Sponsor Spotlight: Aly of Artisan Des Arts

My name is Aly, and I blog at artisandesarts. I live in Ottawa, Canada, where I am a French teacher to a wonderful grade 5/6 class. In addition to that, I teach art daily to K-6, while my students are in their English class. I have never considered myself an artist, but have always been a huge crafter. I absolutely love all kinds of crafts, from weaving to sewing to paper-cutting.

Over at my blog, I post all of the art projects that I do with my art classes. I try to include step by steps, and sometimes I’ll even make a video how-to. As well, I post a lot of DIY’s that I do in my spare time (especially during Summer break!)

My favorite art project that I have done with my students is my hand dyed paper with silhouettes (done with grade 5/6 students, but the concept could be applied to many other projects!).

My favorite DIY was for my sister-in-law’s baby shower bomb or my Lego Red Sox costume (so hot inside the head!)

Please take time to visit and follow my blog!

xo, aly

Sponsor Spotlight: Valerie of Custom Printables

Hello, friends of The Creative Place! My name is Valerie Glassman, and I am the owner/designer behind Custom Printables and Bull City Studio! I am so thrilled to be able to start this partnership with Ashley, especially since we live so close to one another (I live in Durham, NC - about 40 minutes from Ashley)!

I started Custom Printables a few years ago after taking an online class in Adobe Illustrator and InDesign through our local community college. As my then-boyfriend (now husband!) and I had started discussing marriage, I began to scour the Internet for wedding blogs and do-it-yourself designers. I soon found myself with an Etsy shop, designing wedding stationery and other pieces for couples and families around the world. Custom Printables quickly blossomed on Zazzle, and I am excited to begin a new adventure shortly with my Bull City Studio site, a subscription website from which folks can download, personalize, and print their own stationery at one year for a single payment of less than $25!

Here are some of my favorite projects from over the years:

My wedding invitation! What a delightful partnership between myself and Sara at Salutations of Chapel Hill. When I coveted letterpress but learned we couldn’t afford the set I wanted, Sara worked with us to find a delightful color palette and I could design all of the pieces myself. (Paper by Envelopments, photo by David Rosen of Photo Innovations, flowers by The Watered Garden)

I also designed, printed, and assembled the table numbers, escort cards, and other signage for the wedding! This just goes to show that even on a home printer you can make amazing, professional-quality event stationery.

One of the first pieces I designed for Zazzle was this New Orleans-inspired Save the Date that I posted almost immediately after the Saints won the Super Bowl in 2010. The very first day it went on sale it was voted a “Today’s Best Award” and is still my best selling product. It’s also served as the inspiration for a full line of fleur-de-lis pieces.

Sponsor Spotlight: Joanna of Dulce Princess

Hello my name is Joanna and I started my Etsy shop, Dulce Princess, so that I could share my passion of vintage sewing patterns, notions, and linens. I have fond childhood memories of searching through my mom's vintage patterns trying to find the next dress I wanted her to make me. The older I have gotten the more I enjoy the designs of the 70s, 80s, and 90s. I also enjoy the simplicity of the vintage patterns making them easy to use for any beginning seamstress. I am always on the hunt for wonderful "new" patterns and occasionally I will come across beautifully embroidered pillowcases, handkerchiefs, or even collars and pockets. I can't resist the beauty of these items so I always take them home with me to list in my shop, well most of them!

I ensure that all of the patterns listed in my shop are complete: pattern pieces, sewing instructions, and all sizes listed available. I know how delicate these patterns are, they are made out of paper after all, so each pattern is stored in it's own clear drawstring bag. All of my linens and notions are laundered and pressed before they are mailed out. I offer free shipping on all patterns and all orders are processed within two business days. 


I recently became a stay at home mom to my dulce(sweet) princess and in my spare time I enjoy sewing, crafting, and baking.

Sponsor Spotlight: Angela of The Pink 'Dillo

My name is Angela, and I'm the owner of The Pink 'Dillo. I live in Austin, Texas with my boyfriend and our little chihuahua, Scar. I've worked for a property management company the last eight years and currently manage a small staff in our corporate office.  Most of my nights and weekends are spent working on my Etsy shop, but when I can tear myself away from crafting or other Etsy-related activities I also enjoy cooking and baking (and eating!), reading, doing Yoga and, when I get the chance to, traveling!  

My obsession with paper began in college when I started scrapbooking, but I've always had the crafty "bug" growing up. As soon as I discovered Etsy a couple of years ago, I was hooked, both as a seller and a buyer. I love being a part of the hand-made community, and knowing that I'm buying something unique and fabulous while also supporting other small businesses and artisans.  I've especially become addicted to handmade soaps and bath products - much like my paper obession, I just can't stop buying more!  

The Pink 'Dillo offers a variety of paper goods including gift and favor tags, confetti, embellishments, stickers, and cards, as well as magnets and my newest item - hand-stamped glassine bags.  I love using pretty papers, fun patterns, and bright colors in my items, but also love simple, elegant, and rustic touches as well. I find inspiration everywhere and always seem to have at least 5 or 6 projects going on at one time. I've had several new ideas and product lines in the works for a while now, and my goal for 2012 is to hopefully release at least 3 or 4 of them in my shop....we'll see what the rest of the year brings!

Sponsor Spotlight: Natalka of Skrynka

A big welcome to my new sponsors! I am excited to share a little bit more about each sponsor through these "Sponsor Spotlights". Please take a minute to visit their businesses by clicking on their ad on the right sidebar. Enjoy! :)

My name is Natalka. I was born and have lived in Ukraine all my life. I live with my husband and little son and my dream is to have a big family, live near the sea and have my crafting business as a day job.

 

I have always loved crafting. My biggest passion is embroidery, which has been a very popular art in Ukraine through the ages. I have a few festive towels which were embroidered by my Granny in the early 20th century, and they have always inspired me to create. All the ornaments have deep meaning, and most of all I like that you can find common elements in ethnic embroidery all over the world. Indeed all people are brothers and sisters.

In 2010 I became a stay at home mom. And then I started my Etsy shop - Skrynka. In Ukrainian, "Skrynka" means "little box, treasury chest". So I imagined it like a little box with ethnic treasures - jewelry pieces and home decor.

Most of my creations are inspired by ethnic motifs, but sometimes I like to make something modern and abstract. Or just cute and funny :)

well hello, March.

A big welcome to my new sponsors! I am excited to share these talented shop and business owners. Please take a minute to check out their businesses by clicking on their links on the right sidebar.

I will be doing a "Sponsor Spotlight" on each sponsor - a little bit more about them, their inspiration and a glimpse into their lives. So be on the lookout :)

Want to be a sponsor for the month of March? Go here to check out more info. and send me an email :)