Vegan Novelty Soaps

Maybe it's because I've been eating strawberries a lot lately, since it's been High Summer here in Houston since about February (sigh....), but these Chocolate Dipped Strawberry soaps from Etsy seller DirtyAssSoaps certainly caught my eye! Don't they look delicious? But no eating them, even though they're 100% vegan! I love the texture of the strawberries and the little sprout of leaves on top, and they even come with a chocolate/strawberry scent! This set has five strawberries nestled in baking cups in a decorative box. (Perfect for Valentine's Day too, don't you think?) My other favorite dessert listed is the S'Mores.

I also love the way the shop is organized: breakfast, lunch, snack, dinner, drinks, and dessert! (No wonder I'm getting hungry as I write this!) Dinner is probably my favorite area due to the nice selection of sushi. The nigiri sushi set shown here is really clever, with two pieces of sushi accompanied by ginger and wasabi! Now, if you're worried about soap that smells like fish, never fear. The description notes that the tuna is scented like "pink sugar", the nori (seaweed) is scented like Matcha tea, the ginger smells like a citrus gingerale, and the "wasabi" has hints of eucalyptus, ginger and peppermint. Go here for the entire description.

Lest you think it's nothing but food, the DirtyAssSoaps shop also has a category for toys, games, music, movies, and miscellaneous. Be sure and check the Lego-like building block soaps for your kids!

What: Vegan Novelty Soaps
Where: DirtyAssSoaps (an Etsy shop)
How much (as of today's post): Prices range from $4 for individual items to $40 for large party favor sets

Shopping Around (for more Key Caps)

Back on March 5, I posted about monkey and skeleton key caps from the Archie McPhee website. Well, today I found those same sets on the Perpetual Kid website for $3.99 instead of the $5.95 Archie McPhee listed them for. To me, this just goes to show that it pays to shop around!

But the other reason I'm bringing this up is that the Perpetual Kid website has lots more key caps, several of which I like a lot better than the monkeys and skeletons I originally posted about! To be fair, the monkeys and the skeletons represent the best bargains because there are six to a set for that $3.99 price. Then they start getting more expensive:

• Two Robo Key Covers (retro robots) for $4.99
  
  
• Two Lucha Key Covers (Mexican wrestler masks) for $4.99
  
  
• Two Hello Kitty Pirate & Skull Bow Key Caps for $8.99
  
  
• Two Hello Kitty Fruit Key Caps for $8.99
  
  
• A single Muppets Animal Key Cap for $4.99
  
  
• A single Muppets Kermit Key Cap for $4.99
  
  
• A single Smurf Key Cap for $4.99
  
  
• A single Cupcake Key Cap for $4.99

I admit, they do start getting a little pricey when a single key cap gets up to $4.99, but I really do love the Muppets key cap and the Cupcake key cap in particular. I think these are terrific stocking stuffers! And if they sell well, I bet we'll be seeing lots more new designs in the next year or so....

(And I don't know about you, but I'm always trying the wrong key first, especially at work. I could use a couple of these!)

Jessica Kagan Cushman Zodiac Cuff Bracelets

At this price, this is a luxury of luxury items, and it's also a bit wider than I would be able to wear on my (admittedly bony) wrists, but oh! I love the concept of these Zodiac Cuff Bracelets by Jessica Kagan Cushman. Each shows the stellar constellation coordinating with an astronomical sign, with Libra, Gemini, and Aquarius shown at left. The cuffs are made from black resin featuring twinkling constellations set in crystals. The bracelet width is 1 5/8" and the wrist opening is 1 1/8".

To be honest, I didn't even know the configuration of my own sign's constellation, and I'm not into astrology. I think the reason I like these bracelets so much, or at least the idea of them, is that I love the stars, and I love having a way to tie them to myself.

So if there's a lady in your life who likes unusual jewelry as well as either astrology or the stars, this is a luxury stocking stuffer that would wow her.

What: Jessica Kagan Cushman Zodiac Cuff Bracelets
Where: Vivre website
How much (as of today's post): $85.00 (plus shipping)

3-Pack of Natural Hemp Twine for Crafting

If you know a crafter who can never have enough crafting supplies, or an ink stamper who likes to make her or his own cards, these three-packs of natural hemp crafting twine might make a fun and slightly different stocking stuffer. According to the Grass Roots website, which sells environmental products, this hemp is: natural, biodegradable, durable, water-resistant, and chemical free. The description says that the twine can be used for "jewelry, beading, macrame, crochet and more", and I can see it being used to tie ribbons on natural-colored homemade greeting cards or on wrapped packages. I also like the color combinations, shown here from top to bottom:

• blues
  
• yellow, orange, and red
  
• purples
  
• dark grey, brown, and green
  
• black, white, and light grey.

