Sno Valley Greetings / Cards By Jenna

~Handmade Holiday Tradition/Esty Greetings Blog Hop: How To Make Danish Christmas Hearts~

2011-11-14T05:00:00.000-08:00

Are you like me and have a lot of scrapbooking paper? I have been looking for different and creative ways to utilize my papers especially the scraps. Recently my in-laws went to Denmark. My mother in-law knows how much I love to craft with paper so she brought me back this book:
Inside there are about 150 Christmas heart patterns. These paper hearts originated as a Danish Christmas ornament, but, filled with candy, flowers or a love note, it makes a great gift for anyone year round.
Typically Norwegians don't put as many decorations on their Christmas trees as Americans, and most Norwegian decorations are hand made. Woven heart baskets decorations are typically made from good quality paper in two contrasting colors (often one of the colors is bright red). A good quality gift wrapping paper is a great material to use. Hang the little baskets on the tree either empty or with a few small treats in them. Virtually every school-age child in Denmark learns to make these woven hearts.
Today, with all the design variation, these can be also be used for Valentine's day, gift-tags, invitations, thanks-you cards, etc. It's fun to try all the various types of shapes that are available.
Here is the basic Christmas heart pattern with instructions on how to weave along with the pattern. Print out the pattern below and use it as your template. The straight edge needs to be on the fold. You will need to cut one of each color. If the pattern is too small you can always enlarge it on a copier.
Interested in learning more about Christmas traditions in Denmark? Visit these websites to learn more:
Visit Denmark
Family Christmas Traditions
Holiday Traditions in Denmark
Danish Christmas Dinner Menu & Recipes

Sit back, relax and take a stroll though our Holiday Traditions Blog Hop. You'll find poignant stories, yummy recipes and great holiday printables. Click the arrows above to go to the next blog in the hop. There's no time limit so feel free to browse our blogs - maybe you'll find a new tradition to start with your family!

Interested in more Danish Christmas heart patterns? Become a fan of the Sno Valley Greetings facebook page and watch for more patterns to try out.

~Etsy Greetings Team: Holiday Boutique Sales Event~

2011-11-08T05:00:00.000-08:00

Starting November 7th the Etsy Greetings Team is hosting a holiday boutique sales event. It is a perfect way to stock up early on your holiday greetings and get a great sales price! The event will run until November 14th. Each shop is featuring a different sale. To search all of the shops go to Esty.com and use search words “egholiday”.

My shop, Sno Valley Greetings, is offering 10% off your entire order. At check out please type in HOLIDAY10 to automatically receive the sale price.

Happy Shopping!

~Recipe Monday: Chicken Noodle Casserole~

2011-11-07T07:00:00.000-08:00

This past weekend I really wanted to make a casserole for dinner. With the weather getting colder it sounded perfect. I had all the ingredients for this casserole so I gave it a try. It must have been delicious because me and the hubby ate about half of the casserole!

I had to use penne pasta and instead of cheddar cheese I used a cheese blend. Prior to putting the casserole in the oven I sprinkled a layer of frozen peas on top then finished it off with a bread crumb and olive oil mixture. I baked it for 20 minutes at 350 and it came out amazing! We sprinkled some grated parmesan to make it a true pasta dish.

Prep Time: 20 minutes | Cook Time: 15 minutes | Ready In: 35 minutes

Ingredients

2/3 cup chopped onion
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tablespoon olive or canola oil
1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 3/4-inch cubes
1 (14.5 ounce) can chicken broth
1 1/2 cups chopped carrots
3 celery ribs, chopped
1/2 teaspoon dried savory
3 tablespoons butter or stick margarine
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon white pepper
1 1/2 cups 2% milk
1 1/4 cups shredded reduced-fat Cheddar cheese
8 ounces wide egg noodles, cooked and drained

Directions

In a large nonstick skillet, sauté onion and garlic in oil until tender. Add chicken; cook and stir until no longer pink. Add the broth, carrots, celery and savory. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 10-15 minutes or until vegetables are tender.
Meanwhile, in a saucepan, melt butter. Stir in the flour, salt and pepper until smooth. Gradually add milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from the heat; stir in cheese until melted. Pour over chicken mixture. Add noodles; mix well.
Transfer to a 3-qt. baking dish coated with nonstick cooking spray. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees F for 15-20 minutes or until bubbly.

*Recipe courtesy of All Recipes*

~The Holidays Are Right Around The Corner~

2011-11-06T13:17:00.001-08:00

Now that Halloween is over Thanksgiving and Christmas will soon be here. Are you getting ready for the holidays? Even though I shop for gifts year round there is still so much to do! Every year there are things that I want to do and unfortunately I run out of time. This year will be different. Here are the things I have accomplished so far this year:

I’ve been clipping coupons and stocking up on ingredients for turkey day.
I’ve dug up my recipes for Thanksgiving.
I was accepted to be a vendor at the Holiday Bazaar at the Si View Community Center in North Bend.
I have hand made approximately 150 holiday greeting cards that I plan on selling at the bazaar and in my etsy shop.
I’ve started to list holiday cards in my shop, Sno Valley Greetings.
I have about half of my Christmas shopping done. (yay!)

Here are my goals for November:

Make a food donation to the Mt. Si Food Bank. Currently they need turkeys, click HERE for details on how and when to donate.
Finish the rest of my Christmas gift shopping.
Buy wrapping paper and maybe start wrapping gifts.
Continue to make cards and gift tags to sell at the holiday bazaar.
Decorate the house! (my favorite part)
Get our Christmas tree (this year we are looking for a 10 foot tree)

What are your holiday plans and goals you would like to accomplish?

~How to make a paper wig~

2011-10-30T09:07:00.001-07:00

While browsing Martha Stewart’s website this morning I came across this tutorial. This is such a great alternative to buying an expensive wig that you may only wear once or twice for Halloween, plus it is eco-friendly!

If you don’t like the “newspaper print” look you could always spray paint or spray glitter the paper. Here are the directions to make this unique costume accessory:

Tools and Materials
Plastic grocery bag
Scissors
Round object to use as a head form (we used a cabbage)
Masking tape
Newspaper, thin colored paper, or curling ribbon for "hair"
Double-sided tape
Paper Wigs How-To

1. Cut down a plastic grocery bag to create a single sheet of plastic. Place plastic sheet over cabbage.

2. Apply strips of masking tape to plastic, overlapping each slightly, until you have formed the shape of a skull cap. Add two to three more layers of masking tape to create a firm wig base.

3. Remove cap from cabbage, and trim excess plastic around cap. To add extra support, place a few strips of masking tape around the edge and inside the skull cap.

4. Place cap back on the cabbage and begin styling the wig. Cut colored paper or newspaper to 1/2-inch strips, or cut lengths of curling ribbon to create hair. Curl "hair" by carefully dragging across the closed blade of a pair of scissors.

5. Add 4- to 6-inch strips of double-sided tape to the bottom rim of the cap, and begin adding hair. Continue adding more tape and "hair" strips until you reach the crown of the cap and the wig is full.

*Tutorial courtesy of MarthaStewart.com – for the original tutorial click HERE*

~Seashell and Pebble Stationery–DIY~

2011-08-17T14:49:00.001-07:00

If you want to make your own stationery and have a lot of shells and pebbles laying around try this project courtesy of www.marthastewart.com.

The verbiage below is taken directly from Martha’s website:

Decorate stationery, postcards, or a travel journal using tokens collected on a recent trip.

Lay shells or stones on thick paper, and spray the area with watered-down paint. Abstract patterns emerge on the paper underneath, recalling a dappled sky.

Sprayed Stationery How-To:

1. Cover your work surface.

2. Add 1 teaspoon acrylic paint to a small spray bottle. Fill halfway with water; shake to mix. (For a more translucent solution, add more water.)

3. Arrange shells or pebbles on note cards or another paper item.

4. Spray paint mixture over shells or pebbles. Let dry for about 30 minutes before lifting objects.

Tip: Card stock or other thick paper works best; it's less likely to warp.

~How To Make Festive Drink Umbrellas~

2011-07-19T07:00:00.000-07:00

I came across these origami drink umbrellas on Martha Stewart’s website. These umbrellas are the perfect addition for your next BBQ and would be easy and fun for kids and adults to create. All you need are a few simple materials:

* Origami paper (or any type of paper will work)

* Glue stick or double sided tape

* Scissors

* Wooden skewer

Here are the directions from MarthaStewart.com:

A soup can makes a handy template for origami-paper umbrella tops. Cut paper with pinking shears or scallop scissors for a decorative edge. From each circle, remove a pie-slice shape measuring about 1/8 of the circumference. Fashion into a cone, slightly overlapping straight ends; use a glue stick or double-sided tape to secure. Dab white craft glue inside nose of cone, and pierce tip with a wooden skewer (snip skewer for a custom fit); allow to dry.

Read more at Marthastewart.com: Festive Drink Umbrellas: Umbrella How-To - Martha Stewart Crafts

~Recipe Monday–Too Much Chocolate Cake~

2011-07-18T07:00:00.000-07:00

This cake is so easy to make and so delicious to eat! I’ve made this cake twice and it’s been great every time. What I like about this recipe is you can do do many different variations. I’d like to try using white cake with white chocolate pudding and white chocolate chips.

Ingredients

1 (18.25 ounce) package devil's food cake mix
1 (5.9 ounce) package instant chocolate pudding mix
1 cup sour cream
1 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
1/2 cup warm water
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
In a large bowl, mix together the cake and pudding mixes, sour cream, oil, beaten eggs and water. Stir in the chocolate chips and pour batter into a well greased 12 cup bundt pan.
Bake for 50 to 55 minutes, or until top is springy to the touch and a wooden toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool cake thoroughly in pan at least an hour and a half before inverting onto a plate If desired, dust the cake with powdered sugar.

Recipe courtesy of www.allrecipes.com

~25% Off Coupon At Michael’s Arts & Crafts Store~

2011-07-17T04:00:00.000-07:00

Michael’s is offering a great coupon deal starting Sunday – July 17th until Saturday – July 23rd.

25% off your entire purchase including sale items. These coupons don’t come out very often so take advantage if you can. Here is a link to the printable coupon if you are interested:

CLICK HERE TO PRINT THE 25% OFF COUPON

Have fun shopping!

~Be A Happy Camper~

2011-07-16T17:34:00.001-07:00

Have a camping trip planned? Here are some items you can bring on your next camping trip courtesy of the following Etsy sellers.

You definitely need some bug repellent when vacationing in the great outdoors. If you aren’t a fan of using chemicals check out this Organic and Natural Herbal Bug Spray and Bite Soother from Sea Willow Herb’s shop. Not in need of bug repellent? Check out Sea Willow’s shop for other natural organic items such as body oil, lip balm, body polish, salt scrub and more!

Need a walking stick? Check out this unique hand made Vines Walking Stick from Wyvern Studio. Like this walking stick but interested in another design? check out Wyvern Studio for more along with some other hand made items.

Need an easy and quick way to start a fire? Check out these Campfire Starters from Firefly Candle Company. The best thing about these little starters is that they are made with recycled materials.

In order to be a “Happy Camper” you need to dress the part! Check out this Happy Camper Squirrel T-Shirt from Caustic Threads shop. This shirt is made to order which means you can request any one of the many custom colors from Caustic Threads shop.

Happy Camping!

Cocktail Umbrella Lantern How-To

2011-07-12T09:05:00.000-07:00

This “How-Tuesday” was published on Etsy a couple weeks ago and I thought it was worth re-posting on my blog. This is such an easy project and perfect for summer BBQ decorations. With some adult supervision this would be a great project for kids too.

Supplies You’ll Need:

A paper lantern
Cocktail umbrellas
A light bulb and light cord
A base for your lantern
Scissors
A glue gun

Step One: Prep!

The first thing you want to do is cut the stems off your cocktail umbrellas. You will need about 30-40 umbrellas depending on the size of your umbrellas and lantern. Make sure you pick enough of each color! Open up your lantern and put it in the base so it won’t roll away.

Step Two: Glue!

Take each of your umbrellas and glue them onto the lantern. Be sure to glue them onto the paper of the lantern, not onto the wire structure. Hold each umbrella snugly against the lantern until the glue dries, then grab another.

Fell free to alternate your colors, make a pattern, or cover one whole lantern in a single color. Keep gluing until your lantern is fully covered.

Step Three: Hang!

With your scissors, carefully cut around the hole at the top of the lantern so you have room to thread your light bulb and cord inside the lantern.

Thread the light bulb and cord through, hang it up, and let the summer nights continue!

There is a video for this project however I’m unable to post it to my blog for some reason, here is the link: http://vimeo.com/26024795

~Recipe Monday: Strawberry Frozen Yogurt

2011-07-11T12:00:00.000-07:00

This is the perfect recipe to make if you have strawberries that are very ripe and almost mushy. Turn them into frozen yogurt! The downside to this recipe is you need an ice cream machine. It’s definitely worth a try if you have one. Here is the recipe:

Ingredients

2 cups fat-free plain yogurt
2 cups pureed fresh strawberries
1 (14 ounce) can fat free sweetened condensed milk
1 cup fat-free milk
3 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions

In a large bowl, combine all ingredients. Fill cylinder of ice cream freezer two-thirds full; freeze according to manufacturer's directions. Refrigerate remaining mixture until ready to freeze. Allow to ripen in ice cream freezer or firm up in refrigerator freezer 2-4 hours before serving. Remove from the freezer 30-45 minutes before serving.

