Crafty Author

Make Author Swag Readers Will Love!

I’m going to use this page as a big old bucket of “stuff” that just doesn’t fit anywhere else. First off, I’m putting some posts with detailed instructions on how to make author swag like book charms, bottle cap magnets, card magnets, bookmark charms, and all sorts of goodness. I spent days trying to find instructions for this kind of stuff, but wound up buying a bunch of products that didn’t work well or at all. I’d like to share so that you can Learn From My Fails!

Project List

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Bottle Cap Magnets

Author swag, like these bottle cap magnets, is a fun way to give something back to your most loyal readers. I’m a big believer in it (mostly because I loved to get it as a reader!) but it can be very confusing to get started on it. This is also something fun to do if you’re not an author and have no swag requirements. I’m thinking of doing stuff like this for Halloween instead of candy (will that get my house egged?)

Learn How
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Super Easy Shrinky Dink Book Charms

Shrinky Dinks persist, and for the Crafty Author, they offer an excellent way to create easy, attractive and fast swag that is very swagalicious.

Learn How

Book Charm Bookmarks

If you made your pile of gorgeous, little book charms using my previous instructions, then you probably want some ideas about what to do with them. Or maybe not, but I’ll give you a few anyway. 🙂 The first one is the easiest to do: Bookmarks!

Learn How
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Book Charm Bracelets

Super short version for those who just like to roll their own way: Make Book Charms, Buy Findings, Weave Bracelet (video), put on clasp. Done!

Not enough? Okay, get ready for the verbose version. You asked for it.

Learn How

Recent Comments

  • Michael Hyatt
    November 1, 2015 - 11:18 pm · Reply

    What an interesting thread between the two of you. Ann, perhaps this is something to develop in the future? The concept sounds fascinating.

    Michael Hyatt
    Editor of zombie novels and such

  • Michael Spivey
    September 6, 2015 - 5:31 pm · Reply

    Ann, I would like that very much, thank you.

    I have a wide background feel free to pick my mind. Electronics / Computer Tech, FCC General ticket, A&P Mechanic, machinist, cert welder, blacksmith, ex multidisciplinary aerospace engineer Lockheed skunk works (retired), gunsmith, martial artist since age 12 – a 5th degree black belt (Tang Soo Do) and two 4th degree black belts, one in Toyama Ryu Batto Jutsu (swords) and one in an off shoot of Daito-ryu Aiki-jujutsu, Mountain Man reinactor, hunter, fisherman, archer, rifleman (long range and combat), combat pistols, USN Vet and Combat vet.

    • Ann Christy
      September 6, 2015 - 5:35 pm · Reply

      Michael – I’ll try to get that up in the next couple of days. Shoot me your email address at ann dot christyauthor at gmail dot com so I can send you the link when I get it posted somewhere.

  • Michael Spivey
    September 6, 2015 - 4:11 pm · Reply

    Ann, I am curious as to why your excellent story “Chesapeake Time (Misplaced in Time – Book 1)” that you were posting and I was following on Wattpad is no longer there. I found it because of the post you made on http://www.survivalistboards.com/showthread.php?t=397973 I hope you choose to continue it as it is very good.

    Ciao,

    Michael Spivey
    USN 1975-1983 VP9/VP91 AX1
    Combat Field Service Engineer, LADC Skunk Works F117 Desert Storm Vet 37th TFW / 416TFS

    • Ann Christy
      September 6, 2015 - 4:48 pm · Reply

      Hi Michael! Yes, alas I took it down. It really wasn’t getting any page views considering the work that was going into it. I think you may have been the only one reading it! In the end, I had to decide on continuing to do that for readers (who weren’t reading it) and writing the books that pay the bills. Guess which one won? I think if it got better feedback (it was being written stream of consciousness, not edited) then I might have continued. I’m very sorry! If you’d like to read what I’ve got written already, it’s not done, I’ll post it on a secret page and you can read it. Only you. It’s about 90K right now. 🙂 ~Ann

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