IssueGirl

Two More Cards Added Today!

2009-07-10T11:04:00.001-07:00

Larger than the everyday note card. These measure 5"x6.5". Black cardstock with matching envelope. Perfect for silver or metallic gel pens! $2.50 each with FREE SHIIPING!

All New Note Card Sets

2009-07-06T08:39:00.001-07:00

The new note card sets are up in the shop!

Base is 20# cardstock. Blank inside. Each set has 4 cards.

Head over to IssueGirl now! More designs added this week!
$7.00 with FREE SHIPPING!

Happy Birthday America!

2009-07-04T09:06:00.000-07:00

IssueGirl wishes you and yours a very happy and safe 4th of July!

Freebie Friday!

2009-06-26T08:49:00.000-07:00

In the spirit of July 4th, ACG is giving away their patriotic pinwheel template. You can find it here. Happy 4th of July everyone!

Yart Sale @ StrangeCandy

2009-06-23T09:09:00.000-07:00

Kinda like a yard sale, kinda like an art sale. It's a Yart Sale!

StrangeCandy is offering a stock up & save deal on their Fridge Flair Magnets. Head over to the shop to check out the deals. But don't wait too long, the sale ends July 10th!

Freebie Friday!

2009-06-19T08:58:00.000-07:00

I Heart Handmade Summer is giving away TONS of freebies this week! Head over there for your chance to score some serious goods.

I.Cannot.Wait.

2009-05-30T09:41:00.000-07:00

Watch the trailer on YouTube.

Happy Birthday to Me!

2009-05-16T09:14:00.000-07:00

Thanks Mom!

Maymester is here!

2009-05-11T09:21:00.000-07:00

And for those of you who have never heard of Maymester, it is an intensive 3 week mini-semester. I'll be taking 2 classes (French & Spanish) for 3 hours (each class) every day, for 3 weeks. I must be crazy!

Officially Finished...

2009-05-05T09:19:00.000-07:00

...until, that is, next week when Maymester Classes start.

Etsy Day 2009!

2009-04-23T10:45:00.000-07:00

Help us celebrate Etsy Day 2009!

All day Friday, April 24th StrangeCandy is hosting a BOGO sale.

For any necklace purchase, you will receive a free pair of earrings!

(Your choice of earrings. Purchase necklace and earrings and I will send you an updated invoice.) Simply enter 'Etsy Day 2009' in message to seller. It's that easy!

It's our way of saying here's to homamade!

Freebie Friday!

2009-04-10T04:53:00.001-07:00

American Craft Guide is hosting their Freebie Friday!

Up for grabs this week is a set of four store sale banners for your Etsy or Artfire shop.

Click here for more details.

Freebie Friday!

2009-03-27T05:09:00.000-07:00

This week ACG is offering up some botanical inchie goodness! It comes in PDF format (just click the pic!) You will need the free Adobe Reader to view this file. If you don’t already have it, download it here.

Blogging Basics

2009-03-23T05:18:00.000-07:00

Want to change your blog to a three-column? Follow this super easy tutorial by Jim!

Fingerprint Mini Mosaic

2009-03-20T05:02:00.000-07:00

I ran across this tutorial on ACG the other day and I thought it would be an awesome thing to make for Mother's Day/Father's Day. Obviously instead of 'Hand Print' you could add your child's name. Make it into a card, frame it, the possibilites are endless. Thanks to The Scrabble Gal and ACG for this great share!

Introducing Strange Candy

2009-03-17T14:06:00.000-07:00

SA*LE

2009-03-03T13:01:00.001-08:00

Rocker Glam Series On Sale!!!

March Blog Giveaway

2009-03-02T05:50:00.000-08:00

Congrats to Shanda for winning the St. Patty's Day Fridge Flair Set!

Yay!

March Blog Giveaway!

2009-02-12T07:40:00.000-08:00

It's that time again Lads & Lasses!

The March blog giveaway is here!

Up for grabs is a set of 4 St. Patty's Day Fridge Flair magnets. Glittery shamrocks are nested in a bottle cap and encased in crystal clear resin. A strong little magnet on the back allows you to stick them on pretty much anything made of metal.

In order to enter, simply head over to my shop, pick out something you like and leave a comment about it back here, along with a valid email.

This giveaway will run from today, February 12th through March 1st. Winner will be announced on March 2nd.

To earn extra entries you can:

blog about this giveaway
follow this blog
add me to your blog roll/blog reads list.

If you choose to do any of these, leave another comment saying you did so. I will check! Simply do one, get an extra entry. Do two and get two extra entries and so on...

