Sneak a peek in the Bash Bag for the 2017 Jingle Bash

We want to thank all the generous contributors who provided these items. The 2017 Etsy Dallas Jingle Bash will be at Eddie Deen's Ranch 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, November 11, 2017. We’ll see y’all at the Bash!

You can browse all the Bash Bag artists for more of their handmade work...

A Cheery Blossom

Ahava Home

April Hiler Designs

Blue Flame Studios

Busy Little Bug

Byndr Leather Goods

Catching Summer

Chachke Designs

ChetArt

Color Box Design & Letterpress

Covert Metals

CultGrrrl Creations

Dandelion Leather Co.

Door Decor by Nadine

Earrings by Eryn

Emily Jungmeyer Photography

Expressions Bracelets

Ginably

Hanging by Threads

HiRuna Island Soaps

Inviting: Letterpress Boutique

Land of the Thread

Lemon Glaze

Old New Middle

Onderkast Studio

Pretty Normal Media

Rainy Day Illustrations

Sasha’s Hand Poured / The Immaculate Beard

Shadowbox Inspirations by Dilania

Spako Clay

Spark of Change

Surly Bunny

The Pig and the Peacock

Valerie Morgan Designs

Wandering Paper Co.

Whipped Up Wonderful

Whispers in the Glen

We just wanted to drop in with a quick sneak peek at some of the fabulous and wonderful swag in our coveted Bash Bags. The first 50 adult shoppers at the 2017 Etsy Dallas Jingle Bash get the bags. And this is just some of what the lucky early birds will find inside...

Etsy, Inc. sponsors 2017 Etsy Dallas Jingle Bash

We are honored and thrilled to have Etsy, Inc. as our official sponsor for the Jingle Bash. As you can probably guess, we are huge fans of Etsy around here. Etsy was founded in 2005 and now boasts buyers and sellers from nearly every country in the world.

Etsy is the global marketplace for unique and creative goods. Etsy’s mission is to Keep Commerce Human. You can read more about the positive impact Etsy has on people and the planet.

As Etsy’s website reads: People make Etsy possible. We provide a meaningful space for sellers to turn their creative passions into opportunity. We enable buyers to discover unique items made with care. And we treat our employees and our community with respect. We’re here because the world needs less of the same and more of the special.

We couldn’t agree more and we are so excited to have Etsy’s support of our Bash. The Jingle Bash provides savvy shoppers with the opportunity to shop the best handmade artists from near and far.

The 2017 Etsy Dallas Jingle Bash will be at Eddie Deen's Ranch 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, November 11, 2017. See y'all at the Bash!  

Shop+Interview with Inviting Letterpress Boutique

Ashley is the stationery addict and press-woman behind Inviting Letterpress Boutique and Trent is the professional designer. They run Inviting from their south Austin home studio and they are bringing their passion for fine paper, great design and vintage charm to the Jingle Bash.

Ashley and Trent know prepping or a show is a lot of work. Ashley says the best part is the extra studio time. “Never a bad thing,” Ashley said.

“It’s always great to be around those who ‘get’ you,” Ashley said. “The Jingle Bash is also very well organized and promoted. Participating in a show where the organizers put in as much time and effort as the vendors do is special.” Don’t mind us. We’ll just be over here blushing.

Ashley and Trent believe authenticity is important. And it shows in their unique and beautiful work. Their studio includes more than 130 metal fonts. Each of their pieces is printed on their vintage printing press, Vera. You may remember Inviting from previous Bashes.

They are bringing back favorites including their You Suck at Parking cards as well as new stationery and greeting cards. “We have three to four collections per year so there is always something new,” Ashley said. “I’ll be accepting orders for personalized stationery sets that utilize our collection of metal type, curated and priced for the Jingle Bash. They’ll be completed and ready to ship at the end of November or early December – in time for holiday gifting!”

Stop by and say hello to Ashley and Trent at the 2017 Etsy Dallas Jingle Bash where you can shop the best handmade artists from near and far. We will be at Eddie Deen's Ranch 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, November 11, 2017. See y'all at the Bash! 

