An Etsy Treasury curated by Gilliauna ~ I love it when you kiss me softly under the mistletoe
Click on the picture below to be taken to a page where you can browse individual items you like that you see pictured here as well as the shops where these items were found and artisans behind them all!
Credits go to: 1kybele, ArmyMOMOfTwins, bekahjennings, DAHceramics, doodlebirdie, Lwangslife, onegiftoneworld, prettykittyscloset, quotesandnotes, reeaadd, rodica, SandboxCards, That70sShoppe, THELittleBlackHat, TravelingGypsies and zuzusworld.
I absolutely love this idea. A "Gratitude Journal". A place to tuck away little tidbits about all the things you're grateful for in life so you can come back and enjoy the read later on down the road when you're feeling down or need a little pick me up.
I've written about my love for journals and my belief in their importance for people's lives as well as for those of future generations before in a past blog post. I think that they're important and I think that they can have a great deal of use and significance in someone's life depending on how they are used.
To me, a Gratitude Journal is a terrific use. One that can live on and on.
The journal shown here is designed by FromShirlee on Etsy, who has a shop filled with wonderful ideas and a warm, cozy feel.
Not only do they offer journals including the one I've featured here, but they also offer baby blanket throws and other knit items (check out the little Amigurumi turtles! SO cute!) as well as cards and other paper crafts including scrap book pages and more!
This shop is family run by three generations of crafty and talented women and there's a terrific story on FromShirlee's profile all about it that's sure to make you smile. So when you stop in, take a browse through her items but also take a peek at their profile because it's worth the read!
And not only are these talented women working together to create beautiful 100% handcrafted items for their shop, but they also take custom requests. Something that, especially with the scrap book pages and cards, I find not just useful but inspiring as well!
TO VISIT FROMSHIRLEE ON ETSY YOU CAN CLICK THE PICTURES ABOVE OR, IF YOU'D RATHER, CLICK RIGHT HERE!
You may also enjoy a visit to FromShirlee's blog or Facebook page!
"Ever mind the rule of three -
Three times what thou givest returns to thee,
this lesson well, thou must learn -
Thee only gets what thou dost earn."
It's a common theme, no matter the culture or religion you follow. Whether it's "treat others as you wish to be treated" or lessons of charity and kindness.
When I saw these cards, I immediately fell in love with them. The rule of three is a tenant that I was taught at a very young age and one that has influenced my life through the years from childhood onward.
As my years as a mentor, this was an important lesson I worked with parents to teach to their children as well and it has been one of the most rewarding lessons I've shared with those I've been fortunate to have helped along their own individual paths.
The shop where I found these wonderful cards is CraftyPagan Designs on Etsy. It's a shop filled with wonderful handmade tags, cards and other hand-stamped artwork and designs by Rowena. Some are themed to the pagan path such as the cards pictured above in this post, but that's by far not the only theme offered.
Rowena's CraftyPagan Designs is filled with different themes from Alice in Wonderland to The Wizard of Oz and more. They offer gift tags and cards as well as stationary, wedding and anniversary announcements, luxury greeting cards, holiday themes and even some canvases and altered art!
I love the aged paper look that many of their items have to them as well. It's unique and different as well as positively eye-catching.
YOU CAN CLICK ON THE PICTURES ABOVE TO VISIT CRAFTYPAGAN DESIGN'S SHOP ON ETSY AND TAKE A LOOK AROUND OR, IF YOU PREFER, CLICK RIGHT HERE.
You might also enjoy taking a peek at CraftyPagan's blog where you can see even more of Rowena's creations. You can also stop by and say hello on Facebook or Twitter!
Yep, you heard me right. I wanna wear it!
The picture you see here is actually a canvas painting, but when I went into today's shop for the first time, my first instinct and urge was that I wanted to -wear- this piece.
