etsy purchases, business cards, and a giveaway!

etsy has become such a big part of my life that i forget that not all people know about it.


i love buying things that i can enjoy all day by wearing or carrying it around. 
my recent purchases have been this simple and delicate necklace

The Charteuse Room

and this fun purse... it's out of my norm of what i usually spend, but after reading the background behind it... 

"this darling bag was created in honor of our soon-to-be-adopted daughter...who will be named Emery Lin. our hope is that the sale of this bag will help raise funds to bring her home even sooner! my husband, our 2 boys (foster 4yrs, rowan 2 years) and i, anxiously await the arrival of our sweet daughter and sister. thank you for being a part of something so special and dear to us!"


...i just had to buy it!!

Fosterkadesigns

i've received a lot of sweet compliments on my purse and yesterday i had a few people ask me about my necklace.  each time i talk to people i tell them that i got it on Etsy and their response is always... Etsy??  i usually start explaining what an wonderful community it is of incredibly talented and creative small business owners.  the conversation usually leads to them writing down the website so they can check it out later.


i got to thinking about it and decided to create an easy business card that i can pass out to spread the word about Etsy.  it has my shop information on it, but i figure they can start there and then spend hours browsing through all of the other wonderful shops.  :o)


here are the cards....

i think it will be so fun to pass them out!

this is the punch i used to cut them out. i bought mine at joann with a 50% off coupon.

EK Success

here's my giveaway... i'll make a PDF of these cards with your personal information

or with your store and/or blog information

8 are on each sheet.  you can print them out on your own printer and punch them out, or you can just cut them out in a rectangle shape with a paper cutter... each card measures 3"x 2".  


i can make a sheet of the green border or the grey border, or you can have a combination of the two colors... you decide! :o)


GIVEAWAY INSTRUCTIONS

• post a comment by Sunday, January 23 at 10:00 pm PST
• become a follower of this blog for a 2nd entry and comment a 2nd time to let me know (if you're already a follower, just comment again letting me know)

* i will randomly select 3 people for this giveaway  :o)

DIY Flat Gift Bag & A Giveaway

hi all!

i hope that you all had a fantabulous thanksgiving!

i got a chance to hang out with my fam and had a wonderful time. :o)

here's another tutorial for y'all!  these flat gift bags are perfect for little trinkets, small journals, gift tags, etc.  i hope you like it! :o)

please let me know if you have any questions.  also, please scroll down to the bottom for more details and also for a GIVEAWAY! :o) 

my printer

CIS ink system

gift tag pdf

here's my giveaway... this set of gift bags & tags, and some other fun things... it'll be a surprise for the winner. :o)  i like surprises... don't you??

to enter:

all you have to do is leave a comment below

i will randomly choose a winner on december 5 at 11:00 pm pst

Incredible Fabrics & A Giveaway!

Back on THIS post I shared about an Etsy shop I found where I purchased beautiful scraps of fabrics at great prices.  The shop was run by Charlie and Lindsay, two love birds who love fabric.  I was bummed when I visited their shop only to find that it was closed. :o(

This week I received a beautiful postcard in the mail about Hawthorne Threads.  I checked out the website and was thrilled to find out that the owners are Charlie and Lindsay!  I am just droolin over everything in their shop and I'm loving their new user friendly set up.You have got to check it out for a few reasons:

1.  They have incredible designer fabrics at reasonable prices.

Amy Butler

 Heather Bailey

Sandi Henderson

and SOOOOOO many other fabulous designers!!

2.  For fabric coordinating challenged people like me, they suggest lots of options to go with your print.  They go even further by letting you choose the specific color from your print that you would like to coordinate with.

3. They allow you to post pictures of your handmade creations using their fabrics.  So if you're loving a fabric swatch but not sure what to create with it, their site will even help you out in that area!

4.  You can purchase by different lengths and they offer lots of discounts.

Charlie and Lindsay are sooooooo fabulous that they are hosting this week's giveaway!  They are giving away a fat quarter bundle of Studio E's Calypso prints to one of my blog readers!!!!

Check out all of the fabrics included in this bundle HERE.

