Sweeten Up Your Gift Giving, Spice Up Your Life!

Birthday for Baby Spice

2012-02-09T06:41:00.012-05:00

My sweet girl turned three last month and we hosted a small birthday dinner for her...ordinarily I don't do full-blown birthday decor, unless it's a P-A-R-T-Y. But Miss Thang had it in her mind she wanted cute party hats (perhaps she saw them while I was on Pinterest?) and for those who know me, I just couldn't leave it at that. Especially when I came across this post on Ruffles and Stuff's fab blog, about doing party decor for free with scrapbooking materials. And as we all know from previous posts, I have PLENTY of those around :)

For the hats, I took an old store bought one I had (yes, I hoard like any good crafter), took it apart and used it as a template. I added the ribbon trim while the girls' hats were still flat --I used hot glue instead of sewing...but the ruffles look good, right?

Baby Spice got in on the dessert-making (no surprises here!)

We're a cupcake kinda family, so this year we decided to try cupcakes in a jar, and yes, the yellow cupcakes and Raspberry lemon frosting were homemade! See this post here for the recipe. They were delish!

I had been itching to make some of these as well...yes, more scrapbook paper! They were the perfect wall, well, mirror decor and you can reuse them or hang them in your child's room. Now, how's that for crafting on a budget?

Pinterest Challenge Giveaway Winner

2012-02-01T04:28:00.000-05:00

We finally have a winner for the Pinterest Valentine's Day Challenge Giveaway! Boy, did it come down to the wire or what??? Two of my FB fans hung in there for dear life, and the right guess came in on the last day! Congrats to Kathleen Heltzer for guessing the winning project, "So Pretty!" Paula, from Scrap Your World sure gave her a run for the $$$!! Thanks to all who entered. Kathleen, please email me at cinnamonspice7 {at} gmail dot com to claim your gift.

You will be receiving this lovely felt-rosette wreath! The original wreath was pinned by theidearoom.net.

Now for Part II...I need you, my lovely readers to head over to the EtsyMom FB page HERE and check out all the lovely Pinterest-inspired Valentine's Day projects and vote on your favorite, EVEN if it's not MINE! They should be posted by tomorrow, Feb 2nd. You can visit my Pinterest Board here to see the original wreath, {it's a pretty full board, so scroll all the way to the bottom!}. Remember, we all created something outside our normal niche!

Happy voting!

{Giveaway} with a Twist!!!

2012-01-18T07:30:00.001-05:00

Are you ready for a fun little giveaway based on one of the hottest Internet past times? Yep, you guessed it...this giveaway is all about Pinterest! I'm participating in a Valentine's Day Pinterest Challenge sponsored by EtsyMoms...I have to choose a V-Day inspired project to complete and give as a gift. Here's the catch, it has to be a non-papercraft...

Oh my stars, what have I gotten myself into???

Soooo, where do YOU come in? I've created an "Oh My Sweet Valentine" inspiration board here...all you need to do is guess which craft I'm going to make. The first one to correctly guess what I'm making will win the gift! No kidding, I really am going to make it for one of you :)

The RULES:

You must be a fan of my Facebook page here to enter.
Comments should be entered on my FB page, along with your email addy so I can contact the winner.
To describe the pin you've chosen, use my comment for that pin, ie "Cute font ;)".
1 guess per day, so think carefully, but don't take too long!!
Giveaway will end once the First person correctly guesses the item I'm going to make.

Good Luck...maybe you'll catch a little inspiration for your Valentine's Day projects!!!

2012, the Road Ahead

2012-01-13T13:37:00.002-05:00

Welcome 2012!!!

My family and I closed out last year with a 2-week trip to my folks' place in St. Louis...after it took us nearly 3 days to drive back, hubby has declared no more winter road trips to my hometown!

During the many hours on the road, I had lots of time to reflect on my creative business, what I've accomplished and where I want to go this year. I'm not one for New Year's resolutions, but I believe wholeheartedly in

setting goals, personal and business, with a DATE attached, don't you?

SO I want to share mine with you! It will help keep me accountable and might inspire you as well ;)

This year, I am going to:

Make better use of free business coaching resources (Ongoing). I started by attending Laura Roeder's Facebook Divide Webinar yesterday. If you want some usable tips on untangling your business from your personal page, check it out here!
Design a newsletter, develop a subscription list and decide the content and how often it will go out (Jan 30).
Overhaul my blog--I have changed the content a few times and need to decide on the exact direction I want it to go! (Feb 29).
Work on my branding, to include a possible name change, new logo and shop banner (Mar 31).
Organize my craft room/studio--I need to carve out time to focus on getting this room set up so that I can be productive--tough because we moved last year and my space is much smaller, AND I'm still digging things out of boxes (May 31).
Launch my own website! (Oct 30).
Increase my sales by 50% -- I am launching a new, higher priced product line which is more cost- and time-effective to help achieve this.
Do 4 quality craft shows (Dec 18).

I would love to read what YOU want to accomplish this year and what steps you'll take to get there, so feel free to share ;)

SALE!!! Limited Time Only

2011-11-25T03:30:00.001-05:00

Now's your chance to stock up on winter gifts and stocking stuffers for family, friends and teachers! I'm offering 20% off my entire store here, yep, on everything! Just enter coupon code EM20OFF at checkout. But hurry, offer expires Nov 28th (midnight EST).

xoxo,

Kimberly

I Love Mistakes!!!

2011-10-19T06:56:00.000-04:00

Me loving mistakes has not always been the case!!! And I certainly wouldn't have blogged about them because "Oh My Stars, how would that look???" Before opening my Etsy shop a few years ago, I would definitely say I tended to be a bit of a perfectionista (I made a new word). While that worked well in my previous line of work, it was holding me back in my scrapbooking and paper crafting endeavors. Isn't that ironic considering the coolest thing about scrapbooking is the ability to cover up almost ANY uh-oh you've made??? I read somewhere on Etsy, maybe the forums, a while back that a true artist knows which mistakes to keep and which ones to abandon and now I GET IT!

Some of you might have seen this cute little album cover (below left) on my FB page the other day...well, I thought a little speck of something had become lodged underneath the vellum so while oh-so-carefully trying to get it out, I actually tore the vellum--YIKES! I fretted for a moment and thought, well I could just keep it, and then I thought, no way mama, you are not giving up on this one, so I just transformed it (picture on the right)!

And I like it so much better now.

So, my tip to you is don't be afraid of making mistakes, they can actually be a way of redirecting your creativity.

Get Your Craft Fair Prep On!

2011-10-12T18:16:00.001-04:00

Fall and Holiday craft season is here! I've done several small fairs over the past couple of years, and each time I try to note what I should do for more success in the future...figuring out what/how much to sell was probably the biggest pain in the "bucket" when I was just getting my feet wet. I finally decided to...

Make what I love and find the right fairs for what I offer!

If you have time, do some research online (a simple Google search for "craft fairs" and your zip code, or try Craigslist, Eventlister, local schools or churches) and visit/ask other vendors about shows before you apply. I've gotten excited about fairs in the past, only to find they were not well advertised, not well attended and I barely broke even! Let's be real...you invest far too much time and talent; be selective when you can!

Probably the most important things you need to consider in advance, if you want to make a decent profit, are your target dollar figure and how much inventory you need to sell in order to reach that (minus supplies and materials, signage, booth fee, etc.). Then consider that at a well-attended show you might only sell 1/3 to 1/4 of your inventory... that should give you an idea of just how much you'll need to create! Try to find out in advance how many shoppers have attended in the past; if the numbers are low, carefully consider how much time you want to put into making new things...unless you have another avenue for selling them soon after. Offer different price points... I came up with a few different, lower-priced items that I could have on hand in larger quantities, in addition to my more involved, and expensive pieces of work and they sold really well.

Remember, shoppers will want to see and feel your items, be sure anything too fragile for handling is well protected. Place your more delicate scrapbooks up out of the reach of little hands and instead have something for them, like bookmarks or notepads. For cards and tags or other smaller items, I use clear resealable bags and a bag topper I print onto cardstock.

Print your logo onto a small clear label or sticker paper and use a circle punch for adding directly to the back of your greeting cards (enlist a child, husband or friend to help). Business Cards with a punched hole can also be tied to bags and larger items. If you offer a variety of items, display like items together, say all of your gift tags in a basket, all of your notebooks in another, cards together etc.

**Make sure your prices are visible**

Having signs with prices for similar items helps avoid tagging each item and SAVES TIME!

If possible, set up your booth in advance, either in your yard, or wherever you have space (I used my living room) and take pictures to facilitate quick set-up at your event.

Be creative with your booth, after all, it's HOW your booth looks that will draw people to your display. Put time and effort into exhibiting your work, it will pay off! Try to choose simple containers like baskets, boxes, shelving, similar in style and preferably color, so they don't overshadow your display!

Use on-hand items like boxes hidden under your tablecloth to create "risers" or height on your table. Create your own bunting banner, Check out Etsy for great banners, or take advantage of free offers from Internet marketing companies.

Check out my Pinterest board here for some artful display ideas. Other ideas to keep your display fresh are having a featured product spot and rotating a few different items; or having a drawing to attract people to your booth, it could be for something as simple as signing up for a newsletter to enter!

If you need more help with your display, search "craft fair display " on flickr for inspiration! Paper Crafters might want to add "cards" to your query.

To ensure things run smoothly the day of your event, have a list of the items you will be selling, have receipts available for your record-keeping and in case the customer asks you for one. Office supply stores sell pre-printed receipt booklets that work well. Accept credit cards if you can; there are a number of services available, like Square (squareup.com) and Propay. Square sends you a card reader which you can connect to your cellphone (check to see that it is compatible with yours) and a fee is charged for each transaction. Secure your money and keep it out of site with something like a small lock box (also available at office supply stores).

Shows can last all day and use up a lot of energy, so bring along Snacks, a Photo Album to display custom work, a Friend (for potty breaks), and EXTRA BUSINESS CARDS!!! Preserve your sanity...If you feel overwhelmed, ask for help! Even non-crafty friends will want to help you succeed!!

Don't be afraid to mingle, some of my best customers have been other vendors at shows. That being said, when just starting out, I went to SELL and not buy! Remember to take pictures at the show, SMILE and ENJOY yourself...it's fun making $$$!!

My post focused on a lot of nuts and bolts...here are links to some other extremely helpful tips from an Etsy Seller RockLove here who does HUGE shows! and more on Etsy's blog here. And oh yeah, I'm not sponsored by any of the companies mentioned!

Are You Challenging Yourself?

2011-10-09T10:36:00.000-04:00

Are you stuck in a creative rut? Keep doing the same things the same way but wanting to try something different? When I feel that way, I look for ways to help me grow artistically, like this fun event:

EtsyMom Fall Color Palette Challenge

Participants chose from one of three color palettes and created an item using primarily those colors. Sounds easy right? Well, it turned out to be downright tricky!!! BUT, I love the way challenges stretch my creativity.