Please note that the Grass Roots company is in Canada, which is great for all the Canadian crafters out there (and I do know there are a zillion of them, because I've been exploring ink stamping and card making blogs lately!). Grass Roots will ship to the United States, but of course that isn't cheap, through no fault of their own. So any Americans who like this idea for a stocking stuffer might be better off looking in the local craft stores for something similar.

What: 3-Pack of Natural Hemp Twine for Crafting
Where: Grass Roots website
How much (as of today's post): $9.99 (plus shipping)

Pocky

Pocky is described as the "delicious, fun biscuit dessert from Japan." By biscuit, they mean light cookie, so these are little cookie sticks covered in a variety of "frostings". There are many flavors, including the traditional chocolate-frosted Pocky, strawberry, almond crush, blueberry bits, and so on.

Why are these a great stocking stuffer for kids and teens? Because the rise of Pokemon and Japanese anime and manga has led to a spike in popularity for all things trendy and Japanese, including snacks, which may be familiar to kids but will also seem exotic next to the usual Hershey's kisses and such. I've seen Pocky for sale at gaming stores where they hold the Magic: The Gathering collectible card game tournaments. I've seen them in our local upscale liquor store, and I think I've even seen them at our regular grocery store. It's a bit like Nutella, that chocolate hazelnut spread that came from England and at first could only be found in import grocery stores or speciality shops, but now can be found in any grocery store.

If you can't find them locally, you can get them online from the Asian Food Grocer website. You can buy in small or large quantities. The two 1.41 oz. boxes pictured here are only $1.08 apiece, and if you go in with a friend who also has kids who might like these, you could probably save a bit on shipping. While you're on the website, you may want to look around for other stocking stuffer goodies under their "Japanese candy" and "Hello Kitty snacks" links.

What: Pocky Sticks
Where: Asian Food Grocer website, gourmet or regular grocery stores, or gaming stores
How much (as of today's post): $1.08 (plus shipping)

Saint and Sinner Wine Stoppers

I certainly enjoy a glass of wine, but a bottle lasts me a long time, so it's essential to have a stopper with a good seal, whether it's white wine in the fridge or red wine on the counter. These are two of the cutest I've seen: a whimsical "saint and sinner" wine stopper set. Regularly $16.95 for the pair, they're currently on sale for $12.99. They make a great host/hostess gift or a terrific stocking stuffer for your favorite wine connoisseur. Cheers!

What: Saint and Sinner Wine Stoppers
Where: Wrapables.com website
How much (as of today's post): $12.99/pair (sale price) (plus shipping)

Case Logic 6-Capacity Flash Drive Holder

Sometimes I'm looking so intently to find suitable stocking stuffers to list, that I almost don't see one when it's staring me right in the face. Fortunately I saw this one last week, when the woman sitting next to me in a computer training class pulled it out of her handbag. It's a little (5.25 x 3.75 x 1 inch) case that holds six flash/jump drives; even the ones with lanyards can go in there. Since I am always digging around in the bottom of my large tote bag for the handful of flash drives that are hiding somewhere in there, this would be perfect for keeping them together and making them a lot easier to find.

And it's cheap! The Case Logic website regularly lists these for $6.99, but it's currently priced at $3.99. Naturally, there would be shipping, so it might be just as well to go to Office Depot or Office Max and pay a few extra bucks there, but not have to pay for shipping.

Don't forget Father's Day is coming up, and this would make a nice little gift if your father is into computers. It would also be great for college students. But really, this would work for anyone from teens on up who happens to use computers a lot. You can even "pre-load" it with a flash drive or two -- the prices are dropping all the time -- to make it an extra special stocking stuffer.

What: Case Logic 6-Capacity Flash Drive Holder
Where: Case Logic website (or any office/computer supply store)
How much (as of today's post): $3.99 (plus shipping)

Funky Junq Eco Art

Here is an Etsy seller after my own heart! Christine's Funky Recycling shop showcases well over 400 items made from recycled aluminum cans. There is nothing I love more than finding fun gift items made from recycled materials, and Christine's selection of magnets, earrings, necklaces, and pins is most impressive. Personally, I love the magnets the best, and there is a tremendous selection of almost 300 of them! One that immediately jumped out at me is this Cathy Bunny from the Hello Kitty line, made out of a root beer can. Look closely to see how Christine chose just the best part of the can to make the magnet -- you can see a "reflection" of the entire bulldog face in the bunny's face! It's similar to looking at one of those illusions like the old woman and the young girl, where first you see it one way and suddenly it switches on you. I can see either the bunny or the bulldog, but not both at once! (And here is where I sheepishly admit that I bought this one, so you can't have it... but there are almost 300 more to choose from!)

