Search results (tags) for: "contests"

DIY Wedding Crafts Contest Winner and Finalists

2009-11-04T14:00:00-05:00

Thanks to all who entered and voted in the DIY Wedding Crafts Contest with Etsy and Martha Stewart Weddings.

After carefully reviewing more than 3200 beautiful entries, a panel of judges from both Etsy Admin and the editors of Martha Stewart Weddings completed a secret ballot judging to select one winner and an additional 19 finalists. The winner and finalists are featured in an exclusive slideshow on Martha Stewart Weddings.

Congratulations to The DIY Wedding Crafts Contest winner, Ashley Anna Brown from fernanimals.etsy.com with her patchwork bird toppers, as seen above.

However, choosing a winner was no easy feat! Here are but a few of the talented finalists.

Better Together Wedding Topper by lollipopworkshop.etsy.com

Handmade Felt Bouquet by nestings.etsy.com

Wedding Sixpence Book by sweetscarlett.etsy.com

Bird House Boutonniere by HeartFelted.etsy.com

To see entries from the rest of the finalists, check out the DIY Wedding Crafts Contest slideshow on Martha Stewart Weddings. Thanks again to all who participated!

Looking for more Handmade Weddings posts? Check out our archive!

Wedding Invites and Favors Guide | Weddings Category | Wedding Attire Guide

Handmade Moment Contest: We Have a Winner

2009-10-14T16:00:00-05:00

(Extended drum roll...) The winner of the Handmade Moment Video Contest is "Handmade Moments are Everywhere" by Daniel Kwan! Daniel's outstanding animation gets across the playful spirit of Etsy. Our judges and the community were all drawn to the cute characters. While the piece is fantastical, it also outlines the Etsy shopping experience. We think this video entices people and makes them want to learn more about Etsy. Congratulations to Daniel, who will be hearing from our chief bean-counter Sinohe who will be presenting Dan with a giant $3250 check (designed by our own Pete).

Daniel, in his own words: "I am a student at Emerson College studying film production, but this has the potential to change instantly as I am the inventor of the sport Gazeball-Z, a lover of children's TV programming, and an experimental seamstress. For now I spend most of my days in front of the computer animating nonsensical whatevers, but hope to one day retire and spend my days writing children's books because I refuse to live in a society where people stop telling their kids stories about magical purple crayons and bears with missing buttons."

Thanks to all who joined us in cheering the winners in our live awards ceremony in the Virtual Labs this afternoon. Here's Tara's behind-the-scenes look at the judging process from the other night:

Our three runners-up also win big today. They will be receiving giant checks for $1250 each. Give them a huge round of (virtual) applause!

2nd Place is "Robot Gets Its Wings" by Norma Toraya, a.k.a. Crankbunny. This was also the Community Favorite!

3rd Place is "Painting the Girl" by Estelle VanderHeide, a.k.a. estellelle.

Estelle, we apologize for the rude interruption from Lori "Kanye" 40, who thought that Beyonce should have won.

4th Place Mr. Squid's Handmade Moment by Hine Mizushima, a.k.a. hine.

Please take a moment of silence for the great loss to the creative community this year: Mr. Patrick Swayze. Sarah Rockstarpoli, Beug, and Matt serenaded us with a musical tribute, while Jesse and Danielle created a visual montage in his honor. We all "had the time of our lives."

They also warmed up the crowd with a live rendition of Beug's original music composed for the contest. Dee-dah-dee-da-dit-dit!

The six other finalists get $500 each. These really are all winners! They're all in this playlist below:

A huge thank you goes out to everyone who entered and to all of our voters. We all had our favorites! We'll be using the top videos in upcoming marketing campaigns, so stay tuned.

See more posts about the Handmade Moment Video Contest.

See more photos from the awards ceremony on our Flickr stream.

Handmade Moment Contest: Judgement Day

2009-10-08T14:25:00-05:00

Live Etsy.TV Handmade Moment Awards Ceremony

Join us Wednesday, October 14, 2009 at 3:30 p.m. ET in the Virtual Labs. We'll be announcing the winner and runners-up live!

Yesterday was a day of reckoning.
Our Handmade Moment judges buckled down last night at the Etsy Labs for an intense evening of video watching. We pored over each of the ten finalists on etsy.tv. Andrew Wagner, editor-in-chief of ReadyMade magazine, got the conversation flowing. (See his post about judging here.) Casey Safron from the School of Visual Arts' animation department and Animation Block Party, had an interesting take on character development.

Corinne Leigh, of ThreadBanger.com, is already really familiar with DIY and got right to the heart of the Etsiness of each video. The Bretts, of The Donnas and of directing fame, phoned in from California, and Olivia Wilde will be sending her picks soon since she was on a shoot (so Hollywood!). Each judge offered up their strong opinions and thoughtful insights. It was a show in and of itself!

The whole process is a bit more reminiscent of high school exams than we expected — but still a lot of fun.

After the judging we watched some of the trailers for Mark Elijah Rosenberg' Roof top Films program. We loved the one where it's a single shot of a miniature cityscape set they built from scrap cardboard and clay models.

Maria, Etsy's CEO, was there as a proctor of sorts, making sure we stayed true to the judging criteria and the Etsy brand.

Now Jesse is tallying all the results from the panel of judges and the popular vote.

May the tension mount til Wednesday!

Vote Now: Announcing Our Handmade Moment Finalists

2009-10-01T10:11:00-05:00

Visit www.Etsy.tv today and VOTE for your favorite. Voting ends October 4, 2009 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

Applause, please!

We are pleased to introduce you to your Handmade Moment contest finalists! These ten videos were the best of the best, and their creators will be sharing $10,000 in prizes (plus all the glory and fame they can handle)!

Keep on reading to meet your finalists and all our contest judges...

To recap: On June 1, 2009, we invited all artists and other creative members of the Etsy community to create 15 and 30 second videos promoting Etsy and the handmade movement. And if your love of Etsy wasn't enough motivation, we threw $10,000 of prizes in as well! That's the Handmade Moment Contest.

INTRODUCING OUR 10 HANDMADE MOMENT FINALISTS

Click each video title (listed alphabetically) to view the video...

First Prize: $3,250
3 Runners Up: $1,250 each
6 Finalists: $500 each

Visit www.Etsy.tv today and VOTE for your favorite. Voting ends October 4, 2009 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

Click here to discuss the 10 finalists.

HANDMADE MOMENT JUDGES

Brett Anderson is the lead singer of The Donnas, an American all-female rock band from California. They draw inspiration from The Ramones, AC/DC, and Kiss. After gathering a cult following in the punk scene since their 1993 debut, the band achieved major label commercial success in the early 2000s. Rolling Stone says, "The Donnas offer a guileless take on adolescent alienation; they traffic in kicks, not catharsis, fun rather than rage." MTV notes that the band offers "nothing more than a good old-fashioned rock & roll party." Brett was an avid Girl Scout and loves to sew and make perfume, jewelry, and friendship bracelets. Photo by Dave Burke.

Corinne Leigh is the host and executive producer of ThreadBanger.com, a landing point for people who want to create and discover their own style through alternative fashion: recycling, upcycling and refashioning with simple tools and techniques. Corinne has been an environmental activist since elementary school when she learned about the three R’s — reduce, reuse, recycle. In 2002, she started a non-profit organization that helps people in impoverished nations. Working mostly in Haiti, Corinne opened a safe haven for the children of Port-au-Prince. She currently lives in Brooklyn, NY with her two cats and boyfriend.

Mark Elijah Rosenberg has built Rooftop Films into one of the most innovative film companies in the country—a cutting-edge outdoor film festival, a forward-thinking film production collective, and a full-service media center. Rooftop has shown over 1,400 films to more than 100,000 audience members, and has supported 60 emerging filmmakers through the Rooftop Filmmakers’ Fund. As a curator and filmmaker in his own right, Mark's taste and work favor low-budget, personal cinema. Mark has written and directed numerous short films, is currently at work on an astronaut narrative, and was a producer on the Emmy-award winning documentary show "IMNY." Mark was a juror at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival, is the second baseman for the New York Giants amateur baseball team, and the proud father of a dog named Rizzo.

Casey Safron is the founder and curator of NYC’s premiere animation festival, Animation Block Party. The ABP festival supports all genres of film and loves handmade works with organic styles, so computers are not always key at ABP. In the past two years, Safron has produced the Webby
nominated Perfectland series for MTV, the hit cartoon, Breakfast, for the Sundance Channel and a variety cartoon series for My Damn Channel. Education is also a big part of Safron’s work, as he has overseen the prestigious School of Visual Arts Animation Department since 2001.

