Friday, December 11, 2009

Christmas Fabric Banner

I love fabric banners.
I have the cutest cupcake fabric banner in my:

home office/craft room/sewing room/Christmas present hiding place.
{I only wish I could re
member what shop it's from. :( }


This ho-ho-holiday one caught my eye while perusing Etsy for hours a few minutes today.

Nestables has this and more eye-catching banners in her Etsy store. There are also many awesome pillow covers I'm totally wanting.....

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Warm Baby Legs

Baby/toddler leggings seem to be a big 'thing' right now.

And I love 'em!


I actually purchased a few pair for my daughter over 3 years ago from an online store (and subsequently used them for my son-under his pants of course. They are pink).

These leggings are just too cute with the added furriness!

The little girl who wears these will surely make a fashion statement!

Get some for the precious princess in your life at Posh Pipsqueak's Etsy store. There are lots of styles to choose from.


Tuesday, December 8, 2009

PINK Jewelry

My oh my how I love the beautiful jewelry over at Katy Beads Etsy shop.

Especially this pink charm.

It's calling my name.

I don't care if this is October's birthstone and my birthday is in July.

I love it.



Find more beautiful baubles at Katybeads.

Monday, December 7, 2009

Which do I want more......

I'll Be Yarned

Gotta love the cute little 'cocoons' in I'll Be Yarned's store.

This listing specifically states that it is ONLY for the cocoon*.

You mean that darling baby isn't included? Darn.

There are MORE darling items at I'll Be Yarned. It's just a click away!

(*She's really referring to the cute matching hat that can be purchased separately.)




Saturday, November 21, 2009

Design Team Memeber

Hi everyone! I've got some GREAT news. I am now officially a Design Team Member for

Yay!
For my first project I used the Christmas Reindeer digistamp and the Candy House digistamp.

Here is what I did:

Candy House:
This is a cute gift bag made out of an envelope!

I colored in the Candy House digistamp house using Copic Markers. I only have the basic 12 color set right now but I really think they are awesome markers.

I added glitter to look like snow on the ground and on the tops of the candy canes. I also used fine glitter on the smoke coming out of the chimney.

I used red and white polka dotted ribbon for the bow on the front and for the handle on the bag. To add the handles I attached grommets to the sides of the bags, threaded the ribbon through and tied a knot on the inside of the bag
I had a cute candy cane button that I used to embellish the bow. I thought I tied in nicely with the candy canes on the stamp!

Christmas Reindeer:
I made a cute gift tag using traditional and non-traditional colors!

I used Copic Markers to also color in the reindeer and fussy cut him out. If you look closely there is glitter on his antlers, chest and blanket. He's edged with ink (as well as the red tag). I attached him with pop-ups to give dimension.

Stitching and stickles glitter glue was added to the green and blue polka dotted paper under the reindeer to give some texture. Edges were inked.
I love flowers and I stacked teal and red together with a pewter brad and added it to the tag with a zots dot.
Finally a grosgrain brown stitched ribbon was added! Fun!

I'll be doing more fun projects in the upcoming months so keep a lookout!

Go check out Jenn Nilsson's Etsy shop Fairy Land Dreams to get some awesome digistamps for yourself!

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Gorgeous Digital Paper

If you're looking for some gorgeous digital paper head on over to

studio71design!

Jen has created some oh-so-wonderful paper packs you can purchase for just $5.00!

There are fourteen papers to a pack and you get to print them as many times as you want.

This "Mod Holiday" design is my favorite:

{Circles, stripes and..... PINK!}

So, run on over to her Etsy shop and tell her Patrice sent ya!
She'll treat you like a queen {or king}!


Saturday, November 7, 2009

Speakin' of Minty....

{Refer to blog post November 2, 2009 for more info on Minty}


So, remember how I said I often dream about my best friends? Yeah, had one last night about Minty. Read on....

We were both walking to a hospital or surgery center of some sort. She was going because there was something wrong with her chin and she needed to get it fixed. She didn't want to have the surgery because she thought it would mess up her lower lip and she liked the way her lower lip looked.

Me? I was going to have surgery on my knees. I had to bring some 'special' centipede-like bugs that were needed for the surgery{for their guts, if I remember right} and I was cupping them in my hands. The bugs were in cocoons or something at first but then they started coming out of the cocoons and escaping through my fingers.

They started flying and crawling away and I frantically tried to catch them. We made it to the receptionist area of the hospital/surgery center and I told the women behind the counter that the bugs needed for my surgery were escaping!

That's it.
End of Dream

Don't you hate it when:
  1. You have a weird dream and
  2. It just ends?
Me too.


Well, I'll just leave you with this:




Lovin'

Oh my.

I'm lovin' this bag.

Monday, November 2, 2009

Minty Monday

Yes, it's MINTY MONDAY! What is that you ask? Let me explain.

