shops Guild

Thank you so much for reading!!

-
Christina
CM Designs dba 1337 Art
[Elite Art for the elite at heart.]

Featuring jewelry for men and women, awareness items, bookmarks, brooches, cards, cell phone charms, clip on earrings, cuff links, hair accessories, wine charms, and more!

You can also find _1337 Art on:
Twitter / Myspace / Live Journal / Deviant Art / Etsy / Artfire

Artfire Artist Feature - ImpressionArt

It is important to show the world the charms of handcrafted items, and I plan to do this one artist at a time. Today I feature impressionart. Below you can find her interview:

1. What is the first memory of crafting that you can recall?

I made a paper chain in Kindergarten and from then on I was always creating things. When I took Home Ec in the 9^th grade, I learned some sewing. Then I taught myself to knit and to crochet. In my twenties, I was making clothes for myself and the whole family.

2. What are some of your favorite past times?

I enjoy hiking our National Park System, I’m a Disney freak, and cruising is the very best.

3. What do you specialize in?

Right now, I am a jewelry artist specializing in one-of-a-kind, original designs. I like to create pieces to match outfits and individual tastes. I also spend an equal amount of time and effort in knitting and crocheting fashion scarves. I really enjoy trying new materials.

4. What made you decide to open up a shop on Artfire?

I was looking for a website to post a few creations without paying a listing fee. I liked the ‘feel’ of ArtFire and the ease of creating an online presence.


5. How did you choose your shop name?

I was already using ‘impression art’ on twitter and had an email address, so it was a natural extension. I like the saying ‘making a good first impression’ and am fond of impressionist painters.


6. What are your hopes for the future?

I want to make a living [earn an income] and work from home for the rest of my life.

7. How do you feel about custom orders?

Custom orders are the best. You know you are giving the person exactly what they want. I always think about who will be wearing what I am creating. I like to put some TLC into every stitch.

8. Try to sum up your workspace in as few words as possible.

I have a 6 ft jewelry table in my bedroom and I knit and crochet in bed.

9. Is there anything else you would like to add?

Creating beautiful art pieces isn’t really work, it’s what you have to do.

Please feel free to check out impressionart's Artfire Studio for upcoming items:

http://www.artfire.com/users/impressionart

And also check out her blog:

http://impressionart.wordpress.com/

You can contact impressionart:

via email at impressionartphoto@yahoo.com or phone 561-798-9733

Thank you so much for reading.

-
Christina
CM Designs dba 1337 Art
[Elite Art for the elite at heart.] Featuring jewelry for men and women, awareness items, bookmarks, brooches, cards, cell phone charms, clip on earrings, cuff links, hair accessories, wine charms, and more!

You can also find _1337 Art on:

Twitter / Myspace / Live Journal / Deviant Art / Etsy / Artfire

Feels like Summer...

It looks like the sun is supposed to say hello this next week, which will give me the opportunity to take and retake a lot of product images. It's not even close to Spring-cleaning and Shop cleaning time, but it feels like summer today - one of those cool evenings where the house is open to a subtle breeze, and all you need is a sheet to keep warm.

It make me wish I had a large covered deck where I could bring my lap top and a mug of coffee to enjoy the evening outdoors. I tend to like the sunlight when it isn't directly touching me.

There are two new item lines I will be working on and hopefully perfecting soon; collage-style earrings and collage-style glass pendants. Please check back often for their arrival!

__1337 Art has some more new items on the way, and I have been adding old Etsy listings to my Artfire Shop. I think I will also be listing some destash and supplies there as well fairly soon. I'm tempted to start a supplies shop; it would be free to list, and it would help me clear out some of my old beads and things.

I feel inspired to get to work. Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend.

Thank you so much for reading,

-
Christina
CM Designs dba 1337 Art
[Elite Art for the elite at heart.] Featuring jewelry for men and women, awareness items, bookmarks, brooches, cards, cell phone charms, clip on earrings, cuff links, hair accessories, wine charms, and more!

