NJ Spring Fever Sale!

The Etsy New Jersey team is having a group sale! Click on the poster below for more info about the individual shop specials.

Shop Feature: Liz Staley's Realm of Nerdiness

Liz from Liz Staley's Realm of Nerdiness is having a great sale right now and I just wanted to show off her shop. In this shop you'll find all sorts of things for the nerd in your life. Believe me I have lots in my life! (including me lol) She's got magnets, gaming accessories, art, and lots more.

But right now I'm going to focus on her handmade plushies - in particular her Kafma. Liz has a great assortment of these adorable plushies. I've included a couple of my favorites. Just click on the pictures for more info.

What are Kafma?

"Kafma is actually short for "Kute and Furry Mutliplying Aliens". They are small balls of fur hailing from a planet far away. All they do is eat, reproduce, make a pleasant purring noise, and get into my crafting supplies to make costumes for themselves."

Liz has all of her Kafma plushies marked down now. Go to the Plushie section in her shop to see the deals.

Featured Shop: Yaffa Dreams

Susan of Yaffa Dreams makes lovely jewelry and accessories at affordable prices. I've chosen a couple of my favorites. Just click on the pictures to see more information about the items and how to buy them. Also take a look below where she adds a special offer for Dragon's Den readers!



Susan a little info with me about her shop and her inspiration.

"My name is Susan and I started creating items to sell on Etsy when I moved back to Florida and couldn't find a job. This helps keep me sane and also make a few extra dollars.

I love using different items to make jewelry. I make a lot of things out of hardware, guitar picks, etc. And sometimes, I combine them. I like shimmery, sparkly beads. And I like most items with hearts.

My daughter has a section in my shop called Fantastical Awesomeness. She creates the items and earns spending money. I do the business end of it.

Not only do I have jewelry in my shop, but also bags and keychains and vintage items. I also have a giveaway on my blog: www.redheadhomestead.blogspot.com

If you mention "CraftyDragon" in the notes to the seller, I will send you a FREE gift with your purchase."

Yaffa Dreams
www.yaffadreams.etsy.com
www.redheadhomestead.blogspot.com

Blog Special: Free Dragon Soap!

This week's offer is a free dragon soap with any purchase from my shop (Dragon's Den on Etsy).

This is a raspberry scented soap made from a shea butter soap base (paraben free). This 3 ounce moisturizing soap is a perfect size and shape for kids! Click on the link or picture for more info about this soap.

There is no minimum order for this special. This is totally free with no extra shipping added to your order. Just enter "dragon soap" in the message to seller box on checkout. I will add the soap to your order when I see the code. Do not add the soap listing to your order unless you want two. :)

This special lasts until next Saturday (Feb. 28, 2009).

Item Review: Green Goddess Toner

Tamara from Tamara's Herbes has wowed me again!

My face has very sensitive skin with problems like acne, dry flaky skin, and patches of dry rough skin. This is all something I've lived with my whole life. No product really worked to clean or moisturize without giving me a reaction. The most I could hope for was a product that wouldn't turn my face beet red!

Recently I decided to try Tamara's Green Goddess Toner. Like her other products this is all natural and chemical free. It's specially designed for sensitive skin and it's a cleanser, toner, and light moisturizer.

The first day I used it I was happy to find that it didn't make my face red or leave it feeling tight and dry like commercial products do. That was a great start! But what was remarkable was that by the 3rd day of using it my skin was noticeably better! My skin felt so soft! No more flaky skin and the dry patches were almost completely gone! Now after using the toner for over a week I don't see any more acne and my face is still smooth and soft. My entire face care regimen is to use this toner once a day - that's it! What a miracle product!

I just had to share this with my readers. I'm hoping this can help some others with problem or sensitive skin. Click on the link above or the picture to see more info about this toner. And visit the rest of Tamara's Herbes to see her other great products!

Green and Frugal: Re-usable Dryer Sheets

I recently made some recycled and re-usable dryer sheets. I just wanted to share this project with my readers. I made these using old, cut up PJs (jersey knit). I didn't even finish the edges. But if you don't want to make your own pieces I know you can get handmade recycled cloths by searching on Etsy.

This is not the only way to make these, but this is how I did it. I'm happy with how they came out, and they work great in my laundry! I've heard it said that you can use the sheets up to 5 times before re-applying the softener, but I re-apply after each use. I do them in large batches so that I don't have to do it often.

This is definitely frugal too. By using these re-usable sheets I get 7 times more loads out of the liquid fabric softener!

Blog Special: Free Tea Lights!

Visit my shop (Dragon's Den on Etsy) and get a free set of 6 scented tea lights with any order!


