Etsy Review of JDesignsHandmade Graphic Design made with love.

Needed an ad done quick and nice....searched thru etsy,,,,and luckily I came across JDesignsHandmade.
What a great shop! tons of premade etsy banners with basixc packages for 5$ uptp total etsy shop branding packs for 50-55$ A TOTAL STEAL!!!

I only needed a buttion ad and it was easy, just picked the designs I liked and literally typed out what I wanted it to say and told the designer to decide, for what I wanted on it, which one she thought would work best!

It was done fast, and emailed to me the next day. I was thrilled and only paid 6$!!!! and I think it's totally adorable

you tell me?

I would no doubt use this shop again....in fact I am thinking or rebranding a shop with her banner sets now too.

Also she has a special right now that can be found here

https://www.etsy.com/listing/92075248/etsy-banner-set-premade-etsy-banner-etsy?ref=shop_home_feat

Indie Polish Nail Polish giveaway! From our in the pink line!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Hosted by www.myindiepolish.com

CkmCouture - banner design - Highly Recommended

This designer works her butt off to make sure you not only have what you need but a few options to pick from. She designed me a few versions of a main banner and  let me pick the one I thought would work best. Than provided me a few smaller vacation and sale banners.
1 needed minor text edits but it was a great job by someone with a great sense of what they love and how to use it tastefully. I find her designs unique, often dark but still beautiful. I would use this designer again without a doubt if I needed something really original..... Our indie polish banner was made for us in a few days...and we love it

I put these images here for examples  we all know how copyright works so don't steal!!!!! not only is it tacky it's rude



other examples include

AMAZING STUFF!

her shop is on etsy at CkmCouture

Cassandra will take care of whatever your design needs are !

ENJOY!

How To - My first big sewing project. A blanket for the boy!

ok I am a very beginner seamstress... I've made a dozen pillows...some baby wipes and a hairband. BUT my son has been driving me nuts for a blanket of out 2 fabrics he picked back in the fall. so to shut him up (yep I said it) I made it today.

He had picked these 2 fabrics

The batman panel was great. I bought it from ebay. And the hot rod fabric is from alexander henry....I know they don't match at all but it's my son's quilt and I told him he could pick what he wanted. and it actually looks really cute together.

So At walmart I picked up some baby blanket batting. it comes folded in a flat big piece. The panel for my son's blanket was 35"x43" so I left 1/2 inch for thread as i'm still not a great perfect line sew-er. So I had to cut my hot rod fabric and batting to the same dimensions...easy enough!

I used this GREAT hobo mom blog for guidlines http://www.hobomama.com/2010/12/sew-cozy-throw-blanket.html

it seemed easy enough... just that it's big and kinda bulky. After pinning than repining the 3 fabrics together (yep I pinned it wrong the first time) I got sewing...I checked repeatedly that I was not going over the edge of the fabric...(which I was at one point..) so I guess in an amateur move I just back stitched all the way back and kept going in a BETTER straight line down the blanket. I will admit that I think I stretched the batting so I had this...ummmmm "overlap" or :wave of extra fabric" BUT batting is very forgiving. I simply flattened the batting along the blanket with my arm, pinned down the overlap and sewed a second seam and it worked out fine and didn't add much bulk at all. I do know I should have ripped the seam and redid it all, however if I did not get this blanket done I would either go deaf from the boy asking if it was done...or stop and put it all away. I thankfully remembered to leave a space open to flip it inside right. Than finished off the open part with a "ladder stitch" ooooooo fancy

I had already poked out the corners with my finger (and you thought I forgot)

I must say it was probably a rather crude way of making my first blanket, but I must say myself...it looks great...and I didn't need to go buy one.... It was also GREAT practice in the "sewing under kids pressure" department. My son adores it, and it will be going on the plane with us soon. The best part of making my first big project is I now know what not to do the next time. I also learned how to break my neeedle and am now going thru sewing withdraw until I get to the sewing shop tomorrow. So with that I leave you be.

I never thought i'd see the day where I could do all this.... With the help of an amazing and encouraging friend and seamstress pam, who has an AMAZING etsy shop st http://www.etsy.com/shop/PKStuff (and I have alot of her awesome stuff)  

a great beginner sewing tutorial I got at http://www.etsy.com/shop/CranberryWay

a naggin son and a genuine desire to learn I got thru it... I'm eager to gt onto the new projects I have planned and cut already! And about those broken needles......well I burned alot of food learning to cook too! 

