Introducing My April/May Sponsors!

Happy Monday morning, y'all!

This is the Monday of our Spring Break and we are so excited to get started on our Spring Break bucket list.

Check out the ummm...extensive? list the girls came up with.

Oh.My.

So far we have seen a movie, visited the USS Massachusetts, visited Federal Hill, and gone to the playground.

This week we want to visit Maine, see a Red Sox game, explore Jamestown, and visit the Boston Museum of Science. WHEW!

I wanted to take a moment to introduce you to my very first crop of sponsors.

 

A while back I mentioned that I was thinking of taking on a few sponsors and some of you complained that this blog would stop being the blog it's always been.

That it would be one big ad.

 

And that made me sad because I would never let that happen. If that was going to happen, I'm pretty sure it would have happened six years ago. :)

Tuesdays have always been a spot for me to spotlight small businesses I love.

That will stay the same.

I love using and sharing products I believe in. And I love sharing the people who create them.

That will stay the same.

You know who responded when I asked if anyone was interested in ads?

Five companies I am a fan of. Women I consider friends. Five businesses that I've spoken of many times before I took sponsors.

I couldn't be more thrilled with my first group of sponsors.

 

 

1. Stuck on You. I have been using these labels since Harper was a baby. You can find many past spotlights and reviews over the years. Here's a bit about the company:

In 1995, as a busy mom of 3 boys, Carrie Felton discovered the need for gorgeous name and clothing labels for children and founded Stuck on You -  little did she know, it would grow to be one of the worlds favorite children's labelling companies. Stuck on You now sends personalized labels and gifts to over 120 countries with tens of millions of labels sold every year! With a huge range of personalized products, from labels and tags to wooden puzzles and stationery, it seems their creative spirit will ensure Stuck on You continues to be "Trusted by Moms and loved by kids.

 

2. Gossamer Blue-Lori and I go way back. We were on the Lily Bee design team together and she's a class act. I ordered the very first GB kit and I've been a fan since. Amazing kits with flawless customer service. Can't beat it. Here's a little about Gossamer Blue:

My name is Lori Gentile.I started GB last August and am ever grateful to the members and customers that have helped GB grow as it has in a short amount of time. I started the club to follow my dream. A big part of that dream is to be able to do what I'm passionate about (crafts) while being able to stay home with my two boys, Dylan and Brody. "Gossamer" represents that which is most fragile (customer service) and is my reminder to always hold customer service as the first priority. "Blue" represents my boys, the very reason I am driven to succeed. May they witness their mom walk her talk and learn through her action that dreams really can come true.

The club is subscription based. The main kit is discounted and shipped to your door once a month.

It is a non-commitment club. Cancel when you want.

Each month the main kit and the add-on kits are built around one color scheme. This helps ensure that everything coordinates and can be used together.

You can even earn a free album just for using your kits.

 

3. Freckled Fawn- My favorite source for doilies and tapes. I've known AesaLina for years and had the privilege of finally meeting her at CHA. It's been a joy seeing her business succeed! Here's a bit about Freckled Fawn:

Hello lovelies! My name is AesaLina Compton, my customers call me "Doe". I am the owner of Freckled Fawn.

We opened the store in January 2012 and we were just a little shop, only 20 styles of washi and same paper doilies and such. But since then, all your little washi addictions have been a catalyst to our growth and manufacturing of Freckled Fawn products (e.g., Wood Chips, FF washi, Dew Drop Stickers).

We pretty much love, LOVE this industry. I have been reading Stephanie's blog for yearrrrrrrs. I got the chance to meet her at CHA in January and she is adorable. Stephanie was actually our first customer ever!! It is an honor to sponsor and support her blog.

