Free gifts?

So, I've seen a lot of sellers on Etsy say they give out little free gifts in each purchase.

If you can think of some good ideas for my packages, let me know! What would make you smile and remember me as a seller?

I already include a couple things, but not something you might consider a gift.

From now on, I'll be including a small polishing cloth to help keep your silver looking good.


In other news. I went shopping this weekend. I made the mistake of going to Toys R Us yesterday. I forgot it was their 2 day sale. Honestly, I'd say it was very close to being Black Friday traffic. It was scary. It took an hour to find two toys (who were next to each other on the shelf) and a box of diapers.

Then, we went back today because the place for my glasses was closed. Even though the sale was over, it was still a madhouse!

We did, however, manage to get this for Noah's Christmas present:


As I typed this post, we decided to take it back. I didn't know the reviews were so horrible!

41 ratings putting it at 2 of 5 stars. Most are saying it's hard to put together, doesn't stay together and is flimsy.

Hmmm. Guess I'm going BACK to Toys R Us tomorrow!

Man I love making new things!

I was asked about making a gift for a grandmother. Something with names and birthstones and also a small memorial piece added in for two losses.

The design I came up with was a sterling silver connector bracelet with the names put on each connector and the birthstone directly on there as well.

For this bracelet I purchased a new stamp set. One that's roughly half the size of my normal ones. Instead of a 1/8" stamp set, I used a 1/16" stamp set which was all uppercase letters.

First step:
Stamping each connector

Second step:
"Coloring" the letters so they are bold and more noticeable.

Here's how it looks so far....


Third step:
Add on the corresponding birthstones and attach two clear stones for the memorial piece

Here's how they look now...


Fourth step:
Bend each connector with the bracelet bending pliers so the connectors lay properly on the wrist

Fifth step:
Connect each piece with a jump ring

Sixth Step:
Finish off with a custom tag and lobster claw clasp

Finished product!!

Did I just do that!?

Oh yeah I did! If you're confused, look to the right. See that awesome sliding gadget? Yeah, I put that there! Look a bit below that, that cool tab that says Facebook. Yup, I put that there too! I'm learning some awesome things!

Tonight I'm working on an awesome bracelet for a girl on my group. It's a grandmothers bracelet with oval connectors and birthstones directly attached. So far, I'll say it looks pretty awesome! I'll be putting up some progression pictures once it's completed, shipped and I get permission.

How's the shop going?

Glad you asked! It's going very well. I'm constantly working on my pictures, getting ideas for new projects and planning my next sale.

Did that word get your attention?

Black Friday- 35% off. THIRTY FIVE PERCENT OFF!!!! Yes one day only, ALL items in my store will be 35% off, even custom orders. If you order a custom item, it must be paid for that day. Please be sure you remember that. If it goes through at 11:58pm, that's fine, but it must be that day.



Look! It's my hand! I'm incorporating other objects into the pictures so that people get the sense of sizing with purchased items.

47 Days!

Can you believe there are only 47 shopping days until Christmas!?

What am I doing right now?

I'm glad you asked. I'm creating stamped washers for my online ladies who have supported me over the last year after my first miscarriage and through my second. Now as I approach my due date for my latest loss I felt the need to give back. I wanted to make them feel special and give them a Christmas gift.


I am also working on custom orders and loving it! What's on the list? 3 necklaces for 3 sisters, one memorial necklace, one birthday gift necklace, one Christmas bracelet for a grandmother and one winter themed necklace.

I'm loving it!

Princess Party!

Today was my very first Princess Party. The girls were so cute! They all, well mostly all, dressed up as princesses, made bracelets, played some sort of pop the balloon game and played "put the princess in the castle"

Thankfully this first party went well thanks to my friend who was the mom to the birthday girl. Since her daughter loves pink and green, that's what I based the bracelets around. I created 20 bags of varying styles and colours based around pink. There were bags of pink and green, pink and blue and pink and purple. I also had some diamond cut styling beads, small teardrop bead charms and silver charms with swarovski crystals in the middle. Every bracelet was completely different and they were all amazing.



Overall it went really great! I'm not sure if there was a girl who didn't drop their beads. We left before the cake, but I think it went well. Noah came with me and my mom came to help keep him company. He was so excited to see all the older kids and all the pretty girls.

I also finished up a custom order of 4 ID bracelets as well. I'm very pleased with them. It also gave me the chance to get an awesome bracelet bending pliers! I'm going to go far with these things!

'Tis the Season!

It's officially the holiday season. The decorations are out at the stores, the music is playing everywhere you go and people are starting to buy gifts!

Here's a necklace I just created for a custom order from someone I met in my online group. I loved creating this because I know what it means to her and I find it beautiful.



I also have orders in for 3 necklaces, 4 ID bracelets and a grandmothers bracelet that I think will all turn out beautiful. I'm so excited for the holiday season!

Each purchase will get a custom gift tag (like shown a few posts down) and come in a cotton filled gift box.

This weekend is my first birthday event! I am creating bracelet kits for the little girls (and for boys to make their moms) and I'll be going to help close them off and let them take them home! I can't wait to put up the pictures when I get back. Hopefully it goes as well as I am imagining in my head!

Busy Busy Busy!

Sorry for my absence. Halloween weekend was rather busy in our household. We took a family (us, my parents, my aunt and uncle and their kids) to a small town not far from here. It's an amazing town my grandparents used to have a small restaurant/cafe in that was all about German food and handmade goods. It was an amazing shop and an amazing trip down memory lane.





Then we walked around the town for a bit and I took some pictures on my phone of things that reminded me of my childhood. I would go to the shop every day in the summer and help out. I'd run food to other shops around the area, help make bread or pie crusts and even wait tables. I got a $5 tip for pouring coffee because I was so "cute". I loved that place.






My cousins love Noah. They each gave him a hug. My mom also got him a toy car to keep him occupied. He loves that car. He'd randomly sit down and drive it or roll it along other things around the area. He also was fascinated with the handle of one of the stores close by.



Then we came home and went Trunk 'r' Treating at Aaron's church. Noah dressed up as a Dr. We were going to dress up as a family, but didn't have time.


Can you tell I LOVE black and white photos? My friends and family and inanimate objects in close proximity are in trouble when I get the camera of my dreams. Now I just need to figure out how to pay for it first!