Ori-Janel Creations Handmade Gifts & Crafts by Janel Connell

 

Building Bridges:  Tell us a little bit about you, your family, and what you like to do for fun!

Janel: I live in San Diego, CA and am the youngest of 4 children.  I grew up in Dallas, TX and moved to California 12 years ago.  I love to craft and started crafting jewelry as a teenager.

Building Bridges:  What other hobbies do you have?

Janel: I am also an independent vintage model and do various photo shoots and appear in various pin up magazine.  I love to sew, play with my French bulldog Cora, and go on Harley rides with my husband.

Building Bridges: Why did you choose the name of your business? Is there a special meaning behind it?

Janel:  It’s supposed to be like the word “original” in Ori-Janel, although sometimes it is confusing.

Building Bridges: Why did you decide to open your shop and why sell on Etsy.com?

Janel:  My sister also crafts and has her business on that site and so I chose it as my site to open up my shop as well, and do like it better than other sites I have mingled in.

Building Bridges: Did someone encourage you to start a business?

Janel:  I started with sewing items and wanted to sell them since I couldn’t stop sewing and decided to just open my own craft business once I got several items to sell, I needed to get rid of them somehow.

Building Bridges:  When did your shop officially open & do you remember your first product that sold?

Janel:  2008, I think in the later part of the year, and have had the shop ever since. I sold various sewing items, such as sachets with dif scents and designs, blankets and small square quilts.

Building Bridges:  Any current shop promo discounts, if so when do they end?

Janel:  Not at the moment, but I’m sure if a reader comes to my shop and messages me that they saw me on Building Bridges Marketing blog, I will be glad to give them a discount code of their very own.  I do at times have sales and promotions and you can see the codes posted on my Facebook Page.

Building Bridges:  Do you take custom orders?

Janel:  If it’s an item and I can reproduce, I will always take custom orders, some items I only have enough materials for one item, depending on what it is, but never hurts to ask me.

Building Bridges:  Why Make handmade products?

 

Janel:  I love handmade items myself.  Always something unique when you know it is made by hand in an assembly line time of the century.

Building Bridges:  What do you love or hate about selling?

Janel:  I love selling, I love getting the attention of my items and hopefully knowing someone will buy it and cherish it as much as I did when I made it.  The part I hate is that I wish I could sell more items because I make so many and in a site such as Etsy, there are so many shops, it’s hard to stand out at times.

Building Bridges:  What is your favorite part about owning your own business?

Janel:  I am my own boss in my craft business.  Nobody can tell me how to design, I just do as I wish and work my own hours as well.

Building Bridges:  Do you have a product that you prefer to design/create over others?

Janel:  I love my cigar box items.  They are original and nobody else in my area does such crafts.  I love hunting down the cigar boxes and seeing which ones I have and what the box will be for me to decide if it will be a purse or a deco box.

Building Bridges: Do you have any advice for other crafters who would like to start selling their creations?

Janel:  It’s easier than you think to get started.  I have learned so much over the years about selling in craft shows etc and they are also def worth the effort.  Don’t give up, follow your dreams and don’t let anyone tell you differently.

Building Bridges:  Best advice you received when you went into business for yourself?

Janel:  Don’t let anyone bring you down. If they don’t like your items, then there is someone out there that does.  Don’t get discouraged. 

Building Bridges:  We love to attend craft and vendor markets - do you?

Janel:  Yes I do.  I frequent a lot of craft shows at elementary schools.  They seem to be the best and it also helps out with the PTA and schools that put them on.  It’s also good for networking and getting your product out there.

Building Bridges:  What is your favorite part about the markets?

Janel:  I love the people.  They are always out there looking for that original item that just grabs their attention and support the local handmade groups.  I also love that a lot of the events/markets are for charity fundraisers and going for a good cause.

Building Bridges:  Do you ever get nervous the night before a big event?

Janel:  I was out of practice at markets for a while until I did one recently and was a little nervous.  But the show turned out great and got me back in the swing of things for next time.

Building Bridges:  Did you always see yourself becoming an entrepreneur?

Janel:  I didn’t.  I never knew I would own my own craft business someday, although it’s not full time, I enjoy every moment I can do.  It also makes me feel empowered for women and it’s important to be an influence and encourage others.

Building Bridges:  What is your most popular product on the market right now?

Janel:  My Cigar box items are most popular, because they are different.  I also make jewelry that seems to be popular because who doesn’t like jewelry. 

Building Bridges:  What is the favorite item you make and why?

Janel:  My cigar box items are, because they are my favorite to make.  I start with a cigar box and decide if I want it to stay a box or become a purse and then go from there on the décor that can be anything I want it to be.