From the available color choices on the left, I chose the palette on the right:

cedar green, bamboo, and chocolate liquer.

I knew I had some yummy My Mind's Eye Papers left over from a custom order that would be perfect!!!

And here's the finished item; a MINI ALBUM, of course! But so much more!

My love of travel inspired this journal/album as a place not only for pictures but also for preserving mementos from travels, like ticket stubs, programs, whatever you'd like to hold onto to remind you of your trip. I also decided not to go with so many traditional "photo mats", opting instead to have "background" area for your photos which would leave more flexibility for placing your photos.

Tons of handcrafted embellishments like cardstock clocks upcycled from sticker packaging, usable kraft colored envelopes and handcut paper posies make the book extra chunky!

How well did I match up the colors? YOU be the judge :) Voting starts at 8 AM, TOMORROW, Oct 10th -14th on http://www.etsymom.com/, so be sure to stop by and PLACE YOUR VOTE for your favorite!

Sneak Peek!

2011-09-19T07:00:00.000-04:00

The shop has been closed during our move but will be reopening soon! I'll be sharing sneak peeks of some of the new items you'll see.

Here's a fun little "Teen Diva" mini album or journal.

More previews to come!

A New Home, New Routine But Same Sweet Style!

2011-09-15T09:00:00.000-04:00

Did I mention I was moving over the summer? Probably not because this move seemed to
CONSUME all my time!

But that's done now and we are happily settling into our new house back home, if that makes sense!!!

After 4 years in North Carolina, we have finally made it back home to Northern Virginia. Still unpacking but this mama needed to get back to creating; I think it helps keep me balanced!

Here are some of my latest cards, ready to be shipped off to Divine Designs by Nancy in Sanford, NC.

How was YOUR summer?

I Love Spring Giveway Winner

2011-06-22T07:12:00.005-04:00

And the winner of the "I Love Spring" 500 fan Giveaway is.....

Robin Ridpath Uppercase Living Independent Demonstrator!!!!!

Robin chose the cute little "All Bark" paperbag album. Please email your contact info to cinnamonspice7 {at} gmail dot com today to claim your prize. Thank you to all those who participated; your support and feedback are invaluable!

{Giveaway Time!!}

2011-04-08T07:00:00.000-04:00

Happy Friday!!! I am well on my way to 500 fans on Facebook!

To show how much I appreciate all the support, encouragement and feedback

you've showered me with over the past few months, I am giving away a custom, 10-page paperbag scrapbook album. The winner chooses a style from the picture collage below. To enter, visit my Facebook page here and leave a comment on which style of album you'd like to have.

That's it, easy-peasy.

Spread the word, the quicker I hit 500 fans, the closer you are to winning the sweet prize!!!

Some Bunny Loves You!

2011-03-21T20:31:00.006-04:00

As part of decluttering my craft room; I've challenged myself to use up the materials I have on hand. I wanted to create something for Easter and was inspired by the colors in a set of "Bo Bunny" stickers to make this "Some Bunny Loves You" paper bag album kit!

Hope you like it!

I've been working on making my own embellishments...the cover page is all handcrafted, except for the Prima flowers.

More handcrafted accents: chocolate and white bunnies, "decorated" eggs and mini page titles!

I love these papers by K&Company; I have used them for so many projects and the shades of brown, green, blue, teal and even pink were just right for this project.

Add photos and what a SWEET little book to hold your Easter memories!

Thanks for stopping by!

Faces of Love ~ Crinkled Posy Tutorial

2011-03-14T10:24:00.000-04:00

I am so excited

that I finally have time to focus on finishing up this custom 20-page album I've been working on and wanted to share some progress pics. You might remember this little BEAUTY from some earlier layouts, my friend's darling little Grace! I just have to add a few finishing touches like some more bUtTeRfLiEs and the JoUrNaLiNg.

I love the way the posies turned out, they are so easy to make! I use circle and scallop punches, or you can use your Cricut, in varying sizes. I spritz them with water (not too much or the paper will tear); crumple them up and then uncrumple them to dry. Once they are dry, you can ink the edges and the creases if you like. Stack them up and secure with a brad or stitch a button to hold them together. Add stems or leave them as they are!

What's projects have you excited these days?

Cupcake Love

2011-02-27T11:07:00.001-05:00

I mentioned awhile back on my Facebook page that I was ready to take the digital scrapping plunge! I guess instead of plunging I am dipping my toes in; testing things out

because I still love the texture and feel of PAPER!

So, I have been dabbling with hybrid projects like this stash of custom cupcake notepad/pen sets I recently created...what sweet gifts!

This was such a fun order to design...you know how Mama loves Cupcakes! The client asked for something girly, with a damask print and this is what I came up with. The damask paper was printed on textured white cardstock from digital paper over at Cupcake Cutiees Designs...love her stuff!I remember the cute felt cupcake diecuts that I've had in my stash for a few years now...yes, that long! This was the perfect project to use them on and topped with a flower for a little vintage flair!

Thanks for stopping by!

4 Boxes, 15 Minutes a Day!

2011-02-24T06:35:00.000-05:00

I know you've been waiting to see how my plan (see plan details here)

is taking shape...I'm happy to report that

4 boxes and 15 minutes a day

have actually EMPOWERED ME to take charge and organize my craft room! Thanks to an awesome tip by my Aunt Jean, I spent my 2nd 15 minutes looking for suitable boxes and labeling them "Trash", "Recycle", "Keep" and "Another Room". The Trash box is for just that, items I don't want and that can't be recyled. In the Recyle box, I'm putting reuseable materials like old shipping boxes (these can be used to ship some of my etsy items) and one-sided printed paper the kids can use the blank side to color on. This morning, I almost filled the trash and another room boxes, so I am making progress and actually EXCITED about it! Those feelings of being overwhelmed and frustrated, and quite honestly of being an organization failure, are gone!

What can YOU do with 4 boxes and 15 minutes?

Journey to Simplify My Life

2011-02-20T14:49:00.001-05:00

Happy Spring my friends! Well, with the recent 70 degree weather we've been having, it sure seems like Spring to me. In that vein, I'm starting my spring cleaning. No, I'm not talking about the traditional scrubbing the house from top to bottom; I'm talking about decluttering my home but more importantly MY LIFE! Somewhere along the way, I have succumbed to "retail therapy" and been "seduced by busyness". The good news is I've decided to do something about it! We all know the most important things in life are not "things". So I hope you'll join me on my journey to rediscover the best things in life; me, my family, and the memories we are creating.

Bargain Hunting Led Me to Excess and Clutter

When I worked full-time outside the home and had just 1 child, my house was pretty neat and orderly. Now, I work from home and it seems as though each time our family has grown, so has the size of our home, and I always seem to

find a way to fill up the additional space with "stuff".

I no longer go clothes-shopping as often, but since I opened my paper crafting shop, I find myself buying unnecessary crafting supplies, just because they were "good deals". The problem became apparent a few months after we moved and my dream-come-true sized craft room was still not organized.

Yet, I kept buying more supplies.

like the Sizzix Boutique Embosser, more Cricut Cartridges and my ultimate weakeness: cute stickers!

The craft desk I can't use because there is too much stuff on top,

oh and more unpacked things underneath!

I have plenty of craft storage, but it isn't truly organized *sigh*

It is going to take a lot of self-discipline but I've decided to identify needs vs. wants and put the needs first (thanks Aunt Jean for this tip)! I'm happy to say since last week, I haven't bought any "oooo, that would be perfect" scrapbook paper, embellishments or tools I've only purchased what I have an immediate need for (can't say the same for clothes but baby steps right?).

Now comes the hard part, clearing out all the excess stuff that I don't need and probably won't use. As for the supplies, I could destash them in my shop; sell them on Ebay, Craigslist, have a yard sale. With so many options, sometimes I find myself doing nothing. Why the sense of urgency? Not only is the clutter stifling my creativity, but we are moving yet again this summer and I don't want to carry any "extras" with me. So, I've committed to

spending 15 minutes a day

decluttering my craft space. Yes, I think that breaking the task down into bite-sized bits of time, I won't get overwhelmed and run away (or log onto Facebook!). You can check my weekly progress here on my blog!

How do YOU get rid of your excess supplies and tools? I've love to hear, so leave me a comment! Now, I'm off for my 1st 15 minutes of purging!

Grow Your Business with Social Media

2011-02-07T09:13:00.000-05:00

Hi lovelies!

Wanted to share an exclusive event my EtsyMoms team is hosting over on our team blog. It's a 4-week blog series on Social Network Strategies for Building Your Business, from the perspective of mommies like you and I. We've invited some hugely successful women, both on-Etsy and off to talk about how they use the Etsy Forums, Facebook and Twitter to build community recognition of their brand. Our guest bloggers will cover a new topic each Wednesday. Whether you've been on these networks for awhile or are wanting to test them out, you'll surely find some nuggets of wisdom for your use! Follow the EtsyMom blog to stay up-dated: http://www.etsymom.com/.

Warm, Winter and White DT Challenge

2011-01-31T06:58:00.000-05:00

Hi lovely friends! Today I want to share with you my altered art piece for the More Paper Than Shoes Design Team Challenge:

Warm, Winter and White.

I knew I wanted to use this sweet photo of my babies marveling at the huge snowfall we had a couple of years ago!! I took the lid from a box of chocolates my MPTS secret pal sent me, covered it with glittery tissue paper, mounted the photo and added satin ribbon trim that I ruffled myself. I love the glitzy vintage look, so I embellished the piece with glittery accented snowflakes and letters and wrapped the edges in vintage German tinsel.

Thanks for stopping by!

Come Blog Hop With the EtsyMom Team!

2010-12-05T00:14:00.000-05:00

Check out all of the fabulous holiday-themed projects, gift ideas, and more from our wonderful EtsyMom Blog Hop Contributors from around the world!!

www.crazyadorable.blogspot.com/
http://www.thecountrychiccottage.net/2010/12/etsymom-blog-hop-giveaway-with-ornament.html

http://caramagic.blogspot.com/2010/12/etsymom-holly-day-blog-hop-pleated.html
http://onlyterrastreasures.blogspot.com/2010/12/tutorial-make-your-own-chinese-takeout.html
http://silverrosedesigns.blogspot.com/2010/12/lets-do-some-holly-day-hopping.html
http://quirefly.blogspot.com/2010/12/holly-day-fun-cranberry-pudding-with.html
http://cinnamonspicecrafts.blogspot.com/2010/12/come-blog-hop-with-etsymom-team.html
http://handprintlady.blogspot.com/2010/12/holiday-tutorial-gift-from.html

Here's how it works:
1. Hop through each of the blogs listed above to get fabulous holiday inspiration and leave a comment. If you are starting at a blog in the middle of the Hop, start back at the EtsyMom Blog. You may have to scroll down a bit on the blogs to find the Blog Hop posts as the week progresses.
2. Leave a comment on the EtsyMom Blog post between now and December 11, 2010.
3. Enter to win our giveaway by doing any of the following. For each thing you do, you will be entered into the drawing one more time:

~Leave a comment on the EtsyMom Blog post between now and December 11, 2010.
~Leave a comment on the Holly Day Blog Hop posts for any of the blogs listed above between Dec 5 and Dec 11, 2010.
~Join the EtsyMom Blog email list (fill out the form in the right hand column).
~Become a follower of the EtsyMom Blog! Just click the "Follow" button in the lower right column.
~"Like" the EtsyMom Facebook Page.

