Sunday Window Shopping ... with a friend!

I met a new friend today during Sunday window shopping. His name is "Steve" and he comes from MadebyMarta's shop on Etsy:



I asked Steve if his favorite colors were black and white and he replied in a very deep voice, "No, I like red, thanks!" We were on our way:

First, Steve spotted this lovely stocking by RikRak:


I pointed out these gorgeous Juice Berry earrings by saralagace


We started to get a bit peckish so we stopped and had some of SugarCake's Chocolate Covered Strawberries. They were delicious!


When Steve and I got home, we decided to make some Glitter Cards. We found the instructions over at Kids Craft Weekly and thought they looked like great fun.

These cards are messy to make but the effect is spectacular and I guarantee the kids will love it! They do cover the recipient in glitter when they open the envelope but I don't necessarily see this as a bad thing!

You will need:

• blank cards
• kid's pvc glue
• a couple of different colours of glitter
• christmas cookie cutters

Directions:

1. Pour glue into a small container or tray until the glue is about 3mm deep. Make sure that your containers is large enough to accommodate the cookie cutters.


2. Dip a cookie cutter in glue and then use it to make a glue print on the blank card. For best results, leave the cutter in place on the card for about three seconds to allow for the glue to drip down onto the card. Repeat until you have made all the glue prints that you want for that particular card.


3. Sprinkle different colours of glitter on top of the glue prints, making sure to cover all of the glue marks. Then shake the glitter off into a tray and allow card to dry.


Happy Sunday!
Layla (and Steve)

One Down, Two to Go!

Whew! Just got home from a craft fair at the American Legion in Bothell. I am *pooped*!

I didn't do quite as well as I had hoped but I had really good company. The lady in the booth next to me must have been in her 80's and we knitted and had a great time chatting throughout the day. She was showing me photos of her kids, grandkids and yes, great grandkids when a voice spoke over a loud speaker:

"Fresh hot Krispy Kreme donuts have just arrived..."

I turned back to resume my conversation with my booth neighbor and she had vanished. Moments later, she returned with a fresh, hot donut and a cup of coffee and replied, "Sorry, they go quick here." I only hope I'm that nimble when I'm 80!

Here's a photo of my booth today. I had some beautiful new additions with me - some of LizzieJane's fine work! Her fragrant sachets were *very* popular!


Next up, December 3rd at Premera Blue Cross. That's my favorite craft fair of all!

Layla

Feeling Snacky?

I'm feeling so snacky this evening and these all look so delicious! Why can't Etsy be a 24 hour store here in Woodinville??


Plain Vanilla Caramels from DarcysHome

Sweetie Pies Sample Pack by Sweetie Pies Delights

Rocky Road Caramel Apple from DoubleDippedSweets
*Sigh* ... so, so delicious ...

New Etsy Helper

I'm doing quite well on Etsy so it was time to bring on some help. His English is atrocious and he doesn't quite understand the concept of photography but he's very sweet and he's a good little companion.


"Hi, whatcha doin'?"

"Can I help?"

"Oh, that's pretty!"
Needless to say, we only got 12 ornaments listed today. The Warm Honey is a favorite of Hunter and mine.

Kitty & the Roomba

I don't know why this movie affected me so much but it did. My tummy actually hurts.



It wasn't the little "kitty body jerk" each time the Roomba changed directions. It probably wasn't even the tail dragging along behind the device. I think it was something far more deep-seeded.


I never had one when I was a kid and I thought the Sit n' Spin was the greatest toy ever made. Some 25 years later, my parents presented me with one at Christmas. We're square now and all things are good in the world.

Sit n' spin, little kitty ... sit n' spin....

Daily Etsy Specials Begin!

Beginning today and running through end of year, I'm doing a different special offer in my Etsy shop EVERY DAY!

Be sure to check the banner in my Etsy shop to see what the daily special is. And I have to tell you - there are some *REALLY* good ones coming up. You won't be disappointed!

Psst .. if you follow my blog every day, I might not be able to contain myself and I may tell you what the next day's special is in advance! I mean, I might even do something crazy and show you the next day's banner!


Happy crafting everyone!

Hugs,
Layla

Painted Toast!

Looking for a fun, inexpensive and delicious project do to with your kids this weekend? Look no further! Here's a great project idea I found at Wiggle-Eyes.com.

1) Place several drops of food color into each cup. Then pour a few tablespoons of milk into each cup. I used about 8 drops per color. The more color you use, the more vivid your results will be.


2) Apply the “milk paint” on the toast using clean small paint brushes. Let your kids create any design they desire, but don't soak the bread too much.


3) When the painting is complete, lightly toast the bread. You can add butter or eat plain. We also sprinkled a little white sugar on a few pieces thinking it would add a glittery effect. Although that didn’t work, it made a nice sweet treat!


If you try this project, send your photos to me! I'd love to feature them!

Hugs,
Layla

Bath Bomb Success!

Third time truly is a charm!

I finally made three batches of bath bombs (lemon, orange, and mint) that didn't turn out like bath pancakes and for that, I am truly grateful! Take a look:


On my way home, I got a surprise phone call - I got in to the November 29th holiday bazaar in Bothell!! I'm so excited that I actually squealed when I was talking to the organizer.