 

4. Chic Tags- I've considered Veronica a friend since 2009 (see a theme here?). I met her at my very first CHA and I got to see her start a very small business and turn it into something amazing. I saw her again at the last CHA when she had her very first show booth. So proud of her! Here's a bit about Chic Tags:

Hello Crafty friends! I'm Veronica, mama to 3 & wife to one. ;) I'm a full time work at home mama and the owner of Chic Tags. Albert, my better half, is the man behind the graphics. I'm just the sketches on the notepad until Albert converts them into wonderful little tags for all your crafty needs. :)

My husband and I started Chic Tags in 2008, this all started as a small etsy shop. With no intention of growing. It was simply a source for extra scrapbooking money. As new parents and recent graduates money was tight and scrapbooking was expensive!

One night while scrapping I realized I was missing something on my page- CUTE journaling tags and paper embellishments. Albert, a full time graphic designer (B.A. in Graphic Arts) knew he could create better tags than I had envisioned for my page. After designing several sets for personal use, I decided to open up a small etsy shop. I started off with 3 punches and a paper trimmer. True story. I made everything by hand and took a plunge. I opened up "Shabby Chic Crafts" in January of 2008. We received our first order 20 minutes after launching our etsy shop. I realized then, we were on to something!! That night Chic Tags was born.

 

5. Sandy Burns for South Hill Designs- Sandy was spotlighted on my blog a couple of weeks ago. She sells custom lockets for South Hill Designs. They are quite lovely and unique. Here's a bit about Sandy:

Create unique jewelry that shows off what you love with South Hill Designs by Sandy Burns.  Wear a locket that is all about you. Displaying what you love. Growing and changing with you. 

What story will your locket tell?

 

So there you have it! Please check out their shops and their products. They are all pretty awesome.

Check back for spotlights and giveaways each Tuesday!

Have a beautiful Monday, friends.

xoxo

S

Comments

[libbywilko]

They look like great sponsors to have; people and brands you love. I think anyone who reads your blog and really listens to what you write would know that you wouldn't change who you are or the blog in any way except positively for you and your family. Wishing you the best . Hugs.

[JillT]

I started to tell you that it is the heart of the blogger, not the margins of the blog that determines whether I stalk y'all. A little crafty inspiration on the side doesn't hurt :) I just lost that comment so you get the succinct version. Now let's get down to basics. Do you need some company working through that bucket list? What a great place you have been planted where you can get so much accomplished in one week! Somehow seems like a little remuneration for all J does for all of us. . .

[Susan Kopp]

I have had the privilege to work with Sandy Burns with the locket I won from this blog ( and love a bunch). She was wonderful in helping this novice order the beautiful tribute to my grandkids. Great Sponser to have.

[Michelle Whitlow]

Great sponsors, I've used a couple of them :)

[Davinie]

We are going to San Diego in June and thought about a Padres game. Let me know how the kiddos like the Red Sox! I'm still on the fence on whether that should be added to the vacay agenda.

XOXO

LOVE GOSSAMER BLUE. That is all.

[Victoria]

Thanks so much Steph, great post!!

[veronica]

I love everything you stand for! I consider you a great friend and if we lived closer...oh man, no telling the trouble and chaos we would cause! Jimmy and Albert would need stock in lots of BEER lol.

xoxo!

[noreen]

When are you going to have all these items in digital. You have lovely items but only for hands-on scrapping!

[Trena]

Your sponsors look great! I will check them out after this question - are you in a monthly kit club? And have you given any thought to getting scrapping supplies in Italy? Just curious.

[Stephanie Howell]

Im sorry Noreen! I dont do any digital scrapping!

[Stephanie Howell]

Hey Trina!
I am not currently subscribing to any kits for budget reasons. :) I am thinking of signing up for Gossamer Blue when I move to italy!

[Jonnelle]

Those are all great sponsors! Would love a subscription to Gossamer Blue, but not in the budget. :(
I LOVE Chic Tags, Veronica & Albert seem like wonderful people!
I hate that someone would say the blog would change, become an advertisement- that could not be any further from the truth.

[Stephanie Howell]

I think your girls would LOVE it, Dav! xoxo