Handmade Christmas Ideas

Can you believe that Christmas is just over 4 months away?!?! Yes, it's really that close!! One of my favorite parts of Christmas is buying gifts. I love finding that certain special gift that I know my parents, sisters, nephews & nieces, friends, etc will absolutely love and seeing their face as they open it!! Being an artist myself not only do I want to support the handmade community but I appreciate the time and work put into it by the other artists. I have put together some selections from some of my favorites here. These are all artists that I have purchased from and own their products or have given their products as gifts.

Here are some awesome jewelers!!!

One of my favorite pairs of earrings comes from IngridsCreations. Ingrid makes fabulous delicate, feminie jewelry and bottle cap necklaces (my stepdaughter has one of those too!). Her pictures don't do her pieces justice! They're gorgeous!!

Turquoise Seas Czech Glass Beads and Swarovski Crystals Oval Dangle Earrings by IngridsCreations

My other favorite pair of earrings come from BailybelleCreations Her pieces are absolutely as gorgeous as the pictures and they come packaged so beautifully!!! They're perfect to give as a gift right away!

NAOMI - Chaceldony Carnelian and Vintage Lucite Necklace by BailybelleCreations

Another amazing jeweler is Dan from Dankartistry. He bends spoons and makes them into rings!! Okay, so it's a little bit more complicatied then bending a spoon, but he does it so beautifully!!

Queen Bess Spoon Ring by Dankartistry

These custom photo pendants from CookiesForSale are great for parents and grandparents! You can send in your own pictures and in return receive a gorgeous custom pendant and her turn around time is great!!

Custom Photo Pendant by CookiesForSale

Okay, my next selection is from VixensNaturalJewelry and I have her seperating jewelry and hair because she actually sells both. I am totally obsessed with Shannon's bobby pins!! They're all so beautiful and I wear them every day. I also have one of her rings (so does my sister in law!) and she's such a sweet heart to work with!!

Plum Passion Pearl Bobby Pins by VixensNaturalJewelry

I love the uniqueness of the hair accessories you can find in BlueberryShoes. Hollie is so creative and you won't find creations like her's anywhere else!

Rose Garden Party Hair Clip by BlueberryShoes

If you have a little girl you must check out LilysFrilys for the cutest hairbows! She has butterflies, princesses, strawberries, and of course your "regular" bows too ;)

Blue and Pink Butterfly by LilysFrilys

Next onto bath and beauty!!

LusciousLather has the best lotions I've ever used!! I wear flip flops year round in Florida and I found creams from Diane that have healed the cracks in my heels!! I love her line!

Whipped Body Silk by LusciousLather

For girls (young and old) that love make up, look no further than MumMumCrafts! These are not only beautiful products, but good for your skin!

All Natural Vegan Lip Tint by MumMumCrafts

Now onto clothing!! One of my favorite t-shirts comes from BanyanTreeClothing. The t-shirt is high quality and the design has never faded. (I have the same design below)

Imagine T-Shirt by BanyanTreeClothing

How adorable are these shoes? Do you want to see even more cuteness? Just visit IraRott. Ira makes so many cute items for infants and they're all high quality.

Purple Cotton Baby Booties by IraRott

Another high quality crochet shop is MattsCraftyWife and she makes items for adults too! Not only does she make shrugs and scarfs, but bookmarks, cozies, and more! Pink Crocheted Shrug by MattsCraftyWife

Here's another great idea for a personalized gift!! Visit AngelPupsCreations where Kelly hand paints slates! We had her paint all the grandchildren for my Mom and it was a huge success!! Custom Handpainted Slate (Made to Order) by AngelPupsCreations

Here is a yummy gift idea!!! Take a trip to HillsideBakery. Here you will find the most delicious fudge (my favorite is the chocolate peanut butter!) My only suggestion is you have it shipped to the recipient so they actually receive it ;) Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge half pound by HillsideBakery

And you could always take a trip to my store, DHElegance, where you can dichroic glass pendants and rings and other goodies!! ;)

Ruby Red Dichroic Glass Chunky Ring by DHElegance

If you're looking for any other handmade ideas, Etsy is a great place to look!! Just use the search tool :)

Hope you find your perfect gift!!! :)

Mega Spring Give Away

It's the Mega-Spring Give Away!!!

Spring time is finally here! How would you like to win a wonderful prize package filled with not one, but many goodies!!! Here is your chance!!! It's the mega spring give away!!! Some of my friends from my wonderfully talented CAST (Christian Artist Street Team) on Etsy have teamed up with me to bring you these goodies! There will be one winner and they will receive ALL the prizes!!! This contest is open worldwide, I do ship internationally! :)

First, the Prizes:

A cupy cozy from MattsCraftyWife

A pair of Earrings by IngridsCreations

A pendant from SweetHeartStudios

A pendant from DHElegance

A mini scarf from Julieriis

Two Flower Cards from NewCreatioNZ

Stacker Bow from LilysFrilys

Eyeglass holder from sammysgrammy

Your choice of a Free Pattern from DelightedHands3113

A 5x7 Print from BeanTreeDesigns

A 4x6 Print from BeanTreeDesigns

The winner will be selected via a random generator (random.org), so whomever's comment corresponds to the number chosen by the generator will win. (The only comments counted will be those that are valid entries). So, let's tell you how you can enter! :)

There are many ways to enter, but EACH entry must be done so as a SEPARATE comment. You must also leave your email address or your Etsy store in your comment so that I have a way to get a hold of you if you win :)

If the winning comment does not have contact information, a new number will be generated.

Here are the ways in which you may enter

1. Follow this blog and comment that you are doing so = 1 entry

2. Visit AbbasGirl, BeanTreeDesigns, BreathofDawnStudio, DelightedHands3113, DHElegance, IngridsCreations, JulieRiis, LilysFrilys, MattsCraftyWife, NewCreatioNZ, SammysGrammy, and SweetHeartStudio Come back and put your favorite item from their Etsy store. You may do one comment per shop (up to 12 total entries)
3. Follow BeanTreeDesigns, DHElegance, IngridsCreations, JulieRiis, or NewCreatioNZ on Twitter and come back and say so. (5 total entries)
4. Become a fan of BeanTreeDesigns, DHElegance, IngridsCreations, JulieRiis, LilysFrilys, MattsCrafyWife, or SammysGrammy on Facebook and come back and say so. (7 total entries)
5. Blog, Tweet, or promote this contest on Facebook or in the Etsy Promotion Forums and come back and tells us with the link. (4 total entries)
6. Buy anything from any of the above stores and tell us, posting the transaction ID # (unlimited # of entries)

This contest will be open until Monday the 26th at midnight EST so you have a full week to get your entries in!!!

The winner will be posted sometime Tuesday. Have fun!!! :)