Contest Rules:
1. No purchase is necessary to win.
2. Contest is open only to legal residents of the United States ages 18 or older who currently reside within the United States. Contest is void where prohibited by law.
3. Entry must be received from an ip address within the United States, and prize can only be shipped to addresses within the United States.
4. Entries are limited to one per person* (see extra entries)
5. To enter, leave a comment on this blog entry describing your favorite item from IssueGirl's online store, located at http://www.issuegirl.etsy.com/.
6. Winner will be required to affirm that he/she agrees to and has complied with all rules of the contest, and meets all contest eligibility requirements.
7. There is one prize. The prize is a set of four St. Patty's Day shamrock Fridge Flair. Total value $4.50.
8. Ineligible entries may be deleted at any time without notice.
9. The odds of winning depend on the number of entries received.
10. The name of the winner will be added to this post after the completion of the contest.
11. Winner will be notified by email and will be posted on this blog. Entrants must provide a valid email address at time of entry. If no valid email address is given, or if winner fails to respond to email within 3 days from the time notification email has been sent, the win will be null and void and a new winner will be chosen.
12. The contest begins on 02/12/09. All entries must be received by midnight EST on 03/01/09. The winner will be selected on or about 03/02/09.

Ice Ice Baby

2009-02-09T06:19:00.000-08:00

I figured I'd post some photos of the ice storm that came through a few weeks ago. We lost power for a few days but had a generator to help keep us warm. Monday night was mainly ice and Tuesday night we had more ice and snow. Whoever owned the house before us had planted a million (ok, not really a million, but a LOT) of pine trees. The ice had caked the pine needles so much that they weighed the branches down and they began to snap off and fall all around the house. The first set of photos are from Tuesday morning.

These are the photos from Wednesday morning.

The Newest Additions... All 10 of Them!

2009-02-04T11:13:00.000-08:00

BrownDog (Yes, we're STILL calling her that. I refuse to call her Stinky!) gave birth to 10 healthy pups last week. Not only that, but it happened outside during the ice storm! We have a dried up creek bed on the back side of the property and she found a huge hollowed out tree and made a nice little nest for herself.

I've counted 3 times and keep coming up with different numbers but it appears that we have 8 males and 2 females. 2 blacks, 3 fawns and 5 chocolates. We're trying to find happy homes for them so if you're in the area (NW TN) drop me a line! They'll be ready in about 6-8 weeks. :)

The Long Overdue Update...

2009-01-15T16:38:00.000-08:00

Well first let me start off by saying I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season. I ended up working a double on Christmas, until 10pm on New Year's Eve and back in at 7am on New Year's Day. Mom and Bill got me a Wii and I've been spending way too many hours playing Animal Crossing. Didn't get the Cricut like I wanted but Mom reminded me that my birthday is right around the corner.

The Spring semester started on Monday and I've been trying to accustom myself to getting back into the swing of things seeing as I've been out of school for twelve years. Here I go giving away my age! I'm taking Math, English, two Psychology classes and Spanish. Yo estoy muy desconcertado.

I've started a new shop called Strange Candy. I want to keep IssueGirl more cards and jewelry and throw all of my other little creations into the other. I have a lot of funky items I need to upload but my homework load has prevented me from doing so. Here are a few samples of what will be up for grabs on Etsy.

Michael's is getting some amazing card stock in. I drove up to Paducah last week and found a Poppy themed pack that I picked up. I've made the cards but again, no time to take photos. I'm not working on Sunday so hopefully I'll be able to get it done then.

Valentine's and St. Patty's is right around the corner so keep you eyes out for themed items. Currently I have two Valentine photo frames and a cute little scrapbook. Wednesday night I made a St. Patty's Day shamrock photo frame and a lot of jewelry. They'll all be posted soon. I promise.

Swap-bot is growing on me and I've been signing up for swaps left and right. I even created a cozy mittens/gloves swap today. With the temperatures in the negatives and single digits I figured it would be a great idea. Here's a list of the swaps I'm currently signed up for.

Mixed CD Swap

100 Things I Love - 100 Things I Hate

Gigantic Survey - All About You

Business Card Swap

One Pair of Socks Swap

10 Surprise Items

09/09/09 Postcard Swap

I feel like I'm leaving something out and I probably am. Of course! The January Giveaway! This month, the giveaway will be for a set of 2 Valentines Fridge Flair magnets! I will make this a new post with all of the details.

I hope everyone is doing well and finds lots of new stuff to check out!

January Giveaway: You Vote!

2008-12-16T08:18:00.000-08:00

I've been going through my goodies and couldn't decide on what to use for the giveawaw in January so I figure'd I'd make a poll and let you guys decide on what you want to see up for grabs! Use the poll box on the top right side bar to cast your vote. Whatever item has the most votes will be up for grabs. I'll be listing the item on here as well as the Etsy Giveaways Blog. VOTE!

Gift Packs Are Here!

2008-12-12T12:08:00.000-08:00

The sun came out today for about 15 minutes and I was finally able to take photos of these. These gift packs include a handmade card with a matching silver tin, perfect for small gifts! The cards measure 4" x 5.5" and come in a clear cello envelope for protection. The tins measure 2" across and 1" high. I intentionally left the cards blank on the inside so you can use them for any occasion! They should be up in my shop by this afternoon sometime :D

Twenty-Second & Main

2008-12-11T13:08:00.000-08:00

Twenty-Second & Main is another one of my etsy shops, solely dedicated to vintage finds. I had some old jewelry kicking around and figured, why not? I currently have only 3 pieces listed by I plan to add more once the holidays are over and some of the craziness stops. Check out the blog here.

Seriously.

2008-12-06T17:23:00.000-08:00

For all you Grey's fans.

Seriously in red. Blank on the inside.