I'm no longer afraid to sew and it also helped alot with self confidence knowing that in my ADHD mind if I just prepare first and have it all ready the actually put together part is easy peasy

This is his "MOM!!!! i'm trying to play my games" Face!

On a more positive note - a great review!!!! OF US!

a few weeks ago I was emailed by a lovely customer named Ria. She had purchased our vegan glitter lotion in coconut cream pie....

I was surprised to find she was planning to review it as part of her dedication to finding vegan, cruelty free products that are AFFORDABLE. So we mailed off her order and waited.

well today we got word of her pleasing review.

her blog is here ria lives well


and the review was as follows

Coconut Cream Pie Glitter Lotion

Posted on January 25, 2013by Ria

Hi and welcome back to Ria Lives Well!

Today’s topic is one I’m very excited about.

For a while now, I’ve been searching for cosmetics and toiletries that are 1) cruelty free, 2) made with all natural ingredients, and 3) affordable. So far, my favorite shop to find such products is Lush. However, when shopping at Lush, I can never check number three off my list. That doesn’t mean I don’t still heart Lush. I absolutely do! Yet my weakened wallet has me searching for another avenue.

And I found it.

While browsing Etsy, I discovered a shop called Me & The Boy. The owner makes just about everything I’m searching for. Perfumes, lotions, soaps, even nail polish. I forced myself not to buy everything I wanted, and instead purchased one item: Glitter Potion Supreme Lotion in Coconut Cream Pie.

Affordability? Check.

One eight ounce bottle only cost $8 since it was on clearance to make room for the Fall and Winter fragrances. But you won’t find remarkably cheap prices in the clearance section alone. Me & The Boy offers vegan, gluten free body washes for $5; soy candles for $5.26, and beautifully hand crafted soap, like Yuzu Spearmint for $4.75.

So I finally received my lotion in the mail today, and what’s my verdict?

Love this stuff!

The Moisture

This lotion doesn’t sit on my skin, but penetrates and does a wonderful job of moisturizing/softening the skin. And the smell? Deliciously addictive. Unless you aren’t a fan of coconut, you will certainly fall in love.

Glitter me Gold

Despite the name-Glitter Potion Supreme Lotion-I didn’t think much of the word “glitter”. After spreading the lotion across my skin, bits of gold freckled my arms and legs. So then came the realization: “Ah. Glitter lotion.” Even as I sit here writing this post, I’m constantly distracted by the glint from my skin whenever the light hits the right spot. I can only imagine what a hot seller this is during the Summer months.

All Natural

My favorite element of this lotion is that it’s 98% natural and 100% vegan. When I look at the ingredient list, I actually know what most of the ingredients mean.

So I decided to have some fun. I compared it to the lotion I used beforehand, Victoria Secret’s Love my Body in Jasmine & Water Lily.

Not only am I unfamiliar with the ingredients in my VS lotion, I can’t even pronounce half of them. And while this has nothing to do with it being all natural, the Glitter Potion Supreme Lotion is nearly double the size and a fraction of the cost. The insanity!

Just skim the ingredients for both lotions and you’ll see what I mean {Be warned, blurry pictures that fail me as a photographer ahead}….

VS Love my Body Lotion Ingredients:

Water, glycerin, petrolatum, cetyl alcohol, cetearyl alcohol, dimethicone, ceteareth 20, fragrance, diazolidinyl urea, carbomer, methylparaben, aloe leaf juice, benzyl alcohol, tocopheryl acetate, tetrasodium EDTA, sodium hydroxide, macadamia seed soil propyl paraben….{The list continues in this manner. How many can you define?}

Coconut Cream Pie Glitter Lotion Ingredients:

De-ionized water, grape seed oil, avocado oil, capric triglycerides, emulsifying wax NX, jojoba seed oil, shea butter, aloe leaf juice, stearic acid, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, silk amino acids, vegetable glycerine, sorbitol, silicone, methyl cellulose, allantoin, phenoxyethanol and optiphen.

Not only do I recognize most of the ingredients, like shea butter and jojoba oil, the ingredient list is smaller. This is what I want when searching for skin care products. Skin is a delicate system, and I can’t imagine caring for it while slathering cetereath-20, tetra sodium EDTA and carbomer on it everyday.

A Sample

The shop owner also threw in a sample of her Lavender body wash, Lavenderology Shower Gel with exfoliating grains. Take a whiff and you’re in a field of lavender. The beauty of this product is, the smell intensifies as you use it. I hadn’t stumbled upon the last time I browsed her Etsy shop, but I’ll keep my eyes peeled for it next time. Oh, yeah. There will be a next time.

