Five Small Eco-Friendly Changes You Can Make in Your Home

Posted Monday, July 28, 2014

We all need to be reminded sometimes about the easy and affordable (sometimes free) changes that make a difference in your household and help lead your family to a greener lifestyle.

1.Vinegar- Make sure you stock your pantry with this versatile natural and non-toxic household product.   Vinegar has enough acidity and neutrality that it can be used in kitchens, bathrooms, as a disinfectant, polisher, and laundry softener.

2.House plants- did you know that you can improve the quality of the air in your home simply by putting houseplants in your home. They act like indoor air purifiers and increase the amount of oxygen available in your home.


3. Clean your refrigerator coils twice a year, more often if you have pets. Condenser coils are located at the bottom or rear of your refrigerator. If they are allowed to accumulate dust and dirt as much as 25 percent more energy is required to maintain proper temperature. This can be a DIY project-buy a refrigerator coil brush from your local hardware store for less than ten dollars and clean it yourself, it takes 20 minutes.


4. Set the thermostat on your water heater at 120° F. This temperature is normally adequate for home use and will save a considerable amount of energy. If you have a dishwasher check the manufacturer's specifications to see if the temperature needs adjusting.



5. Go paper less. And I'm not talking about the  kind you write on, I'm talking about disposable towels.  The kind you wipe the tables with, clean up spills with, wipe hands with etc.  Instead of using paper towels get some rags of fabric, old wash cloths, make your own cloth napkins and reusable "unpaper towels", or purchase them pre-made.  Since they are made with fabric you can use them again and again. You can actually save money!

Dorinda's shop, Raising Green Kids, offers eco-friendly products for your family. Follow her on Facebook and twitter and at her blog.



Treasury Challenge #39 - Christmas in July

Posted Sunday, July 27, 2014

The theme for the EtsyKids Team treasury challenge #39 was "Christmas in July".
Our team members created lots of beautiful treasuries featuring some amazing items, but the winner with a whooping 99 views is...


What's in Santa's toy sack this year?
Hand Knitted Bear - Plush Doll - Stuffed Animal - Knitted Toy - Knit Teddy Bear - Child Toy - Baby Keepsake - Kids Toy - Small Toy - Hannah
$65.00
Set of 8 Eco-Friendly Soy and Beeswax Crayons
$9.00
Tony T-Rex Pattern DIY Stuffed Dinosaur Toy and Baby Dinosaur Set, Tracy TRex Tutorial DIY Friendly Dinosaur Pdf Sewing Pattern
$6.00
Personalized Mosaic Christmas Tree Wooden Boxed Puzzle
$40.00
Wooden Toy Car
$25.00
Lulu the Large Dress up Rag Doll Paris France
$75.00
Large Color Blocks - 1.5 Inch Painted Wood - 8 Cubes
$13.50
Handmade Sock Monkey, Denim Blue Jean,  Redheel, Royal Blue, Personalized, Limited Edition, Doll Toy Plush Stuffed Animal Play Child
$43.00
Winter Dolls, Miniature Nature Table Doll, Waldorf Bendy Dolls
$18.99
Personalized Birthday Felt Crown -Green Fairy Princess, Costume Accessory, Floral Spring Photo Prop
$37.00
Travel Ball
£10.00
Plush Elf, ''Misfit'Elf, Cloth Doll, Christmas Elf Doll, Elf Doll  - Arthur
$40.00
SALE item 1.5 inch round wooden heart concentration matching game
$9.60
Natural Wooden Teething Ring Soother in 'Summer Roses' and Bamboo Terry....another baby gift idea from Cwtch Bugs
£8.50
Build Your Own Snowman Deluxe Felt Board Activity Set
$30.00
Quiet Time Activities for Kids, Quiet Preschool Activities, Quiet Time Kids, Homeschool Quiet Activities, Indoor Activities for Kids
$17.99
Treasury Tool Powered By Toastie Studio - Etsy Tools

Thank you 2HeartsDesire for creating such a lovely treasury!

2HeartsDesire makes a whole variety of lovely wooden toys, home decor items, paper goods and calendars. We love their Christmas angel ornament. Visit her shop to see more of her wonderful creations.

July Design Challenge. It's time to Vote!

Posted Monday, July 21, 2014

For July our Design Challenge theme was "Rainbow Magic!"
We have lots of lovely entries from our team members, browse down and vote for your favourite item!
Voting is open until 27th July.

Free Christmas Gift List Printable

Posted Friday, July 18, 2014

Have you started your Christmas shopping yet? There is only 159 days until Christmas, that is 22 shopping weekends left to get everything bought, wrapped and ready for gifting!