Share about this Blog Hop on your own blog, posting a link to this page.

Share about this Blog Hop on Facebook, posting a link to this page.

Share about this Blog Hop on a message board or forum, posting a link to this page.

To let us know you've done these things, please come back to the EtsyMom Blog post and leave a comment for each thing you did.
Sorry - you cannot enter the giveaway here on my blog.

On December 11, 2010 we'll choose a winner using the Random Integer Generator from random.org. The winner will receive this super sweet gift basket full of handmade holiday goodies, including:

a pair of Turquoise Earrings from
http://www.stoneymistdesign.etsy.com/

a greeting card from
http://www.homemadebyamanda.etsy.com/

a lampwork bead bracelet by
http://handmadewhimzy.etsy.com/

sterling silver and Swarovski pearl/crystal holiday earrings by

http://www.etsy.com/shop/signaturesterling

a cream colored cotton scarf given by
http://www.zoegirldesigns.etsy.com/

a raincloud ornament from
http://www.etsy.com/shop/babyjives

a matching splat mat and baby bib from
http://www.babysindulgence.etsy.com/

two pair of earrings from
http://quirefly.etsy.com/

a gift pack of over 30 pages of vintage paper ephemera by
http://www.etsy.com/shop/countrychiccottage

a lovely sustainable stocking from
http://www.rikrak.etsy.com/

a set of holly jolly gift tags from
http://cinnamonspice.etsy.com/

a set of toddler pajamas in a style of the winner's choice from
http://heatheregley.etsy.com/

a $15 gift certificate from
http://camelotstreasures.etsy.com/

A gift certificate from
http://babyswank.etsy.com/

A Custom copper heart necklace from
http://www.etsy.com/shop/ct2designs

Today I'm sharing one of our favorite holiday recipes: yummy Peppermint bark.

We love adding a handmade touch to all our gifts, and this is one of our favorite holiday goodies to make:yummy Peppermint Bark. Preparing the Peppermint Bark is something fun the whole family can do. It's quick and easy and keeps in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to a week. We bought pretty glass canisters from the local craft store and added a holiday label to give as gifts to our friends. Below is the recipe for the Peppermint bark with a few modifications:

Makes about 2 1/2 pounds

2 12 oz. bags of Nestle's premium white chocolate morsels

12 large candy canes

1/2 teaspoon peppermint oil (you can find at local craft store)

1. Line an 11-by-17-inch baking sheet with parchment paper, and set aside.

2. Follow instructions on package for melting chocolate. (I was able to pour both bags into a pyrex dish and heat for 2 minutes at 70%; stir and heat for an additional 10 seconds at 70%.

3. While the chocolate is melting, with a chef's knife or kitchen mallet, cut or pound candy into 1/4-inch pieces. I recommend putting the unwrapped candy canes into a plastic bag and placing it onto foil to contain the mess!

4. Stir candy and peppermint oil into the melted choclate. Pour mixture onto prepared baking sheet; spread evenly with an offset spatula. Refrigerate until firm, 25 to 30 minutes. Break into pieces before packaging (or serving). Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!

And now, hop on over to the next blog for more wonderful inspiration, the HandPrint Lady's Blog!

EtsyMom Blog Hop Starts Sunday Dec 5th

2010-12-03T08:03:00.000-05:00

Pssst...did you know EtsyMoms are having a Blog Hop? From Dec 5-11, over 20 of our team members will share their own brand of holiday inspiration in the form of a recipe, a tutorial, or some type of handmade goodness on their personal blogs and here. I don't know about you, but I can't wait to get around to all the blogs to see what our EtsyMoms are creating for the holidays! Check back often for more details to come! And you don't think we'd leave you without some blog candy, do you? Check back here tomorrow to find out all the HANDMADE
GOODIES one lucky winner will receive!

EtsyMom Street Team: Team-wide Black Friday Sale - A Sneak Preview

2010-11-22T17:37:00.000-05:00

EtsyMo ms are opening the season with a Black Friday sale from November 26th through November 29th. Avoid the crowds and shop handmade! Over 90 shops will be offering fabulous deals on their handcrafted wares. You'll find a little of everything from eco friendly + modern felt stockings, boutique-style children's clothing, cute Japanese handmade fabric button accessories, Twilight inspired jewelry, photography, handstamped cards, stationary, holiday decor, and more! To shop the sale on Etsy.com, search "EtsyMomSale."

Here's a sneak peek at some of the participating shops!
lavenderave.etsy.com * petitetuques.etsy.com * mimimarie573.etsy.com * AngelLeighDesigns.etsy.com * louloututu.etsy.com * countrychiccottage.etsy.com * sykin.etsy.com * nwwonders.etsy.com * zoegirldesigns.etsy.com * allyouneeddesigns.etsy.com * guzanito.etsy.com * yjennings.etsy.com * LauraElainedesigns.etsy.com * miatortilla.etsy.com * PinkStripe.etsy.com * thelittleredwagon.etsy.com * anhoki.etsy.com * RockefellerJewelry.etsy.com * PeriwinkleJazz.etsy.com * ninabonita.etsy.com * monstermeng.etsy.com * woodenhive.etsy.com * meeabee.etsy.com * silverrosedesigns.etsy.com * http://www.rikrak.etsy.com/ * bellerosedesigns.etsy.com * twistedribbonsbows.etsy.com * lisamicheleproducts.etsy.com * twolovebugs.etsy.com * stoneymistdesign.etsy.com * camelotstreasures.etsy.com * cr8something.etsy.com * scperkins.etsy.com * kitkatcreationsinc.etsy.com * homemadebyamanda.etsy.com * shopannavirginia.etsy.com * twosugarpeas.etsy.com * acheekymonkey.etsy.com * sreneedesigns.etsy.com * anasbabycouture.etsy.com * monkeypoddesign.etsy.com * loveyoumoredesigns.etsy.com * Terrbear37.etsy.com * momscrafts4u.etsy.com * boutiquelittlepeople.etsy.com * theavidbeader.etsy.com * etsy.com/shop/USCGwife *babyjives.etsy.com * http://www.babyswank.etsy.com%20/* natortiz23.etsy.com * nume.etsy.com * www.etsy.com/shop/NewCreatioNZ * oceanbelle13.etsy.com * OrchidLaneDesigns.etsy.com * lifesoapsimple.etsy.com * peaceloveandkids.etsy.com * beyondwords12.etsy.com * TamsyTrends.etsy.com * nellaboos.etsy.com * babysindulgence.etsy.com * DaisyandLilly.etsy.com * DYEnamite.etsy.com * rockpapertekla.etsy.com * MommysDream.etsy.com * addybscakes.etsy.com * LoisAndLinnea.etsy.com * shoprhubarb.etsy.com * elizabeth71080.etsy.com * starknits.etsy.com * elisaann.etsy.com * feltedkitten.etsy.com * 2sproutsandalilvoice.etsy.com * HandmadeWhimzy.etsy.com * lilprincessbow.etsy.com * cinnamonspice.etsy.com * katekatenyc.etsy.com * lilybugboutique.etsy.com

Why I Love What I Do...................

2010-11-13T21:18:00.001-05:00

I enjoy creating;
but I absolutely LoVe making something for someone else to CHERISH...

You know how you receive that perfect gift and your eyes light up and
your heart feels warm and fuzzy

because someone cared enough to give you something that MEANS something special to you.

I recently received a request from a customer to make some type of scrapbook for her daughter's pen pal in the U.K.

First off, how SWEET that pen pals still exist! 2nd, even if I was up to my eyeballs in work I couldn't turn down this request because it was from the HeArT!

So, here's what I created and the customer was so tickled with it she ordered another for her daughter.

That's why I do what I do!

Fall into Autumn Giveaway!

2010-11-01T06:29:00.000-04:00

Dear Scrappy Friends,

I know it's been quiet around here lately but I'm back with a fabulous
Fall into Autumn GIVEAWAY!

To win this lovely (handmade of course) hanging acrylic photo frame, simply visit my Facebook page here and leave a comment telling me what your favorite thing about fall is. Comments will close tomorrow night, 2 Nov. at 11 pm eastern standard time and the winner will be announced Tuesday morning.

I know the kids and I enjoy going to the PuMpKin PaTcH and getting the house all dolled up,

SO WHAT ABOUT YOU?

Dear Daughter, Please Stay on Task!

2010-09-29T17:09:00.000-04:00

I don't know about your little one,

but when mine is supposed to be getting ready for school in the morning,

I just might walk in her room and find her lying on her bed reading!

Since she is so easily distracted I decided to hang an

old chalkboard in her room where we could write a to-do list.

Last year this helped tremendously!!

This year, I came across a cute little digital stamp by Digi Stamp Characters which reminded me of my little Blueberry Sprite, so I decided to update the board. It was also perfect timing for a "Back to School" challenge on the MPTS forum. Here's how she turned out! Hope you like her.

Love how the Bazzill Swiss Dot Cardstock gave the perfect "texture" for her hair! The ID tag was attached to a box of chipboard letters I bought a few years ago (that's why I never throw anything away; I never know when I might need it!). I've been trying my hand at handmade flowers; these seemed perfect for this project.

And my dear daughter requested the sequined butterfly; it matches the lampshade in her room. I got the mini clipboard as a freebie a while back.

Thanks for taking a peek!

More Paper Than Shoes Mid-Week Challenge

2010-09-24T16:27:00.000-04:00

I am lovin the MPTS forum; it is truly a dream come true!

There are so many challenges, one can always find something to SpArK your creativity.

I saw this month's mid-week challenge colors and thought of a layout I've been working on for a custom 20-page album.

The challenge motivated me to finish it off...so here is... "Adorable".

So scrappy people, what are you waiting for??? Get on over to our forum. Can't wait to see what you're working with for our next challenge!

Welcome Baby Miles!

2010-09-17T14:38:00.000-04:00

I know, I have been MIA!

Now that school is back in session, I have resumed my duties as
official shuttle bus driver for the kiddos

but I am slowly transitioning to squeezing in a few minutes of work
here and there throughout the day!