Brett Simon’s first feature, Assassination of a High School President, Somebody Told Me for The Killers, and Belly for Polarbear, which was made entirely with a scanner. He has also created dozens of no-budget shorts on his trusty camcorder, which have won awards and screened at festivals around the world. He likes to tinker. When he couldn’t get the right image from his video camera, he created a lens with wax paper, a magnifying glass and cardboard box. With Counterfeit Film, he transformed a photocopy machine into a mechanical flipbook. He is currently working on a film adaptation of the Duane Swierczynski novel, Severance Package. Brett also founded Present Day, a holiday celebrated on the first Sunday of every month by spending the day without cell phones and computers. starring Bruce Willis and Mischa Barton, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival to rave reviews. He has directed numerous music videos including the award winning

Andrew Wagner is the editor-in-chief of ReadyMade magazine. Prior to coming to ReadyMade he was the editor-in-chief of American Craft magazine. Wagner was also the executive editor and founding managing editor of Dwell magazine, where he helped push the boundaries of architecture and design journalism, garnering the publication the American Society of Magazine Editors (ASME) General Excellence Award in 2005. In 1997, Wagner founded LIMN, the unorthodox design and arts magazine published by the equally unorthodox furniture and design company of the same name, and served as its editor-in-chief until 2000. Wagner was also the founding editor of Dodge City Journal, a magazine dedicated to documenting life in America's under-explored cities. In addition to his work at ReadyMade, Wagner is a consulting editor at Places magazine and has been a guest lecturer at several universities.

Olivia Wilde is equally successful in film and television having starred in an array of comedic and dramatic roles. Wilde can currently be seen in Fox’s hit Emmy-nominated drama, House, opposite Hugh Laurie. Additionally, Wilde wrapped production in the futuristic thriller, Tron, in July. Most recently, Olivia was seen opposite Jack Black in the biblical-era comedy Year One. Wilde is well known for her recurring role on the critically acclaimed Fox series The O.C. Previously, Wilde co-starred opposite Bruce Willis, Emile Hirsch and Justin Timberlake in the film Alpha Dog. Moreover, she starred in and produced Fix, the story of documentary filmmakers who race all over California to help out a relative. The film opened at the 2008 Slamdance Film Festival. Photo by Jeff Lipsky.

And Etsy's own MaryMary, Anda and Eetzee.

Visit www.Etsy.tv today and VOTE for your favorite. Voting ends October 4, 2009 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

Click here to discuss the 10 finalists.

DIY Wedding Crafts Contest with Martha Stewart Weddings

2009-09-15T16:00:00-05:00

11/4/09 UPDATE:

The winner and finalists have been announced! Read more here.

10/15/09 UPDATE:

Thanks to all who entered and voted in the DIY Wedding Crafts Contest. Unfortunately, there is a bit of a delay in the winner announcement.

Here is the message from the Martha Stewart Weddings team, who hosted the contest:
“Due to technical difficulties we will not be able to announce the winner of the DIY Wedding Crafts Contest on October 15th, but will be announcing a winner in the near future. A new date will be announced as soon as it has been set. We’re sorry for any inconvenience.”

We'll be sure to keep you posted as we have updates, both in this article and this forum post. Thanks for your patience, and again, apologies for the inconvenience.

[The following was originally published on July, 8, 2009.]

Etsy and the editors of Martha Stewart Weddings want to see your DIY wedding crafts!

Whether you're planning your own DIY celebration or creating wedding crafts for someone else's special day, upload photos of the handmade wedding-day details for a chance to have your craft featured on "The Martha Stewart Show." Enter now!

Submissions are welcome now through September 1, 2009. For full contest details, eligibility, rules and regulations, please visit Martha Stewart Weddings' DIY Wedding Crafts. You just have to sign in to MarthaStewartWeddings.com in order to see the rules, regulations, and other details. Registration is free. Hint: Etsy sellers, if you decide to enter, be sure to add your Etsy shop name to the description of your entry, so people can see where to buy from you online.

Martha Stewart Weddings will also be showcasing their top picks in Etsy wedding shops as part of their weekly gallery of
"Favorite Etsy Vendors." (Visit each week for the latest selections!)

Be sure to check out the summer issue of Martha Stewart Weddings magazine, on sale now, which features wedding favors and decorations from Etsians: aymujer, dsharp, FatDaddySweets, lalalaurie, palomasnest and whimsyandspice.

For more DIY wedding inspiration, visit Etsy's Wedding Decor Gift Guide and Handmade Wedding blog series.

Commenting is closed for this article so we can follow your comments or questions in this Forum thread.

Handmade Moment Contest: Announcing Our 25 Semifinalists

2009-09-02T13:45:00-05:00

Greetings from Etsy TV!

We are thrilled to announce the 25 semifinalists for our Handmade Moment video contest! We received 177 video submissions, all showing your passion for Etsy and the handmade movement, and we want to say thanks to each and every one of you who submitted an entry.

Click here to see who made it to the top 25 videos echelon of fame and glory. (When you go to http://tv.etsy.com, you'll notice that you'll already be conveniently logged in if you're signed into Etsy.)

In just a couple of weeks we will announce the 10 finalists, selected from this pool of 25 semifinalists. These 10 finalists will share $10,000 in cash prizes and eternal fame. At that point, we'll be asking you to vote! You, along with our panel of celeb judges, will be separating the super-champs from the champs.

First Prize — $3,250
Three Runners-Up — $1,250
Six Finalists — $500

Thanks for your enthusiasm and support!

See all the posts about this contest.

Handmade Moment Contest: The Final Days Countdown

2009-08-26T14:00:00-05:00

This is it. Are you gonna be a winner? A champ? Do you have what it takes? There's just a few days to go in our Handmade Moment video contest. Get your submissions in now or you'll miss your chance!

There are 136 contest submissions as of last night. Not a bad number! I'm proud of each and every one of you who took the time and effort to make something rad. I have a feeling that number is going to jump in the next few days. Winning the office pool right now (with a prediction of 135 entries) is Christine. But Michelle and Mike are about to step into the lead with predictions of 140 and 160, respectively. Comment below with what prize you think I should give the winner of the pool. I'm thinking a slab of organic nitrate-free bacon, but I'll take your suggestions instead. Just remember, bacon is yummy (if you aren't a vegetarian).

Lastly, if you think you will be selected for the next round of the contest and want to get a jump on filling out the release forms, please click here. You'll only have a week to submit the release forms once we notify the finalists, so I'm sharing this link to make your lives easier.

That's it for today's update. Remember, the contest's final days are upon us. Come join the fun at www.etsy.tv. The next time you'll hear from me i'll be announcing the winners.

Join the Etsy Handmade Moment video contest today!

See all the posts about this contest.

Handmade Moment August 19 Update: Another Judge, 10 Days To Go, and Adios Gold Street

2009-08-19T13:30:00-05:00

Updated August 19: We've added a new judge, Mark Elijah Rosenberg from Rooftop Films, so scroll down and check him out.

We have less than two weeks to go until the Etsy video contest ends. Later today we will be posting the release forms on Etsy.tv. Please get your submissions in!

These are bittersweet days here at 325 Gold Street in Brooklyn: We are moving offices this Friday. No, I won't miss the lack of air-conditioning, the deathtrap they call Flatbush Avenue, or the temperamental elevator. But I will miss my office-mates Matt, Anda, and Neelam. Anda may not appreciate the irony of me typing my Etsy About Us questionnaire while working at a handmade company, but she's awesome (as are her fellow soccer-loving husband and endlessly cute daughter), so I let it slide. Meanwhile Neelam brings in cupcakes like every other day (chocolate in the house!), and now I will have to keep a keen eye and ear for her arrival each morning at the new digs. Phooey!

We're hosting a goodbye party in our little room today after work, and we expect all 60 something Admin to make an appearance. We'll have the video submissions playing and a box of wine flowing. Woot! Raise a glass at home (as if you needed an excuse).

Greetings from the offices of www.etsy.tv!

On June 1, 2009, we invited all artists and other creative members of the Etsy community to create :15 and :30 (second) videos promoting Etsy and the handmade movement. And if your love of Etsy isn't enough, we threw $10,000 of prizes in as well! We call it the Handmade Moment Contest.