You can also find _1337 Art on:

Twitter / Myspace / Live Journal / Deviant Art / Etsy / Artfire

After Christmas Sale Ends Today!

Just a quick reminder that __1337 Art's After Christmas Sale ends tonight!!!

*Spend $10 get $2 off!
*Spend $20 get $4 off!
*Spend $30 get $10 off!
*Spend $60 or more save 35%!

Discounts will be refunded to your PayPal account after payment has cleared. Please note that discounts apply to merchandise only (before shipping and any applicable tax.)

Discounts apply to both Etsy and Artfire Shops:

http://1337art.etsy.com
http://1337art.artfire.com


Happy Shopping!

-
Christina
CM Designs dba 1337 Art
http://1337art.etsy.com/
http://1337art.artfire.com
[Elite Art for the elite at heart.] Featuring jewelry for men and women, awareness items, bookmarks, brooches, cards, cell phone charms, clip on earrings, cuff links, hair accessories, wine charms, and more!

After Christmas Sale!!!

AFTER CHRISTMAS SALE!!!

*Spend $10 get $2 off!
*Spend $20 get $4 off!
*Spend $30 get $10 off!
*Spend $60 or more save 35%!

Discounts will be refunded to your PayPal account after payment has cleared. Please note that discounts apply to merchandise only (before shipping and any applicable tax.)

Please feel free to visit our shops below to take advantage of these incredible deals!

http://1337art.etsy.com
http://1337art.artfire.com

__1337 Art on Artfire.com

I recently made my first sale on Artfire.com, and I am going to be focusing more individual time on my Artfire site. In the next couple of days, for example, I will be listing a couple of items only available through my Artfire site instead of my Etsy site. Please check back on my blog as I will post when the new items have been added.

My Artfire shop will also include clearance items, supplies, and experimental items. I'm very excited!

It's really exciting to get started on a new selling venue website. They offer a lot of features that Etsy does not such as viewer stats, free listings, no transaction fees, and more.

We've had some great Winter weather out here, and I am definitely taking advantage of all this free time! New items will be added to both of my shops soon, and I have a huge list of other things to get started on.

Just a quick note to my followers - if there is any particular subject that you would like to read from my blog please feel free to let me know either by leaving a comment or sending me an email at 1337art@gmail.com

Thank you very much for reading,

Happy Holidays!

-
Christina
CM Designs dba 1337 Art
http://1337art.etsy.com/
http://1337art.artfire.com
[Elite Art for the elite at heart.] Featuring jewelry for men and women, awareness items, bookmarks, brooches, cards, cell phone charms, clip on earrings, cuff links, hair accessories, wine charms, and more!

Artfire, feature, and tagged.

I wanted to announce that I was finally able to set up my ArtFire shop: http://1337art.artfire.com Please feel free to check it out. Artfire.com is an online website that allows people to buy and sell hand crafted items.

I also wanted to thank CBsPolyWorks for featuring 1337art on their blog: http://cbspolyworks.blogspot.com/ They did a wonderful job, and it was such a nice surprise. Thank you!

Cindy from Cthings tagged me a little while ago, and I wanted to post my answers. I won't tag anyone specific because there are some people out there who do not like to participate in surveys. I think it's a fun way to get to know the person behind the blog.

Here are the TAG GAME RULES:

1. Link to your tagger and list these rules on your blog
2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blog
4. Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Here are the 7 facts about me.

1. I don't like milk or cheese.
2. My female rabbit's name is "Jack."
3. I love ferry rides.
4. I've never broken any of my bones.
5. Coffee is my savior.
6. I job-shadowed one of the producers of Kiro 7 news.
7. I like watching Everwood and Dawson's Creek.

Be sure to check back tomorrow. I will be updating about new items!

Thank you so much for reading,

-
Christina
CM Designs dba 1337 Art
http://1337art.etsy.com/
Elite Art for the elite at heart. Featuring jewelry for men and women, art collage, awareness items, bookmarks, cell phone charms, hair accessories, key chains, kilt pin brooches, wine charms, and more.

Custom orders are accepted. Custom deadline is November 30th, 2008

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