Beauty of Handmade

I would like to introduce Jill from Greeting Cards By Jill  www.greetingcardsbyjill.etsy.com 


Jill opened her Etsy shop on December 16th, and we would love to get her shop out there for everyone to see.

Jill is a stay at home mother and Army wife.  Jill says she loves to use recycled items for making her cards, including old books, magazines, and scraps.  Basically anything she can use, she does.  Jill saw a tutorial on YouTube about hand crafted cards and has been hooked ever since.


Jill has a variety of handmade cards and each one is unique and beautiful. Your heart is put into what you make, so buying handmade has a much more personal feel to it then what you can buy in a store.

This sweet card is for Baby Showers or a Congratulations for the proud parents of a new baby boy.  It's $2.50 with an envelope.  What a great deal!

I love this pop up Birthday card.  It is a beautiful gift all by itself.  The bottom of the card has a white sheet of card stock, so you can write your sentiment or sign you name.  

Here is a delicate, elegant blank any occasion card.  Its layered with circles and is great for Birthdays, Get Well or Thinking of You.

DRUM ROLL PLEASE!  This is my favorite.  It is truly a work or art.

This is made with a flower in the corner made of recycled book page.  The lace trim at the bottom gives a vintage feel.  The note on the front reads, "If I had a flower for every time you made me smile, I'd be walking in an endless garden."



The inside of the card is lined with blue card stock to make it sturdy with a red bow in the corner.  It is simply beautiful.  This card is great for Valentines Day, Thinking of You, or Just Because.  I would definitely feel special if I received this card for any reason.


Please give Jill a warm welcome to Etsy and The Work Together Team and check out her shop.  Jill is also giving free shipping on any orders for 2 cards.

Take Advantage of 10% off

I'd like to introduce to everyone -  Amy, from TagURItonetsy. http://www.taguritonetsy.etsy.com


This shop features fun gift tags and cut outs perfect for scrap booking, party favors, labels, etc.  Amy says, "I just love putting that cute little finishing touch on handmade gifts."


These cute Valentine Owls are perfect to add to your child's Valentines Box for school.  Your child's box would be a hit with something as cute and unique as this.  These Owls can also make a great addition to your own homemade craft and scrap booking projects.








If you like to give gift bags for Valentines Day or to leave a sweet note in that someone specials lunch box, then these would be perfect.  The hearts send the message, you don't even have to leave a note.  What a nice surprise for your sweetheart or child to open up their lunch and find this. These can be used anytime of year to say I love you and I'm thinking of you.






Do you need tags to tell your customers Thank You and I appreciate your business?  Amy can help with that too.  Do you prefer the elegance of a simple Thank You or maybe you prefer something colorful that will get their attention.

Amy is offering coupon code SNOWDAY at checkout for 10% off your total purchase in her TAGURItonetsy shop (valid 1/6 through 1/13)




Her second shop is Green Vibes http://www.greenvibes.etsy.com 
My shop Green Vibes features Eco-friendly note cards.  These cards are all made from tree free paper and some are actually plantable. They contain wildflower seeds in the paper and are 100% biodegradable (the card recycles naturally into the soil as the seedlings grow).  Every card is drawn and/or stitched by hand. My cards are hand drawn and colored.  Each card is unique.  So, you actually get 2 gifts in one.

Now a little about our featured shop owner Amy:


At the moment, I am enjoying abstract drawing and making gift tags.  I have been crafting in some form or another since I was in the first grade (cross-stitching, knitting, making jewelry, sewing, drawing, origami, etc…) You name it and I’ve probably tried it.




What is one thing that Amy can't live without:  My best friend (my husband)


I hope you have enjoyed seeing a little piece of the creativity Etsy offers.  Please take a look at all of Amy's wonderful items and take advantage of coupon code SNOWDAY

A Second Chance for a Loving Dog

I would like to introduce you to Shaolin.  I found her on the highway right at the holidays.  The UPS driver flagged me down at an intersection and asked me to please help her.  I said, "What's wrong?"  She replied, "I found this dog running up and down the road, I can't keep her in my truck and she is starving.  I gave her all the potato chips I had, but she is in bad shape."  I looked at this pitiful, beautiful animal and thought what has happened to you.  Not only was she starving, she was terribly dehydrated with a severely disfigured leg.

I scooped her up and got her home.  She was in bad shape.  I had to monitor her intake of food because it was obvious she had been without for a long time and I didn't want her to get sick.

I started calling the vets and Humane Society.  No one had reported a dog of her description. Everyone took my information, but no calls came back.

I took her to the vet to get checked out.  Her disfigured leg had healed that way from a bad break.  The sad thing is the vet said she didn't have to look this way.  The way it healed is the way it looked when it broke and it would have been simple and inexpensive to reset it had someone cared enough to take the time.  Otherwise she was in good health she just needed some TLC.

After a few days I started noticing a change her appearance.  She had wrinkles and more skin then I realized. She had a follow up appointment at the vet and he commented on how beautiful she looked.  He couldn't imagine someone not looking for this Shar Pei.  Shar Pei's are not cheap and are not the kind of dog you expect to see running down the highway in the country.  I was a surprise that there was an add in the local paper, all the local vets knew about her and how to contact me, yet nothing.  This is a small community not a city, so you know to put up a picture at the gas station or call one of the 2 vets in town.

She is absolutely delicious.  She is great with the kids, potty trained and is already in charge of everyone.  To many years of happiness knowing you are spoiled my girl.

Making a Difference in 2012

How I hate New Years Resolutions.  I never stick with them.  I also set myself up for defeat.  I know the goals I'm setting for myself will never happen the moment I set them.  So, this year I'm going to make it simple.

#1  Drink less pop more water
#2  Make sure that at least 3 times a week there is time for everyone to be on the same schedule so we can eat at the table - and say grace.
#3  Instead of waiting til the end of the year to give to charity clean stuff out several times a year and donate so someone can take advantage of it.
#4  Quit saying I need to get rid of the leftover baby fat, its not baby fat, he is almost 4.  Do something about it instead of talking about it.  Even if its only once a week, commit 15-20 mins on exercise.

Those don't sound too hard do they.  I don't think that I'm setting the bar too high.  I'd love to hear some of your resolutions.