Wanted to share my latest custom order, an acrylic scrapbook.
I have had this cute little scalloped edge number just waiting to be dolled up!

and finally had the perfect chance when a friend needed a baby shower gift. You know I love creating all things "baby" and sweet, so this is to welcome little Miles!

I loaded the pages up with bling (in brown of course) and cut the page titles from upcycled chipboard (from a pack of rub ons) and added white stickles. I used stickles to embellish the album pages themselves as well.

Rub on graphics, like these glittery ones are the perfect accent for acrylic albums because they show through on the other side!

Introducing...ME!

2010-08-28T13:15:00.001-04:00

Happy Saturday!

Wanted to share what I made for the latest altered art creative team challenge on More Paper Than Shoes (MPTS). Each team member had to create a piece that best represents our style and personality. Well, if you've been following my blog for any amount of time you know that I have quite the eclectic tastes; a little bit shabby, a little bit chic, vintage mixed with the new, so it was really challenging for me to pick a style. I decided to make something for ME, which is long overdue...something I could hang in my craft room. And to let people see aspects of my personality that they don't normally see...

Bet you didn't know that I love to travel and Asia is one my absolute favorite places!! Believe it or not, my degree is actually in East Asian Languages and Cultures! So, I included lots of memorabilia that I picked up from my travels. I love all things cute and sweet, so I made the Japanese paperdoll from a framed art piece.

A page from a Japanese travel guide is tucked inside a sheer envelope from my Japanese stationary collection, and it is layered over a Chinese postcard and a Korean bill. I layered these over a vintage-feel sheet music because I grew up playing classical music. I included this postcard because babies are my favorite subjects to scrapbook. The board is topped off by a set of pretty red chopsticks. The board is protected by an acrylic seal. This was so much fun you just might be seeing more Asian-inspired crafts from me!

Heaven Sent!

2010-08-26T20:29:00.000-04:00

Isn't she lovely? This little cutie is the subject of the custom order I'm finishing.
She's my son Baby Hulk's bestie, GRACE,
and I have the pleasure of doing her 1st year scrapbook album.

Being a die hard mini album lover, a 20-page 12 x 12 album
is challenging and at times nerve-wracking.

But oh, the Pure Joy when a layout comes together is like no other!

I've been experimenting with making my own flowers, these are just the paper version of the rolled fabric flowers accented with pearls. I'm tickled with how the Maya Road scalloped edge envelope turned out. Let me know what you think of my sneak peek!

Back to School with a Giveaway

2010-08-22T16:52:00.000-04:00

Hey there! My mini lunchbox notes/mini notecards were so well received I decided to give away a set on my Facebook page.

A couple of years ago I started leaving notes in my kids' lunch

and they loved it!

I think it helped them

feel like I was thinking of them even though we're apart.

Of course these mini notecards can be used for just about anything, gift tags, thank you notes, gift for the teacher and on!

It's really easy to win; all you have to do is visit my page here and leave me a comment telling me which of these notecards you like best and what you would use them for.

That's it! Not asking anyone to jump through any hoops or put out a fire with their bare feet...lol! Have fun and happy crafting!

Back to Basics for Back to School

2010-08-16T16:57:00.000-04:00

Is it that time already?

I don't know about you but I will miss the lazy summer days spent with

all 3 of my kiddos

as they return to the classroom.

Let yours return in style with these one-of-a-kind finds!

And the best part is these goodies are all handmade by EtsyMoms.

Your little one will be stylin' in this sweet little circle skirt from TwirlAway.

I love the details on this pair of handcut and hand-stitched apple hair accessories which are available as clips, brooch pins or magnets from Pammy Dawn.

For a personalized touch, try lillifeeboutique's

monogrammed apple swing top.

And I thought this handcrafted charm bracelet from Butterfly Gem
was just too clever and cute!

My First MPTS Challenge!

2010-07-14T20:14:00.000-04:00

Now I can see why people say they love challenges...

and how easy it is to become addicted to them!

The July Challenge over on More Paper Than Shoes (MPTS) is

to create a tag using the following guidelines:

-vintage

-use a stamp somewhere on the tag

-make one of the images pop off from the tag

Sooooo...here's what I came up with!

Isn't she bright and cheery?

I decided to go retro with the
vintage children's illustration from Mable Lucie Attwell.

The girl pops off the page and I used my
"antique" typewriter font stamps for the words.

And the little posy is not fabric but ribbon!

There are several challenges going on at the forum, so if you love stretching your creativity, join us here.

I'm on a Design Team!!!!

2010-07-09T08:40:00.000-04:00

I am doing the "Happy Dance" and I just had to share

the EXCITING NEWS
because you've all supported me with feedback, suggestions, love and more love!

Anna Fearer, fellow etsian and the guru behind

More Paper Than Shoes (MPTS) ,

contacted me last week
and asked if I'd join their brand spanking new forum!

I am so thrilled because I love the look and feel of the forum and it's an opportunity not only to share what I've learned through paper crafting and scrapbooking, but to also learn from some extremely talented artisans!

Each month, I'll be sharing tips on altered art techniques.

In addition to altered art, there are scrapbooking, card-making, paper-piecing, and mixed media teams;

AND

ChAlLeNgEs, member showcases,GiVeAwAyS, blog candy, and InTeRaCtIvE FuN.

So, what are you waiting for??? Join us here and show off your latest creations!

Find us on fb here.

EtsyMom Monday Cupcake Freak

2010-06-21T07:15:00.000-04:00

Yeah!!! It's EtsyMom Monday!

I dedicate each Monday to all the fabulous EtsyMom creations I've found during the week so I can show off their often one-of-a-kind, beautiful and eco-friendly work and give you great gift ideas.

If you didn't already know it, I am a total Cupcake FREAK!!! For special occasions, I do cupcakes, not cake. Unless of course it's for hubby. I love lemon, chocolate, strawberry...

So this week's feature is, yes, you guessed it!

This Pretty at the Party Blank Notecard from HappyDayStudios makes me want a cupcake right now!

iecreations can dress up any cupcakewith these beautiful
Butterfly Bloomers Holders.

And Kute Klipboards by Amy always has a sweet clipboard to suit any occasion and her Cupcake Vintage Inspired Clipboard is no exception!

This Cutesy Cupcake Clip by Lexi Lou Design U Love
is such a sweet and creative use of ribbon!

Which cupcake is your fave???

For Dad with Love from the NCTriangle Team

2010-06-12T09:41:00.000-04:00

Today is a special Father's Day feature
with great ideas if you're still looking for a one-of-a-kind handcrafted gift
for that special father in your life.

The talented Etsians residing in and around the NC Triangle area have just what you need:

What could be better for the golfer in your life than
these Golf Ball Soaps by KarensSoaps ?

Made with a gentle natural soap base, they are so realistic-looking it's hard to believe they're soap!

For the die-hard Blue Devil fans in your life,

this set of

4 Krzyzewskiville Cards from OrangeCatArt is perfect!

Oh my goodness, FancythatCookies has

tasty treats for your sweets!

These dark chocolate brownies, are filled with creamy chocolate chips and crunchy walnuts in each bite.

I love a chunky bracelet on my hubby and this Chainmaille Bracelet in Stainless Steel for Him from NewByzantiumDesigns is no exception!

This Byzantine Weave piece is fashioned out of heavy gauge, stainless steel,
square wire jump rings.

Shopping for a antique car aficionado? Then you'll love this

Vintage Car - 8x10 Original Fine Art Metallic Print Chevy Bel Air

from HopePhotoArt.
Happy Shopping!

EtsyMom Monday ~ For Dad with Love

2010-05-29T17:37:00.000-04:00

Yeah!!! EtsyMom Mondays are back in full effect!

I dedicate each Monday to all the fabulous EtsyMom creations I've found during the week so I can show off their often one-of-a-kind, beautiful and eco-friendly work!

If you're still looking that Perfect Gift for that special father in your life,

the talented etsians who are also dedicated mommies have just what you need (Be sure to check ordering deadlines to ensure timely delivery):

With Father's Day right around the corner, this
Patchouli Natural Perfume by AquarianBath is perfect for your scent-wearing man! Don't the ingredients like high-quality, aged Patchouli essential oil and golden joboba oil, lightly tinted with cocoa powder sound divine?

Give a gift with a personalized touch; I love the manly look of this
Custom handstamped keychain by sugarsalt!

This Black Amber Musk Handmade Soap from peapodcrafts is a warm blend of black amber, clove and nutmeg, it's perfect for men and women alike, so if hubby doesn't like it then you can use it!

meandmatilda will have your man styling at the next formal affair with her Black Freestyle Bowtie in black Dupioni Silk.

DIY Teacher Gift - Altered Mini Clipboard

2010-05-28T10:11:00.000-04:00

I love to give teachers a little something at the end of the year to show them

how much I appreciate the way in which they educate and nurture my Wee Ones.

This year I opted to alter mini clipboards that I found at the dollar store, so they fit in well with our family goal of operating on a leaner budget this year *smiles*.

To make covering the board easier,

try to find ones where the "clip" screws on and off.

I did not, so I had to be creative

by cutting pieces of paper to fit around the clip.

This is an excellent way to use up those paper scraps and left-over embellies

I know you have laying around.

Or switch it up and use fabric instead.

The bad news is that my camera is kaput so I don't have many pics to share but

I did snap some of the finished clipboards with my beloved phone.

Have fun customizing the clipboard to the teacher's tastes or personalize it with an initial.

Soften up all that metal with dimensional chipboard accents

or handmade flower posies and tied ribbon.

Pull out your craft punches and add some dimensional paper accents like the smaller butterflies.

Your store might even have the covered clipboards, like the one on the left (below).

I just cut a rectangular-sized piece of coordinating paper,

adhered it to the board and finished up with layered flowers, a little bling, paper punched butterflies and a ribbon tied cardstock initial.

Or, try themes, like the recipe clipboard on the right.

And don't forget ribbon always makes a pretty accent.

Here are the quick and easy directions to cover your own board:

Supplies:

Full size or mini clipboard

Pencil

Scissors

Mod Podge, glue stick or other adhesive

Sponge brush for mod podge

Scrapbook Paper

Embellishments

1. Unscrew clip from the board. (If you can't find ones that unscrew then paint that part of the clipboard or cut coordinating paper to fit).

2. Trace outline of board onto paper twice (for front and back)

3. Cut paper.

4. Use your favorite adhesive, gluestick, mod podge (I used my Xyron) and adhere papers.

5. Trim any excess paper and then sand the edges. Ink the edges is so desired(Remember to replace the clip!)

6. If you'd like your clipboard to have a little sheen, add a sealant such as mod podge and let dry.

7. Grab your embellishments and make your clipboard pop!

Tell your teacher the boards can be used for displaying pictures, notes, holding coupons, or recipe cards or as a decorative piece!

