Nautical Giveaway Featured Vendor: kreative studios

Featured Vendor: Kristen from kreative studios

I donated this jewelry set of a necklace, bracelet, and earrings in new styles to the giveaway.

When I first started kreative studios, I was looking for something that could provide income no matter where I lived. I've always been crafty, and if you've been around my page for awhile you probably know that my mom, step-mom, and many other members of my family are very crafty. I like to try everything, and while the ends up being very expensive, it is also very fun! I love being able to make all kinds of items, even if it's just for myself.

My favorite item to make is a tough one, because I love making almost all my items! Right now though, I'm really enjoying loveys, and the dolls that come from them (though no pictures yet). Loveys are part toy, part security blanket. They can be played with, but are also great for taking in the car instead of a full sized blanket, if kids will let go of them. And, they're machine washable. Adults love them, too!

My best seller right now is my Be Empowered Collection - a style of necklace with an inspiring phrase. You can choose one of my suggested phrases, or have your own! I will very shortly be offering them as key chains or bracelets as well.

You can find these items on facebook, https://www.facebook.com/kreativestudios.

Fun Fact: I LOVE all things geeky and Disney. I also love playing trivia on my page. I will soon be doing more games, as well as starting up Facebook open houses with games and ways to win free items! If you're interested, just send me a message to let me know :)

Comment below with something related to this post for an extra entry in the giveaway! Don't forget to read the rules first, here: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=883024958381490&set=a.182726205078039.52457.179173695433290&type=1

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Nautical Giveaway Featured Vendor: Kristen Start, Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant

Featured Vendor: Kristen Start, Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant

I'm donating this set of tinted lip balm, lip protector sun screen and SPF 30 sun screen to the giveaway. The SPF 15 Lip Protector provides UVA & UVB protection, and can be worn under gloss or lip stick! The Sun Screen also provides UVA & UVB protection, and is water/sweat resistant for up to 80 minutes. The triple layer lip balm revitalizes and protects while giving a hint of color.

I started my Mary Kay business at the end of March 2013. I was at a gun show and a young woman asked if I wanted a piece of candy. I knew she was a direct sales rep, but hey - free candy! When she asked if I wanted to enter to win a discount, I felt bad and agreed - and ended up winning $10 off. I didn't know many people, so I went to a group facial at our studio while my boyfriend did some errands. He arrived at the end of the party and listened to the "Mary Kay Opportunity" part, and told me that I should do it, that it would help me meet new people. I had always loved Mary Kay products and they were offering me a free Satin Hands & Satin Lips to sign up that day, so I took the plunge for $100 and signed up right then! While I haven't had the time to devote to it as I thought I would, I never regret my decision :)

I love to tell people that Satin Hands is why I signed up with Mary Kay - and in all honesty, if I hadn't gotten it for free right then, I may not have! I love the way my hands feel (and the mister loves to use it on his hard working hands, too, but shh - I didn't tell you that!) and the peach scent is amazing. They've been coming out with limited edition scents (vanilla brown sugar for last Christmas and honeydew right now) so I'm sure they will continue to, but will always offer it in peach and fragrance free.

 

Many products are fan favorites, but I would say two of the best sellers are the TimeWise Miracle Set and the Ultimate Mascara in black. The Miracle set has 11 age-defying benefits in 4 products, 3 steps at each morning & night - and, has the good housekeeping seal of approval! The Ultimate Mascara is flake-, clump-, and smudge-resistant, and also comes in brown!

 

You can find these items atwww.marykay.com/kstart, or contact me through Facebook, www.facebook.com/kstartmk.

Fun Fact: I will soon be doing online parties through Facebook, with games, make up tips, and of course information about the products! I will do them on my Facebook page for everyone, and do hosted parties where you can earn hostess benefits! If you're interested, contact me through Facebook or email me at kstart@marykay.com.

Comment below with something related to this post for an extra entry in the giveaway! Don't forget to read the rules first, here: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=883024958381490&set=a.182726205078039.52457.179173695433290&type=1

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Nautical Giveaway Featured Vendor: Bits of Joy

Featured Vendor: Kathy from Bits of Joy

Kathy donated this adorable anchor charm to the giveaway!

Kathy started Bits of Joy in September 2011, though in years previous she had made clay earrings to sell on Etsy and at fairs. Now a Navy wife with a little boy at home, she started Bits of Joy with anchor heart charms, similar to the one she donated (which are still great sellers!). Because of her amazing talents, her business exploded overnight with requests of new items. She makes everything from food charms to military charms to Disney and superhero charms, as well as picture frames, magnets, ring holders, business card displays and more!

She loves to make food charms, especially cupcakes. The detail she puts into them is spectacular!

She sells so many different items that it's hard to say what her best seller is. But she definitely sells many custom items, as well as military charms!

I love all her charms, but right now I'm really loving her themed hearts, especially these:

You can find these items on facebook, https://www.facebook.com/Bitsofjoycrafts.

