Salutations Sunday with i HartFelt and a GIVEAWAY

Please shout out your salutations for Heather and her Etsy shop i HartFelt

Full of whimsy and creativity...Heather offers unique gifts that are sure to charm your "hart."

Receive 10% off of your purchase by entering coupon code: SUMMER at checkout. HartFelt has also offered a great GIVEAWAY...please find all of the details at the end of the interview.

Now we are off to discover i HartFelt

What is the first creative memory you have?

My earliest memory would have to be my mom and I sitting in our craft shop preparing for a holiday bazaar one year. We had a garden where she grew tons of amazing flowers that she would dry in our shop and make gorgeous flower arrangements and I made birdhouses out of recycled cardboard from cereal boxes. I wish I had kept one of these treasures. I am a lucky girl in the fact that I have two very special crafty grandmas.

 One grandma (my dad’s mom) taught me to embroidery and knit! It has stuck with me to this day. I can still envision us sitting on the couch like it was yesterday, she patiently teaching me the ins and outs of embroidering and knitting. Embroidery is still my most favorite. My other grandma (my mom’s mom) had a wood shop and a craft room. I remember she had supplies galore that she collected from garage sales & she then stored everything so neatly and organized in her craft room. She had any supply in any color you could think of. In her wood shop I once used a piece of her scrap wood to make a cat ornament by painting, nailing, and wood gluing. I still have it to this day and use it on my tree at Christmas time.

I hope to provide my children and grandchildren creative memories too! I think it is too important not to share these artistic handmade qualities with the next generations.

What or whom began your creative journey on Etsy?

Lots of support from my husband who believed in me and is inspired by my driven, motivated personality to get things done! I first heard about Etsy from a dear friend who is like a sister to me, and the most creative lady I know. We met in Kindergarten but became friends around 4th grade, and still remain friends to this day even though we reside in different states. Check out her amazing art & coasters in her shop: Art by Julia: www.skerry.etsy.com

How did you come up with your shop name?

I knew right away I wanted to come up with something that meant ‘from the heart.’ I believe that anything handmade comes from the heart (&soul). My husband and I together late one night came up with HartFelt by iHart. HartFelt means ‘from the Hart’ and iHart means ‘I love.’ I also wanted to incorporate the word ‘Felt’ in my shop name because that is what all my softies are made from. Hart‘Felt’ it became. I shortened the name to ihartfelt for Etsy so it would be easier to remember and find. I also intentionally misspelled Hart to be as unique as possible.

All my original softies come with a handmade felt tag with an ‘i’ and a ‘hart’. This has become my most unique feature found consistently on all my softies. I have heard the most inspiring comments on how cute the tags are.





Describe what creations you have in your shop

I specialize in all things felt: ornaments, baby mobiles, softies, and party favors for special occasions and home decor.

My designs reflect originality, charm, special attention to detail, and creativity - my intention is to offer a great alternative to mass produced dime a dozen gifts.

I create everything by hand, the patterns, cutting out the felt, and stitching all the pieces by hand.

What insprires you?

My inspiration comes from my toddler son who is now three years old, my supportive husband, nature- birds are my favorite, seasons- I love the fall, holidays – Valentines, Halloween and Christmas being my favorites, & love. I am truly blessed!!


What do you listen to or watch while creating?

I am almost always watching a movie with my husband in the evening while I do a lot of my sewing, cutting, and stuffing. I love action, drama, and comedy the most. I do like to listen to music too.

Please share a favorite recipe

Pear Nutella Muffins

2 C. stoneground whole wheat self-rising flour
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
½ C. brown sugar
1 egg
¾ C. reduced fat milk
2 T. canola oil
2 large pears, peeled and grated
¼ C. Nutella

1.Preheat oven to 375* and lightly grease 12 muffin tray

2.Sift flour and cinnamon into a large bowl and add in the husks. Add the sugar, combine, and make a well in the center.

3.Place the egg, milk, and oil in a jug or bowl and whisk with a fork until combined. Add to the dry ingredients and fold in with a large metal spoon or rubber spatula until just combined. Do not over beat. Gently fold in the grated pear.