Shop+Interview with Sarah Manning Paintings

The Jingle Bash is almost here, y'all. This show features the best handmade artists from near and far. Sarah Manning - of Sarah Manning Paintings - will be there with her rich and vibrant abstract paintings. 

She has been busy prepping for the Bash. "I really enjoyed painting the super small canvases," she said. "Especially the ones for holiday ornaments." We can't wait to see them in person! 

Sarah uses a masking technique with acrylic paint and mixed media to create her pieces. The result is layers of rich color which illustrate her state of mind during the creation of each work. Her passion has played an essential role in her development as an artist and a professional. "After years of not picking up a paintbrush, I slowly began to make it more of a daily routine," she said. "And now it is essential to my sanity and creative wholeness." 

She has been a graphic designer for more than 15 years but painting has remained her passion. Her mother, an art teacher, introduced Sarah to painting early on. "I had a paintbrush in my hand since I can remember," Sarah said. Over time, painting became her creative outlet and served as a conduit to self-discovery. She uses painting to find clarity. 

Stop by and say hello to Sarah at the 2017 Etsy Dallas Jingle Bash where you can shop the best handmade artists from near and far. We will be at Eddie Deen's Ranch 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, November 11, 2017. See y'all at the Bash! 

Shop+Interview with A Cheery Blossom

Leather journals are Stephanie's passion. Each of her journals and leather products is handmade with the finest craftsmanship and highest quality materials. We are excited to see A Cheery Blossom's new pocket journals and refillable journals at the show. 

Stephanie and her team are sticklers for details and only use the highest quality leather and other supplies. She loves coming up with new ways to display her items and meeting her customers in person. 

"Our headphone cord wraps have always been a hit," Stephanie said. "So we've added a larger cord wrap for computer chargers." We love the richness and details in her pieces and we can't wait to shop her booth in person at the Jingle Bash. "This show allows me to connect with individuals who are often searching for that special and meaningful gift for someone else," she said. "And I love to hear their stories." 

We love Stephanie's cheery personality. And we are big fans of her work. She even offers personalization. "Come connect with me at the Jingle Bash," she said. "And share in my leather passion for a few minutes!" 

Stop by and say hello to Stephanie at the 2017 Etsy Dallas Jingle Bash where you can shop the best handmade artists from near and far. We will be at Eddie Deen's Ranch 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, November 11, 2017. See y'all at the Bash!

Shop+Artist spotlight with Cayenne Gypsy

We are excited to see the beautiful wood-turned pieces from Dallas-based Cayenne Gypsy at the Jingle Bash. The hand-turned bowls are so unique. We love how the creative process brings out all the richness and details in the wood.

Cayenne Gypsy pieces are perfect for fall and winter décor. They add a warmth, Bohemian style and earthy vibes, which we love. Ashley's vases made from combinations such as oak, walnut and cherry woods are conversation starters, to be sure, and would make a lovely addition to your centerpiece or mantle.

Ashley is regularly working on and updating her products. We are excited to see what she has for you at the Bash! The natural edges around some of the pieces really add to the one-of-a-kind beauty of some of her bowls. Those are some of her favorites and we can see why. Other pieces feature freehand wood burning designs around the outside. 

Stop by and say hello to Ashley at the 2017 Etsy Dallas Jingle Bash where you can shop the best handmade artists from near and far. We will be at Eddie Deen's Ranch 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, November 11, 2017. See y'all at the Bash!

Halloween Playlist

Only one week until Halloween, folks, better liven up your playlist! We chose a few creepy favorites to share that may not feel as played out as MJ's "Thriller."  Click here to listen on Spotify. Enjoy!

