The holidays are such a busy season for us crafters and I finally have a few minutes to update you on my recent endeavors! What's consumed my life for the past 2 months or so? My first really big holiday craft fair! Yep, I took the big plunge and had a booth at the Yulemart right before Thanksgiving. I can't tell you how many all-nighters I pulled preparing for this thing and while it wasn't as profitable on the spot as I would have liked, the exposure has generated several custom orders. So, for any of you contemplating a big fair and not sure about profits, if you do custom orders you will probably see a return on your investment in the near term! The downside of being so sleep-deprived is my brain was just a tad numb during the fair which is why I don't have many pictures! I made good friends with some incredibly talented artists, like Tandra from Prim and Proper who inited me to sell some items in her shop! Along with providing motivation for new art, like the hand-colored and -glittered digital stamp tags, I have a sense of what the "popular" items were. Overall, this fair was a wonderful experience...I'm already planning for next year!
Ensure your packaging has your shop name/url on it 
| Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade cinnamonspice.etsy.com |
custom mini lunch sacks by celestefrittata
greeting cards
monogram notecards 
little ladybug journal
| Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade cinnamonspice.etsy.com |
So, I'm on a mission to use up my current stash before I buy anything new (unless of course it's custom-ordered by a client!). It has actually been pretty fun to see what I can create from remnants from other projects as well as from paper packs I've previously bought. The scrapbook paper was on sale and I used a
coupon for the 3-D pens, but I did allow myself to splurge a little on the Prima flowers since I'm a first-time buyer! This "Dare to Dream" card is the first item I've made with the flowers. You can tell I've got visions of the surf and sand running through my mind! So, check back to see what else I'm cookin' up over here in the Cinnamonspice crafting space!
2. Focus theme on the guest of honor:
Instead of a baby-centric theme, we wanted this luncheon to be all about the mommy-to-be, so I went with this cute, but stylish pregnant lady because she fit Julissa to a T! Little bitty arms and legs and nothing but belly! Create your own invitations to match your theme. Need a little help in the wording department? Try Birth Announcements Galore for free ideas.
3. Handcraft or buy a handcrafted gift:
I wanted to have as much of the shower items made by hand as possible, so I purchased this beautiful diaper cake from my lil sis Aisha over at Gifts for All NC. For the DIYers, here's a tutorial for making your own: http://cinnamonspicecrafts.blogspot.com/2008/04/baby-shower-bliss.html
4. Create a babyshower keepsake book:
And I made my first babyshower memory book, where there's room the invitation, for photos and a place for each guest to write a message to the mom-to-be. I blinged it up a little and I think it turned out well. I am so lovin' the brown, green and pink "Spumoni" colors!
5. Give the guests party favors they can eat or will actually use! Let's be honest, sometimes we leave the shower with some cute baby-oriented momento that we'll never use again... I used take-out boxes and accented them with the expectant lady, a circle tag stamped thanks, curling ribbon and color-coordinated satin ribbon. I filled them with hershey's kisses.
6. Last, make sure you leave the mommy with a set of thank-you cards. These are a pocket-style card, stamped thanks but they can be monogrammed with a stamp or on the computer. Instead of purchasing cards, you can make your own inexpensive ones by using textured cardstock and scrapbook paper. Each guest can self-address the envelope for mom so all she has to do is fill out the card! Got any great tips? Leave 'em here!
So, how is life with a newborn, a 2- and a 6-yr old and running a business? Surprisingly, I think I'm adjusting pretty well, at least that's how I feel today! I think that since the pregnancy was so physically challenging, I was apprehensive about life with 3 itty bitties. I'm working on making sure we carve out a little "one-on-one" time for the older two. But what's hilarious is that my daughter oftentimes prefers to stay home with her brother when I ask her to accompany me on an errand...Not quite what I had envisioned...My hubby grows more and more wonderful with each child...no, really, I'm serious! I thought I might have to have a nannie cam or something the 1st time I left him with all three, but he rocked it out! I was gone a couple of hours and came back home to 3 happy, well-fed kids and that gorgeous smile of his! So now when he tells me on my way out the door, "Go do your thing, I got this," I can leave and enjoy some well-deserved me time! As for fitting in time for crafting, I read a good philosophy on the blog of fellow Etsymom, Yellow Finch Designs. She said she doesn't work during the day because she chose to stay home with her boys, so she spends a couple of hours a night working. Now that baby Spice is sleeping through the night, that practice is definitely one I would like to adopt...will keep you posted!
a set of new, larger Keepsake Tins! 
I love the brown, pink and green...reminds me of the Spumoni ice cream I used to get as a kid from the Old Spaghetti factory...More sneak peeks to come, so check back!
She's finally here! Our little Bundle of Joy arrived in January and it has been a whirlwind of activity around the house since she came home. My mom and dad arrived the day after we came home from the hospital and spent about 5 weeks with us. It was fabulous! I know, a lot of people are thinking those must have been 5 very long weeks but we all get along well and my folks love my husband. Plus, with three little bitties in the house, there was plenty for all to do! Another highlight 
was the 1st ever Etsy Virtual Baby Shower. What a fantastic idea! Another Etsymom told me about the Baby Shower, so I registered for it before the baby was born. Seve
ral Etsy shopowners graciously signed up to donate gifts to recent moms and moms-to-be. Then on January 28th, an online baby shower was held, introducing the moms, featuring some of the donor shops, and even playing "shower" games! I've already received 2 of my gifts. We got this cute, soft little "Brownie" bear from panapizza. And this sweet little bunny rabbit from Auntiejill. My good friend Melissa from Petal Heads sent me this gorgeous pink headband for our little bambina! We're blessed to be a part of the Etsy family and will no doubt be contributing as donors in the next shower! Welcome baby Spice!
My daughter always enjoys crafting and I love that it's something fun we can do together. It's cool for her to be able to express her personality through her work and I'm excited by how much she's grown artistically! 
