Handmade For Less!

I've created a new website called Handmade4less to help promote fellow artists and crafters who are selling their products online. Customers can browse this site for coupons to online shops that sell handmade products. They get great deals and the shops get extra promotion! The site has almost 30 stores promoted now and it's growing fast!

If you're a shop owner, this is a very cheap and fun site to use for promotion! If you like "Buy N Stay" promotion threads then you have to check this out! Shops from any online marketplace are welcome. We already have stores with their own sites as well as shops from Etsy and ArtFire.

I promote this site on Twitter through @craftydragon. I always post with each newly added coupon.

There's also a brand new Facebook Fan Page where I'll be posting updates about the site.

So check it out and let me know what you think!

Wonderful Spooky Collection!

My candles were featured in this great ArtFire Collection. Enjoy!

Are you afraid of...

Curated By: artandjewelry

ArtFire.com

Jewelry Supplies

Team Tuesday: A Shop for Yarn Addicts!

As some of you know, I do some crocheting in my spare time to relax and create fun things for my family and friends. I don't go through much yarn this way, and that's a big problem ... because I love buying new yarn!!

I am drooling over the gorgeous yarn from Pancake and Lulu, one of the great sellers on the Etsy New Jersey team! I dare you to try and browse this shop without buying! As soon as I've worked through enough of my current yarn pile I will back here for sure. :)

Just click on the pictures or links below to buy or get more information.


Read more about Etsy New Jersey shops by checking out the blogs listed below.

Snowed In!

We got a snowstorm last night that left us with drifts a couple feet tall in the backyard. Our poor little dog just looked at the wall of snow at the door like, "Now what am I supposed to do?" :)

So since I'm stuck inside today I might as well enjoy it! I put together this lovely selection of picks from the Helping Others Street Team (HOST) and the EtsyNJ team. Enjoy!

Wordless Wednesday

Water on a Leaf

by Art by LAQ

Deals for the New Year!

I just wanted to share some of my favorite Etsy shops with my readers. And as an added bonus, all of these are either marked down or have free shipping. Click the pictures to shop or get more info.

Hope you like the selection. :)

Etsy New Jersey Team Sale!

This great team sale starts tomorrow (Wednesday, November 25th). You'll find my shop in the list too. :) I'm including a free gift with every order (no minimum!). The gift bag will include samples from my shop and others. Come visit my shop if you're looking for candles, soap, lip balm and more! Dragon06.etsy.com

Check out the info below to see all the other great shops participating in this sale.



Happy Thanksgiving from EtsyNJ! The EtsyNJ team is hosting a team wide sales event that begins on Wednesday, November 25 and ends on Monday, November 30. With over 50 shops participating, you are sure to find something you absolutely love. Search "EtsyNJ Thanksgiving Sale" at Etsy.com Be sure to put "EtsyNJ Thanksgiving" in the notes to seller at checkout.

Reminder: Check each shop description for more details. Sale ends Monday 11/30 at midnight, unless otherwise specified by the individual shop owner. You must pay each shop individually, contact shop owner with any questions.

To browse participating shops by sales promotion, click on the following links:

Free Shipping

10% - 20 % off entire purchase (not including shipping)

Free gift with every purchase

BOGO - Buy One Get One Half Off

Or, see http://etsynj.com for the entire list of participating shops!

Stuff that stocking!

Here are some great handmade stocking stuffers from the Helping Others Street Team (HOST) on Etsy.

Enjoy! :)

Wordless Wednesday

Three Wise Ones
by PetitBijouArtShop
For sale in the Etsy HOST team shop

Caturday Etsy Picks

Here are a few of my favorite handmade picks today for Caturday. Enjoy! :)

Kitten print
by Red Linc Art

Cross Stitch Sweater
by Dreams of May

Cat Nap Furniture Protector
by Susan's Treasures

Best Hot Sauce in Canada!

My sister, brother-in-law, and niece have started up a business selling their homemade hot sauce. The store is Triple G's Hot Sauce at http://greathotsauce.ca/. Their hot sauce is probably the best I've had! If you are a connoisseur, then you had to give it a try! Unfortunately they only ship within Canada, but I know I have some Canadian readers who would be interested. :)

Here is the intro video to their online store.

Featured items: Spring Fever Sale!

Here are some amazing items from just a few of the shops participating in the EtsyNJ Spring Fever Sale. Go to http://etsynj.com/springfever/ to see all the deals offered.

Click on the pictures below to take you to the items. And go to Spring Fever Sale to see this list on byhand.me. There you can leave comments to boost popularity and get these items more views!

Cool site: byhand.me

I just discovered this site. I'm sure it's been around for a long time but I'm a little slow. :)

Just one of the site's features is that it allows members to make these great "spotlights" (similar to Etsy treasuries). Here's the first one I've made. It features all my items. I'm already planning my next one to include fellow Etsy friends. Too much fun!!

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!

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