June 2012 EtsyKids Team Desktop Background

Here is the desktop calendar for June 2012! This month the theme was red, white and blue!! Getting ready for July 4th celebrations!! You can see a treasury of all these items here and here.

1024 x 768

1280 x 800

1920 x 1080

Featured shops: MyLittlePixies, sweetsmilesbaby, KPCreations, jennifernoeldesigns, ABabyNotion, roseprintsonline, thebitsybeau, LiliBugBoutique, LadyBeez, yourblissfulday, allthingsforbaby, melondot, TheRoyalDetails, BabyAccessories, tootoocute4you, tinystitches, VibrantTrains, ChewChewsCloset, Avabowtiquee, ApplesauceCrafts

Tweet

Sensory Activity:: Body Painting

What do you say when your child wants to use their body to paint? YES!

I taped 4 pieces of paper together, set out some finger paint and brushes, took her clothes off and let her go to town. She had a blast!

{Just be ready for bath time right after...it gets pretty messy.}

 

If you like this post and want to see more toddler activities please visit my blog, Tutus and Tea Parties. You can also follow me on: Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Pinterest.

Tweet

Introducing Ali Bean Baby

Today We Introduce You To Kari from Ali Bean Baby

Q: What motivated you to start your shop?

2 ½ years ago, after living out of the country for 6 years, my husband and I were at a change-point and were both looking for work in a very changed economy. One of my daughter’s-in-law encouraged me to start making little girl dresses to sell on Etsy. It was something I could “do”, but I had “been there, done that” with a couple of sewing-based businesses, and I really wasn’t interested in sewing and selling. But then we went to visit our little grand-daughter for the 1st time and I made her two pillowcase dresses. Rachel, my DIL, and I looked for fabric together and I loved what we found and how they turned out! So I returned home and for the fun of it, and to satisfy Rachel, I opened an Etsy shop and listed them, and to my surprise and excitement they slowly started selling. The two original dresses continue to be good sellers, with the original photos of my grand-daughter when she was 7 months old!

Q: What is the story behind your shop name?

My grand-daughter’s name is Ali, and her mom and dad and brother call her “Beaner”. So AliBeanBaby was a perfect fit!

Q: Do you have a favorite Etsy Shop (non-child related)?

I don’t have a favorite one – but I love looking for shops that have unique items, or things my hubby and I can’t make. Examples would be the barefoot lace sandals from dachuksb7196’s shop in Latvia; and Me & the Boy, both their name and their bath items.

Q:W hat surprised you most about having your own craft / online shop?

I have had a few good surprises. One was that I was able to let AliBeanBaby develop bit by bit without feeling pressured to have it all in place before I started. Another was that one of my initial objections to starting this kind of business was that I didn’t want to make items just for the sake of selling them, but I wanted to make items FOR someone. And with an on-line shop I have been able to that, one order at a time. And, I don’t need a large inventory -- I can have as many or few fabrics and supplies on hand as I want, and can try something out and it if doesn’t sell I can try something different.

Q: What do you find most challenging about being an Etsy seller?

It is challenging not having consistency with sales. Sometimes it is crazy-busy and sometimes there are no sales at all. Initially this was more challenging, but now I have fun with the busy times, and use the slower times to work on new items. Or just take a break. Another challenge, which is also a good thing, is the size of Etsy, and finding how to connect a little more personally. That has happened somewhat with EtsyKids.

Q: What's your personal philosophy behind your shop / products?

I wanted to have clothes that were quality made, able to be custom fit, and affordable, and yet eye-catching and fun. That meant that the designs needed to be simple to make. I started sewing at a young age and didn’t like the way patterns were put together, and instructions always confused me so I started making my own patterns. Being able to do my own patterning has helped me to be able to keep the construction time down so that I can keep the items within the price range I want.

Q: How would someone (other then you) describe you?

I had no idea how to answer this, so asked a friend. Creative, multi-tasking, interested in many, many things, precise and thoughtful, not static.

Q: What music do you have on while you are creating?

Mostly I listen to contemporary Christian music and contemporary instrumental.

Q: What do you do when you aren't working?

I started working a 30-hour-a-week “job” in August so with that and AliBeanBaby I don’t have a much non-work time. I do enjoy cooking, it’s a great way for me to “center” when things are busy or chaotic, and both my hubby and I like a wide variety of foods, so we are always trying new things and have fun working together in the kitchen. We also spend the warmer months of the year finding new places to walk, being out in as much nature as we can find in the city. And, we love being with our grandkids when we can!

