* YourSweetTreat - Vintage Inspired Jewelry and more! *

I have moved to a new domain

2011-09-21T09:53:00.000-07:00

This blog has been moved to www.CraftLoveJoy.com

Please join me there.

~ Jasmine

A Beautiful Wedding

2011-07-21T09:00:00.000-07:00

It's been a busy month, I thought I'd come back with a post with photos! Because photos are always a pleasure :)

My cousin (the handsome man in the photos) got married to a wonderful girl. She is now my cousin-inlaw! Helen looked beautiful. Her dress, her make up, her hair, everything. I decided to share these photos with you. Oh and I'm one of the bridesmaid :)

They always thank me for everything. I guess if it wasn't for me, they wouldn't have met.. so I think that's a pretty good feeling to have, knowing that they have found their true love because of me. Okay, of course I didn't do all the work but hey, it just sounds nice.

Photos are taken by Casey Arakawa. There's actually more photos that Casey and Denny took, but haven't taken a look at them. I can't wait to see more photos! What kind of wedding do you want? Do you also day dream about your wedding?

Click on photos for a larger view

I love it

2011-05-16T08:00:00.000-07:00

I'm very excited to help my friends decorate their parties. I can't wait to start on them! Would need to get my organizer and pencil these events in.

- Baby shower

- In n Out theme birthday party

- Pirate theme birthday party

- Decoration for a wedding

- Friend's coworker baby shower

I just love being busy! As I was looking at my bookmarked blogs, I came across this photo of a tent. My friends and I will be going camping and I'm really excited. I told Jason I really want a nice big tent. haha, lets see if he agrees with me on this one.

Photo from: 100layercake

Wouldn't that be awesome to camp in or just to hang out in with your friends? Our tent could be the party tent. haha. I convinced one of my friends that we make signs in front of everyone's tent with a tribal name. I'll be the camera lady so hopefully I catch some good shots. :)

Any advice for me about camping? Something I should bring?

Guest Blogger Annie - Etsy Resources

2011-05-13T06:00:00.000-07:00

I met Annie on Etsy, she was kind enough to give us some tips on etsy! Be sure to also check out her blog, etsy, facebook and twitter. Thanks for dropping by Annie!

ETSY RESOURCES

I was browsing around Etsy the other day trying to find something about the site I didn’t already know. And you know what? I found it… Something so simple and useful that I had no idea about!

Have you ever clicked on the Resources tab under Etsy Community? No? Me neither… Yes? Don’t rub it in…

There are quite a few tools for you to use on and off Etsy. These two caught my eye ~ Banners & Avatars and Banner Generator.

Banners & Avatars is just what it sounds like ~ premade banners and avatars that are available to all Etsians announcing shop sales or vacations. I absolutely love it. I’m one of those sellers who created my own banner and avatar and I don’t want to create a gazillion of them for sales, vacations, and holidays. I can just go there, grab the one I want, and stick it on my shop. Same thing with the avatars, but they’re a little more customizable. You can choose between a “frame” to put over your current avatar (some photo editing knowledge required, but there are directions) or an all out new avatar. I love the frame ones, wish I would have thought of that…

The Banner Generator is so simple to use and has some colorful spring time options. All you have to do is enter your shop name and your shop’s tagline, select the image you want to use, and voila ~ you have yourself a new banner. You don’t even have to own Photoshop.

That’s not all there is to offer at Etsy Resources, you can also view the Seller Handbook, grab a badge or button for your blog, snag some great seller deals (from MOO Cards, FedEx, and others), as well as, find some VERY useful Etsy apps. Those I did already know about… surprisingly. You can also view all of this from “Your Etsy” way down at the bottom!

BLOG: http://anniedees.com
ETSY: http://www.anniedees.etsy.com
FACEBOOK: http://facebook.com/anniedees
TWITTER: http://twitter.com/anniedee83

I'm back

2011-05-11T06:00:00.000-07:00

I've been hiatus because of my charger for my laptop. Well now I'm back! Since then I didn't really have any access for my blog. Then when I went to check on my etsy, all my listings were gone because they were expired!! There's a lot of things I need to catch up on.