We have over 80 entries so far, and they keep pouring in. Remember, we are accepting submissions through August 31, 2009 (be sure to read the FAQ and Rules). The Handmade Moment contest will have 10 finalists who will get slices of the $10,000 pie, from whom we'll pick the winners, and whose winning submissions will be used in our marketing efforts!

Today we are pleased to announce some of the Handmade Moment judges (they rock) who will participate in selecting a winner this October. We love making new friends, so check 'em out (in not-so-creative alphabetical order below) and click the links to see their work!

Brett Simon’s first feature, Assassination of a High School President starring Bruce Willis and Mischa Barton, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival to rave reviews. He has directed numerous music videos including the award winning Somebody Told Me for The Killers, and Belly for Polarbear, which was made entirely with a scanner. He has also created dozens of no-budget shorts on his trusty camcorder, which have won awards and screened at festivals around the world. He likes to tinker. When he couldn’t get the right image from his video camera, he created a lens with wax paper, a magnifying glass and cardboard box. With Counterfeit Film, he transformed a photocopy machine into a mechanical flipbook. He is currently working on a film adaptation of the Duane Swierczynski novel, Severance Package. Brett also founded Present Day, a holiday celebrated on the first Sunday of every month by spending the day without cell phones and computers.

There is still time to get your submissions in! Visit www.etsy.tv today for more details.

Etsy's Handmade Moment Contest Ends in Just Three Weeks

2009-08-11T13:45:00-05:00

I share an office with Matt (a.k.a. M-Cat, but only on mornings he calls me J-Dog). He's helping me be rad. You see, I was a dork. That's not hard to say -— all the cool ones these days started as dorks. But back in the day I could tell you all about the BBS I ran on my Apple IIe (and eventually Mac SE, Mac IIsi, and PowerMac 6100) or about all the light and sound systems at my school's theaters.

It's not like I was in the A/V club. I wish I was, because then I could make a video for Etsy's video contest (well, technically I couldn't because of my affiliation with Etsy, but let's not sidetrack the story here, kids). But I did learn to write well enough to get you to read to the second paragraph of a blog post promoting our rocking Handmade Moment Contest. You know, the one with $10,000 in prizes where you create videos promoting Etsy and the handmade movement, and we take the winning entry and use it in our marketing campaign.

You have heard of it, right?

99. Woot: 100! More Woot: 101, 102, 103....

So what's new this week? Since announcing our judges, we've seen a flurry of new activity. We now have over 100 contest submissions! New entries have been flying in, and each morning we all wake up excited to see what our creative community has made. You gotta check 'em out: we've got animation, claymation, stop motion, live action and more. Each and every submission is a creative expression of what handmade means.

Got mad skills? You have until August 31, 2009 to submit your video to the Handmade Moment Contest and be eligible for a prize. Feeling shy? Well, tell a friend! The more the merrier, so read the FAQ and submit your handmade video today.

There is still time to get your submissions in! Visit www.etsy.tv today for more details.

Handmade Moment Video Contest: Pushing 50

2009-07-06T17:00:00-05:00

As of today, there are almost 50 submissions to the Handmade Moment contest! Make sure to rate your favorites and embed your top pick on your blog. Every little bit helps!

The items below are from some of the contestants. Multi-talented folks, aren't they?

What is the Handmade Moment contest? It's the video contest Etsy is running this summer. We want to see your 15 or 30 second video spots that spread the Etsy love and show the world what we're all about. Check out the announcement for the rules, deadlines and how to get involved. Oh, and the prize? A total of $10,000 will be given to top runners, with the premier winner getting $3,250. Cha-ching!

A Handmade Moment: Watch the First Nine Submissions

2009-06-12T16:00:00-05:00

There's nothing like watching some videos on a Friday afternoon. And there's nothing like a little friendly competition!

We are starting to publish Handmade Moment contest submissions to Etsy.tv. Just click to www.etsy.tv and check 'em out.

Great work, peaceofpi, bluedogrose, Mayware, twigstudionc, yaelfran and UntilItEnds. Way to go gettin' em in early! You're in a good position to get lots and lots of views.

TakeOffYourClothes Wins Leonard Lopate's T-Shirt Design Contest

2009-06-10T14:30:00-05:00

Congratulations are in order! Brooklyn clothing and accessories designer (and Etsian!) takeoffyourclothes was recently chosen as one of five winners in a T-Shirt Design Contest through The Leonard Lopate Show, a popular public radio talk show in New York. Entries were judged by fashion designer, author and television personality Isaac Mizrahi. Takeoffyourclothes' design is called the XL Godet T-Shirt Flesh/White 6, as shown above. To see all of the winners' submissions and hear their interviews with Isaac and Leonard, check out WNYC.

You can see more of takeoffyourclothes' innovative designs below.

Summer Fashion Guide | More Fashion Posts

A Handmade Moment

2009-06-01T15:50:00-05:00

Attention all artists, videographers, film students, DIY addicts, advertising students, home video makers, professionals, camera nerds and other creative members of the Etsy community: here's your chance to show the world how talented you are, and help us spread the Etsy gospel while you are at it!

And if that's not enticing enough, we are also giving away pantloads of cash. We're hosting a new contest at http://www.etsy.tv.

Etsy wants promotional videos, and since our community is creative, artistic and unique, we're turning to you. For the next few months we will be accepting submissions for :15 and :30 (second) videos promoting Etsy and the handmade movement. This is your opportunity to express your passion (or is it an obsession?) for Etsy.

The guidelines are simple: your ad's theme must be "A Handmade Moment" and must legibly display the text "Etsy.com".

We will select 10 finalists from those submissions which surpass a minimum score based on a variety of criteria, and then invite the community to vote on a winner. The winning submissions will receive a total of $10,000 (and we'll use the video, too)!

First Prize: $3,250
Three Runners Up: $1,250
Six Finalists: $500

We're calling the contest the Handmade Moment, and you're invited.

FAQs:

Wait, WHAAAAAAAAAT? I want that fame and glory and money. How does this work?
1. Make a :15 or :30 (second) long Etsy promotional video. The length must be exact.

2. Upload your video(s) to Etsy at http://www.etsy.tv. Submissions will be accepted through August 31, 2009, at 11:59 p.m. ET, to be exact. You must have permission to use all of the content in your video.

3. Start promoting your video and sharing the heck out of it. One of the criteria for the selection of finalists will be view counts, sooo...

Embed your video in blogs, on Facebook or MySpace, and anywhere you think people will see it. On August 31st the 25 videos with the most views will be well positioned to form the pool from which our jury will select the 10 finalists. (Our friends at Magnify.net are powering the video pages and will keep count for us.) We will be taking other criteria (keep on reading) into consideration to select the finalists, because being popular doesn't necessarily mean you're the best.

What should the video promotion be about?
The advertisement should be for Etsy.com in general (and must not be for a particular seller). Your ad's theme must be "A Handmade Moment," and it must legibly display the text "Etsy.com." Other than that, go nuts. Be original. One of the criteria when we pick the winners will be creativity.

For real? Does my video ad have to be made from any specific media?
Nope! Animation, claymation, film, live action, silent movie, dance, mime. The sky's the limit. Just make it awesome!

Rad, I can do that. How does Etsy choose the finalists?
We're looking for something great. Etsy will choose finalists based on our not-so-top-secret scoring criteria, awarding points for: (1) creativity and originality, (2) handmade ethos, (3) humor and whimsy, (4) technical skill, (5) catchiness and (6) brand appropriateness.

Once the ten finalists are selected we will invite the community to vote for up to three favorite videos to help determine the winners, alongside a panel of expert and celebrity judges who will score the entries.

I have a ton of ideas. What should I do?
You can make and submit as many videos as you like.

How long does the contest last?
Submissions are accepted for three months, but the sooner you upload your video the more time you'll have to get views, so hustle! Submissions can be entered beginning June 1, 2009 through August 31, 2009 at http://www.etsy.tv, so start crafting your video ideas today. Finalists will be announced in September.

I use Youtube/vimeo/blip/odeo/elsewhere to host my videos. Can I still enter?
No, sorry (darn lawyers!). You have to use our upload tool at Etsy.tv. Click the "submit video" button at http://www.etsy.tv to learn more, and then use our widget to promote your video. There's a long explanation for how and why, so be sure to fully read the Official Rules before you hit that submit button.

Remember, views will only be counted through Etsy.tv, so be sure to use our sharing tools when placing your video elsewhere on the Internet. After you register your video at http://www.etsy.tv, be sure to grab your embed code and start sharing. We encourage you to post your video to your blog, Facebook page, MySpace page... wherever you think you can get people to click and watch!