Only at IssueGirl.

Ho Ho Ho

2008-12-04T14:20:00.001-08:00

Ho Ho Ho!

After an 11 item sale last night I had to make some more holiday cards!
All new, just posted this morning!

Swap-bot

2008-12-02T09:32:00.000-08:00

Do you like sending and receiving snail mail? Do you like writing letters, making crafts, or putting together fun packages? You should try swapping! Swap-bot is a online service that organizes group swaps and a community of creative individuals. Swap-bot takes the hassle out of participating in group swaps by organizing all of the participant information and doing all of the partner assignments. On Swap-bot, you can host swaps, join swaps, and chat with other swappers from all over the world. Give it a try!

I've signed up for 5 swaps already.

6 piece summer themed scrapbooking items

Paper Snowflake Swap

Handmade Holiday Gift Tag Swap

One Pair of Socks Swap

09.09.09 Postcard Swap

Yay Swaps!

World AIDS Day

2008-12-01T08:55:00.000-08:00

Today, December 1st marks World AIDS Day 2008.

Every time you buy a special handcrafted (Starbucks)Red drink at Starbucks, they'll donate 5 cents to the Global Fund to help save lives in Africa. They've teamed up with (Product)Red in the fight against AIDS. The tasty drinks include Peppermint Mocha Twist, Gingersnap Latte and Espresso Truffle. This offer runs from November 27th through January 2nd so head over to Starbucks today and help save a life.

'Tis better to give and recieve.

I Did It Again...

2008-11-28T09:24:00.000-08:00

The allure of Apple Mint soap couldn't keep me away any longer. I purchased another bar of soap from Katie at MyBirch. I started using the Apple Mint sample she sent over. It has a great lather and leaves my hands super soft afterwards. Yay!

Black Friday Is Upon Us

2008-11-28T07:54:00.000-08:00

IssueGirl will be having the following sales today in honor of Black Friday:

*Notes Cards*

Buy 3, Get 1 Free

*Jewelry*

Buy 1, Get 1 Half Off

*Box Sets*

$4.00 per set

*Shipping*

Free Shipping On $20 or More

Use the code BLACK FRIDAY in note to seller.

Please wait for an updated invoice.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-27T05:45:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving, the only day of the year I like to start off with my hand up a turkey's butt.

IssueGirl and family wishes you and yours a very happy and safe Thanksgiving.

Early Christmas

2008-11-26T08:46:00.000-08:00

I got my custom stamp from Sweet Paperie today. It was sitting there waiting for me in the mail box when I got home from work. The very first thing I did was grab some scissors and started tearing away at the tape. Inside was a white craft box with a lovely blue ribbon and topped off with a Sweet Paperie sticker. The stamp itself was wrapped in matching blue tissue paper. I ran to the studio to hunt down a black ink pad (which I couldn't find) so I settled on lavender. I pressed the stamp down a few times and applied to the back of an envelope (it was the closest thing to me and I didn't think the dog would like it much if I used her back to test it out). Viola! Perfection! Thank you Sweet Paperie. I love it!

I Heart Handmade: Holiday

2008-11-21T15:16:00.000-08:00

The I Heart Handmade Holiday show is going on today through December 20th. Head on over to check out the great crafters, including IssueGirl!

That's NURSE Betty to you!

2008-11-19T14:17:00.001-08:00

It's been a few days since my last post and I sincerely appologize. I just started my new job at the hospital and in celebration, I figured I'd share some of my favorite medical themed items on etsy.

More Crafters Being Added!

2008-11-16T08:40:00.000-08:00

More crafters have signed up for the Twenty Under $20 Holiday Gift Guide. As of this morning I have 7 spots left. If you're interested in contributing, you can read more about it here.

Blue Sky Pottery

Creative Borders

Savor

Tanner Glass

Contest: Win a Set of 3 Handmade Floral Boxes

2008-11-14T10:32:00.000-08:00

These babies aren't even in my shop yet!

Win this set of 3 Black & White Floral Boxes. Each one is hand cut and constructed from 80lb. cardstock in various floral patterns and comes with pastel tissue paper inside. Perfect for jewelry or other small trinkets.

The boxes are in three sizes.

White (middle) 4.5" x 4.5" x 1"

Black (top left) 4.5" x 3.5" x 1"

Black (top right) 3.5" x 3.5" x 0.75"

In order to enter, simply head over to my shop, pick out something you like and leave a comment about it back here, along with a valid email.

This giveaway will run from today, November 14th through November 31st. Winner will be announced on December 1st.

Contest Rules:

1. No purchase is necessary to win.

2. Contest is open only to legal residents of the United States ages 18 or older who currently reside within the United States. Contest is void where prohibited by law.

3. Entry must be received from an ip address within the United States, and prize can only be shipped to addresses within the United States.

4. Entries are limited to one per person.

5. To enter, leave a comment on this blog entry describing your favorite item from IssueGirl's online store, located at http://www.issuegirl.etsy.com/.

6. Winner will be required to affirm that he/she agrees to and has complied with all rules of the contest, and meets all contest eligibility requirements.

7. There is one prize. The prize is a set of three floral print handmade paper boxes. The approximate retail value of the prize is $6.50.

