New Stickers

Just added new apothecary stickers to the shop. I'm busy trimming coordinating poison labels tonight while I binge on new "Rosewood" episodes. (I'm a sucker for police procedurals.) 

I suspect I'll have carpal-tunnel-induced claw hands by morning, but hopefully they work well enough to keep listing new goodies. 

It's Back, Bigger than Ever!

5th Annual Attack of the 14 Nights of Halloween 
All you hip dolls and cool ghouls, head on over to the Laughing Vixen Lounge blog for the 5th annual Attack of the 14 Nights of Halloween Giveaway. One lucky winner will walk away with a Prize Pack full of goodies worth $300 donated by 10 wickedly fabulous shops. 

Murder Mystery Scavenger Hunt 
Special giveaway — Earn entries in the Murder Mystery Scavenger Hunt just by browsing Etsy! It works like a game of Clue, with clues hidden in 10 amazing Etsy shops. Submit your guess of Who Done it? on 10/31 and 11/1. One random winner from all correct guesses will win an $90 Prize Pack!

Halloween Movie Marathon
Follow along with the Laughing Vixen for 2 full weeks of spooky movie reviews. Find some new flicks to watch this season, or maybe relive some old favorites, and receive EXTRA ENTRIES in the big giveaway.

A Vixen Valentine Giveaway

It's that time of year again ... Time for the 14 Nights of Valentine's Day Movie Marathon Giveaway! Now in its fourth year, the annual giveaway is growing by leaps and bounds. This year participants can enter to win an amazing $400 Prize Pack featuring goodies from 15 Etsy shops, including collage sheets from JUNKMILL and vintage labels from JUNKMILL [relics].

Stop by the Laughing Vixen Lounge blog for multiple chances to enter. While you're there, check out the movie of the day, get to know the creators and curators behind the contributing Etsy shops and check out the fabulous jewelry from the head vixen herself. Contest ends February 14th.

Christmas A Go-Go

It's Here ... The Annual Christmas A Go-Go Giveaway from Laughing Vixen Lounge. Enter to win more than $250 in prizes from 12 Fa-La-La-Luscious shops, including collage sheets from JUNKMILL, a custom assortment of vintage labels from JUNKMILL[relics] and other amazing handmade and vintage goodies.

Stop by the Laughing Vixen Lounge Blog for entry details, shop profiles, holiday movie recommendations and crafty Christmas ideas. Contest ends December 15th ... Good luck!

Steamtrunk Suitcases

Vintage Suitcase by Ilia

Looking for a clever holiday gift? Transform a vintage suitcase into a worldy, well-traveled memento reminiscent of turn-of-the-century steamer trunks. This nostalgic suitcase was created by Junkmill follower Ilia using a plain wooden suitcase-style box and my Steamtrunk Labels, which are available in two formats:

« Digital download: My digital collage sheets are optimized for home printing and available for instant download at Junkmill.

« Sticker Packs: My peel-and-stick labels are professionally printed and available in two sizes. Always in stock and ready to ship at Junkmill[relics].

Our New Shop

The blog has been on a bit of a hiatus, but with good reason ... I've been busy as a bee and am proud to announce that my new shop is now live. Junkmill [relics] features all manner of sundry and assorted vintage wares, from ephemera and embellishments to collectibles and one-of-a-kind curiosities. I'm still hard at work listing all the great "junk" I've unearthed, but the shop is already chock full of vintage playing cards and game pieces, retro matchbooks and matchboxes and my signature reproduction vintage labels.

Like JUNKMILL on Facebook to stay abreast of all the new goodies hitting the shop and snag FREE SHIPPING worldwide with the coupon code "STUDIO" ... just enter the code at checkout and the postage is on me. Code expires April 30th.

Back at the original Junkmill, I've been assembling plenty of new collage sheets, including vintage steamtrunk labels from the Roaring Twenties, antique apothecary and poison labels, kitschy garden gnomes, large and colorful Victorian lithographs and the slightly devious Crazed Youth collection, featuring pulp posters from 1930s anti-drug propaganda films like Reefer Madness and Assassin of Youth. I've also revamped all of our 1-inch square collections. Each and every set of inchies is now also available in 1-inch circles and Scrabble tile size.

