Surprise Best Sellers

I've been selling on Etsy for over 4 years now. During those years, I've learned a lot of do's and don'ts. I've had busy times and slow times. I've made great items that I was sure would be best sellers only to find out they weren't and other items turned out to be a smash success.  

My best all time selling item is the plain and simple kraft tag - 

I've sold 3,500 in the first 2.5 months of this year.  I haven't counted the total for all 4 years.  That might take a while...

People use them for weddings, price tags in their brick and mortar stores and craft shows or make their own gift tags with them. They can be purchased in my shop in sets of 25 up to 1,000.  I can also make a custom listing for just about any number you need.

Another surprise big seller has been my paper luau flowers -

I had an excess amount of paper in 4 different colors and decided they would make nice party decorations.  I sold quite a few sets in quantities of 25-100.  Then one day a museum event coordinator contacted me and asked if I could make 10,000 of them.  SURE!! The girls and I worked hard for quite a few days on that. I no longer have the original colors but I'm offering the ones pictured above.

People don't often tell me what they are doing with the items they buy but it's fun when they do. The last person to buy my paper flowers said they were poking a hole in the middle and making lollipop flowers to give away at a hospital! What a cute idea.

If you'd like something for your next event, be sure to stop by Ellie Marie Designs. If you don't see what you're looking for, send me a message!  I love custom orders.

Holly's Senior Trip

My children are the number one reason I began Ellie Marie Designs in the first place. I needed to supplement my husband's income in order to help my oldest two buy textbooks while I homeschooled Holly, my youngest.  Now Holly is just about done with high school.  This weekend we took her and friend to Va. Beach to the aquarium.

We went this weekend because we originally planned to go on a whale watching boat. The tours end the first week in March. But that didn't work out.  We knew it was too cold for the beach but we just had to go see it.  For a total of ten minutes.  Our faces were numb by the time we left.

The aquarium was a lot of fun!  I was even brave enough to touch a sting ray. The clammy, slimy animals really seemed to like me.  

 Holly's favorite animal is the sea turtle.

I love this picture of Holly.  It looks like the turtle is looking right at her!

I had a great time with my family celebrating our baby girl's senior year.  Next week she gets her driver's license.  Oh help!