To enter:

1.  Pop on over to Charlie and Lindsay's shop, Hawthorne Threads

2. Leave a comment here sharing about a product you love in their shop

3. They wanted me to let you all know that this giveaway is open to international participants (didn't I tell you that they are awesome????) You don't have to be a follower to enter. :o)

The winner will be announced 10:00 p.m. PST on December 6th.  Good luck!!!!

One Thing I Learned From Blogging

I can't believe that this is the 100th post!

It actually went by quick because of all of you.  I started blogging because I love to create and I wanted to share some of my creations.  I started out mostly making cards and other paper crafts.  Then, through this incredible world of blogging, I met so many creative people who inspired me to venture into other creative endeavors.  I have since come to love refinishing furniture, sewing, and thrifting at yard sales, estate sales, and thrift stores.  Can you believe that prior to blogging I had never been to an estate sale? Blogging has truly opened up a whole new world to me.

I've learned so much from blogging, but didn't want to keep you here all day so I narrowed it down one major thing that I thing encompasses it all:

1. I am the only one who holds me back from accomplishing ANYTHING creative. All the resources are out there through the blogging world.  I've learned how to create a ruffle, how to paint laminate, how to bake a better chocolate cookie, and so much more from blog searching.   There are A LOT of genius people out there (including YOU)!!!

The thing I've been blessed by from blogging is all of the bloggy love and encouragement.  I do love to create and I feel like I come alive when I'm creating something new so it's something I will always do. But the bloggy love I feel through someone new following my blog or through reading a sweet comment is definitely inspires me to create as well.  Well... to be honest, without those two things, I would still create, but I probably wouldn't take pictures or write about it anymore... who likes to talk out into the void?  ;o)  

I was a lurker for a couple of years and I never understood how encouraging it was to leave a comment or to become a follower.  So I just want to encourage you all... show some bloggy love to someone new today! :o)  Leave a kind comment or become a friend/follower to someone who inspires you. 

I wrestled over this for awhile.  I like to be inclusive, but I really wanted to show my appreciation and love for those that have encouraged me and have left a comment or followed my blog.  So today I'm giving away two really fun things to YOU (followers or previous commenters)... A brand stinkin new copy of Tara Fey's Blogging for Bliss and BH&G's Fall 2009 copy of 100 decorating ideas under $100.  Are these right up our alley or what??  

Blogging for Bliss is FILLED with great tips for making your blog look better.  It has tons of links to sites that would be helpful to you and to blogs that will inspire to you.

BH&G's 100 decorating ideas is AWESOME!!!!  It has ideas on making an armoire into a cute but heavy duty kitchen storage system, instructions on how to decorate your living room for the seasons, and it is has a gazillion DIY projects that will keep you busy well into the new year.

So... you wanna know the rules???

1. You must be a follower or have commented previously to be eligible.  On the follower thing- you're welcome to become a new follower and enter.  On the previously commented thing... this is really on an honor system.  I know not everyone has a blogger account and can't follow, but you're still awesome for leaving comments, so this is my thanks to you.
2. If you fit the statement above, you are welcome to enter once every day until the end of the giveaway.  
3. To enter, leave me a comment and mention once of your favorite blogs or share with me something you've learned through blogging.

I'll use Random.org to chose the winner at 10:00 p.m. PST on November 22nd.

I can't wait to hear from you!! :o)  Good luck!!! I can't wait to see who wins!!!

How to Make a Reversible Coffee Cozy

This is the second part in my series of Christmas giveaways! I'm having too much fun making things for friends, family, and YOU (my blog friends who I come to love as both friends and family). :)   


If you're new to my blog, every time I make a Christmas gift I'm making an extra to giveaway here. 


So this time around I'm giving away this reversible coffee cozy so you can be green while enjoying your extra hot drinks. Hopefully you can tell by the pictures, but it is a red, light blue, and white Joel Dewberry fabric. 
.
I wanted it to be reversible so I sewed a thin hairband and a button on to my cozy. 

Here's the other side. 

And who doesn't love Starbucks?? I'm actually not a coffee drinker, but I sure love their hot chocolates and spiced cider!  Mmmmmmm!  I'm loving the cooler weather!!


