Saturday Craft Site - CraftPOP

CraftPOP is a craft directory with the option to rate the listed craft sites. You can also add links, so if your craft website is not on there, you might want to go add it!

Mandie

Saturday Craft Site - Instructables

Instructables are tutorials added to the site by users and will show you how to make just about anything. You can save your favourite crafts and create your own instructable for anything from drawing a cat to baking chocolate cake. Here are some instructables I like:

Harry Potter magic wand made from paper, glue and paint.

A picnic blanket with a lit perspex center to act as a little table.

A lamp made from paper.

Feel free to post a link to your favourite instructables in the comments!

Mandie

Saturday Craft Site - Craftster

I know, I know, I'm Captain Obvious, but let's just get the easy ones out of the way before we start looking at more obscure craft sites. Craftster is another community crafting website that will make your bookmarks folder cry. Here you can share your own crafts, find inspiration, follow a tutorial or ask questions about crafting techniques.

Pictured: Monokuro Boo, Cupcake Bath Bombs, Peruvian Thread Earrings, Knitted Mouse.

Also, for inspiration, just look at this "cute as a button" bag!

Gorgeous!

Mandie

HeartandSoilBaskets on Etsy

I found these handmade baskets by HeartandSoilBaskets. Here is a sweet little one for a flower girl to carry at a wedding:


And a beautiful vegetable basket:


It looks even better filled with incredibly good-looking veggies.

I saw this quote on Twitter, posted by StickFigureMan: "Container Store Syndrome: The conviction that if you just buy enough plastic file boxes, your life will become organized." Yes I suffer from this, and while my plastic containers are very adequate, I say baskets are prettier.

Mandie

HeartHomes on Etsy

When I was much younger, I had a ceramic tile ornament depicting something pretty. I can't for the life of me remember what it was, but when I saw this tile, it reminded me of my own little tile. It's by HeartHomes aka Beth S. Macre:

It stirs up only good memories, so I am happy to include it in our finds. That tree looks so familiar...

These next "heart homes" really stole my heart. Love the colour, love the hearts, the doors, the chimneys, why am I even sharing this? I want them!


They're made of clay, are kiln-fired and painted. Beth has a few other items in her shop and I for one will definitely be checking in to see what she's up to.

Mandie

Accessorius on Etsy

When Daneel saw Accessorius' Medusa necklace, he looked dubious. He thinks it's a bit much. I think it's great! Also, it's from Finland, so it's a practical winter accessory. He walks around in short-sleeved t-shirts for most of the year, what does he know?


Daneel also thinks this next piece "looks like a net", to which I replied "Yes. With algae." Which is what the artist intended, as per her description: "Underwater life inspires this unusual necklace. Black cord holds a net in blue, green and purplish shades suggesting algae." I really like the colours.


Here is a playful take on what we stare at unwittingly for most of the day, either on tv or monitors. The RGB bracelet:


She has 22 unique items for sale, and is featuring a three-part series, which I have mentioned here, the MEDUSA, NATURA and RGB ranges. Very interesting (and pretty) pieces.

Mandie

Studiopetite on Etsy

Studiopetite. Her moons are made of cheese. That's awesome. Original mixed media on paper:


According to her profile, she is a self-taught artist living in New York. Her prints and greeting cards are created from original art made by her. This is a print from an original watercolour, signed on the back:


Her whimsical pieces motivated me to overlook my own starkly modern tastes and to add a little bit of fanciful fun to the blog. Here is one of her greetings cards:


I like her style.

Mandie

Juliejongleuse on Etsy

I am very excited about this next find, discovered through Twitter. Juliejongleuse makes the most original and striking jewellery. Just look at this asymmetrical necklace:


Everything in her shop has a very unique style to it. Here are a few simple pieces:



And a few more elaborate pieces:


This talented artist is from Montreal, Canada and she will do custom orders for you. During the month of May only, you will get one free item from her store with your purchase (see her shop announcement for details). And just because it's too pretty not to include, some earrings she made:


Love it!

Mandie

Ifthebowfits on Etsy

I seem to be in a very girly mood today, because everything that appeals to me right now is cute. Like these clippies by ifthebowfits:




These clips are for children, handmade by ifthebowfits, from felt, ribbon and clips, in a smoke free environment. Items ship from Bethlehem, Georgia, US. Go order some, because they're cute!

Mandie

Kokonille on Etsy

Kokonille creates very professional looking craft items. While browsing her store and considering whether to share it on the blog, I saw this cosmetic case, which convinced me that her shop was worth promoting:


This is what it looks like when opened:


How cute is that? I just love the colour. It fastens with matching red velcro, which is why I described her products as "professional looking". Clearly she has an eye for detail. She also makes keychains, like this one:


Not to mention her adorable little handbags!


I've picked several red items from her store, but she has 28 items in a variety of colours for sale. Check out her store for a cuteness overload from Germany.

Mandie

Pinecabincrafts on Etsy

Pinecabincrafts creates items for babies and toddlers. This cute little sweater for a 3 month old caught my eye:

Here is a brown and pink striped one that I also liked:


Pinecabincrafts designed the above patterns herself. She crafts her items in a smoke free, pet free environment. Here is a baby blanket she crocheted:

Gorgeous! She gives the measurements for her wearable items, so you shouldn't have trouble with the fit if you buy a little sweater for a child. Pinecabincrafts' Etsy shop, too cute!

Mandie

Mops66 on Etsy

Mops66 has an adorable Etsy shop where she sells "Mini-Mops" - miniature food jewellery. She accepts custom orders as well, for those who don't fancy a slice of mini-pizza around their necks. Here is one of her creations, a scrumptious looking donut:


Mops66 is located in Paris, which immediately makes her more charming, as I'm studying French at university. According to her profile, she is an interior designer who got the idea for her Mini-Mops from her teenagers, who are obviously brilliant. Just look at this macaron!

I know, these deceptive clay goodies are pure evil. If I ever got my hands on this next one, I admit I would be guilty of licking polymer clay. Just to check. Because it looks so good:


That's her clay version of a French "religieuse", click here for a real version.

I enjoyed browsing and drooling at her creations. Go check out the rest of the goodies in her Etsy shop.

Mandie

It's like the Treasury, without the waiting period.

When Daneel and I opened our Etsy shop during a holiday, we thought we would be able to craft and upload a new item every week. At least. Turns out university students are required to actually *do stuff* like assignments and essays, so creating new craft items moved down a couple of spaces on our list of to-do's.

Yet one has to generate traffic and so I have been Twittering and logging into Etsy daily. Lacking new craft items of our own to refer others to, I have been linking to Etsy products that I found through the Pounce feature, to give other new Etsians some exposure. Then it dawned on me that I could combine my Etsy finds with a blog, leading to more exposure for everyone. So this is it, a showcase of Etsy finds that we think are worth a look.

Enjoy, point, laugh, comment, maybe buy something.

Mandie