Comment below with something related to this post for an extra entry in the giveaway! Don't forget to read the rules first, here: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=883024958381490&set=a.182726205078039.52457.179173695433290&type=1

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Nautical Giveaway Featured Vendor: Sudzy Bums

Featured Vendor: Joni from Sudzy Bums

Joni donated this sweet little sailboat soap to the giveaway!

Joni started her business about a year and a half ago as a hobby. She started with cloth wipe solutions and diaper pail deodorizers for awhile, then got into novelty soaps because she wanted to make her son's party favors. Her items are gluten free, tree nut oil free, peanut oil free, dairy free and vegan. Most of her items are made from scratch with her own recipes with natural and essential oils.

She loves to make novelty soaps, and she makes them from a natural glycerin soap base, colored with mica based color block. Here's some examples:

Joni's best seller is one that she started with - her cloth wipe solution. You spray it on your baby's bottom to cleanse, soothe, and protect. And it comes in different scents!

As a kid, I always loved the soap that had a toy in it - my brother and I would actually chip away the soap to get the toy sooner ;-) Here's some great Sudzy Bums soaps with toys!

You can find these items in her store, http://sudzybums.storenvy.com, or on facebook, https://www.facebook.com/SudzyBums.

Fun Fact: Joni has three kids, that I'm sure make great testers for all her products and great for ideas, like all the fun animal shapes she has!

Comment below with something related to this post for an extra entry in the giveaway! Don't forget to read the rules first, here: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=883024958381490&set=a.182726205078039.52457.179173695433290&type=1

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Nautical Giveaway Featured Vendor: That's Incredibow

Featured Vendor: Miranda from That's Incredibow

Miranda donated this white felt key fob with anchor embroidery to the giveaway.

Miranda started her business last year when a need for continually buying new crafts supplies met with a lack of bow real estate on her little girl's head. In addition to bows, she added necklaces, and headed off to a craft show. Once there, she found she was just one of many bowtiques. She decided to set herself apart by following her "true nerdy passion" and specializes in creating items for nerd babies and their parents (nerd parents and their babies?).

Her favorite items to make right now are 3D felt bows and felties (felt shapes with embroidered details for clips, bow centers, pendants, etc.) and I don't blame her! They're adorable to look at and they just look fun to make! She also likes making chunky bubblegum necklaces with a geeky twist.

Her best seller right now are bottlecap badge reels - she says everyone loves to show their nerd pride at work! And I don't blame them, they're the perfect combination of geeky and subtle.

The felt bows are most definitely my favorite, especially the Wonder Woman one!

You can find these items in her store, http://www.etsy.com/shop/thatsincredibow, or on facebook, https://www.facebook.com/thatsincredibow.

Fun Fact: Miranda is fluent in Arabic! And in following with children's geeky names, hers is named for King Arthur's Guinevere.

Comment below with something related to this post for an extra entry in the giveaway! Don't forget to read the rules first, here: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=883024958381490&set=a.182726205078039.52457.179173695433290&type=1

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Nautical Giveaway Featured Vendor: Gifts by Gita

Featured Vendor: Gita from Gifts by Gita

Gita donated this fab pair of cotton kitchen towels to the giveaway. They measure 26 x 16.  Embroidered with a large anchor and embellished with an angel fish or turtle.

Gita actually began in the business world with jewelry, but shifted her focus when she realized that design was really what she liked. Pregnancy jump started the creative drive in her brain and she became interested in embroidery. She loved the possibilities in combining fabrics and design elements to create wonderful, unique designs. She played around with embroidery in 2011, but Christmas 2012 was when it really took off. As a mom to three little ones, she likes to focus on babies and their parents. She keeps a piece of her jewelry beginnings in her shop with Baltic Amber teething necklaces, and also sells all natural lotions.

She loves making embroidered shirts, especially custom designs and having a chance to try new fabric combinations. Here are some of my favorite designs:

Gita's best seller is a birthday shirt for little girls which has fun, bright fabric, and customized with the guest of honor's name. You can also get a matching flower hair clip!

I love these ornaments! Just think of all the shapes that could be done for yearly Christmas ornaments!

You can find these items in her store, http://giftsbygita.etsy.com or on facebook, https://www.facebook.com/GiftsByGita.

Fun Fact: Gita is a co-leader of her local ICAN chapter, which is the International Cesarean Awareness Network (find more info here: http://www.ican-online.org/), and is planning to add more doula, birth, and mid-wife embroidery to her shop this summer!

Comment below with something related to this post for an extra entry in the giveaway! Don't forget to read the rules first, here: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=883024958381490&set=a.182726205078039.52457.179173695433290&type=1

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Nautical Giveaway Featured Vendor: Bows and Heros

Featured Vendor: Jettie from Bows and Heros

Jettie donated this matching bottle cap bow and necklace set with fun anchor images to the giveaway.

