Affordable Art Makes Great Gifts (Image courtesy of Marshall Astor)

Art is wonderful. It brightens our homes. Art broadens our world. And it gives us something lovely to look at. But often finding art that is affordable can be a big challenge. Many one-of-a-kind pieces cost hundreds– even thousands of dollars which doesn’t fit into gift budgets very well. But there are ways to find affordable art to give as gifts. Here are a few places to look.

Etsy

Etsy is a marketplace where artists can sell their work. Thousands of people have Etsy shops with unique items to sell and most is very affordable. Pick up signed digital prints for less than $10 like this one from artist Sarah Knight. Or for wearable art, check out this Paris Map necklace made from a scrabble tile and paper. It’s only $6.95.

6×6 Gallery

Sometimes smaller is better. At 6×6gallery.com all of the art is made on six inch squares. That means you can pick up original art starting at just $35. If you happen to be in New York, check out the Six by Six Gallery on East 13th Street. Otherwise, order up your affordable art online.

Local Shops

Head to some local art shops and galleries. Many artists will have prints of their original works to sell that are far more affordable. You can either buy the print framed or unframed. For an even more affordable way to give art as gifts only purchase the print and head to a thrift store to look for a low-cost frame. It’s a great way to support local artists in your community without spending a whole lot of money.

Postcards and Note Cards

Some artists even choose to turn their works of art into postcards or note cards. Pick up a pack of these and find a small matted frame at a craft store. Better yet– buy several different note card designs from the same artist and frame three of them to create a nice grouping of framed art to give as a gift.

As you all know, Fairytale Brownies is one of our favorite gift providers. We love them! And they love us, too! Today, Fairytale Brownies has generously donated a box of Fall Coffee & Sprites Duo, pictured below, to one of our lucky readers.

For those of you who haven’t heard of Fairytale Brownies, here is the story in a nutshell.

The co-founders of Fairytale Brownies, Eileen Spitalny and David Kravetz, have been friends since kindergarten. They went to school together and in 1992 decided to start their own brownie business. At first, they were making brownies in a friend’s kitchen, now they have their own 26,000-square-foot facility and bake over 2.5 million brownies annually. Fairytale Brownies has received many awards and nominations  for their product and packaging. They love to give back to the community by supporting KABOOM – a non-profit organization that helps build playgrounds.

Their website is www.brownies.com

GIVEAWAY

This Giveaway is for US residents only.

The Prize: Fairytale Brownies Fall Coffee & Sprites Duo (pictured above)

“This charming assortment features 1 each of all 12 snack-size Fairytale Sprite flavors and a half-pound bag of our custom-roasted Fairytale Coffee, made from 100% Arabica beans infused with just a hint of vanilla flavor. Brew a pot and serve with a sampling of Sprites for a simple and delicious treat. Our classic box is wrapped with our Fall band.”

How to enter (required): Visit brownies.com and then come back and leave a comment telling us the name of your favorite product.

For additional entries (leave a new comment for each additional entry):

- one additional entry if you follow us on Facebook;
- one additional entry if you grab one of our buttons and post it on your blog, please post the link;
- one additional entry if you follow us on Twitter;
- one additional entry if you send a tweet about this giveaway, please post the link (once a day only); make sure to include @1happyblogger. You may use the following to tweet: @1happyblogger Check out the Fairytale Brownies giveaway at http://www.1happycorner.com/fairytale-brownies-fall-giveaway
- one additional entry if you fave us in Technorati;
- one additional entry if you StumbleUpon our Founder;
- one additional entry if you blog about this Giveaway with a link back to 1HappyCorner.com and brownies.com
- one additional entry if you follow 1HappyCorner.com via email.

The giveaway ends on November 4th, 2009.

*Please make sure you leave a comment for each additional entry so you get credited.
*Also, please make sure you typed in the correct email address.
*The winner will be announced via e-mail and has 2 days to get back to us or other name will be chosen.

Thank you Fairytale Brownies!!:) Good luck everybody!:) Now, let’s see what your favorite product is!

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UPDATE: Are you the winner? Find out!

Give Them Treats Other than Candy (Image Courtesy of Gmutt)

Halloween is quickly approaching, but rather than running to the grocery store for a few bags of sugary snacks to give the trick-or-treaters, why not pass out something unique this Halloween? Do the droves of princesses and super heroes that come knocking on your door really need another candy bar? Here are some unique ideas for when the trick-or-treaters start knocking.