4.Spoon half the mixture into the bases of each muffin tin, then place 1 tsp. of Nutella in the center of each. Top with the remaining mixture. Bake for 20 minutes, until risen, golden and firm to a light touch. Leave in the tins for about 3 minutes, then lift out onto a wire rack to cool.

MAKES 12 – To freeze muffins, cool them completely then wrap individually in aluminum foil. Place them in a large airtight bag, and seal. Allow to thaw at room temperature for about an hour before serving.

Where else can we find you?

Blog
Facebook
Pinterest
E-mail: ihartfelt@yahoo.com


NOW LET'S SEE WHAT ONE LUCKY WINNER WILL RECEIVE!!!

 

HartFelt Fourth of July Stuffed Hanging Owl Party Favors by iHart - Set of 3

***SHIPPING IS INCLUDED TO ALL ENTRANTS

These sweet owls are a perfect touch to your baby shower or birthday party decorations, can be used as a party favor for your special party, or hung in your baby nursery or toddler room.

Party Favor Owl was designed with LOVE & careful attention to detail: hand drawn, hand cut, handstitched, some smaller pieces hot glued, & stuffed with 100% polyfil.

Mr. Party Favor Owl measures approx. 2" by 2" wide.

NOW TO ENTER...please remember you do not have to to do all of the entries...but keep in mind the more you do the more chance you have to win!!! Good luck

a'>http://www.rafflecopter.com">a Rafflecopter giveaway

Fun Friday for Father

Fun Friday is for the dads!!! Happy Father's Day!!!

I think this gift is just too cute from Red Ted Art's Blog!!!



Adorable and simple...shoe foot prints!!!



Another cute one involving your kids feet and paint!!!



"Dad Rocks" from preschool-daze



Some printable coupons from Tip Junkie...SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO many cute craft ideas on this site...please head on over and check it out!



And last but not least...this FABULOUS and COOL Father's Day t-shirt from Creating Really Awesome Free Things



Have a great weekend!!!

Fun Friday with Free Fun

Just a few fun and free ways to have fun this weekend!

1. Let your kids dress up in your clothes! I loved wearing my step-moms red high heels and some of her jewelry when I was young.

2. Have a snacktime picnic on the living room floor. On a blanket and all!

3. Play a board game at breakfast! Enjoy your toast and orange juice while going up and down "Chutes and Ladders."

4. Make a pair of binoculars out of toilet paper rolls and string.

5. Pull all of the dining room chairs into the living room and make a fort with blankets. Perfect space for story time :)

6. If your kids go grocery shopping with you...have them make these fun fruit bags out of old t-shirts with you from every{nothing}wonderful

I would love to hear any other "free" and fun ideas you all have out there...please share them in the comments and have a great weekend!

Fun Friday with Make it for Mommy

Mother's Day is Sunday! Enjoy making these crafts with your kids...and the best part; the end products will be for you to display in honor of your greatness of being MOM!!!

I am so in LOVE with these LOVE ROCKS from blogs.babble...that I think I will be making them for myself for Mother's Day!

MOTHER'S DAY TIME CAPSULE from Better Homes and Gardens...can you say AWESOME!?! This is a gift you would enjoy for years to come :)

LOVE FILLED FLOWERS from Parents...they remind me of an updated version of the little flower vases we made my step mom in grade school...but we used white electric fence insulators as the vase, playdo in the vase to hold the baby's breath which was the bouquet and a ribbon tied around the insulator.

Unique and cute Mother's Day card from eighteen25

Cute MOTHER'S DAY GIFT JAR with sweetness from the babes from Better Homes and Gardens

And finally how about a cute plate of pasta for Mom from blog.goo.ne.jp

I hope all you mom's out there pull your superhero capes from hiding underneath of your clothes and wear them with pride on the outside of your clothes this weekend! Happy Mother's Day!

Tribute Tuesday with jordan dene

Let's pay tribute to Jordan and her Etsy shop jordan dene

jordandené [pronounced jór•dən den•ay] is a brooklyn-based shop featuring handmade goodies for the nerds at heart. Items in her shop can be customized to your size and specifications PLUS everything ships for free!