Growing up I had two very best friends. One of them is Minty. Real name. Not a nickname. Not short for something. Her real name.

Here are some things about Minty:
  • she has red hair
  • everyone loves her.... EVERYONE
  • she has twins {boy/girl}
  • she can sightread music like no one else
  • we went to elementary, jr. high, high school and even college together.
  • i never talk to her {well, like once a year}
OH MY GOODNESS you say? Never talk to her? I know, I know. Life happens. BUT.... I often dream about her {and my other best friend}.

Anywho....long story short {pffft} I am doing a 'Minty Monday'. Just some items I found on Etsy that are 'minty' and cute. It's cool because you can do a search for 'minty' and come up with tons of stuff. Not so much with 'patrice'. Eh.

On with the show.



{1} Cute tags by Peek-A-Boo Productions


{2} Fun feather by Chrissy's Creations


{3} Whimsical lampwork beads by Crafted Gems


{4} Amazing acorn earrings by Red Heart 13


They all equal {Love} in my heart!


Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Fun Type Font

D on't you just love this cool Capital Letter 'D"?






You can get your own special Capital Letters at this website. How awesome is that?
{okay, maybe I'm just a geek.....}







Winner, yet again!

I love, love, love checking out others blogs. Once in awhile I'll even leave a comment! :)

Denise of Nisee Made was having a giveaway on her blog and the items were so incredibly cute I just HAD to leave a comment!

And....I won a darling set of postcards!

{ Photo from Nisee Made blog}

You can see the postcards in the picture above. So cute! I can't wait to receive them in the mail.





Friday, October 16, 2009

New Shop

One of the Etsy Teams I belong to is the EART Team - Eclectic Artisans Team. We have just opened up our own shop on Etsy and made our FIRST SALE on opening day! Go team!

These are the cards I listed in the shop. They are OOAK and only offered in the EART Shop.



This one I made using Copic Markers. Really love those markers {not so much the price!}



This one is made out of an envelope! When you open the card the right side opens up for you to put a little note inside! Cute!



Go ahead and check out the New EART Shop. You just might find something you love!

Thursday, October 8, 2009

{RIP Halloween Fun Treat}

I saw this fun Halloween Treat and thought I might try it!
I love chocolate so it's sure to be delicious!
Try it out for yourself and see how you like it!
{Recipe from myrecipes}


Ingredients

  • 14 ounces (about 3 cups) semisweet or bitter-sweet chocolate, roughly chopped
  • 2 large eggs, plus 2 yolks
  • 2 1/2 cups whipping cream
  • 1/3 cup coffee-flavored liqueur
  • 1/2 cup chocolate wafer crumbs
  • Tombstone Cookies

Preparation

1. In a food processor or blender, whirl chocolate until finely chopped. Pour into a bowl. Put eggs and yolks in the processor or blender.

2. In a 4-cup glass measure, heat whipping cream in a microwave oven (see Notes) at full power (100%) until cream boils, 3 to 5 minutes.

3. With processor or blender on high speed, add boiling cream to egg. Check temperature of mixture with an instant-read thermometer; if below 160°, pour mixture back into glass measure and reheat in microwave oven at full power until it reaches 160°, stirring and checking at 15-second intervals.

4. Combine hot cream mixture, chopped chocolate, and liqueur in blender or processor (or whisk the ingredients together in a large bowl); whirl until smooth, about 1 minute.

5. Pour chocolate mixture into 8 ramekins or glasses (1/2-cup size). Chill until softly set, 30 to 45 minutes. If making ahead, cover and chill up to 1 day. For creamiest texture, let desserts stand at room temperature about 30 minutes before eating.

6. Spoon 1 tbsp. wafer crumbs onto each pot de crème. Insert a Tombstone Cookie into each serving.


{Note: This method uses a microwave to heat the cream until it's hot enough to cook and thicken the eggs, but you can always make it on the cooktop. Heat the cream over medium-high heat until it boils, about 6 minutes. Proceed with step 3, but heat the cream-egg mixture as needed in the saucepan until it reaches 160°. Then proceed with step 4.}

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Today's Featured Artist has a talent I wish I could develop. Melissa of Bella Expressions creates beautiful digital creations that warm my heart. Her items are ones that will last forever and bring joy to those who receive them!

AND she's looking for her FIRST sale on Etsy. Why don't you be the one to give her that feeling of elation?? :)







Name: Melissa McMullen

Location: Italy

Etsy Store Name and Address:
Bella Expressions - www.lissylee77.etsy.com
Bella Style Designs - www.BellaStyleDesigns.etsy.com



Facebook, Twitter, etc. address:

FB Bella Expressions: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=22275182174&ref=ts
FB Bella Style: http://www.facebook.com/twitter/?redirect=89276417041#/pages/Bella-Style-Designs/89276417041
Twitter: http://twitter.com/lissylee77

What Etsy groups do you belong to?
European Street Team


What is your craft?
Anything digital. I do digital custom photo cards and greetings, scrappages, digital scrap kits and collage pages for mixed media, etc.