~Live well!

Check out her blog it's great (she has an amazing reciepe for 2 ingredient creamer for your coffee! and she's nice too!!! Thanks Ria...

Etsy Review - The Owl and the Envelope

Soo I happened upon the owl and the envelope via a giveaway of their site! AND I WON....which never EVER happens. And I am such a stationary lover that I was super excited....and with good reason I soon found out!

 Megan is as nice as they come. Everything went quick...from contact on facebook, to the order being sent out!  from foxes, snowflakes and cool graphic originality it's clear this shop owner loves what she does!

It was really hard to pick just a few things so I ordered

4 piece3-1/2 x 5 card is made with textured paper and ink, on Eco-friendly card stock, and comes with a Kraft colored envelope.

Let it Snow! Just like snowflakes, each of these beautiful cards is a one of a kind. Each card is hand-drawn with pen and pencil, and comes with a coordinating handmade envelope.

Cards are A1 (3-1/2x5 inches) 




















With striking stripes in bold retro colors, these note cards are sure to please all! Two designs to make sure they fit each occasion you need them for. Total set of 8 cards and coordinating envelopes. 3-1/2" x 4-7/8"
















I've never said this before but the envelopes and presentation were almost better than the cards. The snowflake ones are all hand coloured and JUST STUNNING. They were all quite simply perfect!!!!  I would WITHOUT a doubt shop in this shop and honestly she's a great artist and a wonderful shop owner. Customer service and communication were second to NONE. Delivery to canada was reasonably quick, and they arrived perfect

Etsy Shop - http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheOwlandtheEnvelope

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theowlandtheenvelope

Product Review - Performance Colors

Years ago when I became a mom I kinda gave up on make up. Five years later I looked in the mirror and hardly recognized the tired, blah face looking at me. I ran across this etsy shop called Performance colors.

She offered a great range of items all handmade, and available in samples too. Her one deal of 3 lipsticks for 10$ was too good to pass up... I went thru all of them about 25 times and settled on

 

  Rocket 

                           
                                                                  cheekie monkey

                                                                                  Ruby




I love them all and they feel great and last a VERY long time. If, like me, you can't wear read you MUST try ruby...it is the quintessential red for non red wearers. Cheekie monkey is more sheer than it appears and is equally lovely for a more plain look. Rocket was not for me but it is super pretty if you don't have the skin tone that I do.




I also ordered some concealer samples in fair and light. I'd given up on this stuff years ago. it was cakey or looked like I was wearing concealer....however this formula is silky, smooth and spreads and blends like nothing I have felt before. SERIOUSLY impressed. A serious must have and I will buy some soon.

I also received some eyeshadow samples and lipstick samples. One of the eye shadows worked beautifully for me.....the eye shadow wore beautifully thru bus and subway trips all day, a 3 hr tattoo session and all the way home....it creased the TINIEST bit (I have hooded eyelids and this is typical) but a quick wipe with my finger and it was seamlessly blended perfectly again.


Despite the amazing product, Tiffany is so amazing and ever SHARED Where she gets her tiny sample pots and I picked some up.... Most handmade artists feel this huge competition among each other and value their suppliers and rarely share info...So when a seller so easily shares info, tricks of the trade and so on it says alot.


I would easily score this a 10/10  no complaints....and I know for a fact that I would gladly go back and buy full sizes of the concealer, and eye shadow...along with my new fave lipstick....

Thank you Tiffany....I was losing hope on finding affordable quality make up! Me, my husband, my non frumpy friends....we all thank you!



You can find Performance colors at  http://www.etsy.com/shop/PerformanceColors   I honestly think you'll be amazed!

The design Gods sent me an angel - Beepart

Part of having an ADHD 5 yr old is the constant change. It's like our entire life should be made of repositionable vinyl.

We talked about his love of fishing and the Octonauts and decided to do an under the sea theme. He went away with dad for the weekend and I got started!

I am a sucker for shopping handmade, and local, ran a search, and came up with Beepart on etsy. The designs seemed to be perfect. The owner Neil is very convo friendly, patient and worked with me as I had a budget. We changed the sizes from what was listed which was nice. I didn't have to lose any of the elements, just adjust the size.

In the time it took to get here (within days) I painted the remainder of the wall (his room was half blue and half green) blue. With out taupe rug it was already looking like a sandy ocean theme. Forgive me as it was not until after I painted that I thought I should have taken a before picture of his room. Mom has ADHD too. There were so many colors to pick from but I finally settled on lime green,bright orange. and dark grey.

