Fill those stockings!!

Wow Christmas is speeding its way up quickly isn't it!!!
If you are still looking for some Christmas stocking fillers our team members make some beautiful and fun things for kids, for under $15. Here are a few, and you can find more on Etsy.

Set of 26 Eco-Friendly Alph... childhoodstore $8.00	Bright Colored Mustache M... bamcraftymomma... $10.00	Soft Texture Block for Baby ... PoppyPatch $11.00	Crayon Roll -  HappyBabeeandB... $6.00
Wooden Lucet - Wooden K... LittleWoodland... $8.00	Children's OWL Felt Mask magicalattic $12.50	Cell Phone Toy - Wooden ... ArmadilloDream... $8.00	20% wool blend mara felt c... feltedkitten $7.75
Momma Cat Doll - Kitty Dol... JoellesDolls $12.00	Brown Dots Water Bottle Ho... GreenerRoute $12.00	DISCOUNT SET - Imperfect... StoryBlox $10.00	I Spy Bag. HIDDEN TREAS... AuntMsCreation... $12.00
SALE - Mod Blooms - Large... ThePolkaDotTot... $9.00	Crochet Baby Hat, Baby B, ... donnascrochet $10.00	Child Toddler Personalized... alaApron $12.50	Natural Wooden Teething ... CwtchBugs $8.00

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Meet Etsy Seller Pink Mouse Boutique

Today we would like to introduce you to Karyn

and her Etsy shop Pink Mouse Boutique

Pink Mouse Boutique has been selling on Etsy since October 2008, she sells a beautiful range of handmade fun and funky girls dresses and boys clothes. All of their kids clothes are versatile, contemporary and affordable. Today she is sharing a little about her shop and selling handmade items.

pinkmouse $28.00

pinkmouse $38.00

pinkmouse $38.00

pinkmouse $28.00

What motivated you to start your shop? 
I started sewing when I was young. I think it was an inherited gift as my great-grandmother, grandmother and mother were all seamstresses. I have even inherited their sewing machines!

I started making kids clothes to sell on etsy after I had a car accident. The accident left me unable to stand for any length of time so I couldn't cut out large pattern pieces but I could sit and cut
out smaller kids clothes. Etsy became a life-line for me, giving me something so much more rewarding to do besides watch TV and play farmville.

What is the story behind your shop name?
My cat Timmy got me up and sewing after my car accident. He got me out of bed by annoying me with his little pink toy mouse. Of course he just wanted to play but he and that mouse made me forget about my injuries and motivated me in so many ways.

What surprised you most about having your own craft / online shop?
I was surprised about how easy it was to get started on Etsy. The Etsy layout is easy to follow and the guidelines are simple and straight forward.

What do you find most challenging about being an Etsy seller?
At first it was getting photos correct and appealing. Now it is keeping up with SEO and those changes. I am not a web designer and so much of the SEO language seems like Greek but I think I am getting the hang of it.

What's your personal philosophy behind your shop / products?
Fun designs in superb fabrics made with quality constructions. I hate buying clothing that just falls apart after the first washing. No matter how cute it is, if it doesn't hold up, it is not worth it - especially with kids clothes. All of my clothes are very well made and hard wearing. No planned obsolescences here, I want my designs to be passed down.

How would someone (other then you) describe you?
Friendly, Fun and Determined!

What do you do when you aren't working?
I enjoy a meal out with my daughter and husband, playing with Timmy and just relaxing with Hulu.

Pink Mouse Boutique is offering a free shipping for our blog reader  To use the coupon, visit her etsy store and enter code 'ETSYKIDSPROMO' at checkout. The voucher is valid on US mail shipping and May 2013.

pinkmouse $38.00

pinkmouse $26.00

pinkmouse $44.00

pinkmouse $12.00

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The Stockings Were Hung

Top Row: 

Happy Land Floral Fabric Christmas Stocking from thomaspark

Knitted Christmas Stocking Personalized from knitsbygramma

Hula and Burlap HO Ho Ho Hawaiian Christmas Stocking from tikitales

Bottom Row:

Newborn Christmas Stocking Photography Prop from PerkyBeanies

XL Handmade Wool Christmas Stocking from reetmomma

Embroidered Christmas Stocking, choose design from MorningTempest

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20 Christmas Cookies to try this year

Christmas means COOKIES!!! (at least in my place it does)

There is nothing like the smell of fresh cookies baking in the oven. And it is always fun to try a new recipe, so today the we have 20 awesome cookie recipes to share with you!

