Five Minutes With....

The lovely Kate, a fellow crafter and blogger over at Beak Up Crafts, has interviewed me for her {Five Minutes With} feature over on her crafty blog and you can read it here.

Kate from Beak Up Crafts

Grab a cuppa and spend five minutes with me while I share my journey with fizzi~jayne makes.... and share my top tips to time management.

Pssst....There is also a discount for readers to use in my shop at the end of the post.

fizzi~jayne x

Don't Forget your Father's Day card....

Father's Day is on 21st June 2015 and I have a range of handmade Father's Day cards in my shop for your special Dad.

Men are always challenging to buy for don't you think? And to be honest I find them challenging to design for but I love a challenge and I hope you like what I have created....

Last order date to a UK address is 16th June 2015 to receive your card in time,  if you are posting it onward please allow extra time to order.

I will have these cards at the Little Fox Market this Saturday.  I always look forward to this craft fair and this time there will also be new foodie stalls including a micro brewery. Funnily enough my hubby is now more than happy to help me set up after hearing this news!

fizzi~jayne x

book review ~ Online Marketing for your Craft Business by Hilary Pullen....

One of my 2015 goals is to grow my business online and to help me do this I have read Hilary Pullen's Online Marketing for Your Craft Business.

I made lots of notes and used my new owl sticky notes, they look so cute!

As the front cover describes, Hilary's book tells you "How to get your handmade products discovered, shared and sold on the internet" and I think it does a good job of that.  The book delves into each key area and social media platform, including:

• Blogging
• Facebook
• Pinterest
• Twitter
• Google+
• YouTube
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Newsletters

Hilary explains how to get the best out of each platform and gets you started if you haven't got a profile.

I was thankful for a chapter explaining Google Analytics and how to use the reports.  I set up Google Analytics as soon as I set up my Folksy shop and started selling.  Having previously worked in retail I was used to analysing stats but I haven't really got the best out of Google yet and it proves that I need to make time for analysing metrics such as unique vs returning visitors, page views and bounce rate to be able to know what is working and what I need to focus my time on. 

There is a LOT to think about and I'm wondering where I will find the time to do everything and do it well, in a lot of companies there is a team of people whose job is social marketing! Hilary does acknowledge that it looks like a lot of work but by being realistic with your time and planning in advance can mean you make the most of social marketing and in turn grow your business online.

I already have a plan for this blog with my ideas and when I'd like to post them but I don't have a social media plan.  I tend to post as I go which is still important but there are bound to be posts I can plan and schedule so I don't spend lots of 15 minute (or longer) periods during a week.  This book is helping me put my plan together.

This is a fizzi~jayne recommended read if you want to grow your blog/business online and want to get the most out of your social media posts.

Have you read this book? What did you think?

fizzi~jayne x

Please note: the Amazon links in this post are affiliate links

If you happen to click on an affiliate link and purchase something, I may make a small commission (pennies!) on that purchase which goes towards my work on this blog.

I ran 10km!....

Last weekend was a Bank Holiday in the UK and usually I would be in my craft den but if you follow me on Instagram and Twitter you will already know I ran the Bupa London 10km on Monday!

All smiles before the start

The race starts on The Mall and finishes opposite Buckingham Palace. 

Buckingham Palace before the start

The route took us around many of London’s famous sights including Admiralty Arch, Nelson’s Column, St Paul’s Cathedral, Mansion House, the Bank of England, the Old Bailey, Somerset House, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey. I would like to say I took it all in but my focus was to get around the course!

Just before 2km

Just after 7km

I'm pleased I ran the entire route in 1 hour, 16 minutes and 42 seconds. It was a great atmosphere, I wish I could thank all the supporters and marshals cheering us on, it really helps to get you round.

I ran the event to raise money for the Stroke Association in memory of my Nan. I have been blown away by the support I have received, at the time of writing this I raised £315.  Thank you!! 

10km done! I'm very pleased with my medal

Thank you to my hubby for being my cheerleader and taking these photos.

fizzi~jayne x

#CraftBlogClub New Upcycling Challenge....

It's time for another #CraftBlogClub challenge - Pimp My Wardrobe!

The inspiration for this challenge came from @giftfrippery in one of our chats, her idea was "how about getting an old pair of shoes and transforming them? Knit, crochet, embellish, decoupage etc" but for this challenge it doesn't have to be a pair of shoes it can be any piece of clothing or accessory using any crafty technique you like.

A Pinterest board has been created to inspire you, which you can find here. If you would like to be added as a Pinner just leave me a comment below and I will add you.

So raid your wardrobe and get out the old clothes or shoes that you have been keeping and give them a new lease of life!

The Reveal....

We will be revealing our makes in our Twitter chat on 21st July and If you have a blog also present your lovely project in a post by this date and please link back to this blog.

There will be a linky set up on THIS BLOG to showcase your blog posts and do take some time to have a look at the other posts, it’s lovely to see some of the amazing creativity we have in our #CraftBlogClub!

Let us know how you’re doing throughout the challenge on Twitter and Facebook. Don't forget to use our #CraftBlogClub hashtag to keep up to date on Twitter.

I hope you will join in and I can't wait to see what everyone makes!!...

fizzi~jayne x