Indie Chic @ 10th Street

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I was invited to participate in Indie Chic on Saturday and I've been in full prep mode - glittering, gluing and wire-wrapping. Stop by and say hi if you are in the Tempe, AZ area. This will be a great opportunity to get your Christmas shopping done!

Indie Chic
Dec. 5, 2009
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Location: ASU Art Museum
Cost to attend: free

Handmade Black Friday Sales

Happy Thanksgiving!

Think about buying handmade this holiday season! I'm making an effort to buy handmade this year and have found tons of Black Friday deals that are too good not to blog about. Designs by Vanessa is even getting in on the action and offering a 10% discount storewide. Use the coupon code "Black Friday" in note to seller and a discount will be refunded through PayPal. Happy Shopping!!

Search the Black Friday Directory at Indie Smiles.

Search sales at the Handmade Black Friday Facebook Page.

Lauren Alexander (Original Paintings & Prints)
Thanksgiving Overstuffed Sale: Buy anything and get a free 3.5"x5" print of your choice!



Craftweasel (Ornaments, Gifts & Decor)
11/27: Free Shipping!

Green Designs by Lisa (Recycled Coffee Bag Purses & More)
11/27-11/30: Buy 1 Get 1 Free

Tiombe Swakdesigns (Handmade Couture Accessories)
11/27-11/30: 15% off entire order for U.S. and Canada!


Zaftig Delights (Plus Size Clothing & Jewelry)
11/27: Free shipping on jewelry and 10% off all clothing!

Knitzy Blonde (Handmade Knitwear & Handbags)
11/27: 10% off everything!

DECA Candle & Bath (Handmade Candles, Soap, Bath & Body)
11/27-11/30: Marked down soaps and melts in Featured Items. Discounted shipping through November. A special Cyber Monday Sale will be announced on their Facebook Fan Page.


Starbaby Gems (Handmade Jewelry)
11/27-11/30: $5.00 off any handmade piece or $3.00 off sterling chains which are already on sale! Code to use: ET-BFCM-5/3

Oh Baby Boutique (Handmade Baby Designs)
11/27-11/30: Buy 1 Get 1 Free!

Hot Pink Chick (Unique Handmade Jewelry)
11/27-11/30: 10% off 1 item, 15% off 2 items, 20% off 3 or more items!


Doohickies & Such (Jewelry, Buttons, Scrapbooking)
11/25-11/30: 20% off everything!

Payley (Custom Crochet)
11/27-11/30: Buy 1 Get 1 Free!

Thankful

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving - full of family, friends and food! I have a lot to be thankful for this year...

a husband who is "my home"
incredibly supportive parents
furbabies that always put me in a good mood
the best extended family
new friends
old friends
my blog - an outlet for my creativity
our home
the food we eat
my clothing
all of my blogging friends

What are you thankful for this year?

(Me & Mr. Designs by Vanessa)

How To: Fabric Leaf Place Cards

This mini tutorial is my poor attempt at an apology to Thanksgiving for snubbing it and going into full Christmas mode without showing the turkey the proper respect it deserves . I blame the 24/7 Christmas music on the radio and the shiny new Christmas craft supplies they put out before Halloween is even over. I'll try to hold off listening to any more Christmas songs until November 27th (today doesn't count)...

Materials

Cardstock
Fabric Leaves
Buttons
Hemp String or Yarn/Ribbon
Paper Cutter
Hole Puncher

Directions

Step 1: Determine how large you want your card tent and use your paper cutter (or scissors) to cut your card stock down to size. Fold your cardstock in half to make a card tent. If you don't feel like cutting or folding, you can always buy ready made tent cards at your local craft store.


Step 2: Punch a hole through your card tent and fabric flowers (these can be found ready made at a craft store or make your own using a leaf cookie cutter as your stencil). I have a nifty hole puncher that punches 2 long skinny squarish holes but if you don't have this type of puncher, no worries, you can punch 2 side by side holes or hand-cut 2 slits.


Step 3: Place hemp string through your holes, connecting your leaves to your card tent, and finish off with an up-cycled button.


Step 4: Enjoy your festive place card! Instead of names, I will be writing meaningful quotes on these cards and setting them around the table.


Add your Fabric Leaf Place Card photos to the Designs by Vanessa Tutorial Flickr Group.

Gift Guide: The Chef

Plans Change...

