{Wednesday Product Feature} - Grand Opening

Our website is still in progress slated to open August 15th, but our ETSY store is up and running! We are delighted to announce our Grand Opening SALE happening right now at www.shop3littlebirds.etsy.com. Every order will receive free domestic shipping and orders over $45 will also get to pick any pair of earrings in the shop for free. Yippee!

*Keep your eye on our Wednesday Product Feature posts for a HUGE giveaway valued at $175!

*Our little family is taking a trip! We will be gone until Monday to celebrate our sweet niece and nephew's summer birthday's with an open air train ride through the Santa Cruz Mountains. I will miss you all but promise to come back refreshed, renewed and with the best Crafty Monday yet...see you then!

Celebrating Color

Do you love color? You're not alone! I love color too and so do the many members of Colourlovers, a website dedicated to the love of color. This website holds hours of potential fun and you can become a member for free which allows you to create colors, palettes and patterns for your every desire. I created this palette to celebrate the happy colors of summer. What colors symbolize summer to you?

Crafty Monday

 Sometimes, the simplest crafts bring the greatest joy. These flower pens that we've all seen in banks, offices and stores are so simple they can be created in 8 easy steps yet they never fail to bring a smile to my face. Take the 15 minutes to make this craft, I promise you rewards of happiness each time you use them!

1. Gather your materials from your local craft store: vase or flower pot, flowers, glass marbles or decorative stones, green sticky floral tape, clear craft glue, hot glue gun w/ glue sticks and pens (preferably with backs that can screw off or be popped out).
2. Cut the flower stems to 1 and a half inches.
3. If you don't have pens with backs that pop/screw off use wire cutters to cut them off.
4. Stick the flower into the hole.
5. Starting at the top, near the flower, wrap the green tape around until you hit the ink end.
6. Secure the end with clear craft glue.
7. Cut your ribbon to fit around your vase and secure at the back where ends meet with super glue.
8. Add marbles to vase and arrange your pens.
So simple and fun, now just enjoy and send me pictures of your beautiful vase full of flower pens!

A Little Inspiration Sunday

Meet Amy Butler, oh, you've already met? Well, then allow me to expand...did you know she offers 29 free sewing and craft patterns HERE? Yes, free and I'm excited to try all of them! The love and peace wall art pictured above are included in her free patterns, go check out the others and send me pictures of your creations. You might also be surprised to learn the long list of products she currently designs: home decor, fashion items, stationary, home office goods, organic yarn, organic bedding, books and of course sewing patterns. If you've worked with or even eyed any of her products you won't be surprised to hear they are a huge source of inspiration. Each of her designs tells a creative story through color and pattern. Amy's inspiration comes largely from her gardens, husband David, cat Pete and vintage pieces. Her favorite quote, "Live for each other" comes from a Yogi Tea box and is beautiful enough to be inspiration on its own. What is your favorite inspirational quote? You never know who it will inspire!

Saturday Etsy Love

 Interior designer and bow maker Amanda Robinson is the owner of this weeks Etsy love. Karis Kisses named after her sweet daughters kisses is a full service children’s accessory boutique currently offering hair bows and flower clips for infants, toddlers and little girls. Coming soon, a flower clip line inspired by this postcard perfect picture of eclectic flowers and old beat up "classic Paris" door shot by Amanda on one of her long walks through Paris. I can't wait! Amanda puts such time, love and energy into her work, even her packaging is stylish and fun. I find myself going back for more right after my order arrives. Karis Kisses is hosting a giveaway right now, visit her BLOG to enter or go straight to her ETSY shop where you'll find all of her cute designs. My recent purchases: sweet little flower trio and moonstitch ribbon bow.

Friday Blog Obsession

Part of my obsession is their cute as a button blog design, the other part... 

Parties, parties, parties... that is the obsession! Maureen (Anders) and Adria (Ruff) of Anders Ruff are obsessed with everything party design, and due to their party girl enthusiasm, so am I. I just can't get enough of their creative designs and party ideas featured on their blog. They even have their very own version of an Alice in Wonderland party, my favorite! Stop by their BLOG for ideas from the Alice party and many others or visit their ETSY shop for unique invitation designs of all kinds. Most of their designs come with multiple color, font and wording options. Custom work is also available with surprisingly quick turn around times. These girls work so well together, their styles seem to mesh into magic. They have the whole opposites attract chemistry going for them, but they both share a passion for their work and it shows.  