Look for more great vintage and retro assortments in the coming weeks, including more pulp fiction favorites, distressed and grunged mini-ATCs inspired by my Imagine collection and creepy freakshow funhouse images. I'll be posting new listings to Facebook as they arrive, so keep an eye out.

Got an idea for a great collage sheet? Drop me a line. I'm always looking for new ideas!

Giveaway Winners

We have a winner! ... Actually, we have two. Congratulations to Kathy, winner of the Junkmill Gift Certificate Giveaway. To show my appreciation for the insightful feedback and great ideas, everyone who entered received a coupon code for a free collage sheet of their choice. Rest assured you'll be seeing plenty of great retro and vintage images hitting the shop in the coming months.

Kudos also go to Andrea, winner of the Valentine's Day Giveaway at the Laughing Vixen Lounge. She snagged more than $200 in prizes, including a selection of collage sheets from Junkmill. Keep your eyes peeled, as I'll be joining the Lounge for another mega giveaway in August.


Want to be the first to know about upcoming giveaways and promotions? Like JUNKMILL on Facebook.

The Knack

We've got The Knack!

Junkmill was recently featured on The Knack, the very hip and endlessly entertaining trend blog helmed by cool-hunter Stephanie Dickison in Toronto. It's a delighful piece, and I'm quite thrilled to be the center of so much attention. Check it out if you get a chance.

And, as a special thank you to The Knack readers, enjoy 25 PERCENT OFF on all Junkmill purchases this week. Simply enter code THEKNACK at checkout and receive 25% off your total order (shipping not included). Offer good through Sunday, January 22.

Junkmill Wants Your Input

It's official! After 12 years as a freelance journalist, I'm saying goodbye to editors, deadlines and late-night eyestrain to become a full-time Etsian ... and that means big changes for the shop in 2012.

I'm busy, busy, busy pouring over notebooks full of ideas, devising new products and creating plenty of great collage sheets, but I want to deliver products that make you, the customer, a happy crafter and I'd love to know what you think.

In exchange for a little feedback, you will be entered to win a $20 Gift Certificate from Junkmill, redeemable in our Etsy shop.*

Intrigued? Here’s how it works: Visit the shop, have a look around and browse the blog. Then, answer the following questionnaire. I want to know what you really think, so be truthful. Don’t worry about offending – critiques and suggestions are quite welcome. Send your responses to junkmill.studio @ gmail.com to be entered into the drawing. Responses must be received by January 31, 2012. Winner to be chosen at random on February 1, 2012. 

°ºOº°¨¨¨¨¨¨°ºOº°¨¨¨¨¨¨°ºOº°¨¨¨¨¨¨°ºOº°  JUNKMILL QUESTIONNAIRE  °ºOº°¨¨¨¨¨¨°ºOº°¨¨¨¨¨¨°ºOº°¨¨¨¨¨¨°ºOº°

• Name:
• Etsy username:
• Personal blog/website:
• For what types of projects do you primarily use collage sheets?
• Approximately how many collage sheets have you purchased in the past six months?
• What is your favorite shop to purchase collage sheets? (Be honest. We won’t be offended if it’s not Junkmill!)
• When shopping for collage sheets on Etsy, do prefer to shop by subject matter or by size and shape?
• What do you think of the overall appearance and organization of Junkmill? Is it easy to find what you’re looking for? Is there anything you would like to see changed or added to make for a better shopping experience?
• What types of images would you most like to see in new collage sheets?
• What would you like to see more of here at the Junkmill[studio] blog?
• Anything else you'd like to add?

°ºOº°¨¨¨¨¨¨°ºOº°¨¨¨¨¨¨°ºOº°¨¨¨¨¨¨°ºOº°¨¨¨¨¨°ºOº°¨¨¨¨¨¨°ºOº°¨¨¨¨¨¨°ºOº°¨¨¨¨¨¨°ºOº°¨¨¨¨¨¨°ºOº°¨¨¨¨¨¨°ºOº°

Thanks for the input! Rest assured your responses and personal info will be kept very confidential ... and they will certainly help Junkmill grow in bigger and better directions in 2012.

* $20 Gift Certificate is valid for single collage sheets only. Gift Certificate expires one month after issuance.