My ad is twenty two seconds long. Does that disqualify me?
Sorry, but the rules state your ad must be either exactly 15 or 30 seconds long. Remember, a great ad is short and sweet, and attention spans tend to drop in a matter of seconds online.

Will Etsy help?
Fear not, aspiring creative director! We've created a resources page with some music and logos you can use. However, you don't have to use these resources, so be creative.

My friend is a film student and would be so good at this. Can I tell them about this?
Yes!

My friend is in advertising and would be so good at this. Can I tell them about this?
If you or your friend are employed professionally in the advertising industry, you are ineligible to participate. Sorry! (Etsy employees are ineligible, too, by the way.)

My work is really abstract, I'm not sure I could make a promotional spot. Making a commercial just sounds so...commercial.
We still want to see it. Etsy loves artistic and creative and unique, it's what handmade and our community is all about. Just make sure you display "Etsy.com" somewhere in the video, and we'll all agree it's a promotional video.

Etsy needs to make their own darn ads!
We believe our huge and talented community can do a better job. And that's why we want to pay you to do it.

I'm not in the United States. Can I enter?
It depends. The contest is open to residents of the United States, Canada (except Quebec), United Kingdom, and Australia. We are trying to be as inclusive as possible, and we have obtained legal representation in as many countries as possible. Unfortunately, as contest law differs from place to place, we are not able to offer this opportunity in all countries and territories. (Anyone can submit a video, they just won't be eligible for the prizes.)

I bet the lawyers want to say something. So what's the "but..."?
They sure do, and our lawyers are sweet, so be nice! Be sure to read the Official Rules before you submit your video. Here are some highlights that we want to call to your attention:

Your video must be made by you.
Your video must not break any laws.
You must have the rights to all content (visual, music, audio, or otherwise) used in your video.
Your video must be exactly fifteen or thirty seconds long.
Etsy approves all submitted videos, and reserves the right to remove any video we find objectionable for any reason.
Your video must include the text "Etsy.com."
Etsy will have a non-exclusive license to all videos, in perpetuity.
Videos will be accepted beginning on June 1, 2009 and ending on August 31, 2009 at 11:59 p.m. ET.
You can enter as many different videos as you like.

And your video cannot:

display any non-Etsy trademarks or logos or obvious variations thereof (you can write Etsy.com anyway you wish, or use a logo from the resources page).
contain any photos, imagery, music or video clips that you did not create yourself and own the rights to (as well as those found on the resources page).
contain more than three identifiable people.
contain a minor who you aren't the parent or legal guardian of.

You can find all the details at http://www.etsy.tv. This contest is open to most humans, except as noted above and in the rules, and is, of course, void where prohibited. Good luck and tell your friends!

If you have questions or comments, please see this forum thread. We're closing the comments on this Storque post so we can follow the conversation over there.

Vote for Etsy, Twice.

2009-04-13T18:00:00-05:00

UPDATE: We won! You can check it out here, and see the complete results here.

We are pleased and honored to be among the finalists in CNET's 2009 Webware 100 Awards! These awards represent the people's choice of the best Web 2.0 applications and services. This is the third incarnation of the Webware 100. Etsy was a winner in the 2008 awards, so we're going for back-to-back wins this year.

So please click here and cast your vote for Etsy. Voting ends at 12:00pm (PDT) on April 30, 2009 — but that's no reason to procrastinate. Last year, over two million votes were recorded total, and this year there will surely be more. Please help us spread the word, and while you're at it, give yourself a nice little pat on the back too, for helping to make Etsy such a great place to be! The winners will be announced on May 19, 2009.

Not to be outdone, the good folks over at Treehugger decided to choose Etsy as a winner in their first annual Best of Green Awards. The winners were chosen by the Treehugger staff, and we were deemed the Best Handmade-Goods website, in the Fashion and Beauty category. We graciously accept. There is also a Readers' Choice Award for each category. So please go vote for Etsy, twice!

Do you get a kick out of voting? Have you noticed the Etsy's Voter posts every Monday? Get the vote out here.

Competitions & Opportunities: Team Up with Apartment Therapy for DIY Month

2009-03-02T19:20:00-05:00

UPDATE: Winners of the February "Do It Now" Challenge will be announced tomorrow! Head on over to Apartment Therapy to check out all the entries. And check out this lovely judge, our very own missbatch!

Spread the word! Our pals over at Apartment Therapy are hosting a competition during February called Do It Now where they invite you to tackle one small household project: painting a bureau, rewiring your home theater, building an organizer for all your cooking spices, whatevering a whatever.

We here at Etsy are dangling some tantalizing shopping sprees as the reward. We'll also be showing off some of the stellar entries here on the Etsy blog. We want to see you shine! And if you have friends or family members who need that extra push to get involved in this wonderful world of DIY projects and vintage and handmade goodness, now would be the time. Strike while the iron is hot and tackle those household projects with flair, because, as Apartment Therapy says, "Together we can get them all done."

Find out more about Do It Now now! Do it!

How-Tuesday Projects

How-To: Do It Now!

2009-02-17T16:00:00-05:00

Glue gun gathering dust? Re-upholstery project in a pile? Our friends at Apartment Therapy have just the thing: the February Jumpstart Project, "Do it Now!" We've just rounded the half-way mark of the challenge. (Which means now is the time get involved!) Besides the group motivation and encouragement, there are Etsy shopping sprees to be had! Click here for all the details.

Need a little inspiration, or just a fix of pretty? Enjoy this sampling of project entries to get you going.

Title: DIY Tufted Headboard
Name: Charissa
Time: 6 hours
Cost: $110

"Charissa took on a big project and she rocked it! The results are wonderful and her directions make us feel like even we could pull it off... " Jump here for all the details.

Title: Decorated Tea Set
Name: Aya Rosen
Time: 2 1/2 Hours
Cost: About $12

"Wow, what great small project that allows you to be totally creative on a very functional household item. Easier than we thought, check out Aya's great instructions here."

Title: DIY-Roman Shades
Name: Jennifer Hagler
Time: 1 hour
Cost: $50

"Jennifer took simple, plain and inexpensive Roman shades from Target and completely transformed them with a graphic patterned fabric from IKEA — providing customized window coverings on a budget." Click here for more pics and project instructions.

Title: Chalk Board Wall
Name: Laura
Time: One Weekend
Cost: $40 (I had most of the supplies lying around the house already)

"Wow! This chalk board wall adds so much life and fun to the room." Click here for the how-to.

Title: DIY Starburst Mirror
Name: Allison
Time: About 3-4 hours
Cost: $25

"Who would have guessed the automotive parts shop would be a great DIY home decor resource? Allison's Starburst Mirror project takes a simple $2.99 auto blind spot mirror and makes it into something for the home...something beautiful." Click here for all the instructions.

What small (or big) projects in your home could use tackling? Let us know in the comments below. See all the entries and learn how to enter your own project here. For inspiration, watch an Etsy how-to video.

Miss Vermont Goes Green To Miss America

2009-01-13T11:56:00-05:00

A huge congratulations goes out to Tara Lynn Scheidet, aka EarthBitch, who designed and crafted the beautiful evening gown you see here. This masterpiece will be traveling with Miss Vermont, Ashley Wheeler to the Miss America pageant in Las Vegas!

The dress is green — not forest green or sage green, but green, the concept. It's an eco-friendly dress made of hemp and silk, lined with hemp and organic cotton, and adorned with repurposed gold lace, beads and sequins.

Tara Lynn's studio runs off solar electricity. The shelves are stocked with vintage and recycled materials collected over years of yard sale shopping. The ceiling is adorned with inspirational pictures hung over a floor of antique sewing machines. Since the company started in 2005 it has become a team of talented women. They all stand behind the same mission to increase awareness of biodiversity, promote sustainability and be proud of what they do and the clothing they make.

Miss Vermont says, "I was raised as part of a family-run business and I understand how important it is to support locally-owned and operated businesses. So when it came time for me to purchase an evening gown for the Miss America pageant, I decided to keep my business in Vermont and call upon a designer from the Northeast Kingdom. I had heard about Tara Lynn and it was very appealing to go 'green' for Miss America. I will be making a significant statement and suspect I will be the only contestant who has chosen to go this route. I think this is the perfect way for me to share my stance on preserving our environment and set myself apart from the other contestants."

The four-part series, "Miss America: Countdown to the Crown," airs on TLC on Fridays at 10PM (e/p). It began on January 2, but it's not too late to tune in! The Miss America Pageant finale airs on January 24. Congrats to EarthBitch for bringing handmade to the pageant scene!