1. Tarantula - Bob Schneider

2.  Wolves Without Teeth - Of Monsters and Men​

3. Zombie - The Cranberries​

4.  Every Breath You Take​ - The Police

5.  Time Warp - The Rocky Horror Picture Show​

6.  Someone's Watching Me - Rockwell​

7.  This is Halloween - The Nightmare Before Christmas​

8.  Tainted Love - Soft Cell​

9.  ​Seven Devils - Florence + The Machine

10. I Want Candy - Bow Wow Wow​

11. Season of the Witch - Donovan​

12. The Reaper - Blue Oÿster Cult​

13. I Put A Spell On You - Annie Lennox​

Shop+Artist interview with Lavender+Mint

We are so excited to see the Lavender+Mint booth at the Jingle Bash. Bree and Carlos create beautiful farmhouse tables, handcrafted by their family for your family. Bree grew up in a home with a farmhouse table. "They bring back those childhood memories that only equaled happiness," Bree said.

Bree's mother grew lavender and mint, which inspired the shop name. She would send Bree to gather some for tea every night before dinner. "To this day, when I smell lavender or see mint, I have this warm feeling and a sense of peace that comes over me," Bree said. 

This will be Lavender+Mint's first Jingle Bash. They are introducing Lavender+Mint's new round farmhouse table, a kids line (with wood, colors and style selected by their adorable 6-year-old twin boys), and the Giving Table Project. For every table a sold, Lavender+Mint will give a table to a family in need. "This is a project that is very dear to us," Bree said. "Because we believe every family should have the opportunity to share meals, memories and moments around their very own handcrafted farmhouse table." 

"Growing up my parents always had dinner parties, brunches and other social gatherings," Bree said. She grew up helping prep stuffed mushrooms for appetizers and rolling lemons to soften them for sweet tea. "Fabulous food and entertainment fueled me," she said. "So here we are building the tables for ones to enjoy and entertain on." 

Stop by and say hello to Bree at the 2017 Etsy Dallas Jingle Bash where you can shop the best handmade artists from near and far. We will be at Eddie Deen's Ranch 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, November 11, 2017. See y'all at the Bash!

Shop+Artist Interview with Salt Water Swim

Ann and her sister started Salt Water Swim five years ago. They are inspired by the beauty of the world around them. Their hometown is Honolulu but they have traveled and lived all over and Ann said they wanted to share their love of Hawaii with the world. 

"Our favorite place to be is on the beach," Ann said. "We love this so much that we wanted to have this be a part of our name. Salt Water Swim is a culture of living simply and beautifully with the inspiration of the ocean." 

A typical work day for the pair begins with checking their weekly to-do list. "It is a quick realistic punch list of what we need to get done," Ann said. "Then we bring out all our gems, pearls and metal and play around with ideas and trends. There are only two of us so we have to wear many hats and multitask all duties."

The Etsy Dallas Jingle Bash will be Salt Water Swim's first time as a vendor at the Bash. "We are so excited to launch our new collaborations," Ann said. "We have created one-of-a-kind ceramic ring holders, door tassels and beach bags." The shop will also launch a new holiday collection of their jewelry with more statement pieces for special occasions. 

Ann said she and her sister love merchandising their jewelry boards. "We want our customers to be inspired when they see our collection and to get excited to find their own style within ours," Ann said. 

Stop by and say hello to the Salt Water Swim team at the 2017 Etsy Dallas Jingle Bash where you can shop the best handmade artists from near and far. We will be at Eddie Deen's Ranch 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, November 11, 2017. See y'all at the Bash!

DIY Halloween Costume - Monarch Butterfly

It is October! If you are the crafty type like me, it officially means you have been scrolling Pinterest for costume inspiration. Well, I have some happy news for you. Etsy Dallas is pulling their creativity together to share a homemade Halloween costume with you every week this month!

To begin, I’m sharing this show stopping Monarch Butterfly! This was my daughter’s costume last year, and you would not believe how many compliments and responses we had walking down the sidewalk. Some people even crossed the road to get a closer peek. She loved every second of it, and just beamed from door to door.

Now, I won’t lie to you and tell you this was fast and easy. It took some time to create, but the end result was so worth it and the supply cost was modest. If you have a Silhouette Cameo, these cut files (orange and white) will speed things up. If you don’t, print this file twice, and stick each to the backs of your scrapbook paper to cut out the shapes by hand. Our butterfly was about 2’ tall and just under 3’ wide.

