25 Things For Kids To Do When Stuck Indoors

Posted Monday, October 29, 2012

EtsyKids team member and mother of two, Katie of childhoodstore, who is also patiently preparing to wait out Hurricane Sandy, shares some really fun indoor activities to do with kids using stuff you already have at home (love that!).  Not in the path of Hurricane Sandy?  Count yourself lucky and bookmark this for later ... think endless freezing cold days of winter, indoor recess at the grade school, games and activities for classroom parties.


Like most everybody on the east coast we are preparing for hurricane Sandy, which means we are stocking up on batteries, waters and snacks. It also means I am preparing for the potential of a week home with both girls and no electricity. So here is a list of some activities we have done before that I am thinking we might revisit this week. Do you have any fun indoor activities for kids?

Shoe Matching Game
Play With a Box
Play With Waterbeads
Painters Tape Hopscotch
Bean Bag Games
Make a Cardboard Computer
Cave Drawing
Pipe Cleaner and Colander Sculptures
Walk the Line
Floor Puzzles
Play People Riddles
Shaving Cream Car Wash
Paint with Water
Post-it Note Art Gallery
Color Relay
Clean Penny Experiment
Form a Square Game
Play Dress-Up
Dance
Glue Painting
Make Plastic Straw Necklaces
Cloud Dough
Plastic Cup Printing
Apple Printing
Plastic Baggie Art

Be Safe!

Sending out wishes of safety to all our team members, fans and customers in the Eastern United States as they brace for Hurricane Sandy.



Halloween Safey Tips

Posted Sunday, October 28, 2012

Halloween is a night of frights and fun! But to stop any horror stories here are some safety tips to keep your little ones safe this Halloween eves.


Costume Saftey
  • Avoid masks if possible as they can obstruct a child's vision, instead consider face paint.
  • If using face paint do a skin test a few days before for any allergies. And remember to remove it before bed time.
  • Make sure costumes are flame retardant or flame resistant  there are lots of candles in pumpkins and other places that can set a costume alight.
  • Add some reflective tape to costumes (front and back!) so kids can be easily seen by cars.


Out Trick or Treating
  • For young kids make sure an adult will accompany them, for older children make sure they go around with a group of friends and know to stick together.
  • Visit well-lit areas and take a flash light with you.
  • Plan a route for trick or treating and make sure an adult knows it.
  • Set a time to be back home by, and set an alarm on a mobile or watch if possible.
  • Take extra care crossing streets, only cross on crosswalks and remember to look left, right and left again!
  • Never go inside houses for treats or Halloween games.
  • Bring home the candy for parents to check before eating any.
  • Make sure your child knows how to call 9-1-1 (or your local emergency number) 
  • Pin a slip of paper with the child's name, address and phone number on the inside of their costume in case they get lost.  

Tips for Parents
  • Give the kids a big meal before they go out, they are less tempted to eat candy while out.
  • Make sure your kids know where they are going and basic saftey rules for peoples homes and crossing the road.
  • Make sure your home is safe for other peoples children, clear the lawn, porch and sidewalk and set out lighting so kids can see well.
  • Careful picking candy, think nut allergies, and chocking hazards like gum and hard candies.

As a Driver
  • Take extra care when out driving on Halloweens eve.
  • Watch for children on the streets, and be careful at crossings and pulling into driveways.

For more information on Halloween safety visit these websites

Get Crafty with The Sewing Lofts Halloween Treat Holders

Posted Saturday, October 27, 2012

Looking for a way to dress-up the treats you give the special kids in your life ... the nieces and nephews, the neighbor kids, your best friends kids or your kids best friends?  EK team member Heather from TheSewingLoft shares two quick and super cute ways to dress-up suckers for Halloween.  Kids will love it and you'll love being able to whip out a bunch in no time flat!  


Visit TheSewingLoft blog to download the pattern and get the instructions.

Meet Etsy Seller Posies and Petals

Posted Thursday, October 25, 2012

Today we would like to introduce you to Megan
and her Etsy shop Posies and Petals

Posies and Petals has been selling on Etsy since August 2011, she sells a beautiful range of handmade hair accessories for babies, toddlers and kids. Today she is sharing a little about her shop and selling handmade items.

