Treasury Sunday - December 16th

Every other Sunday I give thanks to curators who have included my products in their treasuries, shopping collections on Etsy. Please take some time to view these creations and visit the other stores and their wonderful items! Which is your favorite?

Decorating with Candles - Holiday Style!

Most of you probably have your homes decorated to the hilt this holiday season, but there may be a mantle or tablescape that needs just a touch of warmth.  That's where candles can come to save the day! While boutique, fragrant candles are meant to stand on their own, inexpensive candles from your local low cost department store can be decorated with a few simple items from your craft store to create a unique look for your home!

Cranberries are an inexpensive and colorful decoration this holiday season. Find a shapely vase, fill with cranberries and water, and top with a tea light.

For a more sophisticated look, fill a bread tray or other piece of your coordinating dinnerware with cranberries and set a few small pillar candles evenly spaced.

To create this even more elegant look, place roses at the bottom of a straight hurricane vase, fill two thirds with water, and place a handful of cranberries, which will float to the top. Set your tea light atop and voila!

Even though this concept is not a holiday decoration, it could be easily converted by using colored sand to coordinate with your festive decor!

If your look includes a lot of greenery, wrap leaves around pillar candles and tie with a colorful bow! I think this would be lovely in Hanukkah blues!

For a fun look, use a hot glue gun to adhere candies to a pillar candle. I love the look of the peppermints, but  I think the look in ribbon candies (my favorite) would be uniquely elegant!

And for the simplest look of all, use a simple white plate with simple white votives and candies sprinkled around. Less than 60 seconds, and you've created a festive centerpiece for your home!

For more ideas, please see my Pinterest board. 

Happy holidays!

Dorene

Etsy shop review - Janet Davis of JD's Bow Creations

Today I'm pleased to introduce to you Janet Davis of JD's Bow Creation. Please take some time to learn more about her and her wonderful creations!

I am retired from a local hospital where I worked for 32 years as an Administrative Assistant.  I started my business quite by accident and for something to do with my free time.  A friend and I decided to start up a baking business so we signed up for 6 local craft shows.  We made a variety of candies and brownies, cookies, coffee cakes, etc.  and decided to sell gift trays filled with truffles, assorted chocolates and fudge.  The trays weren’t selling very well so I learned how to make bows to put on the trays hoping to market our business a little better.  The bows were such a hit that we started selling gift trays by the bow that was on them instead of what chocolates were on the tray.  At the end of our craft show run, my friend decided that we weren’t making enough to cover our expenses so we abandoned the baking business.

Valentine's gift wrap bow

I had so much fun making bows and there was enough interest for my bows that I wanted to start a different business.  Another friend told me about Etsy so I checked it out.  I set up my policies and shop information on December 27^th but officially opened my “doors” (complete with inventory) on January 15, 2012.  I started with Christmas bows and expanded to Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Weddings, Baby showers, Memorial Day/Fourth of July, Birthdays, and Special Occasions such as house warming gifts, graduations, anniversaries, etc.

Wedding/Bridal Shower silver bow

My mom taught me how to knit, crochet and sew and I taught myself how to do many more crafts.  I helped my sister, who has her own floral business in her home, make corsages and boutonnieres for weddings.   I also taught myself how to frame pictures by picking out matting, glass and frames.  I discovered I had a good eye for color and with my knowledge of other crafts, my artistry started shining through.

Spring peach all occasion gift bow

My designs start with one item –it could be a flower, button or ribbon – and grows from there.  I never have a set plan of what my design will look like but it ends up in a bow.

Birthday bow with a tiger perspective

I am equally proud of all my bows but I thought this bow turned out very elegant for an ivory wedding:

Satin rose and pearl bow

You can find more of my fun creations on my Pinterest page:

http://pinterest.com/jdsdesigns/gift-bows-from-jd-s-bow-creations/