How did you start doing what you do?
I'm a crafty person and used to be an avid paperscrapper until I moved to Italy. It was impossible for me to find archival items so I found a site on digiscrapping one day and that's how it began. One day a friend back home in Canada had a baby and I wanted to send a gift that was easy for me to pack... well, I ended up doing birth announcements and thank yous for her and from there it took off. I've done a lot of Christmas cards and wedding thank yous for people back home.

What part of your work do you most enjoy?
Seeing the look on peoples' faces when they get their cards. They (usually) are in awe of how great they look and how crisp and clear the design is. I get a lot of comments like "I can't wait to send these to everyone!" I also love seeing when someone uses my scrap kits to make a scrap page, I like that a part of me is in their memory books.

What part of your work do you find the hardest?
Sometimes finding inspiration. Like most artistic people, I too sometimes get artists' block. Then I find myself hopping from blog to blog or website to website in search of something to boost my imagination.



Where do you get/find your inspiration?
The internet, pictures, posters, everything around me!

What are the three most favorite items in your store right now?
Right now I'm loving my
Halloween card

and my



What is the best advice you have received?
hmm.... just keep plugging along I guess. I know your shop won't be famous the first day but hopefully it won't take forever for me to make my first sale here.

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Super DE-Duper!

Who wouldn't want to shop at a store with 'Super Duper' in it??? And there are really some super duper things in this shop!

  • I love the originality and uniqueness of each item.
  • I love how Louise takes small items {she calls them 'bits and bobs- how cute is that?} and turns out a incredible piece of art.
  • I love how I can just hear her accent while I read her 'Shop Announcements'.
Now run along and read about Louise and then pop on over to her shop. Bye loves!


Super Duper Things

Name: Louise Evans

Location: Norwich, UK

Etsy Address: www.louloudo.etsy.com

Store name: Super Duper Things

Blogger: http://superduperthings.blogspot.com (I haven't taken the twitter plunge yet!)

What Etsy Teams do you belong to?
I don't currently belong to any Etsy groups, I'd love to join the UK street team as soon as I've got enough time to dedicate to them properly!

What is your craft?
I make jewelry, general accessories, bags and a few homewares - I'll try anything really! I use a mixture of vintage, recycled and new materials to make things with a new lease of life. I like my items to have a sense of humour, or lightheartedness.


What part of your work do you most enjoy?
I've always sort of made stuff, I've made my own jewelry for years, and then one day I realised that it had got to the point where I was making far more things than I or my friends had use for (after all, I've only got one neck!) so I booked a table at a great indie craft market in my home town, and it grew from there.

What part of your work do you find the hardest?
I most enjoy having just got hold of a good collection of vintage bits'n'bobs, and sitting down with my stash to see what I can make of them.



The bit I find hardest is tearing myself away to do my university work when I just want to sew something pretty!
Where to you get/find your inspiration?
I find my inspiration all over the place - on my friends, fashion in general, the original items themselves...

What are the three most favorite items in your shop right now?

This little necklace:

This one too:
And this ring:

What is the best advice you have received?
The best advice I have received is to not keep thinking about 'what can I make that will people buy?' but to just create whatever you love yourself, whatever you'd wear, etc. That way your work is more creative and original.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Family Affair

I just have to say that this trio of artist {mom & two daughters} sure have A LOT of talent! There's so many great things in their shop from purses to afghans to wall hangings! AND right now 3 Stitch Creations is having a

BOGO half off sale plus FREE shipping to USA residents!

How awesome is that? Go and see all those goodies!

{BTW love the Cotton Candy Pink Purse!!}





Your Name
- Nancy Stout(Mom), Marci Parker(Big Sister) and Megan
Barley(Little Sister)

Location - Reynoldsburg, Ohio

Etsy Store Address - 3stitchcreations.etsy.com

Facebook, Twitter, etc. address - www.facebook.com/3stitchcreations

What Etsy groups do you belong to?
Quiltsy Team, have applied to TeamColumbus and CreateCrochet Team



What is your craft?
Being a family effort we have many talents to bring. Nancy creates crocheted afghans, Marci contributes machine embroidery and Marci & Megan both bring quilting and sewing creations like quilts, bags and seasonal items to the mix.

How did you start doing what you do?
Mom passed on the love of sewing while the girls were young, then Marci and Megan both spread out on their own to expand their experience and passions.

What part of your work do you most enjoy?
Working with people we love.

What part of your work do you find the hardest?
Getting ideas from the head to reality and having it match.

