black friday special events!

East Valley Artisans, my arts group, is having our first home party today! EVA offers quality handmade products including jewelry, hair accessories, ornaments, magnets, unique chainmail gifts and more. Get your holiday shopping done in a cozy, festive environment. I'm one of the featured artists and will demonstrate how to use ice resin and how to decorate an ornament with paper and modpodge.

*Shop for holiday gifts*
*Meet the artists*
*See live demonstrations*
*Sign up for future crafting workshops*
*Win a door PRIZE!!!!* 

Stop by our open house today between 11am and 3pm. Bring a friend - the more the merrier! Hors d'oevers and beverages will be served.  For complete details, please click here.

BLACK FRIDAY SPECIALS

Get 20% off your entire purchase by using coupon code BLACKFRIDAY when shopping Creative Stash on Etsy. Also, my shop is BOGO for the holidays, buy one get one 50% off. Sale prices will be honored at the EVA Black Friday Event today. Please note either coupon or BOGO sale price will applied but, not both. Contact me via etsy or email me krisfagan (at) cox.net to set up a reserved listing for BOGO items. Thanks and Happy Holidays!

thankful

I count my blessings for my two happy little boys, my caring husband, and for all the amazing family and friends who enrich our lives every day. I am also very grateful for our home, good health, laughter, art supplies, the library, yoga and time to create and re-connect with myself regularly. Last but, certainly not least, I am thankful for all the wonderful people who have inspired and supported me and Creative Stash this year.  My family and I are so very grateful to you. Wishing you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving!

packaging ideas

 Hi! I guest blogged on Soft Flex Company's blog  this week about packaging ideas.  I LOVE packaging.  I have spent a few hours but, could have easily spent a few days looking at packaging ideas to share with you. An item packaged nicely will impress your buyers and their gift recipients, that's a win-win!  There are some lovely packaging ideas and tips I found on my hunt. Click to see this post.

handmade goodness: distressed doll

Life Together Altered Album

I am so happy to have met Amy of Distressed Doll this past month.  I bought a calendar and journal from her at Hissyfits Hullabaloo and after checking out her facebook page and all that she creates, I simply fell in love with her art.  Amy creates altered albums, jewelry, paper arts, votive holders, teaches classes and welcomes custom orders too! Distressed Doll's items are as beautifully crafted as they are beautiful.

Address Books

Journals

 

Photo Clips

After Hissyfits, I saw Amy again at Mesa 2nd Fridays and purchased a handful of her adorable photo clips to hold gift cards. They are a wonderful way to add a touch of handmade goodness to an otherwise plain gift.  So much more exciting then sticking a card in an envelope, right?  Find Distressed Doll on Facebook!

recycled bottle cap magnets - made to order

My handmade bottle cap magnet sets are a wonderful gift idea and they can now be customized! These little treasures are made from recycled bottle caps featuring custom image(s) supplied by you. Custom images can be family photos, child's artwork, nature photos, anything you want! I will accepting custom magnet set orders until Dec 10th.

Details
- magnets are 1 inch round
- custom images are set into a bottle cap with clear resin
- super duper 1/2 inch magnets hold several sheets of paper
- set of 6 magnets will be shipped to you in a gift tin.

♥ Testimonials:

Love these magnets!! The best 20 bucks i ever spent!! I cant wait to get another set. ~ Vicky

Super fast delivery and beautiful packaging. The magnets are gorgeous, although that word doesn't seem to do them justice! Thank you so much! ~ Peggy

I got the magnets. they are fantastic!!!!!! every time i need a gift this is what i am giving. i love them so much. I need some for myself. thanks so much! ~ Wendy

HOLIDAY BOGO SALE! Buy one set and get your second set half off!  Your second set can be the same or a different set of custom images. You will need to contact me via etsy or email krisfagan (at) cox.net to set up a reserved listing with special pricing for BOGO sale.

handmade goodness: black mountain jewelry

Black Mountain Jewelry is a husband and wife team of jewelry artists that create beautiful, one-of-a-kind, heirloom quality jewelry.  Carla and Mark are fine art, custom jewelry designers who strive to crate living art that embodies your unique experiences. Above is their best selling personalized Tree of Life product line.  I personally own the ring and gifted the pendant to my mother, both are so very special to me.

