Sunday, November 28, 2010

Printing Shipping Labels thru PayPal

Shipping from PayPal is not only easy but also saves you a little money on postage.

You will need a printer and either white paper or shipping labels that will run through your printer. You will also need a scale to weigh your envelope/package. A kitchen scale that weighs in pounds and ounces will work just fine. You do not need a postage specific scale.

Log into PayPal

Find the transaction in the list. There should be a print shipping label button next to it. Click the button.

PayPal will auto fill the address. Compare that to the address from Etsy & decide which to use or contact the buyer to verify the correct address.




If you are shipping from a different zip code than the one listed for the return address, check the button next to Origination Zip Code - Other and enter the address of the post office you will be using. Not doing this can result in refusal of your package at the counter. So not fun!

You will see Carrier U.S. Postal Service Choose a different carrier

If you want to use UPS instead, you may change the shipping carrier by choosing a different carrier.

Most will be using U.S. Postal Service so this tutorial will focus on using the post office.

Select the method you want to use.

You will be given a variety of package options depending on the shipping method chosen.

Remember, to use any Flat Rate service, you must have the coordinating Flat Rate box or envelope provided free by the post office. If you use your own packaging, you can choose any option that does not say Flat Rate next to it.

Enter the weight in pounds and ounces of your package. If you have a portion of an ounce, always round up. No one likes it returned for lack of postage or delivered with postage due.

Select the date which you will be dropping your package in the mail. Your package may be refused at the postal counter if you do not have the correct date. Again, not fun at all.

Choose any other options you want included such as delivery confirmation, return receipt, etc.

Now if you want a short note to the buyer, maybe a quick thank you, include it here.

Click Continue to review your postage request. You will not be charged at this point.

If everything is correct, click Pay & Continue. If not, edit the details that are not correct.

After clicking Pay & Continue a box should pop up for you to print the label. You can print a sample if you are unsure how to load labels into your printer. Once you are happy, click Print Label.

Do NOT click OK on the box that pops up until you have reviewed the printed label.

If your label printed correctly, click OK on the pop up asking such.

If your label did not print correctly, due to wrong label orientation, paper jam, etc, click Cancel and you can reprint the label.

If you need to reprint a label for any reason, simply go to the transaction and click details. Then at the bottom there is a reprint label option for a short period of time. 72 hrs???

If you used paper, tape the label using clear tape to the box. Do NOT put tape over the barcode that is used for delivery confirmation.

PayPal will email the buyer letting them know that their package is on the way!

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Some days I amaze myself

I am sitting here listing several photographs that myself or my darling husband have taken over the last 2 years of hiking through the woods. We live in the Southern Appalachian Mountains of Western North Carolina. We always take our Nikon D80 with us, no matter were we are headed. Why? We never know what we might find to take a picture of.

Well, we have been hording these beautiful photographs on our computer. But why? I got the wild hair the other day that I would list them and try to sell the prints. Hmmm... just a few days later and I have already sold a print! And there are so many more we have been hording that I will be listing to share with the world.

So what is my point? The point is that these are really beautiful photographs. Photographs that can not be duplicated ever again. Nature never gives us the same shot twice. These are once in a lifetime views that we have found! Yet I never thought to share them with anyone but myself.

I have been making crafts, which I like to do, as a hobby. Yet those have mostly horrible (in my book), photos. I can not stage a photo to save my life. Yet we both have a knack for finding those perfectly staged, naturally staged photographs.

Take my advice, if something is not working for you, you find yourself fighting to make a go of it, keep it as a hobby and move onto something that comes more natural for you. Use the resources around you. Don't go looking for resources that are not there.

Don't think for a minute I did this all on my own. I have to thank the wonderful Team Discovery members for giving me that little kick in the pants that I needed. Not only were they supportive but also have been so wonderful with their compliments of our talent.

For all the hours I have spent fussing over staged photos with no good luck, I have had all these beauties hiding in plain site. Boy, I feel sheepish!

















Monday, November 15, 2010

My evil little cat!

One would think that an 8 lb cat could not do much harm. WRONG! I got up to get a glass of water and find the "queen" in my chair. Where she came from is beyond me b/c I saw no sign of her. So I scooped her up and sat her in my lap. She got all comfy & cute. Out came the camera.

She totally HATES the camera and decided it was time that I learn to not pull out the camera. Enjoy!


The new & improved game of cat & mouse!




Hey! That is MY mouse!




You don't REALLY need that thumb, do you?




Give me that darn camera! I don't want my picture taken!!!




Let this be a reminder that I don't like the camera!




But you know you love me!




 

Enter to win a free candle cover!

I am giving away a free candle cover to one lucky winner. Team Discovery is hosting the give away for me. To enter, simply visit their blog.

This is the candle cover I am giving away. It is sage green & ivory speckled, made out of 100% cotton, and is 4" tall.

You learn more about the candle cover here.

I am more than happy to make the candle cover any size you like. Just let me know what size you are looking for!








Sunday, November 14, 2010

Team Discovery Giveaway - Watercolor Cowl from ImpossiblyAlice!

Team Discovery is dedicated to promoting new shops and undiscovered sellers. One of the ways we do that is by hosting giveaways for them!

To enter, go here for rules & information.

The item we're offering today is a watercolor cowl handmade by Etsy seller and team member, ImpossiblyAlice.

70% virgin wool and 30% acrylic and is valued at $55!

Here is the cowl one of you will win:





Tuesday, November 2, 2010

My best photograph yet!

I am just super excited about the first image in this keychain listing! Yesterday I took over 200 photographs, adjusting camera settings and playing with where to take the photo the whole time. This was one of the last few I took and it is just too awesome!

I love the angle of it. The colors came out perfect. The background texture & color is just great. All I had to do was crop it and upload it. NO photo editing on this one! WOOHOO!!!

It is funny now that I think back to how I got this photo. I had the hubby's Nikon D80 sitting on a tripod. The ground is not level where I took the photo so I had legs all extended to different lengths and at different angles. It was staying put but I can not say the tripod was stable. I was outside and the sun was shining bright so I had to come up with a shadow so I used myself to block the direct sunlight. So much for holding the camera. Then I had to figure out how to push the shutter button w/o shaking the camera or knocking it over since I forgot the remote shutter button in the house.

All this after I had to leave the camera sitting in the lane to run in and grab the memory card I forgot inside. I have decided to name this photo the "Oh dear God, don't let the camera fall and hit the rock walkway!" because that is exactly what I was thinking when I took this photo!

After I kick this soft, warm, fuzzy, sleeping cat off my lap, I will head out for a long, brisk walk with the neighbor. When I come home, I am aiming for another great day of photographing and hopefully I will not need to take as many photos to get good ones this time!