 

Now before anyone says "how hard can it be to apply a decal to a wall....let me tell you it can be really hard. BUT if you follow Neil's rules that he includes it's FAR ore pleasant (i found this out after trying to apply one decal sans directions)

While I waited for the paint to dry I happened to find this set at sears. I didn't by the fancy cushion....just the bedding....it was on sale for 70$ plus I had a 10$ gift card and a 10% coupon NICE

His old set was street signs and those babyish construction vehicles in light colors and rounded corners.

Neil's shop Beepart is available here ----> BEEPART SHOP

SO after a few hours and only a tiny credit card (my fault) The end result was the happiest boy under the sea! 

please not the sports theme bed set was bought by daddy 6 months before our son was born......and of course, he has NO interest in sports.

 

                                         

Beepart on ETSY

Ps I forgot to mention. All the green bubbles and shells were included free as part of the sheet. I would without a doubt shop here again, and you should too.

Coming soon!

Next week I will be posting our blog interview with Traci at Sampler village. I am so excited to ask her a few burning questions. She is so talented and kind and really supports artists! The handmade world is lucky for this lady! This month, as with last month we will again be  in the Sampler. Plus we will be including a 20% off code also for anything. Se you next week!

YAY MAILBAG DAY jam-jelly-and honey OH MY!!!

Finally some mail is getting thru!!!!

I always love jam and jellies for my son as he adores jam sandwiches,,,, I have seen bovinebubbles alot and being that they are canadian, and have a huge selection of jams and whatnot I decided to try! Also since my order from a heartsy/etsy seller never showed up (if it was ever really shipped) 


It was a BIG splurge but made sense in the long run. For 53$ I could get 6 jars with expedited delivery! it works out to about 8$ and change per jar for 8 ounce jars I don't think that's terrible....plus it beats the supermarket selection.

I ordered 2 banana nut butters, 1 blueberry nectarine, one vanilla pear cinnamon, one strawberry mango and the one my son and grandchildren begged for 1 bubblegum apple jelly!

It arrived today!!!  beautifully jarred, VERY securely packaged....very impressed

we only have opened the banana nut bread butter...GOOD LORD!!! it's unreal. I had mine on rye bread, while my son mixed his in with plain oatmeal...we were BOTH impressed. I CANNOT wait to try the rest.

The seller was very helpful, informative and patient. I had some odd yet somple questions and she assured me all would be fine. 

Bovine bubbles also offers a great body line also....I would WITHOUT a doubt shop here again and reccomend this shop to anyone.

you can find the shop HERE

OH and before I forget....the honey selection is also great!!! lavender honey yum....that will be the next buy!

Robins little nest! Not your average bird

up late one night looking for carpets...I'm kinda odd in the things I collect. I adore coats, hats, carpets, aprons..... yep  odd!

I was looking for area rugs that were eco friendly... I saw the picture in the listing for this carpet

pretty huh?  It's hard to tell from a picture what a rug will really look like and feel like, but you can tell this is thick. I am into primitive, shabby chic, cottage type stuff! This carpet was perfect color wise. and wasn't perfect fancy shmancy looking (like our comfy cozy home) I contacted robin, who, I have to say is about the sweetest most accommodating seller EVER!  we set up the listing and I waited....waited.....waited... but not long.

In about a week or so it came and like a kid at Christmas I wasted no time in ripping the box apart to find the softest most luscious carpet.....I had contacted Robin about it not laying flat, she offered a few tips and it worked.

This carpet love to be thrown in the washer and dryer, giver a good yank in all directions and used. it's been in the bathroom where it DRINKS water off the kids after the bath, now it lives in our master bedroom at the foot of the bed...it has a special home under our dog. Because it's so think (LITERALLY over an inch think) and cozy and lush, Co-jack has deemed it worthy of comforting his old arthritic bones.

I came home the other day and Co-jack cam down the hall and stretched in the odd way big dogs do...I walked into the bedroom and felt the carpet and it was so warm I know he was there for hours.

Although never intended to be a dog mat.....it's a beautiful carpet after all....we kind of think in our house if it's good enough for the dog it MUST be ok for us too

Please visit robins store right here  she sells all kinds of cute stuff and amazing pictures. She was amazing to deal with and  honestly concerned when I had a few issues with the carpet. She is honestly simply happy to know someone will enjoy her stuff and give it a good home. It's obvious she's passionate about what she does....and you can tell!