Here is what you need: 

Silhouette Cameo 

or Scissors and Patience

4 Sheets Orange Glitter Scrapbook Paper - 12x12

2 Sheets White Glitter Scrapbook Paper - Letter Sized

A Pencil

Glue

Black Foam Core Board

4 Black Elastic Headbands

And, this Reference Photo

Here is how you do it: 

Use Silhouette Studio to cut out the wing shapes. There is a glitter paper setting, but you may have to play with your settings to get it right depending on the brand and weight of your paper. In the file, I have included the upper wing shapes and lower wing shapes. Cut two of the upper wing shapes. Then move the lower wing shapes to the cutting area, and cut two of those. After those have finished cutting, open the dots file, and cut two using the white glitter paper. 

It is a good idea to keep the shapes separated because they add up very quickly. So, use piles or baggies and label them to keep things organized. Once you have separated your shapes, use the reference butterfly to jigsaw the shapes together on top of the foam board like this.

Once you have everything spaced properly, glue the orange pieces down, and lay out the white pieces. This part is a bit tricky, but even if they aren’t an exact mirror, they look real.

Glue those down as well, then use your pencil and reference photo to draw the outline of the butterfly around the pieces. Remember to leave an inch+ border, and add the wavy details! (My pencil outline is a little hard to see in the photo, look towards the bottom left.)

Cut the butterfly outline from the foam board. I had best results with a serrated knife. Follow the steps on the other side with the remaining glitter paper.

Poke two holes in the center top and bottom for the straps. Inserting the knife or scissors and twisting is a good way to do this. Knot the end of two elastics together then string the loops through the hole to make straps. For stabilization, repeat on the second hole.

Pair the wings with a black outfit and shoes, and use pipe cleaners for antennae. 

We would love to see your Halloween crafting on Instagram, tag us @etsydallas.I hope to see you back next week for another handmade costume!

Shop+Artist interview with Innerglow Art

The shop: Innerglow Art
The artist: Sarah Hickey

The name Innerglow was inspired by one of Sarah’s favorite songs in middle school. She loves the word and what it represents. “To me it means letting your inner light shine. True beauty is on the inside and is then reflected outside by the actions and deeds,” Sarah said. “We all have an ‘innerglow.’ We all have a story to share with the world.”

Innerglow Art will be available at the 2017 Jingle Bash. This is Sarah’s first time as a Jingle Bash artist and we are thrilled to have her share her work with you. “I’m looking forward to meeting new people and just being a part of a show I’ve heard so many good things about from other vendors,” Sarah said. She is bringing some new items to the Bash. “I’m excited to put my art on objects other than canvases,” she said. Be sure to visit her booth to check out the coasters, kitchen items and more.

A typical day for Sarah begins with coffee (us too!), journaling and quiet time. Then she starts work on commissions. She spends her days painting, dropping off paintings, picking up frames and getting more supplies. You can keep up with her on Instagram @innerglowart for more behind-the-scenes looks. “I love the excitement of creating new things,” she said. “And getting my friends and followers excited about what to look forward to.”

Sarah says she loves color, exploring new techniques, and painting with purpose. She has always enjoyed art but didn’t really pursue it until after college. “One day, I started painting abstract paintings on large canvases and got so much positive feedback from friends and family I started painting more. Before I knew it, I was painting part-time while working my home health speech therapy job,” she said. Now Innerglow is her full-time job. She said it has been fun getting to create her own schedule.

She donates a portion of her earnings every quarter to a non-profit in the Philippines. “I think what people value most in their life will be reflected in their actions day to day. A good priorities check every now and then is good for the soul,” Sarah said. “At the end of the day, ask yourself, did I live my day to its fullest? What would I have wanted to spend more time doing if I could?”

Stop by and say hello to Sarah at the 2017 Etsy Dallas Jingle Bash where you can shop the best handmade artists from near and far. We will be at Eddie Deen's Ranch 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, November 11, 2017. See y'all at the Bash!