I got this card for my mom. I thought it was really cute!! It was an embossed card. She really liked it. I hope she keeps it forever :) My brother told me to include his name in the card which didn't really make sense to me because I wrote a really nice story about my mom and I when I was in high school then at the bottom it said "and jordan"... My mom knew he didn't sign it, its not his story , its not his signature. Haha but the next day she wrote an email saying she loved my card. So it felt good to make my mom smile.

Well I hope you all didn't forget about me. I'm in the process on working with new jewelry designs! Oh and guess what? I have a job now! Yay! btw, happy birthday sweetie! <3 i love you

Dreamy Photos

2011-03-04T10:11:00.000-08:00

I just love dreamy photos. Which one is your favorite?

found on http://girlypics.tumblr.com/

found on http://ineedalovereaction.tumblr.com/

found on http://vi.sualize.us/view/834eb2e94827e42d04bd21d99bae8ebe/

found on http://girlypics.tumblr.com/page/2

found on http://www.tumblr.com/dashboard/4/3320814759

found on http://blogofmine.blogg.se/category/inspiration.html

found on http://www.tumblr.com/dashboard

found on http://secretlyhoping.tumblr.com/

I love macaroons!

2011-02-28T11:39:00.000-08:00

Photo by: TheGroovyBaker on etsy

One of the best desserts I've ever had were Macaroons. My goodness they are really delish! I'm really not sure how to explain how it tastes, but it's great. I tried Macaroons this year I believe, or the end of last year and when I eat one, I have to have more. Like 2-3 more! I haven't tried many flavors but I know people on etsy do make and sell them. I hope I go to one of the craft shows and someone is selling them. That would be fantastic! What's one of your favorite desserts?

Lovely Photos - Interior Design

2011-02-25T08:30:00.000-08:00

Don't you just love looking at interior design? I just dream of having a nice house where I could decorate every room any way I like. Looking at these photos really inspire me to work hard and save for that dream house I want. Sadly, I'm horrible at saving. Any advice with how you save your money? Anyways I wanted to share these lovely photos with you!

found on: http://www.countryliving.com

found on http://www.gidreformnow.com/tag/interior-design

found on http://ithyla.tumblr.com/post/1337919572

found on http://www.unidentifiedlifestyle.com/2011/02/magic-recipe-for-dream-bedroom.html

found on http://www.unidentifiedlifestyle.com/2011/02/one-happy-family-kitchen.html

found on http://doreese.tumblr.com/page/44

found on http://adarlingdreamer.tumblr.com/page/5

found on http://misswallflower.tumblr.com/

Love is sweet - Green Wedding Shoes

2011-02-24T09:00:00.000-08:00

Love Is Sweet at GreenWeddingShoes.com
Photography by Gabriel Ryan

This week I got an email from a lovely girl who needed advice on her wedding gift bags. I came up with lots of ideas so hopefully she will like something and I would be able to be the one to help her. I love weddings, I haven't been to many but I've been into wedding blogs for a while.

Love Is Sweet at GreenWeddingShoes.com
Photography by Gabriel Ryan

I've created a site that I haven't been able to work on. But the whole point of the site / store was to help people with partys and weddings. Well, with their decoration and goodie bags. I know people don't have time to work on certain things and just wish things were done for them. Well that's what my whole website is about. I'd be the one to help with the goodie bags, have the decoration ready for birthday parties, baby showers, etc. Hopefully I can release it by this month but I'm really trying to work on YST. I'm just that type of girl that loves crafts so I try to do whatever I can that will keep me busy. :)

Love Is Sweet at GreenWeddingShoes.com
Photography by Gabriel Ryan

I haven't had the chance to go home this week to organize my craft room. Jason has a fever/flu, so I've been driving him around and taking care of him. One day he'll be cold one day he'll be hot. I really hope he'll start to feel better.

