BIRTHDAY CAKE

Well tomorrow is my birthday, so what is on my mind tonight, but BIRTHDAY CAKE!!!! So, i do my usual surfing around etsy, out of curiousity to see what I can find that is birthday cake related. ElizabethKnapp has a majorly cool painting in her shop entitle Marie Antoinette Cake. I love it! http://www.elizabethknapp.etsy.com/ this is another really new etsy shop, so please pop in and show her some love. All sorts of awesome "dessert style" painting in her shop to make you utterly drool! You wont even BELIEVE the stuff I found in this next shop........................................................Claudiascreations has all types of recycled papers and cards. Ever see or even BUY recycled paper. Its way cool, and hers looks beautiful. http://www.claudiascreations.etsy.com/ The paper pictured is appropriately named "confetti cake". I love it so much because for yearssssssssss my son and daughter both loved to have confetti cake for their birthday. My son is 23 and somtimes still asks for it. I found a cupcake ring, yes thats right, cupcake ring in the shop of shopbonnin. http://www.shopbonnin.etsy.com Its like something you've never seen before. totally unique and has a little "cherry" on top. Browse around her shop and you'll see lots of other unique items. its quite a cheery little shop, thats for sure. You'll be happy you stopped by. And while we are on the subject of of cupcakes, what about taking a look at this really whimsy print in WHIMSYlove's shop. http://www.WHIMSYlove.etsy.com Cartoony and cute as heck, and how can you resist the name? Cup meets cake! Ingenious! Visit her shop and have a ball looking around. You're bound to find something you like

Carrots Aren't Just for Bunny Rabbits

I'm all Eastery today! Colored eggs this morning.............all by myself. Yah, it kinda sucks once the kids are too grown to want to do it anymore. :( But I hum a happy little tune and get to thinking about bunny rabbits, so what do i want to blog about..................................and i think CARROTS, thats a good idea, but not just regular vegetable carrots. Take a look at THIS pinata! Very colorful, very happy looking and definitely very carroty!!! I love it. So not your "normal item". Thats what you'll find in birchangels etsy store! http://www.birchangel.etsy.com Her entire shop is filled with unique looking pinatas of all kinds. Having a party?? Then you'll want to stop by her shop FIRST!!!

Check out myzoetropes shop http://www.myzoetrope.etsy.com for all kinds of polymer clay veggies. She has a set of "worried carrots", that I am certain you will not find anywhere else. The shop is just blooming with all sorts of clay fruits and veggies and stuff. There are some bananas and a cupcake that are just calling out to me too!!!! She carries some other items as well, so please browse her shop and show some lovin!

Are there any more of those orange colored veggies aroun etsy you ask? well, of course. I happen to have one or two in my own shop. These would make a great mothers day gift. My own mom has a few! Just slide on to the handle of your cooking pot and voila!!! instant potholder. I also do corn cobs, but am sold out at the moment. My shop has a miscellaneous array of items. Please stop by. Unadvertised etsy special in my shop for blog readers............buy any TWO greeting cards, card sets, or minis and get one of equal or less value FREE. Simply purchase the 3 that you like and type "get one free blog special" in note to seller at checkout. I will send a revised invoice. Offer good till midnight on friday. choose from many different types of cards in two seperate card section. http://www.craftheart.etsy.com/

Ham and Pineapple

Growing up, every Easter, my mom would make an Easter dinner of ham with pineapple rings and cloves. I was never too fond of ham, and it seemed to me the pineapple and cloves made it really yucky! I'm sure some found it great, and even to this day eat it as a yummy treat, but not me. My now elderly mother no longer cooks, and I couldnt help but think about the ham and pineapple dinners as Easter quickly approaches us. So if i cant EAT it, I figured i would look at some cute ham and pineapple stuff!



In Sweetmeats shop http://www.sweetmeats.etsy.com I found all sorts of sweet meat plush toys, which only goes to prove that if you search long enough on etsy, you'll find just about any kind of treasure. This hambone is just the thing I was looking for. Browse her shop for some other interesting and cute items.





I found lots of pineapple items while searching, but as you know, I am partial to bath and body AND hearts so this pineapple scented heart shaped soap from MDVscentsationalsoaps shop http://www.MDVscentsationalsoap.etsy.com really tickled my fancy. Looks fun, and looks like it smells great. Take a look around her shop for some other great bath items.