Crazy good christmas cookies {fresh cranberry, chocolate & oatmeal} from The Wicked Noodle
Easy & Fun Snowman Cookie from Echoes of Laughter
White Chocolate Peppermint M&M Cookies from Two Peas and their Pod
Cookie filled christmas tree candies from Sugar Swings
No Bake Reindeer Cookies from Six in the Suburbs

Cinnamon Chip Cookies from Whatever Dee Dee Wants
Christmas Chocolate Dipped Oreos from We Made That
Melting Snowmen from The Decorated Cookie

Bright, Sparkly, Snowflake cookies from the Decorated Cookie

Salted Dark Chocolate & Peanut Butter Cookies from Some What Simple

Holiday Sugar Cookie Recipe from Snack Girl

Whole Wheat Snickerdoodles from The Kid can Cook

My Favorite Chocolate Christmas Cookies from Love from the Oven

Chocolate Mint Christmas Cookies from Crazy Little Projects

Holiday confetti cake batter cookies from Sally's Baking Addiction

Hot and spicy gingersnaps from Recipe Girl

Andes Mint Grinch Cookies from Six Sisters Stuff

Chocolate Shortbread: GF Christmas Cookies! from Gluten Free on a Shoestring

Old Fashioned Sugar Cookies from Classy Clutter

Chocolate Peppermint Crunch Cookies from Barbara Bakes

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EtsyKids Design Challenge: We have a Winner!

Congratulations to the winner of our November's EtsyKids Team Design Challenge, Cloud shaped pillow with nightcap and plush hands with a softie teddy Bear - white, beige and blue. Nursery room decor made by Milipa

"This softie cloud shaped pillow with stuffed hands and hanging Teddy Bear will be perfect as a room decor in white, beige and blue for your little baby."

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Designed and hand made by Milena, Etsy shop Milipa is one of a kind, full of color and wonderful characters.  Milena is an art historian, illustrator and toy maker.  Her work is inspired by infinite textile patterns and colors, and conveys her love for good design.  Be sure to visit this exciting Etsy Shop, Milipa! 

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Meet Etsy Seller PinkNounou

Today we would like to introduce you to Ana

and her Etsy shop PinkNounou

PinkNounou has been selling on Etsy since September 2009, she sells a beautiful range of handmade softies, dolls, baby goods, accessories and paper products designed for the little ones and also for their parents who appreciate creative, practical and unique pieces. Today she is sharing a little about her shop and selling handmade items.

PinkNounou $20.00

PinkNounou $23.00

PinkNounou $4.00

PinkNounou $27.00

What motivated you to start your shop? 
I started my Etsy shop as a way to showcase my products to a larger audience.

What is the story behind your shop name?
I was "playing" with my daughter's short name and the name come out combined with a colour ;)

What surprised you most about having your own craft / online shop?
I am always surprised by the number of people I make contact with and get to know from all over the world.

What do you find most challenging about being an Etsy seller?
Standing out in such a big, big "crowd" is really challenging. There are so many shops on Etsy that you really need to have something special to catch peoples eye.
Also English is not my first language, so I am always trying to find the right words to describe my products and work in a clear way to customers.

What's your personal philosophy behind your shop / products?
Quality is really important to me, and also creating products that are original and functional in design.

How would someone (other then you) describe you?
Hmmm that is a hard one! Thorough maybe?!

What do you do when you aren't working?
When I have a chance to get away from work, I go to the beach with my daughter. It is so refreshing especially when it gets too hot.
We also love the green and mountainous landscapes (specially my husband), so it is also nice to meet up with friends and go for a picnic in the very nice Lisbon surroundings.

Please tell us a little about the children's items market / handmade movement in your Country? 
I use a number of antique and traditional Portuguese techniques in the creations of my toys and baby/children items. I find it gives them a special uniqueness compared to other techniques.

PinkNounou $19.00

PinkNounou $13.00

PinkNounou $65.00

PinkNounou $18.00

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Tutorial:: Holiday Felt Garland

Article by RaisingGreenKids, blog - RaisingGreenRichmondKids

Felt Garlands are a quick, easy and affordable craft that anyone can do. I have recently gone a little felt garland crazy and I wanted to share this project with all of you so that you can make your own and enjoy them too!


What you'll need:

• A few 12x9 sheets of felt (I usually choose 3 colors but that's up to you)
• A cut out of the size or sizes you would like your circles to be for tracing. You can make all your circles the same size or vary the sizes.
• scissors
• A sewing machine
• Thread- I use heavy duty thread

Directions:

Trace your stencil onto the felt

Cut out the circles

Sew them together one by one making sure that the circles are close together in a pattern. Make sure you secure the start and end by stitching back and forth several times.

If you would like to hang your garland you can add ribbon to each side. Or you can leave it as is and decorate your tree, mantle, hallway or any other place!

Experiment with different color combinations for different occasions.  Raising Green Kids offers finished garlands in a variety of color combinations for sale in her Etsy shop if you would rather buy one than make it yourself.

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