8. Ineligible entries may be deleted at any time without notice.

9. The odds of winning depend on the number of entries received.

10. The name of the winner will be added to this post after the completion of the contest.

11. Winner will be notified by email only. Entrants must provide a valid email address at time of entry. If no valid email address is given, or if winner fails to respond to email within 3 days from the time notification email has been sent, the win will be null and void and a new winner will be chosen.

12. The contest begins on 11/14/08. All entries must be received by midnight EST on 11/31/08. The winner will be selected on or about 12/01/08.17.

The Cat's Pajamas!

2008-11-14T09:06:00.000-08:00

How did I not know of this before today? Why did no one inform me?

Have you too been left out in the dark?

Click the banner!

You know you wanna.

Drum roll please...

2008-11-14T08:23:00.000-08:00

The winners of the Cosmos Earrings giveaway are:

Gracefulhosting

Robyn

Maggie Sue Designs

Winners, please send your address and color choice (green or purple) to

issue.girl@gmail.com

Congrats!

Twenty Under $20 Holiday Gift Guide

2008-11-13T06:05:00.000-08:00

So far the following crafters have signed up for my Twenty Under $20 Holiday Gift Blog.

If this sounds like something you're interested in (ITS FREE!) let me know.

To learn more about the gift guide, go here.

Cheers!

Artful Artsy Amy

CBT's Closet

The Damnation Army Store

KMC Designs

LoveMeKnot Creations

Pamela Michelle

Paper Girl Productions

Starry Designs

Undies

Back In Black

2008-11-11T10:07:00.000-08:00

I likey.
Trunkt's Back In Black Showcase.

Featured:

House of Six Cats, aykaayka, Redhed Photo, Jewels Curnow, Honeybee*Hill

Blissful, Cyberoptix TieLab, Life Modern, Red Ruby Rose, Simone Walsh Jewelry

Art of Madelaine, goshdarnknit press, alamode, Paloma's Nest, Will Michael

Twenty Under $20 Holiday Gift Guide

2008-11-09T08:39:00.000-08:00

In the spirit of things, IssueGirl will be getting together a little guide of Twenty Under $20. It will be featured on the left sidebar at www.i-wish-i-may.blogspot.com from November 23 - December 6. If you are interested in submitting, please shoot me an email at issue.girl@gmail with the subject Twenty.

Win These Cosmos Earrings!

2008-11-07T06:09:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving is getting closer and in the spirit of giving, Issue Girl is giving away two pairs of Cosmos earrings. They are made out of spiraled wire cages with lever-back hooks and each has a faceted glass bead inside. You can choose from Green Jade or Light Purple Jade. In order to enter, simply leave a comment. Two winners will be chosen next Friday, November 14th.

IssueGirl will be having a drawing to win free stuff each week throughout November so don't forget to bookmark us and keep checking!

Last Day To Sign Up!

2008-11-07T02:12:00.000-08:00

Join American Craft Guide for their I Heart Handmade: Holiday Show.

If you're interested in signing up for a virtual booth take a look at the Exhibitor Tool Kit. You can reserve your booth here. The cost is only $10 and will bring a lot of new traffic to your site. The holiday show runs November 21st through December 20th, a perfect time for you to showcase your goods for the Holiday sales.

IssueGirl will be there along with other fabulous artists and crafters!

New Color Kits

2008-11-06T06:41:00.001-08:00

Currently available in the following colors: Purple Rain, Green With Envy (Sold), Scarlet, Cool Water, Fools Gold, Victoria, Soleil, Blush and Midnight. I'll be going through my inventory and adding more soon! Check them out here.

New Designs!

2008-11-05T07:41:00.000-08:00

I made these on Sunday while watching The Order of The Phoenix. I was thinking about seeing if any of the local shops in town would be interested in carrying a line of cards. I almost like these too much to sell!

'Change Has Come To America'

2008-11-05T06:20:00.001-08:00

And it's about time.

You can watch President-Elect Barack Obama's acceptance speech here, or read it here.

2008-11-04T09:15:00.000-08:00

Honestly, I don't care what side youre on.

Just get out there and VOTE!

All New Holiday Cards at IssueGirl!

2008-11-01T18:40:00.000-07:00

I just added them today!

Halloween Sale at IssueGirl!

2008-10-31T09:54:00.000-07:00

In the spirit of things, IssueGirl will be having a one day only sppoky Halloween sale!

Buy 3 note cards, Get one FREE!

FREE shipping on orders of $20 or more!

Head over to IssueGirl now!

Happy Halloween Everyone!!!

FYI

2008-10-29T09:53:00.000-07:00

I want a heating pad that doesn't have Cool, Warm, Hot settings. I want one that has Hot, Scalding, Molten. So if anyone knows where I can get one, please let me know.

Rocker Glam!

2008-10-28T07:24:00.000-07:00

Last week I was cleaning out some of my bins and I found the wing charms I purchased months ago. Initially I wasn't quite sure what I was going to do with them but I liked them so I bought them anyways.

I made a three charm necklace for myself last month and I've gotten a lot of complements on it so I decided to take the wing charms and do the same.