Recipe Courtesy of www.allrecipes.com

Silver Laurel Paper Garland Cake Decoration How-To

2011-07-10T08:06:00.000-07:00

Looking for a unique way to decorate a cake? Check out this paper garland how-to from Martha Stewart. The photo is off a wedding cake but you can do this for any cake you make.

1. Fold a strip of metallic paper in half, then use craft scissors to cut out 3/4-inch-long half ovals from the crease to create the leaves.

2. Glue them, fold side up, to 4-inch-long pieces of metallic ribbon, leaving a 1 1/2-inch-long "stem."

3. Wrap a short length of ribbon around the end of the bottom leaf, and secure with a dot of glue.

4. Pin to cake.

Read more at Marthastewartweddings.com: Silver Laurel Garland Cake Decoration How-To

How to Make Paper Pinwheels

2011-07-09T13:00:00.001-07:00

Colorful pinwheels, made out of coordinating sheets of origami or lightweight paper, stand tall against a blue summer sky, poised to whirl at the slightest suggestion of wind.

Cut a thin dowel or skewer to desired length (clip pointed end from skewer); paint and let dry. Choose two coordinating sheets of origami or lightweight paper. Cut a square from each the size you'd like your pinwheel to be (ours range from 3 to 6 inches). Use spray mount to glue squares together. Fold in half, diagonally, and in half again, then unfold. Cut along each crease two-thirds of way to square's center, dividing each corner into two points. Bring every other point to center so points overlap. Hold in place, poke a pushpin through center, and, keeping points in place, remove pushpin. Insert a map pin into hole formed (the pushpin hole is slightly larger than circumference of the map pin, enabling the pinwheel to spin). Thread a small bead onto pin behind the wheel, and poke pin into dowel 1/2 inch from top. To prevent wood from splitting, soak the dowel tip in water before inserting map pin.

Courtesy of Martha Stewart

~Recipe Monday: Maple-Drizzled Apple Muffins~

2011-07-04T16:18:00.001-07:00

I made these awesome muffins this weekend. They were delicious! If you are a fan of apple cake then you should try these maple glazed muffins.

Ingredients

1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup quick-cooking oats
2/3 cup sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 cup milk
1/3 cup butter or margarine, melted
1/4 cup maple syrup
1 egg, lightly beaten
2 cups chopped, peeled apples
12 pecan halves
GLAZE:
1/3 cup confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons maple syrup

Directions

In a large bowl, combine flour, oats, sugar, baking powder and cinnamon. In a small bowl, mix milk, butter, syrup and egg; stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in apples. Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups three-fourths full. Top each with a pecan half. Bake at 400 degrees F for 18-20 minutes or until muffins test done. Cool in pan 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack. Cool completely. For glaze, mix sugar and syrup; drizzle over muffins.

ENJOY!

Recipe courtesy of www.allrecipes.com

~Six Months Until Christmas!~

2011-06-25T10:21:00.001-07:00

Christmas is my favorite holiday and as of today it is six months away. This makes me excited but also a little anxious. You may think six months is a long time but really before you know it the holiday season will be here. Seems like every year the Christmas season starts a little earlier than the last. I’ve see Christmas items come out as early as Halloween. Either way it doesn’t matter because this year I will be READY! Ok, every year I say this but I really want this to be my goal this year. Typically I shop year round. I already have more gifts stashed away this year than I have in the previous years so I’m feeling good about having shopping done early.

Me with all my ornaments, yes I have a lot and each year I collect more! For those of you that live in Washington you know so far our spring and summer has been pretty glum... It’s almost July and we have maybe had a handful of sunny days in the 70’s with no rain and blue skies. So you might think I’m crazy for talking about winter with our summer being so lacking but I’m looking at the “bright” side.

Our Christmas tree last year. This year it will be bigger!

My kitty Stamper. He loves Christmas too!

Let the Christmas Count Down Begin!

Recipe Monday: Kettle Corn

2011-04-11T06:00:00.000-07:00

Kettle Corn is one of my favorite “game day” snacks. This salty and sweet snack goes great with baseball and soccer season. It’s a great snack for kids and adults alike. I tried this recipe out because I love buying kettle corn when we go see the Sounders play. For those who aren’t from Seattle the Sounders are Seattle’s awesome Major League Soccer Team! We are season ticket holders and have been since the first season. We just started the third season. It’s great to go to games however it’s not so great paying stadium prices for food and drinks. Even though you can’t bring beer in to the stadium you can bring bottled beverages (still sealed) and food. I decided to try out this kettle corn recipe since I’m always buying it at the stadium at $5 per bag. After purchasing all the ingredients for this recipe I spent about $5 and can make kettle corn for each home game plus some! I just saved a ton of money. Here is the recipe if you are interested in making your own game day snack.

Prep Time: 5 minutes | Cook Time: 15 minutes | Yields about 5 servings

Ingredients

1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup white sugar
1/2 cup unpopped popcorn kernels

Directions

Heat the vegetable oil in a large pot over medium heat. Once hot, stir in the sugar and popcorn. Cover, and shake the pot constantly to keep the sugar from burning. Once the popping has slowed to once every 2 to 3 seconds, remove the pot from the heat and continue to shake for a few minutes until the popping has stopped. Pour into a large bowl, and allow to cool, stirring occasionally to break up large clumps.

*Note: I like to add some sea salt to my popcorn once finished. After the popcorn cools down fill a bag full and pack it up to take to the game.

For a direct link to this recipe click HERE.

Tulip Treasury

2011-04-05T16:25:00.001-07:00

I love tulips…but not as much as the previous owners of our home did. Last year we closed on the house the end of April and the tulips had already sprouted and bloomed. Here is a picture of me last year with the yellow tulips. Once the yellow tulips were done blooming and slowly started to die red tulips started to come up. This past weekend I decided to de-clump the tulips and disperse them throughout our garden beds for more color. There are so many to move! Our goal is to re-landscape the area I am standing in but I don’t want the tulips to get ruined. Needless to say I still have lots more to move. I thought putting together a tulip treasury would be fitting. Here are some of my favorite tulip items made by Etsy sellers.

This Sterling Silver Tulip Charm Pendant is hand cut. What a special necklace to buy for a gift or for yourself. You can find this necklace for purchase at Erin Bowe’s Etsy Shop.

Need a cake stand? Check out this amazing Tulip Garden Pedestal Cake/Dessert Stand from Isabella Designs on Etsy. This gorgeous cake stand was featured in Martha Stewart Weddings.

My favorite color is purple so naturally this Perfect Purple Tulip Photograph caught my eye. Like this photo? Take a look at Shutterbug Creations Etsy Shop for more beautiful flower photos.

This Tulip Cat Collar screams spring! Buy this cute color for your little kitty today from Bigpaw Collars Etsy Shop.

Recipe Monday: Crumb-Coated Chicken Thighs

2011-04-04T06:00:00.000-07:00

I was looking for an easy recipe to cook dinner the other day and came across this one on All Recipes. Not only was it super easy to make but I had all the ingredients on hand.

Here is the recipe if you are interested in making some quick and easy chicken! I imagine you could use any piece of the chicken but I followed the recipe and used thighs. Make sure to remove the skin prior to coating! This way you can eat the yummy topping unless you can afford the calories/fat in eating the skin.

Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cook Time: 35-45 minutes | Yields 4 servings

Ingredients

1/4 cup dry bread crumbs
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon curry powder
1/4 teaspoon pepper
8 (5 ounce) chicken thighs, skin removed

Directions

In a large resealable plastic bag, combine the first seven ingredients. Add chicken, a few pieces at a time, and shake to coat. Place on a baking sheet coated with nonstick cooking spray. Bake, uncovered, at 400 degrees F for 20 minutes. Turn chicken pieces; bake 15-20 minutes longer or until a meat thermometer reads 180 degrees F.

For a direct link to this recipe click HERE.

Kindle Addiction

2011-04-03T10:53:00.000-07:00

I have always loved to read. To me reading is relaxing. You can use your imagination unlike watching TV. Before my Kindle I used to go to Half Price Books and stock up on books. I would trade books with family and friends. I never kept books on a shelf unless it’s a book I absolutely love like my Dewey book. Typically it would take me a few weeks to finish an average size novel, maybe 350 to 500 pages. Now I’m reading books at lightning speed! Well, maybe not that fast but you know what I mean.

Last Christmas my husband bought me my Kindle and it really has changed the way I read books. I read more often than I ever did before. Since Christmas last year I have read 6 books in 3 months. That’s a record for me! The convenience of such a small device definitely adds to my Kindle reading addiction. I like to read before bed and holding a Kindle is so much easier and more comfortable than a paperback book with my Mighty Bright Book Light attached to it. I have the Kindle cover with light now and love it! The best part about it is that the LED light runs off the Kindle battery. It does drain the battery a little faster but not by much…no more buying AAA batteries for my Mighty Bright Book Light. Kindle goes green in more ways than one!

The best part about the Kindle is that it is user friendly and the books are competitively priced. The abundance of free books is impressive. I have just reached 100 books and I’d say that 90 of those are free! If you are on Facebook you should definitely become a “fan” of the Kindle Page and my new favorite Pixel of Ink.

I see one issue with my Kindle addiction…it is competing with my crafting addiction! I guess having choices is good! Happy Reading!

Traditional Greeting Cards vs. Electronic Greetings

2011-03-29T18:15:00.000-07:00

Checking the mail is not any fun when all you see is junk mail, credit card applications, catalogs and bills! Every now and then you may be interested in a piece of junk mail or the occasional coupon but typically it all goes in the shredder never to be seen again. Mail is a necessary evil. We will never stop receiving it. You can complete an opt out form, you can sign up for e-bills, you can call creditors and tell them to stop sending you credit card applications but it will continue to be delivered.

Why not brighten someone’s day by sending a greeting card? Personally I love going through the mail to look for coupons and grocery ads…but nothing makes me more happy then seeing a hand addressed envelope!

Traditional Greeting cards are tangible. They show the recipient that you took time to choose a card, personalize it, address it and put it in the outgoing mail box. E-Cards come in an array of colors, themes, can be animated and play music, and are sent within minutes with little to no time spent. E-Cards are immediate but tend to be more casual and their place in the professional world can be questionable. You might find greeting cards proudly displayed on the mantle above the fireplace but the chances of someone printing out their E-Card to display is slim.

To me it’s personal preference. Whether you send a traditional greeting or an E-Card it’s the thought that counts. Being a greeting card maker of course I’ll tell you that the traditional card outweighs the electronic version. I have to say that when I am the recipient of a tangible greeting card nothing means more.

I pledge to keep on designing, personalizing, hand addressing, and stamping traditional greeting cards to send to my family and friends. It’s a great feeling to hear the gratitude in their voice after opening the card. So much better than getting a reply message in my email saying thank you.

Make Cake Balls Instead of Cookies For Valentine’s Day!

2011-02-06T02:00:00.000-08:00

Looking for a fun Valentine’s Day baking project? Try making these amazing Cake Balls! These are easy to make and fun to decorate. Perfect fun for kids and a great alternative to making cut out sugar cookies that are a lot of work to make.

Prep Time:
40 Min

Cook Time:
30 Min

Ready In:
1 Hr 10 Min

Original Recipe Yield 3 dozen

Ingredients

1 (18.25 ounce) package chocolate cake mix
1 (16 ounce) container prepared chocolate frosting
1 (3 ounce) bar chocolate flavored confectioners coating

Directions

Prepare the cake mix according to package directions using any of the recommended pan sizes. When cake is done, crumble while warm into a large bowl, and stir in the frosting until well blended.
Melt chocolate coating in a glass bowl in the microwave, or in a metal bowl over a pan of simmering water, stirring occasionally until smooth.
Use a melon baller or small scoop to form balls of the chocolate cake mixture. Dip the balls in chocolate using a toothpick or fork to hold them. Place on waxed paper to set.

*Recipe courtesy of AllRecipes.com*

Sno Valley Greetings Sale!

2011-02-05T12:26:00.001-08:00

For a limited time shop at Sno Valley Greetings and take 14% off your total! Great time to stock up on cards for the year. There is a great selection of Valentine’s Day cards too.

Enter promo code 2011VDAY at check out.

Gold Love You Gardenia Valentine

You Are The Queen Any Occasion Greeting Card

Happy Engagement Three Stone Diamond Ring

Baseball Happy Birthday

Love Is In The Air Kitty And Fish 3

Purple Flower Happy Pregnancy

Daddy’s Neck Ties

Pantone 2011 Color of the Year–Honeysuckle

2011-01-30T20:53:00.001-08:00

Rumor has it this will be a popular wedding color for 2011. The color of the year for 2010 was turquoise which did seem like a popular color!