Q: Anything else you'd like to tell us or share?

I have 5 sons, and Ali was my 1st granddaughter, so I really didn’t have any experience in little girl’s fashion. My DIL Rachel’s input on styles and fabrics is really what has created AliBeanBaby’s “brand”. I don’t feel so un-experienced now, and do have input, but still rely heavily on her thoughts and ideas. We live in different parts of the country, so we have done it all long-distance – with a lot of skyping! It’s been great fun to work with her!

Tweet

Under the Sea Craft Projects

By Cori of Peace, Baby! Batiks

Finding Nemo is all the rage at my house these days, temporarily bumping Lightning McQueen from most-favored-toy status. We’ve borrowed ocean books from the library, visited aquariums, and pretended we were Nemo and his friends.

So, when I started planning the monthly arts and crafts activity for my MOMS Club, I scoured my Kid Stuff Pinterest board for simple projects related to ocean creatures. I settled on two painting projects: paper bowl jellyfish and paper plate fish.

The jellyfish were inspired by this project from First Palette and this one from Creekside Learning. I told the kids we were making octopuses; as we moved along with the craft, they informed me the octopuses looked more like jellyfish. I went back and looked at the original ideas, and of course, they were right!

We started our jellyfish by painting the bottom of paper bowls. Some kids painted the whole thing; others, like my son, just painted the base of the bowl. I glued googly eyes onto each one. We used tape to attach streamers around the bowl for tentacles.

The fish were inspired by these beautiful paper plate tropical fish from Crafts by Amanda. For the fish, give each kid two paper plates. Have them paint one to be the fish body and help them draw fins on the other plate (or draw them for little guys), and paint those shapes.

When everything is dry, cut out the fins and tape or glue them into place. Draw an eye or attach a googly eye. Too cute!

Here are some other fishy crafts we’ve tried or want to try:

Paper plate octopus, via Artsy Craftsy Mom

Egg carton fish, via Crafty-Crafted. Ours are still a work in progress; we need to add stripes, fins, and eyes.

Squishy fish aquariums, from Teach Preschool (one of my favorite blogs!). We used light blue hair gel and added food coloring to make the gel bluer.

Tweet

EtsyKids Design Challenge: It's time to Vote!

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

Tweet

EtsyKids Design Challenge for May: April Showers bring May Flowers

(via)

"April Showers bring May Flowers" is our challenge for May, picked by our last month's winner SwishDesigns.  This month we'll be featuring hand made items inspired by spring flowers, plants, rain, clouds....

EtsyKids members will have until May 20th to submit their entries, and voting will be open to everybody from May 21st to May 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!

Tweet

Introducing C Cooper Designs

Today We Introduce You To Cheryl From C Cooper Designs

Q: What motivated you to start your shop?
I started my Etsy shop when I first heard about the site. I wanted a place where I could share my love of sewing and design.

Q: What is the story behind your shop name?

The business name came from a business name my Mother and I had when we sewed and designed bridal wear, Collins-Cooper. When I changed direction in my sewing business I decided on “c.cooper designs” which still represents my maiden name and my married name.

Q: Do you have a favorite Etsy Shop (non-child related)?

I have several shops that I really like on Etsy. One of them is SoManyColors for some beautifully hand dyed scarfs.

Q: What surprised you most about having your own craft / online shop?

The positive compliments that I get.

Q: What do you find most challenging about being an Etsy seller?

One of the most difficult things for me has been getting traffic to my shop. I have much work to do in this area.

Q: What's your personal philosophy behind your shop / products?

I love to sew and I love to be creative. It's important to me to give my customers a quality product. Every item in my shop is one of a kind with quality fabrics carefully chosen and with professional construction.

Q: How would someone (other then you) describe you?

artistic, fun-loving, caring

Q: What music do you have on while you are creating?

I actually love a variety of music, so it varies...soft rock, reggae, pop, etc.

Q: What do you do when you aren't working?

Spend time with my family and my girls (dogs), gardening and a variety of art projects.

Q: Anything else you'd like to tell us or share?

Recently my daughter, Abigail Cooper has joined me in sewing for c.cooper designs. She is very creative and talented and is a very valuable addition to our shop. And we have a great time together.

Tweet