 These are some just of the beautiful handmade jewelry available from Black Mountain Jewelry:

 

 

I have known Carla and Mark for many years.  Carla and I were co-workers at a mom and pop bead supply shop here in Arizona.  When we went our own ways in business we remained friends and continued to work with one another through the years.  I handled their businesses graphic design, they crafted our wedding rings, my engagement ring and my bridal jewelry, I created their website, they created a stunning crystal "mother's" necklace for me. It has been a great working relationship but, above it all we are good friends.

Carla and Mark are exceptionally talented in their craft and very deserving of your trust in their abilities to create a stunning piece of jewelry for you or your loved one. Right now, they are offering Free Shipping on orders placed through 11/30/10. Just enter coupon code FS11 on your web order at www.blackmountainjewelry.com.

handmade goodness: desert baby

Desert Baby specializes in handmade goodies for Moms and the Lil' Ones that rule their lives. All items are created and hand-sewn by my good friend and fellow hip mama, Amanda. Amanda has a wonderful eye for beautiful fabrics and does an impeccable job making her products.  You can tell lots of love and care are put into everything she makes. Check out Desert Baby on Facebook!

 These are some just of the adorable ready to ship goodies from Desert Baby

Infant Car Seat Canopy Covers

Organic Cotton Tie Onesie

Minky Burp Cloths

You can totally tell I'm a mom of boys, right?!  Desert Baby, of course has items in girlie girl fabric and styles too! Amanda loves custom orders and truly aims to please. I have placed numerous custom orders with her and she is kind, fair and super easy to work with.

Child Painter's Apron

 This is one custom item I ordered, a painter's apron for my son's 3rd birthday. My son loves rainbow colors so, this fabric was just perfect! He adores it and since it rolls up, we can easily store all his brushes in it when they are not in use.

handmade goodness

I have been surrounded by so much handmade goodness over the past few weeks I am just spinning from the awesomeness of it all.

I went to Hissyfits Hullabaloo (local craft fair with lots of goodies) last weekend to support a friend selling there and to check it out.  It was a wonderful event, I saw a ton of things I would loved to purchase if I could have. I set up my booth at Mesa 2nd Friday this week to sell my handmade items, buy some others and chat with my show neighbors. Sprinkle in my wonderfully talented creative friends online and offline and I realized I had a ton of artists and craftspeople to share with you!

So over the next couple of weeks I will do just that.  Stay tuned ... 

this moment: leaf head

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, join in over at SouleMama.

TGIF on main street tomorrow

Tomorrow, I'll have a booth selling my handmade jewelry, bottle cap magnets and new art bookmarks and cards at Downtown Mesa's 2nd Friday - Thank goodness it's Fall event from 6pm - 10 pm. This month is a fall theme and features a bonus International Flair Festival, with multicultural performers, a henna artist, beer garden and food sampling, in the block between Robson and Country Club along Main Street in downtown Mesa.

Event Highlights: Free event with live bands, hay rides, holistic exhibits, country fair games for kids, pony rides, food, entertainment, art galleries, 60+ art booths, farmers market, charity events, and more!

I'll be setup alongside my friend, Kandes of Tricky Fox Designs, located on the South side of Main Street, between MacDonald & Center from 6pm - 10 pm. It should be a beautiful night for a stroll on Main Street, hope to see you there!

new batch of canvas earrings

I have a few new canvas painted earrings designs now available in my Etsy shop.  These fun, funky and super lightweight painted canvas earrings are hand-cut from my abstract acrylic paintings.

My etsy shop is going BOGO for the holidays, buy one get one 50% off! Plus, FREE SHIPPING in the US!

monthly goal meetup

October, so sad to see you go.  It was an amazing month.  Our family staycation rocked. I realized just how much I missed the people I see and live with every day.  I get myself so wrapped up in this project and that project that taking a whole week to catch up and enjoy each day with my favorite people in the whole world was fantastic.