Can you tell I had a field day looking through her shop? You can just browse the collection if you like, but you can also look for specific items within her shop using the search function at the top. You can search by brand (Coke, diet Coke, Red Bull, Mountain Dew, etc.) or by the thing or animal (butterfly, car, horse, cat, Hello Kitty, seahorse, pig, cupcake -- check out the luscious cupcakes and ice cream cones at the bottom of this post!).

Christine even takes custom orders -- I have a friend who collects Coca-Cola memorabilia and loves cows, so when I found the cows and didn't see one from a Coke can, I just asked her (or convo'd her, as they say in Etsyland), and she's going to whip one right up for me!

The best part? Every single one of these magnets is $4.00 or less, and some are as low as $1.50 and $1.99. (Did you know that on Etsy you can sort by price from lowest to highest, or vice versa?) Shipping is only $2.00 for the first item and 50 cents for each additional item. For affordable fun stocking stuffers, you truly cannot do better than this.

Last but not least, if you live in California or Las Vegas, Christine does craft shows. Bring her some uncrushed cans and get a free gift, or just stop by to say hello!

What: Funky Junq Eco Art
Where: Funky Recycling (FunkyRecycling) (an Etsy shop)
How much (as of today's post): $1.50 to $4.00 (plus shipping)

Half Price Books

I'm afraid today's post won't be relevant to everyone in the country, but if you live in Arizona, California, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington, or Wisconsin, there just may be a Half Price Books store near you (click here for a store locator). If you're familiar with Half Price Books, you'll already know that there are always bargains to be found there on books and DVDs, both used and new/remaindered, which means new copies that regular stores like Barnes & Noble have returned unsold to the publisher or distributor. I always find something I want every time I go in there. But it wasn't until recently that I started thinking of Half Price Books as great for stocking stuffers.

Last weekend I was in buying birthday gifts for two nephews when I came across some adorable Hello Kitty Multiplication "learning cards" (including "rewards stickers" -- you know how kids love stickers!) for only $2.98. Right next to them: Disney Princess Addition & Subtraction learning cards for the same price, featuring Ariel, Jasmine, and Belle on the front of the box. Each set comes with 40 cards with large readable numbers and cute graphics. The boxes are just a shade over 6 inches high and about 3.75 inches wide, which makes them perfect for stockings. The best part? I had a coupon for 15% of my entire purchase, so these were only $2.53 apiece. Even better? You don't need a coupon this weekend, because all Half Price Books are having a 20% off everything in the store sale for Memorial Day weekend, from May 21 through May 25. (And unlike other retailers, I've never known them to exclude anything from their sales!)

Half Price Books also has a nice selection of blank journals, including some smaller ones that would fit inside a stocking. One of my favorites is this Nancy Drew: Secret of Shadow Ranch journal which measures 5 by 7 1/8 inches, and which I believe was priced at $3.98. There was also a terrific Star Trek: Her Name is Enterprise blank journal, featuring the old young Captain Kirk (as opposed to the new young Captain Kirk from the new movie!). There are also journals with cats, flowers, books, you name it.

Because Half Price Books gets their stock from a variety of non-traditional sources, you can't count on any given store to have any given item, but on the other hand I have seen some of the same new/remaindered merchandise in several of their stores. Make sure to check the stationary section for journals and note cards (I know I've seen some Wonder Woman note cards there before!), and check all around the front register for little odds and ends, such as retro magnets and those tiny little "xyz in a box" kits that we're familiar with from the rotating racks up front at Barnes & Noble and Borders.

And if you have some books you no longer want or need, you can take them to Half Price Books for cash or credit towards your purchases. They will take almost anything, although they can't give much for items that are too worn. Between their already low prices, this weekend's 20% off sale, and any books you may be ready to sell back to Half Price Books (no matter where you got them), this weekend is a great opportunity to stock up on all kinds of stocking stuffers!

His and Her Human Key Holders

It's another "luxury Friday" here at Amy's Stocking Stuffers. Today's item seems more suited to contemporary rather than traditional decor, but I also imagine that the playfulness may appeal to a lot of folks. These are his and her wall-mounted keyholders made of chrome-plated zinc. They measure 3 by 4.5" inches (which leads me to believe they may have to come out of the box to fit in a stocking), and they work by attaching the included "key" to your key ring, and then "hanging" the whole set by inserting the included key into the holder.

Please note that the $24.95 price is for one key holder, not two. So if you want to give a set, it really pushes the price up in what I think of as the "luxury range" for stocking stuffers and small gifts. If these don't work for you as stocking stuffers, one customer review notes that they make great housewarming gifts for a couple. I think they'd make fun bridal shower gifts as well. A single holder in the appropriate gender could also be fun for a college student.