All four of the necklaces are made with silver diamond cut ball chains. Here's the breakdown of the charms:

Rocker Glam I: Silver wing charm, grey iridescent fleur de lis, pink Swarovski crystal drop

Rocker Glam II: Silver wing charm, grey iridescent lion, black faceted glass bead

Rocker Glam III: Silver wing charm, grey iridescent crest, flat grey bead with clear Swarovski crystalsRocker Glam IV: Silver wing charm, grey iridescent altered fleur de lis, mother of pearl donut bead

They all retail for $18 and you can find them here.

Sunday Morning

2008-10-26T09:13:00.000-07:00

We all took a ride down to Reelfoot Lake this morning to let the dogs run off some excess energy. I dare say they had a great time. I probably took about a hundred photos while we were there. I keep meaning to open a Flickr account but until then I'll satisfy you with these.

Twilight Inspired Items

2008-10-17T08:58:00.000-07:00

For those of you who have read the Twilight series, youre gonna go one of two ways: hate it or love it. I happen to have developed an unhealthy addiction to them. It's prompted me to create these Twilight inspired items. Yes, I'm jumping on the bandwagon. Introducing the Edward Note Card and Bella Note Card, only at IssueGirl.

Baby, It's Cold Outside!

2008-10-13T11:48:00.000-07:00

Ok, so it is like, 80-something degrees out. A girl can wish, can't she? I figured I'd jump the gun and get started on Christmas items, then it dawned on me that it's only 2 months away so I'd better get started in a hurry. Currently, I have note cards and tags up on IssueGirl. Keep an eye out though, Ill be adding a lot more in the next coming weeks. You can find holiday themed items in The Holidays section.

New at IssueGirl

2008-10-10T11:27:00.000-07:00

I've been a busy little bee lately. Here's the recently listed goodies.

The Retro Sticker Pack

300+ stickers!

2 complete alphabets, phrases & tags

$5.00

The Retro Pack

20 sheets of patterned paper & tags

$6.25

Prep Tags

Set of 16 Lily Pulitzer-esque Tags

$3.50

Fiesta Birthday Rounded Tags

Set of 8. Coordinating colors on back.

$2.00

I Got Accepted!!!

2008-10-07T06:44:00.000-07:00

I received my acceptance letter in the mail today for the Spring 2009 Semester. Woo!

Michael Buble at Mohegan Sun

2008-10-05T07:12:00.000-07:00

Michael will be back to the US to perform at Mohegan Sun on Tuesday, December 2nd and Wednesday, December 3rd. Tickets are on sale now at Ticketmaster.

I Wish I May...

2008-09-29T15:07:00.001-07:00

My personal wish list.

Like I need any more crap!

Best.Commercial.Ever. Seriously.

2008-09-25T19:30:00.000-07:00

Autumn Is...

2008-09-24T09:35:00.001-07:00

Cold crisp mornings. Apple crumble drizzled with caramel sauce. Warm sweaters and mittens.

Knee socks. Candy corn. Black cats. Fleece blankets. Trick-or-treat. Pumpkin pie.

Painted gourds. Pine cones. A steaming mud of spiced apple cider. Hay rides. Acorn squash. Jumping through piles of leaves. Hand made scarves. Craft shows. Baskets of Mums.

Color Kits by IssueGirl

2008-09-22T14:31:00.002-07:00

Here's the latest addition to IssueGirl. Color Kits are essentially 40mL glass vials filled with a variety of beads, findings, clasps and whatnot. Each one has a specific color theme. In them you may find lampwork, seed beads, millefiori, glass rondelles, Swarovski crystals, charms, findings and a number of other unique items. So far I've listed two on etsy: Turquoise Dreams and Pretty In Pink. I had planned on putting the whole lot up but my laptop keeps timing out when I try to upload the photos. Not sure if it's an issue on my end or etsy's.

Rock Out With Etsy!

2008-09-21T11:07:00.001-07:00

I just posted this about an hour ago on etsy. It's my OOAK DIY Rock Star Scrapbook Kit.

This scrapbook is made from five brown paper lunch bags, which gives you extra big pockets for additional photos or momentos. It has rock star themed cardstock and is finished with black, sage and brown polka-dot ribbon. It comes with 3 large pieces of cardstock to put your photos on as well as tags and stickers.

I also make custom paper bag scrapbooks in any theme you can think of. Just ask!

Friends, Cookie Lee. Cookie Lee, Friends.

2008-09-21T10:56:00.000-07:00

We'll now that you have met, let me explain a little about Cookie Lee...

Driven by a desire to have a business that would allow her to be at home with her children, Cookie Lee began selling jewelry to family and friends in 1985. As her business grew, Cookie recognized that selling jewelry could empower other women to build a business of their own. As a result, Cookie Lee became a direct sales company offered to the public in 1992.

Now, more than 15 years later, Cookie Lee has become known for offering the latest in affordable, high-quality fashion accessories! Inspired by contemporary designs and classic jewelry basics, Cookie Lee jewelry is delivered directly to customers through home shows, office shows, fundraisers and personal shopping through an ever-growing base of independent Consultants.