Read on – Courtesy of www.pantone.com

Energizing Honeysuckle Lifts Spirits and Imparts Confidence to Meet Life's Ongoing Challenges

CARLSTADT, N.J., Dec. 9, 2010 – Pantone LLC, an X-Rite company (NASDAQ: XRIT), and the global authority on color and provider of professional color standards for the design industries, today announced PANTONE® 18-2120 Honeysuckle, a vibrant, energetic hue, as the color of the year for 2011.

While the 2010 color of the year, PANTONE 15-5519 Turquoise, served as an escape for many, Honeysuckle emboldens us to face everyday troubles with verve and vigor. A dynamic reddish pink, Honeysuckle is encouraging and uplifting. It elevates our psyche beyond escape, instilling the confidence, courage and spirit to meet the exhaustive challenges that have become part of everyday life.
“In times of stress, we need something to lift our spirits. Honeysuckle is a captivating, stimulating color that gets the adrenaline going – perfect to ward off the blues,” explains Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. “Honeysuckle derives its positive qualities from a powerful bond to its mother color red, the most physical, viscerally alive hue in the spectrum.”

Eiseman continues, “The intensity of this festive reddish pink allures and engages. In fact, this color, not the sweet fragrance of the flower blossoms for which it was named, is what attracts hummingbirds to nectar. Honeysuckle may also bring a wave of nostalgia for its associated delicious scent reminiscent of the carefree days of spring and summer.”
Honeysuckle is guaranteed to produce a healthy glow when worn by both men and women. It's a striking, eye-catching hue that works well for day and night in women's apparel, accessories and cosmetics, and in men's ties, shirts and sportswear. Add a lively flair to interior spaces with Honeysuckle patterned pillows, bedspreads, small appliances and tabletop accessories. Looking for an inexpensive way to perk up your home? Paint a wall in Honeysuckle for a dynamic burst of energy in the family room, kitchen or hallway.

Honeysuckle products are currently available from a variety of manufacturers:

Wedding Apparel
A flattering hue for wedding attendant apparel and accessories, Honeysuckle is now one of the nearly 200 PANTONE WEDDING Colors available from Dessy, a leading manufacturer of bridesmaid, social-occasion and flower-girl dresses. PANTONE WEDDING exclusively from Dessy provides a collection of color tools to make it easy for brides to achieve perfectly color-coordinated weddings – from inspiration to “I do.” See www.dessy.com for more information.

Paint
Honeysuckle is one of 3,000 colors available in Pantone's line of superior-quality, eco-friendly paint. PANTONE Paints combine the accuracy of PANTONE Colors with the beauty of high-performance Dutch paints. See www.pantonepaints.comfor more information.

Visa Card
Whether you're buying groceries, paying the dry cleaner or shopping for a pair of new pumps, now you can do it in style with a PANTONE Visa® Platinum Rewards Card in Honeysuckle, the 2011 color of the year. See www.pantone.com/visacard for more information.

For over a decade, Pantone's Color of the Year declarations have influenced product development and purchasing decisions in multiple industries including fashion, home and industrial design. Past colors include:

PANTONE 15-5519 Turquoise (2010)
PANTONE 14-0848 Mimosa (2009)
PANTONE 18-3943 Blue Iris (2008)
PANTONE 19-1557 Chili Pepper (2007)
PANTONE 13-1106 Sand Dollar (2006)
PANTONE 15-5217 Blue Turquoise (2005)

PANTONE 17-1456 Tigerlily (2004)
PANTONE 14-4811 Aqua Sky (2003)
PANTONE 19-1664 True Red (2002)
PANTONE 17-2031 Fuchsia Rose (2001)
PANTONE 15-4020 Cerulean (2000)

Paper Pie Box–DIY

2011-01-23T15:37:00.001-08:00

Courtesy of Martha Stewart:

With a printable template, card stock, and a few simple steps, you can create your own paper pie boxes.

Tools and Materials:

1. For bottom piece, print template at 100 percent. Lay template anywhere on a 12-by-12-inch piece of craft stock; tape in place to secure.

2. Place template and craft stock between the scoring board and ruler. Square the top of the ruler with the top guide on the scoring board, making sure the long edge of the ruler is lined up next to a groove. Shift the template until one of the dotted lines matches up to the side of the ruler. Use the bone folder to score paper along the dotted line. Repeat for all dotted lines.

3. Using a craft ruler and a craft knife or scissors, cut along the solid line.

4. Fold along scored lines.

5. Secure tabs with double-sided tape. For lid, print out template and enlarge to 120 percent using a photocopier. Repeat steps 1, 2, and 3. After step 3, trim 1/2 inch from the bottom edge of all three side flaps. Repeat steps 4 and 5.

Tip: After the template has been cut and before the tabs are secured, use one of our edge punches or deep edge punches to add a decorative border.

Read more at Marthastewart.com: Paper Pie Box - Martha Stewart Crafts

25% Off Your Entire Purchase At Michaels!

2011-01-22T15:00:00.000-08:00

This coupon is valid on Sunday, January 23rd only between 4pm and 8pm. Even though the shopping window is 4 hours it is includes regular price and sale items! This is a great opportunity to stock up on Valentine’s Day card and craft supplies.

If you have trouble printing this coupon please post a comment with your email address and I can send it to you.

Happy Shopping!

Make Your Own Gift Wrap

2011-01-22T02:00:00.000-08:00

If you are crafty and enjoy gifting hand made things then you might be interested in checking out this tutorial courtesy of DIY Network.

So you have a hand made card and gift to give. Why not go all the way and make your own gift wrap?

Valentine’s Day is coming up and what a personal way to wrap your special gift for that special someone.

Materials and Tools

craft paper or paper bags
high-density foam roller
acrylic paint
Flowtrol paint conditioner
paint tray
newspaper
Dressler stencils: #137 diamond tile, #612 fern
blue painter's tape
pencil
wire to make wire word or ready-made wire greeting

Steps:

1. Protect your work surface with newspaper. Lay out your sheet of paper. If using paper bags, separate them along the seam and open them up with the printed side down. Press with an iron to remove creases. You will decorate the inside of the bag.

2. Squeeze acrylic paint into the paint tray and add an equal amount of paint conditioner. Mix well. Put the roller into the paint and work out the excess on the bumpy part of the tray. Unload as much of the paint as possible so it won’t ooze under the stencil.

3. Position your stencil on the paper so that the openings hang over the edges of the paper, so that the design covers the entire sheet. Tape it into place at the corners using the blue tape. It won’t stick to the paper and cause tears. Use a pencil to mark through the registration holes at the corners of the design.

4. Start at the outer edges of the stencil and lightly roll in toward the center, adjusting your pressure on the roller as you see how the paint is reacting. Continue until the stencil is all done.

5. Reposition the stencil using the registration holes as guides and repeat the process until the sheet is covered.

6. You can use a single color or multiple colors. Overlap the repeats in different colors if you like. You can use any design you want.

7. Add a wire word greeting or design to embellish the package. Plus, in addition to the paper, you can make a matching card out of tag board or card stock.

Project designed and demonstrated by Jan Dressler.

For a link to the original project click HERE.

Special Delivery: Share Your Love 2011–Citymeals

2011-01-21T10:42:00.001-08:00

Etsy is working with Citymeals-on-wheels this year bring nutritious meals, handmade greeting cards and companionship to elderly New Yorkers. Citymeals-on-wheels serves over 18,000 people so they are looking for help. For the original Etsy blog post click HERE.

There are 2 ways you can be a part of this amazing opportunity:

1. Craft as many Valentine’s Day cards as you can to send in. Here are some guidelines to follow:

No glitter! This creates food safety issues.
Please make your cards cheerful by using bright colors. You can decorate cards using paint, crayons, markers, pastels, collage or anything else you can think of.
Please avoid dark backgrounds and religious symbols.
Please write clearly in large print and avoid using the abbreviation “V-day." Please say, “Valentine's Day."
You should not give out your address or suggest that the recipients write back to you. Initiating an ongoing correspondence is not appropriate.
Please make sure that the cards are appropriate for the intended audience. That is to say, pretend it's for your sweet sweet grandma, not your snarky, angst-ridden teenage brother.

2. Don’t have time to make a card? Why not purchase greeting cards from some fabulous Etsy sellers? My shop, Sno Valley Greetings, is participating in the event. I will donate the card you purchase and refund the shipping charges back to you. In the notes to seller tell me that you are donating to Citymeals-on-wheels. You must purchase the card through my shop by Tuesday, February 1st. My donation package will be mailed out on Wednesday, February 2nd to ensure it makes it to New York by the February 9th deadline.

Anyone who purchases a card through my shop will be acknowledged on my blog!

If you choose to make cards and send them on your own be sure that you mail the package in time to be received by February 3rd. This deadline is important! Mail your package to:

Etsy
Attn: Adam Brown
55 Washington St.
Suite 512
Brooklyn, NY 11201

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Sno Valley Greetings–Buy One Get One Free

2011-01-15T10:34:00.001-08:00

Stock up on greeting cards for 2011 and take advantage of my weekend sale.

Buy one card and get one FREE! It’s a great time to purchase cards for birthdays, thank yous, anniversaries, weddings, congratulations, baby etc. The promotion is available on my whole shop so stop by and shop.

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

Here are some pictures of the most recently listed cards:

Blue Wedding Cake

My Funny Valentine

Happy Birthday Strawberry Cake

Drum Set…Rock On!

Daddy’s Neck Ties

BBQ Tailgater

The Blue Car Goes Vroom

10 Gift Ideas For Co-Workers and Bosses

2010-12-13T18:55:00.001-08:00

This subject comes up every year. You want to give your co-workers and/or boss a gift for the holidays however you don’t want to be too personal or exorbitant. You don’t want to go over the top and spend a lot of money yet you don’t want to look tight fisted and frugal.

Here are some unique ideas that are unique and won’t break the bank.

1. If you are crafty create a mini scrap book of a memorable event that happened in the office. Maybe the office got together and had a surprise birthday party. If you aren’t crafty you can always buy a nice photo album and fill it with the photos.

2. Picture frames are always a nice gift especially if you have a picture to go in it. Consider getting together with some co-workers to take a picture for the frame. If you don’t have a picture you can always frame a gift card to their favorite store, restaurant or coffee shop.

3. Edible gifts such as chocolate, candy, meat/cheese, fruit, popcorn etc…are usually safe gifts to give. If you are worried that it’s not enough or you don’t want to look cheap bump it up a notch and buy some finer chocolates. Are you a baker? Make everyone a special goody tin with baked goods. Don’t forget to be wary of food allergies!

4. Give Wine, Champagne or Liquor! Typically you can’t go wrong with a nice bottle of bubbly…just make sure the person you are giving too drinks.

5. Give a book if you know their favorite author or genre. If you don’t buy a gift certificate to a book store.

6. Gift certificates are always a safe bet. If you can spend a good amount of $ go for a gift card to a restaurant. If you are looking on the lower end of the spectrum buy a gift card to a coffee, ice cream or smoothie shop.

7. If the person you are buying for works at a desk check it out. Do they need anything? Many people like to personalize their desks with pencil/pen cups, staplers, tape dispensers, etc…If you know what type of pens they like to use buy them a pack. You can never have too many pens. To finish the gift buy a few nice notepads.

8. Mugs and cups for the coffee and tea drinkers. You can’t go wrong with this gift.

9. Key Chains. Everyone has keys. Add a personal touch and get a monogram key chain. Don’t go all out tacky unless you know the person well and/or it’s a joke. You can always engrave the key chain to make it more personal.

10. Holiday Ornament. Only go to this idea if the person you are giving to celebrates the holidays with a tree!

Hope these ideas help. If you have any other ideas feel free to comment on this post. Remember giving gifts is not a necessary act. You should always give a gift with thought and heart.

Happy Holidays!

Wedding Wednesday–Beaded Snowflake Ornament Favor

2010-12-08T13:30:00.000-08:00

These Snowflake Ornaments make amazing favors and fit a winter themed wedding quite perfectly.

Beaded Snowflake Ornament

What You Need:

For each snowflake:

10 corsage pins with pearl ends
Crystal-like beads in desired shapes and sizes
1 small cork
Iridescent white glitter paint pen (usually used for fabric)
Monofilament thread

Instructions:

1. Add beads to 4 pins. Place beads on 1 corsage pin in desired order, leaving the last 1/4 inch without beads. Make 3 more beaded pins using the same arrangement.

2. Make another set of 4 beaded pins, using a different arrangement. Make an additional set of 2 beaded pins. (You should have a total of 10 beaded pins.)

3. Add 4 matching pins to cork. Cut the cork, if necessary, so it is about 1/4 inch long. With the round side of the cork laying on the work surface, poke one beaded pin into the cork (close to work surface) like a spoke of a wheel. Place a matching beaded pin opposite the first. Place the remaining two opposite each other, between the first set.

4. Add remaining pins. Using the remaining set of 4 matching pins, poke each into the cork, slightly closer to the top of the cork and alternating with the first set of four. Place the remaining 2 beaded pins into each round end of the cork.