Shop+Artist interview with Mod + Jo

The shop: Mod + Jo
The artist: Jordan Flynn

When Jordan created Mod + Jo, she wanted to provide unique and affordable accessories that women could buy for themselves and the other women in their lives. “I wanted to fill the gap between inexpensive mass-produced accessories we find at fast fashion shops and high-end designer accessories that make your wallet cringe,” Jordan said. 

Jordan has always been drawn to vintage or “mod” color combinations and modern style with a blend of what is current. That is part of what inspired her shop name. She incorporated that inspiration with "Jo," her childhood nickname. Her typical workday begins with coffee and emails. After taking care of the administrative end of things, she begins working on orders.

“I majored in merchandising at North Texas with a minor in business,” Jordan said. “I also worked at a high-end lifestyle store in Dallas. Having the hands-on experience working with a buyer and artisan pieces really helped push me into the direction of wanting to build something for myself.”

She grew Mod + Jo into what it is now while living abroad for a few years while her husband was on assignment for work. “I had the time to sit back and rebrand,” she said. “Without having the experience overseas through living and traveling, I don’t think Mod + Jo would be what it is today.” 

A big fan of the Etsy Dallas Jingle Bash, this will be Jordan’s first time as a vendor at the show. “I’m excited to meet our customers in person, help them style our pieces, and make new relationships,” she said. “I have always been a spectator and shopper at the Bash. It will be exciting now to be on the other side.” Mod + Jo will be introducing some new pieces during the Jingle Bash in addition to offering special discounts for shoppers. 

Stop by and say hello to Jordan at the 2017 Etsy Dallas Jingle Bash where you can shop the best handmade artists from near and far. We will be at Eddie Deen's Ranch 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, November 11, 2017. See y'all at the Bash!

Etsy Dallas Craft Party hosted by Mudhen Meat and Greens

We hope you can make it over to Mudhen Meat and Greens from 2 - 4:30 p.m. this Saturday, Sept. 9. The annual Etsy Dallas Craft Party features pendants, pompom keychains and leather earrings this year. It's going to be a fun afternoon. And it's free! Let us know you are coming on the Etsy Dallas Craft Party Facebook Event Page. See you this weekend!

Don't miss these Labor Day sales from a few of our Etsy Dallas shops

Don't miss out on these Labor Day deals from some of our favorite Etsy Dallas shops. Here's wishing you all a fun and safe long weekend.

Expressions Bracelets - 20% off all hand-stamped jewelry. No coupon needed. 

Custom maps - 20% off. No coupon needed.

Mesa Blue Jewelry - Free shipping on all orders over $75. Code: FREESHIP

The Pig and the Peacock Soaps & More - 20% off. No coupon needed. 

Wandering Paper Co. - 30% off with code LABORDAY

Whipped Up Wonderful Bath Bombs - 20% storewide sale. No coupon needed.

P.S. Our newsletter subscribers got the scoop about these deals first. *hint hint*

DIY sugar skull tutorial

We love this sugar skull DIY from Emily of MushTushy. We are excited to share this with you in time for fall, Halloween and Dia de los Muertos. This tutorial is so fun.

The cool thing about this project is that you can pick anything to paint, whether you want to use a piggy bank, an animal statue or even salt and pepper shakers such as the ones we used here. The options are limitless. For this tutorial, I bought little ceramic salt and pepper shakers from Target for $3 each. The only other supplies you will need are:

- paint pens (my personal favorites are fine point Sharpie oil based ones from Michael's or JoAnn's; be sure to use your coupons too!)
- flat white spray paint primer (my favorite is Rustoleum painters touch 2x cover from Walmart or Home Depot)
- pencil/eraser
- gloss varnish (my favorite is Liquitex gloss medium and varnish from JoAnn's)

I always suggest priming your store-bought statues in order to get the paint to properly adhere. So even if you have a white object, be sure to prime it first, unless it's flat matte white. Be sure to use one thin coat in order to avoid drips, peeling paint and longer dry time. I always try to wait at least a few hours or even overnight before attempting the next steps. 

