CraftBits - Great Website & Blog for crafters

I wanted to let the group know about Craftbits - a website with a huge number of Free project plans. I am just a happy user of their site and not connected to them in any way.....

What really makes CraftBits unique is that was created by a mother and daughter team, blending a unique combination of crafting and creativity. They started their website after numerous years in the area of craft, teaching, retail craft and owning a gift store. CraftBits was launched to provide resources for teachers, therapists, and craft enthusiasts in the year 1999. Since then, the website has grown tremendously in terms of content and resource information. And they are in Queensland, Australia. Cool!

And while you are there, you really need to check their blog, CraftGossip - hear about the latest gossip in crafts and DIY ideas written by a professional team of editors. Well worth the visit! Craft Gossip

Wel.. back to surfing the web and looking for more projects that I do not have time to complete!

Cyber-Thrift Store Shopping

I got a number of emails about Goodwill's auction website, so this is just a quick post to share this info.

Some background: shopgoodwill.com is an auction site created, owned and operated by Goodwill of Orange County (Santa Ana, CA). However, participating Goodwill's from across the country offer for auction on the site a wide array of art, antiques and collectibles as well as new and nearly new items pulled from their inventories of donated goods. From unique one-of-a-kind items to estate pieces, the depth of resources is enormous.

Lots of very interesting and strange items by for bid! Have Fun!

Plug Boards - Worth the effort?

All About Plug Boards:

It seems like everyone on Etsy is getting a plugboard for their store or blog. I recently posted in the Etsy forums about Plugboards and got a lot of questions. So, here is an overview on Plugboards:

A Plugboard is a free ad serving service that allows you to create ads to place on other people plugboards and likewise, allow users to add their advertising banner themselves onto the plugboard on your website or blog. Their banners remain on your plugboard until they are bumped off, in which case, they can return and plug their banner again. This creates traffic for your website as the users keep coming back to your website to see if their banner is still there.

Using plugboards is very, very easy. Users just need to enter two pieces of information into the two clickable boxes on the bottom of your plugboard. They enter their button or banner URL and website or blog URL and then click "PLUG". Their banner is then added to your plugboard.

Here is a leading provider of plugboards that you can install on your site or blog (but not on Etsy - not allowed there) http://www.plugme.net/

Most plugboards house 88x31 size banners. Each plugboard can hold upto 60 buttons. However, this can be adjusted so your plugboard can hold more or less buttons. You can change the "Buttons per row" and/or "Number of rows" of buttons in your settings. 10 buttons are archived at any point in time so if you need to delete a button then you won't have a blank hole in your plugboard.

Each plugboard can be easily customized and controlled through a simple easy to use control panel that you can access on the plugboard website. You can edit and control who uses your plugboard by deleting buttons you don't want, ban users IP's you don't like, and ban domains. There is also a "Flood control" feature that holds the specified seconds between plugging times to help prevent spammers. You can also set you account up so that you are email notified when someone plugs on your board. You can even decide what background color you'd like to use for your plugboard.

I hope this helps!

Wooden Dollhouse Miniatures

I was shopping on Goodwill's web site and came across a huge lot of Doll House miniatures.

And, since I have no self control, I bought them all. Over 160 pieces. Produced by a little wood working company in Michigan. They are nice, but not my cup of tea, so up on ebay they went.

Check them out at Ebay Item number: 260230029861

If you want more info, or have any questions, just let me know!

Well Hello! I kew you were coming so I baked a cake!

This is my first post in my new blog and as you can see I've been busy baking and taking care of the household.

Over the next few weeks (months) I want to use this blog to talk about my products, where I get them, what I find along the way and life in the crafting fast lane.

Thanks for stopping!

Doris