Well I hope you enjoy these awesome photos by Gabriel Ryan. I was looking at GreenWeddingShoes and thought I'd share this lovely "Valentine's" theme with you. Enjoy!

Giveaway Winner

2011-02-18T08:49:00.000-08:00

etsy mini flags by: Jaimemancilla

Last Week's medium bubble gum pink hair bow winner

from ilovestarryeyed.com is #08 Liz!

Congratulations! I'll be emailing you soon!

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Lets congratulate Liz! And say thank you to Taralee for being so kind to donate a giveaway to YourSweetTreat readers!

I also want to congratulate YourSweetTreat's blog! We did it! We have over 200 followers! I'm very happy to know that 200+ people are reading this blog and being updated. Now don't forget YST does have a twitter and facebook. So don't forget to follow YST there. Also join our mailing list! You will be getting coupons and news through the mailing list. :)

I was taking a look at jaimemancilla's etsy and decided to share her wonderful photos of her creations. I hope you'll like them!

Just makes you feel welcomed, doesn't it?

I can't wait to have my own house to decorate. *smile*

Why I didn't blog this week

2011-02-17T09:34:00.000-08:00

I realize so much that I rely on my laptop so much! My charger for my mac is broken. I do need to buy a new one. Then Jason mentioned that I should take my laptop in as well since that could be the problem why the charger is not working. My laptop is about 5 years old. I think I will start saving up for a new laptop. But buy a charger for my Mac for now. I did want to buy a new battery but seriously. All that accessories I buy for my mac, is half of a laptop! Of course its not half of a mac. Half of a "pc" laptop. Is that what you call it?

Sorry to my readers, that I haven't been able to post anything up this week because of my laptop. I Haven't been driving to go get it because I have to find a store near by, and I don't like driving in the rain. hehe I already got in a car accident once from the rain. Someone behind me was going to fast and ended up being under my trunk, on the freeway. That was 2 years ago. So that kind of frightened me.

Anyways you still have a chance to use your coupon code from my mailing list.
So be sure to use it soon! It's going to expire!

Guest Feature and Giveaway

2011-02-11T09:00:00.000-08:00

winner is chosen with random.org

giveaway: worldwide

This week's giveaway is from Taralee from ilovestarryeyed.com. I found Taralee through twitter and when I checked out her lovely shop I realized that Raquel Reed was one of the girls who sported her cute bows! I've been a fan of Raquel Reed for quite some time, so I had to take a look at what else Taralee had in her shop. These hair bows were absolutely cute! When I got to talk to Taralee, she was kind enough to offer a hair bow for a giveaway for YourSweetTreat readers! Thank you Taralee!! Be sure to join this giveaway, you don't want to miss the chance to win one of her bows!

ilovestarryeyed, what is the meaning in your shop name and is this your full time job:
My shop name is actually Starry Eyed Bowtique. I chose to use the url www.ilovestarryeyed.com because I thought it sounded a bit more fun, and because there is also a company that uses a similar name and I didn't want people to get the two mixed up. This actually isn't my full time job. I run Starry Eyed Bowtique part time and am a full time student studying graphic and web design.

What inspired you to start your handmade shop:
Believe it or not, the whole idea behind my shop was actually completely unplanned. I had always loved hair bows but felt like it could sometimes be hard to find exactly the kind of styles I'd been looking for. Eventually I taught myself how to make bows and my friends started commenting on them, asking me where I'd got them and such. I also had a lot of people online asking me if I had had any thoughts of selling my bows any time soon. That was pretty much how the shop was born. It went from me just doing something for fun to doing it as a job. I still can't get over it.

You were on etsy once and broke away, do you have any advice for etsy sellers:
Etsy was actually a great stepping stone for me. For anyone who is looking to test the waters and get their feet wet, this is the place to start. I gained a loyal customer base because I started there, it got me a lot of exposure in a short amount of time. My advice for etsy sellers would be to make your brand stand out as much as possible and promote, promote, promote! I think that with etsy self-promo is so important. You're essentially a fish swimming among thousands of other fish. So make yourself noticed, don't just blend in.