Whether you’re shopping for your own personal jewelry pleasure, want to earn free jewelry at a home show, or see the opportunity to start your own business in a field you love, Cookie Lee offers something for everyone! If you are interested in seeing what Cookie Lee has to offer, head over to my webpage. If you have any questions, feel free to drop me a line at jen_latini@yahoo.com. Also, please keep checking in. I will be having a monthly drawing for a free piece of jewelry and I will also be having a HUGE Holiday sale!

The Confessions of a Bad Blogger

2008-09-21T10:39:00.000-07:00

So let me start off by saying, I am a bad blogger. It's been 4 months. As in 120 days since my last post. And a lot has happened. I'll give you the breakdown...

June: Found a fabulous job at MHM Correctional Facilities (Hi Girls!) and I also took the plunge and signed up for Cookie Lee. You can check out my site here. But I'll get into that later.

July: Not too much happened. I applied at BCC for the fall semester and got accepted. Signed up for A&P on Sundays. SUNDAYS people! What was I thinking?!

August: August was a busy month for me. I was doing very well with Cookie Lee. Julie hosted a party for me while Mom was up visiting and I was getting a ton of outside orders. Then something unexpected happened. I'm not gonna get into details but let's just say I couldn't afford an apartment in MA by myself (and I refuse to have a room mate... I don't do well with other people apparently) I decided to relocate to Tennessee. 20 long hours in a moving truck with two cats, two half empty fish tanks and a tote full of live rock and water which I had to spray down every few hours or so. Fun.

September: I've been putting my applications in everywhere but the market down here really stinks, so no job as of yet. I took a campus tour of the University of Tennessee at Martin and applied for the Spring '09 semester. They have a four-year baccalaureate program for nursing so that's what I'll be going for. I've starting posting stuff back on etsy. Currently I have note cards and one of my fab paper bag scrapbooks.

So yeah. That's it in a nutshell. And if anyone knows where I can get a job around here, drop me a line!

Another Year Under The Belt...

2008-05-13T05:47:00.001-07:00

Friday is almost here and I'll be another year older. Where has all the time gone? And why am I so busy?

Mandapants' birthday is Thursday and we're going to Providence for the day. Friday I have my Psych final and I'd like to swing into the shop at some point and get some fresh ink. I also need to make some rockstar cupcakes for the party. And that brings us to Saturday....

The Hooligans 2008 Birthday Bash

BBC - Cedarville

8pm - til we close the place down

No cover

Party with the Hooligans and Rock Out with Flydown!

All the cool kids will be there!

Check out the wishlist!

The Weekly Update

2008-05-02T16:46:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday we took the peanuts to the zoo. I couldn't have asked for better weather. If anyone is planning on going, the elephant enclosure is closed and they are now housed inside with the giraffes. We almost missed them.

Somehow we managed to get front row tickets to Eddie Izzard. Like touching-the-stage-I'm-five-feet-from-him-and-can-see-that-hes-wearing-grey-eyeliner. Fantabulous show. I would even pay the $200 to see him that close again. And when you order tix for the Orpheum, don't believe what the floor chart tells you. We thought we were getting front row orchestra and ended up in the back row for half the show. I'm sure Eddie managed to offend someone... that's how we ended up heading up front. This guy came over and gave us the tickets and asked us if we wanted to sit up front. For all of you out there contemplating going or not, GO. I didn't laugh as much as Dress To Kill, but that's my all time favorite. He wasn't in drag which was a nice change. He looks good in jeans and a tee.

I'm all moved in with the exception of 3 totes back in Onset. I rented a Uhaul yesterday. I really do hate moving. So much in fact, I'm gonna stop talking about it.

Cinco de Mayo Nachos

2008-04-28T12:10:00.001-07:00

Cinco de Mayo is right around the corner and its a perfect time to break out my nacho recipe. The original recipe calls for thinly sliced white onion for the top, but I like it without. I also add black olives and extra sour cream.

1 pound Mexican chorizo, removed from casings and crumbled
1 tablespoon chopped garlic
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
2 cups cooked pinto beans
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
large, restaurant style corn tortilla chips
1 1/2 cups grated pepper jack
1 1/2 cups grated sharp cheddar
1 cup sour cream
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
Chopped fresh cilantro leaves, for garnish

In a large skillet, cook the chorizo, garlic, and cumin, stirring, over medium-high heat until the sausage is browned and the fat is rendered, about 5 minutes. Remove and drain on paper towels. To the fat in the pan, add the pinto beans, chili powder, salt, and 1 to 1 1/2 cups water (depending on the moisture in the beans). Cook over medium heat until warmed through, smashing with the back of a heavy wooden spoon or potato masher until chunky/smooth. Remove from the heat.

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.

On a large, oval ovenproof platter or in a large baking dish, spread 1 layer of chips. Top with a layer of 1/2 of the beans, then 1/2 of the sausage and cheeses. Repeat with another layer of chips, beans, sausage and cheeses. Bake until the cheeses are melted and the mixture is hot, 5 to 8 minutes. Remove from the oven.

In a small bowl, whisk together the sour cream and lime juice, with a pinch of salt. Drizzle over the nachos, garnish with cilantro, and serve immediately.

Get Lost!