Building Bridges:  Tell us anything extra you would like to be added to your feature.

Janel:  Ori-Janel Creations donates portions of proceeds in our shop to various animal charities once a month.

There are several ways that you can purchase Janel’s pretty jewelry and retro flashback items!! So head on over to her  website, Etsy shop,  & be sure to follow her on Twitter, & Facebook.

Customers can best reach Janel through her Etsy shop convo or they can email her at orijanelcreations@gmail.com with questions and custom orders!

Janel thank you so much for sharing your story with us! Happy sales to you and keep up the fantastic work!  Summer time is bidding us farewell and the busy gift giving season is soon going to approach! Be sure to keep Origanelcreations in mind this year for some memorable presents!!

Botanical Skincare by JMS: Beautiful skin is for everyone!

This week we travel to a sweet smelling, calm, & relaxing room filled with all natural skincare products of various proportions & uses. Where can this place be found your might ask? Botanical Skincare on Etsy.com – is just that place/shop! We are so thrilled to have been able to not only do an interview with JoAnna, owner of Bontanical Skincare, but also a review on several of her products! Read on as we explore her products and more!

++ PRODUCT REVIEW ++

 

JoAnna was so sweet to send us a sample box of her sulfate free herbal shampoo & conditioner, mineral lipsticks, facial scrub, facial cream, eye cream, healing salve, & lotion. Each item came packaged with its own instruction sheet that contained vital information such as directions, ingredients, and explained what each ingredient is used for (for example Titanium Dioxide is used for more UV skin protection). 

·         Sulfate Free Herbal Shampoo & Conditioner – We received JoAnna’s 3oz sample bottles and were super excited to try these little guys out! We absolutely loved them! The light scent of the shampoo/conditioner were perfect, especially for a person who has sensitivity issues to strong fragrances (such as me). We loved how it did not make our blonde hair flat, frizzy, or greasy. Sometimes you have to use a vast amount of shampoo and conditioner to feel squeaky clean, not with these guys! Just a little squirt in your hand and you are good to go.  

 

Special note: If using for children we would also add a detangler spray before brushing their hair. We have noticed that natural hair products usually require a detanlger for the young ones.

·         Mineral Lipstick - We were thrilled to also try two items from JoAnna’s lipstick line, Copper & Merlot Sparkle. Both “flavors” were impressive not only in surviving the Texas heat, in our purse, car, and various outings & easy peasy to put on (gotta hate those lipsticks that are like rubber!)! We rate these 

      little 4 gram testers  A+++. These little balms are long lasting and we can’t wait to place an order to try out some new colors! We do have to confess that we have chosen a favorite - Merlot Sparkle

      has a gorgeous light purple shine that we have been wearing day 

      and night (wearing as we type this hehe)!

·         Extra Emollient Facial Cream – Having used many facial creams over the years this .5oz tester was welcomed. Why? Because we knew it was all natural and we weren’t saturating our skin with anything harmful. The cream had a cool and rejuvenating feel. It did not leave any after affect such as stickiness or grease. Another top notch product from Botanical Skincare!

 

-     Extra Healing Salve - This is the wonder bar right here!! We 

      have become best friends with this little salve over the last month. We will go ahead and say it...our elbows and heals are not silky smooth 24hrs a day....BUT, with this little beauty it reverses weeks of abuse on our skin in a matter of minutes. This may be the last product on our review, but it definitely is not least! We highly recommend you get this for men, women, & children! What are you

      waiting for.. hit up her shop!

Botanical Skincare is BEYOND MAGNIFICENT! We recommend her line to everyone that is looking for quality plant based skin care products. What more could a customer want than products that are friendly and healthy for your body. Read on below for our interview!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Building Bridges: Tell us a little bit about you, your family, and what you like to do for fun!



JoAnna: I am married and am the mother of 3 girls ranging in age from 17 – 3. I stay very busy because I have kids at nearly each stage of childhood (no baby thank heavens!). I like to socialize with friends and people in the community as much as possible. I am currently enrolled in a program titled Nevada Partnership in Policymaking. It is a program to help parents of children with developmental disabilities or people with developmental disabilities develop advocating skills and to learn about ways to change current policies related to those disabilities. Their website for more information is: nced.info/pip/

I am also working with a team of individuals to help develop a Healing Center which will offer people a safe and healing place to come and work with natural and holistic health providers and other spiritually minded individuals to learn to heal themselves physically, emotionally and spiritually. This healing center will be based somewhere near Taos, New Mexico. We have a Facebook page: Harmony Lodge and if you have any interest or information for this pursuit I would love to hear from you! You can email me at Botanicalskincarebyjms@yahoo.com.