I mean... it's just gorgeous! It 
would look spectacular wrapped up in my hair or curled at my hips in a drape or skirt. Or as a bandeau shirt curled lovingly around my torso.
Not to mention that the necklace pictured below from the exact same shop would fit perfect with the outfit I've built in my mind around this painting.
I mean, talk about being inspiring!
I really, really like this design and I can guarantee that if it was made in a large scarf or a piece of fabric that I'd have snatched it up without a second thought.
The shop that houses both of these beautiful items is "As You Like It" on Etsy by DiCarlos.
Stephanie, the talented artist behind these pieces, is filled with creative juices that she stirs vigorously into a number of different artistic venues. These include paintings and jewelry, as seen here on this blog, as well as a variety of wonderful cards and prints.
As a school teacher in northern Massachusetts, I can't imagine how she has time to make such beautiful pieces but she has not one shop, but TWO!
As You Like It by DiCarlos is filled with colorful jewelry, amazing prints and paintings.
Stephanie's other shop, Unexpected Knock (the name is inspired by the poetry of Emily Dickensen) has an entirely different flavor with a slightly more formal feel with a collection of clean, crisp designed poetry-inspired cards and artwork.
Both shops are relatively new, one opening in April of this year and the other in June, but you won't be disappointed by what you find there so be sure to stop by and visit!
YOU CAN CLICK ON THE PICTURES ABOVE TO VISIT "AS YOU LIKE IT" ON ETSY AND TAKE A LOOK AROUND OR, IF YOU PREFER, CLICK RIGHT HERE. I ALSO ENCOURAGE YOU TO STOP BY THE "UNEXPECTED KNOCK" ON ETSY AS WELL!You might also enjoy visiting Stephanie's As You Like It Blog and Unexpected Knock blog.
If you're looking for something cute or pretty and not the same-old-thing when it comes to gifts for guests, then I've got the shop for you today!
Although it's not all they offer, the the gift boxes and trinket boxes (called paper pastries) Imeon Designs on Etsy has in their shop are some of the most well made and truly unique designs I've ever seen and I think you'll agree!
Imeon Designs, by Noemi, is filled with beautiful pieces of paper artwork and not just gift boxes but also some of the best made hand crafted cards on Etsy, in my personal opinion. Themes range from invitations and blank note cards for all occasions to gift boxes and other cute bits. All made of paper with an attention to detail and beauty.
YOU CAN CLICK ON THE PICTURES ABOVE TO VISIT IMEON DESIGNS ON ETSY AND TAKE A LOOK AROUND OR, IF YOU PREFER, CLICK RIGHT HERE.
You might also enjoy checking out Imeon Design's blog!
Today I'm featuring an artist named Christen Strang who is a 23 year old graphic designer and runs the shop Letter Happy on Etsy.
I adore this shop. There's 
some of the most amazing prints, cards, tees and more there and so beautiful!
The shop is filled with items that have been printed with graphic designs, illustrations and typography quotes. So many beautiful sentiments expressed in creative ways in this shop, they're just amazing. They even have a couple of screen printed jersey scarves that are absolutely beautiful. I'm especially fond of the one in lavender with the ginkgo print.
She also has some adorable baby art prints that would be perfect for a nursery or to give as a gift at a baby shower. I'm sure you'll love this shop as much as I do, so be sure to stop by and take a look around.
TO VISIT CHRISTEN STRANG'S LETTER HAPPY SHOP ON ETSY, YOU CAN CLICK THE PICTURE ABOVE OR, IF YOU'D RATHER, CLICK RIGHT HERE!
Okay, today we're wandering into the land of cute. And, when I mean cute? I mean super-duper-absolutely-totally-100% UBER-cute. The kind of cute that makes you smile instantly even as your heart melts.
Yep, I found a shop that sells stuff that cute.
Because today's shop is Something Bunny by Lea which is filled with cute, sweet and silly art prints. As you can tell from the shop's name, there are bunnies involved. But that's not the only cute factor she has going for her. There's big eyed pouting Bigfoot, smiling little girls and adorable bears, dinosaurs and more!
