I LOVE making cards, but lately I just haven't had the time. I didn't even send out Christmas cards last year because the task just seemed too big compared to all the other things I had to do. So, in the interest of time, I went to Hallmark and bought a few cards that had a "handmade" look. You've seen them, they have a pretty bow, perhaps some glitter...a little "something" that makes them LOOK handmade...even though they're not. Now I have nothing against Hallmark, as a matter of fact, I LOVE Hallmark, but boy did I feel guilty buying these cards (even though they were very pretty!)! I figured, "Hey, I'm crafty! I should be (1) making these myself or (2) buying these from other crafty people. If I'm going to spend my hard-earned money, I'd rather give it to another craftsman than to the Hallmark store.
So, this year I made a promise to myself to buy handmade whenever possible. I realize I may not always be able to do this, but like I said, I will whenever possible. I've been checking out the "stores" on Etsy, and am enamored with the creativity and ingenuity of some of the artists I have met there. So I've included in today's post a link to the Valentine's Showcase on Etsy (which is updated daily), along with pics of a few of my faves...check these out when you have a moment.
ETSY VALENTINE'S DAY SHOWCASE - Friday 1/24/08 
Fillable Fabric Cone with Roses
And look at this sweet collage from my friend Karin's Etsy Shop:
Here are links to a few of my friends' Etsy shops:
Nicole - Small Treasures
Shannon - Paper Eclectiques
Ann - Digital Paperie
Candice - Polka Dot Parlor
Have fun shopping! xoxo