Get 10% off of your purchase with coupon code:JEDISC10.........and free shipping!?!...what a great deal!

Now let's discover Jordan and her shop jordan dene

What is your first creative memory you have?

My grandmom used to have a craft box filled with glitter, toilet paper tubes, and fabric scraps that my cousins and I would go crazy with. We made a lot of cardboard towns and Barbie clothing.

What or whom stared your journey on Etsy?

My friend Kira at Woven by the Baker first told me about Etsy. She helped me set up my shop, and now we have "work days" throughout the week to brainstorm and create together.

How did you come up with your shop name?

My shop name is actually my first and middle names. Jordan Dene`.

Describe what items you have in your shop.

My shop is mostly filled with aprons. I love making aprons that can be worn as a fun way to dress up, too. I have a lot based on nerdy characters and some specifically for kids.

What inspires you?

Making things I think other people will actually want inspires me. I try to think of things my friends and I love and would actually use every day and go from there.

What do you listen to or watch while you are creating?

If I'm in creative mode, I usually need soft background music so I can concentrate. When I'm doing more "mindless" work like cutting and tying strings, I like watching series of my favorite shows.

Please share a favorite recipe.

My favorite recipe is summer bruschetta. It's so simple, just goat cheese, arugula, and sliced strawberries on a toasted baguette. Delicious!

Where else can we find you?

Facebook
Twitter
tumblr
Blog
Pinterest

Now off you go to show Jordan some love at her Etsy shop! Please come back and tell us which creation is your favorite...I love the Crayon Ammo Belt for Kids

Fun Friday with Let's Get Messy and Create Art

Get together...get messy...get creative...get memories...get silly...get masterpieces!

Blow Painting from Raising Sparks

Melting Crayons from whatever...

Bubble Burst Painting from Family Fun

Paint with Colored Shaving Cream from Play Create Explore

Spin Art from Rust and Sunshine

Car Drawing from first pallete

Now like I said...this weekend, get together...get messy...get creative...get memories...get silly...get masterpieces!

Salutations Sunday with Bundle Baby Nursery

Please welcome Jessica and her Etsy shop Bundle Baby Nursery for our first Salutations Sunday shop feature!

Contemporary art all with a touch of whimsy...you are sure to find a unique piece of art just fit for your nursery ideas from Bundle Baby Nursery. Jessica offers many themes and is constantly adding more...so make sure you continue to check back.

You can receive 20% off of any single prints from her shop with coupon code: 20BBABYBLOGYE

Now lets discover Jessica and her shop Bundle Baby Nursery!

What is the first creative memory you have?

One of our fun family stories is when I was 5 years old my mother and I were drawing together. On the page was the standard strip of green grass with a tree on one side. She began drawing a pond with fish in it but because of the 'strip of grass' the pond ended up looking like it was in the sky. I turned to my mother and said "It's okay mommy, you don't have to help me draw anymore". I proceeded to draw another picture with the pond in the right place. We still laugh at how I could draw better than my mom at 5 years old!

What or whom began your creative journey on Etsy?

As a member of the Virginia National Guard I was deployed to Iraq and filled my downtime with researching baby nurseries. (My husband and I were going to start trying when I got back) I remember seeing a simple contemporary wooden toy with wheels at a baby expo and thought "I could do that! They probably charge $20 or $30 for it." In my research Etsy kept coming up as the place where mothers went for that one-of-a-kind item, which got the wheels turning.

I also loved the idea of trying something new every year. Be it learning to play the piano, mastering French cuisine, or starting an online business. Just think where you would be in 5, 10, or even 20 years! So for 2012 I'm learning all about having a business online.

How did you come up with your shop name?

When I first started my sketches the bay animals were falling into two categories. Ones without legs, that looked like they were 'bundled up', and ones with rounded legs, like a baby deer, which I called 'teeter animals'. I thought about calling the shop 'Bundle and Teeter' but I couldn't design the logo in any way that didn't look like the name of a law office, so the name "Bundle Baby" was born.