5. Cover the cork using glitter paint pen. Allow to dry. Apply a second coat, if necessary, and let dry.

6. To hang, cut a desired length of monofilament and tie to one spoke of the snowflake.

Original project idea from BHG.com | Click HERE for the link.

Featured Handmade Items From Etsy Artists on HGTV

2010-12-07T09:05:00.000-08:00

HGTV aired a special Handmade Holidays show featuring items from Etsy sellers! There are so many ideas in this special. If you are crafty and like to try new things check out the website:

http://www.hgtv.com/handmade

The show was split up into 15 gift categories:

5. Handmade Gift Wrap

6. Handmade Home Décor

7. Handmade for the Hostess

8. Handmade for the Garden

9. Handmade Kits

10. Handmade Trendy

11. Handmade Gadgets

12. Handmade Stocking Stuffers

13. Personalized Gifts

14. Handmade for the Family

15. Handmade Unusual Gifts

Here are some of my favorite Etsy items from the show:

Custom Beer Labels from Orange Lady Bird’s Shop.

Luggage Pet Bed from Love Nostalgic Whimsy’s Shop.

Antique Silverware Garden Markers from Beach House Living’s Shop.

10 Holiday Card Tips

2010-12-06T17:22:00.001-08:00

1. If you are uncertain if the recipient celebrates Christmas, Hanukkah, or another religious faith or tradition then send a neutral card that says “Happy Holidays”, “Season’s Greetings”, “Warm Wishes For A Happy Holiday Season”, or “Peace on Earth”.

2. Write a short note inside the card. Don’t just sign you name, besides, the whole point of sending a holiday card is to get personal.

3. Include a family photo and write a caption on the back. Be sure to include kids names/ages and where/when the photo was taken.

4. Remember to include a return address on the envelope.

5. Send a card to everyone who sends you one.

6. Be sure to mail your holiday cards out so they arrive prior to the actual day.

7. Hand addressing the envelope is more personal than a label.

8. Email greetings are not a substitute for an actual holiday card.

9. If you write a holiday newsletter make sure you don’t over-do it. Only include the highlights from the past year and be sure to keep it on one page.

10. Support local artists and buy handmade at www.etsy.com

Recipe Friday–Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

2010-12-03T09:25:00.001-08:00

I have yet to try this recipe but it looks delicious and if you love peanut butter cups why not give it a try? The reviews are 5 star and the recipe looks easy. This recipe is courtesy of www.allrecipes.com.

Ingredients

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons milk
40 miniature chocolate covered peanut butter cups, unwrapped

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
Sift together the flour, salt and baking soda; set aside.
Cream together the butter, sugar, peanut butter and brown sugar until fluffy. Beat in the egg, vanilla and milk. Add the flour mixture; mix well.
Shape into 40 balls and place each into an ungreased mini muffin pan.
Bake at 375 degrees for about 8 minutes. Remove from oven and immediately press a mini peanut butter cup into each ball. Cool and carefully remove from pan.

Nutritional Information

Amount Per Serving Calories: 122 | Total Fat: 6.5g | Cholesterol: 12mg

For a direct link to the recipe click HERE.

Treasury Thursday–Snowy Birds

2010-12-02T10:25:00.001-08:00

Birdhouse in the Snow – Photograph by Red Wagon Road.

Set of 3 Christmas Cards – Santa Claus by Cup of Snowflakes

Mitten Winter Snow Birds Felt Embellishment by Paper And Whimsy

Snow, berries, and birds Christmas holiday flower headband by Brighten Your Day Photo

Starling FAT Gusset Reusable Snack Pouch by Cotton Top Quilts

Snow Chick Sculpture by Lilly Bug Boutique

Sno Valley Greetings - Cards By Jenna

2010-12-01T16:29:00.000-08:00

I've been contemplating changing my card shop name for a while. Cards By Jenna was too plain and boring so...I've officially opened...Sno Valley Greetings! I've been listing new greeting cards in this shop. Cards By Jenna will remain open until I can move all my inventory.

Why the name Sno Valley Greetings? For those of you who know me personally you know that I grew up in Fall City, WA which is part of the "Snoqualmie Valley". I also graduated from Mt. Si High School. Mike and I moved from Issaquah to North Bend this past April. Since I moved back to "the valley" I thought the new name was a perfect fit! Thanks for visiting!

~Recipe Monday – Pumpkin Flax Quickbread

2009-11-16T08:00:00.000-08:00

Instead of pumpkin pie why not change it up and make some pumpkin bread? Why not try this healthy flax quickbread from Allrecipes? I bet this not only tastes delicious but also smells wonderful while baking.

Pumpkin Flax Quickbread

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 1 hr 10 minutes

Ingredients

2 tablespoons flax seed meal
6 tablespoons water
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup canned pumpkin puree
1/2 cup applesauce
1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease one 9x5 inch loaf pan.
Whisk together flax seed meal and water. Mix in sugar, pumpkin and apple sauce.
In a large bowl, stir together all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, baking powder, nutmeg, and cloves. Add flour mixture to pumpkin mixture; stir until smooth. Pour batter into prepared pan.
Bake in preheated oven for 65 to 70 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center of the loaf comes out clean.

~Make Your Own Snowflake Holiday Gift Card Holder~

2009-11-15T11:33:00.001-08:00

I came across this great project idea on Michael’s website. These gift card holders are a perfect way to personalize your gift rather than put it in a store bought holder. I’ve included directions below on how to make the Snowflake Gift Card Holder.

Materials Used:

Eazy Felt Stiffened Felt: Purple, Light Blue, White
Holiday Trim It-Up Blue, Light Blue & White with Silver Edge Ribbon
'Tis The Season Silver Dot on White Grosgrain Ribbon
Sparkling Glitter Glue, Lilac
Scissors

Ruler or Straight Edge
Craft Knife or X-Act® Knife
Glue Gun and Glue Sticks
1/8-inch Hole Punch

Cost of each project will vary depending on materials used.

Directions:

Cut two circles with a diameter of 4½-inches from the purple Eazy-Felt.

Use the hole punch to make holes in the purple felt circles about every ¼-inch around the entire circumference. Lay the second piece on top and punch through both pieces to ensure the holes line up. Cut a 25-inch piece of white narrow ribbon with silver edge. Lace this through the holes. Leave a 3-inch opening on one side of the circle, lacing only to one side and not through to the other circle. Do the same to the other side of the 3-inch opening. This will give the illusion that it is completely laced all the way around. Glue down each end inside the circle so it cannot be seen.

Use a snowflake template from the computer or freehand draw one onto paper. Use a copier or printer to reduce the size of the snowflake, just make sure the snowflake fits within the purple felt circles, including the lacing. Print three sizes in smaller succession. Place the largest snowflake over the light blue felt and cut out entire flake with the craft knife. Take the smallest snowflake template and only cut the center of the flake out of the light blue felt. Take the medium sized snowflake and cut the flake completely out of the white felt. Layer and glue the snowflakes together as shown.

Glue the light blue felt snowflake down in the center of the circle. Lay the white snowflake on top and glue down. Glue the light blue center of the snowflake down in the center of the white snowflake.

Cut a 6-inch piece of silver dots on white grosgrain ribbon. Fold in half, glue ends together. Glue the raw end to the inside of the tag but only the front or the gift card holder will get glued shut.

Use the glitter glue to accent the snowflake. Place glitter glue in center of snowflake over the blue felt and just at the tips of the other parts of the snowflake.

Tip:

Use photo as a guide and follow manufacturer’s instructions for all products used.

The felt and ribbon colors could easily be changed to suit any particular theme or color scheme. Please experiment within the idea.

If you are interested in seeing the project sheet on Michael’s website click HERE to be re-directed. Happy Crafting!

~Recipe Monday – Oven Pot Roast~

2009-11-09T09:26:00.000-08:00

With the fall season here and in full force I love roasting a delicious cut of meat in the oven. Nothing is better then smelling it roast in the oven. It is such an easy dinner to prepare and allows me extra time to make greeting cards, gotta love that! Recently I found this recipe on Allrecipes and am dying to try it out. All I have to do is defrost my roast!

Oven Pot Roast

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 3 hours (depending on how big your roast is)

Ingredients

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

ground black pepper to taste

3 1/2 pounds rump roast

1/4 cup butter

1/2 (1 ounce) envelope dry onion soup mix

1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup

1/2 cup dry vermouth

Directions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).

In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour and black pepper to taste. Dredge the rump roast in the flour and cover evenly. Shake off excess.

In a large pot over medium/high heat, melt the butter and brown the roast on all sides. Place in a 4 quart casserole dish with lid.

In a small bowl, combine the soup mix, mushroom soup, and vermouth or white wine; pour over roast.

Cover and bake in preheated oven for 3 hours or until desired doneness.

Roast some potatoes and carrots in the oven and viola…You have a superb fall meal! Happy Roasting!

~Autumn Cats on Artfire~

2009-11-08T09:30:00.000-08:00

Since it is Autumn and my cats are my favorite animal I decided to search Artfire shops for handmade items that include autumn and cats.

My first find is this Calico Cat Fairy Cats Fall Pumpkin Autumn Fantasy Art 8x10 Print from Carrie shop owner of TigerPixie. I am so amazed by the items Carrie has in her shop! Prices are great and shipping is very reasonable and the artwork is simply awesome! Check out the rest of Carrie’s shop for other items and designs.

The next item that caught my eye while searching is this Fall Painted Ginger Pumpkin Jar Candle with Gingerbread from Painted Kreations shop. This candle is perfect for your Autumn home decor and can easily be displayed until those Christmas decorations make their debut. The best part about this candle is after the wax has been burned you have a great hand painted jar to use year after year.

Looking for a great decorative plate to hang on the wall or to display on your table? Look no further, this Cute Scarecrow Handpainted Square Wood Plate from A Stroke of Jeanne-uis’s shop. This plate is a unique and one of a kind decoration. Buy for yourself, a friend, family member, or for the cat lover in your life.

With the fall weather, the wind, rain, and sometime even thunder and lightning wouldn’t it be nice to snuggle up on the couch with a book, blanket, and a nice pillow? Check out this adorable Primitive Pillows Black Cat and Pumpkin from Thunder Mountain’s shop. What a great pillow to decorate and cozy up with.

Happy Autumn Everyone! Hope you have enjoyed looking at my Autumn Cat finds. Remember, shop handmade for the holidays!

~Happy Anniversary Artfire, Celebrate With Free Shipping @ Cards By Jenna~

2009-11-07T10:35:00.001-08:00

It’s official Artfire just reached their one year anniversary! To celebrate read the message below that I received from Artfire.

Happy Anniversary ArtFire!

ArtFire officially turns one year old in November, and what a year it has been. We’ve seen amazing growth in traffic, page views, member sales, and products listed each month, ArtFire has become the second largest artisan marketplace on the internet. We are proud to report our expected one year member sales at $1.5 million dollars. We saw a 30% increase in sales in October over September, along with 20million page views and almost 700,000 active products.

Part of ArtFire’s success has been our commitment to service and innovation. In just 12 months we have developed industry leading selling tools such as a one button sale mode, the rapid cart remote checkout widget, the ArtFire Facebook Kiosk, coupon codes, the global product editor and more! We are committed to providing you the best: the best service, the best platform, the best tools, and the best price. We also want to thank all of the amazing artisans in our community who have helped make ArtFire into the venue it is today.

To celebrate our anniversary we’re happy to announce a 2010 pre-pay opportunity for our members with The ArtFire Pro 500. In the past, many members have expressed interest in billing periods other than per month which our previous payment systems wouldn’t allow. As we grow and upgrade our infrastructure we are happy to extend a 2010 pre-pay offer to 500 of our artisans. While this offer lasts, you can pay for a yearlong Pro(Verified) ArtFire.com membership for just 100$; that’s over 30% off the normal $12/mo rate. If you’re a $7/mo charter artisan you have the option pre-pay for 2010 at your normal rate knowing that you already have the best deal we can offer.

We have more exciting features planned for year two. You will see some of those in just the next few days. While this first year has been many long hours and hard work for everyone here, it is all worth it to see those sales numbers and know that we are building such a strong and successful artisan community together.

Thank you for helping make the ArtFire community that it is today.

Sincerely,

My Artfire Anniversary is also coming up. I opened my Cards By Jenna shop on Artfire exactly a year ago November 14, 2008. I can’t believe it’s already been a year. Not only that but I’ve only had 2 sales! In order to celebrate both anniversary dates I will be offering free shipping on all orders to the USA and Canada. Stock up on cards now before this free shipping offer is over. Offer ends November 30th. Thanks for stopping by!

~”Scent”sational Kanani~

2009-11-03T17:54:00.001-08:00

For those of you that are already holiday shopping and have candle goodies on your list of things to purchase check out Kanani’s website:

http://www.partylite.biz/sites/scentsationalkanani

I have to admit that I am somewhat biased because Kanani is my friend however she is the only one I know who is a PartyLite Consultant! If you are interested in purchasing PartyLite products go to her website and click on “Shop” or click HERE to be taken to the online catalogue. Don’t have money to spend on candle goodies? If you live in the Seattle and surrounding areas book a party through Kanani and Host a Show. For more details visit the website. In the meantime happy shopping!

