Etsy!

For a look at more of my crafts please visit my Etsy store.

Holly's Crafts and Candy

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Did you miss me?

It has been a whole week since I have posted! In that time I have planed a few things, gathered a few things and gotten a couple awesome books. So I am well on my way. I am getting some things together to post on etsy as well as gathering up some etsy shops to highlight!

So let's talk ideas for handmade gifts for the holiday. Let's begin with those who are less than crafty. There are so many things that you can do. It just takes a little thinking. Can you follow directions? If you can then try this get a great coffee mug from where ever you can find them. Often times the dollar store will have great mugs. Add a couple of tea bags, a pack of hot chocolate or a single pot pack of coffee. Place the beverage package into the mug, add a pack or two of individually packed snacks such as biscotti or cookies or even some chocolates. Place into a gift bag or a decorative bag of some sort with pretty bows or ribbons add the card of your choice and you have the perfect break time gift for anyone from kids to coworkers!

Send me your great ideas! We can all use a little help with this handmade gift year! Stay tuned, In future posts I will include some more great gifts involving mugs!

Saturday, January 1, 2011

2011 the year of the Handmade Craft

WELCOME 2011! It is officially January 1, 2011. This means several things. First off it is the year of the handmade craft! That is right folks 2011 is here. This means handmade crafts for part of Christmas this year! Time to get planning and making.

Secondly this means my Birthday is just around the corner!

Third this means a huge Happy Birthday going out to one bad elf! She knows who she is. Have a wonderful birthday full of laughter and love my friend!

Well I have to make that list of who I am crafting for and what I am making. Never did get done at mom's. Although I did get some great red yarn on an after Christmas clearance for a scarf for a friend. She has already told me to get knitting! So I guess that means it is official. I have my first project.

Now I want to know what your projects are going to be. Don't be shy. Let me know. It will be fun to see what everyone is doing!

Get those creative juices flowing and send in the pictures. There is a lot more blog to come this year I promise.

Happy Crafting folks. Together we can make 2011 a year to remember!

Monday, December 27, 2010

Good morning craft universe

Good morning world. I am up and getting ready to leave town for a few days to visit moms. What does this mean for the blog and for craft land in general. Well for starters no internet! That is right no computer at moms. No facebook (well just from my phone) no surfing, no anything! Sometimes it is nice and sometimes it is the time I start to twitch from computer withdraw. I know I know. It should not be that way. A simple piece of machinery should not take over our lives but it has and it does.

The good part of going to moms is.......I get to truly relax. I can usually sit and watch her favorite show with her.........the weather channel............and work on a bit of crafting. I also get to go to a craft store I don't have around here so that is always fun! I also get to think and plan. Toss craft ideas around with a friend. You know the things that will be very important planning stages of this little venture.

So I am grabbing a note book to throw in my bag so I can plan plan plan. I will begin to plan what I want to make, who I want to make it for as well as a brief time line of when things need to be done. Right now I am thinking 12 gifts at 1 a month. Not to bad right? I am thinking 12 bigger gifts. You know knitting a scarf, making pillows with favorite sports teams, a fleece jacket. Things like that. Now keep in mind I have not even made out the list to see how many people I have on the list so this may not work. Stay tuned to find out!

OK so now onto another topic. This handmade craft challenge. I was talking to a friend yesterday and told her about it. Her response was "you know I am not crafty". Then I reminded her she could support the little crafter. That she can do and said she would. Think of it this way....it keeps you out of the mall on a horribly busy day. Gotta love that. She also asked if for her birthday I would give her crochet or knitting lessons. She is thinking of trying to make a scarf as a gift for Christmas! AWESOME! You can do it!

So I want to make this an official challenge. Join me in the year of the handmade gift. Make some gifts this year or support the little independent crafter. Learn a new craft. It is great stress relieve and relaxing. There are many things that can be done as a family. Post and let me know you are joining. Send me pictures of your progress. I will post them here (with permission of course). Send in project ideas. There are so many out there. You never know who you may inspire. Know a crafter with an etsy shop. Send me the link and I will include it.

The year of the Handmade Gift officially starts on Saturday! Begin planning today! Here's to a great and creative 2011 everyone!