Q: What motivated you to start your shop?
Posies and Petals started with a need for accessories!  I was always on the hunt for cute headbands for my daughter.  I struggled to find what I was looking for. After several failed attempts and encouragement from friends and family, Posies and Petals was born!  The shop has been such a blessing!  Isn't it amazing where life takes you?

Q: What surprised you most about having your own online shop?
Etsy is an amazing network!  I have been blessed to meet so many wonderfully gifted and interesting people.  This experience has much more than owning a shop or selling a product.

Q: What's your personal philosophy behind your shop and products?

Posies and Petals is a boutique rooted in my small town upbringing. I grew up in a connected community that prides itself in friendliness and southern hospitality. These same virtues drive the boutique. I work to listen to your requests as we work together to create your pieces. Each item will be unique and custom made for you!

Q: What do you do when you aren't working?
When I’m not working with clients, I enjoying spending time with my family, running, and photography. My kids and I are always on the go around our community and beyond. I never tire of watching them discover the world with amazement!

Posies and Petals is offering a 15% discount for our blog reades! To use the coupon, visit her etsy store and enter code 'blogreader' at checkout. The voucher is valid until the end of November 2012.

EtsyKids Design Challenge: It's time to Vote!

Posted Sunday, October 21, 2012

It's time to vote for your favorite item! Voting will be open until October 27th. This month, EtsyKids members were challenged to create an exciting new item based on a theme "Harvest time". We received a lot of fantastic entries, please vote for your favorite from the list below.

Meet Etsy Seller Snowfall Studio

Posted Thursday, October 18, 2012


Today we would like to introduce you to Kristen
and her Etsy shop Snowfall Studio

Snowfall Studio has been selling on Etsy for the last year and makes beautiful crochet mermaids and plush toys, hair accessories, and home decor, all made from natural fibers. Today she is sharing a little about her shop and selling handmade items.

Q: What motivated you to start your shop?
A good friend of mine opened an Etsy shop in 2007, which has since become very successful. I have always loved to create, but I was intimidated to open my own shop. In the fall of 2011, my youngest child started elementary school and I found myself with some free time during the day. After years of waffling, I decided to take action and opened my shop on a whim late one night.

Q: What is the story behind your shop name?
I grew up in San Diego, where the weather is almost always sunny and hot. Now I live in a small town in Virginia. I am crazy about snow! My favorite kind of day is a snowy one spent at home with my kiddos, sledding and building snowmen. I'm as happy as the kids when school is cancelled due to inclement weather. Let the snow fall!

Q: What do you find most challenging about being an Etsy seller?
I enjoy crocheting and designing new patterns, but marketing and listing my products can be challenging, as is attempting to keep current on trends. My product development is extremely slow because crochet is so time consuming. I create as I'm inspired to, not in response to changing trends. I was thrilled several months ago when I was in a cycle of making mermaid dolls while they happened to be trendy.

Q: What's your personal philosophy behind your shop / products?
I believe in well made, high quality products. I try to create slowly and mindfully, to ensure that the end result is worthy of placing in my shop. It gives me a sense of satisfaction to offer a product that makes me proud. My customers work hard for their money, and I hope that each customer will be thrilled with their purchase.

Q: What do you do when you aren't working?
When not working, I usually can be found volunteering at my kids' school. The younger kids love having mom in the classroom; the older ones pretend not to like it, but deep down, I suspect they do. I am the mother of four children, so they keep me very busy with activities, projects, and chauffeuring. I also try to keep active, finding time for fitness every day by biking or walking with friends.


Snowfall Studio is offering a 10% discount to all EtsyKids Team blog readers! Just enter coupon code 'LOVESNOW' during the Etsy checkout. Coupon valid until end of October 2012.

EtsyKids Design Challenge for October: Harvest time

Posted Tuesday, October 16, 2012

via

"Harvest time" is our challenge for October, picked by our last month's winner stitchinnetka.  This month will be showcasing creations inspired by beautiful fall colors and wonderful abundance of veggies and fruit.

EtsyKids members will have until October 20th to submit their entries, and voting will be open to everybody from October 21st to October 27th. So, be sure to come back to the EtsyKids blog for a new post on the 21st to see all of the entries and VOTE!  In the meantime, please click here to get a sneak peek at some exciting entries so far!

