Countdown to Christmas: KCEtsy Team's Great Giveaway! WEEK SEVEN: Win TULIP EARRINGS from Newelry Jewelry!

WEEK SEVEN: Win a beautiful pair of tulip earrings in the winner's choice of pink or blue from Anchalee Srimongkolkul at Newelry Jewelry! See her Etsy shop listing here for the prize description and more photos!

Says Anchalee, "It all started couple of years ago when I tried to fix a broken eyeglass holder myself. One thing lead to another, and I began making jewelry for myself, my friends and my family. I enjoy making it so much, but there are too many pieces to wear myself! So I decided to try selling them on Etsy. Most of my pieces are one of a kind."

Anchalee likes to use real stones, her favorites being tourmaline, turquoise, rose quartz, and rutiliated quartz. "I also like to use natural-colored freshwater pearls. I also found some beautiful high-quality glass beads and handmade lampwork beads from other artisans, and these also inspire me to create my jewelry." Her favorite metals to work with are sterling silver and 14K gold filled. "I explore using other materials such as brass or copper sometimes. All the jewelry in my shop is made as if I were making it for my own. I feel every single piece is special and unique. I hope people who see my jewelry like it too."

TO ENTER THIS CONTEST AND WIN THESE GORGEOUS EARRINGS, simply visit Anchalee's Etsy Shop newelryjewelry.etsy.com and choose your favorite item in the shop, then post a comment about your favorite item here. BE SURE TO INCLUDE contact information (your e-mail) in your post, so we can notify you if you win. For an EXTRA ENTRY, become a follower of this blog, and BE SURE TO POST A SEPARATE COMMENT letting us know you've done so. For yet a THIRD entry, Tweet on Twitter or blog about this contest on your own blog, including a link to this blog, and BE SURE TO POST A SEPARATE COMMENT letting us know. Include in your comment a link to your post! Contest closes at 11:59 p.m. Central Time on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2009. Monday Sept. 28, a winner will be randomly drawn from eligible entrants and notified by e-mail, and the winner's name will also be posted here. Winner has one week to contact Anchalee to claim his/her prize. Contest open to U.S. residents. Keep checking here for our weekly drawings!

And the winner of this drawing is JennTRC! Congratulations!

COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS: KCEtsy Team's Great Giveaway! WEEK 6: WINNER'S CHOICE of ANY BABY SLING from Polkadot Papoose!

WEEK SIX: Win a baby sling of your choice from Tara Harrup at Polkadot Papoose! According to Tara, "Everyone has hobbies, and I’ve had my string — cake making, soapmaking, photography. I may have even tried macrame, though I can’t remember now — but most of these passions cooled. After wearing my infant son in a fabric baby sling four years ago, however, I had that transcendent 'I could really improve this product' moment, and Polkadot Papoose was born."

"My flesh-and-blood inspirations are my boys, Aedan and Silas, who remind me daily of the value of snuggles, but in a more esoteric sense, I draw light from colorful writers and artists such as Frida Kahlo, Maya Angelou, and Isabel Allende, as well as literary characters and even a few well-known creative individuals who camped on the melancholy side of life, such as Sylvia Plath."

"While my favorite sling is the Artemesia, my favorite item currently in my shop are the Diaper Dots. It’s a classically pretty scented sachet that can be stuffed in shoes, purses, diaper bags, or drawers, and it seems to always draw comments. In general, however, I love making anything that brings color and life and contented smiles into the everyday lives of my customers. That, I suspect, is really why all of us crafters are in business."

TO ENTER THIS CONTEST AND WIN YOUR CHOICE OF ANY BABY SLING IN HER SHOP, simply visit Tara's Etsy Shop polkadotpapoose.etsy.com and choose your favorite item in the shop, then post a comment about your favorite item here. BE SURE TO INCLUDE contact information (your e-mail) in your post, so we can notify you if you win. For an EXTRA ENTRY, become a follower of this blog, and BE SURE TO POST A SEPARATE COMMENT letting us know you've done so. For yet a THIRD entry, Tweet on Twitter or blog about this contest on your own blog, including a link to this blog, and BE SURE TO POST A SEPARATE COMMENT letting us know. Contest closes at 11:59 p.m. Central Time on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009. Monday Sept. 21, a winner will be randomly drawn from eligible entrants and notified by e-mail, and the winner's name will also be posted here. Winner has one week to contact Tara to claim his/her prize. Contest open to U.S. residents. Keep checking here for our weekly drawings!

And the winner of this week's drawing is sarsosari! Congratulations!

COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS: KCEtsy Team's Great Giveaway! WEEK 5: WINNER'S CHOICE of ANY ITEM IN SHOP up to $15 from Jewelry by Shirley!