Once your statue is dry, you can begin drawing your shapes and patterns. The only part I draw on is anything that I want to stay white. For example, for sugar skull patterns with bones, I outline the bones. If you feel more comfortable drawing out your entire design, feel free to do so. But remember the pencil will likely show through your lighter paint colors. Pencil can be erased from the primed surface, so don't be afraid to experiment with designs before using the paint pens.

Look up sugar skull designs, henna patterns, mandala art or any patterns. You can even add words to customize your project. The options for decorating are only limited to your imagination. After I block in the white areas with pencil, I draw my patterns and shapes with the markers. 

Once all your white is outlined and you've filled in the colors, the tedious work begins. Be sure to have a steady hand, and maybe don't attempt this after your 5th coffee of the day. Haha! Use the fine point black Sharpie and start outlining all the shapes with black, and then go back in with the thicker black Sharpie to fill in the remaining background. Once all the black is drawn on, touch up any color areas that have white splotches and then brush on the clear varnish. Don't put it on too thick and don't brush repeatedly in the same areas or color can pull off and the clear may dry a cloudy white.

After it dries, you have your beautiful hand-painted statue ready for display on your mantle, desk, entryway, etc. I hope you have enjoyed this tutorial. Please feel free to follow me on Instagram and share photos of your completed projects! 

Etsy Dallas teams with NorthPark Center for 4th annual Crafts for Crayons event

We are hosting our 4th annual Crafts for Crayons school supply drive and craft event at NorthPark Center from 1-5 p.m. on Saturday, August 26. Find us in the NorthCourt between Nordstrom and Macy's.

We have fun crafts ready for kids and adults. Just stop by with supplies and donations. "School is starting for so many kids but nearly one in three children in Dallas County cannot afford basic school supplies," Etsy Dallas member Jenny Abney Sivie said. "Crafts for Crayons is a fun afternoon of crafting that also raises supplies and donations for kids to have a better start to the school year."

All donations will go to Girls Incorporated of Metropolitan Dallas, a non-profit organization whose mission is to inspire girls to be strong, smart and bold through life-changing programs and experiences that help girls navigate gender, economic and social barriers. Research shows that empowering girls and women yields benefits for entire families and communities, but many girls face gender stereotypes, narrow expectations, and negative media messages. With support from our communities, young girls can learn that they are strong and can achieve whatever they want in life. 

Not sure what to bring? Girls, Inc. is in need of school and art supplies such as paper, crayons, scissors, pencils, pens, glue, markers, and erasers, as well as sports equipment, games, books and more. Everyone is invited to come out, make some crafts and support this supply drive. Every little bit helps!

Product photography for the person wearing all the hats

We asked Alexis, of Whipped Up Wonderful, to share some of her product photography tips with us. Her product photos are always so dreamy and beautiful. Here are her helpful suggestions for photography that will definitely up your Etsy listing and Instagram game!

If you are like me, you not only make your product; you package, label, ship and do all the marketing and photography. I’ve taken a lot of bad photos: I’ve tried an “edgy” crooked look, busy backgrounds and overlooked blurriness. Like anything, I improved with practice, and a little revisiting my photography class book from high school. Of course, I’ll also guess you don’t have a photo studio. The cool thing is all you need is a bright sunny window, and a few props, if any, and of course your camera or smartphone.

The White Background:
For your minimalist needs look no further than Amazon for a pop up studio. These fold away boxes offer a full white background, diffuse the light around the subject and make your handmade items “Amazon” ready.

The Catalog:
When you need a look that is more like a catalog style, or you want to try to sell by hitting an emotional key with your customers, then grab your items and let’s look around the house.

Your bath products might look great beside that lovely tub. Your candles might look great on your coffee table. Open those windows wide and get creative.

Pro Tip : Your house isn’t exactly House Beautiful? Pop over to your local home improvement store to create some unique backdrops using wood or tile. Not super handy? Try scrapbook pages or poster board for smaller items.

You might want to experiment with the lighting at different times of day in your house. Sometimes you might only have a few workable hours.

Invest in a tripod. If you need anything to keep a cohesive style, get a tripod, even if you are using your smartphone. You don’t need to drop a lot of money on it either.

