Gift Ideas with Something For Everyone

I'm still behind on my gift buying/making for friends and family, but I've found some favorites on Etsy. These great items will help me give the perfect, unique handmade gifts for under the tree, or in the mail, just in time for Christmas!

Know any movie fans or new parents on your gift list? Check out this Movie Night Party Pack - Printable Download PDF Party/Photo invitations from Typewink. Also includes instructions on how to make those adorable Popcorn Cupcakes! My brother and sister-in-law had their first baby Oct. 30 and everyone is clamoring for photos and baby time. This party pack will make it easy to host a wonderful night!

Check out this great package at http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=35823631

Living in Florida, we love the natural colors here - blues from the ocean, greens from all the tropical foliage and NorthernFleeceWeaver has a gorgeous rug perfect for that beach house look!

And guess what? It's made from Polar Fleece! Soft and can be cleaned in the washer - doesn't get any better than that! It's at http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=31095811

I have a few "tween" girls on my holiday list. Wow - girls now seem more mature than I was at that age. I found Natural Lip Gloss in Remarkably Raisin at BellissimaMinerals http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=32202975

The makeup they crave, with natural ingredients that I feel safe in giving. BellissimaMinerals Tinted Lip Gloss recently appeared in the international publication Styl  http://www.stylmagazine.com/about.html

Well, in all this happy shopping on Etsy, I spotted another gift idea for me. Hubby has received the message :)

HappyCloudMoments has a beautiful necklace in ruby (my birthstone). Passionate Gifted Necklace with Swarovski Crystal Pendant is full of charm.

Need a different chain or color, go to http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=34270895 Let them know it's a gift and it will ship with matching gift box for free! Love it!!!

Hope you are having fun and enjoying the season!

Decorating for Christmas

This is our favorite time of the year! The holiday decorating, baking and family traditions are all highlights and create wonderful memories every season.

We decorate inside and outside for Christmas. My little ones are old enough this year to hang all the ornaments on the tree, much to their delight. Of course, the ornaments are only placed as high as they can reach on tip toes, but that bottom 2/3 of the tree is gorgeous!

Every year the manager of a local store gives away store holiday decorations from the previous year, since each year he decorates with a new theme. We happened to be in "the right place, at the right time" for these darling decorations.

Can you tell that last year's Christmas theme at the store was "Baking Homemade Memories"?

There are twenty, or so, ceramic ornaments that look like cupcakes, cookies, fancy desserts and candies. They are adorable. My daughter is fascinated by these and wants to use them after Christmas in her doll house.

We also received candles that look as if they were rolled in gum balls, shaped in giant candy canes and more. There are small, glass ornaments in shades of green and silver that look beautiful on a holiday topiary tree.

These adorable decorations have inspired me. Felt food is very popular right now. I think some darling felt ornaments that look like the baked goods we give to neighbors and friends would be perfect to go along with our goodies. I'll wrap the cookies and candies on special plates with clear gift wrap, tie it up with beautiful bows and add a few of the felt food ornaments for a unique gift.

We are having so much fun decorating this year. How's your holiday decorating going?

I'm Back!

The house is so quiet today. The kids are back at school and hubby is at work.

We had a whirlwind vacation and a wonderful time. Now it's back to work since I need to catch up on my offline orders and start my handmade Christmas gifts for family and friends.

It's been such a busy year for The Crafty Panda that I have not had as much time to devote to creating things for my family. The little ones added an extra special request to their Christmas lists for Mommy to make them two new stuffed animals. This week I'm sketching out designs for a spider and for a large teddy bear.

Last year, I designed a 6 foot lizard to the squealing delight of my son. This year, he has requested a "friendly", but "real looking" spider. I'm up for the challenge!

Lizzie the Lizard - too long to fit in this photo!

My youngest wants a large black teddy bear with orange details. This week I purchased lots of anti-pill fleece (easy to work with and is better for our allergies than the faux fur) and stuffing!

Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend! A special thanks to my Mama and Papa for hosting an outstanding dinner, letting the kids rake leaves and jump in the piles (a dream come true for the little ones since in southern Florida we never have enough leaves to rake) and much needed relaxation for us at the "resort".

Back to gift guides this week and new designs!