Whoo Loves You? - Etsy Inspired Challenge #112

Welcome to this week's Etsy Inspired Challenge! We have an amazing shop for you to be inspired by this week. BeiLeXian is filled with whimsical paintings that are sure to warm your heart. When I first discovered this shop, I immediately fell in love with THIS print. However, my project for today was inspired by all the cute owl paintings.

I also was inspired by this sweet picture. I thought the hanging hearts were so cute and I tried to duplicate that on my card using a needle and some baker's twine that coordinated with my card colors but it didn't quite turn out as well as I had hoped. However, I did have fun creating the little scene on this card using My Mind's Eye's Little Boy Blue collection.

Our sponsor this week is Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps, a great shop with both clear and digital stamps. And you could win a $15 credit to their shop by playing along in the challenge this week!

But that's not all! Another lucky winner will receive an $18 print of their choice from our featured Etsy shop this week, BeiLeXian.

So head on over to BeiLeXian and find an item that inspires you, create a project of your own, and link it up to the Etsy Inspired blog for your chance to win one of this week's fantastic prizes!

And don't forget to visit the rest of the Design Team to see what inspired them!

• Ashley
• De
• Emily B
• Emily N
• Joy
• Rebecca (October Guest Designer)
• Savannah
• Stephanie
• Virginia

My little guy just can't seem to lose this cough of his...although we saw the doctor yesterday and she says he seems to be on the mend. Today will be a day of rest for us in hopes of speeding up his recovery. Sunday will be filled with some fun Halloween activities and then it's back to school on Monday! Enjoy your weekend!

Treasury Tuesday - Giving Thanks

Happy Tuesday everyone! Today was filled with running errands, a trip to the doctor for my sick little guy, and visiting with some family we haven't seen in awhile...so super busy, but good. And I think my little one is on his way to feeling better...Yeah!

Every Tuesday I am taking time to create a treasury on Etsy and share it with you all here for some inspiration and maybe some new discoveries or gift ideas too! :) And along with my treasury I like to share links to a few other favorites that I have seen as well.

Although Halloween is this weekend, I am actually already more focused on Thanksgiving. For me it is always a time to pause and take count of all that I have to be thankful for. So that is what inspired my treasury this week.


I'm thankful for so many things but some that I featured in this treasury represent family, friends, my children, education, nature, dance, love, laughter, and my home. To check out this treasury up close along with links to the shops that sell these wonderful items, click HERE.

And here are a few other treasuries that were created with the giving thanks theme in mind.

Giving Thanks in Style

Give Thanks...

Let's Give Thanks and Smile!

Enjoy your evening! I need to work on my goal for this week...catch you later!

Motivational Monday - One Step at a Time

How was your Monday? Did you set a small goal for yourself last week and achieve it?
My goal last week was to participate in two card challenges. Now, technically I did do this but I only created one card (shown HERE). But I am proud of myself for making the time this week to participate in the challenges and I was also very nicely rewarded for it too! :) My card was picked as one of the Fab 5 at 2 Sketches 4 You and it was also chosen to be in the spotlight over at 365 cards!

I have always been a goal oriented person and have found great success in setting small goals to get to the larger goal. That way it's not so overwhelming. Like starting my Etsy Shop...first I just looked into the idea, researched things on Etsy and read the forums. Then as I was deciding to actually start my shop I worked on getting a business license, planning out the details for my shop such as shipping policies and the announcement. Then when it was time to start my shop I made sure to have some inventory, practiced taking good pictures of my products, and decided on pricing. Now, I just need to continue to set small goals for myself so that I keep developing new products, increase my inventory, and work on promoting too.

So, each Monday I will be posting my weekly goal and hope that this will encourage some of you to join me in the same goal or in working on your own goal. This is a way for me to hold myself more accountable and not just keep putting things off until next week when I think I will have more time...that rarely happens! :)

This week my goal is to create and submit two cards/projects for magazine submission calls. Last year I set the goal to get published and I made it happen. But since then I have not submitted much so I want to get in the habit of trying to submit a few projects each month. And for those of you who feel like you'll never get published...there is no harm in trying. Eventually you might get a project picked up and get to see it in a magazine which is super exciting!

Here are a few links to submission calls in case you want to join me in my goal for this week!
Creating Keepsakes
Scrapbook Trends/Cards/Handmade
Paper Crafts

Enjoy the rest of your evening! I'll be back tomorrow with some Etsy inspiration!

Many Thanks - Etsy Inspired Challenge #111

First of all I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who participated in the Etsy Inspired Challenge last week. I really enjoyed seeing how all of you were inspired by my projects and products.

This week's Etsy shop, Stilleto Heights, is sure to inspire you in a whole new way! Jennifer is a mixed media artist and her work has a lovely vintage feel. I was inspired by this piece. The beautiful red flowers against the brown/kraft background inspired me to get out my stamps and create this card.