You choose the scent - either Vanilla Bean Noel or White Lily & Amber. Vanilla Bean Noel is a blend of buttery, rich vanilla and musk. It is my favorite vanilla scent by far! White Lily & Amber is described as: "a soft background of white amber and musk provide a comfortable backdrop for crisp top notes of dewy cyclamen and smooth mimosa with middle notes of white lily." It is rich and feminine without being too floral. It's just a gorgeous scent!

These candles are handmade from a beeswax and paraffin blend and all cotton wicks. They are long burning with great scent throw. There is no color added to these candles. They are the natural creamy color of the wax blend.

There is no minimum order for this special. This is totally free with no extra shipping added to your order. Just enter either "Vanilla" or "White Lily & Amber" in the message to seller box on checkout. I will add the package of six tea lights to your order when I see the code.

This special lasts until next Saturday (Feb. 21, 2009).

Spring is in the Air

The last two days here in South Jersey have been beautiful and unseasonably warm. I know it won't last long but it's got me thinking spring!

So I browsed through Etsy to find some NJ home grown spring picks that fit my mood today. Click on the pictures to see the item or the shop links below for the whole shop. Hope you like them!

Sellers featured:

From Nancy's Heart
http://FromNancysHeart.etsy.com

Chimera
http://chimera.etsy.com

Capital City Crafts
http://capitalcitycrafts.etsy.com

Entertaining Angels
http://entertainingangels.etsy.com

Liz Arti
http://LizArti.etsy.com

Pequest Designs
http://Siarh.etsy.com

Featured Item: Pawprints in the Sand

This touching poem was written to help those who have felt the loss of a pet. I recently had a death in our "pet family" so I can relate to this. Give a little extra love to your pet(s) today. They ask so little and give so much!

This lovely handmade piece is for sale by ideasign. Simply click on the picture for more information. This print is a 2.5" x 3.5" ACEO. For more info on ACEO's, go to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artist_trading_cards

Blog Special: Free Lip balm!

Visit my shop (Dragon's Den on Etsy) and get a free Honey Bee Mine lip balm with any order!

Click on the link or picture for more info about this lip balm. It is a new product for me and I'd like to get people to try it. I know you'll all love it! I have to admit I make the nicest lip balms our family has ever tried. :)

There is no minimum order for this special. This is totally free with no extra shipping added to your order. You will receive the Honey Bee Mine flavor unless you specifically tell me that you'd like the peppermint or unscented instead. Don't add the lip balm to your shopping cart. I will add it to your package when I see the code. Put "lip balm" in the message to seller box on checkout.

This special is good until Feb 14th, 2009.

Two Shops - One Amazing Mother!

I recently talked to Brenda, mother of five, about her two Etsy shops Lazy Butt Pants and Step by Step. Brenda makes such comfortable clothing in fun designs for kids and adults! Below are some examples of the items available. (Just click on the pictures for more info.) Brenda also shares a little about her craft and her inspiration for each shop.

So check out both of these great shops and see the great deals she has on right now!

Lazy Butt Pants

"Lazy Butt Pants was started by myself to fit the need people have for comfortable yet fun garments to wear around their homes. They aren't always wore around the homes. Some wear them out and about as well. The pants are made in many fabric choices including cotton knit, flannel, fleece, and woven cottons. With fun print on many of the pairs, you can really express your personality! All the pants are handmade by me in my home and care is put into each pair. I have standard stock sizes and I am always open for a custom order in a size and/or fabric to suit you! Just drop me a line and I will work with you to create exactly what your butt needs to be comfy weather your butt is lazy or busy! For a limited time, all pants (and shorts) in this shop are buy one pair, get one pair 50% off! All slipper socks are buy one get one pair free! Just check out and wait for me to send you an invoice for the correct amount due. Confused? Just contact me and I will happily help you through the process!"

Step by Step

"Step by Step (bstep401) was begun over two years ago out of my desire to make little girl's clothing. Since I am the mother of five sons, I was happy to have an outlet for all the frills that I can't put on my children! All items in this store are handmade by me with great attention to detail. I take custom orders in this shop as well. You need only ask! My desire is that all little girls have a chance to be dressed in pretty clothing without the need to wear tiny adult fashions. Little girls are only little once! I am more than happy to work with you to create exactly what you envision your little sweetheart wearing for every day or for a special event. In addition to the little girl clothing, I also specialize in making layette sets for newborns, baby wipes that are washable and reusable, and nursing pads. You will find a variety of items in this shop. For a limited time, all items in this shop are 50% off. Please wait for me to send you a bill after you check out so that you will only pay the sale price. The listed prices are the full price. Any questions? Just drop me a line and I will be happy to walk you through!"

Links to Brenda's shops:
http://bstep401.etsy.com
http://lazybuttpants.etsy.com