October BBA Challenge - Orange

This month's challenge is brought to us by Linda from AbigailJayneART ( www.etsy.com/shop/AbigailJayneArt ). And here is what Linda has to say about her challenge:

"It's the Orange month! Create something using orange or a pumpkin shape. Do something different, not just a Halloween holiday item, but get creative with the basic color tone of orange or a shade of orange. Or you could use a color combination incorporating orange. Either way let orange inspire you!"

 I have to admit that this challenge really had me thinking. I realized that orange was a color that I don't use very often at all. But to my surprise, I found everything for this project in my home! I had purchased some mini pumpkins a while back (read, 3-4 years ago!) and was finally able to put them to good use.
 

The little pumpkin kit came with some leaves, gourds and berries as well. And the whole box was tied up in orange ribbon. I had a white acrylic ring left from when I made my clock which worked perfectly for a wreath base.

 

While I'll admit, I'm no home decor diva, I was pretty happy with my little piece. And while Halloween is almost here, I like that this can hang all through Fall.

Is orange a color you use often? Been working on any challenges at your house? 

 

Interested in joining the Blogging Business Artisans? Stop by and visit our team page.

Secret Santa Exchange

As many of my readers know, the Blogging Business Artisans is my favorite team on Etsy. I love interacting with such a great group of Etsians and getting to know each one. Our team is very active and social and we like to have fun. One fun event we planned this year (and last) was a Secret Santa Exchange. Sharla of Beaded Tail always does a great job organizing the event.

This year I was lucky enough to have Natasha of Stalking The Wild Snark as my Secret Santa. Natasha knows that two of my favorite colors are purple and teal, so she created a special pair of earrings just for me! The colors are perfect and I love how light weight these are! Thanks Natasha :)

 

This year I got to be Santa for Ayla of Eyelah. I know Ayla loves jewelry, but doesn't wear earrings, so I sent her a fun chevron necklace and matching ring.

Want to join this great team? Stop by our team page and checkout the requirements...we'd love to have you!

Holiday Sales from the Blogging Business Artisans

It's that time of year again! It's time for the holidays!!! And the Blogging Business Artisans have some great deals for you! Stop by each of these shops for holidays sales!

Memories for Life

Use Code 20Off2013 for 20% off your entire purchase

Good Saturday, November 30th in honor of Small Business Saturday

 Stalking the Wild Snark

Use code 20Saturday2013 for 20% off on 11/30 for Small Business Saturday

LindaB142 - LinorStore Jewelry

Thanksgiving/Black Friday Specials 11/25 - 11/30 Free US shipping ($3 value) Use Code FREEUSSHIP. (If you purchase a kippah, I'll apply part of the coupon code to the priority mail amount.) 

Use Code THANKS25 for 25% off of $15 purchase on 12/2 Cyber Monday

 MisterPenQuin - Handmade books, journals and clipboards
Black Friday to Cyber Monday 10% Off All Items
No coupon code necessary - discount applied during checkout

JNOriginals - Crocheted and felted wearable accessories
Black Friday to Cyber Monday 10% Off Everything
No coupon code necessary - discount applied during checkout
PLUS
CLEARANCE (scarves, felted bowls & more) – prices reflects 50% discount

 Storybeader - Handmade journals and paper goods for the art lover
Black Friday (11/29) through the middle of December (12/15)
20% off all items
Contact Deb and I'll make your purchase a special order.

 PruittCreations - Free Coffee Cozy ($6 value) with any purchase over $5 on Small Business Saturday Nov. 30th. List color preference in the notes to the seller. I will try to accommodate.

abigailJayneART - Free shipping on any purchase on Small Business Saturday. Use coupon code ShippingZero.

Eyelah
Use code HOLIDAY30 for 30% off
Open between 11/22-12/22

BBA Challenge - Fall Colors

My favorite thing about fall is the changing colors of the leaves. And I've noticed more red trees this year, which makes everything look even more beautiful! That's why for this month's BBA Challenge, I came up with the idea to use these fall colors to create art.