Introducing Little Woodlanders

Posted Thursday, October 11, 2012



Today We Introduce You To Rachel from Little Woodlanders

Q: What motivated you to start your shop?
I had learned about the Waldorf ideas of play and the beautiful open ended toys made of all natural materials. I really wanted to have as many of my childrens’ toys as possible to be natural and open-ended, so bought myself some tools and started making some for them! When other people saw what I had made, they encouraged me to open an Etsy shop, so I did!

Q: What is the story behind your shop name?
All my products are made of wood, so I wanted a shop name to reflect that. A friend came up with the name Little Woodlanders and I immediately knew it was perfect!

Q: Do you have a favorite Etsy Shop (non-child related)?
My favorite non-child related Etsy shop is Irena Sophia. She does beautiful watercolor illustrations. http://www.etsy.com/shop/IrenaSophia

Q: What surprised you most about having your own craft / online shop?
I think what surprised me most was how addictive and all consuming it can be! I go to bed thinking of ideas, wake up thinking of ideas, it's endless! I can really only work on the weekends when my husband is home to look after our children, so all week while I'm with them I'm storing up ideas to work on when I get a chance!

Q: What do you find most challenging about being an Etsy seller?
I think the most challenging things are trying to juggle being a stay at home, homeschooling mom, and getting all the orders plus my new ideas made. I'm always wishing I had about 5 of me! One could be with the kids, one could work on the current orders, one could work on the new ideas, one to do advertising and marketing, and one to do packaging and shipping!

Q: What's your personal philosophy behind your shop / products?
I want to put beautiful, open ended toys made of all natural materials into the hands of children around the world. I love seeing children use their imaginations with a toy that doesn't have just one purpose, but can be used to be anything the child imagines it could be.

Q: How would someone (other then you) describe you?
I think others would describe me as outgoing, adventurous and determined.

Q: What music do you have on while you are creating?
I usually listen to classical music, no on in particular, just whatever's on the classical radio station! It's soothing, relaxing and inspiring.

Q: What do you do when you aren't working?
When I'm not working, I'm with my children, doing things like science experiments, art, and going for nature walks outside. Lately, we love identifying leaves, trees, flowers and berries. I'm becoming obsessed with wood and trees due to my wood working! I also like cooking Indian and South American food, and baking,

Q: Anything else you'd like to tell us or share?
I'm really having a great time on Etsy. It's so thrilling to see something that starts as an idea in my head come to life as an actual wooden toy, and then have someone else love and appreciate it so much that they buy it for their own child! It's really satisfying!

Also, if anyone would like to follow me on social media, I'd love to have you as a follower!
Facebook: www.facebook.com/LittleWoodlanders
Blog: www.littlewoodlanders.com
Twitter: LWoodlanders


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***A quick note to let you know that after 51 "introductions" this will be my last interview here on the EtsyKids Team blog. It has truly been a pleasure getting to "know" all of those I have had the opportunity to work with and introduce your wonderful shops.

My best to all,
~Lilikins

(you can find me here)
LilikinsBaby
LilikinsHome
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Lililikins.Baby.Blankets.and.Quilts

Treasury Challenge Winner

Posted Monday, October 08, 2012

The winner of the most recent Treasury Challenge was Jeni from TwoLoveBugs. Her beautiful collection is below.

'Dress Me for Fall' by TwoLovebugs

Adorable fall dresses for little ones from the EtsyKids Team


PEASANT Dress for L...
$38.00

Fall Halloween Pump...
$42.00

Mustard Diamond Eye...
$36.00

Girls Jumper Dress ...
$32.00

Girls Fall Peasant ...
$32.95

New Fall Knot Dress...
$42.00

Girl's autumn k...
$40.00

Trick or Treat Oran...
$28.00

Pillowcase Dress Fa...
$18.99

Fox Dress - Little ...
$60.00

Girls Orange and Br...
$28.00

Childrens Clothing ...
$32.00

Baby Cowboy Boots- ...
$18.00

Candy Corn Ruffle P...
$23.95

Purple and Teal Gir...
$45.00
Jeni opened her shop after her second child was born and she became a stay at home mom. She loves finding really cute and bright fabric to create with and sometimes her children "claim" items that are meant for her shop (I think all of us with kids have had this happen!).

In honor of her children's imaginary polka dot and rainbow houses, she has chosen "Polka Dot" and "Rainbow" as this week's theme. I can't wait to see what colorful and creative creations the team comes up with! Catch a sneak peak on Etsy.


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