I know it's been awhile. But i'll make it worth it

So summer is winding down.....am I the only mom counting th  days until the school bell rings? It seems my mom is right. She told me that this time of year the parents get as sick of the kids somedays as do the kids of the parents.

so lots to go on today!!!

NEWS
Sarah, the great girl that helps me when my shops get busy has opened her own store. I have never met someone so obsessed with paper in my life. Tissue paper, cardstock, wrapping paper  ANYTHING
http://www.pushinpaper.etsy.com/ is her shop. It's adorable and her work is amazing!

Mailbag

So I am starting to put things away for birthdays and christmas (7 birthdays from sept-jan plus christmas)

Jodiscraftemporium is truly one of my best shopping times ever. Anytime I ever shop here it's simple, and everything from transaction to product is perfect! I purchased this set for my mom

4 simple crocheted clothes for her kitchen. She has a romantic dreamy kitchen, and I know these will go beautifully. My mom is stating the value of shopping handmade. I have vowed to have a totally 100% handmade only holidays!   check out jodi's shop. you'll find so much stuff. And she's been known to do some custom work too.  I had a carpet made and thru various washes and being in the kitchen it still looks brand new. It honestly delights me everytime I see it. Click here for jodi's shop

Tulips treasures is a canadian seller. I found tulip thru bnr's and also heartsy. I found her shop FULL of great stuff. A mix of accessories, skin care and more I was delighted to find this Shea Lavender butter.

It is so simple in it's make up but glorious in it's smooth creamy perfection. It literally melts into your skin but the scent lingers forever it's amazing. I've been using it as after care for my new tattoos also and it's PERFECT! I aalso picked up some great hair clips and a cute pewter nest ring at this store too. How great to have such a mix of stuff in one place. Click here for tulips treasure

Piixwixcandleco is a shop I ran into thru BNR's on Etsy. I am a sucker for solid perfume...so when I found out I could buy 3 and get one free I was ready!!!! I picked wild cherry vanilla, lavender lemon, and nag champra  patchoulli. As my free one she did a custom nag champra. they arrived fast....really fast. In adorable metal slide tins they are the perfect size. They are highly fragrant but when applied they are not over powering at all.

This one was my fave....it's not a smell I would normally pick....it reminds me of cherry lifesavers  mmmmmm.  Find this great store here by clicking here

I will be adding more to this list this evening....but.... I have the whole house to myself....no son, hubby or dog....so i'm off to draw a long bath and make some food nobody else in the house likes|! 

Another week another mail bag call!

ahhhhh it's been such a great week!

hot, sticky but full of mail

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm   where to start 

first of all before I forget we have added to out bath line and candles line

I have come up with the best detox bath ever  only 3 ingerdients  essential oil 100% pure and blended (orange,grapefruit,lavender,black pepper but not in that order) Dead sea salt and french green clay....mmmmmmmmm it's so nice. and after you feel all sleepy, not just because of the lavender but the green clay draws so much out of your body in the way of impurities.

than I used the same relaxing sensual essential oils and started a pretty gray candle line of votives and melts, even some in flower shapes

 

So onto mail week!

I got my great as always package from http://www.etsy.com/shop/DragonflyExpression . She makes THE most beautiful paper flowers, the same ones I have used in my jewelry.... I got these

Than I got a package from http://www.etsy.com/shop/pinkdottedowl full of yummy goodness  butterfly scrub soaps, twist up soaps, and lemmongrass fluff soap....great stuff and super shipping. her page is full of stuff!

I caved and bought a heartsy deal for a stitch of mine. http://www.etsy.com/shop/astitchofmine I love beautiful mats and runners for tables and I so quickly fell in love with  this beautiful neat blue and yellow table runner that is perfect in our house I just love it and it is sooooo well made

It's always a joyfull day when my orders arrive from PKSTUFF http://www.etsy.com/shop/PKStuff

She's awesome funny and way talented.. Everything is always made perfectly and she's even done some custom pieces for me

so I got

LOVE!!! and it fits in my organizer

well it seems I was self spoiled this week but it's still STILL because of the postal strike!   although it's been fun the last few weeks getting all my backlogged orders.

SO I guess it will soon be onto school shopping and starting to put xmas stuff away!

Well we'll catch up next week......hopefully sooner and it won't be so hot!!!!!  

feel free to share your thoughts, or if you've purchased from any of the shops in my blog ad your own opinions.....I love to hear from readers!