I'm also including a $10 Starbucks gift card!

Use a coffee cozy as your template.  

 Open up the coffee cozy and trace around it on the wrong/back side of the fabric. 

Cut out the fabric 1/4" away from your trace marks and place it on a second piece of fabric, right sides facing each other. Using the 1st piece you cut out as the template, cut out the 2nd piece of fabric.

Lay these two pieces on a thin piece of batting and cut out.  Pin down all 3 pieces making sure that you can see your trace marks on top.  You will need to see these marks in a bit. (Looking down at your cut pieces, it should be layered: wrong side with trace marks-right side 2nd fabric-thin batting)
Take a thin hairband and place it in between the two pieces of fabric. 

These hairbands tend to break at the point they are fused together so make sure that fused end is hanging out (it was kind of hard to see so I put a piece of batting down for a better quality picture). 

Using pins, secure the hairband by placing one pin on top and another one below the hairband.

Prepare to sew all three pieces together by pinning it all together.  I also use my pins to indicate a two inch spot I don't want to sew on the bottom of the coffee cozy.

This is what the backside should look like right before it's ready to sew. This is the thin batting.

Sew along the edges on the trace marks made earlier.  Double back on the hairband to make sure it's secure.  Continue around leaving that two inch section unsewed.

Trim off the corners and cut off the piece of the hairband that is sticking out. 

Turn it inside out by pushing the insides through that 2 inch spot that wasn't sewed. 

Iron it flat. Straight stitch all along the edge. 

It's "sew" cute and we're almost done!
Place your coffee cozy around a cup to figure out where you want to place the button.  Using a pin, mark the spot where the button will go.

Hold a button on each side at the place you marked and loosely make two stitched to secure the buttons.  Slip a toothpick in between the button and the fabric on both sides to give it a little wiggle room. 

Finish securing the buttons and VOILA!!!  You're reversible coffee cozy is complete!!

 

On this one, I forgot to trim the end of the hairband off. :o(  See how visible it is??

Let my mistake be an example. :o)  Trim the end of the hairband off!!

I'm linking to "I Can Make That Party" at Just a Girl!!  

***GIVEAWAY CLOSED***
There are 3 opportunities to enter:

1. Leave me a comment and tell me your favorite Starbucks drink. *You don't have to have a Blogger account to leave a comment, but please be sure to leave your email addy so I can contact you if you win. 
2. Become a friend/follower.  Leave me a comment letting me know. *If you're already a friend, please leave me a separate comment letting me know you want to be entered again. 
3. Post a link to my giveaway on your blog. Leave me a separate comment letting me know you did. 

The winner will be chosen on October 25th at 10:00 p.m. PST.

Good luck!!  :)

Hurry! Free Glidden Paint

I got this tip from My Repurposed Life. Glidden is giving away a gallon of paint in the color of your choice for FREE until October 11th, so hurry over to THIS site and spread the word!


Thanks for the tip Gail!

$35 Shopping Giveaway

Check out PK's blog Room Remix for a $35 Shopping Giveaway to the store of YOUR CHOICE.   Check it out HERE.

Room Makeover $5000 Contest

I stumbled across THIS contest today and thought of all of you DIYers.

At first I thought it was a before and after contest (how perfect for all of you talented people!), but after reading the "facts" realized you just have to fill out the form to enter (no purchase necessary).

Man... what we could do with $5,000!!!!

You can enter once every day until September 30th.

Good luck!  Let me know if you win!!

My First Giveaway!

Last night while making a sample organizer, I had an idea.  For every non-perishable gift item I make for Christmas, I'll make an extra to give away.  Once September hits, I start gearing up for Christmas.  So check back often!

For my first giveaway I made this organizer:

It's 6"x 3", a perfect size for storing your coupons. 

It's sturdy and expands, so it can hold a lot.

Since it's my first giveaway, I won't draw a winner until September 20th.  Just leave me a comment, let me know if you started your Christmas planning, any ideas you have and you're entered!  You don't have to have a Blogger account to enter.  There's an option to leave a comment anonymously, but you need to leave me your name and email address so I have a way of contacting you.

As always, thank you for stopping by my blog, thanks for participating, and good luck!