Sunday, December 26, 2010

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Hello everyone. It seems like a million years since I have had time to post. I apologize for that. Craft show season was really packed with shows. Between that, my new woman's networking group and Christmas I have been a bit crazier than normal.

Oh and I do want to thank my friends for agreeing that I was crazy in my last post. It means a lot. Thanks guys you are gems and I love you.

I was watching Julie and Julia today. I really like that movie. It got me to thinking about this blog and how I never pay it the attention it deserves. I mean life is crazy and I only have so much time right? So I mentioned something the other day and I think I need to take it one step further.

I decided this is the year of the scrapbook. I have several I want to do for gifts and even a couple started. I decided this is the year that i finish them. But lets take it a step or two further shall we. Do you have any idea how much craft stuff I own? How many wonderful gifts I have in the making right here in my house? The correct answer is TONS! probably literally. So this is where I need your help my friends.

I declare this year 2011 the year of the handmade crafts! I challenge you to make handmade crafts for gifts this year for Christmas. You have an entire year! you can do it I know you can. If you can't.....well that is ok I encourage you to support the small time crafters who made all the fabulous gifts. Check out www.etsy.com for some great had crafted items. You can find almost anything. Go to local craft shows. you will be amazed at what you can find. there are amazing things out there. Who will join me in this endeavor? Come on speak up you can do it!

To help you out along the way this year this is what I promise to do. I promise to:

make one handmade item for each person on my Christmas list
blog on an average of once a week about my progress
share lots of craft pictures
offer new and creative ideas for items that can be easily handmade to my faithful blog followers
create a list of my favorite etsy shops here on my blog
actually add new items to my etsy shop

As I think of more things I will add them. For now I think this about covers it. Who knew a movie such as Julie and Julia would make me so creative!

Here is to an awesome handmade gift giving year everyone! together we can turn next Christmas into a great event full of wonderful thoughtful gifts from the heart without spending a ton of money. It will be a special memory for all involved.

Friday, September 10, 2010

I must be Crazy!

I know we already all knew I was crazy, however this takes the cake! I am not only working full time I have 17 craft show this holiday season. 17!! I usually do 4! Oh and I really need to work on my etsy shop as well. So stay tuned for amazing things!

Oh and did I mention I am now selling avon on top of it all! When am I ever going to sleep! LOL. I do have some great new items this fall! Stay tuned for book marks-lovely beaded ones with ribbon and ones that are the metal that are beaded, tooth fairy pillows and who know what else!

Pictures to come soon.

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just have to apologize to each and every one of you! Life has gotten out of control busy for me lately and I have not been here at all. I just didn't realize it had been so long since I had been. That being said I have a new netbook on the way so I can hopefully always have the ability to check in here even without pictures!

Now that I have apologized I have a question.

What kind of things should I make for my fall craft shows? I need new and exciting ideas. Come on folks I know there are a ton of creative people out there so what do you think?

Friday, September 4, 2009

Step Out: Walk to fight Diabetes

Hello everyone in craft land! Well my first show of the fall season is fast approaching! And the day after is the diabetes walk at the Pittsburgh zoo. It should be fun! So I have decided to run a little contest and offer a coupon special for my Etsy store. Anyone who donates online to help support diabetes research on my walk page will be entered for a change to win a patriotic chef hat or a set of 4 seasonal puppy scarves your choice of sizes and holidays. In addition to that I will also give Everyone who donates a $1 off ANY purchase from my Etsy store through the end of November! So you can make a donation, win a prize and save a little on Christmas gifts as well!


Patriotic chef hat you can win



A sampling of what the scarves may look like depending on pattern



The scarf pattern may not be what is shown. It is dependent up on size and pattern avalability. The chef hat shown is the pattern you will receive. Easy as can be right? Just go to my page and make a donation. Shoot me an email to craftsandcandy@gmail.com saying you responded to this blog offer and your name. I will Announce the winner in early October! Just click the link below to take you to my walk page! And thank you thank you thank you for helping to support this worthwhile cause!

http://main.diabetes.org/site/TR/StepOut/StepOut103728010?px=5212392&pg=personal&fr_id=6476