Etsy Week: $10 Deals! (or less)

Ok - since Christmas always seems to arrive before we know it, and since I assume many of you are on a budget like I am, I have decided to scour Etsy for items $10 or less. It wasn't easy, but here are some of the things I have found. These would make great little gifts for coworkers, friends, cousins or even as stocking stuffers!

Lanyards! When I worked in reservations for the Airlines, it was company policy our ID badge was VISIBLE on our person any time we were on the premises. Therefore, lanyards were something most of us wore. I remember at boutiques, lanyards were a hot ticket item for the airline employees. While some of my favorites have been the beaded ones, those are hard to find for $10. With FREE personalization, TurningHeadsBoutique seems to have the best deal for $8 a piece.

What little girl doesn't love to play "house"? I totally love ItsTheSmallThings. While she has plenty of other inexpensive children's items (Like crayon wallets for under $5) it's her hand-sewn "play food" I love the best. She even has a tossed salad! Of course, I love baking, so this little Deluxe Cherry Cookie Dough Set for $9 is my fave!

Many kids get new PJ's around the holidays. MadeAtNanasHouse makes pillowcases. Right now she has an assortment of sports team pillowcases on sale for $7.99 (Normally, $9.99). You can also message her if you want a team she doesn't have shown! (Incidentally, you know those really cute pillowcase dresses that are so popular right now? Yeah -- she makes those too.)

Ok - this next Etsy Creator gets 2 shout-outs from me. Check out SewingAmity's really cool binky pouch that sells for $8! It's equipped with a plastic ring, perfect for sliding around your diaper bag strap. No more digging deep to find the binky, only to pull it out, covered in cracker crumbs and lint. It would make a cute gift too. Of course, I'd probably buy 2 and stick one around the handle bars of the stroller!

There are tons of iPod/Cell phone cozies on Etsy and many sell for $10 or less. The reason I love SewingAmity's is because it has both a zipper and a clasp. This particular one sells for $10 and is sized to fit a Nintendo DS/DSI, iPod Touch or iPhone, and many other smartphones. (She also sells a way cute owl one for just a few bucks more.)

Ok, although WickedFaerieGifts is in the UK, she will ship to the US. I love this personalized rolling pin for just under $10!

BabyBirdClippies sells these adorable hair clips for $2.75 and has many other little accessories for under $10!

Mouse0403 has some really cute golf towels for only $6!

Here's another one for Dad's or Grandpa's stocking - Luregasmic makes Fishing Lures from NFL Bottlecaps and sells them for $7 each.

Ok - tons of lunch bags on Etsy - and way cute ones too. This one from GoldenLadyRG gets props from me though for a few reasons. 1) I've made Capri Sun bags before and they are a PAIN. My needle broke more than once. 2) She has handles on her homemade lunch pack whereas other crafters do not. 3) You can hand wash it and it's stain resistant 4) It's recycled! and 5) They are only $8!

New teen driver? What about a steering wheel cover from DeniseLukassen? These sell for $7.99 and she usually has an few different styles on hand.

There are soooo many more great finds on Etsy and all for $10 or less. You can find hot/cold packs, lip balm cozies to attach to the zipper of your kids winter coat, hats, gloves, scarves, jewelry, photo frames, keychains, candles, housewares, funny tee shirts, and so on and so forth.

Basically, anything you can think of, there is a good chance they have it! I'd love to hear your great Etsy find! {{Click HERE to go to Etsy.com Now!}}

Etsy Week: Hats!

My kids love hats. I love finding cute, clever or fun hats for them in the winter. I don't knit or crochet, but I love the look of some of these. Check them out!

NJwithLove sells these cute hats for around $25. Who? you asked? NJwithLove, that's who!

This is my other favorite from her... Isn't is Tweet?

By the way, I've seen hats like these all over Etsy, ranging anywhere from $10 - $50. Definitely worth a look-see if you plan to do any early holiday shopping!

And with Halloween right around the corner, who says a newborn can't dress up too? WeeBeePhotoProps has the cutest handmade hats for props. These are great for the baby's first photo shoot or for Halloween. I was at a shower a few months ago and saw one of these, and I've even purchased a sock monkey newborn hat I've found on etsy in the past. They make the sweetest gifts and WeeBee sells them from $12-$25. I couldn't decide on just 1 favorite, so here are a few.

PDXBeanies sells all kinds of beanies for sizes babies up to ladies - some with flowers, some without. I particularly like this one. Most of hers run around $36.