As part of our Christmas in July sale, here is a free printable Christmas gift list planner that you can use to get yourself organised!


Download the free Christmas gift list planner printable

And remember, you can't buy love, but you can buy handmade and that's kind of the same thing!

Meet Etsy Seller GeorginaGiles

Posted Wednesday, July 16, 2014

GeorginaGiles has been selling on Etsy since August 2010, they sell lovely handmade toys & games to make every day an adventure! Today they are going to give us a little peak behind the scenes of their Etsy shop.

Grey & Lavender Stegosaurus Dinosaur Plush ToyPink & Pastel Blue Diplodocus Dinosaur Plush ToyNoughts & Crosses - Tic Tac Toe - Travel Game - Lollipop FlowersNoughts & Crosses - Tic Tac Toe - Travel Game - Blue Flowers

What motivated you to start your shop?
I teach workshops, write a sewing blog (georginagiles.co.uk) and make handmade toys. I opened an Etsy shop because I was looking for a way to sell my toys online and to a global audience. I love wrapping up a dinosaur and sending it off to the other side of the world!

What is the story behind your shop name?
My shop has the same name as my business and it is simply my name! When I set up my business I wanted something simple and I decided that my name was the best way to go.

What surprised you most about having your own craft / online shop?
I love the sense of community that Etsy has, I am always amazed by the amount of support and advice you can find on the forums and in the teams.

What is your favourite creations from your shop?
My favourite item at the moment would have to be one of my Tic Tac Toe travel games. I love choosing the fabric, felt and buttons to team together and they are such fun to make. I have really fond memories of playing games with my family when I was little and I love to think that my games will bring other families together in the same way.

What do you find most challenging about being an Etsy seller?
It can be tricky planning ahead for seasonal products. Before you know it, Christmas is on the way and it can be a mad rush to get everything photographed and listed. I now make sure that Christmas is planned over the summer and ready to be listed in September!

What's your personal philosophy behind your shop / products?
I want to design and make beautiful, quality and quirky toys that families will treasure. I place a big emphasis on the quality of my work and I always try to source my materials from UK based companies.

What do you do when you aren't working?
When I'm not working - which isn't often because I love what I do - I spend time with my husband and my family. I love cooking and eating out, going for long walks and reading a good book. I live by the seaside so going for an ice cream on the beach is another favourite thing to do!

Anything else you'd like to tell us or share?
I also write sewing tutorials, which I publish on my blog. I have written a really wide range of patterns, including one for a drawstring bag, a complete guide to stitching a patchwork quilt, gifts to make for men and also some knitting patterns.
You can find them all here : http://georginagiles.wordpress.com/category/tutorials/

Sew a Pudding Felt Christmas Decoration KitSew a Stocking Felt Christmas Decoration KitLove Monster Plush Toy **Limited Edition**Dusky Grey & Pink Miniature Monster Plush Toy
Treasury Tool Powered By Toastie Studio - Etsy Tools

Treasury Challenge #38 - Oranges and Lemons

Posted Saturday, July 12, 2014

The theme for the EtsyKids Team treasury challenge #38 was "Oranges and Lemons".
Our team members created lots of beautiful treasuries featuring some amazing items, but the winner with a whooping 319 views is...

Enjoy these lemons and oranges....
Wooden Vehicles, Car, Truck, Waldorf Toy, Nursery Decor, Childs Room
$8.50
Lemon Meringue Pie SCENTED Felt Cupcake, Felt Food: Hand Stitched Cupcake -- children's pretend play, tea set, tea party, felt cupcake, gift
$16.00
Tabby CAT Wood Box - Wooden Animal Keepsake Boxes -  Kitten themed Tooth Fairy Box - Cat Jewelry Box
$23.00
Baby bow tie-baby bow ties-pastel yellow-polka-color-twins baby prop-ring boy bowtie
€11.00
Wedding Favor Candies, Cupcake Fondant Flower, Rose Topper, Edible Topper, Sugar Flower Cake, Spring Wedding Yellow Cake Topper-set 30
$26.95
Stuffed toy animal - Fox
€19.00
Hand Knitted Baby Shoes with crossover straps and button fastening in Lemon Yellow, Keepsake Gift Bag - A newborn gift idea from Cwtch Bugs
£11.00
Nursery Decor - You Are My Sunshine - Sailboats - Nautical Art For Kids - 8x10 Nautical Art Prints
$15.00
Citrus Wedge Snap Clippie - Lemon, Lime or Orange
$4.50
Lola - Art Rag Doll with painted face. Collectable cloth doll for children's room decor / nursery. OOAK / One of a kind gift for girl.
€50.00
Yellow Flower Bow Headband:  yellow grosgrain bow and flower cluster attached to a skinny gold elastic headband
$10.00
Waldorf Inspired Honey Bee Peg Doll with Wooden Hive ~ Black and Yellow ~ Wood Toy ~ Spring ~ Summer ~ Bee Toy ~Bumble Bee Toy
$16.00
Hand Knitted Bear Toy - Stuffed Animal - Kids Toys - Baby Decor - Soft Toy - Baby Keepsake - Knit Toy Bear - Plush Toy -  Hand Knit - Haley
$65.00
CIJ Yellow Felt Flower Hair Clip, Canary yellow Felt Flower, Summer clips, Baby Felt hair clip, girls felt hair clips. Scallop flower hair c
$4.04
Children's Woodland Animal FOX Felt Mask and Tail Set, What Does The Fox Say
$28.00
Babushka dolls - Matryoshkas
€35.00
Treasury Tool Powered By Toastie Studio - Etsy Tools