2008-04-24T10:13:00.000-07:00

Can I just be the first to say ' Thank God Lost is back on tonight.'

And Grey's Anatomy too!

Yay

The Weekly News

2008-04-24T09:42:00.000-07:00

ChouChou Moves To The Riv

For those of you out of the loop, I'm moving to Fall River. Same email addy, same cell number. You don't realize how much crap you acquire until you have to start packing. I'm getting rid of a bunch of stuff (72 gallon bow front fish tank anyone?) because I either don't need it, don't want it or don't have a place for it. I was going to have a packing party but the thought of a bunch of drunk people in a cramped apartment with packing tape and fragile items would just be an overall bad idea. I figured I'd talk PsychoBoy into taking off two days to help me pack & go. Wish me luck!

Fatty & Dom Get A Haircut

Last week I took the boys to the groomers to get trimmed. And then to a new apartment. Needless to say, they weren't happy with me. I have a medium sized dog crate that I used to tote them over. Fatty cried the whole way, even when we stopped to see Auntie Banana. And then peed all over the place. So I get there and figured I would just wait and they would groom them right there and then. Not the case. I was told to come back in an hour and a half. I felt bad leaving because they were plastered to the back wall of the crate and had sheer terror across their faces (as much sheer terror as a cat could look like he's having) I came back later to get them and was a little confused. Shouldn't they look like little lions? They didn't get shaved, as I thought they were going to, they just got a little trim. Anywho, this 'trim' appeared to help a lot. They arent shedding nearly what they were before and seeing as it's always 8 million degrees in the apartment, I'm sure it will be easier on them. I'll throw some pics up soon.

Fun Stuff

Steve & Barry's is still having their $8.98 sale. I picked up some more pants for work and a cute little denim skirt. PsychoBoy picked out a pink striped button up for me, which I wore to work Tuesday and recieved a lot of comments on. Check out Bitten! I also found a pair of super comfy black Sketchers at the mall too.

We'll be over at Roger Williams Saturday morning if it's nice. Photos to follow.

Eddie Izzard Is My Homegirl, er... Boy.

2008-04-24T09:37:00.001-07:00

Eddie kicks off his Stripped Tour right here in Boston next week. And who's got tickets? You betcha! Front row. Center. Love it. I'm gonna try to sneak my camera in so I'll have pics posted probably on Friday seeing as I'll be moving all next week. Which brings us to another blog... (see above, silly.)

The Times They Are A Changin'

2008-04-24T09:27:00.000-07:00

What initially started off as a blog about my crafting is now morphing into a blog about my ramblings. Because I'm lazy, and it's easier, I'm now smushing my blog and IssueGirl's blog into one. So to all of my crafty friends out there, I'm sorry but you'll have to sift through all of my personal stuff as well. Hope you guys don't find it too boring!

The Wicked Never Rest...

2008-04-11T04:48:00.000-07:00

I know I've been slacking on posting new stuff. My sincerest apologies. I don't know about you folks, but this week has been totally crazy for me. Not only are we getting busier at work and I'm trying to keep up with studying and writing papers for school, I'm also in the very slow (it seems) process of moving in with my boyfriend who lives about 40 minutes from my house. I haven't crafted in about two weeks! What's a gal to do? *sigh*

I hope everyone has a super weekend! I'll leave you all with some of my favorite things... enjoy!

a la mode: Etsy Pick of The Week

2008-04-04T09:07:00.000-07:00

I gotta confess... I'm a little jealous of Linda at a la mode. She makes unique items like retro switchplate covers and my favorite item, the bitch clutch (see below) I'm also partial to the robot hairpin.

Here's what she had to say about crafting and some words of wisdom...

How long have you been crafting?

Since as far back as I can remember. I’d guess around 4 or 5 (I’m 42 or as my kids say, twenty twenty-two). My mom is very creative, I remember making furniture out of cardboard for my Barbies. When I was in elementary school, I designed funky tops for myself as well as bags.

What’s your favorite thing to create?

It changes every day. That is why I have an eclectic Etsy shop. I do really like making my handbags. I enjoy thinking up new designs and figuring out how to put them together. However, my light switch plates are really what launched my business.

Where do you get your inspiration?

I love architecture, modern design, and popular culture. I read a lot of magazines. I also love finding utilitarian objects and incorporating them into my designs. I’m usually inspired first by an object or shape and then the rest falls into place.

Words of wisdom?

It seems cliché, but love what you do. If you don’t it becomes work. Also, keep your head up. Having other people judge your work is hard. Remind yourself that not everyone will like what you create. It is mostly important that you like what you create.

Pink Chihuahua Art: Etsy Pick of The Week

2008-04-04T08:50:00.000-07:00

This week's featured etsy artist is Kelli with Pink Chihuahua Art. She has fantastic polymer clay animals and mixed media pieces. You can find her on etsy or her own website, Pink Chihuahua Art. We recently asked Kelli some interesting questions and here's what she had to say...

How long have you been crafting?

I have been crafting for about 8 years, but I am just now starting to make it business.

What’s your favorite thing to create?

I love to create with polymer clay, it is so versatile. You can make everything from a small figurine to beads for a necklace.

Where do you find inspiration?