I know this is very clean and simple but I tried adding more and it just didn't feel right. I think I might make a set of these to give someone for a little gift.

Our sponsor this week is Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps... such cute stamps!
And one lucky winner will receive $15 to spend in the shop!


And that's not all! Another person will win two prints of their choice from Stilleto Heights! Also, both shops are offering discounts to anyone who plays along in the challenge...check out the Etsy Inspired blog for all the details!

All you have to do to play along is:
- Visit Stilleto Heights and find an item that inspires you
- Create a project based off that inspiration and link it up to the Etsy Inspired Blog by Friday, October 29th at noon
Easy peasy, right?! :)

Be sure to visit the rest of the Design Team...they have some fabulously inspired projects!

(All their links are in my sidebar to the right...for some reason my computer doesn't want to copy and paste the links this evening)

It's another busy weekend around here for us and I have a sick little guy that just can't seem to get rid of a cold. I am thinking that we might be heading back to the doctor on Monday.

Enjoy your weekend!

There's Still Time...

to have a chance to win some goodies from my shop, Capturing Creativity! All you have to do is play along in the Etsy Inspired Challenge. Check out all the details HERE.

For the Love of Buttons!

Raise your hand if you love buttons! I don't know what it is about these small round things but if I could have jars of them in every color available I would. :) They are the perfect accent to just about any project, which is why I was immediately drawn to the 365 Cards challenge to use 15 buttons on a card. And I also decided to use Kazan's sketch #64 over at 2 Sketches 4 You.

I love how this card turned out. Thanks Kazan for the inspiring sketch! I simply turned the sketch on it's side. The yummy buttons and lovely senitment are from Papertrey Ink. The adorable snowman is from an older MME collection that I have been hoarding for 2 years. The great patterned paper is from Basic Grey's Eskimo Kisses collection and the large rikrak is May Arts.

Thanks for visiting!

Oh and if you are a button lover too you might be interested in these creative buttons from some talented crafters on Etsy!
Tessa Ann
Such Sweet Tierney
Kimmieprout

Treasury Tuesday - Autumn Splendor

Don't you just love Fall?! Yesterday as I was driving my son to school, I passed by a lovely row of trees that were just bursting with color. I love the chill in the air, trips to the pumpkin patch, warming up with a cup of tea or hot chocolate, snuggling up with a blanket and a good book, and all the beautiful fall colors that nature creates. So, when I went searching Etsy for great items for a treasury this week it was no surprise when I was instantly attracted to all the warm colors of autumn inspired items. Take a look at these lovely finds.

I'm thinking that I really need one of those wreaths to help bring fall into my home. You can check out the treasury up close with links to all the fabulous shops HERE.

Here are a few more lovely autumn treasuries created by other Etsians.

Red Autumn

Okey Dokey Artichokey (I just love this unique title and interesting collection)

Cranberry Treats

I hope you enjoy these wonderful collections of Etsy items and find a little fall inspiration! If you've created a treasury or these treasuries inspired you to create a new fall item, I'd love to see it...just leave a link in the comments section and I'll be sure to check it out!

We are going to look at 3 potential houses today (yes, we're still trying to find the perfect house) and our house is still on the market as well. So, hopefully we will fall in love with one of them. :) But if not, I know it will all come together at the right time. Enjoy your day!

Motivation Monday

Lately I have to admit I have been lacking a bit in the motivation department. I haven't been crafting a lot, exercising is virtually non-existant, and I have spent a little too much time in front of the tv or computer in the evenings once the boys go to bed. So, my plan is to start making a small goal for myself every Monday that I can work toward and achieve throughout the week. Every Monday I plan to blog about my progress and I'd love to hear from you all about any goals you are setting for yourself and what you've achieved. Also, sometimes I will share motivational quotes, books, or blogs that I discover.

This week my goal is to participate in at least 2 card challenges. I plan to post my cards on Wednesday or Thursday. If you'd like to join me in this, here are a few challenges to choose from:

Etsy Inspired Challenge
2 Sketches 4 You
Shabby Tea Room
Card Patterns
Get Sketchy
Caardvarks
365 Cards

I'll be back tomorrow with some beautiful Etsy treasuries and items for you to be inspired by!

Etsy Inspired Challenge #110 - Capturing Creativity (Hey that's me!) :)

I am super excited about this week's Etsy Inspired Challenge because I am the featured Etsy Shop and Sponsor!!! I love the Etsy Inspired Challenge, am so thankful to Ashley for choosing me to be a part of her team (over a year and a half ago), and it actually is partially what inspired me to start my own Etsy shop! So, I can't wait to see which items of mine inspire you this week! You can check out my shop HERE.