Oh my gosh - do you think I'll be ready in time? There's so much to do! I have to make more lavender dryer bags and catnip toys and omg, I hope my soap is ready in time! And signs .. I need to remake my signs ..........................

How To Make Simmering Potpourri

Materials: cloves, cinnamon sticks, orange peel ribbons and star anise.

1. To make the potpourri you need to mix equal amounts of cloves, cinnamon sticks and star anise. Variations include adding bay leaves, orange peel ribbons, dried orange and lemon peel.

2. Fill a glass jar container with the potpourri with a cork top so it stays fresh. Or place into muslin bags as gifts. Use raffia to decorate the bottle and the muslin bags.

Simmering instructions:

-Place in a shallow pan and cover with water.
-Simmer on low and refill water as necessary.

Make a few of these and keep them on hand this holiday season - they make lovely "emergency" gifts!

Sunday Window Shopping

On Sunday mornings, I like to surf around and do a little Etsy window shopping. Here's what I found today that I really like:

Red and Yellow Poppies - $28 by "infinifleurs"



Pearly Lunar Eclipse - $22 by "birdsnbees"



2 Felt Trees x Button dipped - $14.20 by "SnowFish"



Little Piggy Ornament - $15 by "LizzieJane"



Today, I'm off to do inventory for all of my herbs and spices - I've sold so much on Etsy so fast that I need to get more stock in! Cloves and fragrance oils are the hot items at the moment - definitely need to stock up on those!

Happy Sunday!
Layla

One Down ... Three or Four to Go!

With the first craft fair of the season behind me, I'm already ramping up for the next one! Here's a photo of my booth:


Hot sellers were handmade soaps, bath bombs, lavender dryer bags and (yeah!!!) my new cedar closet sachets!

Here's my craft fair schedule so far:
November 29: American Legion Hall - Bothell, WA
December 3: Premera Blue Cross - Mountlake Terrace, WA
December 6: Skyline High School - Issaquah, WA
December 13: Lacey Elementary School - Lacey, WA

I'm off to inventory my herbs/spices today. Time to stock up again - getting very busy with Etsy orders! You all must be crafting for fairs too!

Hugs,
Layla

Alcohol Ink Ornaments

I think I have been sucked into a crafty vortex and can't get out.

While walking through Ben Franklin Crafts this weekend, I was lucky enough (or unlucky enough, depending on how you view things) to watch a short demonstration for making "alcohol ink" ornaments.

What ensued can only be described as sheer madness. The flock of crafty ladies watching the demo with me *freaked* at the end when they saw how *gorgeous* the ornaments turned out. In one massive crafty blob, we all rushed to the alcohol inks and "Perfect Pearls" product, scooping the variety of inks and powders into our carts with both hands.

Here's my first ornament:



After subsequent ooohhing and ahhhhing at my work, I went on to make these:


and these:


Needless to say, the laundry did *not* get done this weekend. Or the vacuuming or ... anything. I'm embarrassed to admit that I made a second craft store trip to buy more glass ornaments (104 of them, to be exact). They were 50% off so that makes this ridiculous amount ok but I did get quite a few looks as I pushed my cart through the store. I hope they do well at the craft fairs I'm participating in ...

Magnets!

I have been saying for the longest time that I'd like to try making my own magnets. In a fit of crafty inspiration, I made some yesterday.

I think they turned out pretty good for a first go at them:



If you've wondered about making them, they're super easy! Would make a fun family activity - you could even put family photos behind some of the larger glass pebbles!

Happy Sunday!

How to Make Orange Pomander Balls

These are lovely and fragrant and make beautiful gifts or items to decorate your holiday home. Try picking up the cinnamon, cloves and orris root in my Etsy shop for real savings on those bulk items!



You need:

Oranges
Whole cloves
A few toothpicks
Orris root
Cinnamon

Gently prick the orange with a toothpick, and then insert the pointed end of the whole clove into the orange. Repeat until entire orange is studded with cloves.

Then take a mixture of equal parts cinnamon and orris root, and roll the ball in the mixture, coating the ball. Then place the orange in a dark room for two to three weeks for it to harden. Then it is ready to use or give away for gifts for Christmas.

United States of Pop Tart

One of the things that gives me great hope right now is the sense of unity and overwhelming patriotism that American's are now feeling with the election of Barack Obama as our nation's 44th President.

Regardless of which party you voted for, I think it's clear that things are looking up. This week, a little tiny light was turned on at the end of a very long, dark tunnel.

In my travels on the Internet today, I found a nifty little site that speaks of that coming together of red and blue better than I ever could. I give you, the United States of Pop Tart:

Squeaalll!! It's Here!!

My pillow! My custom made Flowering Tree Botanicals pillow is heerrre!!

Just look at how lovely it turned out:


I cannot recommend ArtfulBeginnings highly enough. This lovely pillow will be sitting on my craft fair tables in lue of a clunky, hard to hang banner. I *love* it, Kati! Thank you so much for doing such a lovely job with it!

Yes We Did.

Overjoyed in Washington State!

Random Etsy "Food" Finds

Is this not the sweetest little felt cupcake you ever saw?



And as a vegetarian, I'm really fond of this ... a veggie burger soap on a rope!