A Few Of My Favorite Things...

I LOVE the movie Sound of Music and I think my favorite song from that movie is These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things

When the dog barks
When a bee stings
When I'm feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don't feel so bad

Seriously, can't you just picture and hear Julie Andrews singing that song?   *Sigh* I love that movie.

Anywho, the part about brown paper packages tied up with string...well that's how I'm wrapping all my gifts this year.  Except I'm using twine:)  I know, many of you...including me dread gift wrapping, its the thing I leave until the very last minute because I hate it so much.

While bumming around Etsy for a bit I started seeing some very fun looking options for gift wrapping.  I started thinking about it and many things can really dress up kraft paper so well.  It goes with everything and anything.  So today's post is going to give you ideas on how to dress up your packages from some awesome sellers on Etsy.  Today's items and images come from Raw Bone Studio   Katie Blair Designs   Tiny Bear Studio   The Woodlot  and  A Crooked Sixpence  You can also be directed to their items by clicking on the image.

First up....
A super cute Scandinavian felted ornament.  Just attach this, with a To:/From: card to your brown package and whoalaaa!  You have an elegant and simple packaging option.

These little To and From cards are just so stinking cute!  Plus they make life so much easier and look way better than the store bought ones.

Ribbon goes great with EVERYTHING!  Especially brown paper. And oh my gosh how cute are these Danish ribbons? 

BUTTONS!!! I think these are the perfect little addition to packaging.  Buttons are so very versatile and would be that extra little oomph for a crafter receiving the package.  I personally love to knit and if I was given a package that had buttons on it I would be keeping them to add to a cowl or hat.

Last little idea....These knitted cushion covers are so cool, and would make the packaging a present all in and of it's self.  Some ideas that would fit inside these cushion covers besides the cushion itself would be a box of chocolates, calendar, knitted scarf, yarn for the knitting/crochet fan, really the possibilities are endless.

Enjoy wrapping your gifts this year, with all these little pretties it should be loads of fun!
~Angie~

Etsy Front Page!

Hi everyone,

My chevron cuff was on the front page of Etsy last night! 

Life According To My iPhone

Cinnamon Roll Pancakes

Cinnamon Roll Pancakes have been the biggest hit for breakfast around our house lately.  I came across this recipe on Pinterest a couple of weeks ago.  The kids LOVE them...I do too but with Maui quickly approaching I'm trying very hard to watch what I eat.  So I make at least one pretty small one that equals a couple of bites just so I can say I tried them:) And my goodness they are fantastic.   The recipe and picture comes from a fantastic food blog called Recipe Girl  by Lori Lange. 

Click on the picture and it will take you straight to the recipe.  I chopped up pecans to sprinkle on top...I personally like nuts in mine but it seems I'm the only one in my family that does, everyone else prefers just the glaze with theirs.  Lori also has a recipe for Pumpkin Cinnamon Roll Pancakes. I've not tried it yet because again...I'm the only one in the family that is addicted to pumpkin.  

Pinterest has me hooked, I find so many cool recipes and food blogs through that website it's really quite dangerous for my waist line.  2 weeks and counting until Maui!!! To say I'm excited would be a major understatement. 

Enjoy the recipe!
~Angie~

A Whirlwind Recap

Hi everyone!

So November has flown by. In two weeks I will be posting pictures of my feet in Maui!!! I am so excited to get to enjoy some warmer weather. Here in Juneau we have had loads of fun, powdery snow, perfect for sledding. And we have done just that, went sledding, had drop down drag out snow ball fights, and enjoyed much to much hot cocoa.

 So besides hot cocoa and snow...

Thanksgiving was interesting to say the least.  It was a little odd not having family around.  When we moved here we left behind all of our family and friends, and while we have made many great new friends we still are flying solo when it comes to family.   I forgot just how much easier family makes Thanksgiving.  It's hard making all those dishes by yourself, and my gosh the amount of leftovers we have had, it's just ridiculous.

Our youngest towards the very end of dinner, while we were all still sitting around the table says "Mom, right here hurts" pointing to his stomach.  He walks into the bathroom, comes out a little paler than when he went in, turns around walks back in...At this point I look over at Mr. Steampunk and said "Paper, Scissors, Rock!" on who has to clean up anything if he get's sick!  I won, 3 seconds later the littlest one threw up all over the bathroom floor.  So while Mr. Steampunk cleaned up that mess I took the sickling to the bathtub.  Don't feel too bad for Mr. Steampunk, I have changed waaaayyyy more dirty diapers than he ever has, plus let's not forget the 18 eggs our eldest cracked on the couch and windowsill when he was 2.

November brought duck and deer hunting adventures, the French Etsy Finds, the Netherlands Etsy Finds and Etsy Dudes,  soccer games galore, shoveling a huge honking drive way at 5 am everytime it snows and lots of pretty scenery.

I have a ton of pictures and a couple of recipes that were huge hits with the kids that I'll be posting this week.

Until then!
~Angie~

3 Front Pages Today!

Hi All!

Okay so this has NEVER happened before.   Today my work has been up on Etsy's front page 3 times.  Even though the weather is crappy out (seriously, power keeps going in and out, trees look like they are going to come through the window, and it is raining sideways) I am doing one big happy dance. 

Our youngest has been home sick with strep for 2 days now.  Tonight is the perfect night for soup, hot crusty bread and a family movie night with our new Car's 2 movie. 






Until next time!
~Angie~ 

New Work

Hi everyone,

So here are a couple of new pieces of work that I just listed yesterday.  It has been super busy around here lately.  I am currently trying to stock up for Pool Trade Show that I'm headed to in Feb.  Vegas here I come!   I also have the holiday season approaching for my Etsy shop and two big First Friday Art Walks here in Juneau.  There really isn't enough time in the day to get done everything I need to.

I handcrafted these two bracelets using antique rail road date nail markers.  The 5 indicates a rail road that was installed in 1905 and the 32 is from 1932.  These two pieces are thinner for a nice layered option.  I used saddle straps for the leather...unused saddle straps of course.  There are quite a few people who are actually allergic to horses so used straps might be harmful to some.

Until next time!
~Angie~