Alice in Wonderland

 It is so refreshing when you find people who possess amazing talent and humbleness! The above Alice in Wonderland photo shoot was captured by Laura Winslow of Laura Winslow Photography. Not only is Laura an outrageously talented photographer, she is also kind and upbeat. It is no surprise this turned out to be the most spectacular photo shoot ever, an incredible amount of talent went into creating it. Kim of The TomKat Studio created the table scape, beautiful flowers by Zuzu's Petals , divine cupcakes by Decadent Delights, adorable tutus by Emily of Tiny Belles Boutique and stylish hair accessories by Dolce Vita Mia. Ground breaking work, these artists take creative to a new level!

Thursday Photo Favorite

 I just love little impromptu photos like this week's photo favorite captured by my big sis Heather Keag Roy. She posted this happy summer photo on facebook, it was taken with her iphone. I know! Amazing picture, especially for an iphone shot. As if that's not enough, she has created everything in this photo. The bright floral bouquet, she grew from seed. Napkins, hand sewn and I'd bet she baked the cookies from scratch (she's also an avid baker). Love you big sis, I am so blessed by your inspiration.

Sneak Peek

 I am so excited to share a sneak peek of my jewelry line with you! So excited in fact, I am doing this post a day early. Wednesday is product feature and sale day, so visit here every Wednesday to score deals and learn about new products! Photographer Kristi McMurry is currently photographing all my pieces, be sure to check back to view many more designs. Kristi blew me away with her services, to see more of her work, view her blog HERE or visit her ETSY shop where she offers darling prints and cards.

Celebrating Summer

 Life is too short to not celebrate something everyday, short on ideas? Celebrate yourself - that's what Walt Disney suggests! Today, I suggest celebrating summer in all of its flavors, colors, scents and textures. Celebrate with this simple homemade melon sorbet... mmmm my mouth is watering just writing about it. Click HERE to view Martha Stewart's easy melon sorbet recipe. Take a moment with me every Tuesday to celebrate the wonderful things in life. 

Crafty Monday

 Today's simple craft can be made with any scrap of paper you have around the house. I happen to be a paper junkie and have lots of scraps left over from craft projects, solution: the scrap paper origami box. Click HERE to watch a fun and quick video detailing how to make these cute little boxes. I made several in different sizes and stacked them on my desk, happy crafting!

Vol25 Freebie

 As if I didn't already L O V E Vol25 enough, check out this awesome freebie printable I just discovered on her blog. These 8 colorful love notes are 1 of 4 designs Jessica offers for free to help spread the love.

A Little Inspiration Sunday

 Happy Sunday! Happy best day in the year Sunday. Happy perfect day for relaxing, loving and a little inspiration Sunday. This print by Jessica from Vol25 makes me happy, can you tell? All of Jessica's art makes me happy and gives me warm fuzzies along with oodles of inspiration. Happiness, inspiration and warm fuzzies are contagious; mosaic your life with happy art prints and anything else that brings you a smile. Make every day the best day in your year!  

Saturday Etsy Love

 I could spend my life and life savings on Etsy. I LOVE Etsy, so many talented artists, crafters, designers...so much art to be discovered and friends to be made. This week's favorite little shop is The Modern Polkadot, where owner/graphic designer Kathy Twitchell designs custom logos, business cards, blogs and etsy banners for your business. Looking for designs to brighten your personal life? Kathy also designs cards for all occasions. Check out her etsy shop HERE, but please be patient with her design time - she is having her 2nd baby on July 30th and moving into her 1st home this weekend. Congratulations Kathy! 

Friday Blog Obession

I love blogs, and I spend FAR too much time playing on them... to not be featuring them here on my own blog. Every Friday I will introduce you to my latest blog obsession. This weeks obsession: TomKat Studio, a party planning wonderland where owner Kim indulges her readers in the best decorating and party tips around. I'm not alone in my addiction, click HERE to read about how Martha (as in Martha Stewart) thinks TomKat is pretty special too and to share in the addiction that is the TomKat Studio!
Gorgeous photo by Vicki of Vicki Lynn Photography

Thursday Photo Favorite

Pictures are one of my favorite forms of art. Join me every Thursday as I celebrate this art form with my weekly photo favorite. While I aspire to have some of my photo favorites from my own lens, today's comes from the most talented photographer I know: Life... by Mandy Photography. Mandy is an inspiration behind her camera and as a woman, wife and mom. Click HERE to view more of her work. I love this picture of baby Kailey's footsies shot when she was an itsy bitsy 2 week old, it warms my heart every time I see it.  What's your favorite photo of your children? Who helps you capture your priceless moments? Send in your favorite photos so we can feature them here every Thursday!