I was inspired by my Peace on Earth card to get out my chipboard shapes and Doodlebug Designs chunky glitter (love this stuff!) to create this fun card.

a is for apple

I used the current sketch over at 2 Sketches 4 You to create this card, along with some Echo Park Summertime paper, PTI cardstock and buttons, and American Crafts foil thicker. I think it will be perfect for giving to my son's preschool teacher.

So....want to know what you can win from my shop if you play along?! One person will win a creativity kit filled with fun supplies for creating a mini album, scrapbooking, or card making. And another person will win an Accordian book and stamp set.



All you have to do to play along is:
- Visit my shop!
- Find an item that inspires you and create your own project
- Link your project up to the Etsy Inspired Blog by Friday the 22nd at noon

Be sure to visit the rest of the Design Team to see what inspiring projects they have come up with! Some of them have even used goodies from my shop!

• Ashley
• De
• Emily B
• Emily N
• Joy
• Rebecca (October Guest Designer)
• Savannah
• Stephanie
• Virginia

Have a wonderful weekend! We will be enjoying some soccer, a birthday party, and probably a trip to the pumpkin patch too...fun times!

Treasury Tuesday!

Hello! So today marks the beginning of some new regularly scheduled blog posts. Every Tuesday I will be sharing a treasury I have created on Etsy as well as a few of my favorites created by other Etsians. My hope is that you will find inspiration in these collections as well as maybe a few gift ideas or lovely goodies for yourself!

This week I created a very tranquil treasury that I think has a peaceful, winter feel to it.

Click HERE to see the treasury up close and to visit the great shops that created these items.

Here are two other treasuries I found to be quite lovely and calming as well.
http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4caf45cec2268eef27ed1e20/photographic-treasury-pastel-rainbow#4cb0f23791928eeffa328627

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4ca2a518fd8a6d9173b07499/shhhhhh#4cb0f309b3b06d91b0c4aaae

And if you enjoy Robert Frost's poetry, check out this treasury that I created two weeks ago:

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4cab7f6370f08eef52e34026/two-roads-diverged-in-a-yellow-wood?index=2

I'd love to hear what you think about these treasuries or this new feature on my blog!

New and Improved!

Hello blogging friends and visitors! So, I know I have been a little absent here lately...posting only once a week. But I have been busy working on a bunch of new things for my Etsy shop, like my newly redesigned card making kits for kids and have just been super busy with both the boys' schools. However, starting tomorrow my blog will begin having more regular scheduled programming that I hope you all will enjoy!

I'm still working on a few ideas but Treasury Tuesdays and Etsy Inspired Challenge Saturdays are definitely 2 posts you can expect to see every week. See you tomorrow!

Love Letters - Etsy Inspired Challenge #109

Hello fellow crafters and Etsy lovers! Are you ready for a new Etsy Inspired Challenge?! This week we have a fun jewelry shop for you to be inspired by. Lemon Kissed (don't you just love that name!) carries pretty wood filigree earrings, colorful flower studs, and necklaces/bracelets too!

I was inspired by these bright red Dahlias and an adorable image I received from our sponsor this week, Pholkart Blessings.


I was going to add more to this card but in the end I felt like this great image should stand alone. And if you love this image just wait until you visit Pholkart Blessings and see what other images are available! Be sure to play along in the challenge this week for your chance to win your 5 favorite images from Pholkart Blessings or a pair of cute earrings from Lemon Kissed.

Check out the Etsy Inspired Blog for all the details!

And pay a visit to these lovely ladies for some extra inspiration:

• Ashley
• De
• Emily B
• Emily N
• Joy
• Rebecca (October Guest Designer)
• Savannah
• Stephanie
• Virginia

Seeing Stars - Etsy Inspired Challenge #108

Welcome to another Etsy Inspired Challenge! We have a great shop for you this week...think Christmas gifts! Two Eggplants offers fun soaps and pretty stationary. I especially like their Lego soaps...perfect for a Lego Birthday party favor!

However, I was inspired by these star fairy wand soaps to create this colorful star congratulations card.

All the supplies used on this card are from American Crafts (Everyday collection and Thickers).

And you are going to want to be sure to play along this week for your chance to win 5 free digis from our fabulous sponsor, Pink Cat Studios!!! They have some of the cutest little kid images!

Check out the Etsy Inspired Blog for all the details on how to play along and these ladies are sure to inspire you with their Etsy Inspired projects too!

• Ashley
• De
• Emily B
• Emily N
• Joy
• Rebecca (October Guest Designer)
• Savannah
• Stephanie
• Virginia

Okay, so I feel like I'm constantly on the go lately...just waiting for things to slow down a bit around her. Maybe October will bring a little more down time. This weekend we have 2 open houses, soccer, family dinner, and I have a big to-do list as well. Hope you have a wonderful weekend!