I was lucky enough to be asked by Sharla of BeadedTail to make her a wooden leaf wall hanging. She sent me scanned photos of leaves from her front yard. From there I created files to cut the exact shape of the leaf out of wood with my laser.

The funny thing about this whole process is me having to ask Sharla what size she wanted these made. I told her the scans must have come through really large because the leaves were over 9" tall! She just laughed and told me that was the actual size of the leaf! Our leaves seem so tiny here in Iowa!

 

After I cut the leaf photo and the wooden leaf with the laser, I glued the two together and added a sealant to preserve them. So far I have one done and I'm working on two more for her to hang on her walls and enjoy the fall colors all year.

What's your favorite thing about fall? Do you have 9" leaves in your part of the country?

Fall Wedding Season

I've already blogged a couple times about outdoor/fall weddings and how great they are. I couldn't resist putting together this beautiful Fall Wedding Season Treasury. This treasury features items from the Blogging Business Artisans and the Wed Eclectic Team.

This treasury is also part of the Wed Eclectic Team's monthly treasury challenge. Please stop by and vote for my treasury HERE.

New Christmas Ornaments - BBA Challenge

This month's challenge is brought to us by LeAnn of pasqueflower. Her theme is Prelude to the Holidays and she writes this about her challenge:

"October! It is time to start thinking ahead to the holidays -- Halloween, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas and New Year. They will be here before we know it!
This month, I challenge you to create a holiday-themed item. It could be a new listing for your Etsy shop, a holiday decoration for your home, a costume or special accessory for a holiday gathering, or a gift you intend to give to a friend or loved one.
Since "prelude" is a musical term, you could also make something music-themed if you wish."

I've known all year that I've wanted to add new ornaments to my shop

 for the holidays. This challenge got my butt in gear to get them done early and listed in the shop!

 I've only added one new listing, but I have several variations within the listing for buyers to choose.

I also plan to add a special set of ornaments for Baby's First Year as well. They will follow the same idea as these ornaments with the baby's name at the top, an image in the middle and the date at the bottom. I'm working now on getting several images together for parent's to choose from. I like to offer many options to make the ornament perfect for each buyer.

Thank you LeAnn for this month's challenge and for making me plan ahead for the holidays...I know we can all use that!

Treasury Thanks

Welcome to another edition of my Treasury Thanks! Each week I like to thank my treasury curators from the past week by featuring their treasuries as well as an item from their shop. Please help me in thanking them by clicking on their treasuries and checking out their shops :)

Elena from Attractive1 featured my Personalized Wine Bottler Stopper in her Personalized Valentine's Day Gift Guide Treasury!  Elena makes beautiful fascinators and this red one is great for Valentine's Day or any special event!

Amber of BackAlleyAdventures featured my Wooden Recipe Book in her In the Kitchen Treasury! Amber also has a beautiful Wooden Recipe Book in her shop as well!

  I also created a BBA team treasury this week as well...featuring new items from my teammates!

New Techniques - January Challenge

Our first Blogging Business Artisans Challenge for 2013 is brought to us by Deb of storybeader. Here's what Deb has to say about her challenge: "Set aside time to work on and complete a new technique that you admire. It can be within your field of expertise, but doesn't have to be. Blog about your project at least once during the month of January and show us your progression with photos or a video."

This challenge was very popular last year that we decided to do it again...we all need that nudge to work on new projects! For my new technique, I decided to make some fun chevron designs and paint them fun colors! I first engraved and cut them with my laser. I then hand-painted them and topped them with a clear coat for protection.

 Of course I started with pink :) I made a set of post/stud earrings and a set of magnets. I just LOVE how these turned out! I can't wait til I can get a bunch more painted in several different colors! I plan on adding dangle earrings and maybe thumb tacks at some point too.

Thanks Deb for this challenge. This is a technique I've wanted to try for a while and hadn't sat down to do it. This challenge was just what I needed!