What: His and Her Human Key Holders
Where: Wrapables.com website
How much (as of today's post): $24.95 apiece (plus shipping)

Dim Sum: A Pocket Guide

This tiny little pocket guide from Chronicle Books, only 4.8 by 3.5 inches, packs its 80 pages with descriptions, color images, and the phonetic pronunciation of the Cantonese name for 48 different dim sum dumplings. I never ate Asian food as a child, so as an adult I'd had to work past being intimidated by it. It took a trip to Japan to get me to try sushi, and now it's one of my favorite meals! I haven't explored dim sum yet, but I'm a little more encouraged to do so now that I've tried more Asian foods and found they're not so scary, and in fact often quite delicious.

I note that this little book gets an average rating on Amazon of 4.5 out of 5 stars. As one reviewer named Annie notes, "Dim sum is a totally different experience when you can actually ask for things by name." At $7.95, this little book is the right price, and it's certainly the right size, for a nifty and unusual stocking stuffer.

What: Dim Sum: A Pocket Guide
Where: Amazon or elsewhere
How much (as of today's post): $7.95 (plus shipping)

Einstein Energy Bar

Naturally, I wouldn't think for one minute that this Einstein energy bar really makes anyone any smarter, but it's a fun and different stocking stuffer, especially for the computer geek or the college student. I found this on the Shakespeare's Den website, where the description notes that this 4.25 x 2 inch bar is high protein, low-fat, and chocolaty. (I note that it contains soy and milk, and is manufactured in a facility that uses wheat, peanuts and tree nuts.) Your budding Einstein will love it!

What: Einstein Energy Bar
Where: Shakespeare's Den website
How much (as of today's post): $2.95 (plus shipping)

Oxo Mini Angled Measuring "Cup"

I picked up one of these handy little things from Bed Bath and Beyond the other day. It's a measuring "cup" in a way, but it actually is for measuring very small amounts of liquids, so it's more like a measuring spoon in cup form. What's neat is that the cup is angled and as you pour liquids in, you can see from looking down into the inside how much you have in there -- no more stooping to try to look at eye level on the counter while you pour. This also has the advantage over traditional spoons that you're not likely to dump too much into your pot or pan, especially things like oil. If you pour too much, you can pour in back where it came from with the easy pour spout.

This cup also has four different units of measure. On the inside are listed tablespoons and ounces, and the outside you can see milliliters (up to 60) and cups (up to 1/4).

Both Amazon and Cooking.com sell these in sets of three for $9.99, but both are out of stock. (Surely they'll be back in time for Christmas, though!) They are still on the shelf as singles at Bed Bath and Beyond, but annoyingly, I have misplaced my receipt and can't quote the exact price. I do remember having to ask the price at the register and being happy with it. I think it was something like $3.98.

When I bought this, I was also buying a set of 3 much larger versions, the largest measuring up to four cups. This set was to replace the Pyrex measuring cup I'd managed to smash by accident last week. That's another advantage here -- it's acrylic, so you can't smash it! This is also a possibility for a paired gift: the cute little spoon-sized "cup" in the stocking, with the boxed set of three different size measuring cups under the tree. (Maybe I'm the only one who likes getting kitchen gadgets and utensils in my stocking, though. Am I?)

What: Oxo Mini Angled Measuring "Cup"
Where: Bed Bath & Beyond, Amazon, Target, etc.
How much (as of today's post): $3.33-3.98

Magnetic Frogs Mini Sculpture

When my husband and I traveled to Japan, in one of the (many, many) bookstores I made him go to with me, we came across some really cute magnetic sculpture toys, which the packages charmingly called "Joyful Magnetic Ornament". (The Japanese love to label products in English. Some are more successful than others!) The set I got is of a farmland scene, with cows, sheep, a pig, and some, um, unidentifiable but cute animals. The store also had a Halloween scene, a circus scene, and a few others.

I've always thought these would make great stocking stuffers, but I haven't been able to find that particular brand available for purchase in the United States. However, on the Toy Impact website, I did recently find this magnetic frogs mini sculpture, which made me smile. The brand name is Safari, and it's currently on sale at $8.29 instead of the usual $10.36 price. I think this would be fun for kids old enough not to want to eat the small parts, or for an adult who happens to like frogs in particular. (Toy Impact also has what they call a knights and ladies set, although it only has one lady and a whole lot of knights.) I still prefer the Japanese sets for their ultra-adorable graphics, but I think this frog set is pretty cute too.

What: Magnetic Frogs Mini Sculpture
Where: Toy Impact website
How much (as of today's post): $8.29 (plus shipping)

Givaway Results - Ink Stamp from Etsy Seller Nikoart

Congratulations to "Jinxy and Me", the winner of a 2x2 handcrafted ink stamp from Etsy seller Nikoart! She was entry number 32 out of a total 48 entries. (I've sent an e-mail asking for the address to which you want the stamp sent.)

Thanks so much to everyone for stopping by my blog and taking time to enter the giveaway contest. I hope to have more contests in the not-too-distant future. And extra thanks to Nikoart for providing the prize!