Blog Hop and Win a Sweet Prize!

2010-05-28T09:30:00.000-04:00

Do you love discovering NeW, cRaFtY, InSpIrInG blogs?

What about a chance to win a Free Crafty Prize?

Well, then run, I mean HOP on over to Scrapbook Royalty here for all of the details on entering the Blog Hop and the chance to win some fantastic blog candy.

Here is a sneak peek at some of the prizes:

What a Sweet Stitched Bag!

This stash of scrapbooking goodies includes Cosmo Cricket, one of my faves!

Happy blog hopping!

Back to Work

2010-05-15T16:55:00.000-04:00

So the Gifts Galore and So Much More Shopping Event

which benefitted the Cumberland County's Special Olympics is over,

as well as my last-minute move.

That means more time to

pHoToGrApH and add oodles of NeW ItEmS to the shop!

And, to get back to my EtsyMom and NCTriangle Team Features on Mondays and Thursdays...

know y'all have been missing them.

As with every fair/event I do, I've got to share what I took away. I met some awesome vendors at this event, like Jeanna Goodpasture,

owner of Tiffany Brooks Design,

the cutest little pet boutique!

Mostly, I worked on improving my display in preparation for some bigger shows later in the year. To see how far I've come, you gotta see how it all began...

Oh those earlier days! Guess ya' Gotta start somewhere.

Military Spouse Appreciation Day, May 2008.

And the transformation...still learning what works and what doesn't, but I am tickled pink with my latest display!

First, I had a heck of a lot more product to offer. Next, I lightened up the colors to make the table more inviting. I also got innovative with some of Vistaprint's free offerings (with paid shipping),

like the price list is actually a lawn sign...lol! Price lists will shave mounds of time off your prep work, no tagging every item.

That cute litle birdy header is from an invitation I designed some time ago.

Working on achieving a uniform look, but until then,

this sweet little banner from VP will do just fine!

In keeping with creating a consistent look, I stopped using whatever random hodge podge of containers I found around the house

and got the mini trunks at Hobby Lobby for 50% off, to display my items.

So sweet!

For giveaways, I designed my own business card magnets and coordinating promotional postcards.

Have you visited Moo yet? Keep your eyes open for their special promotions; last month was 25 free cards with your initial purchase.

I used examples of my work for the cards. You can pay an additional fee to have the watermark on the cards removed. The card quality is excellent!

Do you have any tips on improving booth display?

We'd love to read them.

Until next time, xoxo!

On the Move...New Designs and Blog Update!

2010-04-14T10:15:00.000-04:00

It's been a little quiet on the blog lately...
hubby and I made a last-minute decision to move and
the move date just happens to coincide with
the Gifts Galore & So Much More Shopping Event
I'm participating in on May 1st, so my house is in full-swing UPROAR mode!

As my beloved babysitter told me,
"Well, you never let any grass grow under your feet, that's for sure!"

Of course some would say I dream up ways to distract me from something else that's going on in my life...they could be right but anyhoo,

less time online means more time to CREATE so here's a peek at what I've been up to!

I know everyone's gone techno these days with their smartphones and whatnot,

but I still love a pretty address book!

Don't worry, in-between packing and scrapping, I hope to fit in some more EtsyMom Mondays and NCTriangle Thursdays, but look for me to resume posting regularly in a few weeks! As always, thanks for sweetening my day by stopping by!

EtsyMom Monday ~ Retro Chic

2010-03-29T18:07:00.000-04:00

EtsyMoms are an incredible group of talented artisans with a wide range of wonderful handmade shops on etsy.com.

I'm blessed to be a part of this group of working moms because they inspire, move and challenge me to live, laugh love and create!

I dedicate each Monday to all the fabulous EtsyMom creations I've found during the week so I can show off their often one-of-a-kind, beautiful and eco-friendly work!

Etsy is known for its fabulous vintage finds; let's see how the mamas get retro !

With Mother's Day right around the corner, what daughter wouldn't love this
beautifully embellished magnet by expressions123?

What a conversation piece these
Vintage Typewriter Key Earrings by GemmaBeads would make!

This fun wristlet from cathystotes is designed to hold all your necessities, including your keys!

Oh my goodness, these pretty, pink, pear-shaped glass jewel earrings by nancywallisdesigns are absolutely stunning!

EtsyMom Monday ~ Beside the Seaside

2010-03-23T02:59:00.000-04:00

All you mamas out there are probably already humming along to the tune of today's title! I know many of you are probably beach-bound for your upcoming spring break, if you're not already there!

I browsed etsy yesterday for some sea, sand, and surf-inspired finds by the fabulous EtsyMom team...enjoy!

Let this Secret Getaway - Original Metallic Photography Print by Kimage inspire you to work, play and create!

I am a huge fan of Momiboutique's fun frocks and
her beautiful beach dunes dress
is no exception!

Winterberry Jewlery put together a lovely combination of a pretty pearl and starfish with this sea-inspired sterling silver necklace.

Take this Seahorse String Backpack by Bumble Belly Designs
along on your next search for the perfect seashells!

and capture that beachy-keen feeling in your papercrafting with A Forest Frolic's Starfish and Sand Dollar embellies.

Surprise your beach-loving friend with Bella Mia Beads'
Aqua Disc Starfish Necklace!

NCTriangle Thursday ~ Spring Forward

2010-03-18T21:12:00.000-04:00

The almost balmy 60 degree temps here have me thinking Spring has arrived! I would say these members of etsy's NCTriangle Street Team are thinking along the same lines...

Love these juicy green jade sterling silver earrings
from annakaycreations.

and Jazzturtle's 3 mini batts of super soft-looking fibers with mini chicks made me think of cotton candy, so sweet!

This brown embroidered brown bunny towel by shamsandcoverups is the perfect Easter accent for your kitchen;
it's much too pretty to clean up spills though!

Finely handcrafted "Flower Patch" earrings by goodgirlsstudio really do evoke images of spring blooms.

Rabbithollowprims' 3 Crows on a Pineapple primitive piece
would add a touch of whimsy to your spring decor!

Sneak Peek!

2010-03-17T09:58:00.000-04:00

Layered chipboard "5" scrapbook album
made with my Zutter "Bind it All" machine.

So versatile it can fit any of these themes:

first "5" years, baby's first "5" months or "5" things I love about you.

Adding some glittery edged embellies
and it will be available in my Etsy shop soon!

Paper: Wild Saffron (K&Company)

Chipboard: Scrapbook.com

Embellies: K&Company and me!

Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Walnut Brown

EtsyMom Monday ~ Hippity Hop

2010-03-15T10:31:00.000-04:00

I dedicate each Monday to all the fabulous EtsyMom creations I've found during the week so I can show off their often one-of-a-kind, beautiful and eco-friendly work!

Easter's on the way and EtsyMoms are ready to dress your little ones from head-toe!

Won't baby girl look smart in this colorful bunny dress by Littlelilly? Love the contrasting fabric of the belt and the trim on the sleeves!

Cuteandfun has something special for the chicken lovers with this
sterling silver chunky charm bracelet!

Just look at these delicate pair of beautiful buttercup yellow Mary Janes by Weepereas! And did I mention that they have organic cotton soles?

Wouldn't this sweet sterling silver stamped necklace by bellabuttondesigns be perfect for your sweetie's Easter basket?

And Zuzugirl always has the sweetest accessories in her shop! Top off your little one's Sunday best with this fabric flower headband. She used fabric remnants to create the petite blooms!

NCTriangle Thursday ~ Shower Them with Love

2010-03-11T13:08:00.000-05:00

I've dedicated the past few weeks on the blog to throwing the ultimate handmade babyshower, from decorations to gifts and favors.

On Monday we sent the babyshower guests home with lovely favors so we're done right? Not just yet; how about a little something for those close friends that put together the fabulous shower???

I found some stylish but practical and some delectable hostess gifts on Etsy created by that talented crew out of the Triangle area in North Carolina.

What a brilliant idea knotworkshop had with this Crochet Cozy for Coffee or Tea. No more worries about your hot beverage going cold!

I know this blueberry chocolate mini leather journal from paperpearlsboutique would make a lovely gift because I gave one to myself last year! Aside from the soft, supple leather, the best feature is that it's refillable!

and I couldn't help but include this ipod cozy (to protect what is surely a highly prized possession!) also from knotworkshop, available in several styles/colors.

If any of your friends fancies moist, melt-in your mouth morsels, I'm sure they'd be tickled pink by a half-dozen of these Walnut Chocolate Chip Brownies from FancyThatCookies.

EtsyMom Monday ~ Show Some Love

2010-03-08T11:38:00.000-05:00

As part of my Handmade Baby Shower Series, I've highlighted some of my favorite EtsyMom gift ideas for baby as well as
expectant parents.

This week I found some wonderful ways to thank the shower guests for participating!

Moddiapercakes has a cute twist on the diaper cake idea with
these chocolate and blue "cupcakes".

If you're just looking for packaging, try ShabbyNChic's assortment of
handmade patterned paper boxes to hold your treats!

Your guests are sure to "oooh" and "ahhh" over these
gorgeous glass tile pendants by laktjohnson. She has several styles to choose from and
offers a "buy 3, get one free" special on some.

Or give your guests one of these
jumbo clips by kuteklipboardsbyamy to hold baby's photo!

And sweetdreamsboutique has something special for the sweet tooth! Send guests off with some of these gourmet cookie bites available in flavors like Red Velvet Cake, Chocolate Raspberry, Lemon and many more!

NCTriangle Thursday ~ A Day Late!

2010-03-05T07:51:00.000-05:00

I don't know about you but sometimes when I attend a babyshower I take a gift just for the mommy-to-be! Shouldn't she be rewarded for taking that joyous, although at times, strenuous, journey towards motherhood? The NCTriangle Team offers some items intended to spoil, scrub and soothe the expectant mama!

Ahh, this lovely locket ring from goodgirlsstudio

is perfect for a tiny picture of the tiny newborn!

Aren't these festive facial scrubbies fun? Knotworkshop gives you many reasons for these to be a hit with a new mom, aside from having a fresh one for each day of the week, they are also good for the environment and the wallet!

Felt-wrapped soap? After reading what Jazzturtle has to say about her luxurious Lemon Mint Soap, the idea sounds divine! The felted "sweater" essentially replaces the washcloth!

When I was pregnant I didn't always have time for the mani/pedi, so this Cotton Candy Confections Sugar Scrub by ajoeynamedroo would have been simply wonderful!

And we can't leave the daddy-to-be out of the picture, so how about this Beer Shampoo Bar by CCrafters?! Perfect for keeping in a gym or travel bag of the on-the-go guy.

Handmade Baby Shower Part 3: Banner and Favor Tins

2010-03-03T03:43:00.000-05:00

Did I mention I will be FLYING in for this shower???