Building Bridges: Why did you choose the name of your business? Is there a special meaning behind it?

JoAnna:  I chose the name Botanical Skincare because I love using natural plant ingredients in my products. I wanted the name to get across the fact that they are plant based.

Building Bridges: When did your shop open & why did you decide to open your shop and why sell on Etsy.com?



JoAnna:  My shop opened in January of 2013. I like that it is a place that encourages handcrafting and small businesses. I like how easy it is to setup a store and that there is not a lot of overhead costs.

Building Bridges: Do you remember your first product that sold, what was it?

JoAnna:  It was probably my goat milk soap.


Building Bridges: Do you have any shop promo discounts, if so when do they end?


JoAnna:  I have a promo for first time buyers to get 30% off their first product purchases that add up to $10.00 or more by using the code “2014First30” at checkout. This program will be ending in November 2014.

I also have product samples available for only $2.00 including shipping. My product sample program has been very successful! My $2.00 sample program will most likely continue until I run out of sample container supplies or at the end of 2014 when I will have another type of sample program in place.


Building Bridges: Do you take custom orders?

JoAnna:   I would love to take some custom orders. Developing new products is one of the most interesting parts of my business for me.


Building Bridges: Why make handmade products?

JoAnna:  I love to create things and I have respect for others that like to create things as well.

Building Bridges: Do you have a product that you prefer to design/create over others?


JoAnna:  I love making lotions and creams the most. My facial skin care products are my crowning achievement! (Exfoliating Facial scrub, Goat milk facial bar, Extra Emollient facial cream & Rejuvenating Eye cream)

Building Bridges: Do you have any advice for other crafters who would like to start selling their creations?


JoAnna:  Don’t let anyone tell you that it is too hard to do. Find a good entrepreneurial mentor.

Building Bridges: Best advice you received when you went into business for yourself?


JoAnna:   Make a business plan. I took a course on business planning from my local SCORE office.

JoAnna Sidwell runs her business out of her home in Sparks, Nevada where she lives with her husband and three daughters. She can be reached by phone at 775-387-0249, Email: Botanicalskincarebyjms@yahoo.com. Etsy.com: BotanicalskincarebyJ. Be sure to check her out on her Facebook page, Etsy Shop, Website, & Pinterest!  

JoAnna, thank you for taking time from your family and shop to talk with us! We also want to thank you so much for sending us a sample box to try and test out! Your products are magnificent!  We truly enjoyed testing out your hair care products, lotions, & lip sticks! We wish you many happy years with your business! We look forward to keeping up with you and watching your line expand!

Crafting A Lifestyle - With Our Powers Combined

This week we are proud to be featuring the husband and wife duo of the geeked out business, With Our Powers Combined on Etsy.com!  Not only were we able to get an awesome interview with this couple, but we were also able to review one of their top selling products! Read on to learn about This shop’s origin and be sure to check out their very own blog HERE!

Building Bridges: Tell us a little bit about you, your family, and what you like to do for fun!

Jamie and Alli: We are a married couple who live in Kansas City, which is a great place for being into the arts and crafting. Jamie works in the theatre industry and Alli works in higher education, so the blog and related Etsy shop are our hobby and passion outside of work. We are also gamers (role playing and board gaming) and avid TV and movie watchers, all of which comes out in our projects

Building Bridges: Why did you choose the name of your business? Is there a special meaning behind it?

Jamie and Alli: We had been wanting to start a blog about the things we make for some time, but hadn't gotten it off the ground. Then one day, Jamie suggested the name With Our Powers Combined and it was too great an idea to let go. We have always had two different sets of skills, but work together really well, so it fit our process and style. We also grew up in the 90's, so the reference to Captain Planet is a signal to nerds of a certain age.

Building Bridges: Why did you decide to open your shop and why sell on Etsy.com?

Jamie and Alli: The shop was an afterthought from the blog. We had been making so many things, we needed somewhere for them to go. Alli had been an Etsy seller in the past, under the name OccasionOwl, and was familiar with the Etsy marketplace, so it seemed like the obvious choice.

Building Bridges: Did someone encourage you to start a business?

Jamie and Alli: Not exactly. We started out making projects as gifts and received enough positive feedback we thought we could give it a shot. We're also of an age where entrepreneurial spirit is really high, and we have many friends who are also undertaking their own business endeavors, so it was on our mind.

Building Bridges: When did your shop officially open?

Jamie and Alli: December 6, 2012

Building Bridges: Do you remember your first product that sold, what was it?

Jamie and Alli: It was a set of Avengers Coasters made from comic book pages and tile. We still make comic book coasters regularly and they are one of our top sellers.