Jettie is another recent business, starting in October 2013. She had been purchasing OTT (over the top) bows for her daughter at OTT prices, and she thought they were just a little too big. So, she started to make bows that were more for everyday people, at everyday prices. She soon added bottle cap key chains, necklaces, and bracelets, with styling for boys, so her own sons would have something (though they were willing to wear the bows!). Her husband joined the biz as well, making paracord bracelets. Now, they can offer items to all ages and any gender, welcoming custom orders to make just the right piece.

Jettie's favorite item to make are Pony-os - ponytail elastics with lots of fun ribbons, which are great for cheering & dance, or anyone that wants some decorations in their hair without a clip or headband!

Their best seller though, is paracord bracelets. They have the favorites of course, like the cobra stitch, but they also have some other fun knots that set them apart from other paracord bracelet makers.

Personally, I love these parabuddies! I've seen many items in paracord, but nothing like this!

You can find these items in her store, www.etsy.com/shop/bowsandheros, or on facebook, https://www.facebook.com/jetsbowtique.

Fun Fact: Jettie and her husband have SIX kids! Three of them are toddlers, which her husband is a stay at home dad for, while Jettie teaches at school.

Comment below with something related to this post for an extra entry in the giveaway! Don't forget to read the rules first, here: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=883024958381490&set=a.182726205078039.52457.179173695433290&type=1

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Nautical Giveaway Featured Vendor: Nerdtastic

Featured Vendor: Amanda from Nerdtastic

Amanda donated these awesome four nautical themed bobby pins to the giveaway.

Amanda officially started Nerdtastic recently in September 2013, after making many of the gifts and jewelry for her nerdy themed wedding. She loved being able to "bring nerdy things to nerds" in a new way! 

She loves making all her items, and has new favorites all the time (who doesn't?), but right now, she really enjoys making art for her "Fictional Brews" collection, which start as posters and then become lip balms. She says her kitchen always smells interesting!

Right now, the Percy Jackson themed "Nectar" lip balm, with a honey scent and lavender accent. The artwork is also available as a print!

I love that you can get whole sets of items in the same theme - lip balm, sugar scrub, poster, and more!

You can find these items in her store, http://nerdtastic42.storenvy.com, or on facebook, https://www.facebook.com/FeelingNerdtastic.


Fun Fact: To go with their nerdy wedding, Amanda and her husband have matching Star Wars wedding bands! Their daughters' names are also partially based on the Roman Empire, as well as their dogs being named after Jedi (except for Falkor, the luck dog).


Comment below with something related to this post for an extra entry in the giveaway! Don't forget to read the rules first, here: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=883024958381490&set=a.182726205078039.52457.179173695433290&type=1

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Summer in Barcelona

Summer in Barcelona by kskreative featuring zip bags

Fit and flare dress
bodycentral.com

Green wedge shoes
modcloth.com

French Connection zip bag
$140 - nelly.com

Vera Bradley cuff jewelry
verabradley.com

Canon EOS Rebel T3i 18.0MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm...
amazon.ca

Beaded Necklace 16 18 20 & 24 Preciosa by shopkreativestudios
etsy.com

Summer Flower Earrings Dyed Howlite Spring by shopkreativestudios
etsy.com

Hufflepuff Necklace Key Chain Harry Potter by shopkreativestudios

Hufflepuff Necklace Key Chain Harry Potter by shopkreativestudios (clipped to polyvore.com)

Summer Sun

The Tilted Heart Initial Necklace from kreative studios (or any of the initial necklaces!) are easy peasy to pair with any summer outfit - just throw on and go!

Summer Sun by dancer4ever90 featuring polarized sunglasses

Crop top
$20 - shelikes.com

Pieces light blue shorts
$37 - pieces.com

American Eagle Outfitters flip flops
ae.com

Lace hair accessory
claires.com

Polarized sunglasses
mtvtn.com

Tilted Heart Initial Necklace Hand Stamped, Personalized, Gift
etsy.com

Design Wars February CAL: Red Heart With Love

Design Wars has been doing a Crochet Along the whole month of February - any project made with Red Heart With Love, which is the yarn chosen for the challengers to use!

I started this blanket a while back and haven't been able to work on it recently, so it took me awhile to dig it out of the closet! I love vintage styled items so I googled "vintage crochet blankets" and pictures of this style came up. I didn't find much on it so I tried to recreate it looking at the pictures. Wasn't so easy... I have since found out that there's a pattern you can buy, so I just might do that for help!

I'm making it in Lilac, Evergreen, and Eggplant :)

Design Wars 6 Crochet Along Yarn Choice!

I'm so excited to be participating in this cycle's crochet along! The pattern is Crazysocks Designs brand new cowl pattern. There's plenty of time for you to join in, and to enter the giveaways! Check it out here: http://www.designwarschallenge.com/2013/12/31/dw-exclusive-new-pattern-release-crochet-along/

The yarn I chose is Berroco Vintage, an acrylic/wool/nylon blend, in color "5126" (descriptive, isn't it?). It's a pretty pinky-coral that I thought would go well with the lacy cowl pattern :) And I'll have enough leftover to make a hat or maybe some fingerless gloves - possibly both!