Thank you CuteNCurlyBowtique for creating such a lovely treasury!

CuteNCurlyBowtique makes cute hair accessories and bow. We love her yellow and orange hair bow which matches perfectly with this treasury. Visit her shop to see more of her wonderful creations, plus 20% discount during the Christmas in July sale.


Camping with Kids

Posted Friday, July 11, 2014

Submitted by Nancy of TutuCute&Moore.


Camping with kids is great family fun and we all become kids at heart when sleeping in the great outdoors. But with a few precautions and a little extra planning the adventure will be memorable for years to come.
Safety tips for happy campers:

• Young children should stay within eyesight, and older children within earshot.

• Children over the age of four should carry a simple survival kit, or at least a whistle to call for help if lost. The standard distress signal is three blows to indicate "I'm lost" or "I need help."

Felt Campfire Set from FranconiaRidgeStudio.etsy.com

• Pack a days worth of clothing for each child in zip lock bags, so clothes stay organized. Every morning your child can grab the bag, with their name on it, and have a full set of clothes for the day. At night the dirty clothes go back in the bag, thus keeping the clean and dirty clothes separated.

• The key to comfortable camping with kids is to dress them in several layers, which can be removed as the sun comes up or added as the sun sets.

Camping Memory Game from 2HeartsDesire.etsy.com

• Children love flashlights, and having one also makes them more at ease after dark. To prevent arguing over the flashlight, allow each child to have their own with their name on it.

• Flashlights are also handy when making trips to the restroom, for making shadow puppets on tent walls, searching for bugs and for reading before bed.

• Bring along a game you all like to play at home. Playing it outdoors with a lantern or flashlights will add to the fun.


Hanging Toiletry Bag for Camp from NannyBoutique.etsy.com
• Teach your kids to treat the outdoors kindly. Make sure all waste is disposed of properly when camping or hiking along the trails.

• Two or more children will entertain themselves for longer periods than will a single child, so you may want to invite a playmate along.

• Get the kids involved by making a check list of camping equipment, games and favorite toys for traveling, food and snacks, rainwear, camera, phone, bug sprays, medical kit, etc.. Don’t forget to check it twice before leaving home.

Play felt S'Mores Set from IFeltItUp.etsy.com

HAPPY CAMPING!

Keep up with TutuCute&Moore on the web.  Check out her Etsy Shop and like her Facebook page!   

Christmas in July 2014 Sale!

Posted Thursday, July 10, 2014

It is that time of year again! Christmas in July!! Yay!!
Every year Etsy shops offer great discounts and savings during July for those wanting to get a kick start on their Christmas shopping. Here is a list of EtsyKids Team members who are offering discounts and deals, so take a look and get that Christmas shopping started!


Babamoon

Handmade to order crochet baby hats, headbands and newborn photo props.
Enter coupon code BABACIJ01 for 15% discount.

Babywearbybabs

Hand knit baby clothes: booties, sweaters, mittens.
Enter coupon code FREESHIPCIJ for free shipping (USA only).

Birdee's Closet

Baby and kiddo handmade clothing.
Enter coupon code FREESHIPJULY for free shipping.

Crunchy Farm Baby

We design handmade toys for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers, including learning activities and sensory toys.
Enter coupon code XMASINJULY2014 for 15% discount.

Flutterbye Chic

Personalized items, primarily for children (personalized birthday and holiday shirts).
Up to 50% off in our CIJ Section.

GeorginaGiles

Handmade toys & games to make every day an adventure!
20 % off all Christmas kits and complimentary felt tinsel kit with every order.

