Shop Small: Gift Ideas (7)

  Since the holidays will be here before you know it, I thought I would share some cute gift ideas.

Instead of shopping online at places like Amazon, why not shop local?

If you have awesome local businesses, grab items from their stores of gift cards.

If you're shopping for people outside our area, why not get something super cute on Etsy?

I'm going to highlight a new suggestion each week. 

And if you want to support me (Thank you!), I do have a small Etsy shop.

And if you like something, but aren't purchasing it at this time, give the shop a like or the item a like! (This makes the seller very happy!)

So I want to acknowledge that this is a internet friend of mine. I think we've met a few times in person, briefly. But she's gotten me into different craft supplies.

Andi is a card maker and her cards are amazing! I'm having a hard time picking a favorite to showcase.

But since I'm a fan of gingerbread:

She has bookish cards, holiday cards, donut cards...

Check out her shop: CardsbyAndreaS

You also might know Andi from her blog: Andi's ABCs

In my Shop

I have some new items up in the shop:

Graduation Card

Baby Shower Card

Fun Bookish Card

And my favorite to make, chunky bar soap

In My Shop

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, I have some new Valentine Cards and jewelry for your sweetheart or your Galentine. 

Here's just a small sample:

Typewriter Card:

Pizza Card:

Textured Jewelry:

Card Crafting with Andi

Knowing we are both card makers Jennifer came to me with an idea about us spotlighting each other of our prospective blogs. I don't know why I didn't think of it because it is a fabulous idea. I'm just happy she did. For those that don't know me, I'm Andi from Andi's ABCs. About 2 years ago I really got into planning and paper crafts. Like most crafty things it spiraled into another crafty thing and I found myself making cards and fell in love. I 100% found my craft and I'm so happy about it.

When I first started making cards I had paper crafting supplies and not card making supplies. I made due with what I had and created cards with patterned paper, chipboard stickers, washi tape, and alphabet stickers. As I realized how much I loved card making I started to grow my card making supplies and because of that my card making style has changed.

These three cards are some of my favorites I have made with my new style. I started to have a lot of fun with stamps and inks and dire cuts. I stopped using purchased patterned paper and started to make my own with stamps. And I started to use stronger, sturdier card bases. And because I was happy with where I was going with my cards, I opened up my Etsy shop, Cards by Andrea S.. Currently, I have a variety of cards (birthday, just because, baby) available for purchase.

Holiday cards like these will be coming to the shop soon so make sure you check back in November. If my card making style interests you please check out Cards by Andrea S. on Etsy. I'm giving readers of Jennifer's blog a code to save 10%. Use the code YABOOKNERD10 at check out to receive your discount. And make sure you check out Jennifer's post today on Andi's ABCs!

Crafting: New Cards

Over the past couple weeks, I've been looking at some crafty items. I finally bought a new tool. It came on Friday. Yesterday I started making cards. I made a birthday card for my OTSPSecretSister because her birthday is this month. I made a thank you card for the rock star author who skyped with us last week. I made a card for my secret sister from the last round. Plus I made a few that I thought looked sweet.

I'm adding something to this one, I'm just not sure yet. But I love the jar!

As you can see, I bought some coffee/tea stamps. I also purchased some Valentine stamps, which I can't wait to use for next year's cards. 

I'm still experimenting. I've seen some videos about layering that I want to try. I might have to buy some more ink pads and some shimmering powder. I might have to buy some more clear stamps (I have a bunch in mind). But it's just another level to my card making.

What do you think?