Some Etsy Faves

Map Heart Cards

by INKWHIMSY

Pink Tree Owl Boxed Set
by ebeepaperie

You're My Very Favorite Greeting Card
by Sparrownestscript

You're My Favorite Mom (so far) Card

by 4/Four Cards

I really have a love for all things Etsy, so here are some of the shops and cards in my "Favorites" listings. Some cute and some funny - but all handmade and puh-retty lovely.

Hope you enjoy!

If you haven't checked out Etsy, yet - head on over.
Click on the pictures of the cards above or the shop names and get to browsing over there.
You will get hooked!

*Note - I will not be held responsible for any new Etsy addictions that may follow, haha.*

Happy Etsy-ing!

Mama Got Some New Toys

Yeah, I did! Well, technically, they're Bento supplies to make fun breakfasts and lunches for little man, but still... I get to play with them! Yay! I'm waiting on two other sets to come in, as well, which includes a space set! Fun!

Can you tell I'm having fun with the whole Muffin Tin Meal stuff? Totally am. Yay for Bento supplies! And yay for Etsy for letting people sell supplies as well as handmade items!

Daisy Mae Button Earrings Tutorial

Here it is, folks...my first tutorial...and we'll see if it won't just be my last, haha. I've been making lots of items for my Etsy shop, so I thought I would show how I made one of the pairs of button earrings that I recently listed. It is so easy to make, you'll think to yourself, "I could do that." Yeah, you can...but you just may not have the time. I've got lots of time on my hands, people. So here goes...

How to Make "Daisy Mae" Button Earrings

All that's needed for this project are pictured above: a hot glue gun (I used one with a high heat setting), the glue sticks (can't do much without those!), a cute pair of buttons and earring backs. These supplies were all purchased at Hobby Lobby (as it is the only craft store in town).

The first step...argh!...first tutorial FAIL...did not show cutting tool in supplies photo.
Buy one of these tools, too, which I don't know the name of. I bought a mini jewelry tool set, that came in a 3-pack.

Alright...moving on. I used this tool to clip off the small, rectangular stem that was protruding from the back of the button. This gives it a flat surface to glue to the earring posts in the next step.

The next step is to put a dot of hot glue on the earring post and affix it to the desired position on the button. I held the button to the earring post for 30 seconds and then let it sit for awhile before moving it around for pictures.

And VOILA! There you have a cute, little pair of daisy button earrings. (The button holes kind of look like eyes, so they look like happy, little flowers, too.) Perfect to pair with a summer dress or for a little girl's earring collection!

Wasn't that super easy? Now, appreciate that you can make them yourself, and go buy them from my shop, haha! Just kidding...kinda! Happy Crafting, Y'all!

Click the links above.
I'm linking up at Tatertots & Jello & Flamingo Toes!

I SPY: Handmade

I am linking up again with Little Miss Momma for this week's I SPY: Handmade Edition. Unfortunately, as I walked around my house, I realized I didn't have as many handmade items as I would like. *Note to self - must invest in more, quality handmade items.* I do have some projects in the works, but none that are photo-worthy, so here goes...I Spy...a custom "Pieces" frame designed by Shea Ingram Frames to match our rustic, earthy living room decor. You can find her beautiful custom frames here and here. Don't worry! If they are not headed to an event near you, they will ship to you! She and her husband are just the nicest people. I enjoy buying handmade, quality items from great people, and they are the greatest!
I Spy...my son's Western bedding made by none other than my mom. (Yay for creative moms!) She has always had a way with that sewing machine of hers, so when we decided on a Western theme for his room, I asked her to make his bedding (and curtains). That way, we were able to buy all sorts of random pieces for his room, instead of working with a set and trying to match it. She did a great job, and the room is absolutely adorable. When we upgrade to a twin bed in the (near?) future, I will be sad to pack it away.
I Spy...the closest I get to sewing...those heat-bond, ironing strips. Ha! I wanted to spruce up the shower curtain to match our Hawaiian decor, but not with flowers or surfboards. I bought the material, which looks great with the gecko photos from Hawaii and the rest of our guest bathroom decor. I think it has a breezy, laid-back feel to it, and I really like it. Plus, it adds some textured color to break up the green of the shower curtain, the teal of the walls, and the plain green and coral towels. I rule.
I Spy...bracelets for my Etsy shop that I made. I really dig the turquoise and pearl bracelets. I just need to finish off the ends and tie the pretty little bows around them, and then they will be complete! I am really hoping that this venture into Etsy helps with our adoption fund. If having tons of ideas for little girl accessories is a sign of good things to come from it, then I think so. :)
I Spy...my one true creative love...scrapbooking! Can you consider it handmade? I do. I've been doing them since high school. I've made them for my family, as well. I love to scrapbook! These are from Waylon's first year, which I need to finish. His second year has already come and gone, and we are almost halfway into his third! Yikes, Bikes!
Well, I hope you enjoyed this little jaunt into the handmade parts of my home. Like I said before, I am definitely intrigued by how little we have that is handmade. Really makes me want to dig in and get my hands dirty, painted or get my fingernails chipped in some sort of creative process to beautify our space. While writing this, I remembered a quilt from my grandmother made by a Catholic Charity in California, that I have. A bunch of little old ladies would get together to quilt at their church, and every year, my Brown Granny would send for some. And you could always be sure that the little old ladies would accidentally leave some of the needles in the quilt, and you would only find them when you got poked in the leg or bum. Handmade...good times. Or the fence around my vegetable garden that my husband threw together last year with no plans, just some wood and chicken wire. I guess we do have more handmade things than I thought, but I still see more projects on the horizon!

Sneak Peek!

I've just finished about 20 necklaces for my Etsy shop. I'm so excited to get them up there, so we can (praying) start making money for our adoption! I am just waiting for our next sunny day here in Tennessee, so I can get some nice, natural-light shots of the necklaces. Until then, here is a sneak peek of some of what you will see, when you peruse the shop on Etsy. You can also click on the link on the right. And yes, I will get a pretty banner up in the shop, soon!

Aren't those too pretty? You know you like them! And I don't blame you!
How could you not like them with names like:

Azure Haze
Mango Sherbet
Watermelon
Amber Energy
Pretty in Pink
Berry Wings
I'm So Mod
Antique Chandelier

Those are some fabulous names with just a bit of kook - I love it! I will post an update when they are up in the shop. Umm...Happy Shopping? Yay for shopping! :)