Now take a look at a pineapple "fit to wear". This is so so fruity and so so fun. I found this unique necklace in cherriesrockmysocks shop http://www.cherriesrockmysocks.etsy.com/ She has lots of really great and fun items. You'll want to spend some time looking around. Very new to etsy, and so far only one sale, so show her some love!

Homefront In Your Easter Basket

So, on Etsy, I am part of the Homefront Street Team. A group of military wives (active and retired), signifcant others and I believe even a few active duty military personnel. We try to promote together and support one another and each Monday we host a huge sale on etsy! Some of us offer discounts, some just promo our shops, but the list is out there for buyers to browse, chat, buy and basically have fun. Take a look at our blog @ http://www.etsyhomefront.com/

If you visit the forums of etsy on Monday beginning at 5pm and type in Homefront, you'll be sure to find us.

Offering lots of different handmade items, you just definitely would want to check out Heidishandmades @ http://www.heidishandmades.etsy.com She has lots of bath and body and as many of you know, I'm a sucker for the bath and body items. Fittingly for Easter is this cute little soap duckie. He would look adorable sitting in the middle of an Easter basket surrounded by bunches of candy and peeps! Check her shop for lots of other wonderful soaps and stuff.

I love to browse around myself and in looking for what type of DIFFERENT items can be placed into baskets this year, I find these pocket album altered tins in amyyangs shop http://www.amyyang.etsy.com She offers them in many different designs. They are quite cute and super useful. I dont think anyone else you know will have one in their Easter basket. Browse her shop and you'll find other great treasures as well!

Does MOM ever get an Easter basket??? I know I make one for my 80 year old mother, but somehow never get one myself. Maybe some day. If you make a basket for you mom, how about rolling up this super colorful and fun apron from terryanns shop. http://www.terryann.etsy.com/ . Be sure to throw in a bit of chocolate, some jelly beans and of course a little bit of jewelry ( the jewelry you can find in some awesome homefront etsy shops). Mom will love you!

Jewelry Fit For an Easter Basket

Why not make your Easter basket sparkle????? Of course Easter baskets are not just for kids, and jewelry isnt only for adults. I have made a few purchases in Saralibbey's shop http://www.saralibbey.etsy.com and the quality of her jewelry is second to none. If you're looking for a little something to put in your little girls basket, why not get this gorgeous bracelet set for her. Very fitting for an Easter gift too!!!! Visit Sara's shop and check out her HUGE selection of jewelry items. You'll love them all.

Whats one of the most perfect colors for Easter? Why, purple of course. I found these great purple rain earrings in urbandesigns shop. http://www.urbandesigns.etsy.com/ These earrings would look perfect dangling from atop an Easter basket. She's got some great jewelry. Go and browse her shop and look at some of her treasures. You might find one you cant live without.

In Aniasjewelry shop, there are some very amazing pieces, and oh so colorful too. It looks like she is fairly new to Etsy, so please stop by and show her shop some love. http://www.aniasjewelry.etsy.com/ One of her pieces that really caught my eye is this super colorful necklace. I love it. Its fun, flirty and another great piece for your Easter basket!!!!

Easter Bunny Soap

I have seem to become a soap collector ever since I joined etsy and have found all the novelty, cute and of course great smelling and useful soaps for sale there. I have more than I would ever wash with, but of course some are too pretty to actually use. If you visit LoveleeSoaps shop http://www.loveleesoaps.etsy.com/ you will ooooh and ahhhh over the cute, whimsy and great quality look of all her soaps. With Easter in mind, and here I am trying to fill baskets, I've been searching around to see what would "fit". She has the cutest bunny soap in her shop ............scented plumeria (one of my fave scents), cucumber melon and what else of course, but chocolate! This little guy would look darling perched inside an Easter basket.







Soap, soap and more soap.......................i found these absolutely adorable, hard to pass up bunny soaps in Sassyfrass's shop. http://www.sassyfrass.etsy.com They are actually egg shaped soaps, with a fruity scent, and inside the soap is a little bunny toy. The packaging on each one looks great. I ordered four for my basket fillers and cant wait to receive them. Sassyfrass is relatively new to etsy, so please show her shop some love and stop by today. I think you'll easily smile at all of her goodies.