So, yes, that means I've had to finish up certain items
like the banner and the jelly-bean filled favor tins

and ship them to Maryland!

Remember the banner in it's early stages here? Its almost ready to go in this pic...made a few more changes that you'll see when I get back!

I created a template (mine are 6 inch base, 9 inches in length) for the colored triangles and mounted them on a slightly larger white triangle.

After decorating the pennants, I punched holes on either side

at the top (about 3/4 inch in).

You can then ink the edges or add trim.

Lastly, string your ribbon or twine through the holes for an adjustable banner.

Found the palm trees and the whimsical wooden lion (already painted)

at Michael's! Perfect for the King of the Jungle theme!

And don't let me forget, the guest count for this co-ed shower is now at 100! Needless to say, ordering favors can get pricey, so I went with a fairly inexpensive option.

I already had some of these 2 oz. metal tins with clear lids in my stash, so I just ordered more.

I bought coordinating ribbon, ran strips through my Xyron >

The ribbon-wrapped tins would work well, but to give them a personal touch, I added punched circles in coordinating colors and stamped them with a lion (to match the theme of course), added thank you and adhered them to the lids!

They will add nice splashes of color to the treat table!

Etsymom Monday ~ Name that Baby!

2010-03-01T05:56:00.000-05:00

ONE more week until the big baby shower I'm co-planning!

For my three-week Handmade Baby Shower Series,

I'm sharing not only what I'm creating for the event

but also the best baby boy accessories

Etsymoms are offering this spring.

What a special touch personalization can add!

This week's finds can all be designed with your child's name in mind.

These wonderful wooden letters just speak to me!

KissMeKatie will handpaint these custom 8-inch letters

to adorn your child's walls.

Letters grow with child and can help with name recognition as they mature!

Let sobrightdesigns create a matching monogram pillow for the

little man's room decor from one of several designer fabrics.

These 8 Letter Iron-On Decals from alphabulous

can be used in a variety of ways to personalize

baby boy's room! Need help getting started?

Search 'alphabulous' on photobucket for project ideas.

The briliant blue buttons really pop against the chocolate fabric

on this personalized pillow by letterperfectdesigns.

Hang girlfriendstx's wall hooks at just the right height and as

baby gets older he can hang up his own jackets!

Handmade Baby Shower Part 2: Pennant Banner

2010-02-24T17:39:00.000-05:00

You know what I absolutely love about handmade? You can customize whatever you make to match any theme/colors etc.,

so when the more than eager mommy-to-be picked out her own invitations here, it was no problem to create decorations to match perfectly.

Here is a work-in-progress pic of the

"It's a Boy" pennant banner. My girl likes things with a modern flair, so I have to try and keep it simple and fresh!

I didn't feel like going out to look for polka dot paper,

so I made my own for the accordion fold flowers.

I punched 1-inch circles from different colored cardstock and adhered them to the white cardstock. To make the flowers, I followed the tutorial here.

Next, I think I'll be adding some animal friends to the solid pennants...will post more pics soon!

NCTriangle Thursday ~ Spotlight on Joanna Kapica

2010-02-24T16:25:00.000-05:00

This is the first in a series of interviews featuring artists in and around the North Carolina Triangle Area, as part of NCTriangle Thursday here on the blog! Each month I will highlight one or two artists, so stop in often and enjoy getting to know more about Triangle talent!

This month, I had the pleasure of interviewing Joanna Kapica, owner of Joanna's FOTO, and oh, what a delight! Her photography is so captivating, you can't help wanting to know more about who's behind such artistry.

Joanna currently resides and works in Raleigh, North Carolina. She is a wife, photographer, knitter and book reader. Growing up on a tiny farm her parents owned, she was always close to nature, and always curious about it. This was the beginning of her way of seeing beauty in flowers and plants, that she is now capturing through the photographic process.

Most of her work consists of fine art pieces featuring the nature of North Carolina as well as some industrial pieces shot at local junk yards. The Hennen’s Observer - a local journal -recently featured her work and the Visual Art Exchange gallery in Downtown Raleigh displayed one of her pieces as part of their Imagine exhibition.

Now, let's find out more about Joanna!

1). Tell us one thing about you readers might be surprised to know.

When I was a small child, 2 or maybe 3 years old, I panicked when anyone pointed a camera in my direction. It wasn't for fear of not looking good on the picture, but somehow- the camera itself seemed to me very very scary. It is a good thing I somehow overcame that fear!

2). When did you take your 1st picture and did you immediately fall in love?

I have to admit I don’t remember the first picture I took. My parents had a very basic film camera that jammed film way too often to enjoy using it. And so I wasn’t really playing with it too much. After I got my first digital camera, I seemed to discover much more about how amazing photography can be. And this is when I started taking more and more photos.

3). What inspired you to pursue this for more than just a hobby?

My friend was my main inspiration. He encouraged me to do more, to not be afraid to go public with my work. And so soon after that I had set up my etsy store.

4). What sources of inspiration do you draw on for your work?

For me inspiration is easily found in objects around me. I tend to take many of my flora shots while walking through a park or garden. I am attracted by shapes and forms found in nature as well as in human-made items. Even though most of my work is set on photographing flowers and plants I also find pleasure in capturing pieces of scrap metal or old mechanic parts- that’s my Industrial Series. To me it seems that everyone has different way of seeing things and even though you will see plenty of photographs of roses for example, every photographer will try to capture a little bit different angle.

5). I noticed many of your photographs are close-ups, how do you achieve such beautiful close-in shots?

My main and favorite lens is my macro lens. Allowing me to get really close to the subject and reproducing it with beautiful sharpness, at the same time leaving the background soft. I use a few other lenses and accessories, which let me control the depth of field, control the focus by allowing me to point it to the specific area I want to show in my work.

6). Any tips for aspiring photogs?

Shoot, shoot, shoot and don’t be afraid to play with your camera. I think it’s really hard to learn photography by only reading instructions. I think this is the type of knowledge, where you have to know your equipment; it should be like the extension of your eye and hand. And as you are doing that, definitely don’t stop learning, don’t stop challenging yourself and discovering different techniques.

7). Are there any upcoming venues where our readers can experience your work up close and personal?

The closest event I am planning to take part in is the Durham Art Walk, April 17th-18th, 2010. For anything else I would like you to visit my blog and check the Events section- that’s where I post all current and future events.

Joanna's main portfolio is located on the web. All pieces are available for purchase through this site listed or through her etsy store.

You can also find Joanna on twitter and Facebook.

EtsyMom Monday ~ Handmade for Baby

2010-02-22T05:44:00.000-05:00

In keeping with the handmade babyshower theme, I searched Etsy to find out what my EtsyMoms have handcrafted to shower baby with love. These baby-boy inspired gifts take you from play, to meal, to bath and sleeptime:

You know I'm a sucker for a good hat...isn't zbelle's crocheted newsboy hat the cutest?

Won't baby be stylin at snacktime with this "Spa Lolli Polka Dot" bib by paisleybaby???

NewEnglandGifts created the perfect hooded towel for snuggling baby after bathtime!

Have this noahbabyboutique's cozy mini blanket ready to swaddle...love the yummy chocolate and blue colors!

Handmade Baby Shower: Part 1

2010-02-20T07:39:00.000-05:00

It's A Boy!!!!!

One of my closest girls in Maryland is having a baby, so I have the pleasure

of helping plan her shower!

So you know that means it's gonna be a HaNdMaDe affair...

over the next couple of weeks

I'll be showing you what I'm working on and how it all comes together...

hopefully you'll enjoy the ride!

In lieu of a traditional guestbook, we plan to let the guests

decorate mini "birthday" cards for the baby

and give them to mommy-to-be. I loved this idea so much I thought

it would be nice to have a place for mama to

store the cards and a few pics.

So, when I saw this Maya Road chipboard binder

I thought it would be perfect! Here's a work-in-progress pic: I'm covering the pages with Bazzill

cardstock in colors to match her "King of the Jungle" theme and sanding the edges with my

Basic Grey precision file set (no scrapbooker should be without these!)

Lovin' the envelopes for her to tuck the cards into. Next, I'll be finishing the book,

making about 30 mini cardstock cards and a pennant banner. Thanks for stopping by!

NCTriangle Thursday ~ Fruity Finds!

2010-02-18T05:33:00.001-05:00

Today's finds were inspired by my sweet tooth...don't worry, for those that follow Lent, these fruity finds are all non-edible goodies crafted by my NCTriangle Etsy team-members!

Wouldn't you love to smell the tart blend of Blackberry, Goji Berry, Sweet Valencia, Pomegranate, Loganberry, Gooseberry, Vanilla Cream, Sugar Musk, and Musk that
karenssoaps has used to create her Goji Berry soap?

and what baby doesn't need a soakproof bib,

especially this juicy-colored one from Koolbeenz!

Can't you hear the soothing sounds from this Lemondrop Wind Chime by DinnerTimeChimes? Visit dinnertimechimes.net to hear a sampling!

Dress up those jeans with this "Trailing Cherry" Reversible Fabric Belt by the imcomparable megrnc.

and this all natural Lemon Cream bar looks too divine to be soap! tgurleybathandbody, are you sure this isn't edible?

Don't forget a Pink Lemonade coffee cuff for those who love a good cup of joe! I've heard jenngee's customers crave these cuffs as much as they do their mocha!

EtsyMom Monday ~ Reuse, Repurpose, Recycle

2010-02-15T06:58:00.000-05:00

I love seeing the many different ways my mamas are crafting eco-friendly finds on Etsy!

I love the way GemmaBeads turned this vintage

typewriter button into a pendant!

if you're looking for a unique gift for that special tot, look no further than these fantastically fun sweater balls from handmadepretties!

for anyone who loves denim, clairebabydesigns created this

fun and funky cuff from leftover denim

baby shower season is fast-approaching and this super-soft giraffe hat is perfect for a wee one! Whimsiedots ensures the highest quality in upcycled apparel by using cotton blend clothing.

and these candylicious apple green and brown

Mary Jane's would look cute on any baby's feet!

Tired of all the bows and frills? Adorn your daughter's hair (or yours!) with seedandsprout's lovely layered hair clip fashioned from bits of left-over designer fabric and eco-spun felt (made from recycled plastic bottles!)

Easy Peasy Valentine Card/Mini Album from Cardstock Scraps!

2010-02-11T08:28:00.000-05:00

First off, let me apologize for these less than stellar pics...I've been experimenting with the settings on my camera and somehow changed something and can't figure out what! Anyhoo, I fell in LoVe with this eco-friendly Kenner Road tutorial , which uses cardstock scraps to create a quick mini album, and you will too!

I adored it so much that I adapted it for Valentine's cards this year. All you need to do is cut your cardstock cover to the size that you desire...My card books are 6 x 6 and 5 x 8 inches.