What is your favorite item in your shop and why:
My favourite item is and always will be the HUGE Yellow and Black Polka Dot Hair Bow. I'm a total sucker when it comes to polka dots! I can't get enough of them. The bow is just so bright and fun, it'll definitely get a lot of attention and compliments. I know mine does when I wear it!

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how to enter the contest

here are 6 chances you can win!

(if you leave your email addy with the comment or have it entered,

it'll be easier for me to contact the winner)

follow and comment - 1 chance

1- follow this blogspot page

* leave 1 comment on this blog

with your 'favorite item' link from ilovestarryeyed.com

twitter it - 2 chances

1 - if you have twitter, follow @ilovestarryeyed and @YourSweetTreat

2 - twitter the example below after you have followed us.

example: Just joined a giveaway! @ilovestarryeyed is giving away a cute hair bow accessory at YourSweetTreat.com - @YourSweetTreat #giveaway

* leave 1 comment on this blog after you followed our twitter and leave your twitter name

* leave 1 comment if you tweeted the example sentance

facebook it - 2 chances

1 - if you have facebook, go to http://www.facebook.com/pages/Starry-Eyed-Clothing/198193825759

- become a fan and (post) let her know you joined her giveaway on YourSweetTreat.com

with your favorite item from Starry Eyed Bowtique's shop!

2 - if you have facebook, go to http://www.facebook.com/pages/YourSweetTreat/283420448491

- become a fan and (post) let me know you joined the giveaway on YourSweetTreat.com

with your favorite item from Your Sweet Treat's shop!

* leave 1 comment letting me know you "liked" StarryEyedClothing and left a post

* leave 1 comment letting me know you "liked" YourSweetTreat and left a post

blog it - 1 chance

1 - have a blog? blog about this contest

* leave 1 comment with your blog entry link!

giveaway ends friday february 18, 2011 8am pst

come back to see who the winner will be!

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Last Week's $30 Gift Certificate winner

from YourSweetTreat is #10 Va!

Congratulations! I'll be emailing you soon!

Fruit Cards

2011-02-10T10:41:00.001-08:00

I've asked you all about what was your favorite card on my shop. For me, I'm loving the fruit cards. Here are my favorites:

Perfect Pear - or is it pair - greeting card

Bananas about you - love card

Aloha pineapples card

You complete me - love card

It's kind of corny but while I was thinking of the little things the cards would say, I think of all the corny things I say to Jason. haha What is your favorite little corny saying?

Treasury on etsy

2011-02-09T09:26:00.000-08:00

I've picked a few items on etsy for my treasury list today. The theme I was going for was for Valentine's day. Hope you'll enjoy what I favored!

by: Ashley Pahl

by: ohhellofriend

by: KcSoapsNmore

by: handz

View the rest of the lovely etsy items I chose. view all

Which is your favorite one out of the ones I chose from the treasury list?

1 Year Anniversary

2011-02-04T08:00:00.000-08:00

winner is chosen with random.org

Today is YourSweetTreat's one year anniversary! Yay!! And I was thinking I should definitely have a give away since I haven't had one in a long time. It's time to celebrate and I would love to have you celebrate with me! So I am giving away a $30 gift certificate for you to purchase anything on my shop! It doesn't expire. :) Have fun and enjoy!

how to enter the contest

here are 6 chances you can win!

follow and comment - 1 chance

- follow this blogspot page

- leave 1 comment on this blog

with your 'favorite card' link on my shop

twitter it - 2 chances

- if you have twitter, go on my etsy shop

- find your favorite item and tweet the link.

be sure to include @yoursweettreat so i can track your tweets

example: my favorite item is link from @yoursweettreat

- leave 1 comment on this blog with your twitter link

- leave 1 comment if you tweeted about this contest with its link

facebook it - 2 chances

- if you have facebook, go on my etsy shop

- find your favorite item and post the link on your facebook

be sure to include @yoursweettreat so i can track your posts

- leave 1 comment on this blog with your facebook link

- leave 1 comment if you posted about this contest with its link

blog it - 1 chance

- have a blog? blog about this contest

- leave 1 comment with your blog entry link!

when you click on your favorite item on my etsy shop, on the right hand side it says "share", click that and it's an easier way for you to share the link on your facebook or twitter. just be sure to add @yoursweettreat to your posts and tweets.

giveaway ends friday february 11, 2011 8am pst

come back to see who the winner will be!