~Pumpkin Carving 101 + Roasted Pumpkin Seeds~

2009-10-27T19:58:00.001-07:00

We carved pumpkins this past Sunday and I wanted to share the photos of our spooky creations. Mike and I have never carved pumpkins together so it was something we had to do! Naturally after you carve pumpkins you save the seeds and roast them! It’s a little work but totally worth it. Mike had never eaten a pumpkin seed so that gave me another reason to make them.

The recipe I used was from my favorite online recipe web site, www.Allrecipes.com. Here is the link to the pumpkin seed recipe: Spiced Pumpkin Seeds

And…here is a photo of our pumpkin seeds roasting in the oven! They smelled delicious while baking, it really feels like fall when you are roasting seeds and carving pumpkins!

And to end this post here are our pumpkins all lit up looking spooky on the patio. The right pumpkin is mine and the left one is Mike’s. It’s hard to see in this photo but Mike’s pumpkin has ears. Looking forward to the weekend, Halloween will be a blast this year!

~Looking For Holiday Shoppers~

2009-10-26T11:25:00.001-07:00

Now seeking holiday shoppers who want to buy greeting cards! You can be of any age, height, gender or personality and must love shopping holiday sales. Right now in my Artfire Shop: www.cardsbyjenna.artfire.com I am offering 10% off all cards. Prices reflect the sale price so shop away. You don't need an account to shop on Artfire so start searching and throwing things in your virtual cart. You will even receive a free note card if you spend $5.00 or more in my shop. Stay tuned, more items will be listed soon. Check my blog often for I have a giveaway coming up!

~Etsy Pumpkins~

2009-10-24T10:55:00.001-07:00

Since Fall has officially arrived I decided to search Etsy for pumpkin type items to feature on my blog. I really love featuring Etsy Shop Owners who have under 50 sales. Hopefully giving these Shops some exposure will boost their sales. So the moral of this blog post is support handmade artisans this holiday season and purchase from either one of these fantastic Etsy Shops!

The first item I found is this yummy Pumpkin Salt Scrub from HumbleHill’s Shop. Salt scrubs are a wonderful way to exfoliate and still moisturize your skin. Jennifer, the shop owner of HumbleHill, is from Sequim, WA. Ironically that’s just a few hours away from where I live in Issaquah. Good Luck with your shop this year Jennifer!

Check out this adorable Jack-O-Lantern Pin from Jenni Shea’s Shop. This pin can be given as a great gift or bought for yourself. Looks like all Halloween items in Jenni’s shop are shipping for free these days. Go check out the rest of her creative earrings and pins.

Need some Halloween gift tags to put together party favors or goodie bags for trick or treaters? Check out these Pumpkins, Ghosts and Bats – Small Circles/Tags from Paper Wick’s shop. Get these quick for they are on sale!

Happy Shopping!

~Neglected Blog, Neglected shops, Giveaway Coming Soon!~

2009-10-15T15:57:00.001-07:00

Sorry to my blog, etsy, and artfire shops! I have been very pre-occupied lately due to wedding planning that I have been completely neglecting my blog and both of my card shops. I have even been absent from the teams I am currently apart of so much so that I was kicked out of one and with no warning at all! I won’t name names but needless to say by the time I came around to logging in to the forums my access was denied. I’ve heard this team is known for giving the boot with no warning, oh well!

In order to revive my shop I’m going to be setting up a giveaway soon. I’m not sure what it will be but it will be great. Check back later for more information. In the meantime I’m hoping my blog and shops forgive me.

~Oriental Trading Company – 20% Off Online Discount Code~

2009-08-21T19:25:00.001-07:00

I love coupons but online discounts are even better! No clipping with scissors, just enter the code and check out. I was excited to get this online deal delivered to my inbox today from Oriental Trading Company. I promised myself that I wouldn’t buy any more crafty items until I make a huge dent in what I already have. It’s pretty tough to deny myself the need to shop…but in the end I am saving $$$. Soooooooooo, since I am unable to let myself go on a shopping spree I am sharing the coupon code with the rest of you in hopes that someone out there can take advantage.

20% off is a fantastic deal. Enter coupon code: Happy Shopping!

~For The Love Of Oysters~

2009-08-20T15:46:00.001-07:00

Oysters can be eaten many different ways: baked, smoked, boiled, fried, roasted, stewed, canned, pickled, steamed, broiled…but…my favorite way to eat them is RAW!

Yesterday Mike and I went to the Sammamish Farmers Market and picked up some delicious oysters and a zucchini. I really wanted to get more produce items but there wasn’t a huge selection so I settled for the zucchini. I haven’t figured out what to do with the zucchini.

I just have to say that the oysters were absolutely delicious! Pairing raw oysters with a grey goose martini and a few olives is perfection. The best part about getting them from the Farmers Market is that they are only $8 a dozen. Usually in a nice restaurant you end up paying twice that amount if not triple. Those of you out there that eat them know what I’m talking about. As long as you don’t mind shucking them yourself it’s a great deal. Here is a picture of our oyster plate before we sucked them down.

~Retailmenot.com~

2009-08-17T18:14:00.001-07:00

The other day I came across a very neat website for consumers to quickly locate online coupons, promo codes, and other discounts. It’s called Retail Me Not. First of all what a clever title and second nobody is going to retail me anymore, woo-hoo! The best thing about this website is that you can submit your very own coupon codes. If you come across a code that works and want to share you can do it on this website. All you have to do is sign up for an account.

I will share a little secret with you, not only can you submit coupon codes you come across…but…you can submit your own coupon codes for your own shop too! For example: I am offering a free card with each order purchased from my Artfire shop: www.cardsbyjenna.artfire.com. Curious how it looks, check it out by following these steps:

Go to www.retailmenot.com

Type in the top right hand corner search box “cardsbyjenna”.

The next window will feature a thumbnail of my artfire shop. Click the thumbnail and it will take you to the promo code I posted. Super cool!!!

Explore the site and let me know what you think by posting a comment here.

~25% Off Your Entire Purchase at Michaels?!?~

2009-08-16T05:00:00.000-07:00

It’s true!!! You can get 25% off your entire purchase at Michaels including sale items, what a steal! There is a catch. You have to shop between 4 and 8pm only today Sunday, August 16th. Sounds like a great excuse to go shopping!

Since I can’t upload a photo of the coupon click HERE to retrieve a printable copy.

Can’t shop on Sunday? Click HERE to retrieve a 40% off any one regular priced item printable coupon.

Happy Shopping!

~When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Lemonade!~

2009-08-15T11:58:00.001-07:00

After much thought and deliberation I am starting to list more of my greeting cards in my Artfire shop. Etsy is where I began my online store, Cards By Jenna, but to tell you all the truth and to be quite blunt every month when I get my bill from Etsy I feel like a bunch of lemons have been squirt in my eye! 20 cents to list an item and then taking 3.5% off the top of my sale, that hurts when you are selling one greeting card for $2.50. I do not sell my cards to make lots of money, that never was my goal…but…I am not even making back the cost of materials.

Soooooo, what does all this mean? Well, Etsy, you gave me lemons therefore I am going to make lemonade and move my items to Artfire where I pay a small monthly fee, no listing fees, and no % taken off the top of my sale. I will still keep my Etsy shop open for now but it’s days may be numbered.

For fun here are some items from Artfire that are full of lemony goodness.

What a fun Cosmopolitan Cranberry and Lemon Handmade Cocktail Soap from Epically Epic Soap. The best part about Epically Epic soap is that they make your soap fresh just for you! At $4 this soap is a steal. Looks like if you need more than one soap bar this soap is included in the buy 3 for $10 deal.

Need some lemon for your lips? Check out this Lemon Drop Kiss(tm) Lip Balm from Coquette Bath. This lip balm includes shea oil, sweet almond butter, Vitamin E, castor oil, and real lemon essential oil to give your lips all the moisture that you need. For a .15 ounce by volume tube you can purchase this for $3.25, what a great deal! I love the graphics on the packaging too.

Sadly summer will be coming to an end soon so get ready for fall and pick up a beautiful scarf from Valerie’s Gallery. This Handknit Wool Blend Scarf in Lemon Meringue would be the perfect addition to your upcoming fall wardrobe. Knit with a wool/acrylic mix this scarf is sure to keep you warm and is even soft to the touch! Not a fan of yellow? Contact Valerie and she can custom design a scarf just for you.

This set of Bird and Lemon Pot Holders really caught my eye. You can find these beauties in Bean Pickle Sprout’s shop. Since these pot holders are made to order you are receiving a one of a kind item. I love the color combo and design of these. What a great addition to add to your kitchen!

Have a little girl who needs this cute Custom Boutique Lemon Smocked Dress? What a great dress for summer. The print is very summery and the dress design is so adorable. Contact Lil Bug Clothing to place your order!

Enjoy the weekend!

~Jenna

~Happy Summer~

2009-06-14T17:03:00.001-07:00

The first day of summer is right around the corner, June 21st to be exact. How ironic…June 21st is also Father’s Day! What is your favorite thing about the summer season? What is summer like where you live?

Here in Western Washington summer has been slow approaching. We have had some nice hot weather in these past few weeks but definitely not enough to say summer is really here. Today is pretty overcast and a low 60 degrees…a little too cold for shorts!

My Top 10 Summer Favorites:

1. BBQ’ing – nothing is better than grilling outside, less mess in the kitchen!

2. Relaxing in the sun – catching rays and reading a book, heaven!

3. Wearing flip flops – gotta love no socks, and pretty pedicures

4. Opening windows – letting fresh air in to the house, smells clean

5. Taking the kitties outside – they are indoor and only go out with supervision

6. Planting flowers – even though I have a small patio I make the best of it

7. Longer days – love when the sun stays out longer, no short winter days here!

8. Feeding hummingbirds – I love watching the hummingbirds swarm the feeder

9. 4th of July – who doesn’t like fireworks?

10. Taking it outside – bike riding, walking, and playing in the sun

I’ve learned that living in Washington you have to take in every ray of sun you can. Sun would be nice year round however having 4 seasons is even better.

To celebrate Summer I made a set of Summer greeting cards. To purchase these cards from my Artfire shop please click HERE.

Happy Summer everyone!

~Featured Etsy Blogger For June: LazyTCrochet~

2009-06-09T19:19:00.001-07:00

Congrats to Tricia shop owner of LazyTCrochet for being picked as the featured blogger of the month!

Tricia’s shop is full of knit and crochet fashion. After browsing through her shop I picked a few of my favorite items to share in this post.

This Coral Wrap Fringe Stole is the perfect color and would look great paired with a summer outfit. The best part about this stole is you can wear it a number of different ways. Wear it around your shoulders, wrap your shoulders, or tie it around your neck as scarf.

Check out this cute hat: Mocha Cloche with Fabric Flower. Not only is it my favorite color but also a great style! This hat can be worn year round and can easily be dressed up or down.

This Coffee Cup Wrap doubles as a wristlet! Very unique and a stylish way to dress up your coffee cup or your wrist.

For more lovely knit and crochet check out the rest of Tricia’s shop by visiting: www.lazytcrochet.etsy.com Don’t forget to check out her blog too: www.lazytcrochet.blogspot.com.

~Bath & Body Works Coupon~

2009-06-05T11:03:00.000-07:00

Wow, have I been neglecting my blog or what? I figured since my last post was a coupon offer for Michaels why not post another coupon?

Bath & Body Works is one of my favorite places to shop. Right now Bath & Body Works is having their Semi-Annual sale in stores and online. Special online deals include 4 for $10 hand soap, $4 Foam Burst, $5 Wallflowers, plus up to 50% off select items!

Here you will see a coupon for $10 off any purchase of $40 or more. You can print this out and use it in the stores or online. If you can't print from the photo click HERE to get the original coupon. The authorization code for online shopping is TAKETEN. This offer is good through June 14th.

~Do You Shop @ Michael’s Arts & Crafts Store?~

2009-03-28T11:59:00.001-07:00

In these tough economic times many of us sacrifice purchases and unnecessary shopping sprees. If you shop at Michael’s you know that many times the store gives out coupons like they are going out of style.

This past week Michael’s didn’t have a weekly ad in the Sunday paper…I was so disappointed. Since I am signed up to receive email updates from the website: www.michaels.com frequently I receive coupons. I received this 50% off (any regular priced item) coupon today and wanted to share with all the crafters out there. The best thing about this coupon is you can print as many as you want and use them throughout the week but only one per transaction.

Even though you are supposed to use one coupon per transaction per day I’ve been known to go back the same day and have yet to have a problem. This coupon is good March 29th through April 4th.

Click HERE to get the coupon!

HAPPY SHOPPING!

~March Featured Etsy Blogger: Design By Nora~

2009-03-26T08:00:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Nora of Design By Nora for being chosen as the Etsy Bloggers Team featured member! Nora’s shop is filled with cute handbags and unique jewelry pieces. I have picked some of my favorite items from her shop and have featured them below.