I fell for this shop the first time I saw it, and I'm positive that you will too. Even if you're not looking for an art print, you really should stop in and check out Something Bunny. They have plenty of other gift ideas and "I want" temptations to offer including bookmarks, book plates, ACEOs, card sets, notepads and more!
YOU CAN CLICK ON THE PICTURE ABOVE TO VISIT LEA'S SOMETHINGBUNNY SHOP ON ETSY AND TAKE A LOOK AROUND OR, IF YOU PREFER, CLICK RIGHT HERE.
Today I'm introducing one of my favorite places to look for holiday and birthday cards! This shop is filled with wonderful, cute and elegant designs that are fit for every occasion. The shop, Papered with Love, is ran by Stephanie Connell and she's truly an inspiration!
Stephanie specializes in hand crafted 
paper goods for all occasions from birthday cards to wedding favors, and offers a unique and creative way to express yourself to those you love and care about.
All her cards are sold at very *very* reasonable prices too! Which means she's giving the commercial options a run for their money. Because why would you -ever- want to buy a generic commercial card when you can get something beautiful, handmade and absolutely perfect for the same price or less?
Stephanie, a special ed teacher at the elementary school level, discovered the joys of paper crafting a few years ago when she couldn't find the wedding favors she wanted for her own wedding... so she made them herself! She's been doing paper crafts ever since, and does absolutely beautiful work.
TO VISIT PAPEREDWITHLOVE'S SHOP ON ETSY, YOU CAN CLICK THE PICTURE ABOVE OR, IF YOU'D RATHER, CLICK RIGHT HERE!
I love snarky and sarcastic people. I've found that it takes a certain amount of wit and intelligence to pull off the attitude with flare and personality and although I'm far too tenderhearted to be a mean person, I can't help the little snicker that comes over me now and then when I watch those that -are- snarky jab on in on a close minded idiot.
Maybe that's why I like today's shop so 
much, they pull this off with flare and personality.
Flytrap's logo is "We make smart people laugh" and honestly? I can't help but agree with this. The shop's filled with snarky (and sometimes mean) greeting cards, little mini notes and paper gifts for those not into the whole "rainbows and kittens" thing that Hallmark has going on.
They even have funny, fake parking tickets for people who park like jerks! They're official looking and perfect for those times when you just know it's not right to key a car or poke a hole in the tires. This is my absolutely favorite thing in their shop, but it's a hard distinction to make, because so much of their shop is so perfectly amusing that you just don't want to pass up!
YOU CAN CLICK ON THE PICTURE ABOVE TO VISIT FLYTRAP'S NEATTHINGS ETSY SHOP AND TAKE A LOOK AROUND OR, IF YOU PREFER, CLICK RIGHT HERE.
I know there's a "term" for this style or "look" but for the life of me, I have no idea what it's called. I have to admit that I love it though. That whole clean cut lines and cluttered but matching prints thing really attracts my eye.
Today's feature shop, Adore by Nat, is filled with this style of cards and paper craft too. Beautiful colors and patterns that are stylishly combined, there's a real talent here and an eye for "what works" that I could never hope to achieve.
You also will never find cards like these in the corner store or Walmart. The style is too intricate, the work and craftsmanship too detailed. The card stock is high quality and the love put into the design and embellishments on each card are obvious. This is the kind of work that can only be done by a craft artist and the results are spectacular.
Adore by Nat is filled with this kind of beautiful craftsmanship and attention to detail. There's a huge variety of different themes to browse through including not just greeting cards with a variety of themes but also magnets, gift tags and much more.
YOU CAN CLICK ON THE PICTURE ABOVE TO VISIT ADORE BY NAT AND TAKE A LOOK AROUND OR, IF YOU PREFER, CLICK RIGHT HERE.
