Handmade Jewelry Blog

Tips to Get Higher Rankings for Handmade Jewelry Websites

Dec 21, 2011 handcrafted jewelry, handmade bracelets, handmade earrings, Handmade Jewelry, online marketing, unique jewelry 2 Comments

The average handmade jewelry website relies on Google organic searches to generate more than half of the targeted traffic the website receives. In order to use the search engines properly and take advantage of huge volumes of searches, your handcrafted jewelry website needs to work for higher rankings in the search engines, especially Google. Adding new quality content to your site has become the most important factor for Google and the other search engines as well. Your handcrafted jewelry marketing strategy needs to be better than all the other handmade jewelry sites in order to compete for higher rankings and huge quantities of targeted traffic that search engines provide.

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For the handmade jewelry artisan constantly adding new content can be challenging. To compete for highly competitive keyword phrases becomes simply too costly or time consuming for many handcrafted jewelry site owners. You should try to target more specific long-tail keywords that still receive a good quantity of traffic. You may not get an enormous amount of traffic but if the visitors to your handmade jewelry website are specifically looking for your products you have a better chance of making a sale.

Buying content is an option, but you are the one who knows your customers best and what they want to see.  A great way to offer fresh quality content is to start a handmade jewelry blog on your site. You can also open blogs on free platforms creating direct links to your handcrafted jewelry website.

Handmade jewelry blogs are excellent sources of fresh related content and just what Google is looking for which means it is easy to see fast results. Blogs are search engine friendly with a large selection of templates already built-in and ready to go. They make it easy to update content, even if you are adding only a quick note or photos of your latest handmade earrings and handmade bracelets, so that it can be found quickly by the search engines.

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Becoming active in online communities for handmade jewelry and crafts on the many social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, StumbleUpon or Google+ will not only alert the search engines to your new posts but will also get people in those communities visiting your website and sharing your work with their friends and family. Announcing fresh content to these communities, especially if they are large and active, will get your handcrafted jewelry content noticed by Google quickly and efficiently.

Any handmade jewelry website should create a XML Sitemap of their site and submit it to Google and other major search engines. Make sure when you create any new handcrafted jewelry content or pages, the newly added URLs are placed on your sitemap. This can be done manually for your handmade jewelry website.  Most blogging platforms have this feature built in and the search engines are automatically informed of any updates.

Most importantly, keep adding quality content to your handmade jewelry blog and handcrafted jewelry website on a regular basis, it does not have to be daily or even weekly but once you get in the habit of adding it becomes easier. The more often you can add new content the better, but you should try to add something at least once a month. The handmade jewelry websites who give Google new quality content get the highest rankings and increase the targeted traffic their handcrafted jewelry website receive.

Proper Handling of Chemicals For Handmade Jewelry Artisans

Dec 7, 2011 handcrafted jewelry, handmade bracelets, handmade earrings, Handmade Jewelry, unique jewelry Leave a comment

When making handmade jewelry artisans are often exposed to hazardous and potentially poisonous chemicals. From toxic solutions to noxious fumes handcrafted jewelry artists should always be safe by knowing the compounds you are working with and the correct usage and disposal procedures.

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We make copper handcrafted jewelry so we have experimented quite a lot with patinas that involve the use of liver of sulfur. Even though liver of sulfur (potassium polysulfide) is a hazardous substance in dry form (always read product warning labels), it becomes inert or non-reactive with exposure to air and moisture, and easily neutralized with baking soda so the bath can be safely disposed of down the drain. Flush the pipes with water for several minutes afterward. If you do not have access to water in your studio, neutralize the bath with baking soda, pour it into sawdust or kitty litter, let it dry outdoors and dispose of it in the garbage.

Make sure you work with liver of sulfur (LOS) in a well ventilated area because of the toxic fumes. Always wear rubber gloves, safety glasses and use tongs to manipulate your pieces in the LOS bath. You have seen the reaction with metal so obviously do not let this acid come into contact with your skin or eyes.

Also never add any type of acid to the active LOS bath or the gas will become terribly toxic. Sometimes it is tempting to add other compounds to LOS just to see the effects it can have such as ammonia (produces brighter colors), always use in well ventilated and controlled conditions.

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Another common technique for creating handmade jewelry is etching which utilizes a nitric acid solution. If you remember high school chemistry class, nitric acid is an aggressive acid and baking soda is a weak base. Acids and bases will become neutral when mixed, but you will need much more baking soda by volume than nitric acid to get to neutral because of the different strengths. Baking soda is a necessary supply for all handmade jewelry studios.

When it comes to disposal the easiest method for neutralizing nitric acid etching solution is to add baking soda into the etching bath until it forms a small mountain. The baking soda will bubble like Alka-Seltzer until the acid is neutralized. A mountain of soda usually indicates enough and there is no need to test the ph. The acid bath is then neutral. Dilute with lots of water and pour it over the grass or flowers, since it is now capable of making the grass and flowers grow better. The neutralized nitric acid in the solution is a lot like commercial nitrogen fertilizer, and the dissolved copper in the bath will keep the slugs away as well.

Every day we make choices that are a part of the cycle of life. We all live together, sharing one earth. The choice to preserve and protect our environment only requires knowledge. Take steps now to implement safer and more environmentally friendly practices in your handmade jewelry studio, and in all aspects of your life.

How to Prevent Allergies When Wearing Handmade Jewelry

Dec 1, 2011 handcrafted jewelry, handmade bracelets, handmade earrings, Handmade Jewelry, unique jewelry Leave a comment

For over twenty-five years we have been making and selling handmade jewelry. Over that time we have met many people who have sensitive skin and have allergies to metal. We make copper handcrafted jewelry so many customers have asked our advice on various topics regarding metal allergies.

