~Etsy Greetings Team: Holiday Boutique Sales Event~

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!

~Be A Happy Camper~

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

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

Tulip Treasury

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.

Sno Valley Greetings–Buy One Get One Free

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

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

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.  

~Featured Etsy Blogger For June: LazyTCrochet~

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.

~March Featured Etsy Blogger: Design By Nora~

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!

~Luck of the Irish: EtsyGreetings February Team Challenge~

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!

~February EtsyBlogger of The Month: Donna Pool~

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: 

• Custom Buttons
• Pocket Mirrors
• Vintage Goodies
• Cards & ACEO’s
• Photographs
• Christmas Goodies
• Plush Toys

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?~

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!

 

~Mini Halloween Gift Guide By Jenna~

Since Halloween is next week I decided to put together a gift guide for those of you out there who buy gifts for your favorite ghosts and goblins. Who says you can't buy gifts for Halloween?

Along with the holidays we find ourselves in the kitchen whipping up themed meals or baking those yummy frosted sugar cookies. You can't go wrong with giving the chef or baker in your life a Halloween dish towel! Check out this Halloween dish towel from 2nd Street Designs shop. The best part about this towel is that it was crocheted by the shop owners 86 year old father. What a treat to own something like this. This kitchen towel is currently on sale for $2.50. If you aren't into Halloween check out 2nd Street Designs other items, everything is unique and one of a kind, especially the floral wreaths!

After the kids come in from trick or treating their hands are full of germs! Running around from house to house ringing door bells and knocking on doors. Before letting the goblins go through their candy loot give them some soap to wash up with! I found the perfect mini soaps at Machine Gun Lullaby's shop. Check out these skull and pumpkin mini colored soaps! Vegan friendly and on sale to boot! You pay $1.40 for 10 sweet shea lotion soaps. What a great deal and a fun gift!

Need a trick or treat bag to hold all the loot you plan on collecting Halloween night? Well here is the perfect bag especially if you love kitties! This Halloween Themed Orange & Black Cat Bag comes from Monk Rock Creation's shop. Not only is this bag environmentally friendly but a great tote to use for any number of items! At $10 this bag is a steal. :-)

Don't forget to bring out the candles to light your way on Halloween night. These Halloween Tealight Holders are not only one of a kind but hand painted and decorated individually. No two holders are alike! These fabulous tealight holders come from Dizzee Lizzee's shop. Not only does Dizzee Lizzee have an awesome shop but she is located just a few hours away from me in Washington state!

Now that we have the candle holder figured out we need to find some tealights to put inside. I have found the perfect tealights at Sweet Surrender Candle Shop. Check out these Pumpkin Spice Soy Tealights! Makes me want to eat pumpkin pie. :-) You get a dozen tealights for $6.99. I noticed there is a sale going on at the Sweet Surrender Candle Shop. Until Ocotober 25th you buy 5 candles and get the 6th one free! What an awesome sale and a great way to stock on up wonderful smelling candles.

Well there you have it! My mini Halloween gift buying guide from etsy sellers. I forgot one thing! If you need Halloween cards to go with any of these fabulous gift picks check out my Halloween cards. Right now all Halloween cards are 50% off.