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If you haven't done so, join my mailing list to get discounts!

A discount will be released after this contest is over. So be sure to join!

Mailing List sign up is on the right hand side of this blog.

New Layout

2011-02-03T13:59:00.000-08:00

( photo was taken at a christmas cancer fund party, selling our jewelry )

I finally made the layout I wanted today! I'm so happy. I've always wanted to use this type of feel in one of my layouts and it hit me that I want to use it for my blog! Sorry I'm just over excited. Hopefully I just stay with this look. I have a problem with changing layouts. Never satisfied kind of thing. I think when its your own work you criticize yourself a lot more. Anyways I hope you like it! Now I just have to fix my mailing list layouts :)

If you haven't signed up on my e-mailing list, be sure to do so. Its on the right side of this blog.

I love photography

2011-02-01T09:13:00.000-08:00

Photography is fun! Retouching photos is a great way to enhance photos. I use Photoshop and Lightroom. If you haven't used Lightroom, it's great. It's easy. You can lighten, darken, blue, sharpen your photos instantly. But if you are used to Photoshop, that's good too. I usually use Lightroom for my Jewelry Shots.

I took some photos of my friend for practice to see how I would do. I hope you'll enjoy them. Oh the masks, I loved them. Got them in hollywood. :)

Resin Pendant advice

2011-01-27T10:19:00.000-08:00

I need an advice. I've purchased these resin pendants long time ago and realized I ordered the wrong kind. The material was too hard with what I wanted to work with. Before I blab about random things here is the question. What do you think I can create with this resin pendant? I have one idea but I'm not sure if it's good enough.

I have so many of these!

The story behind "Nina".

2011-01-21T10:39:00.000-08:00

Nina was a name that was given to me. Jasmine Nina, Yeup it was good. Well I was in the car scene and I used Nina as my name. There were lots of Jasmine's in the industry when I wanted to start out so I wanted something different, sorta. There were other Nina's that I realized after I used it as my main name. Awe well it was too late.

There were many times that I decided to leave the scene, I started out when I was 18. I enjoyed the attention, the friends I made, the traveling, oh how I miss the traveling! But it was time for me to leave, I achieved what I wanted, get on magazines. After that I was pretty happy. I left the scene at 23. It was time for me to start fresh, and that's where YourSweetTreat came into my life. I have always loved crafts. Before then I just modeled, retouch photos and made website layouts. I was more of a hands on type of girl. As much as I loved modeling, crafting was more important to me. It let me express my feelings, not stress much about anything.

Plus, everyone was happy for me. My family and friends. They always supported me along the way. I don't regret modeling, I met some awesome people who I became great friends with. It's just my past, and it was time for me to move forward.

People still call me Nina, which I don't mind, but Jaz would be good too. :)

Erased the past

2011-01-20T09:18:00.000-08:00

So I decided to erase everything on my blog and start something fresh. Something new. Something more exciting. I'm reading "The Handmade Market Place" by Kari Chapin and it's got me thinking.. Improve my business! Well that was the whole point of this book.

I've never been a great writer or blogger, and it says that I shouldn't even be trying that hard on my blog. Blogging should be about me, and what I do. So that's what I'll be blogging about. About me, about my life, about what I'm doing with myself. This blog will state and let you understand who I am. Hi, I'm Jasmine. I was known as a girl named Nina, or actually I'm still known as Nina. And you want to know why? Stick around and you'll find out. :)

And if you already know why, don't spoil it for others. *shakes finger at you*