Steampunk Halloween Ideas, from Etsy & Instructables.com

2008-10-28T17:00:00-05:00

Etsy is partnering with Instructables.com for the DIY Halloween Costume Contest, and we've both noticed the Steampunk trend. Members of Instructables are offering up some mind-blowing costume ideas — feats of DIY engineering, really — and Etsy sellers are making some creative items that would suit these costumes and theme parties. Here are 5 picks for Halloween-related projects, along with some related items from Etsy. And hey, remember to enter the contest — entries due November 9th, 2008!

Steampunk chicken-walker mech by Bug

For the Star Wars fan/steampunk in all of us.

Some items you might need:

A white blouse by adarie

Vintage black boots from ZucchiniFlourVintage

Raygun — Steampunk Defense by aintMichael

If you like this project, you will definitely love buildersstudio's sweet raeguns. He makes them in both tiny pendant size and full prop size. There's quite an array of choices.

Haunted Ouija Board by askJacob

Spooky! TwinPondsFarm offers an original Spirit board in case you need one.

Low Cost Jacob's Ladder Made From A Salvaged Oil Transformer by bloomautomatic

Another marvelous, ingenious prop for a killer Halloween party. If you're not confident about your playing with electricity skills, you should check out sksullivan667's shop, offering lamps with that raw metal, gear-clad look, perfect for a mad scientist's laboratory.

Realistic Steampunk Airship Goggles by greensteam

There are some very cool Steampunk goggle options on Etsy too, such as these by NEVERWAS.

If you want to learn more about the fashion sense behind Steampunk, check out this slideshow on the New York Magazine site. It features photos from a recent fashion show organized by Etsian Kathy Malone aka fofolle. We blogged about the event here.

Steampunk & Twilight Gift Guide | Posts about Steampunk | Costume Contest Info

DIY Halloween Contest '08

2008-10-07T17:43:00-05:00

Whether you're a costume creator, spooky chef, decorating diva or gadget whiz... Halloween lovers: it's time to show off your skills!

Instructables has teamed up with Etsy, PopSci, MAKE, Craft, Core77, Threadbanger, IndyMogul, Hack n Mod, Toolmonger, Lion Brand Yarn, Plaid, Quirk Books, Singer, American Science & Surplus, Think Geek, and Ponoko to bring you a contest worthy of your creations! See complete details here.

There are lots of contest categories to choose from and lots of ways to enter!
- Post your Instructables, photo slideshows, or videos on Instructables.
- Enter individual photos and videos through the diyhalloween08 flickr group and YouTube group.
- List your finished contest entries on Etsy. Tag your item with "HalloweenCon08" for possible inclusion in the featured Halloween Gift Guide. Don't have an Etsy shop? Sign up for one here.

Key Contest Dates:
CONTEST STARTS: Nov 5, 2007 (Yes, that's 2007; anyone that entered projects to Instructables after last Halloween is eligible.)
ENTRY DEADLINE: Nov 9, 2008
VOTING STARTS: Nov 10, 2008
VOTING ENDS: Nov 16, 2008
JUDGING STARTS: Nov 17, 2008
JUDGING ENDS: Nov 24, 2008

Prizes:
Many prizes! Everything from craft supplies, cool tools and books to shopping sprees and more. So many prizes! More info will be posted here.

Instant treat:
Contest partner Quirk Books is offering a 25% discount for Storque readers! Just type "ETSY" at checkout when asked for a discount code.

For more Halloween fun, check out these Halloween posts on the Storque.

You should also take a look at the Halloween Gift Guide for decorating ideas, costumes and all sorts of Halloween-themed items.

Handmade Kids Sweepstakes: Winners Announced!

2008-09-22T15:26:00-05:00

Congrats to the following 14 lucky Etsians, winners of the Handmade Kids Sweepstakes:

Happy shopping! (Winners will be contacted directly with instructions for redeeming their prizes.)

If you missed it, check out the Members Choice Award Winners and the Expert Panel Award Winners. Thanks to all who participated and all the judges, it's been a blast! Handmade Kids Challenge

For more great items for kids, search "INTLKIDS" to see what some of Etsy's international artists and designers have to offer. (The related items below show a sampling.)

Handmade Kids Challenge: Expert Panel Award Winners

2008-09-17T13:10:00-05:00

More congratulations are in order! Besides the Members Choice Award Winners, where the Etsy community got to vote for the best of the Handmade Kids Challenge, there's still the small matter of the EPAoEs— that would be The Expert Panel Awards of Excellence.

Please join us in extending a warm welcome to our guest judges, the Expert Panel.

Each judge is a knowledgeable participant in his or her field and has chosen one winner per category to receive a $200 Etsy shopping spree, based on the following criteria:

Quality of craftsmanship
Originality of design
Adherence to theme and entrance categories
Quality of photography for entered items

...Let's get down to it, shall we? ...and the EPAoE goes to:

ACCESSORIES

Girls Pink Mermaid Tail Towel by tinygreenapples

Category Judge: Amanda Kingloff of Parents magazine

“This had me at hello! I love it because it’s not only a dress-up item, but because it doubles as a towel. The colors are fun and vibrant and the top stitching just adds that little extra something to make it special. (And she makes a size to fit your child’s doll, too!)”

ART

Plant A Tree by kachingdesign

Category Judge: Jodi Levine of Martha Stewart Living
“I chose this sweet print because it makes me smile. I love it's simplicity and I think a child would have fun staring at it and making up stories about the little character watering the plants.”

CLOTHING

This is My House, My Car, My Tree Girls Dress by babypop

Category Judge: Kelly Alfieri of Cookiemag.com

“This dress looks like a vintage one from a time when people had more time. The appliqué work, with the white stitching on dark denim that looks like chalk on a chalkboard, is gorgeous. I think this would be any little girl's favorite dress.”

ECO-FRIENDLY

forest creature hat upcycled by mosey

Category Judge: Bonnie Alter, Contributor, Treehugger.com

“Maybe it is the Canadian in me, but I love cozy hats for children: the only thing my doctor told me when my son was born was: he had to wear a hat in winter and summer. This one is green and made of felted wool, another favorite thing of mine.”

FURNITURE

Owyn Toy Box by modmomfurniture

Category Judge: Carrie McBride of Ohdeedoh.com

“Why it gets my vote: A mom with power tools – what's not to love? The OwynToy Box stands out for its unique leaftop design and modern graphic quality. Its adult-friendly look ensures its place in the home for years to come, long after its use for toys.”

HOME DECOR

Butterfly Mobile by khamm75

Category Judge: Holly Becker of decor8.blog.com

“I love mobiles and always had one growing up, so I'm naturally attracted to them. I really like butterflies and appreciate that to baby, a mobile is more than home decor but can be a learning tool and source of comfort. This whimsical mobile can grow with the child, a little girl may want to keep this in her room for years.”

TOYS

Frank Porter the Hot Dog Eating Champion Plush Doll by PillowMonsters

Category Judge: Mark Frauenfelder of Boingboing.com

“This whimsical doll with a hot dog as an accessory is adorable and well-designed. My kids would love it, my mother would love it, and I love it.”

Congratulations to all! In some cases, the members' and judges' tastes were very much aligned: both the Butterfly Mobile by khamm75 and the Owyn Toy Box by modmomfurniture placed in the Members Choice Competition. So double congratulations to these winners are in order!

EPAoE winners will be contacted directly with instructions for redeeming their prizes.

Still to come: The Handmade Kids Sweepstakes winners will first be contacted directly, and then be announced on or before September 22, 2008.

As always, love goes out to Etsy's international artists and designers who, though ineligible for the contest, shine just as bright in our eyes. Search the tag "INTLKIDS" to see stellar examples of their wares for the young ones.

Handmade Kids Challenge: Members Choice Award Winners!

2008-09-16T14:40:00-05:00

It's that time! Thanks to all who entered the Handmade Kids Challenge and all who voted. The competition was steep and the entries all showed incredible diversity and talent. With close to two thousand entries and more than ten thousand votes, you cared, you really cared — and we love you for it. Join us as we congratulate the Members Choice Award winners.*

As a reminder, the Members Choice Awards are based entirely on your votes. Prizes will be awarded to the three artists who received the most votes in each category.

(7) First Place winners will each receive a $200 Etsy shopping spree.
(7) Second Place winners will each receive a $100 Etsy shopping spree.
(7) Third Place winners will each receive a $50 Etsy shopping spree.

