Inspiration: Corner Bookmarks

   Last night, I was exploring tumblr and I came across a post with this cute little monster bookmark.  I clicked on the link to the tutorial and fell in love with these little guys.  (Check out this girl's etsy shop while you're at it!)

   Inspired, I immediately began making some myself.  But instead of monsters, I started out making pink girly ones.

    I was really impressed by how easy these are to make, although the heart was a little bit more difficult.  I could definitely sell these in sets of two (or more!)  They would be great as bible bookmarks or a cute little gift for anyone who loves to read.

   I used AC Specialty Paper, which is this awesome textured cardstock that comes in a variety of colors.  It's great for projects like these because it's thicker and more durable than just regular construction paper.

 

    I decided to try to make my own little monsters too, and they turned out looking like little pacman characters!  I just love them, and I'm sure my nephew will too.

    They'd be especially great for kid books, such as Shel Silverstein's "Falling Up" shown here, as well as any books involving monsters or other make-believe creatures.

 

   I used an x-acto knife for the more difficult cutting, for example, the butterfly and the teeth.  And I used scissors for the eyes because they are more efficient for creating curves.  The end result:  four cute creations!

Question: Does a slight increase in prices actually increase sales?

   When I first heard this sales tip, I didn't think it would be effective.  Why would customers want to pay more?  But the idea is that if you increase your prices, it increases the perceived value of your work.  Business was slow, so I decided to try it and find out for myself.

   I increased the prices of a few items in my etsy shop, and within about a week and a half, I had 8 orders to fill, 6 of which were custom orders.  That might not sound like a lot of orders to you, but to someone who has just started their business, it was an exciting week.  However, I can't prove that this drastic change is solely due to the slight price increase, it is definitely a factor to consider.

   I have also found that many sellers, especially artists, on etsy undervalue their work.  When I see items similar to mine that are significantly cheaper, I think, "How is your time not worth more than this?"  I try to charge what I think is fair, but even I feel I'm not charging enough for how much time I put into each piece.  But it's all about perceived value.  Is it better to have prices too high or so low you're not making what your time is worth?