Greenchildcreations

natural skin care, cloth diapers, crafty things.
Enter coupon code 10OFF for 10% discount.

Half Pint Ink

Half Pint Ink is a bespoke letterpress and wood crafting studio. We are a husband and wife team creating custom letterpress items and unique hand routed growth charts.
Enter coupon code JULY2014 for 10% discount.

Handmade Cuddles

Colourful party garlands, and decorative bunting. Perfect for kids rooms, nurseries, birthday parties or Christmas decorations!
Enter coupon code CIJ2014 for 20% discount.

Jane and Joshua

Colorful appliqued shirts for babies, toddlers, and youths, boys and girls, as well as crayon wallets, minky blankets, belts, and key fobs.
15% off t-shirts and baby rompers

Kadydid Designs

Baby accessories galore! Paci clips and baby mitts to baby bibs and car seat canopies.
Enter coupon code HOLLY for free shipping, $5.00 bibs, B2G1F paci clips

Knitsbygramma

I sell mostly baby and children clothes. From newborn to size 12. Sweater, pants, jackets, hats and more.
Discount on all Christmas stockings

Little Sweetie Boutique

Little girls pillowcase dresses, skirts & more!
Enter coupon code CIJEK10 for 10% discount.

Magnificence

Ribbon Sculptures, Hair bows, Headbands, and Lots of Girly Treasures.
10% off any purchase with code CIJ10, 15% off $20 or more purchase with code CIJ15, 25% off $50 or more purchase with code CIJ25.

MASProductionArts

I'm a stay at home mom with a degree in Early Childhood Education. I use my experience and education to create toys that engage your child's imagination and thinking skills.
Discount on select items.

Numsies

Toys for kids ages 0 to 101 along with more fun stuff!
Enter coupon code JULYSNOW for 10% discount.

Owlsandco

Owlsandco is making handmade dolls, drooly bibs, teethers, quilts.
Enter coupon code CHRISTMASINJULY for 15% discount.

Payley

Hand knit wool cloth diaper covers, dryer balls made of felted wool, specialty crochet hats and other items. Custom orders always welcome, everything made to order.
Enter coupon code CHRISTMASINJULY for 20% discount.

Peacebabybatiks

Hand-dyed and tially fun batik clothing for babies, toddlers, big kids -- and the grown ups who love them.
Enter coupon code FREESHIP for free domestic shipping.

Raising Green Kids

Raising Green Kids is committed living a healthy and sustainable family lifestyle. My shop carries eco-friendly and natural products such as felted wool dryer balls, laundry sachets, natural hot/cold therapy bags, reusable decor and household items.
Enter coupon code JULY2014 for 15% discount off any order over $10.

Rockabyebaby Store

Rockabyebabystore sells handmade banners, bow ties, bibs, and burp cloths sewn and appliqued.
10% off order during the month of July.

Rozies Pearls

We have a full line of handmade newborn and toddler bracelets.
Enter coupon code CHRISTMAS for 20% discount.

SweetbeanzBoutique

We offer boutique hair accessories, baby headbands, chunky bead necklaces, hand~stamped jewelry, & more...all to celebrate the sweet, unique kids in your life!
Enter coupon code CIJ2014 for 20% discount.

The Whimsical Studio

Boutique style Crocheted baby hats, outfits and photo props. Little girls handmade dresses. aprons for Moms and Dads and Christmas tree skirts
20% off all products.

Toporko

Handmade wooden eco-friendly toys, beautiful and unique.
Enter coupon code CHRISTMASINJULY for 15% discount.

Tzburps

Plush owls and birds for nursery décor, tooth pillow owls and OOAK gifts.
Enter coupon code JULYXMAS14 for 30% discount.

W(e)il'd Hair & Accessories

W(e)il'd Hair & Accessories offers fun and colorful chunky jewelry for children and adults. Chunky jewelry is perfect for playing dress up, photo shoots and everyday wear.
Enter coupon code EKCIJ10 for 10% discount.

XanderdooStitches

Custom Handmade & Embroidered Gifts for Baby, Family & Home!
Enter coupon code CHRISTMASINJULY10XDS for 10% off orders of $5.00 or more plus 3 free lace icicle ornaments with total purchase.

WeHive

Enter coupon code CIJ5OFF for $5 off all personalized story books.

Cutencurlybowtique

Offering 20% discount on everything, no coupon code needed, discount already applied to shop prices.

Miss lotties boutique

Enter coupon code CHRISTMASINJULY2014 for 15%.

Search for more EtsyKids Team Christmas in July SALE items.
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