Spring Creations with Pearls and Crystals

These colorful spring cards were created with sunny weather in mind. I made sterling silver, crystal and pearl earrings to display on these bright and cheery cards. This is the first three cards in my spring collection. They are a wonderful gift and card all in one. They will be available for purchase at our website www.gwynnsgifts.com . This could be the perfect gift for that upcoming graduation, birthday or anniversary

Upcycling to create GREAT outdoor lighting

I have been collecting 1 gallon glass jars from work to use for various things. Mostly they hold stuff like chicken feed, spare change and craft notions but yesterday I was inspired by some great handmade paper that I came across while cleaning and created this awesome candle holder. My son Cody and I made the first one with just paper and it turned out really cool but we both thought it would look so much better with some sort of silhouette coming through. So then I tried it with paper flowers glued on first and then beautiful paper over and this is what we got. I also wired a handle on it so you can hang it up. We lite both candle holders up last night and they looked great outside. I have so many ideas for different themes that I can't wait to make more.

Surprise Packages are so much FUN!

My mom and I recently decided that we would randomly send each other gifts from online each month. We put a cap of $20 on it and try to buy something handmade. We did this because we love to get stuff in the mail and its so much fun to get something good, especially from other people. Who can resist a good surprise? So the first time I sent my mom this wonderful sample tin of homemade teas that I got from http://www.teaman.etsy.com/ and they are so good. My favorite so far is strawberry tea.

So to my delight I got a surprise package in the mail yesterday and it had this wonderful natural spray lotion and handmade soap. So far I have tried out the spray lotion and I love it. It is very light and smell delicious. The scent is Summer Green. My mom purchased it at http://www.plunksoap.etsy.com/

I can't wait to find her next great gift.

How to Make a Birthday Card

Its the End of Something Big and the Beginning of Something BIGGER

Today is the first official day I am without my family consignment store. I turned in the keys over the weekend and filled up my storage with all of the stuff I just couldn't live without. I feel like it is the ending of something that was really big for me.
I bought a children's consignment business last year because I thought it sounded like a lot of fun and a great new experience. I had no prior knowledge of retail and my only knowledge of consignment was from personal shopping experience. It was an absolute blast. I meet so many nice people and had so much fun going threw new items people brought in. I had fun doing the displays and deciding on sales. I worked six days a week and I worked really hard from the time I got there to the time I went home. The hard work never bothered me. I enjoy working hard at something. The entire year I didn't get paid. The store covered its own expenses until about October of 2008 and then it started to go down hill. Sales were really slow and I couldn't figure out a way to change that. After a couple of months of no sleeping and being completely stressed out my family and I decided it was time to close the store. I had gotten an evening job and was doing the store all week. When the decision was made I felt a huge weight lift off me. I always feel better when I have made a decision and can go forward in that direction. I just spent the last two months notify all my consignors, getting things in order and saying good bye to everyone. I believe I will miss all of the wonderful people I met more then anything. I have made many new friends and learned lots of new things. I feel sad and happy all at once to have closed that chapter in my book.
Now I plan to spend time with my kids and hubby, paint a whole bunch, plant a garden, fix things around my house and just enjoy being me. I am only going back to work part time and I feel everyone will benefit from me being around more. I have all these great ideas for things to do with my kids this summer and all these fun projects to start. I also plan on cooking a whole bunch and learning a new skill. I just haven't decided what. I hope that our company Gwynn's Gifts will get back on track and I can take it to the next level. I am just plain excited.

Inspiration Has Arrived!!!

I got to spend some time down at my craft cabin today and just had a blast. Life has been so busy that I haven't been able to create and just feel like I am riding a creative high. Here are some of the things that I made today. I was on a roll. I can't believe Valentines Day is the next holiday to prepare for. I love doing black and red and red and white so that will be my next creation.

Penguin Holiday Card... Perhaps I will pick this one

Here is my newest painting turned into a card. I love all the fun colors so now I can't decide which one to use for my holiday card. The penguin or the snowman? Maybe I should paint another one with both the penguin and snowman. It is available in our shop http://www.gwynnsgifts.com/ and if you are interested in purchases a larger quantity for the holidays we would be happy to give you a discount.

A new picture I did with watercolors and pens. I was trying out colorful backgrounds. I like the way it turned out.

Green with Envy

This lady makes me proud. I am tickled pink with the way her outfit turned out. I love the addition of the feathers and the brooch I made with a feather and metal. I found this fabulous wallpaper background and I think it compliments the whole look. I was so happy to show her off to everyone. Every time I create a new card for our boutique signature series I think I get a little attached. I almost want to frame them and hang them on the wall to keep all for myself. I do make them to share and I hope someone is as excited to receive this and I am to make it. It feels like dressup everytime and who doesn't like dress up? I would love to hear your opinions on the whole card with earrings. Thanks

Im Off to See the Accountant, the wonderful Accountant!

Our first year as a business has ended and now we have to do our TAXES. I feel happy and sad all at the same time. I can’t believe a year has gone by and I am still at it. I love what we are doing and it is so fulfilling. I feel like it is time to set some new goals and push myself even harder to get things running. I believe it is time for a new momentum. I am going to speak to our accountant about our business structure, how I should be keeping records better, am I using all the deductions out there that I should and if I really can rent my Craft Cabin to our business. I do so love both sides of running a business. I feel I grow smarter every time a new challenge comes up in the business and I feel I grow as an artist when an idea comes out of my head and is created with my hands. Perhaps I will have to put my goals on my BLOG so they are very visible.