The first item that caught my eye was this adorable floral purse called "Mabel’s Purse”. This purse can be used for a casual outing or a for a hot date out on the town. With spring finally here I imagine this little handbag will look great with any spring dress. The attention to detail on this handbag is amazing and I love that it is made with bamboo!

Have a purse fetish? Check out the other handbags in Nora’s shop by clicking HERE!

Even though the cold days are coming to an end there is always a need for a warm cozy blanket. What better to buy than a handmade one? Check out this Green and Pink Crocheted Bed Spread. What a great way to decorate a room handmade style!

My favorite jewelry piece from Nora’s shop are these Lavender Flower Studs. These flowers are the perfect size and are just in time for Easter.

Want to see more from Nora’s shop? Stop by today…and if you do decided to purchase something let her know Cards By Jenna sent you. :)

Thanks for stopping by!

~Welcome Spring Chickens!~

2009-03-25T08:00:00.000-07:00

Even though Spring is officially here it sure doesn’t feel like it here in the great Northwest! Hopefully the warm weather will be here soon but if not I always have my upcoming Kauai trip in May to look forward to. :)

To celebrate the official arrival of Spring I am dedicating this post to some very talented artists on Artfire.com. The theme for my post is “Spring Chicks”. All the items feature chicks!

This adorable Easter Baby Chicken and Word Blocks Spring Home Decoration is perfect to give as a gift or to keep for yourself. You can find this baby chicken in Sawdusted’s Artfire shop.

Are you a crafty person yourself and looking for an awesome and unique Easter sewing project? Check out this Easter Basket Felt Pattern from LittleCricket’s shop. Not only is this Easter Basket filled with fat free goodies but will keep year after year. Please note this listing is for a PDF pattern.

Does your kitchen need a spring touch? Decorate with this fantastic Yellow Crocheted Chicken Potholder from ArtLoCraft’s shop.

HAPPY

SPRING!

~Flax Banana Bread Recipe~

2009-03-19T08:00:00.000-07:00

Ever get tired of making the same banana bread recipe? I had 2 lonely bananas that were getting a little too ripe on my counter. I didn’t want to use my typical banana bread recipe so I went searching on Prevention Magazine’s website (www.prevention.com) and found this flax banana bread recipe. Not only is this a healthy recipe but it tastes delicious too! Next time I make this I will be adding walnuts. Also instead of making bread I used this recipe to make muffins, still bake at 350°F but lowered the baking time to 20 minutes.

Ingredients

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Coat a nonstick 8- x 4-inch loaf pan with cooking spray.

2. In a large bowl, combine the sugar, buttermilk, egg substitute, and oil. Whisk until smooth.

3. In a medium bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, whole-wheat flour, flaxseed, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Whisk to mix.

4. Add to the liquid ingredients, and stir just until blended; do not over mix. Add the bananas and stir to mix.

5. Pour into the prepared pan. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove the pan to a wire rack, and let the bread cool slightly. While it is still slightly warm, turn the bread out of the pan.

*Recipe Tips*

For best results, choose very ripe bananas, place them in a blender or food processor, and puree until smooth. Ground flaxseed is sold in natural food stores. Store any unused flaxseed in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator or freezer.

*Recipe courtesy of www.prevention.com*

~Cinnamon Anyone?~

2009-03-18T08:00:00.000-07:00

Cinnamon is one of my favorite spices and is used in so many different items. You wouldn’t know it but cinnamon is actually a small evergreen tree and is native to Sri Lanka. According to wikipedia cinnamon is harvested by growing the tree for two years and then coppicing it. Coppicing is a traditional method of woodland management in which young tree stems are repeatedly cut down to near ground level. The next year, about a dozen shoots will form from the roots. These shoots are then stripped of their bark, which is left to dry. Only the thin (0.5 mm) inner bark is used; the outer woody portion is removed, leaving meter-long cinnamon strips that curl into rolls ("quills") on drying; each dried quill comprises strips from numerous shoots packed together. These quills are then cut into 5–10 cm lengths for sale.

Cinnamon is mainly used in cooking and flavoring but has been known to have health benefits. For more information click HERE.

I decided to go window shopping on Etsy to find items that contain the spice, remind me of it, or are named after it.

This little Cinnamon Toast Guy Card is bound to put a smile on the lucky recipient’s face. This card could be used for any occasion and can be found in Jackeyo’s Etsy Shop.

This Natural Cinnamon Soap comes to you from Dragon Soap’s Etsy Shop. Each ingredient in this soap is 100% natural and creates a luxurious lather. This soap would make a perfect gift for you or for that special someone. This dragon even comes with a lucky coin!

I couldn’t post this without adding in some real cinnamon rolls! These yummy cinnamon rolls can be purchased from Dreamy Pleasures Etsy Shop. You will receive about 15 delicious hand made cinnamon rolls loaded with cinnamon! Sounds good to me. :)

If you are looking for a fat free and no calorie version of the cinnamon roll check out these Cinnamon Bun Earrings from The Scoop Pat Boops Etsy Shop. These earrings are made with polymer clay. They look good enough to eat!

Thanks for stopping by!

Feel free to post a comment, especially if you have some yummy cinnamon recipes. :)

~Tag You’re It!~

2009-03-17T20:28:00.001-07:00

Designs By Vanessa tagged me! Once tagged you pick the 4th photo in your “pictures” file on your computer, upload the photo to your blog, and tell everyone about it. Since my most recent photos are of my cards I decided to pick the 4th folder in my “pictures” file then picked the 4th photo inside that file. Turned out to not be one of my card creations but Christmas last year. :)

This picture is of my parent’s Christmas tree on Christmas morning with all the goodies and gifts underneath. Long long ago we planted little saplings that are now all grown up. Every year we cut a tree down. Since I moved out of the nest I get the treat of getting my very own tree off the lot. We have so much fun every year. It’s a great family tradition.

~Blog Giveaway: Spring Handmade Greeting Cards~

2009-03-04T14:10:00.000-08:00

So spring is just around the corner, are you ready? Why not jump start the season by entering to win this set of 3 lavender greeting cards made by me!

To enter the giveaway click HERE.

All you need to do to enter is leave a comment on the post telling the world what your favorite flower is. Be sure to leave your contact information so you can be notified if you win.

The winner will be chosen via the famous random number generator. The deadline to enter is 11:59pm EST, March 7th. Good Luck!

~Luck of the Irish: EtsyGreetings February Team Challenge~

2009-02-27T16:18:00.001-08:00

With St. Patty’s Day just around the corner get in the spirit by visiting the EtsyGreetings Blog to vote for your favorite St. Patty’s Day greeting card. All you have to do is visit the blog by clicking the link below:

VOTE HERE!

Vote for the card you like the best then write a comment to post to enter. The card that wins will be given away to the winner. You must post a comment to enter, voting will end on March 4th. HAPPY VOTING!

~Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database~

2009-02-26T08:15:00.000-08:00

I came across this website a few days ago on twitter. Someone I follow linked it and I wish I remember who so I could acknowledge them in this post! Anyways, I didn’t have time to look through the site so I bookmarked it and I am so glad I did. Now that I have had a chance to browse the site I felt that a blog post about it would be perfect.

The website is called “Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database”. Click HERE to view the site. All you do is type in a product at the top of the screen in the search field and a list will populate. Scroll through the list until you find the specific item. On a scale of 1-10 you can see how “hazardous” the product is to your health.

This website is an excellent tool and can really help guide you in purchasing products that are better for your health and body. One item I found to be a high hazard (8 out of 10 rating) is the Skintimate Aroma Therapy Shave Gel Soothing Lavender. Ingredients in this shave gel are linked to cancer! Yikes, shave gel? Really?

Not only can you see the risk factor but also if the manufacturer conducts animal testing. You can also see if the company is a Compact for Safe Cosmetics signer. By becoming a signer the company takes a pledge to formulate products that do not use ingredients that are known or suspected to cause certain health harms within 3 years of signing. The company who manufactures this shave gel is S.C. Johnson. I was surprised to learn that they do test on animals and do not participate in the Compact for Safe Cosmetics.

Bottom line, if you are concerned about a product check it out before placing it in your shopping cart. You may discover things that you never knew.

Know of any other great websites like this one? Post a comment and share. :-)

~Think Rich…~

2009-02-25T21:20:00.001-08:00

Did you honestly think I was talking about money? :-) Think Rich Color, this is the topic for my first blog carnival I am participating in as a member of Blogfire, a group of bloggers who own shops on Artfire. You can check out my shop by clicking HERE.

For those who know me well, you know that my favorite color is purple. Naturally I picked this color and started my window shopping excursion on Artfire. I decided to stick with a purple flower theme since spring is coming upon us. These are the lovely items I found. Feel free to comment and link to any other rich purple items.

Check out these petunia seeds from Wiseplants shop. These wild purple petunia seeds are brought to you just in time for spring. Don’t forget spring starts in March which is just around the corner.

Next on my list I found this Pretty Purple Flower Cell Phone Cozy from GymMama’s shop. What a perfect accessory to have. Not only will this little cozy hold your cell phone but also some money or credit/debit card. The best part about purchasing from GymMama is that 20% of each sale goes directly to charity.

My last item I found in VieModerne’s shop. This beautiful Violet Satin Rose Hairclip or Brooch is rich in color and very stylish. This would be a great accessory to wear to a garden wedding or for a night out.

Happy Shopping!

~February EtsyBlogger of The Month: Donna Pool~

2009-02-24T20:46:00.001-08:00

Congrats to Donna Pool who is the featured Etsy Blogger of the month for February!

To visit Donna’s shop click HERE!

Donna’s shop is stocked with lovely handmade goodies. If you are looking for a gift for a cat lover her shop is a perfect one stop shop. Below I’ve listed some sections in Donna’s shop, click the category to be taken to the appropriate section:

Interested in learning more about Donna and her shop? She has two blogs, check them out:

http://ddpool.blogspot.com/

http://ddpool.vox.com/

~Why Etsy?~

2009-02-23T18:53:00.001-08:00

Opening my shop on Etsy, Cards By Jenna, was one of the best things I could have done to inspire myself. Before selling on Etsy I made paper goods when I needed them.

For example: If someone I knew was going to have a birthday I would make a card specific to them. Depending on the gift I purchased I would even make the gift wrap and tag. Everything was hand made and personalized.

Don’t get me wrong I still personalize cards and gift wrap…however… now that I have a place to display and sell my creations a whole new world of card making opened for me. At times I would get bored and feel like I was losing my creativity by making the same type of cards over and over again…mainly birthday cards. I needed a variety and opening my shop allowed me to create any type of greeting card I wanted.

One day I found Etsy by surfing the Internet for inspiration and ideas. I was definitely inspired and signed up. I didn’t set up my shop right away. It took a few months for me to get a banner, avatar, and create more inventory. Once I was up and running the possibilities were endless. I could make any type of greeting card I wanted. I started creating and designing cards for events and occasions I never had before. At first my favorite cards to make were anything Baby! Then I moved on to wedding, thank you notes, gift sets, photo cards, etc…my creativity took off! It was great.

I love being a seller on Etsy because I enjoy sharing my creations with others. It’s great to share ideas, browse other shops, network, and make new friends. Handmade items are so unique and one of a kind. My shop is not set up to make profit, most of the time I break even or make a few cents. Whatever money I do make I spend on more card making supplies. :-)

The draw back to being an Etsy seller is paying all the fees! On top of the 20 cent per listing fee Etsy also takes 3.5% off the top of the sale. I understand that Etsy needs to make money too but for a card shop that is quite a bit of money being taken. On top of these fees I use paypal and paypal charges you too!

Being a part of Etsy has allowed me to join two awesome teams. Currently I am a member of the EtsyGreetings Team and the EtsyBloggers Street Team. Within both groups I have made great friends and have been immersed into a world of creativity.

Thanks for reading!

~Cards By Jenna: One World, One Heart Giveaway~

2009-01-24T09:47:00.000-08:00

This is the first year I will be participating in the “One World, One Heart Giveaway” and I am so excited to be a part of it. Lisa started this idea 3 years ago and has been continuing to keep the tradition going. To visit Lisa’s personal blog here is the link:

http://awhimsicalbohemian.typepad.com

So what is the “One World, One Heart Giveaway”? Lisa created this event to bring bloggers together worldwide. It’s a great way to meet new bloggers, expand your horizons, and get free goodies! Listed on the One World, One Heart blog is a list of almost 500 bloggers giving things away. Here is the direct link if you are interested in checking it out:

http://oneworldoneheart.typepad.com/one_worldone_heart/

To participate all you have to do is go to a participating blog and leave a comment on the giveaway post. Winners for each giveaway will be drawn on February 12th, see participating blogs for more details.

If you are a blogger and would like to participate click HERE for more information.

With that said here is my giveaway!

Thank you cards are used year round so I thought giving away a set of my handmade thank you cards would be a perfect giveaway.

This set of 10 cards is hand stamped in silver ink on a scalloped black square mounted on a combination of white and black cardstock. In the middle of the black/white cardstock there is a layer of black paper with sparkly silver circle accents. Each card is accented with a silver circle rhinestone in the lower right hand corner.