Describe what creations you have in your shop

Right now I am offering Nursery decor in the way of digital prints. I design and perfect my artwork using Inkscape, a digital art program. From there the sky is the limit! I try to offer different styles from whimsical to modern or anything else that tickles my fancy and satisfies the creative urges!


What inspires you?

Anything fun! Most times it'll be a theme that will get me started, like jungle animals, cute monsters, or pirates. I start to brainstorm and come up with some fun ideas and characters.

What do you listen to or watch while creating?

Each day is different. Sometimes it'll be a playlist I created on the NPR website. I'll listen to anything that strikes my interest, anything from the history of concrete (from the Roman era!) to the seasons on Pluto.

Other times I listen to bands on 'I Heart Radio' like Paramore, Mumford and Sons, or Katy Perry.

Please share a favorite recipe

These are my husband's favorites and are always a hit at any potluck they are called Ranger Cookies

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup white sugar
1 cup butter softened
2 eggs
cream above together till creamy
Sift together:
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
add to creamed mixture, blend till just mixed in/add
2 cups rice crispies
1 cup dry old fashioned oatmeal-not quick
1 cup shredded coconut
Stir to combine
bake at 350 till light brown. yum!!!!

Now please go show Jessica some love and share some of your favorite creations from her shop. I personally love the monsters because my sons room is currently decorated with fun and silly monsters and primary colors! Leave us a blog post with your favorite...also heart her shop and a few of her items. Thanks for stopping by :)

Fun Friday with Plastic Easter Eggs

Now I know...Easter was last weekend...but what do you do with all of those left over plastic Easter eggs? Yes, we kept most of them for next years hunt...but I also found a few fun projects to use a few.

I am absolutely in love with this Plastic Easter Egg Snake Toy from Sewing and Crafting with Sarah!!! She has great instructions and a list of materials needed on her blog. And we will probably try to make a caterpillar for sissy!

And how cute are these Plastic Easter Eggs Turned into Teacups from Apartment Therapy!

Love this idea...Marionettes and Puppets from Plastic Easter Eggs from dollar store MOM!

A great Number Activity from Fun & Engaging Activities for Toddlers

And finally...simply use them for snack containers in lunches from Real Simple

Which uses will you use your left over plastic Easter eggs for? Love to hear any ideas :) Have a great weekend!!!

Welcome Wednesday with ella sue designs

Please welcome Amy and her Etsy shop ella sue designs

Made in the Ozarks in Missouri, all of Amy's wonderful items are handmade by her and her husband. She offers a variety of items from baby and kids to moms too.

Amy has offered a great giveaway to one lucky winner...find out all of the details at the end of her interview.

Now lets discover ella sue designs

What is the first creative memory you have?

My mom always had me doing something creative, but my first thing i remember making that did not go on the fridge was a cross stitched picture.

What or whom began your creative journey on Etsy?

My husband encouraged me to sale what I was making, I think he thought we should get some of the money back from all the yarn I buy!

How did you come up with your shop name?

Ella Sue is our daughter's name.

Describe what creations you have in your shop

Yarn! Mainly for babies and kids, but somethings for moms too. I sell mainly hats.

What insprires you?

My daughter and friends children, I make things they would wear.

What do you listen to or watch while creating?

Netflix, it keeps my daughter busy so I can have my hands free to work.

Please share a favorite recipe

Roasted Broccoli
(I got it from Pinterest) and it is the best broccoli I ever had and I did not like broccli before this recipe!

Cut the broccoli and place on a foiled lined cookie sheet, the broccoli must be dry!
Pour olive oil over the broccoli and sprinkle with basil, cook for 20-25 min at 425.
As soon as it comes out of the oven, sprinkle lemon juice, parmesan cheese, and sallt and pepper on the broccoli.

All done! Eat up!

Where else can we find you?
Facebook
Twitter

Now let's check out what you could win! Amy is giving away a $20 gift certificate towards one of the hats in her Etsy shop. Free domestic (US) shipping. International winners will have to pay for shipping.

Here are a few you could use your gift certificate on...but make sure and check out her Etsy shop for her entire collection of hats.

Now to enter...please remember you do not have to do all of the entries; but the more you do the more chances you have of winning! I will announce the winner next Wednesday. Good luck :)