Now for the editing. Very rarely will you take a photo from camera to computer and find it to be listing ready. Your computer might already have some photo editing software. If not, there are quite a few easy editing programs online that are cheap or free.

Pro Tip: Steer clear of filters. While trendy and eye catching, they will distort colors and rely on gimmicks (such as bokeh or color washes) that aren’t catalog caliber.

Focus on brightness, white balance and just a touch of saturation to balance and color correct your photos.

And there you have it! Smartphones and the internet have given us all a little leg up in the photography department. Good luck!

Full Moon Rug IKEA Hack

Hey friends, Katrina from Rhapsody Letterpress here with a project for you sky watchers and DIYers. My family loves astronomy. I shopped for a moon rug before my son was born but never found one quite right, so we decided to stretch our creative muscles and make one ourselves this week. I put together a short video showing how we did it below using a 51" IKEA ÅDUM rug, a bottle of black liquid Rit dye, bleach, a squirt bottle, and a cloth rag.

We are so pumped about the upcoming eclipse on the 21st, my five year old especially. I hope you fellow moon lovers enjoy!​

Creativity Camp: Faux Agate Sun Catcher

I have had so much fun doing projects with my family and sharing with you all Summer! I can't believe we only have two weeks left. This week we made a magical little sun catcher out of glue, food coloring, and glitter. I have to say, the finished product looks much more sophisticated than the $5 I put into this. Chances are, you already have the supplies around your house, too. Gather your school glue (clear for more transparency, but white will work too), food coloring, glitter, wax paper, skewers, small plastic cups, dental floss or thin string, a stick, and twine. Read on for the tutorial!

Lay out your wax paper, and draw the outline of some organic blobs with your glue. 

Sprinkle on your glitter, and move the bits that fell in the center towards the edge. 

Mix some food coloring and glue in your plastic cups. Stir with a skewer. 

Squirt or pour your colored glues inside the blob, alternating colors. You can reuse an old bottle, or an old nose bulb like we did. (Lol) Careful not to fill the center higher than the edge, or the glue will leak over.

Allow your slices to dry 24 hours or more, then slowly peel them from the wax paper.  They will look hard, but still feel flexible.

Lay out your pieces in the way you would like to hang them, and poke holes in the top and bottom as needed.

Cut your floss to the proper lengths leaving enough room to tie onto the stick at the top.

String the floss through the holes being careful to maintain the correct distance as you tie.

Tie the floss to the stick. Knot a piece of twine at both ends of the stick to create a hanger, and find a sunny window to enjoy your colorful creation!

Be sure to tag us on Instagram @etsydallas #EDCreativityCamp if you give this project a try. We would love to see! 

Creativity Camp: Jolly Rancher Lollipops

I have a super easy and fun treat for you all today! This was a five star project as rated by my five year old. There is smashing, and sprinkling, and candy licking! You will need foil, skewers (halved) or lollipop sticks, a stapler, Jolly Ranchers, sprinkles, plastic baggies, and a hammer. Gather your supplies, and read on for the tutorial!

Sort your candies by color/flavor, and preheat your oven to 275°F.

Smash them with a hammer inside a plastic bag. 

Roll out several squares of aluminum foil to make the molds, and line a pan with another sheet of foil.

Fold your foil up by half inches all the way up to make a sturdy, pliable mold.

Staple the ends together, being careful to line up the bottom edge of the foil. 

Round the foil molds and fill them with the smashed candies.  Put them in the oven for 5-7 minutes. Pull them out once all the candy has melted. Add sprinkles if you would like them inside your lollipop.

While the candy is still hot, slip the sticks under the foil and twist it into the candy to coat both sides. 

Once the candy has cooled and hardened, break apart the foil mold where you stapled it and peel it off around the sides of the lollipop. Then peel the foil off the bottom.  If you would like to add sprinkles to the outside, dampen the lollipop with water to make it sticky, add sprinkles, and allow it to dry again.

Gift or enjoy! Get creative, and share with us on Instagram @etsydallas #EDCreativityCamp!