Then gather your cardstock scraps, cut them into rectangles (different sizes work well!) and fold them in half. Stitch the spine of your book to hold it all together and it's ready for you to add pictures, journaling and embellishments!

Gabrielle Pollaco's beautiful blog, Such a Pretty Mess, inspired this flowered heart. I found this scrapbooking goddess on my beloved 2 Peas in a Bucket Gallery. To make the heart, I hot glued prima paper flowers to a heart I cut from pink adhesive-backed felt.

The different-size pages make the layout fun!

For this cover I tore strips of paper and cardstock and stitched them to the front.

I love tall, skinny cards!

Etsymom Monday ~ Splash of Spring Color

2010-02-08T10:37:00.000-05:00

It's EtSyMoM MoNdAy! This week we're taking a peek at

what the lovely mamas have created for SPRING...

who needs CaNdY when you have

all this SWEETNESS!

NCTriangle Thursday ~ I Heart You

2010-02-04T09:37:00.000-05:00

It's NCTriangle Thursday and today I'm showcasing

some of this Etsy team's beautiful handcrafted jewelry designs

that I would love to have for Sweetheart's Day...

hope hubby reads this post and buys me some!!!

Etsymom Monday! All You Need is Love

2010-02-01T09:49:00.000-05:00

Changes are coming to my blog! The 1st is a weekly Etsymom Monday spotlight on the wonderfully talented Etsymoms, talented artisans who handcraft their unique items with love! Check back on Thursdays for a feature on the NC Triangle team's beautiful designs!

xo

Birthday Cake, Scrapbooking & Snow!

2010-01-31T08:54:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I spent the most wonderful BiRtHdAy with my loving family! Mother Nature graced us with a pretty blanketing of snow, hubby followed up with pancakes, bacon & eggs in bed and I spent the day doing all the things I enjoy most: playing Wii with the kiddos, scrapbooking (started this mini album from scraps with the quick & easy Kenner Road tutorial ) and snuggling with hubby. Just when I thought the day couldn't get any better, I gorged myself on a delightful dinner of steak with some crazy good marinade, crabcake, baked potato and veggie, oh and let's not forget the Moscato! The night ended on a high note with the Jayhawks defeating K-State...so much for the so-called "Octagon of Doom!" Turning 29 again is not so bad after all...

Coming Soon!

2010-01-29T12:27:00.000-05:00

Have so many ideas percolating in this crafty little head of mine, here are the latest: wedding and travel inspired journals...coming soon!

Loaded with Goodies ~ 1st Post in 2010

2010-01-22T10:59:00.000-05:00

I am seriously going to have start scheduling posts!!! Since I made the decision to focus a lot more on CuStOm work until the wee ones are older, I have been working non-stop for many weeks now and I am LOOOOVIN it! This year I'm concentrating my efforts on Slowing down to speed up! What's that all about you ask? Well, in slowing down to get myself more organized and keep my priorities together, God, Family and then Business, I have seen an increase in my productivity. So, enough chatter and let me share what I've been up to! I'd have to say I have a penchant for baby stuff, so I was extremely giddy while working on these two mini albums...I think the covers turned out well.

While I haven't made up my mind yet, I'm thinking of starting another blog for my creative musings and keeping this one for promoting other crafty mompreneurs, so stay tuned for more details!

Sneak Peek!

2009-12-03T13:41:00.000-05:00

Looking back over the past year I can see how much I've grown as a scrapbooker and now paper crafter...I am enjoying this artistic journey immensely! After my hubby and kids, what brings me the most joy is creating something memorable for someone else. This is a little peak at some delicate pink and green crepe rosettes that will make a beautiful holiday banner for my good friend at Mommy Mafia Designs.

Yulemart was a Blast!!

2009-12-02T09:45:00.000-05:00

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!

I'M BACK WITH A SPOOKTACULAR GIVEAWAY!!!!

2009-10-14T09:36:00.000-04:00

And the winner is Vicky from Shore Debris! Congratulations! Check Back for my upcoming Holiday Giveaway!

After a little summer break from blogging, I'm marking my return with a ghoulish giveaway! Looking for some freaky favors for your Halloween bash? Or some embellies for your scrapbook page? This reusable little bucket is jam packed with creepy ribbon, handmade hang tags, mini notebooks, stickers & more. Would even make a great gift for your crafting compadres! To win this party pail, visit Cinnamonspice Papercrafts and view all my paper products. To enter leave a comment about your favorite item! Giveaway ends at midnight 10/20 EST!

Extra Entries
1 entry- Place a Sweeten Up Your Gift-Giving button on your personal blog
1 entry- Become a Sweeten Up Your Gift-Giving follower (join followers on right-hand sidebar)
1 entry- Follow CinnamonScraps on Twitter
1 entry- Update your Twitter or Facebook account with links to this giveaway (New: you may twitter about this giveaway once a day. Please leave a comment each day!)

New ~ Pretty Journals for Your Pretty Notions!

2009-07-06T13:55:00.001-04:00

Summer is in full-swing in our house! In-between hanging and crafting with the kiddos, I've found some time to add a couple of new lines to my Etsy shop! The first are these altered composition book inspirational journals and address books. As every indie artist and crafter I know has tons of ideas floating around in their noggins on a constant basis, what better way to capture them but in an attractive journal???

If you've followed me for any length of time you know I love all things beachy, hence the beach-inspired notebook.

I'm putting my Wild Saffron paper to good use with this All a Flutter Creativity Book

and this "Full Bloom" Address Book. They were tons of fun to make and will be available in my shop soon! Sneak Peeks of my new crafting kits are on the way...check back soon!

Friday Faves ~ Beach Bum

2009-07-03T04:12:00.001-04:00

Going on an impromptu beach trip...wish I could take these items created by my crafty Cafemamas with me! Which one is your fave???

Friday Faves ~ Throwback Goodies

2009-06-19T10:02:00.000-04:00

I was feeling a little retro flavor today, so I'm sharing some vintage goodies from my Cafemom Team sistas! Which one is your fave?

Friday Faves - Cupcake Freak!

2009-06-06T05:42:00.001-04:00

You can tell by this week's favorites that I am a total cupcake freak...love all things cupcake and this way I get to enjoy them without the calories...lol! Which one is your fave?

Friday Faves

2009-05-30T00:36:00.000-04:00

While in search of the perfect little black dress I didn't make it past this shop! Clairelafaye's dresses are exquisite, the lace and frills are so feminine and sexy!

Craft Fair Tips for Papercrafters

2009-05-24T08:43:00.000-04:00

Ensure your packaging has your shop name/url on it

Just getting your feet wet with craft fairs? Here are some thoughts and insights I gained from my recent multiple-day fair experience.

The 1st tip, unfortunately is, stay away from venues that are not specifically geared towards "handmade". While the press release for this event called for "handcrafted vendors", out of the 12 booths onsite, only 4 of us actually made what we were selling. I ended up next to the lady who sells really inexpensive mass-produced jewelry at one of the local flea markets, whic is exactly what the fairgoers were interested

So, how do you find out info on upcoming shows in your area? There are many online eventlister services, some are free and others provide you a list of fairs a few months in advance for a membership fee such as Eventlister. Your local Etsy Street Team will probably also have a list on their blog or forum. Start looking early, at least 2-3 months in advance as some shows have a fairly large list of established vendors and are very competitive to be selected for. For example, applications for Ft. Bragg's November Yule Mart go out in the summer and are usually due by September.
When choosing a venue, seek as much info as possible about the fair, ie., is it new? Been around for several years? Is there an admission price for fairgoers? Will there be onsite concessions? All of this will affect your potential sales, especially in this economy.

If possible, set up your booth in advance, either in your yard, or wherever you have space (I used my living room) and take pictures to facilitate quick set-up at your event. Be creative with your booth, afterall, it's HOW your booth looks that will draw people in. Look around the house for interesting items, like baskets, picture frame stands, you can use for display. Use on-hand items like boxes hidden under your tabloth to create "risers" or heighth on your table. Check out Etsy for great banners, design your own (with cardstock and vinyl lettering that you can have laminated) or take advantage of free offers from internet marketing companies like Vistaprint. I use their free rubber stamps to stamp the back of all my cards. For smaller items, I print my shop info on a mailing label and adhere it to the outside of a clear resealable bag. Business Cards with a punched hole can also be tied to bags and larger items.

Draw more attention by offering freebies or having a drawing to win some of your wonderful goodies. Use up those scrapbook paper remnants by creating little matchbook notepads. Sometimes I enter people in the drawing just for signing up on my email listing (have a clipboard set up for this and one for custom orders too).

Set up a Make N' Take Station. Big Kids as well as wee ones enjoy craft-making so why not set aside a little space to let them make a card on the spot. Since the fair opened just before Mother's day, I assembled several card kits from leftover paper and cardstock and sold them for $2.00. I printed out various Mother's Day sentiments on cardstock and let the kids choose their desired phrase. Be sure to advertise your station and the price for making the craft.

Photo Memory Board came in handy to protect against wind.

Elevated photo trees make an eye catching dislay

Prepare for varying whether conditions. We had to contend with rain and strong winds, either could spell catastrophe for our fragile papergoods! Relied on this memory board to keep cards from being blown away. I displayed cards with a greeting inside on this board. I hung blank cards in clear resealable bags (to protect fragile ones from too much handling) from this photo "tree". Don't forget to snap pics of your booth for future craft fair applications if needed.

Memorable experinces? Please share! For more great tips, check out Etsy's blog, the Storque and happy fair-going!

Reflections of an Eclectic Crafter

2009-05-23T11:37:00.000-04:00

I'm supposed to be cleaning my house right now for friends coming over for a cook-out tomorrow, but I just had to blog about a question that I've been grappling with for some time now...WHAT IS MY STYLE??? Why does this matter? Well, in my hours and hours of blog-hopping and virtual window shopping on Etsy, the most successful sellers are branded and seem to have a style. If you see their work, then you automatically say, hey that's Papercakes' shop, or Boodybabies, or Wylesstyle or Rockerchic or whomever the seller may be. Is the same true of my work? Does it need to be? I go back and forth on this, because some days I feel like a little vintage, some days something polka dot, strawberry and chocolate will tickle my fancy, and then some days I can go totally rustic. Deep down inside, I think I prefer all things cute and sweet. So, why don't I just focus on this? All my life I've been told, I'm so cute, which is fine when you're 8 years old, not nearly 40. Funny how my own cuteness seeps it's way into my work. I've tried to do edgy or beautiful, but it just keeps coming back to CUTE. At the craft fair I recently did, someone wanted to buy a card and asked if I had anything not so girly and cute...I thought, nope, that's what I like, so that's what I make! I think I've been stretching myself too thin trying to create a little of this and that for everybody instead of a lot of what I love for the people who will love it too! What's your STYLE?