Friday Features - BBA Love

Earlier this week I blogged about some new Valentine's items I've added to my shop. I'm excited to say that my Mustache Card has done so well already! And we still have a couple weeks to go!

This got me in the mood to go searching for other awesome Valentine finds. I didn't have to look any further than my own Etsy team, the Blogging Business Artisans. This team is full of creativity and awesomeness! Check it out...

Heart Charms Set - Set of Two (2) - One (1) Glass Charm, (1) One Metal Charm

by randomcreative

Cupid's Arrow Necklace - Valentine's Day, heart, love, gold, brass, charm, vintage inspired

 by OhNostalgiaDesigns 

HEART T shirt, short sleeve, cotton, hand dyed, children, youth, tie dye, pink, hot pink, light pink

 by SplendidLittleStars

Shabby Chic Decorative Red Gingham, Polka Dot, Floral Hanging Hearts, Christmas Ornament, Satin Roses, Valentine, Trio

 by PeriDotbyDuni

Secret Santa Reveal

My wonderful teammates at the Blogging Business Artisans hosted a Secret Santa Exchange this year and I couldn't be happier with my gift!!!

I was paired with Cynthia of Antuquity Travelers and I received the most beautiful pair of earrings! Cynthia knows I love the color purple, so she created these with amethyst onion cut stones and silver findings. Just look how pretty they are!

I've already worn them several times as I wear purple quite a bit. I love the dainty size as I can wear them day or night and with any outfit!

Thank you so much Cynthia!

I was also paired with Judy of JNOriginals as my gift recipient. I know that Judy loves journals and that she also owns a Bind-It-All, so I knew the perfect gift to make for her! I made her a personalized journal with wooden covers. And since she has the binding machine, she can add pages and refill the book when needed so it can be used for a long time to come!

Judy also mentioned that she likes hazelnut and chocolate, so I sent her a couple goodies along with her journal :)

Interested in joining this awesome team of artisans? See our team page HERE!

Thankful Thursday

Happy Thanksgiving to all my US blog readers! I hope you're surrounded by family and good food this weekend :)

This month our BBA Challenge was about Gratitude. The host says: "Living with Gratitude is my goal, but certainly at Thanksgiving we all stop to think about what we're thankful for.  How does gratitude play a part in your life?  Create something that shows your gratitude."

I took inspiration from two areas for this challenge. Judy Nolan makes the cutest Gratitude Journals in her MisterPenQuin shop and I wanted to make something similar for myself. Also, I've seen several of my Facebook friends doing a daily challenge by posting what they are thankful for the entire month of November. I took the two ideas and made a daily gratitude journal of my own.

 

Some days I'm grateful for the little things.

Other days, I'm grateful for bigger things...and use the front and back of the page to write my though

I'm always grateful for my family, friends, health and amazing life. So I used this journal to think about all the little things I'm thankful for. Anything from a day in my pjs to a great business opportunity. I'm thankful everyday :)

$50 Giveaway to KAW! Studio

Each month a Blogging Business Artisans team member hosts a giveaway on our team blog. This month you have the chance to win a $50 Gift Certificate to KAW! Studios!


 Kaili of KAW! Studios has been so generous to offer this giveaway! Her shop is full of Beautiful Photographs and Fun Illustrations!


Here is just a sampling of what you can find in her shop.

Stop by the team blog to enter the giveaway and read all the details.
Giveaway ends August 22nd.
Good Luck!

Back to School - BBA Challenge

This month's Blogging Business Artisans Challenge theme is brought to us by Erika of Artful Rising. Our theme is Back to School: Back to school supplies, clothes, accessories, art, anything related to the back to school madness!

I love to find ways to use up supplies that are left from other projects. When I make my guest books, I get three pieces of paper that I use as my pages from them, but I'm also left with a 5.375"x5.375" piece as well as a 3"x5.375" piece as well. My mini notebooks are perfect for using up the smaller left over pieces!