Coupons

If you don’t get crowds of trick-or-treaters then picking up coupons could be a good way to go. Fast food joints like McDonald’s, Wendy’s and Burger King all sell coupon booklets for $1. The coupons are good for things like free ice cream cones, free french fries and free apple pie. It’s a unique idea that will insure the trick-or-treaters have something to enjoy after they eat all of their hard-earned candy.

Organic Treats

Moms and dads will thank you when they spot these organic lollipops in their children’s mound of candy. They’re allergen-free, gluten-free, egg-free, soy-free, nut-free; casein-free, and dairy-free. But somehow they still taste like a sweet treat. You can get a five-pound bag which equals 350 suckers for less than $25. They’ve also got smaller bags for about $16.

Art Supplies

Some kids would rather have art supplies over candy. Spark their creativity this Halloween with some spooky stickers or temporary tattoos. Make sure you have a variety of choices for different age groups.

Spooky Toys

Rather than rot their teeth with sugary candy, why not give your trick-or-treaters a toy to play with? Oriental Trading Company has lots of great options like these glitter sticky hands which are just $7.99 for 72 of them. They’ve also got 48 Halloween bouncing balls for $9.99.

Practical Gifts

The kids won’t like it, but their parents surely will appreciate that you managed to stuff a practical gift in their trick-or-treat bag. Pick up a 12-pack of toothbrushes for $9 on Amazon.com. Or head to your local discount warehouse and stock up on things like pencils, notebooks and toothpaste. Just be prepared to get your pumpkins smashed when the little goblins realize they won’t be getting any chocolate from your house.

Looking for fun and practical baby gifts, the SugarBooger™ line by Ore is what you are looking for.  The SugarBooger™ line offers a wide range of baby products from diaper bags, storage and organization items, fun photo frames, as well as tabletop and bath items. Ore Originals started out about 20 years ago as a bold line of innovative bulletin boards using recycled rubber. This first item quickly grew into the basic collection of Ore Originals, call Living Goods™, offering creative solutions to enhance everyday living.  After that came Oré Pet™ and SugarBooger™, which started in 2003, when the founder and President became a mother herself with her first child. SugarBooger™ is a great gift line for moms on-the-go who want and need to be fashionably organized and have products not only fun, but functional as well.

Here are a few of the products offered by SugarBooger™ which would make great baby shower or gifts for the busy mom:

Peeka Boo Brush and Comb Set

This two piece set is ready for gift giving!

The brush and comb set include a natural boar-bristle and wood-handle brush with the matching comb in a natural maple finish.

Comes with the linen mesh bag. Brush measures 5 x 2.5 inches and comb 5 x 1 inches.

Price: $18

Peeka Boo Dish Set
This boxed 5 piece melamine set includes a 8.5 inch diameter plate, 4.5 inch diameter bowl that holds 20 oz.,  6 oz. capacity Sippy cup,and matching fork and spoon.

Dishwasher safe, do not microwave, hand wash for best results. The melamine in this set is lead-free and non-toxic.

Price: $20.

Available in Green, Pink, and Blue

Diaper Bag Organizer Pouches

The Diaper Bag Organizer Pouches will help keep a busy mom organize. The set comes with four cotton pouches with zipper closures and mesh backings for ventilation. Each pouched is labeled and with an icon so that you can properly store dirty clothes, clean clothes, goodies to eat and miscellaneous extras.

Dirty & Clean pouches measure 14 x 11 inches, Goodies 10 x 6 inches, and Extras 7 x 7 inches. Machine wash cold, line dry.

Price: $22

To see the full line of Ore Originals products and find a retail location near you, check out OreOriginals.com.

Before you know it the holidays will be here. From family events to special gatherings, schedules will be filled will lots of extra demands. Want to make this Christmas season stress-free? Then start preparing for holiday gift-giving early with these simple tips.

Make a List

First things first– grab a pen, a piece of paper and get to work. Make a list of all of the people you know you need to buy gifts for. Talk it over with your significant other to make sure you’re not leaving off any important names.