Nancy Drew and Literary / Mystery Art Pins

Having been an avid Nancy Drew reader in my childhood -- and I still own my books, by the way, including my favorites The Secret of Shadow Ranch and The Clue in the Broken Locket -- I was thrilled to stumble across Etsy seller ptierneydesigns' Nancy Drew Girl Detective Mystery Art Pin. It cleverly combines a charm of Nancy in her original incarnation with other danglies, including miniature book cover reproductions, pewter charms of a police car and a notepad, and skull bead dangles, to create a unique piece of wearable art that pays tribute to the Girl Sleuth.

If Nancy wasn't your thing, don't worry -- there's also an adorable Trixie Belden art pin (including a magnifying glass, a police badge, and a mysterious key). Or you can just click on the "literary art pins" section of the shop to find Perry Mason, Charlie Chan, Agatha Christie, Hercule Poirot, and even our friend J.B. Fletcher of Murder She Wrote! Or you can go with something a little more general: one of my personal favorites, the Cozy Cats and Crimes pin pictured below. I love the fish charm labeled "red herring"! Any of these pins would make a wonderful -- and very unique -- stocking stuffer for the mystery book lover in your life. And don't forget to look at the rest of the shop to see what other mysteries you might uncover!

What: Nancy Drew and Literary / Mystery Art Pins
Where: Pattie Tierney Designs Wearable Literary Art (ptierneydesigns) (an Etsy shop)
How much (as of today's post): $16.00 (plus shipping)

Grab Bag of Stocking Stuffers for Women's Shelters

Saturdays are my day for general posts, and today I wanted to talk about something I did last year, which was to donate a bunch of stocking stuffers to a local women's shelter in addition to some larger items.

The university library I worked at before my current job does a yearly gift drive for a local women's shelter. It's one of my favorite charitable drives because it's local and it feels tangible, if you know what I mean. The shelter asks for new rather than used donations, and is happy to receive items for both women and children. All year, I pick up occasional goodies at the dollar store or at a post-holiday sale, but I also put aside gifts I've received that I know I'll never use myself but would be appropriate -- a type of "regifting" I feel good about! I consider these items new because they're unused (I leave the tags on), and I store them in a box just for this purpose so they won't get dusty or covered with cat hair.

As for stocking stuffers, well, last year it finally occurred to me to call the shelter and ask them if they could use unopened Happy Meal toys and small things like that. The answer was a very enthusiastic "Yes!" It turned out I had tons of little unused things I'd been hanging onto, not sure what to do with, because I just can't bear to throw things away.

So, if you participate in a gift drive for a women's and children's shelter, consider donating some great stocking stuffers as well as larger items. You can check whether they take new items, used, or both. Perhaps you have several kids' meal toy duplicates that you don't know what to do with. Maybe you've received a stocking stuffer yourself that you aren't likely to use. You can always pick up some trial sizes of the nicer women's toiletries at Target or elsewhere. If the shelter requires unwrapped items, as ours does, you can put all the small items in a bag labeled "stocking stuffers" and include it with your donation. Be aware that some shelters will not list their physical address on their website in order to protect their clients, so you may need to call and ask.

You might even be the one to organize a new gift drive for your local shelter!

Ink Stamp Giveaway Deadline - Saturday May 16 at 11:59 CST

Don't forget the deadline to enter the giveaway for a 2x2 inch handcrafted ink stamp from Esty seller Nikoart is tomorrow (Saturday May 16) at 11:59 p.m. CST. The contest is not limited to U.S. residents, so please feel free to join wherever you are.

Details are here.

James Thurber Reading Dog Pin

Current count shows I have listed seven stocking stuffers for cat lovers, but only two for dog lovers. Time to even up the score, say the canine enthusiasts! So here it is. At this price, it's definitely a Friday luxury item, but oh! I love this James Thurber reading dog pin from The Library Shop at the New York Public Library. It conveys both affection and humor with a few simple lines, and for me it combines two of my own loves: dogs and books.

The web page says it can worn as a pin or a pendant, and it has been cast in sterling silver via the lost-wax method (whatever that is). At approximately one inch in diameter, it's just the right size for an extra special stocking stuffer.

What: James Thurber Reading Dog Pin
Where: The Library Shop website
How much (as of today's post): $50.00 ($45.00 for members) (plus shipping)

Hypotrochoid Art Set

I didn't recognize the name of this stocking stuffer from the Think Geek website -- Hypotrochoid Art Set ??!! -- but I certainly recognized the item itself: it's a compact version of Spirograph! Did any of you have those sets as a kid, where you used colored pens and these plastic gear circles to create neat geometric designs? I remember being fascinated, watching the complex patterns emerge from underneath my pen.