I find my inspiration from my surroundings. Sometimes it's a flower or an animal or sometimes it's a ribbon or bead that I find in a craft store.

Any words of wisdom to pass on?

Be yourself in your art. Art is an expression of you not anyone else.

I Won't Lie. I Can't Hide It.

2008-03-29T06:18:00.000-07:00

The South End Open Market is opening next month and I'm super excited. The crafty people who run SOWA also operate in Providence and at the Mashpee Commons. I've been looking into booth rates and they're really not that bad considering the exposure you'll get. I've never been to any of the open markets and I'd like to get some imput from those of you who have.

Upcoming Shows, Festivals, Fairs & Classes

2008-03-29T06:04:00.000-07:00

Every month, I'll have a list of the current and upcoming shows, fairs, festivals and classes in the Cape Cod area. I'll only be listing one month out, otherwise the list would be 8 pages long! If you'd like to add an event that's not on here, please drop me a line.

April

4-6 Scrapbooking retreat at Agape'

26-28 Brewster in Bloom

May

2-4 Scrapbooking retreat at Agape'

17-18 South End Open Market Opening Weekend 10am-5pm

24-25 10th Annual Vineyard Artisans Memorial Day Fair 10am-5pm

25 South End Open Market 10am-5pm

31 Providence Open Market 12pm-6pm

Travel To The Far East

2008-03-28T08:06:00.001-07:00

Totally different from our Rockstar line, these Far East themed cards make me want to find a quiet corner somewhere and reflect on things. I love the colors and designs. These cards have a white base with matching envelopes. I decided to go with a textured cardstock this time and it finishes the cards off nicely. There are four up for grabs in the store and I plan to add more within the next few days. Keep an eye out for scrap paper packs with this theme as well!

Rockstar Themed Cards at IssueGirl

2008-03-28T07:42:00.000-07:00

I was lucky enough to score the rockstar cardstock at an amazing price so I scooped up as much as I could. At first I wasn't sure what I wanted to create with it and I'll admit, it sat in my tote for about a month or so. Then the card making bug hit me last week and I've been crafting up a storm. I've already sold five of them and as much as I'd like to keep them around because they're so damn cute, they need to go.

All of my Rockstar themed cards have an ivory base with matching envelope. They are sealed in a clear cello envelope for extra protection in shipping or can be kept in to give as a gift. The cardstock is high quality and many of the cards have silver or gold foiled designs on them. I've added glitter to the card you see here (Guitar Rockstar Card) and also to the Smile Gorgeous Rockstar Card to give them that little something extra. My favorite card has to be the Deathly Molecules Rockstar Card. The design is a basic hexane ring but with small silver skulls making the connections. I've been thinking about making it into a t-shirt design for all of us science geeks! You can check out the store here.

IssueGirl

Two More Cards Added Today!

All New Note Card Sets

Happy Birthday America!

Freebie Friday!

Yart Sale @ StrangeCandy

Freebie Friday!

I.Cannot.Wait.

Happy Birthday to Me!

Maymester is here!

Officially Finished...

Etsy Day 2009!

Freebie Friday!

Freebie Friday!

Blogging Basics

Fingerprint Mini Mosaic

Introducing Strange Candy

*S*A*L*E*

March Blog Giveaway

March Blog Giveaway!

Ice Ice Baby

The Newest Additions... All 10 of Them!

The Long Overdue Update...

January Giveaway: You Vote!

Gift Packs Are Here!

Twenty-Second & Main

Seriously.

Ho Ho Ho

Swap-bot

World AIDS Day

I Did It Again...

Black Friday Is Upon Us

Happy Thanksgiving!

Early Christmas

I Heart Handmade: Holiday

That's NURSE Betty to you!

More Crafters Being Added!

Contest: Win a Set of 3 Handmade Floral Boxes

The Cat's Pajamas!

Drum roll please...

Twenty Under $20 Holiday Gift Guide

Back In Black

Twenty Under $20 Holiday Gift Guide

Win These Cosmos Earrings!

Last Day To Sign Up!

New Color Kits

New Designs!

'Change Has Come To America'

All New Holiday Cards at IssueGirl!

Halloween Sale at IssueGirl!

FYI

Rocker Glam!

Sunday Morning

Twilight Inspired Items

Baby, It's Cold Outside!

New at IssueGirl

I Got Accepted!!!

Michael Buble at Mohegan Sun

I Wish I May...

Best.Commercial.Ever. Seriously.

Autumn Is...

Color Kits by IssueGirl

Rock Out With Etsy!

Friends, Cookie Lee. Cookie Lee, Friends.

The Confessions of a Bad Blogger

Another Year Under The Belt...

The Weekly Update

Cinco de Mayo Nachos

Get Lost!

The Weekly News

Eddie Izzard Is My Homegirl, er... Boy.

The Times They Are A Changin'

The Wicked Never Rest...

a la mode: Etsy Pick of The Week

Pink Chihuahua Art: Etsy Pick of The Week

I Won't Lie. I Can't Hide It.

Upcoming Shows, Festivals, Fairs & Classes

Travel To The Far East

Rockstar Themed Cards at IssueGirl

SA*LE