The KC ETSY TEAM is proud and excited to feature COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS - 18 weeks of wonderful blog giveaways from now until December! Don't miss your chance to win some fabulous free goodies from this very talented team!

WEEK FIVE: Win the item of your choice (up to $15) from Shirley Borchardt at Jewelry by Shirley! Shirley started making jewelry about 3 years ago when her mother-in-law bought her a jewelry kit for Christmas. According to Shirley, "The beads themselves inspire me. I look at the materials for a while and an idea just comes to me."

"I don't know that I have a favorite item. I love all of my creations. I often joke with family and friends that I hate to sell my jewelry. I myself am a jewelry lover and collector. I have always found it difficult to find quality jewelry at affordable prices. The jewelry that can be bought cheap is usually mass produced cheaply and breaks easily. My jewelry is quality without the cost."

TO ENTER THIS CONTEST AND WIN YOUR CHOICE OF ANY ITEM IN HER SHOP, simply visit Shirley's Etsy Shop shirleyborchardt.etsy.com and choose your favorite item in the shop, then post a comment about your favorite item here. BE SURE TO INCLUDE contact information (your e-mail) in your post, so we can notify you if you win. For an EXTRA ENTRY, become a follower of this blog, and BE SURE TO POST A SEPARATE COMMENT letting us know you've done so. For yet a THIRD entry, Tweet on Twitter or blog about this contest on your own blog, including a link to this blog, and BE SURE TO POST A SEPARATE COMMENT letting us know. Contest closes at 11:59 p.m. Central Time on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009. Monday Sept. 14, a winner will be randomly drawn from eligible entrants and notified by e-mail, and the winner's name will also be posted here. Winner has one week to contact Shirley to claim his/her prize. Contest open to U.S. residents. Keep checking here for our weekly drawings!

And the winner of this week's drawing is LoveCharlesVintage! Congratulations!

COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS: KCEtsy Team's Great Giveaway! WEEK 4: WINNER'S CHOICE of ANY ITEM IN SHOP from Nonna Illustration & Design!

The KC ETSY TEAM is proud and excited to feature COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS - 18 weeks of wonderful blog giveaways from now until December! Don't miss your chance to win some fabulous free goodies from this very talented team!

WEEK FOUR: Win the item of your choice from Shawna Stobaugh at Nonna Illustration and Design! Shawna has always been an artist, but notes, "I came into my own style just three years ago. I had many people request custom designs and want me to sell them drawings and paintings, so I thought opening a shop was the best way to handle that." Inspired by her own life and the people and animals around her, Shawna's dog, cat, husband and family keep her creative juices flowing. "I have three nephews and two nieces that always spark new and adorable ideas for my illustrations. I try to keep things simple and juvenile. Somethings that will make you smile."

Shawna's favorite item in her shop is the "I Not Fat I Fluffy" poster. "It's been my bestseller and I have even made an alternative color for people to choose from. I made this after someone told me my cat was fat. It made me feel better about the situation. I think what I like making best is something I know a lot of people relate to. I Think the 'I Not Fat I Fluffy' poster really achieved that. I like for not just me to be happy looking at my art, but for others to relate and like it as well."

TO ENTER THIS CONTEST AND WIN YOUR CHOICE OF ANY ITEM IN HER SHOP, simply visit Shawna's Etsy shop shawnanonna.etsy.com and choose your favorite item in the shop, then post a comment about your favorite item here. BE SURE TO INCLUDE contact information (your e-mail) in your post, so we can notify you if you win. For an EXTRA ENTRY, become a follower of this blog, and BE SURE TO POST A SEPARATE COMMENT letting us know you've done so. For yet a THIRD entry, Tweet on Twitter or blog about this contest on your own blog, including a link to this blog, and BE SURE TO POST A SEPARATE COMMENT letting us know. Contest closes at 11:59 p.m. Central Time on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2009. Monday Sept. 7, a winner will be randomly drawn from eligible entrants and notified by e-mail, and the winner's name will also be posted here. Winner has one week to contact Shawna to claim his/her prize. Contest open to U.S. residents. Keep checking here for our weekly drawings!

And the winner of this drawing is goodwitchglinda! Congrats to you!

Turquoise

Turquoise is one of my favorite gemstones, so it's no surprise that these beauties caught my eye this weekend!

