Holiday Traditions

Even in this day of e-cards, instant messaging and photo cards, I still enjoy making my own Christmas cards. So when the Etsy bloggers team asked about holiday traditions, I quickly snapped some pictures of this year's edition. I've been taking a card class with a Stampin' Up dealer, and the ornament punch, border punch, stamps, embossing tools and a series of new colored papers inspired me. They were great fun to make, and I loved making use of the unusual colors for Christmas. Hope the recipients liked them, too!

S.........nakes and snails and puppy dog tails...

Is that really what little boys are made of? I hardly think so, but it does seems that it is easier to find patterns for cute sweaters for baby girls. When I found this pattern, however, it was fun to tailor it to be a little more on the masculine side. I added a brightly colored stripe and made the tie interchangeable in both the cream and bold color. Can't you just see bringing a little guy home from the hospital in one of these?

A.........pril 24 is "Etsy Day"

Remember the old gag line: "Yesterday I couldn't even spell bartunder and today I are one"? Well....about a year and a half ago I didn't even know there was an Etsy (pronounced like Betsy without the B) and today it's a fun and rewarding part of my life!

For those of you who don't know about Etsy, it's an online marketplace for crafters, allowing us to show and sell our creations all over the world!

Since I began on Etsy, I've learned so much about crafting, selling, marketing, communicating, and on-line techniques. Plus, today I made my 118th sale, which is a good thing, because I'm also an Etsy buyer! I've found the most unique and beautifully made items that we use here in our home and share with friends and relatives.

So in honor of "Etsy Day", won't you join us in buying and perhaps selling handcrafted items? You can just log on to Etsy.com or click on my little corner of Etsy, my shop, through the links on the right. Happy Etsy Day!!

G.........reeting cards

Besides making pine needle baskets and crocheting, I also love making greeting cards. Of course, I justify my purchases of paper, tape, card stock, and other embellishments by rationalizing that it costs less than going to the store for cards! The 5x7 and 4x5 cards I'm showing here, coordinate with the pine needle baskets, but can certainly be used alone. They are all design originals. When we need a card, all we have to do is check the card tote where these, and many more, are stored!

T.........est pattern

Funny, but when I wrote this title I immediately thought of the old "test patterns" on TV! Most of you reading this blog have never experienced a "test pattern", I imagine. Originally, they helped you tune in your TV. Boy, am I dating myself!

This, however is a much newer type. I was given the privilege of testing a pattern for a crocheted felted purse by the talented kellykat, another etsy shop owner. She designed the purse using giant granny squares in bold colors. It was crocheted in wool and then felted in the washer to make a very solid bag that measures about 11"x11" without the strap which is shoulder length. She gave me the option of making an additional granny square for the flap, but I chose to add a small solid flap instead, which fastens with a large snap.

Be sure to visit http:// kellykatcrafts.etsy.com to see all of her cute designs. I really enjoyed making this project! I chose these colors because it matches several outfits I already own.