I have found that most fleece hats sell on Etsy.com between $8-$10. There are so many cool ones too, like dragons, and Hello Kitty, and tons of sports themed ones for men. Of course I had to see if they had my team, The Colts (<3 me some Peyton Manning -- MMM) and I found this little gem~~

MimiMakesMemories is a business run by Mimi & Jackie and they will take custom orders (message them your team preference) for these scarf/hat combinations. They come in adult sizes and run $38. I think this is a great gift idea!

So what do those people who raise Alpacas do with the wool? Well, if you're FootloosePalouse you make English Driving Caps and sell them on Etsy.com for $30! As long as I can remember my father wore these kinds of hats!

And finally - from HanuChic. At $29 this Newsboy/Military hat is my favorite pick of the day (If I were shopping for me, that is). I just love it. It's a slightly worn look, yet feminine and classy at the same time.

Oh - wait! One more thing! I forgot that I was gonna tell you where I got my daughter's sock monkey hat for her birthday 2 years ago. I found it on Etsy for $29 from sockmonkeykook. Although she doesn't make the hats anymore, she does sell the pattern for $4.50. Here is a pic of PrettyPrettyPrincess in her hat.

And for those of you who do crochet or knit or sew, perhaps one of these hats have inspired you to make some of your own. If that's the case, well then... Hats off to you! Tee hee!

Etsy Week: Handbags!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE handbags! Although you'd probably never know because I am not one to change out my handbag with every different outfit, etc. Nevertheless, I love them. Today I am going to show you my favorites I found during my handbag search on Etsy!

{{Ruffled Begonia}} is selling this handbag pattern for $6!!! I am getting a BIG case of the Gimmies right about now. I am completely and totally in love with this bag. If only I wasn't having to do other things -- like pay for school, groceries, gas and bills! Of course, I don't really sew that great either, so I'd have to find fabric kind of like this one (since I love it so much) and beg someone to make it for me, haha.

PrettyInPink320 sells this bag for $50, which is competitive with department store purses, and yet it's one of a kind. I never really thought of myself as being into ruffles. However, I have decided I am.

Miss Pretty Perfect knew what she was doing when she combined this fabric & leather look. Of course at $145, I won't be purchasing it anytime soon. When a handbag is more than my weekly grocery bill (Even if only by a few bucks), it's more than I can afford! Still pretty to look at though! :)

Retro Grandma sells this purse (made from a vintage book) for $40. She also does bags from calendars and vinyl record covers.

CayennePeppyBags have so many adorable bags I couldn't decide which one I liked best. I finally decided on this one, which is selling for $65. Even though the button clasp is ginormous, because there is only one, it seems perfectly understated.

Etsy Week: Bookmarks!

Do you Etsy?

I do. Not as often as I'd like. Mostly because I am always a little short in the fundage dept. Nevertheless, I love Etsy. For those who don't know, Etsy is basically an online boutique. It's a place for those who handcraft items to sell their products.

I love boutique shopping because I get lots of great ideas and a lot of times I can find inspiration to try my hand at something new. However, I don't have the time to go shopping at boutiques or even boutique malls. And there are those boutiques that seem to have the "same ol', same ol'" too, so I leave with tired feet and wasted time. With Etsy I just type in what I am looking for and voila!

This week I am going to highlight some of my favorite finds on Etsy. Today I simply typed "Bookmark" in the Etsy search bar. My search produced over 30,000 results. They have book marks made out of paper, fabric and beads, oh my! So many to choose from that it was hard narrowing it down to some of my faves. Check out these cuties!

Ian's Cafe - has a Wicked Witch Bookmark for $7! Imagine this and a bookstore gift card for the reader on your list. Pretty cool I think!

HammerItOut has some really cool Stainless Steel Bookmarks. I think I like these mostly because they are different. Plus I like the idea of reusing old metal to create something beautiful. These are $5 and are sure one of a kind!

GreenLeaf Pick Company sells this "guitar pick" bookmark for $12. It's a bit more than I'd probably spend for a bookmark, but for the right person I'd consider it. They also do customizing - totally worth checking out.

Dinner Time Chimes makes Butter Knife Book Marks! Okay - you probably think I am obsessed with metal! But seriously. I love these because they are vintage and re-purposed and best of all, only $6!

PitBull Lady Designs has come up with a clever bookmark that keeps your pages from blowing in the wind and also allows you to toss your book in your tote without worrying if your bookmark is going to fall out of place. These are adjustable and sell for $10.

HoneyCase2 - Rain boots?

Okay, I started with feet so I figured I'd end with feet. I am loving these boot book marks. I giggle just looking at them. True, I probably wouldn't ever pay the $25 they are asking for, but I do think they are clever and whimsical. Definitely my favorite bookmark find of the day!