* The Expert Panel Awards of Excellence (as determined by our expert panel of judges) will be awarded on Wednesday, September 17.

* The Handmade Kids Sweepstakes winners will first be contacted directly, and then be announced on or before September 22, 2008.

Without further adieu, by category, the Members Choice Awards go to (drum roll please!)...

ACCESSORIES

First place with 901 votes:

Little Bunny Shoe-Shoe Felted Merino Baby Booties by prettylittle

"I'm not sure who loves these bunnies more, the grown-ups or the babies! There's nothing like putting a pair of these on a little one and watching her face light up! Seeing those tiny fingers reach down and tug at these fuzzy ears... It's why I do what I do."

Second place with 858 votes:

Blustery Grey Petit Lamb Wool Felt Mary Janes by AureliaandAnnalise

"We, are VERY naughty little sheep! Depending on our mood, or how tired we are from a day out in the fields, sometimes we face each other, sometimes we both look the same way! Very, naughty!"

Third place with 720 votes:

Little Lion Costume Chunky Earflap Beanie by babaialainn

"This unique and chunky earflap beanie is made from gold and cafe brown acrylic yarn with accents of pumpkin orange yarn, with big loops forming the mane and finished with earflaps and ties. This is the perfect addition to a costume, or adorable by itself!"

ART

First place with 1230 votes:

Berry Street Village (9 x 11 shadow box) by PetiteHouse

"Once upon a time there lived a village of gnomes on Berry Street. The air was sweet with smells of the earth, and lovely quiet bird noises were pleasant in the woods."

Second Place with 626 votes:

Make a Wish (edition 2) by yumiyumi

"Giclee print of an original illustration done in combination with pencil, pen and ink, love and some digital tweaking. One of three different color combinations (I love color so much it's hard to decide on just one)."

Third place with 612 votes:

No Monsters Allowed Print by johnwgolden

"No Monsters Allowed is part of a series of 24 'signs' (By Order of the Management) that I created, after realizing that there are some things every parent says over and over again. Then I realized that many of these parental mandates are good rules for adults to live by too."

CLOTHING

First place with 926 votes:

Birdie Dress or Top by allthenumbers

"It's reversible, so if she spills, just flip it over for a clean look! One side features a little red bird appliqued on a grey chamberey background, and the other side is a red Moroccan woodblock print."

Second place with 900 votes:

Custom Fairy Princess Look Dress by HannahsTutus

"Our company started three years ago when my daughter Hannah had some fabulous pictures done in a tutu! From there I made tutus for friends... then a few other moms... then I finally made the plunge to have a website and this year came to Etsy."

Third place with 614 votes:

Marne 3 Tunic Dress, by breadandroses

"My Marne 3 Dress is inspired by smocks worn by children in rural towns along the Marne River of France generations ago. But with modern twists: exposed textured selvage/fringe on front & sleeves, this time without top stitching to create a flange with volume."

ECO-FRIENDLY

First place with 679 votes:

Sweater Ball, by handmadepretties

"This fun ball pillow was made from a rainbow of recycled sweaters. It is stuffed with fiberfill to a pleasant fluffiness. The ends are capped with wool and/or felt and hand stitched with yarn. These are super fun on a couch or for the little ones to toss about. They are huggably soft."

Second place with 631 votes:

Plum Creek Bags Snack Bags by Plumcreekmercantile

"Plum Creek Mercantile is a combination of my desire to bring creativity into my everyday life, make daily tasks more enjoyable and benefit the environment around me. My products are meant to be simple and functional while decreasing my environmental impact."

Third place with 517 votes:

Recycled Blue Jeans Cocoon by joliem6201

"I am a professional photographer and SAHM of 3 wonderful boys; 4 year old twins and an 8 month old. I love crafts and use it to make photography props for myself and others!"

FURNITURE

First place with 2622 votes:

Owyn Toy Box by modmomfurniture

"My father, a self-taught carpenter and woodworker, built most of our furniture when I was growing up in Ohio. I learned from the best tinkering around in his garage workshop. Thirty-some years later, I have my own garage workshop."

Second place with 1086 votes:

Spring Blossoms Hand Painted Armoire by madteapartyfurniture

"I am a mother of four who has a passion for painting. What started as a hobby, painting has now become a full time job. I love every aspect of painting, especially knowing that others enjoy my pieces in their homes."

Third place with 793 votes:

Mr. Turtle Step Stool by Animals

"He's lean, he's green, and he's ready to help your favorite child reach the cookie jar! This turtle stool is super detailed: he has 4 feet with individual toes, a realistic 3-D face with raised eyes, and a cute little tail."

HOME DECOR

First place with 2159 votes:

Tree Stump Floor Pillow by bebemoon

"I'm a graphic designer and most recently a mommy to our beautiful little girl. Sewing for me is a great escape... and now I have all the inspiration I could ever ask for."

Second place with 780 votes:

Wrapped Up in Words Blanket, whynottsewn

"I am someone who has quickly fallen in love with fabric and sewing. I have fully embraced the love of both, and I will admit...I am obsessed. Therefore, I decided to spread the love and put this newly found passion into creating functional pieces that put my obsession to good use."

Third place with 702 votes:

Butterfly Mobile by khamm75

"I made this for my daughter when I was unable to find a graphic mobile that really engaged her. She absolutely loves it and can interact with it through entire diaper changes and beyond! Plus, I loved having a use for all those beautiful scraps of paper I have been holding on to."

TOYS

First place with 1045 votes:

Card Table Playhouse, by missprettypretty

"The very first thing I ever sewed was a hideous tie for my dad when I was about 8 years old. Uneven stitches, fabric that never should have been used for a tie, and poor cutting skills. He wore it to work the next day! I think that was when I decided I loved to sew."

Second place with 906 votes:

Custom Pretend Tea Set by NiftyKidstuff

"Nifty Kidstuff began when I was just fifteen as a way to make some cash without working at a dreaded fast food restaurant. Now I'm a student at the Savannah College of Art and Design. All along the way it has been an excellent way to use my creative abilities doing something I really love."

Third place with 809 votes:

Custom Little Girl Friend by dmollison

"What started out as a promotion thread on Etsy, has turned into one of the most wonderful collection of friends one could ever imagine. We laugh together, give advice, and support each other's shop. These dolls are dedicated to the wonderful women on this forum."

Congratulations to all! Winners will be contacted directly with instructions for redeeming prizes.

Team Tip: Virtual Scavenger Hunts!

2008-09-02T14:17:00-05:00

In last week's Etsy Teams round table meeting in the Virtual Labs, some fantastic Team members were sharing their Teams' upcoming holiday plans. One idea that was mentioned with great enthusiasm was a scavenger hunt through Team members' shops. Scavenger hunts are a great way to get people browsing through all the wonderful items your Team has listed, and is even easier now that links within Etsy are clickable in your shops!

To arrange a successful scavenger hunt for your Teams, begin with these steps:

Organize with your Team which shops will be participating, and agree upon what type of hunt you'd like to run. Will searchers be looking for an image or a text clue in your item descriptions?
Have the participating shops edit their listings to include the image, phrase or text your Team agreed upon in the listings that will be part of the hunt.
Figure out the nuts and bolts among your Team. You might require that searchers collect the item ID's of the listings they "found" while hunting through your shops if your scavenger hunt is image-based, or maybe they might answer questions based on clues found in your Team's listings. The searchers then should be instructed on how to Convo their results to Team members to collect their "reward".
Give your searchers a little incentive. If you choose to offer a prize (like free shipping, a discount, or a gift certificate) to go along with Scavenger Hunt, make sure everything is legal. Check out this article on article on Teams and contests for more information. Other options for the winner include featuring a shop of the winner's choosing on your Team's blog or sneak peeks at upcoming products that your Team will be listing in the future, for example.
Don't forget to promote! There are all sorts of ways to get the word out about your Team's scavenger hunt! Your Team's blog and the blogs of participating shops are a place to start, of course. Check these previous Team Tips for more great ways to promote an online event:

Team Promotion!

Press Releases

Places to Promote a Team Event

Promoting Your Team through Email

Scavenger hunts are a fun way to get people clicking through your items, which – since your items are awesome – should lead to people marking your listings and shop as a favorite and potentially some sales. There's a huge advantage to making people familiar with the wonderful work your Team does by having them click through from shop to shop to acquaint themselves with your Team. Has your Team held a successful scavenger hunt? Leave your own tips on what works in the comments!