Building Bridges: Do you take custom orders?

Jamie and Alli: We do; however, we haven't had many customers take us up on it. Alli has made a few custom tea wreaths, but our nerd products tend to sell well as is.

Building Bridges: Why make handmade products? If applicable

Jamie and Alli: We're makers. Our blog slogan is "Crafting a Lifestyle" and it is something we try to do whenever possible. We enjoy creating, working with our hands, and being able to put original things into the world. We are also relatively frugal and see making as a way to enjoy a custom, yet inexpensive, lifestyle.

Building Bridges: What do you love or hate about selling?

Jamie and Alli: We hate having to go to the post office all the time. Because we work full time and our products are often fragile or of a strange size, each is a unique shipping challenge. We spend a lot of our lunch breaks standing in line.

Building Bridges: Do you have a product that you prefer to design/create over others?

Jamie and Alli: Our favorite projects are often not replicable, which means they never make it to the shop. Our primary purpose is to blog about our experience as crafters and, when possible, give DIY advice to others on how to re-create our items. Personally our two favorites are our Supernatural Hunter's Kit and our TARDIS Tree Topper - both of which are featured on the blog but have not been produced for the shop.

Building Bridges: Do you have any advice for other crafters who would like to start selling their creations?

Jamie and Alli: Don't think too long or hard about, just do it. Etsy is a great place for both small hobbyists and full-time artisans. If you make something someone else will love, it will sell. Just make sure you like making it as much as people like getting it. You never know when one of your products will start flying off the "shelf."

Building Bridges: Did you always see yourself becoming an entrepreneur?

Jamie and Alli: We have always been in the planning stages for one venture or another. Our lifelong dream has been to own and operate our own theatre company. In some ways, we see our Etsy shop as a learning experience for how to manage the backside of a business. Alli has even looked into taking additional business courses in the hope that we can expand in the future.

Building Bridges: What is a typical day like when you are crafting?

Jamie and Alli: If we had an entire day to craft, that would be atypical. Our crafting often occurs in short bursts when we can find the time. We tend to give ourselves deadlines just to make sure we make time for it. Although we enjoy crafting more than most things, it is one of the first things to get pushed aside when life gets busy. As for the time we do have, we have a brand new (to us) shared studio in our home so that we can work on separate projects in a shared space. Our projects truly live up to the name With Our Powers Combined.

Building Bridges: What is your most popular product on the market right now?

Jamie and Alli: Our Zelda Pop-up Card keeps us busier than any product we have ever made. Two-thirds of all orders from our shop come from that card. We started by marketing it as a Valentine, and it went over so well that we pulled it from the shop for a while to give ourselves a vacation. Surprisingly enough, it continues to sell year round. This summer we have sold approximately one a week.

                                                           Featured product for review  

                                                                             “Legend of Zelda” popup card

This review is for all you (us) big kids out there who are still Zelda fans after all 

these years! If Mario can do it – so can Zelda! Hehe Receiving this card in the mail made our week! The quality is fantastic, and that is no joke. The shop photo displaying this card doesn’t begin to give justice that it is a nice crisp stock paper, instead of everyday flimsy paper that has been printed on. So the thickness of the paper is an A++ on our rating scale. 

On to the print quality – perfect! There were defiantly no “cheaping out” occurring with the amount of black ink it took to cover the front of the card or the red heart inside.  

Popup card capability – So we have had our crafty little hands in making our own popup cards for friends….yea we won’t ever do that again! Jamie & Alli have nothing short of perfected how the heart comes up and out of the card. For handmade it looks professionally (machine) made. 

Overall this card is top notch and is great for any geek loving fan! We recommend for Valentine’s Day, Birthday, Get Well Soon (we reluctantly are going to send this little baby to a friend going to have surgery), or a Just Because card! Be sure to head on over to their shop and get yourself one, the next time you need to send a card!

Jamie and Alli are a husband and wife craft team providing quirky step-by-step instructions of fun DIY projects. She's an art-trained papercrafter, he's a theatre-trained modelmaker. With their powers combined, it's geek-inspired props, decorations, and housewares with a unique tone.

 Thank you both so much for combining your powers and creating a duo team that is beyond amazing! We are just fascinated by the “geeky” work you all are doing and will definitely be keeping up with your blog & Facebook, & Etsy shop! Readers be sure to check them out and show them some extra love by following them! You won’t be sorry! Jamie & Allie can best be reached via email at wopcblog@gmail.com. Thanks again for sending us The Legend of Zelda card! It has been our pleasure.

                      All photos have been used with permission from Jamie & Alli from their Etsy shop & blog.