GemsandDolls has some awfully cute Easter items in her shop. But sticking with my theme of Easter soap today, what really caught my eye in her shop was the white bunnies (spring rain scented) and as she describes them in her listing: Good Clean Fun. How can you pass these up? They are bright white, bunny shaped, and just plain fun clean looking! Browse her shop and take a look at some of her other items. The "marshmallow scent" really piques my interest. I hope you will visit her today. http://www.gemsanddolls.etsy.com/

Chocolate in your Easter Basket

Well, what is an Easter basket without chocolate?? Better yet, what is and Easter basket without a chocolate bunny. I remember as a kid, all my friends would bite off the ears of their Easter bunnies first, but I could never bear to do that, I always ate my Chocolate bunny from the bottom up, and saved the ears for last, even wrapping them in reynolds wrap for later. I've found a new etsy shop and in it, lo and behold, the traditional chocolate Easter bunny! You'll want to check out http://www.kandykettlekitchen.etsy.com for all sorts of yummy goodies. I drool just browsing the shop and it really does bring back my old Easter basket days!!!

In Aminyitray's shop http://www.aminyitray.etsy.com/ I found some chocolate you can WEAR. Thats right! An awesome looking pendant which features a golden foil chocolate wrapper. Looks to be straight from one of those expensive, fancy candy shops too. Be unique! I'm sure you'll be the only one you know wearing one of these babies. She has loads of other jewelry in her shop, so please browse around. You will be glad that you did, and you might find a treasure you just cant live without.

How about some gooey carmel chocolate??? Well, once again, not the kind you eat (too many calories there), but more like the kind you would wear again. yup, another pendant. This one is totally awesome, and not only LOOKS like some gooey melting carmel chocolate, but it is heart shaped, which of course is my favorite thing as i collect hearts. http://www.mycabincreations.etsy.com/ has some of the most unique items I have ever come across. I am sure you will have fun looking through her shop and love everything as much as I do.

And of course, not to be outdone, I also have a little bit of chocolate in MY shop. http://www.craftheart.etsy.com/ After all, two of my favorite things are hearts and chocolate! Every diet I've ever broken has been for chocolate. Please visit my shop, and as an unadvertised etsy special, take 20% off any TWO items you purchase. Just mention "20% etsy blog sale". Offer good till this Sunday at midnight. Check out my mini bath and body section, greeting cards and more

DUCK DUCK DUCK but no GOOSE

I love little yellow duckies. My sons girlfriend collects the yellow rubber duckies of all types and believe me they have all kinds. I bought her some soap for her bday with a yellow duck inside the soap and he was wearing a little birthday hat. So cute and funny. I want to FILL Easter baskets with ducks this year. I was looking around etsy as I always do, and I have found a duck or two there. One of my favorite shops is sweetspice. http://www.sweetspice.etsy.com/ She has the most awesome bath and body. Well as I'm looking around i find ducks...............not one, not two, but a whole bucketfull of ducks. Browse around her shop and you will be amazed at some of the wonderful scents and different items she offers.

Some other etsy shops are also featuring ducks. For instance if you take a peek in melysbaby's shop, http://www.melysbaby.etsy.com you will find the most adorable hand embroidered duckie with an umbrella. He is totally darling, and in my opinion would definitely be a great Spring or Easter gift for mom or grandma. I remember my grandma used to collect loads of those hand embroidered items. She just loved them! This tea towel would make a great addition to any kitchen!

Now, we have to look around some more, cause i know there have to be plenty of other duckies around etsy, esp during this Spring time of year. I stumble across wigglysee's shop. http://www.wigglysee.etsy.com I find THE cutest crocheted stuff duck. Now bear in mind this guy seems to be a little too big to fit in an Easter basket, but HEY, how can you resist him. Denison the Duck is a sure fire Easter HIT!