For more Team Tips, please check the Teams Resource page. Also, we discuss the Team Tips, news and ideas in the Etsy Teams email list! Keep up the great work, Etsy Teams!

Handmade Kids: Voting is Open!

2008-08-25T18:10:00-05:00

Thanks to all the entrants who shared their amazing wares in the Handmade Kids Challenge! We are constantly amazed by the creativity and talent of our community and this challenge was no exception. It was difficult going, but we've narrowed it down to roughly forty finalists for each Challenge category. Now we need your help to choose the Members' Choice Winners, and you might even win a prize yourself, just by voting! Here's how:

Vote now for your favorite items in the Handmade Kids Challenge for a chance to win one of 14 Etsy Shopping Sprees, valued at $350 each! Voting closes September 8, 2008 at 11:59pm EDT. Click here for details or just go VOTE NOW!

The Rules:

You may vote only once in each category*.
Once your vote is cast, it cannot be changed.
If you have multiple Etsy accounts, you may only vote with one. Violators will be disqualified from the competition and risk having all accounts banned from Etsy.
You must be a registered member of Etsy to vote. It's easy and free to join; sign up here.
All Etsy members are welcome to vote, but only US residents are eligible for the Sweepstakes.

*Be sure to vote in all seven categories. Each vote in each category is an individual entry in the Sweepstakes--and another chance for you to win! For complete Sweepstakes Rules and Regulations, please click here.

Please join us in extending a warm welcome to our guest judges from Boingboing, Cookie, decor8, Martha Stewart Living, Ohdeedoh, Parents and Treehugger. They will be choosing the Expert Panel Winners and with so many amazing finalists, we're happy to have their help! You can learn a bit more about each of the judges here.

Thanks and best of luck to all! Well, what are you waiting for? GO VOTE!

For our International friends, the Handmade Kids International Gift Guide is launching soon and will be announced shortly!

For more on Handmade Kids, check out the series!

Handmade Kids: Last Chance to Enter the Challenge!

2008-08-15T17:33:00-05:00

Attention artists and designers!

There are just a few hours left to enter the Handmade Kids Challenge! The deadline is today, August 15 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time, so it's time to get cracking! (See the contest page for all the details; complete Challenge rules here and a few tagging questions answered here. REMEMBER: ONLY 1 ITEM MAY BE ENTERED IN EACH CATEGORY FOR THE CHALLENGE!)

There are lots of chances to win* and promote your work in the process! Judges are lining up as we speak from Parents, Martha Stewart, Cookie, Ohdeedoh... and more! Stay tuned for the details.

*Hint, hint: We've noticed very few entries in the furniture category. Think mirrors, benches, shelves, storage items, fixtures, hand-painted and decorated furniture items...

For our international friends: Don't forget to tag your items for a chance to be featured in the Handmade Kids International Gift Guide. You have until August 21 to enter. The gift guide itself will launch at the end of the entry period (in time with the Handmade Kids Challenge voting period, so the same media eyes involved in the judging will have a chance to see your wonderful wares). Have a look at this article for all the details.

And finally, taste-makers: Remember, August 25 through September 8 is your chance to vote on your favorite entries in the Handmade Kids Challenge! Stay tuned for details. Eligible members will be entered in the Handmade Kids Sweepstakes simply by casting their votes. Check out the complete Sweepstakes rules here.

Thanks and best of luck to all!

For more on Handmade Kids, check out the series!

Handmade Kids: Enter the Challenge Now!

2008-08-08T18:30:00-05:00

Hey designers and artists: The clock is ticking! You have just over one week left to enter the Handmade Kids Challenge before the August 16th deadline! (See the contest page for all the details; complete Challenge rules here.)

Since the challenge launched, a few questions have come up regarding tagging, so please allow me to clarify:

* Elligible individuals may only enter one item per category. Multiple entries per category will be disqualified. You will have until the end of the entry period (August 16) to make sure just one item per category is tagged for the challenge.
* If an item you have tagged for the challenge sells, not to worry; we will still be able to access it for consideration. NOTE: If you plan to re-list a sold item, be sure to remove the challenge tag before you do so.
* It's fine to add the appropriate Challenge tag to an existing listing in your shop. Just make sure you do this before the deadline.
* If you change your mind about an item and want to take it out of consideration, just edit the tag section of the item listing in "Your Etsy" to remove the Challenge tag. However, it is not possible to edit a sold item listing.
* Hats should be tagged as accessories and not placed in the clothing category. Hats made of recycled, upcycled, organic or vegan materials may be included in the eco-friendly category. (Yes, you may enter one hat in accessories and one in eco-friendly.)
* Paper goods do not have their own distinct category for this challenge. Please use your best judgment as to where your item would fit best. Depending on its purpose or materials, a paper item may be entered as art, home decor, or if it uses recycled materials, as eco friendly.

(We realize there may not be a distinct category for every type of maker on Etsy. We invite entrants to flex their creative muscles and create something new that does fit the Handmade Kids Challenge categories.)

Click through for more information on the Handmade Kids Challenge. There's also a helpful FAQ on that page.

Tastemakers: Remember, August 25 through September 8 is your chance to vote on your favorite entries in the Handmade Kids Challenge! Just by voting, elligible members will be entered in the Handmade Kids Sweepstakes. Check out the complete Sweepstakes rules here.

For our international friends: Don't forget to tag your items for a chance to be featured in the Handmade Kids International Gift Guide. Have a look at this article for all the details.

Good luck to all!

Let the Games Begin!

2008-08-07T23:00:00-05:00

The Olympics start on 8/8/08!

I salute you, you remarkable people doing miraculous things with their bodies that I, for one, will never, EVER be able to do. Though I've never been to the Games myself, I must say I become a bit of an avid TV-watcher-fan-girl. I took a spin around Etsy looking for athletic-inpsired items, and you'll find those below.

All the competition in the air got me to thinking about crafting contests. We'd posted a video a while back with Lily Chin. Lisa Gentry, the world's fastest crocheter, is going for another record — fastest knitter — but I couldn't find any videos with her. Here's a video from The Guinness World Records championships with Holland's Miriam Tegels — the world's fastest knitter. It's crazy!
And fastest in the UK, Hazel Tindall:

In related news, Instructables has an Invent-a-Sport contest. There are a few days left to enter and there aren't nearly enough crafty sports that people have created! Get over there and make up a sport around your favorite handmade activity!

Where are you, sports fans? Ever attended the Olympics? Ever competed in a crafting contest like Speed Knitting? Post in the comments below — we want to know more!

Handmade Kids How-To: Firefly LED Baby Booties

2008-07-25T15:32:00-05:00

Craft Zine and Michael Miller Fabrics recently sponsored CRAFT’s Michael Miller Baby Bootie Contest, with the many entries posted in a Flickr group. We were so charmed by these Firefly LED baby booties that we asked the creators to give us a how-to for the project.

Special thanks go out to Craft's Natalie Zee Drieu who coordinated this post. She is expecting a baby girl and has shared her favorites in the related items below!

But first, a safety disclaimer:
Babies should wear LED booties with adult supervision only, as small electronic components can be a choking hazard if removed from the booties. You can also glue the LEDs to the fabric for extra hold or use surface mount LED beads and sandwich them between the surface and liner fabrics.

Materials:
denim
yellow cotton
felt
cotton thread
conductive thread
elastic
yellow ribbon
2 yellow LEDs
2 CR2016 (or CR2032) batteries
scissors
needles
paper
pen
contact glue

Pattern:
Click here to download the PDF Pattern for the LED Booties.

How-To:

1. Download the bootie pattern. Measure the baby’s foot size and reduce or enlarge pattern to fit accordingly. By sewing the two paper pattern pieces together you'll get a more or less fair view of the booties final dimension. This can take a few attempts, but it is actually a crucial step, so take your time with measurements.

2. Cut the denim pieces after tracing the pattern into the denim's wrong side. You can leave a mark that will help you distinguish the left from the right bootie once the pieces are all cut. Then, cover the entire outside edges with blanket stitches to prevent the denim from fraying.

3. Sew the two pieces of each bootie together with the wrong side of the denim. You can mark an even margin with a pen to help guide you.

4. Cut a small strip of yellow cotton and tack it to the bootie's denim edges. Cut it on diagonal direction, as the fabric will stretch in the bias direction.

5. Sew the yellow edge to the denim (try to make the stitches as invisible as possible) and then remove the temporary stitches. Fold the rest of the cotton in. You can also sew it to the denim from inside to make sure it will stay in place.