1. Bold Chunky Coral & Turquoise Necklace & Earring set, by NewelryJewelry
2. Spiritual Gift Hand Beaded Turquoise Necklace, by HoneyBearBeads
3. Super Chunky Turquoise, Pearl and Sterling Silver Necklace, by Baxter's House
4. Turquoise and Lime Green Howlite Necklace, by The Beaded Lizard

For the Love of Paper

1. Thank You Cards by shawnanonna
2. Set of Photo Cards by SylviaC
3. Printable Stationary Set by StructuralExpression
4. Spring Envelop & Note Card by DumbKidDesigns
5. Pink Flower Note Card Set by BBesigns

COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS: KCEtsy Team's Great Giveaway! WEEK 3: WIN 2 RUBBER STAMPS from Drum Chick Designs!

The KC ETSY TEAM is proud and excited to feature COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS - 18 weeks of wonderful blog giveaways from now until December! Don't miss your chance to win some fabulous free goodies from this very talented team!

WEEK THREE: Win FREE Rubber Stamps from Candice Hill at Drum Chick Designs! The lucky winner will receive one Flip Flops rubber stamp and one Cupcake rubber stamp! Candice has loved art since she was very young. While studying music in college, she needed something relaxing and fun to do, so she started scrapbooking and then making greeting cards. "When I graduated I wanted to try selling my cards online as extra income. I wasn't all that successful with it, but after about 6 months I'd made friends on Etsy and I loved the community so I really didn't want to give up."

She discovered that lots of companies that make craft supplies, like paper companies, stickers, and rubber stamps, are very strict with what you can do with those materials. For instance, a lot of stamp companies do not allow you to use their stamps on your products to sell. "That's when I started to think of the idea to make my own stamps. I got some info online and from the forums on etsy and started carving. It's relatively inexpensive to start up. Since Feb 09 I've been carving stamps and I love it! Even though I've only been carving for a short time, I've been an artist most of my life, starting with drawing and painting classes before I was even in Kindergarten! So I did have to learn the art of carving, but already had a natural ability to work with different mediums and make designs."

"I truly don't have a favorite stamp because it changes all the time. I love the cupcake I'm giving away, and my owl stamp because I think it's so cute! Most of my inspiration comes from everything around me. I can see a cute deer and want to make it my own. Sometimes customers come to me with custom requests and that will inspire me to make variations on their request. I've got a few music theme stamps and those are from my love of music, as I am also a freelance performing musician and I teach lessons."

TO ENTER THIS CONTEST AND WIN these CUTE RUBBER STAMPS, simply visit Candice's Etsy shop drumchick99.etsy.com and choose your favorite item in the shop, then post a comment about your favorite item here. BE SURE TO INCLUDE contact information (your e-mail) in your post, so we can notify you if you win. For an EXTRA ENTRY, become a follower of this blog, and BE SURE TO POST A SEPARATE COMMENT letting us know you've done so. For yet a THIRD entry, Tweet on Twitter or blog about this contest on your own blog, including a link to this blog, and BE SURE TO POST A SEPARATE COMMENT letting us know. Contest closes at 11:59 p.m. Central Time on Sunday, Aug. 30. Monday Aug. 31, a winner will be randomly drawn from eligible entrants and notified by e-mail, and the winner's name will also be posted here. Winner has one week to contact Candice to claim his/her prize. Contest open to U.S. residents. Keep checking here for our weekly drawings!

THE WINNER OF THIS DRAWING IS ROBIN HARTMAN! CONGRATULATIONS!

COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS: KCEtsy Team's Great Giveaway! WEEK 2: WIN FREE LIP BALM from Six Gun Annie!

The KC ETSY TEAM is proud and excited to feature COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS - 18 weeks of wonderful blog giveaways from now until December! Don't miss your chance to win some fabulous free goodies from this very talented team!

WEEK TWO: Win FREE Laura Lips 5g Stick Lip Balm from Anne Esquibel at Six Gun Annie! Anne opened her Etsy shop in July of 2008 and began making lip balms from a kit. Then she began buying supplies herself, searching out organic raw materials. "I loved the idea of making lip balm because you can make your own yummy flavors and it is something every person should have in their pocket or purse." Inspired by nature, blogs, and various websites, her favorite lip balm is Mango Madness. "It's really light and tastes really good. It has a nice fresh fragrance and it reminds me of Hawaii!"

TO ENTER THIS CONTEST AND WIN A FREE LAURA LIPS lip balm, simply visit Anne's Etsy shop sixgunannie.etsy.com and choose your favorite item in the shop, then post a comment about your favorite item here. BE SURE TO INCLUDE contact information (your e-mail) in your post, so we can notify you if you win. Contest closes at 11:59 p.m. Central Time on Sunday, Aug. 23. Monday Aug. 24, a winner will be randomly drawn from eligible entrants and notified by e-mail, and the winner's name will also be posted here. Winner has one week to contact Anne to claim his/her prize. Contest open to U.S. residents. Keep checking here for our weekly drawings!

And the winner of this drawing is Jae! Congratulations to you!