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The most common complaint is regarding ear wires. When choosing handmade earrings, always select hypo-allergenic or surgical steel ear wires, as this is the least reactive type of metal. Sterling silver and even gold have trace amounts of other metals which can cause an allergic reaction. Surgical steel ear wires are the safest choice if you are buying handmade earrings as a gift and do not know how the person reacts to metals. Cleaning the ear wires with rubbing alcohol before wearing will also reduce any allergic reaction.

Also keep in mind that dangle earrings with surgical steel ear wires will cause less irritation than stud earrings or post earrings as there is less metal in contact with the skin. Along the same line of thinking, lightweight handmade earrings are always preferable compared with heavy earrings that can stretch the ear lobes. Not only can this be quite painful, it can also cause swelling, irritation and cause head aches so avoid heavy earrings altogether.

There are some people who use jewelry cleaners available commercially to care for their handmade jewelry. If you choose to use these be sure that you remove any residue completely. Some of the chemicals used to clean silver and copper jewelry can also cause an allergic reaction if it comes in contact with the skin, especially handmade bracelets and handcrafted rings.

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Many people have reactions when their skin comes into contact with copper jewelry. Copper oxidizes by darkening and then turning green, just as sterling does so by tarnishing and iron does so by rusting. It is a natural process but the environment determines how quickly it happens. It happens faster in high humidity, but the speed of oxidation is also determined by the body chemistry of different people. Some people wear copper every day and it never turns their skin green while other people wear it and it turns in one day. Some people can turn sterling dark in one day, as well. Everyone is different in the way their skin reacts to metal jewelry. We always use a clear lacquer finish on all our copper handmade jewelry so that it does not react with the skin. You can seal your copper jewelry so that it cannot tarnish by coating it at home with a clear acrylic spray paint. Be careful to make sure that the piece of jewelry is completely clean, dry and free from finger prints.

Anyone who has allergic reactions to metals should use common sense when wearing handmade jewelry. Always keep your metal handcrafted jewelry clean. Do not wear metal or copper jewelry if it is hot and humid, or you are participating in sports. Sweating will increase the chances of skin rashes, as will any activity involving water like swimming or gardening. Ask when buying handmade jewelry to learn how to care for handmade jewelry as every type may have special cleaning requirements to keep them looking new.

Handmade Christmas Ornaments Make Unique Christmas Tree Decorations

Nov 22, 2011 how to, unique gift ideas, unique gifts 1 Comment

Decorating your Christmas tree for the holidays can be pleasant and exciting rather than nerve wrecking and expensive. This is more true if you start early investigating the different types of unique Christmas ornaments your family can make together.

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Many of these handmade Christmas ornaments can be made with minimal expense for the needed supplies to make your tree personalized and unique. Never underestimate that there are many different ways to decorate your tree, by using your imagination and a little patience you can decorate your Christmas tree with pride. A new tradition can be created and joyfully experienced by deciding that each year you will add a new type of handmade Christmas ornaments to decorate the family tree.

A good place to begin adding to your Christmas tree decorations is with the left over wrapping paper products from last year. Unused or partially used rolls of wrapping paper make new decorations a snap, especially if you’re on a limited budget for this season. Paper can be measured to any size you desire, and then folded into the designs of your choice. Some popular shapes are stars and delicate fan shapes. Attach to the paper by gluing a brightly colored ribbon, and if desired hang a hook through the ribbon. Also, beautiful origami nature shapes such as birds from left over holiday paper are another option.

Old greeting cards can be used to liven up a Christmas tree. Simply cut the back off the card and hole-punch at top and add a ribbon, and cards may be cut into different shapes and a light weight frame added to set it off too. Other crafty type projects can be created using Christmas cards by saving Mason Jar type lids which have a flat underside. Cutting and gluing felt can be placed on the underside along with a beautiful card holiday scene, and add some yarn around the edge of the top and hang on your tree.

Other craft ideas which are especially fun for kids are mixing flour and water and using a cookie cutter to create the holiday shapes. Ginger bread cookies can be hung on the tree along with some stringed popcorn or construction paper chains in place of the traditional metal garland or icicles.

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Another type of beautiful handmade Christmas tree ornament is made from tin. Supplies for making them can be found in a home supply and repair store, or a craft store. You will need snips for the tin, and a specialized hole-punch to make the decorative holes for the design. Thin sheets of tin are not expensive and can be bought rolled or in single sheets. This type of Christmas decoration would probably work best for older children due to the fact that a certain amount of hand strength is needed for cutting and the use of sharp tin.

Handmade Christmas ornaments can be made from plastic craft balls. These balls have hollow clear design allowing for painting on the outside of the ball and inside. Painting the inside is as simple as filling it with paint and shaking. Allow twenty four hours for drying. Stencil design patterns or free hand painting allow for any holiday scene to be painted on the outside. Dating your handmade Christmas ornaments is always a good idea too. You are creating a precious memory.

There are many ways to make handmade Christmas decorations for your tree. You can even add handmade jewelry designs. Most craft stores carry kits to make Christmas decorations, but you can buy wire for handmade jewelry and string your own beads. Kids can make cute ornaments for the tree by using precut foam from a craft store too.

Whatever type of handmade Christmas ornament you decide to make it is a sure bet that along the way you will make a lot of good memories from interacting with family or friends, you may even find a lot of personal fulfillment by reminiscing about Christmas days of yesteryear. Handmade Christmas ornaments mean that you care about adding a personal touch to the holidays.

Our Christmas tree is filled with photo-frame Christmas tree ornaments, one for each year for each child. Not only are they beautiful they remind us of when the children were young. Traditions and keepsakes are a treasured thing that are passed down to those that come after you, so make sure to experiment, be creative and have lots of fun handcrafting an ornament that you will be proud to hand down and display on your tree this Christmas season.