This is what I’m calling my scarf and it is actually a very fitting way to describe my life and define my personality right now. I was completely out of my element with this scarf making business. I have never made a scarf and while I possess basic sewing skills, I am in no way a master seamstress. I picked fabric and came up with a design plan that fit my personality – feminine and creative with a splash of fun.

I eagerly started working on my plan and halfway through, my sewing machine decided to stop sewing. After 15 minutes of pleading with my machine and another 15 minutes of thinking happy thoughts in an attempt to use positive thinking to get it to work, I picked up a needle and started sewing by hand (please note that I’m even worse at hand stitching than I am with my sewing machine).

My scarf took on a life of its own and when my hand got tired I decided to call it a scarflette! My scarf plans may have changed but I rolled with the punches and went with the flow. In the end I didn’t get a perfect scarf but instead I got something that was a little outside of the box but very much me!

Without further adieu, this is what I submitted to the Me, My Scarf, and I Contest. Keep your fingers crossed that I win because I could really use a new sewing machine that actually sews!

Gift Guide: The Man's Man

New Moon

Yes, I will be out there tonight with the rest of the Twilighters for the New Moon premiere and I can't wait! Mr. Designs by Vanessa, being the supportive hubby that he is, will be braving the hundreds of screaming teens with me. This was my conversation with Mr. Designs by Vanessa before he left to work today...

Me: You do know that we are Team Edward, right?

Mr. Designs by Vanessa: Edward Who?

Me: Edward from Twilight!

Mr. Designs by Vanessa: Oh, yeah (only half listening).

Me: You know if you let me sprinkle some glitter on you, you might look like him.

Mr. Designs by Vanessa: Look like who?

Me: Edward!!

Twilight Amber Eyes Necklace by BridgeSt
Edward Cullen Silhouette Decal by Vinyl Fruit
French Vampire Shirt by coup
Bitten Ring by Bluembrownlee

Skin MD Review & Giveaway - ENDED

Since moving to Arizona, I think I've tried at least 20 different moisturizers but my skin just soaks up the lotion and I have to constantly reapply (I'm sure those of you who live in the desert can empathize). When Skin MD Natural offered to send me their Shielding Lotion to review I was excited after checking out their website and learning that it is hypoallergenic, fragrance, colorant and paraben free (all things I look for in a bath/body product). I also appreciated that they don't participate in animal testing or use any animal products in their lotion.

After a few days of testing out the Shielding Lotion, I love how it isn't sticky or oily like some lotions but still kept my skin feeling moisturized throughout the day. I love how a little dot of this stuff goes a long way and I enjoyed the natural clean scent. Mr. Designs by Vanessa also got in on the product testing and he loved how smooth his skin felt after just one application (just don't tell his friends he spoke about his smooth skin). I would definitely recommend this lotion to anyone with dry or sensitive skin!

Skin MD Natural is generously giving away a bottle of their Shielding Lotion to one of my lucky readers! Keep reading for the details.


Who? This giveaway is open to everyone- bloggers and non-bloggers, U.S. or non U.S. residents. The more the merrier!

What? Win a 4oz bottle of Skin MD Natural Face, Hand & Body Shielding Lotion.

When? November 18th - December 11th. I will announce a winner on my blog on December 12th.

Where? Right here.

Why? Because I love this lotion!

How? Let me tell you how you can enter to win...

Required:

1. Visit Skin MD Natural and tell me something you learned about their products.

For Additional Entries: (Please leave a separate comment for each entry.)

2. Blog about this contest and link back to it.

3. Subscribe to or follow my blog. Current subscribers/followers count!

4. Fan Designs by Vanessa on Facebook. Current fans count!


5. Follow Designs by Vanessa on Twitter. Current followers count!

6. Tweet the following: Win a bottle of Skin MD Shielding Lotion @designsvanessa - http://designsbyvanessa.blogspot.com/2009/11/skin-md-review-giveaway.html

7. Post my button on your blog or site (just copy and paste the code you see in my sidebar).

8. Join Designs by Vanessa's mailing list.

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Do this by November December 11th and you are in! A winner will be picked randomly. Please make sure that you leave a way for us to contact you or we won't be able to get this fabulous prize to you. Winners who I am unable to contact and who don't respond within 48 hours of being sent their winning email notification will forfeit their prize and I will draw another name.