October Goals

• web site client - in progress and moving along well
  
• logo design client - completed
• promote custom magnets for the holidays - underway
  
• promote monthly sale & test out renewing Etsy items daily - underway, getting more traffic but no extra sales yet, I'll give it another month of daily renewing to assess.
  
• family staycation - woo hoo! - so much awesomeness!
  
• make Halloween decorations - kids want more spooky stuff! boo,didn't get to create.  oh well we'll try for fall/thanksgiving crafts
  
• reacquaint myself with the gym - YES!  it is great to be back even if it's just 2-3 days a weeks
  
• cook up some real food not all the processed stuff we've been eating lately (I blame it on coupons!) - made a few new dishes, my son E's new favorite dish is ground turkey tacos. 

I accomplished everything I set out to do last month and that feels great.  November is shaping up to be a busy month.  I'm going to take it in stride one step at a time and really try to not alienate myself from the rest of the world. Because really what is the point of that, right?

November Goals

• web site client - finish up design galleries and press/news page
• teach cartooning to 2 elementary classes each week
• east vallery artisans logo design
• promote custom magnets for the holidays
• fill custom magnet orders
• continue to test out renewing etsy items daily
• post new items on etsy - bookmarks and notecards
• test out new items - bottle cap bookmarks and bobby pins
• craft sales 11/12 and 11/26
• create custom coasters for Suzan
• create custom painting for Jenny
• create custom painting for Inessa
• cook Thanksgiving dinner
  
• family fall crafts
  
• set aside gym time
• set aside cooking time

If you would like to join in the Meetup biz goals fun, head on over to Athena Dreams to read more about what we do and how to join in. Wishing everyone a calm and balanced November in the midst of holiday craziness!

this moment: the symphony

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, join in over at SouleMama.

BOGO holiday sale!

My etsy shop is going BOGO for the holidays, buy one get one 50% off! Plus, FREE SHIPPING in the US!

Sale fine print: BOGO offer is good for all items in my shop! 50% off is applied to the lower priced item. You will need to contact me via etsy or email krisfagan (at) cox (dot) net to set up a reserved listing with special pricing for your items. Sale ends Dec 15th.  So there you have it, buy a one item from Creative Stash and get a second item of equal or lessor value for 50% off!

Here are some of the lovely things people say about shopping at Creative Stash:

Love these magnets!! The best 20 bucks i ever spent!! I cant wait to get another set. ~ Vicky

Super fast delivery and beautiful packaging. The magnets are gorgeous, although that word doesn't seem to do them justice! Thank you so much! ~ Peggy

I got the magnets. they are fantastic!!!!!! every time i need a gift this is what i am giving. i love them so much. I need some for myself. thanks so much! ~ Wendy

Kristen is an extremely talented artist. I love many of her creations and have purchased her jewelry and have her delightful frig magnets. ~ Stacy

Absolutely beautiful! I've only had it [art necklace] a few hours and have already received wonderful comments. ~ Stacy

I recently purchased my first pair of earrings from Kristen and I love them! I get many compliments when I wear them. I am so impressed with her craftsmanship and beautiful design. Thank you so much Kristen... Your awesome! ~ Amanda

To my friends and customers, a sincere thank you for supporting indie handmade businesses and for shopping with me at Creative Stash!♥

a crafty holiday begins today!

I'm so excited, A Crafty Holiday, hosted by angela flicker at The Artists’ House begins today!  Participating blogs will feature handmade shops and items on their personal lists (be it to give or to get) and share why they are vowing to buy handmade this year. We will jump from blog to blog, one beautiful handmade item to the next, making it all the way to mid-December. I can't wait to see all the lovely handmade and artistic items!

I encourage you to check out "A Crafty Holiday" at angela flicker and where women create today.

Linda from a la mode is up Tuesday and Candy from candied fabrics is up on Wednesday.

You can view the entire “A Crafty Holiday” schedule here.