Give Thanks with Personalized Gifts

Thanksgiving is just around the corner.  It makes us think about the amazing friends and family that we have in our lives that keep us going, offer support and advice, and are just there for us when we need someone.  Then there's the other part of the holiday.  The nutty shopping frenzy that people get roped into just to get a good deal and act crazy for a day.

Well, rather than wait in those crazy lines, stay in with your family to enjoy one more helping of turkey and I'll make it easy.  Get your friend a personalized jewelry dish.  I'll design it any way you'd like, and you can enjoy 20% off with code THANKFUL20 now through Cyper Monday.  Plus, it's Shop Small Saturday this weekend, so I'll be super thankful you helped to support my tiny business and my big dreams! www.etsy.com/shop/rebeccamarksdesign

Above is a dish I sent my lovely friend Amy for her birthday!  Thanks for the photos, Amy!

I'm Still Here!

Oh, hey!  It has been way too long.  But I have a good excuse!  Our second little bundle of joy, Evan, came into the world in August... just 5 weeks early... so I have been just a little busy.  Not to mention my now 2-year-old, started preschool and dance class!  It has been a whirlwind, but my husband and I could not be happier.  We are so incredibly fortunate and thankful.

And speaking of thankful, Thanksgiving is just around the corner.  Which means the holidays are almost here!  To help you get a head start on your gift list,  take 20% off your purchase at my Etsy shop with code THANKFUL20 now through Cyber Monday!

Well, hurry up and get shopping!!!

www.etsy.com/shop/rebeccamarksdesign

Remember When...

Remember when it was cold out and we were wondering where Spring was?  Oh, and now it's scorching hot outside?  If wearing your favorite sundress or tank top and shorts just doesn't look polished enough what do you do to make your outfit look complete?  Well, add jewelry of course!  It's the easiest way to take a simple outfit and make it look more put together!

jewelry available at www.etsy.com/shop/rebeccamarksdesign

STOMP out Cancer this weekend with STOMP the Monster!

Here we are volunteering! 

What are you doing this weekend?  Come on out to the 5th annual STOMP the Monster 5k race!

What is STOMP the Monster?  It is an amazing non-profit organization that was started by my husband's cousin, Seth.  Seth has battled cancer since 2010, and in his road to remission met many people who did not have the support and help that he did.  He started the organization to help families in the same situation with financial needs.

You can do your part in supporting this great cause by coming out to the 5k this weekend!  Not a runner?  Neither am I, especially at 24 weeks pregnant...  But there's also a 1 mile Family Walk, a Kid's Stomp, games, music, food, and much more!

For more information visit http://stompthemonster.org

Photo courtesy of Shara Rudner

Something Cheerful and Bright!

So, it's been a little while.  A little too long, in fact.  I hope you all had a wonderful Mother's Day!

Mother's and Father's Day are always tough these days, now that I have a 1 1/2 year old.  When it comes to gifts for her grandparents, it almost feels impersonal to me if it's not something directly from my daughter.  I also feel like I took the easy way out if I don't make something myself, which I know is absurd, but what can I saw? I'm a DIY-er.  But, it is hard to come up with new ideas.

I decided I wanted to do something with flower pots.  I found planters in the $1/$3 section at Target and used that as my base.  I had heard that Target was now carrying a craft line called Hand Made Modern, so I checked it out.  I found a container of felt flowers that were all separate pieces that you had to put together.  It was so much fun.

For this project, I used the following:

Hot Glue Gun
Flower Pots
Paper Straws
Felt or Pre-cut felt flowers
Wood Flower







First, I hot-glued the felt flower pieces together to create the larger flowers I wanted.  I then glued those to the pots.




I wanted to create something that made it specifically from my daughter, Lucy, so I found wooden sunflowers at Michaels, and hot-glued them to paper straws.  I found these lavender with white polka dot straws in the party section at Target.  I then glued a cut out of Lucy's face to the center of the flower.  Now they have something to stick in the soil until their flowers grow!




I know it's late for Mother's Day, but these would make great gifts for birthdays and other holidays, too!  Or just as a keepsake for you!

Happy Crafting!

Spring? Is That You?

Well, it was Spring for like a week, and now snow in the forecast?!  Seriously!  Well, I'm still in the Spring mood, and with that comes brighter colors, new inspiration, and a sale for you!  Take 20% off your entire purchase with code: SPRINGISHERE

Hurry!  You only have until March 31!

www.etsy.com/shop/rebeccamarksdesign

Snow...Snow...Oh, Wait, More Snow!

Well, there's a lot of snow out there.  Maybe not if you're basking in the sun in California or Florida, but the rest of us are freezing our hinees off!  With all of those layers, how do you have any room to accessorize with more than a scarf, hat, and mittens?  And anything delicate gets caught on those beautifully knit wool sweaters...



Wear bold, chunky pieces that pair perfectly with bold, chunky layers!

visit www.etsy.com/shop/rebeccamarksdesign and get shopping!

Love is in the Air...

Valentine's Day is just around the corner and you're in luck because I sell jewelry!  Lots of it!  And it's unique, one-of-a-kind, and not boring!  Does your lovely need something more practical?  How about a hand painted jewelry dish that tells her how you feel!

 

This Classic Black and White dish says "for my love with all my heart"

This Sky Blue and White dish says "follow your hear always"

And who says it has to be a gift for someone else?  You're allowed to love you, too!!!  So buy yourself some jewels!

...oh, and did I mention you can take 20% off with code IHEART20?  Oh, well, then you should get going! www.etsy.com/shop/rebeccamarksdesign

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

And...... we're back!!!  HAPPY NEW YEAR!  I hope that you all had a very happy and healthy holiday season and a fantastic new year!

I apologize that I haven't posted in a couple weeks, as I was spending lots of quality time with family and friends, taking a little breather...And I was really busy DIY-ing!!!

For the holidays this year, I wanted to try something a little different, by sticking with my homemade itch and making super personal gifts for all the special people in our lives.  It started with a page out of HGTV Magazine titled "6 Things to do with Gold Paint"...

They painted glass beakers with Liquid Gilding by Martha Stewart Crafts.   Coming from someone that loves all things sparkly, gold, and DIY, I had to give this a shot.  I took to Pinterest for even more inspiration.  I have to admit there were a few trial and error pieces to start.  I tried a cheaper liquid gold paint that claimed to be opaque, but it just left me with streaks and looked cheap.  In the end, Martha Stewart's Liquid Gilding was totally the way to go!  I found it at Michaels.  Here are a few of the goodies I created.

I freehand painted the polka dots on this round globe vase (shown at top) with a paint brush and used a pencil eraser for the set of wine glasses.  I used Martha Stewart Craft Liquid Gilding for both.

 

I used electrical tape and the Liquid Gilding to create these stripes.  Rather than using a regular paint brush, I used a pouncer brush for a thicker, more even coat of paint.  I tried painters tape on a separate vase, but the lines were not clean.

                               

I used a Gold Craft Smart Premium Oil Based Paint Pen for this dish and these bowls.

To create these small jewelry dishes, I bought small bowls used for dips and used a Green Craft Smart Premium Oil Based Paint Pen on the left, and Craft Smart Acrylic Paint with a brush on the right.

These were all a ton of fun to create, and there were a bunch more.  You just have to have the time to sit and create, but once you get going, it's hard to stop.