Brainstorm

Now that you’ve got your list, start brainstorming gift ideas. A sweater for Aunt Rita, a book for Uncle Joe, and maybe a new video game for your nephew. Come up with several ideas for each person on your list. When you’re not focused on one idea shopping will be a lot easier. Go high tech with your planning and budgeting by using an iPhone app like Better Christmas List. That way your list will always be with you and you’ll be able to track your spending when you start shopping for those on your Christmas list.

Start Shopping

Now for the fun part– start shopping! Rather than rushing around just before your deadline, start this step as early as possible. Keep an open mind when running errands or walking through the mall. Don’t leave all of your shopping to be done at once. Taking care of it over time will make it more fun, less stressful and easier on your budget.

Get Crafty

Perhaps you’ve decided to go handmade with some of your gift giving this Christmas. Making gifts is a great way to save money, but it’s done best when you give yourself plenty of time. Since you’ve started your Christmas gift-giving early, you’ve got lots of time to get crafty.

Buy Extra

Chances are there are people who have inadvertently been left off your list while planning. Buy a few extra gifts– perhaps candles, body lotion or a DVD. Keep the items flexible so they can be given to a wide variety of people who may pop up on your list as Christmas approaches.

Find the Perfect Gift for Shoe Lovers (image courtesy of doug88888)

Shoe lovers are fairly easy to recognize– they’ve got a wide variety of footwear, they always head to the shoe department first and they’ve usually got big closets. If you’ve got a shoe lover in your life, here’s a little help for finding them the perfect gift.

Cedar Shoe Tree

Shoe lovers love caring for their prized collection. Give them elegant cedar shoe trees from the Cedarville Store. They are ergonomically designed, hand-crafted and hand-sanded. Choose between different styles and sizes.

Foot Petals

If you love shoes sometimes you’re willing to wear an uncomfortable pair in the name of style. Give the shoe lover in your life something to make their collection more comfortable– Foot Petals. They prevent feet from sliding forward, stop toe crunch and keep calluses from forming. Plus they’re virtually invisible and they fit in all women’s shoes.

Shoe Calendar

Shoes can be a form of art which is obvious in this 2010 Shoes Gallery Calendar. Any shoe lover will appreciate the beauty of glorious footwear found page-after-page. From suede sandals to peep-toe pumps, they’re all in here.

Charm Bracelet

For those who believe you can never have too many pairs of shoes, this fun shoe charm bracelet may be the perfect gift. The bracelet features Swarovski crystals on 13 unique shoe charms– each engraved with “feelings” to compliment their style.

High Heel Cookie Cutter

It doesn’t get any cuter than this high heel cookie cutter from coppergifts.com. This way your shoe loving friend can cook up a new batch of shoes whenever they’re in the mood.

High Heel Cake Server

For the shoe lover with a sweet tooth, you can choose a high heel cake server. There are quite a few colors and designs available. Some of the cake servers can even be personalized. 

Gift Certificate

It goes without saying that the perfect gift for a shoe lover may just be the ability to buy more shoes. Give them a gift certificate to their favorite shoe store and they’ll adore the permission slip to find another pair of perfect pumps.

Gift Wrap

And no matter what you end up giving the shoe lover on your gift list, make sure you wrap it up in this shoe wrapping paper. They’ll appreciate your attention to detail every step of the way!

Everyone is looking for ways to cut costs these days– especially now that the holidays are approaching. One way to save money on your gift-giving budget is by making some gifts yourself. Here is an easy DIY Christmas gift that would be perfect for a neighbor, mother-in-law, or friend. Using some thrift store finds you can create a one-of-a-kind Christmas gift that your friends will love.

Supplies:

Plate

Small vase or candlestick

Silicone Adhesive
Step One: Head to the Thrift Store

Head to your local thrift store for a unique plate and base that will make up your cake plate. The plate can be just about any size, shape or color. Think about the person you are giving it to and what colors and style they might like best. Look through the selection of small glasses, candlesticks and vases for a base that will work with the plate you’ve selected. At most thrift stores these pieces will cost you less than a dollar each.

Step Two: Buy Adhesive

Head to your local hardware store and pick up some silicone adhesive. This is typically used in bathrooms or kitchens to make a waterproof seal between tiles or pipes. Clear is probably the best color choice so it won’t be noticed. Choose a brand that dries in a few hours. This will probably cost about $3 or $4 and will be more than enough to finish your project.

Step Three: Wash Your Pieces

Wash your cake plate and stand. Make sure they are clean and dust-free. This will insure that the adhesive works like it should.

