Back to School Printable from Creative Mamma

School is starting back up all over the nation and super talented EtsyKids team member Joy Charde, the talented lady behind Creative Mamma, created a fun Kawaii Back-to-School printable to share.

I know you'll find great ways to use this multipurpose pack ... book labels, blank cards - use them as lunch box notes or messages to the teacher, weekly homework planner, and of course bookmarks.

Print off a couple sheets of book labels, blank cards, or bookmarks, cut them up and send them in as a little surprise for your child's teacher. They will appreciated and will quickly be put to good use in the classroom.

You can find more of Joy's sweet printable designs on her website Creative Mamma, and in her shop, TheArtOfJoy.

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EtsyKids Design Challenge for August: In the mood for school!

(images via Flickr: school zone, pencils, letter a for apple, alphabet street, crayons, school room)

Each month EtsyKids Team members are challenged to create a unique item within a chosen theme. "In the mood for school!" is our challenge for August, picked by our last month's winners Redrane and BellaSeraBoutique. We'll be featuring items such as book bags, backpacks, lunch carriers and fall fashion.

EtsyKids members will have until August 19th to submit their entries, and voting will be open to everybody from Sunday, August 21st to Saturday, August 27th. So, be sure to come back to the EtsyKids blog for a new post on the 21st to see all of the entries and VOTE! In the meantime, please click here to get a sneak peek at some exciting entries so far!

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Summer Recipe: Sauteed Green Beans

When I was in college at Syracuse University, we used to eat out from time to time at a Chinese restaurant near campus. With rare exception, I always got the sauteed green beans. I loved them, and every time I’ve ordered Chinese since, I’ve looked for something similar. I never really found it.

Then, a few years ago, I picked up a recipe at the grocery store for “Green Beans Chinese-Style,” and lo and behold, there were my beloved sauteed green beans again! It’s a simple, fast recipe, and whenever I have fresh green beans (as I did from last week’s farm share), it’s the first recipe I think of.

Plus, it gets my son to eat green beans.

Sauteed Green Beans

1.5T minced fresh ginger*
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 green onions, minced**
2T dry sherry
2T sugar
2T soy sauce
2T vegetable oil
1.5 lb. green beans, trimmed, rinsed and patted dry

* I often substitute 1t ground ginger.
** If I don’t have green onions, I use a couple of tablespoons of regular onions.

In a small bowl or measuring cup, combine the ginger, garlic, green beans, onion, sherry, soy sauce, and 1T water. (Important note: don’t double the sauce. It might seem like there’s not enough, but there is. The sauce is supposed to mostly cook away and get sticky on the beans.)


Heat the oil in a wok or large skillet over high heat. Stir fry the green beans for 2 minutes. Add 2T of water and cook for another 2 minutes or until the water is evaporated. Add the sauce and stir fry for 5 more minutes or until the beans are tender. Serve over rice.


Serves 6. (Yeah right — my husband, son, and I can polish this off in one sitting!)


Enjoy! -Cori of Peace, Baby! Batiks

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EtsyKids Design Challenge: We have a Winner! ( ..well two winners really)

We had a tie this month. Congratulations to our two winners of Etsy Kids July Challenge
56. Little Stinker Skunk Hat - Baby to adult sizes available by Redrane!

and
78. Custom Boutique Crochet Tiger Hat UNISEX ANY SIZE photoprop each hat unique by BellaSeraBoutique!

Each of our winners deserves an introduction, so without further ado.....

~About Redrane
Full of vibrant color and artistic design, Redrane shop presents items such as baby slings, cozy blankets, baby hats, cute dresses with hand painted details and more. You can visit Redrane right here.


~ About Bella Sera Boutique
Bella Sera Boutique features unique hand crocheted designs, hand painted items, accessories, and graphics. It' fun, whimsical, and you can visit it right here.

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Very special thanks to our Blog Captain, Inter-Blog Coordinator, EtsyKids Treasury Team Captain and all of the guest contributors for your incredible work in promoting the EtsyKids Christmas in July Event.

Thank you all.

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Slide into Sunday Savings with EtsyKids - Last Day for Xmas in July Sales!

EtsyKids Christmas in July Savings slip away at midnight!

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Toy Story

There was a very very large package under our tree last Christmas. It wasn't the first present that Maizie opened. My own present-opening strategy would have been to start with the biggest first, but she started with the small boxes under the tree. When she had opened the last book, she looked at the penguin wrapped tower in front of her, not sure if it was really a present or not. David and I had been tittering with barely concealed anticipation, while she slowly went through the small stack. We managed to wait patiently without blurting out, "JUST OPEN THE BIG ONE ALREADY!!!".

The moment finally arrived. She tore off the paper and paused a moment. "It's a house for all my dolls". She scurried away, returning with an armful of princesses.

My favorite present as a child was the dollhouse that my father had made. Wendy and I played with it for longer than any self respecting twelve year old would admit. Watching Maizie, open her's started the deja vu's rolling in.

Waiting patiently upstairs in our attic were the boxes of doll furniture, from that Christmas over 30 years ago. Maizie helped me bring them down stairs, now her time to be tittering with excitement. We unpacked kitchen appliances. She exclaimed over tiny pots and pans. Furniture had to be placed just right. I cleaned the pieces while she played, smiling. I had found a time machine back to my childhood.

Not everyone was as happy as Maizie and I that morning. My own dolls, stripped of their clothes for washing, watched homeless piled on the side lines, while Cinderella and her pals settled into their house.

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