Cards are white and blank on the inside allowing plenty of space to write your note. Measuring 4 x 5.5 inches each handcrafted card comes with its own white envelope and packed in a clear cello bag.

These cards are considered A2 size. Value: $20.00

To enter the giveaway please leave a comment on this post. Be sure to include your contact information (i.e: email, etsy shop url, webpage, blog url, artfire url). The deadline to enter is midnight (PST) February 12th. You don’t need to be a blogger to enter and I will ship worldwide! The winner will be chosen via the famous number generator. :-)

~A Recipe For The Best Pork Roast Ever~

2009-01-23T16:06:00.001-08:00

The only thing I had defrosted for dinner yesterday was a boneless pork roast. Since I do not have many roast recipes I decided to browse through some recipes at www.allrecipes.com. I found this recipe titled: Easy Roasted Pork. If you like applesauce and pork you will looooove this recipe! Here is the original recipe:

INGREDIENTS

2/3 cup packed light brown sugar
1/4 cup cinnamon applesauce
1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
2 pounds boneless pork loin roast

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Lightly flour an oven bag.
In a small bowl, blend brown sugar, applesauce, and ginger.
Place pork roast in the prepared oven bag. Pour the brown sugar mixture over the roast. Seal bag, and cut several small slits in the top.
Cook the roast 1 hour in the preheated oven, or until the internal temperature has reached 160 degrees F (70 degrees C).

I did modify the recipe slightly. 2/3 packed light brown sugar seemed like a lot to me so I used 1/3 of a cup. It was perfect. Also, I didn’t bother flouring the oven bag. Since I didn’t have any cinnamon applesauce I used plain unsweetened and added a teaspoon of cinnamon.

To go along with the roast I cubed some red potatoes and put them in a plastic bag with some olive oil and lawry’s seasoning. After coating the potatoes I spread them out on a cookie sheet and sprinkled with dill and some paprika to add color. Bake for 20-25 minutes in a 350 degree oven.

For a vege I heated up a sugar snap pea steamer bag. Dinner was complete and very delicious.

*Recipe courtesy of www.allrecipes.com*

~Fun Times In Marco Island, Florida~

2009-01-21T21:56:00.001-08:00

Well we just got back from a trip to Marco Island, Florida and even though it was short it was worth the trek from Seattle. Mike's company hosted their annual company meeting there. We felt so lucky to be able to go! The weather was perfect! 75 degrees with sunny blue skies whocould complain? Marco Island is a vacation spot for many people who live in the busy city areas of Florida. We stayed at the Hilton, an all suite resort located on the beach!

Every room had an awesome view of the beach and the Gulf of Mexico. While we were there we ate, drank, and had lots of fun with all of Mike's colleagues. Great memories and friends were made along the way.

So what did we do? Lots of things! We arrived Friday and were so tired that we ate at the restaurant in the hotel...had a few drinks in the lounge...took a quick walk out to the beach, then hit the hay! We flew in to Fort Meyer's airport and had an hour cab ride to get to Marco Island so we were incredibly tired, not to mention the 3 hour time difference.

Saturday we ended up sleeping in completely missing breakfast so ate lunch instead at the poolside cafe at the hotel. We spent the day walking on the beach and hanging out at Captain Brien's. Here we enjoyed buy 1 get 1 free drinks during happy hour.

A few hours later we went back to the hotel to freshen up to meet everyone at the pool for a yummy buffet dinner! After dinner we had some time to kill so we headed off to the hotel lounge and drank some more. At Captain Brien's there is a comedy show around 9:30 on Saturday nights so we went back to watch. It was a great night.

Sunday Mike went to his first meeting so I slept in...again I missed breakfast! Mike was out of his meeting around noon so we relaxed in the room for a bit then went over across the street to Nacho Mamas...seriously that's the name! Nacho Mamas is right next to Captain Brien's. It is a little Tex-Mex Bar/Restaurant. Here we experienced happy hour with $1 draft beers. We also ate some burritos, very tasty.

The Superbowl playoff game between the Cardinals and the Eagles came on about 3pm so we stayed and watched. Poor Eagles! After the game we took off and met up with some of Mike's colleagues at the hotel. We took a cab ride up the island to a restaurant on the water called The Snook. It was delicious! We shared some oysters for an appetizer. For dinner I had sea scallops and Mike had the soft shell crab. We sat outside and listened to live music. After dinner we took a cab back to the hotel and went to bed.

Monday Mike had his second meeting and I didn't sleep in! I actually woke up with him and stayed awake. It was a little overcast and sprinkling rain outside so I stayed in the hotel and watched an HGTV House Hunters marathon. Once Mike was out of his meeting we went up to the Marco Island Town Center Mall which was a few miles north of our hotel. I found Christmas ornaments at 2 stores in the mall so I bought a bunch. :-) If you are reading this and know me well you know I love Christmas and especially ornaments. Later on everyone went to the Tommy Bahamas in Naples.

It took 2 shuttles to get about 50 people there. Once we arrived we had a shrimp appetizer, Caesar salad, and for the main course there was a choice between chicken, steak, and sea bass. Of course we both picked the sea bass. It was delicious!

Since most people were leaving on Tuesday this was the last night to hang out together eat drink and be merry. That is exactly what we did. After dinner we went back to the hotel but stopped for a beer run on the way. We went to the lounge and started up a poker tournament. Midnight came around and we closed down the bar with no place to go but the hall ways outside the meeting rooms. This is where the poker tournament and beer drinking continued until 2am.

Tuesday morning came quickly and we missed breakfast. :-) We went to the lounge around noon and watched Obama's Inauguration. We caught the 1pm shuttle to the airport. Our flight didn't take off until 6:30 so we ate some lunch and killed some time. Finally we boarded the plane and began the long journey back home.

We arrived at the Seatac airport around midnight, took our fancy

schmancy limo ride home in the 32 degree weather...we were cold! Once we got home we had 2 cute little kitties that needed some attention, Minnie and Stamper missed us! Once the kitties gave us their forgiveness for leaving them home all alone we took showers, ate some macaroni and cheese, and went to sleep! It was a great trip. :-)

~Do you know what a Grapple is?~

2009-01-15T09:28:00.000-08:00

Have you seen this commercial?

http://www.kgbkgb.com/#ads/spot2

I saw it and was wondering what the heck is a Grāpple???

Well...if you don't know what a Grāpple is check this link out: http://grapplefruits.com/ or continue reading for a quick definition.

A Grāpple is an apple that tastes like a grape! I have yet to try one but want too out of curiosity. I do love grapes but it seems like every time I buy some they turn to mush too fast or are just plain sour. Apples tend to keep fresh longer than grapes and store much easier, so why not buy Grāpples?

Here is a brief explanation of the Grāpple process from the website: http://grapplefruits.com/

Grāpple® brand apples begin either as Washington Extra Fancy Gala or Fuji Apples, depending upon the season. These "premium apples" are the ones that take on the grape flavor best. This Patent Pending process is complex and the ingredient mix primarily includes concentrated grape flavor and pure water. All ingredients are USDA and FDA approved and the process has been licensed by the Washington State Department of Agriculture.

There is nothing but flavor being infused into the apple. A relaxing bathing process prepares our apples for you or your kids. The apple takes on no additional sugars or calories. They are not genetically altered in any way. The apple is as healthy as ever but now has the new exciting grape flavor. The process is better explained by the Food Network's "Unwrapped" show entitled "Grapeful". If you have a few minutes check out the video clip on the Grāpple website or click here now!

Have you eaten a Grāpple before?

Share your thoughts here!

"Crunches Like An Apple, Tastes Like A Grape."

Grāpples are currently born at the C&O Nursery located in

Wenatchee, Washington

PO Box 116, Wenatchee WA 98807

local: 509-662-7164 fax: 509-662-4519 800-232-2636

~EtsyBloggers Street Team Featured Member - January 2009 - Rose Works Jewelry!~

2009-01-11T12:27:00.000-08:00

With Valentine's Day just around the corner why not start shopping for that special someone by starting off at Ruthie's store, Rose Works Jewelry. According to Ruthie's profile on Etsy she started out creating jewelry for family and friends. She even made all the jewelry for her own wedding in 2007! Throughout the years people have told her that she should sell her creations...and...that's how her shop was born!

When you buy from Rose Works Jewelry you are not only getting a one of a kind unique piece of jewelry but an affordable one too. You definitely won't break the bank by shopping at Ruthie's shop.

If you would like to learn more about Ruthie and her shop visit her blog: www.roseworksjewelry.blogspot.com.

Here are a few items from her shop that I think are absolutely stunning and would make

a great addition to any woman or young girls jewelry box:

How gorgeous is this Purple Ice Dreams Earrings & Necklace Set? The following is the description of the set from the listing in her shop:

These light purple beads have crackling through them, just like the effect of ice crackling! That inspired me to combine them with some Glass Sea Opal chips that high light the ice-like qualities already in the purple beads! Plus, just to make this set a little more unique, instead of being a simple strand this necklace is comprised of hand crafted metal links that add a little extra "pizzaz" to your newest piece of jewelry!

This necklace is approximately 19 inches long and can easily be customized either longer or shorter! The earrings are just under 2 inches long.

For something with bright and bold colors check out this fun Multicolored Memory Wire Bracelet. No need to buy a new outfit to match the bracelet, oh darn! Here is a snip from Ruthie's description of the item:

Memory wire has the fun property of being super-strong, and springing right back into shape! As a result, this bracelet will fit most wrists comfortably. It also creates the fun "multi-strand look" that is so popular these days!

There are plenty more beautiful jewelry pieces to look at so stop by Ruthie's shop, Rose Works Jewelry, and shop, window shop, and don't forget to tell your family and friends!

Happy Sunday Everyone!

~New Year, New Goals?~

2009-01-06T22:27:00.000-08:00

Some may think that with the New Year comes goals and resolutions. Others might ring in the new year with the same goals as the last and yet others believe that new years resolutions just never work!

With that said, I don't make resolutions. I believe goals are much easier to obtain. My goals this year for my card shop is to sell, sell, sell! Selling cards on etsy and artfire is not my full time job and is a hobby for me. It's a creative outlet and a favorite past time. If I make any money at all I end up using my profit for more supplies! I get so excited when I sell one item.

Hopefully my shop sales with go up soon because I really am running out of storage space for all my new card creations. :-) If not my friends and family will be getting a bunch of freebies soon. Of course if you see something you like from my shop put it in your shopping cart, rarely do I make the same design twice.

Thanks for stopping by my blog and...

Happy 2009 From Seattle!

~Jenna

PS: Stop by my shop, purchase a card or set, and receive a free gift! Just mention the code "2009 Goals" in the notes to seller.

This includes sales from both of my shops: http://cardsbyjenna.etsy.com and http://cardsbyjenna.artfire.com.

~Etsy Greetings Thank You Card Promo, January 5th to January 15th~

2009-01-05T00:00:00.000-08:00

Now that the holidays are over you can relax. While relaxing why not write thank you notes to those who shared their hosiptality with you over the holidays? Even if you didn't receive a gift from someone you can always write a thank you note for something. Here are a few things you can send a thank you card for:

Being invited to a party over the holidays
Send a thank you to those who gave you gifts whether it be something big or small
Say thank you for that hostess gift someone brought to you during a party
Did you have lunch, dinner, or happy hour with a friend? Send a note to say how much you appreciated your friends company
Give a thank you note to a friend or relative for just being there for you
Write a co-worker a thank you note for being such a great co-worker

Thank you notes can be given for any reason at any time. Stock up on all your thank you card needs for the year by visiting this link:

http://etsygreetingsthankyou.weebly.com

Click on any photo to be taken to a participating etsy shop.

Now is the perfect time to say thank you for all of those wonderful holiday gifts and meals you shared! Sending a handmade card is a beautiful way to show your gratitude. The shops featured in the above link are offering free domestic shipping on thank you card sets from January 5th through January 15th.

My shop, Cards By Jenna, is participating in this promotion. I am offering free shipping on all my thank you card sets. I will also be shipping single thank you notes for free too! Free shipping includes all of Canada and the USA. Take advantage of this promo and stock up!

~Looking For New Year's Eve Fashion Accessories?~

2008-12-26T19:45:00.000-08:00

New Year's Eve is just around the corner. If you are looking for some fashionable and one of a kind handmade accessories look no further than Gaby's Gems. Gaby creates her beautiful jewelry with real genuin gemstones. Here are a few items that would look stunning to wear to a New Year's Eve party:

For the elegant and formal type bash consider this gorgeous Fire and Ice- Garnet, Quartz, and Mother of Pearl Necklace. Two tiers of garnets, mother of pearl, blue quartz, and gold plated beads fall from a single strand of gemstones. Garnets bring prosperity and friendship while quartz embodies romance. Mother of pearl brings fortune and luck. This necklace is 21 inches long and the tiers fall 2 1/2 inches. It is strung on super strong stainless steel jewelry wire with a gold-plated hook and eye clasp.