I came up with 4 new designs for this challenge as I thought they'd all make cute notebooks to send the kids back to school with.

This Live Out Loud Notebook would have been perfect for me when I was in school :)

And the Bright Ideas Notebook is great for any student...young or old :)

Now if I could just figure out what to do with the 5.375" square pieces! Any suggestions?

Love these challenges? Want to join an amazing Etsy team? Check out our team page right HERE. We'd love to have you join us :)

Summer Lovin' - BBA Challenge

This month at the Blogging Business Artisans Team, our challenge was brought to us by Jenny of A Bird In The Hand Art and her theme is Summer Lovin'. Jenny says:we can do anything summer or love related or even Grease (the movie) related!

It took me to the end of the month, but I finally found inspiration for the challenge! It is something I've been wanting to try for quite a while and the challenge gave me the perfect opportunity to give it a try! I made a Laser Cut Wood Frame Insert!

This insert is cut from the same material I use for wedding invitations and guest book covers. I did find that cutting these letters so tiny makes the frame very fragile. I was debating whether I would sell them in a frame or by themselves, but to ensure safe delivery, I will definitely be selling them in the frame.

I tried two different formats. One with the words floating in the middle and one with the words resting on the bottom edge of the outside frame. I like both versions, but both also have their challenges. The one that's floating is much  more fragile. But the one that's resting along the bottom will need some more work in my software program to be perfected.

I was so happy I thought to use this for the challenge piece. It has so many possibilities for babies, weddings, vacations...pretty much any time you frame a photo! Now I need to go find a photo of my own to put in this frame :)

New Art

Yesterday on the Blogging Business Artisans Blog, I was a guest blogger and talked about Mixed Media Art. I'm in complete awe of mixed media as it's something I've not been able to master! So imagine my surprise when my very own art pieces showed up in my mail box yesterday afternoon!

Erika of Artful Rising sent me a gift for being a finalist in her contest. Not only did I get a print of one of her original mixed media pieces...I got TWO!

I was having a hard time deciding which one to frame and hang on the wall when I remembered I had taken down my wall words and I had three nails still in the wall. I already have one frame on the wall, so the addition of these two will go perfectly! I can't wait to get them hung!

 Thank you so much Erika! They will hang right above my computer desk so I can see them everyday :) Get your own mixed media print in Erika's shop today!

Treasury Thanks

Happy Father's Day to all the wonderful dads out there today :)

Now on to our regularly scheduled Treasury Thanks! This has been another great week of treasuries! Please help me thank those that featured my work by checking out their treasuries as well as their shops :)

Deb of Story Beader featured my Drink Me Bottle Stopper in her Multi-Tasking art Treasury! Deb's Art Journals are great for multi-tasking...you get to play while you get your thoughts down on paper :)

Iryna of eteniren featured my Friends Word Album in her June #28 Treasury! I had such a hard time just choosing one item from Iryna's shop last week to feature, so I'm glad I get to feature her work again this week. I love this Multi Colour Necklace!

Rose of Random Creative featured my Friends Word Album in her Summer Whimsy Treasury! Rose loves red and turquoise and creates beautiful items in these colors, like her Button Charm Bracelet!

Nicole Daily featured my Wooden Anniversary Card in her Rustic Shabby Chic Treasury! Nicole has a buyer-only account and she's got great taste :)

LeAnn of Pasque Flower featured my Wine Bottle Table Numbers in her Bluer Than Blue Treasury! LeAnn's Blue Man-Sized Oven Mitts would make a perfect Father's Day gift!

Jennifer of PennyLn72 featured my Woodland Baby Album in her June Bug Treasury! Jennifer has such a fun shop with items made from upcycled bottle caps! She really turns these into beautiful works of art! My favorite is This Pendant :)

Anne featured my Carved Tree Guest Book in her A Midsummer Night's Wedding Treasury! Anne also has a buyer-only account...with great taste :)

 Thanks again to all of my curators! You've made my week!!!