EtsyKids Design Challenge: We have a Winner!

Congratulations to the winner of our January's challenge, Valentine's Day Bow - Kisses for Sale - Layered Boutique Bow by LittleTrendsBoutique!

This lovely Etsy boutique features the latest styles and trends for children in headbands, pacifier clips, hats, and a large variety of bows.  All are handmade to order just for you.  You can visit LittleTrendsBoutique right here.

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Introducing Melon Dot

Today we introduce you to Sarah from Melon Dot!

Q: What motivated you to start your shop?
I started my shop after inheriting my gramma's sewing machine. She was a master crafter of all kinds. I wish I would have learned my from her.

Q:  What is the story behind your shop name?
My shop name came from brainstorming. I listed lots of different things/words that I like and tested out combos. Melon also represents some of my favorite colors: pink and green.

Q:  Do you have a favorite Etsy Shop (non-child related)?
I do not have one particular etsy shop that I am a fan of. I have been doing a lot of looking in shops that feature wall art recently looking for items to add to the walls in our new home! A shop called rookies also has some seriously scrumptious looking desserts.

Q:  What surprised you most about having your own craft / online shop?
I really enjoy having an etsy shop. My favorite thing about running my etsy shop is meeting so many people and crafting something unique just for them or the little one in their life.

Q:  What do you find most challenging about being an Etsy seller?
The most challenging obstacle in being an etsy seller is staying on top of everything. I create extra work for myself when I am not organized because I double and triple check myself. Now that I have my own workspace and am not constantly clearing projects from a family space it is much easier.

Q:  What's your personal philosophy behind your shop / products?
My personal philosophy behind my shop and products is to be open and honest. I love providing options and being confronted with new ideas from buyers.

Q:  How would someone (other then you) describe you?
Someone else would describe me as caring, positive, and strong.

Q:  What music do you have on while you are creating?
 My kids provide all the music in our house! Usually my sewing time is calm time.

Q:  What do you do when you aren't working?
When I am not working, I am with my kids helping them create. They have projects galore to do! They go through a lot of glue and felt and string.

Q:  Anything else you'd like to tell us or share?
I am in awe of all things etsy.

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Curling up with a good book

Today we have Posies and Petals guest posting with us!

Winter is a great time to curl up with a great book. I relish that quality time with my kids and recently we've had quite alot of it. So I asked Will to bring me his two favorite books, I wasn't surprised that he couldn't stop at two. First he brought me these two....

  

then these....

 

and lastly this one.

They are all fantastic books that I have enjoyed in my classroom as well as my living room. Today we spent a little extra time with Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. We made a tree and used our letter magnets to retell the story. First Will and I, then Will and his dad, then lastly Will told the story to his sister Caroline, who sat and watched in amazement.

Then we just happened to have some animal crackers shaped like letters, so we acted it out again over snack! I love when things work out like that. Tomorrow, we will look for number magnets to act out Chicka Chicka 123.

What are your favorite books right now? For yourself and your kids? I always love hearing new titles!

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Chinese New Year - Lantern Printable

Today is Chinese New Year!! 2012 is the year of the dragon

To celebrate I have a fun printable to share with you! Chinese Paper Lanterns

Download in black & white
Download in colour


1.  Print out the lantern. You can print off the black and white version if printing onto red paper, or if you want to make a fun colouring activities with the kids.

2. Cut out the lanterns. Cut along the solid black lines, and fold along the dashed black lines.


3.  Starting at one end of the lantern, glue or tape each of the tabs onto the next panel of the lantern. Keep going all the way around the lantern, for the top and bottom tabs. When you reach the end, glue the last tabs onto the first panel.

4.  Punch two holes at the top of the lantern (where indicated with black dots). Thread the lanterns onto some string, or onto some fairy lights like I did. Do not place a flame inside the lanterns.

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EtsyKids Design Challenge: It's time to Vote!

It's time to vote for your favorite item! Voting will be open until January 27th. This month, EtsyKids members were challenged to create an exciting new item based on a theme "Love & Kisses". We received a bunch of fantastic entries from some talented people. Please vote for your favourite item from the list below.

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{{ HUGS!! }} from Us to You

'cause it's National Hug day and, well ... we think you're pretty great!

Safe in Your Arms, by MossyRockDesigns

XOXO Valentine Cupcake Wrappers, by YourlittleCupcake

Tree Hugger Cinch Backpacks, by TheSewingLoft

'Owl Hug Ya' 11x14 acrylic on canvas, by FairyDawn

Personalized Great Bear Hug Teacher Notepad, by kindlivingdesigns

Hug Me Valentine hairclip, by fortheloveofzebra  

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Salt Paintings

By: Cori of Peace, Baby! Batiks

Winter hasn’t snowed us in yet in Maryland (we’re still waiting!), but we have had several windy, chilly days that have kept my son and I inside and looking for things to do. A couple of days ago, I found directions for salt painting in a science activity book I bought my son (he’s 4) for Christmas.

Man, did they come out cool!

Here’s what you need:

Paint (I used poster paint)
Brushes
Heavy paper (I used cardstock)
Large-grain salt (I used Kosher salt)

First, pick a couple of paint colors. We used purple, yellow, green, and glittery red, but I’d recommend darker colors so the effect of the salt shows up well. (It got lost a little on the yellow.) Then, water down the paint so it’s fairly thin.

The instructions I had showed dragons, so my son decided he wanted to make dinosaurs. We drew our dinosaurs in pencil on the cardstock and painted over them. We didn’t worry about staying inside the lines; I cut them out after they were dry. Put a lot of paint on your drawing. You want lots of liquid for the salt to soak up.

While the paint is still wet, sprinkle lots of salt all over your artwork. Set aside to dry.

When the paint is dry, brush off the salt grains, and you’ll see that wherever there was a salt grain, you’ll see a darker patch of paint. If you’d like, add detail to your drawing with a marker. We cut our drawings out and mounted them on black construction paper.

Here’s the science bit: The salt crystals absorb the water from the paint around it, leaving dark spots where the crystals were because there was more paint there and elsewhere on the paper. Try larger-grain salt for bigger dark spots!

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