BUT THATS NOT ALL!!!!!! These guys may as well be ducks. They are listed as chicks, but they oh so look like funny little ducks to me and i love them!!!!!!!!!!!! Worst ACEO's has some of the BEST ACEOs I've ever seen. http://www.worstaceos.etsy.com/ ACEO stands for Art Cards, Editions and Originals. Little art, and i think you will love it!!!! Look around her shop and I'm sure you will smile

Here CHICK CHICK CHICK

Well Easter is almost upon us. In some parts of the country Spring is in the air. Instead of searching for the typical Easter bunny this year, I am all into the chicks! They're cute and fluffy too after all. I remember back in the day, when many families would buy baby chicks as Easter basket gifts for the kids. Never a good idea sadly, as they were not properly taken care of for the most part. So, although they are cute as heck, most usually not your typical PET. Except for THESE. I found them in Trulymoms shop. http://www.trulymom.etsy.com/ They are super adorable, great for any Easter basket and so reasonably priced too. You'll want to check her shop out for other goodies as well.

While we're at it, why not SEND a chick to someone you love. Its been proven to cause smiling. If you look around etsy there are many many greeting and holiday cards to choose from. All handmade with love of course. This little guy from Plaidfuzz's shop, http://www.plaidfuzz.etsy.com/ is named Marvin (appropriate for a chick, hmmmm, dont know). In any case he's about as adorable as can be, and I'm a sucker for use of buttons on cards. I make lots of mine using buttons too. Browse around plaidfuzz to find more cutesie things.

FUZZY WUZZY

So, I'm still sick, and whats making me happiest right about now, but fuzzie wuzzies. What can I say, but they just make you feel good. I was surfing the forums on etsy today while promoing my fuzzy frap beverage skirts and I've found a few things that made me go WOW.

If you care to venture a little browsing spree in never felt betters shop http://www.ekneverfeltbetter.etsy.com/ you'll see an awful lot of fuzzy. What she was promoing today was some fuzzy fruit, a pear to be exact. No, its not fuzzy spoiled, its fuzzy awesome. The packaging is great. I love it. But upon further browsing and inspection, I stumbled across some other rather fuzzy and fun things in her shop. You gotta check the pink nuzzlers. They just scream fun and happy and oh so fuzzy wuzzy! They are certainly hard to resist. She has them in colors other than pink as well, if a different color were to strike your fancy.

To keep with the warm and fuzzy theme, I continued to browse around etsy searching all things fuzzy and I figured a good start would be searching "homefront tags". Homefront is the street team I belong to on etsy. We are made up of wives and significant others of active duty, and retired military, and some active duty members themselves. Yep, all crafting away. So, i find in mayrae's shop, this cute little fuzzy puppet which reminds me of the old fraggle rock shows. Visit http://www.mayraecrochetnknit.etsy.com/ to see more.

Visit the forums of etsy http://www.etsy.com and type in homefront to find our Monday Madness on the homefront sale monday night. We're going green, so join in the fun!

On Bedrest

I'm on Bedrest and going stir crazy! Dr said I am borderline pnuemonia and since I have a history of pnuemonia. (yup, had it before, it sucks), they arent taking any chances. Sent me home to bed, with antibiotics and some of the most worst tasting cough syrup you ever want to taste. All I have to say is thank heavens for my laptop. So what am I doing besides blogging, sleeping, coughing and watching TV? Crocheting! yup Working mostly on crochet flip flops for summer. They were a pretty good seller in my etsy shop last year http://www.craftheart.etsy.com/ , and I am hoping for the same this year.

I'm also working on my fuzzy caterpillar bookworm bookmarks. I am surprised at how popular they have become, but I am glad. They are going to make great Easter basket fillers this year. Working on a twist to the caterpillar bookmark as well. Something different, but it has a long tail. Its still on the design table so to speak - squeak, squeak.

Looking for some other crocheted items? Try browsing some other etsy shops. You'll be surprised at what you find. And the quality of handmade is second to none. LazyT has some awesome hats in her shop. http://www.lazytcrochet.etsy.com You'll want to check her out.

I am constantly amazed at the treasures I find. I have been eyeing this little guy for a while now. Reminds me of my friend, Jenny. She loved giraffes. Her living room was done in a safari type theme, but her fave was the giraffe, and how excited she was when she was able to go to Busch Gardens and feed the giraffes, face to face.......well more or less. This little Georgie Giraffe though, is too cute for words. I know she'd love him! See what else is being offered at http://www.cicrafts.etsy.com