For the more casual kick off your heels type party check out this unique Purse-uasion- Coral and Pearl Necklace and Earring Set. Not only are the colors in this necklace vibrant but very chic and eye catching. Perfect for anyone who loves purses!!! A sterling silver and pink resin purse hangs from a strand of pink coral and fresh water pearls with silver-plated accent beads. The necklace comes with matching earrings. Coral will bring the wearer luck and harmony and pearls represent prosperity and success. This necklace is 18.5 inches long. It is strung on super strong stainless steel jewelry wire. The hook design of the silver-plated clasp allows you to customize the length of the necklace.

For a quiet and memorable evening at home this Purl One Knit Two- 32 inch Pearl and Gemstone Necklace and Earring Set is perfect and has meaning. Here is Gaby's description of this lovely set:

This necklace has everything. A chunky faceted fluorite bead is the centerpiece of alternating freshwater pearls, gemstones, and fluorite hearts with a heart toggle clasp. Matching earrings are included.

Pearls- Prosperity, success
Fluorite- Concentration, decisiveness

Citrine- Prosperity
Amethyst- Wisdom, healing
Rose quartz- Love
Garnet- Prosperity, friendship

Aventurine- Luck and adventure

This necklace is 32 inches long and can be worn long or double stranded. It is strung on super strong stainless steel jewelry wire with a heart shaped pewter toggle clasp.

Check out Gaby's store for more awesome jewelry! www.gabysgems.etsy.com

~Happy Holidays~

2008-12-24T20:22:00.000-08:00

Wishing everyone a Happy Holiday Season and a fantastic New Year!

~Featured EtsyBlogger Member Of The Month - December - Spotted Cow Soaps~

2008-12-10T16:09:00.000-08:00

Congrats to Spotted Cow Soaps for being the EtsyBloggers Street Team Member of the month for December! There is still plenty of time to shop before the holidays and Spotted Cow has the perfect soap delicacies for all the people on your shopping list. Here are a few of my favorites from Spotted Cow's shop:

This Bay Rum Soap is made especially for the guys in your life. Who says soaps are for girls? This classic scent is Clean, Spicy, & Masculine. Your man will love taking a shower with this one, and you will love how he smells when he's done! Who could ask for anything more?

For the kiddies! Check out this adorable Ladybug croched with 100% cotton yarn. The special recipent can use this ladybug as a bath mitt for bathtime washing, or play with her as though she's a puppet. She comes with a bar of yummy Fruit Tonic Glycerin Soap to make bath time fun! If you would like to add some lotion and make a complete gift set check out this Fruit Tonic Lotion.

Yummy! Chocolate! What a great stocking stuffer for the chocoholic on your holiday shopping list. Check out this Delicious Chocolate Whipped Sugar Scrub. Need a matching bath puff to go with this sugar scrub? Spotted Cow has the perfect matching Chocolate Brown Bath Puff handmade with 100% organic yarn. If you would like a different color contact Spotted Cow through her shop or her blog: http://spottedcowsoaps.blogspot.com/.

~Honey-Garlic Glazed Meatball Recipe~

2008-11-18T08:00:00.000-08:00

These meatballs are quick and easy to prepare not to mention make a great snack, appetizer, or meal!

Honey-Garlic Glazed Meatballs

Ingredients:

2 eggs
3/4 cup milk
1 cup dry bread crumbs
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
2 teaspoons salt
2 pounds ground beef
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon butter
3/4 cup ketchup
1/2 cup honey
3 tablespoons soy sauce
Directions:
In a large bowl combine eggs and milk. Add the bread crumbs, onion and salt. Crumble beef over mixture and mix well. Shape into 1-in. balls. Place in two greased 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pans. Bake, uncovered, at 400 degrees F for 12-15 minutes or until meat is no longer pink.
Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, saute garlic in butter until tender. Stir in the ketchup, honey and soy sauce. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 5 minutes. Drain meatballs; add to sauce. Carefully stir to evenly coat. Cook for 5-10 minutes.
*Recipe courtesy of www.allrecipes.com*

~November - Etsy Bloggers Street Team Featured Member~

2008-11-17T08:00:00.000-08:00

Congrats to the Etsy Bloggers Street Team Featured Member for November:

Deb, shop owner of

Story Beader

http://storybeader.blogspot.com

Check out Deb's shop on Etsy.com for beautiful and one of a kind necklaces, bracelets, chokers, earrings, pendants, and other fun stuff!

I picked a few items from her shop that stood out to me and would make great additions to many jewelry boxes. Don't forget the holidays are right around the corner.

This turquoise eyeglass holder will be sure to style up your plain glasses. This 27½" eyeglass holder is made with freshwater pearls and turquoise "dogbone" beads. Not only is this piece handy in keeping your glasses convinient but it's also a stunning conversation starter. Love this enough to buy? Click here.

This bracelet is the perfect way to get into the holiday spirit! Get into the Christmas spirit with this fun bracelet made with memory wire. Red and green synthetic chipped beads stretches to whatever size you need. Normally creates 3 strands around the wrist. Do you just have to have this bracelet for that special holiday party? Click here to buy!

I had to include this Lapis Treasure Necklace in this featured post. This necklace is truly a piece of wearable art. Here is the item description from Story Beader's shop:

This treasure necklace has a lapis theme. There are 20 drops and two pendants, all laying on two foundation rows. I found this small antique oval pendant that matched perfectly with a favorite Tibetan silver star pendant (1.5" x 1.5"). The star has a large lapis stone in the center, with smaller coral and lime green turquoise stones embellishing it.

These two pendants were meant to be together, so I built the necklace around them. To secure the necklace, I used a double-strand clasp I found in an antique store, also with a lapis stone in the center.

Some of the beads included in this piece are: lapis (of course), turquoise, silver, crystal, coral, glass, freshwater pearl, and mother of pearl. And don't forget the fetishes. I love fetishes.

The two strands measure 17" and 23" in length.
The whole necklace weighs a total of 3 ounces.

In addition here is the haiku poem that comes with the necklace!

She walked through the door

With the bright star reflecting

In her deep blue eyes.

- storybeader

All of Story Beader's items are handmade. Each necklace comes with a haiku, written specifically for the piece, by Story Beader!

~Cards By Jenna Opens Shop On Artfire.com~

2008-11-15T17:28:00.000-08:00

I never wanted to open up another shop to sell my greeting cards. I always thought it would be too difficult to keep track of multiple stores and to promote each one equally.

I heard of Artfire.com from a few different sellers who also sell on Etsy.com. I debated and did some research on Artfire...it didn't take me long to decide that Artfire is worth a shot. Here is my shop link:

http://cardsbyjenna.artfire.com

In a nutshell Artfire is the same thing as Etsy. You sign up with an account and can set up shop or simply be a buyer. Etsy charges a 20 cent per item listing fee. When (and if) the item sells Etsy takes another 3.5% off the sales price. If you are like me and use paypal there goes more cut out of your profile. Artfire has decided to charge a flat rate of $20 per month. No fees, no lopping profits, and best of all Artfire is already investing in advertising and marketing for the site. Right now Artfire is offering a flat $7 per month fee for life for the first 5,000 people who sign up to open shop. Sign up for a free account Artfire will plant a tree! Check out the banner to the right ----->

The screenshot above I took after listing my first item. Every time a new item is listed it is featured on the front page. My cat card set is in the top row, in between the yarn and the lazy susan. Click HERE to see the actual listing and how it looks. How cool is that?!? I imagine that when more people discover Artfire and start listing items will be rotated out pretty quickly but for now everyone who lists on Artfire can bask in the front page glory.

One more thing I have add regarding the listing process...on etsy there are several different screens that you have to go through. On Artfire there is one screen that you fill out that includes everything: item description, uploading photos, shipping rates, tags, and so on. There is even a space where you can write about how you created the item and what inspired you to do it. You can even put in how much time you spent on creating your item.

Interested in learning more? Click HERE to be swept away to Artfire.com.

~The Chiquita Banana Treasury~

2008-10-26T17:45:00.001-07:00

~Going Bananas~

I'm in the Chiquita Banana Treasury!!!

Thank you to Andrea, shop owner of Prims By Andrea for putting together this treasury and including my Monkey and Banana Customizable Party Invitations.

Card Description:

~Cute monkey and banana accented with black and yellow paper against a blue background mounted on white card stock.

~Foam self-adhesive cupcakes accent the card implying the birthday party theme

~The Fiskars® Rock-Paper-Trimmer~

2008-10-25T19:06:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite websites and stores to shop is Joann's. Quite frequently I am checking the website for deals and sales. While looking for replacement blades for my Fiskars paper cutter I came across this new paper cutter: Fiskars® Rock-Paper-Trimmer.

I was drawn to this item because of the cool patterns and colors so naturally I clicked the link. Wow! I about fell out of my chair when I read the description of this paper cutter. You can click the link above or read on:

Does music unlock your creativity? This unique trimmer helps you put two fo your favorite things together-a deluxe rotary trimmer and your greatest hit music-for the ultimate crafting experience. Your MP3 or CD player runs the speakers, so no extra power supply needed.

Special Edition 12''/30 cm Rotary Trimmer with built in speakers for balanced sound
Softgrip® cradle holds your MP3 player
Easy to read measuring base
Softgrip® blade carriage for comfortable left- or right-handed use
Trimmer uses blade style ''B'' (45mm)

No kidding?!? Being an ipod owner I would never even consider buying this paper cutter so I can rock out while cutting...I believe I will be playing my music through a docking station and keep my ipod away from my crafting space. It would be my luck that I would glue the ipod to the table, better yet I'm putting my ipod at risk by being so close to something so sharp.

This paper cutter is $69.99 on sale at Joann's right now. The original price is $99.99. I love Fiskars products but I'm not sure what inspired them to make a paper cutter that will play an MP3 or CD player. Am I only one that thinks this is crazy?!?

Sno Valley Greetings / Cards By Jenna

~Handmade Holiday Tradition/Esty Greetings Blog Hop: How To Make Danish Christmas Hearts~

~Etsy Greetings Team: Holiday Boutique Sales Event~

~Recipe Monday: Chicken Noodle Casserole~

This past weekend I really wanted to make a casserole for dinner. With the weather getting colder it sounded perfect. I had all the ingredients for this casserole so I gave it a try. It must have been delicious because me and the hubby ate about half of the casserole!

Prep Time: 20 minutes | Cook Time: 15 minutes | Ready In: 35 minutes

Ingredients

Directions

~The Holidays Are Right Around The Corner~

~How to make a paper wig~

~Seashell and Pebble Stationery–DIY~

~How To Make Festive Drink Umbrellas~

~Recipe Monday–Too Much Chocolate Cake~

Ingredients

Directions

~25% Off Coupon At Michael’s Arts & Crafts Store~

~Be A Happy Camper~

Cocktail Umbrella Lantern How-To

~Recipe Monday: Strawberry Frozen Yogurt

Ingredients

Directions

Silver Laurel Paper Garland Cake Decoration How-To

How to Make Paper Pinwheels

~Recipe Monday: Maple-Drizzled Apple Muffins~

Ingredients

Directions

~Six Months Until Christmas!~

Recipe Monday: Kettle Corn

Ingredients

Directions

Tulip Treasury

Recipe Monday: Crumb-Coated Chicken Thighs

Ingredients

Directions

Kindle Addiction

Traditional Greeting Cards vs. Electronic Greetings

Make Cake Balls Instead of Cookies For Valentine’s Day!

Prep Time:40 Min

Cook Time:30 Min

Ready In:1 Hr 10 Min

Original Recipe Yield 3 dozen

Ingredients

Directions

Sno Valley Greetings Sale!

Pantone 2011 Color of the Year–Honeysuckle

Paper Pie Box–DIY

25% Off Your Entire Purchase At Michaels!

Make Your Own Gift Wrap

Special Delivery: Share Your Love 2011–Citymeals

Sno Valley Greetings–Buy One Get One Free

10 Gift Ideas For Co-Workers and Bosses

Wedding Wednesday–Beaded Snowflake Ornament Favor

Beaded Snowflake Ornament

Featured Handmade Items From Etsy Artists on HGTV

10 Holiday Card Tips

Recipe Friday–Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

Ingredients

Directions

Nutritional Information

Treasury Thursday–Snowy Birds

Sno Valley Greetings - Cards By Jenna

~Recipe Monday – Pumpkin Flax Quickbread

Ingredients

Directions

~Make Your Own Snowflake Holiday Gift Card Holder~

~Recipe Monday – Oven Pot Roast~

Ingredients

Directions

~Autumn Cats on Artfire~

~Happy Anniversary Artfire, Celebrate With Free Shipping @ Cards By Jenna~

~”Scent”sational Kanani~

~Pumpkin Carving 101 + Roasted Pumpkin Seeds~

~Looking For Holiday Shoppers~

~Etsy Pumpkins~

~Neglected Blog, Neglected shops, Giveaway Coming Soon!~

~Oriental Trading Company – 20% Off Online Discount Code~

~For The Love Of Oysters~

~Retailmenot.com~

~25% Off Your Entire Purchase at Michaels?!?~

~When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Lemonade!~

Prep Time:
40 Min

Cook Time:
30 Min

Ready In:
1 Hr 10 Min