FREE Giveaway at Kristina-Nicole's Blog!

Kristina-Nicole is giving away $50 worth of scrapbooking supplies! There are many ways to enter, not to mention that today is her birthday!! Stop by and show her some love! Check out her post below to find out all the details...

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Monday, April 26, 2010

{Give-Away} Come Celebrate National Scrapbooking Day!!

Saturday, May 1st, 2010 is National Scrapbooking Day in the U.S. And I know many of you are preparing your Crop N' Styles, travel paper trimmers and "pages I've got to get done" for this weekend! Some of you may be going to a retreat, a day crop, taking a class at a local scrapbook store, or just setting aside "me time" away from the fam.

Either way, you'll be using a LOT of materials this weekend. So instead of having a give-away before National Scrapbook Day, we're hosting one ON NATIONAL SCRAPBOOKING DAY!!!

Yippie!!!!

"So.... what am I getting?," you might be asking....

Well here we go:

We're giving away $50.00 of scrapbooking supplies from the Kristina-Nicole studio!  Yep, $50 bucks worth of scrap supplies - enough to replenish part your stash or to even add to it!! If you're not a scrapper, you can always use these supplies toward your very own Etsy shop creations, start a scrapbook, or hey - you could find a scrapbooker & they'll probably barter with you for the supplies!! :)

"So..... what does $50.00 of scrapbooking supplies from the Kristina-Nicole studio include....?," you might say....

It will include supplies from the following vendors:















And may include things like buttons, rhinestones, ribbon, 3D glitter letters.... and much, much MORE!!!!





{How to Enter to Win}


1. MANDATORY ENTRY:  Follow Kristina-Nicole's blog { yep that's right, just following us here} AND leave a comment below about what you would do with the supplies if you won!


2. For one additional entry: Join Kristina-Nicole's email list. {click here to visit her site and sign up! It's a cinch & will only take you 3.5 seconds to do!!}


3. For one additional entry: Become a fan of {or like} Kristina-Nicole on Facebook. {Leave a comment there so we can give you credit!!}


4. For one additional entry:  Post/write about this give-away on your facebook profile(s), including a link to this blog post. {Send us an email with your page(s) so we can give you credit for each one!!}


5. For one additional entry: You can tweet about this give-away, including a link to this blog post. {Send us an email with your twitter address so we can give you credit!!} 






Good luck out there!! 


The lucky winner will be announced Saturday May 1st!  


xo,


Kristina-Nicole

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Stop by Kristina-Nicole's blog to read the original post and remember to tell her Happy Birthday!

xoxo
-Nicole

Mother's Day Sale!

...teal flower ring...

From now until Mother's Day, Passion and Paisley is offering FREE shipping on all jewelry and hair accessories in the boutique! If you still need to get something for your mom stop by and browse around. Handmade products make unique and thoughtful gifts. Show your mom how much you care this Mother's Day. Send me an email {passionandpaisley@gmail.com} if you are interested in a custom order!

...dragonfly patina earrings...

 Do you know of other Mother's Day sales?? If you have a shop, or know of another sale...leave a comment and share with us!

Why Buy Handmade?

...poster by slidesideways on Etsy...

Before Earth Month ends, I'd like to share with you one of the funnest and easiest things you can do to promote sustainability and "go green". Buy handmade!! I told you this would be fun and easy! I was unaware of all the benefits of buying handmade until I read an article about Etsy in Natural Health magazine last October. I went to Etsy's site and browsed through winter gloves for hours. (The poster above was my first Etsy purchase.) As my journey with Etsy has continued over the last six months, my eyes have been opened wide to all the benefits of buying handmade...

