Holiday Savings For Blog Readers & Facebook Fans!

Still searching for that special gift for that special someone? From now through December 20, Handstamped Originals Facebook Fans & Blog Readers can SAVE 20% on any order from HandstampedOriginals on Etsy with Coupon Code: HOHOHO

Just go to http://www.etsy.com/shop/HandstampedOriginals?ref=si_shop and enter the coupon code upon checkout. Happy Shopping!

~Melissa

One of my favorite hassle-free decorating go-tos

Want an easy way to change your decorations for the season/holidays without having to dismantle or replace your decor?

My go-to is....

Wait for it...

Framed.Paper.

That's it, framed paper. Sometimes with a rub-on added, but usually not. Wanna see?

Here are the side-by-side frames in our half-bath (sorry for the picture quality--new camera is on my Christmas list!). I like the two simple frames in our half bath. I don't like the thought of taking them down, hanging something else, creating more holes in the wall/worrying about the existing holes. So, I just swap out the contents & viola, I mean voila.

This year I framed up some simple, graphic Christmas prints--Under the Mistletoe & Oh Christmas Tree.

Inside, they hold a history of seasons. At the back are the "everyday" prints. Then comes Halloween. Then, Fall/Thanksgiving. And, now it's Christmas.

I'm all for simple & hassle-free. Give it a try!

~Melissa

We were featured on BlogHer today!

I'm so excited! Today Handstamped Originals was featured on BlogHer's Holiday Gift Guide, in an article entitled Buying Blogger-Made This Holiday Season. Check it out here:

http://www.blogher.com/buying-blogger-made-holiday-gift-guide

Thanks, Justine, for the great article & for including me! You can check out Justine's blog, A Half-Baked Life, here: http://www.blogher.com/frame.php?url=http://ahalfbakedlife.blogspot.com.

Here's to Family!

Here's mine. Love those guys!

And, here's a new design to celebrate Family. To check out this & more in my Etsy shop, click that Etsy mini link over there on the right.

The love of a family is one of life's greatest blessings. So true! Sometimes it's nice to have a little reminder hanging around. :D

New Holiday Designs + 25% off + FREE Shipping for Cyber Monday!

Here's hoping everyone had a restful Thanksgiving holiday! I found a little time to create some new holiday designs. You can see everything in my Etsy shop @http://www.etsy.com/shop/HandstampedOriginals?ref=si_shop or click that link over there on the right! :D

Our Black Friday-Cyber Monday savings are still on! Save 25% on any order through the end of Cyber Monday (11/28) with code: BLACKFRIDAY & TODAY get FREE shipping on any order through the end of Cyber Monday (11/28) with code: CYBERMONDAY.

Happy Holiday Cyber-Shopping!

~Melissa

Happy Thanksgiving Everybody!

So many blessings on this Thanksgiving--& every day! Here's a piece I made to celebrate two of my blessings--a Family Tree with my kiddos' initials.

In case you're gearing up for the holiday shopping frenzy that is Black Friday through Cyber Monday, let me help you out: Black Friday (11/25) through Cyber Monday (11/28), save 25% on any order from my shop with coupon code: BLACKFRIDAY. Here's the link: http://www.etsy.com/shop/HandstampedOriginals?ref=si_shop.

Now you can just stay in your comfy, warm house & be all ready for the holidays--no setting the alarm to make it out to the early a.m. sales, no lines, no waiting. That's a blessing right there. :D

Happy Thanksgiving Everybody!

New Fun for the Holidays

...and so many more pieces once the resin cures...

It's beginning to look a lot like...

Just finished a couple of winter-themed necklaces. Tonight's plan is to resin-cast several new ones, and maybe some ornaments, as I found some old-timey winter/holiday papers to play with and some lovely copper jingle bells. Stay tuned...

Holiday shopping on the brain? Purchase your gifts now & save 20% on any order now through November 30, with code GIFTS. Then, treat yourself to some hot chocolate...that holiday shopping was brutal! :D

Word up

I find words comforting. I like lists. I like typeface. Like to see it wherever I look. Quotes, signage, what have you. Helps me feel like I have some order to my chaos & all.

I recently made this sign for our kitchen dining area--it's nice to reflect on it while having meals or enjoying coffee. I love when I notice the boys reading it--makes me feel like I'm secretly imparting wisdom. :D

This love of words translates into many of my pieces. Definitions: Love.Them. Here's a new one--to remind us of just how blessed we are.

So, what words speak to you?

Those of you who also appreciate words can get 20% off any order from http://www.etsy.com/shop/HandstampedOriginals--Just enter Coupon Code WORDSMITH, now through November 15.

Word.

Because sometimes you just need something sassy...

You know how sometimes you get up & just barely have time to get dressed because you're getting the kids ready for their day, so you get dressed in your mom duds (read: jeans & T-shirt if Spring/Summer or jeans, a T-shirt & a cardigan if Fall/Winter) & you think, "I need something sassy today."?

Well, here it is--a little ring with a lot of sass. I love these wee flowers--they make me happy & they make a nice ring that just makes me smile when I see it throughout my day. Sometimes it's the littlest things.

What are your "ordinary" day pick-me-ups?

Family Jewels...

So, I made this for my mom--shhhh--she hasn't seen it yet. It has initials & birthstones for my brother & me. I thought about making one to include her grandchildren as well-that would make for 4 initials & 4 birthstones.

I'd like to make one for my mother-in-law, but that would involve 18 (eighteen!) initials & 18 birthstones if I count children & grandchildren. Can the necklace--can her neck--handle it? That is the question. :D

Who doesn't need a little reminder to find their joy?

Life can get so busy. We may find ourselves sometimes thinking, "Wait, where did my joy go...It was right here a minute ago...Have you seen it? Has anyone seen my joy?!"

Oh, there it is. :D

So, what does your joy look like?

Right now, mine is a nice, long weekend, kicked off by Date Night.

Find your joy!

Te quiero dos

Putting Sam (5) to bed & asked him about his new Spanish teacher & his first Spanish class of the year---they just started this week. They learned "me llamo..." (my name is ...). We then went through introductions in Spanish.

I said, "Buenas noches, Sam...that means, 'Good Night, Sam'." Then I said, "Te quiero, Sam...that means, 'I love you, Sam'."

Sam: "How do you say 'I love you too'?"
"Me: "Te quiero tambien."
Sam: "No, mom...how do you say the number 2."
Me: "Dos."
Sam: "Te quiero dos, Mom".

:D

Love.That.Boy.

Come on in--We're Open!

See more of my designs at: http://www.etsy.com/shop/HandstampedOriginals?ref=si_shop

Thanks!
-Melissa

Girly Gifts/Party Favors

I just finished resin-casting this super-cute personalized initial pendant finished with a sassy, sparkly pink ribbon & a sweet pink crystal. What do you think? I know a few young ladies who would enjoy these as birthday gifts--& some who would like a bunch for their girly-birthday-party favors to give to guests! Perfect for the tween scene!

How it all began...

I wanted an affordable handstamped necklace with my boys' names and birthstones--so I made this. Then I thought, maybe other people just want the same thing. I'm a stay-at-home mom & for the first time ever, I now have half-days free to work. I decided to put this time to use creating handstamped originals. Being able to craft pieces for others fills my creative needs & feeds my spirit.

What will you create today?

Almost ready to go live...

Working on the new etsy shop. Almost ready to go live to the world.

Check it out: http://www.etsy.com/shop/HandstampedOriginals?ref=si_shop

Back soon.