Top Ten Posts of 2013

This has been a great year and I can't believe that it is almost over already!  

Here are my top 10 Posts of 2013

10.   DIY Lace Scarf

9. Sleigh Bells Ring Sign

8. Distressed Towel Bar

7.  Valentine Mod Podge Pendant

6.  DIY Library Tote Bag

5.  Firecracker Tutu Dress

4.  DIY Chiffon and Lace Headband

3.  Kids Personalized Artwork Display

2.  Mod Podge Valentine Suitcase

AND the MOST viewed post of 2013 was my Mod Podge Upcycled Shutter Ornaments which were featured on Mod Podge Rocks!

Hope you enjoyed our year in crafts together!
Don't forget to enter to win a CUSTOM sign by me
HERE
I am sharing with

xoxo

Amie @ Pinkapotamus

NAME that SIGN contest!

Why not end the in year Style with a CUSTOM sign of your own!

That's right.. I am giving away 1 CUSTOM sign to 1 lucky winner on my FACEBOOK page!

Head on over.. Like the page, SHARE the giveaway.. and let me know what sign you would have me create for you!

I will pick a winner on New Year's EVE!  

So what are you waiting for?

Head on over 

and enter win NOW!

Good luck!

xoxo

Amie @ Pinkapotamus

12 Shops of Christmas #1: Cynthia's Soap Kitchen

Yesterday I shared my own craftiness but today I would love to showcase another wonderful crafter!

This is part of a series that is being shared by Joanna from JoJoBean26

I am pleased to introduce you to Cynthia Lynch of Cynthia's Soap Kitchen, with whom I had the joy of hanging out this summer at the Oakland Farmer's Market. She makes beautiful cold process soaps, skinny lotion, aromatherapy blends, and even an all natural insect repellent that I snatched up for Jude this year. None of the other natural products I tried worked for us, but he was bite free all through late August and September thanks to Cynthia's Bug Bane. I loved having a booth next to Cynthia at the market this summer, because the breeze would blow through our tents, carrying the scents of her soaps with it. Instant aromatherapy boost!

She was nice enough to answer my questions, and even to offer a coupon code for readers (see the bottom of this post!). Her soaps make amazing gifts, and pair really well with other items for those themed gift baskets I keep talking about. My favorite is the Organic Mulled Wine Soap, which would go perfectly in a basket with a few fun wine charms or coasters, a wine journal, corkscrew, and obviously, a big bottle of your favorite red! Read on to learn more about Cynthia and see her picks for the best gifts in her shop! 

Please tell us a little about you and your products. 

I make natural, organic bar and liquid soaps with pure essential oils. The inspiration for the soaps comes from the best lesson I learned as a professional cook: keep it simple and use the best ingredients available. It makes for the best, healthiest product you can get.

How would you describe the mission/purpose of your business?

If I could change one thing with my business, I would love to see people get away from using bath products with toxic ingredients. I believe we can all be a lot healthier with a few minor changes to our daily routines.

How did you get started as a creative business owner?

It goes back to cooking. Making soap is so similar--creating a recipe, measuring ingredients, cooking it properly--it was just a natural choice. Along the way I've fallen in love with the essential oils that I use, which is now leading me into perfumery as well.

What is your favorite part of running a creative business? The biggest challenge?

That's easy: my favorite part is making the soaps, and inventing new ones. The biggest challenge is getting the word out. There just aren't enough hours in the day!

What is the best gift in your shop? Who is it for? (Feel free to add a few, ie: The best gift for gardeners is this amazing hand cream because… The best gift for a baby is this burp cloth set because…) I've got soaps for quite a few tastes.Any of my organic soaps are the best hostess or teacher gift because they're both beautiful and useful. The best gift for the beer lover is either my Organic Beer or Organic Stout soap--they'll soon learn that beer is amazing for your skin too! The best gift for someone you want to pamper would be a combination of my Organic Lavender Soap and Liquid Soap in Lavender Grapefruit because the scents are just so soothing and uplifting.

You can use the coupon code XMAS20 in Cynthia's Etsy shop to receive 20% off your total order, through December.

Hope you stop and visit her and share some love!

xoxo

Amie @ Pinkapotamus

Craft Show Adventures!

It has been a super BUSY couple weeks here in 

Pink Hippo land!   I have been crafting my little heart out to ready for a BIG craft show.. so without further ado here it is!

Now I have never had a round table before so it was kinda throwing me off a bit.

But after some readjusting

and an intervention from the hubby

I think it all worked!

And of course EVERYTHING is much more fun with your friends so I brought some! 

Sharon worked behind the scenes, my MIL was our photographer and we had lots of visitors!

Here is my lovely friend Laurie at her table, she makes beautiful tags, scrapbook, frames and recipe boxes!

And of course we needed some fun friend pics

'cause what else would you do at a craft show?

BTW if you look closely at my table the little cloth on it is full of mini hippos!

I also had the pleasure of meeting another crafty blogger who I will introduce you to in more depth this week

Joanna from JoJo Beans Designs

she makes the most beautiful plantable seed paper and party goods!

So all in all it was a GREAT day, friends, fun, networking, meeting other bloggers and of course making a little money is always the gravy on the mashed potatoes!

And let me just say that I am soo appreciative of all the love and support that I get from my family and friends.. I couldn't do it without them!

I am sharing with

xoxo

Amie @ Pinkapotamus

Upcycled White Christmas Sign

If I'm being honest.. I'm really NOT but I DO love the sentiment of it.

Onto the post... 

So I found this old shelf just lying around in my yard 

I have no idea why.. but I thought it would be fun to make into a sign for the mantel.

So I taped it

with some help from my puppy .. 

and dropped some blue paint on the top

and smeared it on.

Next I grabbed some red paint for the middle

While it all dried I hit up the Cricut for some quick vinyl cutting.

I added my vinyl to the sign with the transfer tape

and then it was ready for a top coat of paint.

I gave two coats of white

and then peeled the vinyl to reveal this!

At this point I thought it needed a little something.. so I added a stripe

and some snowy bling with my paper punch.

And now it's on my fireplace!

Oh and here's our little Elf on the Shelf Georgie making his way around the house in his car!

xoxo,

Amie @ Pinkapotamus