This modern-day version comes in a handy tin that contains two "hypotrochoid" templates (outer circles, for those of us who aren't completely fluent in GeekSpeak), six gear (inner) circles, and red, green, and blue pens. At $8.99 I think it's a pretty good deal for a somewhat unusual stocking stuffer that will give kids several hours of entertainment.

What: Hypotrochoid Art Set
Where: Think Geek website
How much (as of today's post): $8.99 (plus shipping)

Wild Maine Blueberry Syrup

OK, the trouble with these Wednesday "food" stocking stuffer posts is that they always make me hungry! For today I've found this jug of Maine blueberry syrup from the Sur La Table website (or their brick & mortar stores). The website claims that it's delicious served warm over vanilla ice cream, Belgian waffles, French toast, or pancakes. At 16 ounces, this might take a good-sized stocking, but where there's a will, there's a way. It would also be lovely in a gift basket, of course.

And now I will go look at something unappetizing to counter the effect of looking at this tantalizing syrup....

What: Wild Maine Blueberry Syrup
Where: Sur La Table website
How much (as of today's post): $14.00 (plus shipping)

Puddle Jumpers Vase or Pen Holder

The Seed Savers Exchange is a non-profit organization that saves and stores heirloom vegetable, fruit, and flower seeds. They've been around for 35 years, and operate from an 890-acre farm in Iowa. They also participate in larger global seed saving efforts, such as the Svalbard Global Seed Vault in Norway. I love this concept! You can find out more about this organization on their website.

In order to support their efforts, the Seed Savers Exchange has a shop selling seeds and related merchandise. It was really by chance that I came across these "puddle jumpers", or little plastic containers shaped like a pair of rainboots. As you can see from the photo, they can be used as a little vase or as a pencil holder, and they'll be sure to delight the gardener in your life. They come in green with yellow trim, or yellow with black trim.

What: Puddle Jumpers Vase or Pen Holder
Where: Seed Savers Exchange website
How much (as of today's post): $7.95 (plus shipping)

The Monster at the End of This Book

I hope everyone had a terrific Mother's Day! And now, back to our regularly scheduled programming....

I'm in my early 40s, and I still own my original copy of this wonderful classic, The Monster at the End of this Book, starring Grover from Sesame Street. When I was little, I thought this was the cleverest book ever written, and it still makes me smile to this day. So out of curiosity, I searched Amazon to see if they might have it in a board book version small enough to fit in a stocking, and lo! According to Amazon, this edition measures 5.7 x 4.2 x 0.6 inches. So it might take a wide-mouthed stocking, but it is just possible! This is the perfect read-aloud book, especially if you as the reader don't mind hamming it up with voices and "special effects" (my favorite is when the brick wall comes crashing down).

(There's even a "sequel" that incorporates Elmo, titled Another Monster at the End of This Book. Not quite as good as the original, of course, but still enjoyable.)

What: The Monster at the End of This Book
Where: Amazon or elsewhere
How much (as of today's post): $4.99 (plus shipping)

BLOG GIVEAWAY !! Handcrafted Rubber Ink Stamp from Nikoart

Ink stamps are perfect stocking stuffers, because they're small, affordable, and fun. But instead of relying on the sometimes "tired" selection of stamps available at commercial craft and hobby stores, why not go for these unique handcrafted rubber stamps from Etsy seller Nikoart? The Etsy shop profile explains artist Nicole's process in detail, using red rubber that she mounts onto maple wood blocks to create these stamps from her own illustrations.

I have to confess that the first of Nicole's stamps to catch my eye was the tuxedo cat shown in the set above, which isn't surprising considering how many tuxedo cats I have at home.... But then I started browsing through her shop, and I felt like a kid in a candy store! The 1-inch tuxedo cat stamp can be purchased individually for $4.00, or as part of this set of four cat stamps for $15.00. Personally, I'd have to go for the whole set because the cat cleaning itself with its foot in the air cracks me up -- the other night one of my cats finished cleaning just like that, only he forgot to put his foot back down, so he just sat there looking ridiculous (in a completely dignified cat kind of way, of course!).

Aside from the cats, there's a wide variety of critters, all drawn with the same simple, clean lines. There are also two "storybook" sets: one with Alice in Wonderland (shown left), and one with Red Riding Hood. I especially like the White Rabbit in the Alice set! There are holiday sets for Christmas and Halloween, a nautical set, a farm animals set, and so on. If you prefer slightly larger stamps, there are several 2-inch stamps to choose from, including a mischievous little garden gnome. I wish I could show all of the stamps here, but you'll just have to go and look at them yourself!

Even the prices are great: $4.00 for the 1-inch stamps, $7.00 for the 2-inch stamps, and $15 for a set of four 1-inch stamps (including a custom set of any four 1-inch stamps of your choice). You would pay at least this much if not more in the craft and hobby stores, and the stamps you'd get there wouldn't be nearly as nice. These will make terrific stocking stuffers for kids, or any-occasion gifts for crafters of all ages. You can use these stamps to create handmade greeting cards, while kids can use them to engage in "picture storytelling" of their own. And of course they're perfect for artist trading cards, or ATCs as we card artists like to call them.