Cuttin' Up with Cricut..My 24-hr Word Book

2009-05-22T08:22:00.001-04:00

Some of you might remember, about a year ago Hubby got me a Cricut Expressions machine. Thought it would be great for churning out greeting cards and scrapbooking embellies...well, I have been slow to realize it's full potential until a couple of nights ago. I had two days to make a "BABY" Book for my sisterfriend. Typically I use the precut ones from Bo Bunny which are great, but I've seen some pretty creative ones while bloghopping and really wanted to have the ability to do it. And for anyone who's used the precut books, you know how time-consuming it can be to cut the paper for both sides of each letter, trim, sand edges, etc. So, in a panic, I decided to give cutting my own book a whirl...and wound up creating this in just over a day. I followed the detailed tutorial found on this fab blog, "Invincible Summer" . She graciously walks you through creating your own Word Book with Cricut Design Studio Software, which is about $90. Being thrifty, for now I'm just the free trial version of the software which allows you to cut with the cartridges that came with your machine. Ain't no stoppin' me now...I'm on the move!

Friday Faves

2009-05-09T09:02:00.000-04:00

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade
cinnamonspice.etsy.com

If you're looking for an end-of-the year teacher gift, check out Etsy first! Which one is your fave?

Showin' the Teachers Some Love!

2009-05-08T20:57:00.000-04:00

While bloghopping the other day, I came across a fabulous site: the "Cutting Cafe" and did she ever save me in the knick of time! I needed something quick and easy for the end-of-the-week teacher gifts; we'd already given them cards made by the kiddos and "sweet treats" (based off Stamper's Dream's tutorial), so we continued with the handmade goodness! Remember my pack of K & Company "Wild Saffron" paper? Well, I put it to use with these monogrammed notecard holders, aren't they delish??? The look of surprise and delight on the teachers' faces made it all worthwhile! Need some crafting tips or gift-making guidance? Check out TipJunkie's Blog; it's chock full of helpful ideas for any occasion.

Cute Handmade Stuff Inside...Going Fair Crazy!

2009-04-25T10:22:00.000-04:00

custom mini lunch sacks by celestefrittata

greeting cards monogram notecards little ladybug journal
So, I've been tweeting quite a bit about my upcoming 2-week fair preparations...found out about it kinda last minute and I've been working like a mad woman to have "enough" stuff. Just what enough is I don't know, but I figure I better have enough to actually turn a profit! Wanted to share these incredibly cute handmade promo mini lunch sacks...celestefrittata's shop is one of the many reasons I adore the etsy community. She's making 50 of these sacks for me to send home with customers the many, many goodies I will sell at the fair! Above is a little peek at what I've been creating...now, off to make more stuff like cupcake toppers and scrapbooking supplies!

Friday Faves on Etsy Day

2009-04-24T05:35:00.000-04:00

Spent a few days at Myrtle Beach and still have the sun, sand and surf on my mind! If you share my love for all things BEACHY, you will get lost in all of the wonderful HANDMADE beach-themed art on Etsy. If you haven't heard, Etsy is the VIRTUAL MARKETPLACE of choice for thousands of indie artists worldwide. So take a break from twittering, plurking, facebooking etc. and get over to ETSY!

Poetically Speaking

2009-04-14T09:19:00.000-04:00

I was inspired to write a little poetry today! In honor of National Poetry Month, an awesome Etsymom, Daisycreekdesigns, posted the weekly promo theme asking us to promote other Etsymoms with a poem. I got such a kick out of it I decided to post my promo here!!! Alright, my poetry might not be that great, but these shops sure are!

Take time to enjoy the morning sun

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_list_4&listing_id=23098358&ga_search_query=etsymom+and+sun&ga_search_type=tag_title_description&ga_page=&min=&max=&order=

Laugh out loud, it's great fun

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_list_14&listing_id=23349371&ga_search_query=etsymom+and+laugh&ga_search_type=tag_title_description&ga_page=&min=&max=&order=

Treasure your days, one by one

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_list_5&listing_id=21669188&ga_search_query=etsymom+and+treasure&ga_search_type=tag_title_description&ga_page=4&min=&max=&order=

Happy Easter!

2009-04-12T18:25:00.000-04:00

What a wonderful Easter! We just arrived home from our Easter program at church and dinner with friends...boy can she cook! I baked Nana's peach cobbler and it didn't turn out too bad! Hope your Easter was just as special...God bless.

Friday Faves

2009-04-10T08:03:00.000-04:00

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade
cinnamonspice.etsy.com

Today I want to give props to my sister paper crafters! While some might not consider paper crafting an art form, I truly believe it takes an artistic eye to create works as beautiful as these. Which one is your fave?

100th Blogpost and eenamaria Tote Giveaway!

2009-04-07T12:01:00.000-04:00

I just stumbled upon Redsoxmommy's blog and boy does she have some incredible giveaways. I just entered her giveaway for this fierce eenamaria totes. It's an "I Mean Bizniss Travel Tote in blue", like the one pictured above. This bag is a $69 value and is perfect for packing for a weekend getaway or even a picnic to the park this summer. Visit Redsoxmommy's blog for more details and to enter!

Friday Faves!

2009-04-02T20:22:00.000-04:00

Check my blog out every Friday to see the new Etsy shops I've hearted during the week. You never know, your shop could be one of my favorites! This week I'm in search of the perfect tutu for my new little bambina. I want something different from a traditional Easter dress and look at all of the fabulous choices! Now, I just need to decide if I want full-on color or something a little more subtle...which is your Friday fave?

I'm addicted...

2009-03-31T11:36:00.000-04:00

to buying scrapbooking supplies!!

I just bought these new opaque 3-D pens, beautiful double-sided "Wild Saffron" papers by K&Company and these gorgeous Prima flowers...and then admitted that I have a problem! 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!

Handmade Baby Shower Essentials

2009-03-28T15:36:00.000-04:00

Need some fresh, new ideas for a baby shower?

1. Opt for a "destination" shower:
My girl, Kelli, and I hosted one for a really sweet friend of ours today. Like me, she's having her 3rd baby and didn't really want a traditional shower with a lot of people; so we went for something more intimate and held it a cute little tea house, McDuff's Team Room and Emporium. It saved me on time and money because I didn't have to clean my house or buy and prepare all the food, decorations etc.

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!

My Top Ten

2009-03-25T15:10:00.001-04:00

Etsy
Buy Handmade
cinnamonspice

Twitter!

2009-03-25T06:17:00.000-04:00

I'm tweeting away! Follow me!

http://twitter.com/CinnamonScraps

Sweet Surprises

2009-03-24T10:56:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I woke up wishing hubby could play hooky and stay home...but I didn't say anything to him. Imagine my surprise when he walked through the door after dropping our daughter off at school and said "let's go to breakfast!" I truly cherish that special connection we have. And what timing; I had just finished feeding the baby, so the kiddies, hubby and I went to our favorite downtown spot, Horne's. Not that I needed the french toast and sausage but it was extra yummy all because it was totally unexpected!

Name These Tins!!!!

2009-03-22T06:53:00.000-04:00

In honor of my grand reopening, not only am I having an "Oh Baby, Baby's Here Sale", I decided to do a giveaway of one of my Handcrafted Keepsake tins. These tins are perfect for that lock of baby's hair or your little one's 1st tooth. I've added these larger sized ones (3 in. diameter by 1 in. high) in new themes and colors but I need a little help in naming them! To enter, leave a comment with your suggested names for 2 of the 4 tins. Two winners will be chosen 1 week from today and will get to have a specially-designed custom tin. Visit Cinnamonspice Papercrafts for available styles. Please leave contact information in the comments; no obscene or rude remarks please!

Thankful for My New Life

2009-03-18T13:59:00.001-04:00

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!

Getting My Groove Back

2009-03-18T12:49:00.000-04:00

Well, in just a few short days I will be reopening my Etsy shop. I'm revamping a few things for a fresh new start. The shop was established as a partnership a little over a year ago and now that I've been flying solo for a while I've made a few tweaks. I've slightly modified the name, it is now Cinnamonspice Papercrafts. I want people to know exactly what the shop specializes in, just by seeing the name. I'm also having a "Baby's Here" sale beginning March 21st, where I'll be offering 30% off items for baby. There's a few other things in store but you'll have to stop in to see what those are! As far as crafting, I held off until my brain was close to overloading with a host of new ideas. I'm still figuring out how to get my work done without sacrificing time with the kiddos...it's becoming easier now that baby Spice sleeps through the night. So, here's what I've been up to... 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!

Welcoming Baby Etsy Style!

2009-02-24T08:58:00.000-05:00

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. Several 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 Etsy shop will be reopening within a few weeks. Check back here for details on my huge reopening sale!

Just to say thanks...

2009-01-28T17:00:00.000-05:00

Wanting to impress upon my six-year old the importance of being courteous and sending out proper thank you's for gifts, we sat down together and made thank you cards! She thanked her friends for birthday gifts and I wanted to show my appreciation for my baby shower presents. 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!

I also got to try out a great Christmas gift I received, a portable light studio! Hubby completely surprised me with it; I had no idea he even knew they existed. He said he wanted me to be able to take pictures of my work any time of day, without having to worry about the "right" lighting and weather conditions. Yay hubby!!

Handmade Christmas!

2008-12-24T07:51:00.000-05:00

The kiddos and I have had a blast over the past couple of weeks getting ready for Christmas! We love adding a handmade touch to all our gifts, so this year, my son and daughter both got in on the fun. From snowman pencils, to hand-decorated gift bags and yummy Peppermint Bark, we've been enjoying ringing in the Christmas season together. I wish I could say that most of the ideas were mine, but this year I relied on a Martha Stewart Holiday Magazine from a couple of years ago, thanks Martha! Preparing the Peppermint Bark is something fun the whole family can do. It's quick and easy and keeps in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to a week. We bought pretty glass canisters from the local craft store and added a holiday label to give as gifts to our friends. Below is the recipe for the Peppermint bark with a few modifications:

Makes about 2 1/2 pounds

2 12 oz. bags of Nestle's premium white chocolate morsels

12 large candy canes

1/2 teaspoon peppermint oil (you can find at local craft store)

1. Line an 11-by-17-inch baking sheet with parchment paper, and set aside.

2. Follow instructions on package for melting chocolate. (I was able to pour both bags into a pyrex dish and heat for 2 minutes at 70%; stir and heat for an additional 10 seconds at 70%.

3. While the chocolate is melting, with a chef's knife or kitchen mallet, cut or pound candy into 1/4-inch pieces. I recommend putting the unwrapped candy canes into a plastic bag and placing it onto foil to contain the mess!

4. Stir candy and peppermint oil into the melted choclate. Pour mixture onto prepared baking sheet; spread evenly with an offset spatula. Refrigerate until firm, 25 to 30 minutes. Break into pieces before packaging (or serving). Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!