Where do you get/find your inspiration?
Many places - nature, events, people, holidays...

What are the three most favorite items in your store right now?




What is the best advice you have received?
Take advice. We each are limited in what we think and how we see things, it takes others input sometimes to see the best possible solution or change that needs made. Always be open to criticism.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Eye Candy

I don't know what happened but this Featured Artist was supposed to be featured Thursday AM. I just looked and this post was not there.

ERG!
Sorry Ana!


Anywho... I'm wishing I lived in the UK. I'd get FREE SHIPPING with any purchase! Actually, I think Ana's creations are worth the shipping fees no matter what! And if you like the jewelry in her shop but maybe want a different color than is listed go ahead and contact her and ask about it. She just may have it!

Did I mention her photos are A.MAY.ZING??? Just check them out.

Anacdesigns

Your Name:
Ana

Location: London, UK

Etsy Store Address: http://www.anacdesigns.etsy.com
Facebook, Twitter, etc. address:
Facebook: http://www.tinyurl.com/anacdesigns
Twitter: http://twitter.com/anacdesigns

What Etsy groups do you belong to?
Etsy Artist Lounge, although I haven't been active for many months now. The time difference makes it difficult.

What is your craft?
I design and make unique colourful jewellery.


How did you start doing what you do?
Jewellery making started as a way of releasing my creativity while traveling about 7 years ago. Taking paint and canvases didn't seem practical. It started as a hobby and soon turned into an obsession. New and exciting beads find me everywhere I travel.




What part of your work do you most enjoy?
I love everything about the process of making jewellery but the moment just before I starting a new piece when everything starts coming together is very exciting. I only make my jewellery in the best of moods and I try to put good thoughts and love into every creation.

What part of your work do you find the hardest?
I find it hardest to duplicate pieces. I get bored of it very quickly so most of my pieces are one of a kind.

Where do you get/find your inspiration?
I get inspired by nature, people, different shades of light, shapes, smells, conversations, the touch and colour of beads... The list is long! :)
What are the three most favorite items in your store right now?



What is the best advice you have received?
Every contact counts! By the time the credit crunch is over people want to know where to shop.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

RRRROOOOOOAAAAOOORRRRR!



D. Alexis Designs

Fall is here and the air is cool and crisp. It that time again. Get out your coats, hats, gloves and

SCARVES!

Oh, you haven't heard? Dinosaurs are all the rage. There's a new show on we've been watching called 'Dinosaur Train' and it's all about dinosaurs~ when they lived, what they ate, how tall they were. I'm afraid if I showed my daughter a picture of these scarves she will want one. NOW.

Did I mention D. Alexis Designs is the creator of these, the cutest kids scarves {and blankets} ever??

You're not going to have to beg your child to bundle up when they have a scarf from this shop! These are no ordinary scarves. These are one-of-a-kind folks.

These scarves and blankets look so soft and cuddly. Hmmm....wonder what my neighbor's would think if I sported that cute striped one??? :)

{And just because you only see a few in the shop I'm sure you could order one or two no problem! Just ask! Now....Go take a look!}

Name:
Dorian Stewart

Location: Toledo,OH

Etsy Shop Address: www.dalexis.etsy.com

Facebook, Twitter, etc, accounts: I know it's crazy but I do not have a Facebook or a twitter. I do blog a little. Here's the address: www.dalexisdesigns.blogspot.com

What Etsy groups do you belong to?
I do not belong to any groups but I would eventually love to start a group in my home town.

What is your craft?
Right now my favorite craft is to design animal scarfs. I'm working on some new ones.

How did you start doing what you do?
I always have designed characters and graphics but I never thought to incorporate my designs into other things until last year. I saw a pattern for a bunny scarf in a book and I started to make and sell those.
One of my buyers asked me if I made a design for little boys. I designed my dinosaur scarf for her and she loved it. Now, I always try to make my designs into something functional.

What part of your work do you most enjoy?
I just love creating something in my head and actually being able to see it in front of my eyes after I make it. Every time I make something I always think that the design is just ok,but to have someone buy it and enjoy it in their life is quite fulfilling.

{Dinosaur Blanket}

What do you find the hardest about your work?
I'm a perfectionist so If I mess up sewing just a little bit, I have to start over. It's so annoying but my customers deserve quality work.

Where do you get/find your inspiration?
I know it's cheesy but my mother always inspires me because she has such great taste and she encourages me to design. I take my mothers style and my love for basically geeky stuff and make my own design. I call it chic but dorky.

What are your three most favorite items in your shop right now?
My favorite items in my shop are my dinosaur scarf and dino blanket, because they are the only things I have in my shop! :)

What is the best advice you've received?
The best advice I have received regarding my Etsy shop is to improve my pictures. Your pictures should reflect the love and effort it takes to make your items.