Last Chance A-Go-Go

Only three days left to enter the Christmas A-Go-Go Giveaway at the Laughing Vixen Lounge, featuring a prize pack worth more than $100, including collage sheets from Junkmill. While you're there, get the inside scoop on some must-see retro holiday flicks, check out the impressive retro-creepy-kitsch work from a few of the hottest Etsy artists around, and snag the recipe for Junkmill's signature Insane Hot Chocolate to help get you through the season.

Christmas A-Go-Go

Junkmill is back at the Laughing Vixen Lounge for the annual Christmas A-Go-Go Giveaway featuring more than $100 in prizes, including a selection of collage sheets from Junkmill! Stop by the Lounge now through December 20th for holiday recipes, retro movie reviews and features on some truly amazing artists & vintage shops, including:

Miss Bohemia - Fairy Tale & Fantasy Accessories

Hell in a Handbag - Devilish Vintage Wares

Deep Midnight Perfume - Mysterious & Magical Scented Potions

Bloodcurdling Baubles - Creepy & Cute Accessories

JFrancy Jewelry - Custom Sterling Sentiments & More

Happy Halloween!

Farewell to another spooktacular season! The annual 31 Nights of Halloween giveaway has come to a close over at the Laughing Vixen Lounge, but not to fear. Junkmill will again be joining the festivities in December for a month of great gift ideas from my fellow Etsians, handmade holiday how-tos, scrumptious seasonal recipes and, of course, recommendations for some very creepy retro-horror film classics. The Christmas Giveaway will run December 1st through the 20th. Like us on Facebook to stay posted on the contest details.

... And a big congratulations to Susan Briggs, who won the very cool prize package from the 31 Nights of Halloween, including the Macabre Minis, Zombie Pinups, Tiny Tarot and Rockabilly collage sheets from Junkmill.

Laughing Vixen ZoMBiES!

I just received a sneak peak of the new mirrored compacts soon to hit the Laughing Vixen Lounge, and they are amazing! The compacts measure about 2-inches square and open to reveal a mirror and tiny compartments for storing medicine, stray earrings and other tiny treasures. The images are treated with UV resin for a glossy, professional finish. They will be available in a variety of motifs, including zombie pin-ups created by yours truly and exclusive to the Laughing Vixen Lounge. Incidentally, the plagued pin-ups I created for Miss Vixen became the inspiration for Junkmill's ZoMBiE Girls.

Mephisto

Click to enlarge images.

I have quite a fondness for vintage matchbooks and matchboxes ... the stylish designs always seem to hint at a bit of devious danger. When I came across this turn-of-the-century pencil advertisement, it proved the perrfect inspiration to create my own vintage-style matchbox covers, which made their way into the new Mephisto collage sheet. Each image is perfectly sized to fit on a box of Diamond brand "penny matches" for miniature shrines or Halloween party favors. Also available in 1" squares.

31 Nights of Halloween

Junkmill is thrilled to be part of the annual 31 Nights of Halloween over at the Laughing Vixen Lounge. The month-long event culminates in a GIANT Goodie Bag Giveaway that includes creepy candles, jewelry, apothecary items and, of course, a special treat from our Etsy shop. The contest runs until midnight on October 31, so don't delay. While you're there, read the feature on Junkmill, follow along with the Halloween Movie List for 31 nights of thrills and check out other spooktacular shops.

As a special treat, save 20% off your entire order with Junkmill now through October 31. Just enter coupon code JUNKBLOG20 at checkout. Discount does not apply to shipping.

End of the Season

Each fall, the Grand Rapids Press newspaper hosts a mega garage sale in the Fifth Third Ballpark parking lot – think flea market finds with garage sale prices. I look forward to it each year, as hundreds of people pack the aisles to vendor their assorted and sundry wares, and this year's sale did not disappoint.

I came home with many wonderful treasures, including a gazillion antique buttons for Junkmill and hundreds of original, unused vintage alcohol labels now in the shop.

My top find, thought, was the elusive vanity case that nearly completes my set of vintage blue luggage (I still need the round hat box vanity). I've been searching for a few years, and now that it's mine, I've decided it's the perfect place to store my ever-growing collection of gumball machine toys.

Sadly, the big event marks the end of garage sale season, but I'm discovering a whole host of thrift stores and antique markets within a few minutes drive from the new house ...