The best part is that Nicole has kindly offered to send a two-inch stamp of choice to the lucky winner of my first blog giveaway! To enter, look at the selection of two-inch stamps here (a new window will open) and then leave a comment on this blog post. You can decide now which stamp you'd like if you win, or leave that decision until later if you prefer. I'll be taking entries from today (Sunday May 10) until Saturday May 16 at midnight CST, and will choose (in a random drawing) and announce the winner on Sunday May 17. Please be sure to leave me a way to contact you, or to come back and check for your name, whichever you prefer. One entry per person, please.

Personally, I'd have to go for the little garden gnome. Or the Chessy Cat. Or the owl....

What: Handcrafted Rubber Ink Stamps
Where: Nikoart (an Etsy shop)
How much (as of today's post): ranges from $4 to $15 (plus shipping) / one 2-inch stamp free to the giveaway winner!

"Reasons to Love Mom" Scavenger Hunt

I only just came across this box of "The Reasons I Love Mom" truffles from Secret Spoon Sweets. The larger box comes with ten smaller boxes, each of which holds two individually wrapped truffles. In all, there are four each of the following flavors: milk chocolate, Irish Cream, semi-sweet, champagne, and black cherry. There's even a sugar-free version of this gift! But best of all, the ten little boxes come with little sayings about why we love our moms. My favorites from their list are "You considered all my art 'fine art'" and "You let me believe ketchup is a vegetable" (that one really hit home, because as a kid I used to eat ketchup sandwiches, which kind of grosses me out now).

Anyway, I think it would be great fun to hide each of the ten small boxes and have your mom have to hunt for them. Like an Easter egg hunt except for Mother's Day! Of course, it's too late to order this for Mother's Day this year (and at $29.99, it might be beyond some folks' price range anyway), but it occurred to me that anyone could come up with a "do it yourself" version with individually wrapped Lindor truffles or something similar. They don't have to be in separate little boxes; you could just tie a personalized message to each one.

Here are some of the ones I would use:

• You chauffeured me to countless soccer games.
  
  
• You always ask how I'm doing.
  
  
• You brag about me to your friends.
  
  
• You taught me to love reading.
  
  
• You let me be a tomboy.

What little messages would you send your mom for Mother's Day?

Library Photo Album

Last Saturday, I posted about giving Mom the gift of a professional photographer's portrait of you and your siblings. But if you just couldn't bring yourself to play supermodel for the day, surely your mom will appreciate a nice photo album for 4x6" prints, pre-filled by you with family photos, and small enough for her to carry in her bag to show off to friends.

I chose these adorable "book" photo albums from Bas Bleu in particular because I'm a book lover. These albums each have a different title, including "Friends and Family", "Travels Near and Far", "Memories", "Our Grandkids", "Top Dog", "What Was I Thinking", and "I Can't Remember". I'd probably be inclined to go with "Friends and Family" or "Memories", myself. However, since today is Friday and Mother's Day is only two days away, it might be a little late to order these specifically! But you should be able to find a decent quality small photo album at Aaron Brothers, Michael's, A.C. Moore, or even the corner drugstore. And you can most likely get a perfectly nice album for a lot less than this one sells for (although I still want these because they're so bookish!).

What: Library Photo Album
Where: Bas Bleu website or elsewhere
How much (as of today's post): $25.00 (plus shipping)

Funky Flower Measuring Cups

Here's a word to the wise: you should only give these funky flower measuring cups on Mother's Day if your mother truly loves baking -- no giving them to her just because you're in the mood to eat some homebaked goodies! But if your mother does love baking, these colorful measuring cups will brighten up her day, and they fit in nicely with a flowery motif, if that's what you're going for.

What: Funky Flower Measuring Cups
Where: wishingfish.com website
How much (as of today's post): $9.95 (plus shipping)

Announcement: First Blog Giveaway Coming Soon!

I'm happy to announce that my first blog giveaway is coming soon. Watch for my post on Sunday, May 10, 2009 for a special Etsy item giveaway!

If you don't want to have to remember to come back, you can always subscribe to this blog through Google Reader or the RSS feed/reader of your choice. The entry period for the giveaway will be one week, starting Sunday.

Trust me, you won't want to miss it -- especially you crafty types out there!

All-Natural Sunny Seed Drops

From the Sunflower Food & Spice Company comes this adorable 9 ounce tube of all-natural "sunny seed drops" -- chocolate-covered sunflower nuts, with no artificial colors or preservatives. The 9 ounce tube, with the pretty sunflower topper, is $9.00, or you can get a small 3 ounce tube for only $2.90. Can't you just see that as the focal point of a lovely Mother's Day gift basket?