1. Handmade Products Are Unique: In this age of cookie cutter houses and mass production, we could all use a little individuality. When you buy handmade goods you buy one-of-a-kind. Even for the few artists who are able to easily re-create their products, you can bet they are still pretty rare! I guarantee you'll hear less "I have the same one!"
2. Handmade Products Make Better Gifts: Because of their uniqueness, handmade products make amazing gifts. Handmade gifts are more meaningful, and most likely have a great story attached to it. The love and care that was put into making the product is passed onto the recipient of your gift. 
3. Buying Handmade Battles Big Business: When you buy handmade products, you're putting money into the hands of the artist and keeping it out of the pocket of "the man". (He doesn't need another Ferrari anyways!) Artists work hard for what they create, and the best way to support them is to buy from them directly. 
4. Buying Handmade is Eco-friendly: Mass production may have a cheaper price tag now, but you and the environment pay a large price in the end. By purchasing handmade products you avoid pollution from factories and reduce waste. Handmade artists often up-cycle and are very conscious about the environment.
5. Handmade Products are Good for Human Society: Most of the products we buy in stores are made overseas under inhumane working conditions. While none of us are intentionally trying to hurt another human, we are indirectly supporting child-labor and other horrible practices when we buy mass produced products. Aside from this huge factor in human rights, the handmade community also re-connects people. There's something to be said about knowing exactly who made the item you purchase. Handmade products promote creativity in our society! 

Now that you're well informed and pumped up about buying handmade, it's time to take the handmade pledge. I did! Check out this video of others who have vowed to buy handmade.

Take the official pledge!

Buy Handmade Video from Etsy on Vimeo.

Remember to recycle, re-use and up-cycle whenever possible! This article was in no way intended to promote consumerism or encourage you to buy. However, when you must buy...consider the benefits of buying handmade. Why do you buy handmade?? Leave me a comment and let me know!

xoxo
-Nicole

Mums For Mother's Day

One of Etsy's great features is the "Treasury" where you can assemble your favorite items from Etsy shops and create a collection of sorts. This week I created a treasury called For My Dearest Mum, which is full of great Mother's Day gifts all involving Mums. Check it out and browse around!

...This treasury expires on Friday, April 23rd at 1:30am, but I have included links to all items that will remain active...

...row 1 - left to right...

1.  Tall Curvy Cup with Coral Mum  by  yogagoat
2. Doll Face no.3 (mixed media asemblage)  by  sushipot
3. Spider Mum Eco-T  by  Ahpeele

...row 2 - left to right...

• Mum Tote with Linen Straps  by  yourktownroad
• Coral Mum Ring  by  PassionandPaisley
• White Mum Obi Pillow  by  dgsHome

...row 3 - left to right...

• Pink Spider Mum Pens  by  bananatreeart
• Zacatecas Coin Purse  by  blueraisin
• Big Chrysanthemum Flower Wall Decal  by  mstdesign

...row 4 - left to right...

• Paper Flower Kit  by  paperplatypus
• Portable Foldable Purse Hook  by  MaJentaDesigns
• Switchplate (Dancing Mums)  by  funkychickendesign

If you're on Etsy, be sure to add these wonderful shops to your favorites. Thanks for stopping by! Leave me a comment if you have a suggestion for the theme of my next treasury, or if you have an item you would like to be featured in it!

xoxo

-Nicole

A Blog is Born!

Passion and Paisley has been going through some BIG changes! I get bored easily. So six months after opening my shop on Etsy, I decided it was time for a whole new look. I didn't dislike the old look (a peacock feather design in teal and bright green) however, it was not an original design and didn't have much personal connection for me. I wanted to incorporate some paisley designs into the shop banner and create a unique look that better represented my own style. Simple, natural, and quirky! After downloading 41 new fonts and discovering a new obsession with Photoshop brushes, I finally came up with the new look. I hope you love it as much as I do!

That's not the only big change! Passion and Paisley will soon be venturing out into other areas of design besides jewelry. (Did I mention I get bored easily?) I've got coasters made out of up-cycled wine corks and decorative flowers made out of copper electrical wire just waiting to be formally photographed and listed in the shop. I've already bought a really flirty apron pattern...the sewing machine is coming next week! To sum it all up, I've deemed Passion and Paisley a "handmade boutique"; a tiny shop full of exquisite things, from accessories to home decor. Of course, everything is handmade with passion. ♥

...wine corks...

In case you haven't already noticed, one of Passion and Paisley's biggest changes is the creation of this blog! I hope to fill this blog with useful information about the world of handmade goods, DIY projects, free giveaways, updates from Passion and Paisley, and anything related to creativity and design! Comment below and leave me some feedback! What do you think of the new look? What would you like to see on Passion and Paisley's new blog? Any suggestions for a Blogger newbie??

xoxo
-Nicole