Step Four: Measure and Apply

Measure the center of the bottom of your plate. It’s important that your base is secured in the center so that your cake plate won’t tip over. Apply the adhesive to the side of your base that you are securing to the underside of the plate. Push the two together to remove any air pockets. Apply more adhesive around the outside edge of the base for added strength.

Step Five: Allow to Dry

Give your cake plate a few hours to dry, according to the directions of the silicone adhesive you purchased.

Step Six: Wrap and Give

Wrap up your unique cake plate and present it to the lucky person in your life. They’ll love this new addition to their kitchen and you’ll love that this one-of-a-kind Christmas gift cost less than $5 to make.

Images courtesy of Alison Storm

Hello, everybody! I apologize for the delay in choosing the winner of the Fairytale Brownies Fall Giveaway. I’ve been gone for the last few days.

photo courtesy of brownies.com

Thank you all for participating! As always, we had fun reading your responses! And the winner is…

Here are your random numbers:

303

Timestamp: 2009-11-09 16:57:47 UTC

Congratulations, Taylor! Please get back to us within 2 days or other name will be chosen.

Feel like getting crafty for Christmas, but lacking in the Martha Stewart department? You can make handmade gifts for the holidays, saving lots of money and ensuring that everything you give is from the heart. This DIY project doesn’t require much time, money or skills. If those sound like three things you don’t have a lot of then keep reading for instructions on how to make the sixty second scarf. Similar scarves sell for nearly $30 at popular stores. We found this striped version at J. Crew for $29.50. But yours will cost less than $2 and sixty seconds to make.

Step One: Hit the Fabric Store

Head to your favorite local fabric store and make a beeline to the knit section. Look for something super soft, like pima cotton or jersey. We found lots of great colors like pink, orange and lime green at the local Hobby Lobby fabric department selling for $5.99 a yard, but with a coupon we snagged it for 40% off. Have the fabric store employee cut you 3/8 of a yard. Typically this fabric is sold in 60-inch width which is perfect for a scarf.

Step Two: Head Home with Your Fabric

Since the fabric store employee took care of starting off your scarf for you, now all you have to do is complete it. Finish off the edges by pulling them. Giving the fabric a little bit of a tug will cause it to roll as it stretches. This will make the edges look more finished off without having to pull out your sewing machine.

Step Three: Wrap Up Your Gift

Now that your scarf is made, wrap it up to get the gift ready to give. Your loved one will appreciate this new accessory that they’ll be able to throw on to compliment a variety of outfits since scarves are a hot must-have this winter season. Because the gift is so simple to make and affordable, consider wrapping up a collection of sixty second scarves. They’ll never know each scarf took just sixty seconds to make and cost less than $2!

Images courtesy of Alison Storm

Wondering how you can save money this Christmas? How about trying your hand at some homemade gifts? We showed you how to make your own cake plate using vintage thrift store finds and how to make a scarf in less than a minute. Now we’re filling you in on another simple DIY project that will make a great gift for busy moms, teachers, kids and more. This chalkboard clipboard is super easy to make and extremely useful for writing to-dos, reminders and grocery lists. Plus it’s so cute you may just want to make one for yourself to keep track of your Christmas gift list.

Step One: Buy Supplies

The clipboard is your canvas for this project. You may be lucky enough to find a clipboard at a thrift store for $.50 like we were, but if you’re not pick one up at a craft store like Michael’s. They often come in a variety of sizes as well. While you’re there, buy a small container of chalkboard paint. We found ours at AC Moore for less than $5. This jar of chalkboard paint will leave you with plenty of leftovers to tackle other craft projects in the future. You’ll also need some painter’s tape and a paint brush or a small roller.

Step Two: Start Painting

For a crisp, clean line, tape off the top section of your clipboard using the painter’s tape. Next, apply a smooth, thin layer of chalkboard paint to the front of the clipboard. Let it dry for at least an hour and then apply a second coat to ensure complete coverage. Using a roller will give you a flawless surface without brush strokes.

Step Three: Write a Note

Once the chalkboard paint has dried completely, which can take up to 24 hours, remove the painter’s tape and write a thoughtful chalk message for the new owner of this lovely handmade gift. Include a piece of chalk with the gift so they can start using it right away because with a present this cute you know they’ll want to.

Images courtesy of Alison Storm