They also have lots of holiday options for other times of the year: red, white, and green Sunny Seed Drops for Christmas, plus some cute assortments of three or six "holiday light" containers, each filled with a different color. There's also a red, white, and pink tube for Valentine's Day, pastels for Easter and Mother's Day, and a Halloween assortment. They make a nice change from the usual M&Ms, don't you think?

What: Sunny Seed Drops
Where: Sunflower Food & Spice Company website (direct, or also includes list of retail locations)
How much (as of today's post): $9.00

Flower of the Month Pins

Look at these lovely "flower of the month" pins! I think they're just right for Mother's Day or springtime birthdays. You can either get Lily of the Valley for May, or go with your Mom's own birthday month. These lapel pins are made of pewter, measure about 1.5" in diameter, and come in gift boxes, making them perfect for gift baskets. There's even a December poinsettia if you have your heart set on making this a Christmas stocking stuffer. At $14.95, they won't completely break the bank (and two or more pins are $12.95 apiece).

What: Flower of the Month Pins
Where: Potpourri website
How much (as of today's post): $14.95 (plus shipping)

Wonder Vases

I haven't tried these yet, but I think they look uber-cool. They are "wonder vases", or vases that you shape yourself by making the thermal‑sensitive polymer pliable with warm water, then setting the shape with cold water. The Signals catalog and website sells them in "crystal clear" or "crystal blue", the latter of which looks pretty with those yellow daisies. Between uses, you just rinse again with warm water and reshape them flat for storage.

They're also great for the office, since they take so little space when not in use. One vase is $14.95, but you can get two for $9.95 apiece -- one for Mom and one for Mom-in-law?

What: Wonder Vases
Where: Signals website
How much (as of today's post): $14.95 for one, or two at $9.95 each (plus shipping)

Recycled Tin Mini Dress Earrings

Are these not the most cunning little earrings you've ever seen? Etsy seller Shixie makes these earrings, as well as other jewelry and non-jewelry items, out of recycled tin, making these earrings a lovely (and eco-friendly!) gift for Mother's Day or any other occasion.

Personally, I love the little dress hangers that emerge seamlessly from the earring wire itself. There are several different colors and patterns to choose from, and since they're handmade, each pair is unique. I love that they're feminine but simple, instead of being too frilly. And at $26 a pair, they're priced very reasonably. The size/length of the pairs vary slightly, but are generally around an inch and a half long, or slightly longer. The wires are sterling silver, and in some cases are oxidized to match a darker dress "fabric".

What: Recycled Tin Mini Dress Earrings
Where: Shixie (an Etsy shop)
How much (as of today's post): $26 (plus shipping)

The Best Mother's Day Gift

Are you as camera-shy as my sisters and I are? Even back when we were kids, we fussed so much about having our picture taken that my mom only managed to drag us to a portrait studio once. I actually still dislike that picture quite a bit, because with three fairly unphotogenic children, picking the "best" picture of the bunch may still mean that someone looks awful. Plus the clothes and hair back then.... Yikes!

Nowadays, digital cameras have made it easier to get good pictures, because you can take as many as you want without having to worry about wasting film, or paying to have a bunch of bad photos developed. But still, there's something special about a professional photo portrait. So if you want to give your mom the best possible Mother's Day present, why not corral your siblings into having a quality photo taken together? (I note that in my experience, I got better results with an independent photographer with his/her own studio, as opposed to a department store studio.)

My sisters and I did this for our parents' 35th wedding anniversary, and boy, were they surprised! The actual large portrait was not ready in time, so we taped the little "proof" photo into a dress shirt box and wrapped that up. I'm not exaggerating when I say that my mom cried because she was so surprised and happy.

So how does this fit in with a Mother's Day version of the "stocking stuffer style gift"? It really is a larger gift, I know -- but you could hide a small wallet size photo in a small box that fits inside a Mother's Day gift basket, with the larger portrait to follow. Or you could be sneaky and buy your mother a wallet for Mother's Day, and sneak the photo into the photo holder.

Mother's Day is meant for children to give mothers a token of appreciation for all that they've done for us. In my experience, though, what mothers want most is us. So give the gift of you to your mother this year!

Loved Locket

This pewter pendant is a unique take on the "locket" idea, with a heart-adorned "lid" that flips up to reveal the engraved word "Loved" as well as space for a tiny photo. I like that it's a locket, but appears modern and contemporary rather than traditional. Designed by Emily Rosenfeld, it comes on a 16-18" nickel-plated steel chain, and is handcrafted in Massachusetts. I think it would be great for the young-at-heart mother on Mother's Day.

What: Loved Locket
Where: Uncommon Goods website
How much (as of today's post): $40.00 (plus shipping)