6. Cut a little piece of elastic and sew it very well to the inner part of the booty. The denim is great for this because the inner stitches won't be visible from the outside.

7. The firefly wings are basically a double bow (without the loose ends) made with ribbon. Just sew it together with a few stitches and it is now ready to be sewed to the bootie.

8. After sewing the wings to the bootie (on the right side of the bootie), use the same thread to make the embroidery. It's really simple, so you probably don't need to trace a drawing first. Just try to make them more or less symmetrical in the two booties.

9. Cut a large stripe of yellow cotton, enough to cover the inner side of the bootie. After tacking it to the denim, sew it with some invisible stitches leaving the front part still to be sewed.

10. The LED (short for light emitting diode) is a semiconductor that emits light when a current flows through. The plus of the battery must be connected to the anode (usually the long leg) and the minus to the cathode (usually the short leg). This makes it clear which way to wire the LED.

LEDs also have what is called a maximum voltage, and you should not apply more voltage to the LED than this value. We've used a 3V battery (CR2016 1,6 mm thick), and since most yellow LEDs have a forward voltage around 1.2V to 2.2V, we needed some resistance to reduce it, so we've used conductive thread.

11. Put the LED in place and stick the pins inside.

12. From the inner side of the bootie, curve the LED's edges with a pair of pliers.

13. Now sew the curved edges to the denim with the conductive thread. Make sure you use a different thread for each of the edges and that they don't touch each other (this would short-circuit the battery). One foot (20 cm) of conductive thread sewed along the base of the bootie is enough. You can pass them through the bootie's sides.

14. With one of the conductive threads, sew a few stitches (cross stitches, for example) on the back part of the bootie sole. This will work as a "pad."

15. Cut a little square of yellow cotton to prepare a little pocket for the battery. To make sure the battery stays in place, make the pocket as small as possible. Sew all of the edges to the denim, leaving a small entry for the battery, like a buttonhole. Make another "pad" with the other conductive thread on top of the pocket.

The battery should be placed between the "pad" on the battery pocket and the other "pad" on the base of the bootie, in order to make good contact. Just be careful and make sure both wires only meet at the LED when the battery is in place. If you mixed up the polarities, there's no harm to the LED; just flip the battery over and it should light up.

16. Cut an insole from the felt using a pattern like the one used to cut the denim, but a bit smaller. Then cover it with the yellow cotton and sew it together. This insole will cover the battery pocket. Glue the half front part of the insole to the bootie. You will need to leave the back half part unglued so you can easily remove or replace the battery.

17. The final result! These aren't everyday booties, of course, so you might save them to be used on a special occasion. With the battery on, the LED will be lit for around two hours. You can even replace the LED with a small bead.

About the creators: Ana Pires and João Silva were born in the seventies in Oporto, Portugal and they're currently living in The Hague, The Netherlands. They're very keen on arts and crafts, though professionally they've chosen other areas. Ana is an accountant and she enjoys painting, knitting, embroidering and sewing. João is an engineer and his hobbies include building computers and robots, gardening and biking to work every day.

The items below are curated by Craft's Natalie Zee Drieu who is expecting a baby girl!

Handmade Kids Series | Special Kids Showcase | Baby Gift Guide | Children Gift Guide

Call for Entries: Contests & Opportunities, Oh My!

2008-07-24T16:30:00-05:00

Hello crafty friends, our inbox is overflowing with contests, challenges, calls for submission and opportunities to show off your skills. Some are for sweet prizes, some are for pure glory, all are for fun! Time's a tickin'...

The Tote-ally Crafty Bag Challenge -- Deadline July 31

Whether you knit, crochet, recycle, embellish or do them all... CraftStylish invites you to show us your stuff, your crafty stuff — tote bag style. The challenge will be open for entries until 11:59pm ET on July 31st. Open to legal residents of the U. S. and Canada (except Quebec). Get the details.

Tote bag photo by Zach Desert and Burcu Avsar.

Craft Corps book project -- Deadline August 15

Author and knit vixen extraordinaire, Vickie Howell wants you: Calling all crafters! I’m gearing up to write my next book, Craft Corps which will focus on the community perpetuated by craft and the designers & hobbyists who feed it. As part of the content, I’m hoping to include 50-60 short profiles of crafters of all types. If you knit, crochet, embroider, decoupage, paint, sew, bead, tat, work with ceramics, collage, etc. I want to hear from you!

Stop by Vickie's blog for details. And for a bit of spoofy fun, check out her tongue-in-cheek good knitter, gone bad video.

Creativity 350 Craft & T-Shirt Contest -- Deadline August 15

It's time to enter your 350 project submissions. What are you waiting for? Go! And don't forget — just by entering the contest, you're helping spread the word about a very important cause and about the amazing climate change awareness organizatin350.org. Open to crafters worldwide! Get all the details here.

Honda Pilot YouTube Do It Yourself Video Contest -- Deadline August 22

Youtube and the new Pilot from Honda is calling for some do-it-yourself videos, from home improvement to electronics to odds & ends and more. So do-it-yourselfers (DIYers), rev up your how-to engines and submit. Aspiring DIYers, watch and learn. DIYing and watching is just half the fun. Check out the prizes. Hard handiwork shouldn't go unrewarded.

Grand Prize: $15,000 big ones. Cash.
Top 10: $100 gift cards to Home Depot.

Open to U. S. Residents. Learn how to enter here.

Good Mail Day book project -- Deadline September 15

Quarry Books is looking for submissions to their upcoming project, Good Mail Day, a soon-to-be published book authored by Pod Post — two ladies who share a deep love for all things mail art and postal related. The authors are seeking submissions of mail art and correspondence in all of its myriad forms, for possible
publication, and invite all interested mail artists/networkers to submit work. All entries should arrive by September 15, 2008 but the authors will begin the selection process on July 31, 2008 so don't delay!
Entry details here.

Of course, if that's not enough, there's also Etsy's Handmade Kids Challenge & Sweepstakes and the Handmade Kids International Gift Guide call for entries.

Forward this post to your friends and family if you see a good fit for any of these opportunities. Good luck!

Handmade Kids: Challenge Launches Tonight!

2008-07-15T19:30:00-05:00

At the stroke of one minute past midnight, in conjunction with the Handmade Kids series, Etsy launches two contests: The Handmade Kids Challenge & Sweepstakes. Both makers and shoppers can take part and enter to win prizes. Above all else, these activities are a celebration of our little muses — the kids — and the darling things they wear, cuddle, sit their cute butts on, or otherwise cover with drool!

Starting just past midnight tonight (12:01 am EDT July 16), crafters, artists, and makers who specialize in items for babies, kids, maternity wear or accessories for parents can enter their products into the running. We have a variety of categories so we can spread the love to many types of items: Art, Accessories, Clothing, Childrens Furniture, Eco-friendly, Home decor, and Toys. If you're just getting started making things, not to worry: you have until August 16th to enter. After the 16th, our panel of experts will whittle down the entries to 280 finalists.

On August 25, our taste-makers aka "members with fantastic taste" can also get involved. Once we have all the entries in, we'll be counting on you for the popular vote. For the Handmade Kids Sweepstakes, 14 of these luckey voters will each win a $350 Etsy shopping spree.

In addition to the Sweepstakes, we have the Handmade Kids Challenge. These are the awards given to the best in the categories. We have the popular vote determining who gets the Members' Choice winners and Expert Panel Awards of Excellence — with a group of great judges — who will pick winners for each category.

Click through for more information on the Handmade Kids Challenge & Sweepstakes. There's also a helpful FAQ on that page. See complete Challenge rules here; Sweepstakes rules here.

Thank you in advance for your awesome entries!

ps
We sincerely apologize to our international members. In order to comply with stupid laws we hate, we can only open this contest to US entrants.

Addendum: Dear international Etsians, we hear your concerns! The goal of the Handmade Kids project is to promote Etsy as a shopping destination for all the great items available for kids and families— and we know those beautiful items come from all over the world. Through Storque articles, media outreach, outside advertising and more, we will be highlighting all the international and US sellers that make things for kids and families.

The Handmade Kids Challenge is one part of this project. We hear your concerns about wanting to be included in this promotion. At this time, Etsy is not able to run contests in multiples countries, because we're not set up to fully comply with each country's specific regulations and legal requirements for running contests. However, we are working on a way to feature international sellers in this category with their own exclusive promotion. We will be posting an article shortly with more details. Please stay tuned and thank you for your patience as we work it out together!