Scent Update!

I have added scents for the Spring and discontinued most of the Holiday scents. Please email me at Retnaec@sbcglobal.net if you were looking for a scent that is no longer on the list.

I am happy to make custom scents for you please check out my shop at http://dreamersweb.etsy.com/ for current stock and designs and let me know what you are looking for. :)

All Scents Currently Available:

Angel: Hazelnut, vanilla & a slight hint of cherry
Apple: Fresh tart red apples just sliced
Apple Pie: Apples, sugar-cinnamon and a touch of that warm, buttery crust.
Baby Powder: Sweet, powdery just from the bath fresh.
Bay Rum: Similar to Old Spice good ol’masculine mildly spicy
Beach Breezes: Unisex scent-breezy ocean scent-light flower with a white scent
Blackberry Vanilla: Delicious blackberry fruit & warm vanilla
Blueberry: Rich fresh fruit
Bubblegum: Just like the Double Bubble chew!
Butt Naked: Blended Watermelon and cherry-sinfully sweet
Carnation: Slightly spicy-lightly floral-traditional summer fragrance
Chardonnay: Ripe fruits, a touch of oak and sparkling, crisp grape
Chocolate Fudge: Like a hot brownie fresh out of the oven.
Cinnamon Essential Oil: Essential Oil True Cinnamon scent
Cinnamon & Sugar: Stickybun sweet Cinnamon treat
Clean Cotton: Fresh laundry-clean just off the line
Country Garden: Jasmine, freesia, herbs, and soft lilac
Cucumber Melon: Crisp cucumber and sweet melon
Dragons Blood: Earthy spicy scent with a hint of florals to soften it up
Eucalyptus Essential Oil: STRONG fresh scent-menthol like and eye opening
Gardenia: Just like the bloom
Green Tea: Oriental tea with more herbal depth.
Hawaiian Holiday: Plumeria, Coconut, and banana’s
Honey Almond: Sweet almond, with a hint of warm honey
Indian Summer: Fall leaves, spicy and warm
Ireland: Creamy scent leaning towards masculine fresh
Lavender Essential Oil: Essential oil-directly from the lavender flower
Lemon: Fresh Citrus Lemon scent-tart and zesty
Lilac: The lilac bush in a bottle.
Love Spell: Similar to VS perfume: Musk w/hints of jasmine, peach & berries
Mango Papaya: Exactly that mango fresh with papaya juiciness
Ocean Mist: Clean smelling ocean blended with fresh spring rain
Orange Spice: Fresh squeezed oranges with cinnamon and cloves
Oriental Garden: The cherry blossoms are in bloom, jasmine, ylang ylang, and plumeria
Patchouli: Musky incense scent of the 60’s-similar to Old Spice
Peach: Ripe juicy peaches
Pumpkin Spice: Pumpkins and cinnamon
Rain: Perfumy but fresh and clean
Rose Petals: An old fashioned romantic rose fragrance
Sandalwood: Smooth and earthy masculine fragrance-amber based
Sex on the Beach: Orange juice, Cranberry Juice, and Peach Schnapps
Snow Cone: Bananas, grapefruit, strawberries, kiwi, bubble gum and a touch of vanilla
Spearmint Essential Oil: Frosty mint
Spring Rain: Patchouly, cinnamon, lime, & orange.
Starfruit: Golden starfruit, juicy peach, and green apple
Strawberry: Sweet Juicy Fruit Scent
Summer Sorbet: Blend of tangerine, orange, peach, watermelon
Texas Blue Bonnet: Sweet, rich flowery scent-but remains very light on the skin
Tuscan Wine: aka Sangria: A blend of wine, brandy, and sweet fruit.
Vanilla Bean: Rich and buttery-no tropical notes like storebrand vanilla soaps
Wedding Day: Similar to Yankee Candle: Clove leaf, galbanum, oakmoss, lemon, & bergamot.
Watermelon: Fresh and sweet-summery scent
Whispers of Bay: A blend of Bay and spicy clove
White Ginger & Amber: Warm amber blended with white ginger and florals
Wild Flowers: Just that fresh blend of daisy, wild roses, and juniper

Soap Scents Available as of August 2008

All of these scents are currently available, however this list does change regularly as I love trying new fragrances. So please contact me via my shop http://DreamersWeb.etsy.com or email me at Retnaec@sbcglobal.net if you are looking for something specific!

All Scents Currently Available:

Angel: Hazelnut, vanilla & a slight hint of cherry
Apple: Fresh tart red apples just sliced
Apple Pie: Apples, sugar-cinnamon and a touch of that warm, buttery crust.
Autumn Harvest: Apples, vanilla, nutmeg, pumpkin, and cinnamon
Baby Powder: Sweet, powdery just from the bath fresh.
Bay Rum: Similar to Old Spice good ol’masculine mildly spicy
Blackberry Vanilla: Delicious blackberry fruit & warm vanilla
Blueberry: Rich fresh fruit
Bubblegum: Just like the Double Bubble chew!
Butt Naked: Blended Watermelon and cherry-sinfully sweet
Candy Cane: Traditional holiday candy cold peppermint, sweet vanilla undertone
Candy Corn: Just like the chewy Halloween treats
Carnation: Slightly spicy-lightly floral-traditional summer fragrance
Chardonnay: Ripe fruits, a touch of oak and sparkling, crisp grape
Chocolate Fudge: Like a hot brownie fresh out of the oven.
Christmas Morning: A blend of pine, peppermint, and fresh white snow
Christmas Wreath: Crisp green pine and spruce
Clean Cotton: Fresh laundry-clean just off the line
Cotton Candy: Sugar Sugar Sugar-Just like at the circus
Country Christmas: Spicy pine blended with holiday cookies and cinnamon
Country Garden: Jasmine, freesia, herbs, and soft lilac
Cucumber Melon: Crisp cucumber and sweet melon
Dragons Blood: Earthy spicy scent with a hint of florals to soften it up
Frankincense & Myrrh: Musky scent with Amber resin & myrrh overtones.
Gardenia: Just like the bloom
Gingerbread: Perfect warm scent for cold days-freshly baked
Hawaiian Holiday: Plumeria, Coconut, and banana’s
Honey Almond: Sweet almond, with a hint of warm honey
Indian Summer: Fall leaves, spicy and warm
Lavender: Essential oil-directly from the lavender flower
Lilac: The lilac bush in a bottle.
Love Spell: Similar to VS perfume: Musk w/hints of jasmine, peach & berries
Mango Papaya: Exactly that mango fresh with papaya juiciness
Mistletoe: Cinnamon spicy, with a blend of pine & hollyberry
Nutmeg: Warm, woody, and spicy a great blending fragrance just like in cooking.
Ocean Mist: Clean smelling ocean blended with fresh spring rain
Orange Spice: Fresh squeezed oranges with cinnamon and cloves
Oriental Garden: The cherry blossoms are in bloom, jasmine, ylang ylang, and plumeria
Peach: Ripe juicy peaches
Pumpkin Pie: Pumpkin blended with traditional holiday spices
Pumpkin Spice: Pumpkins and cinnamon
Rain: Perfumy but fresh and clean
Rose Petals: An old fashioned romantic rose fragrance
Sandalwood: Smooth and earthy masculine fragrance-amber based
Sex on the Beach: Orange juice, Cranberry Juice, and Peach Schnapps
Snow Cone: Bananas, grapefruit, strawberries, kiwi, bubble gum and a touch of vanilla
Spearmint: Frosty mint
Spring Rain: Patchouly, cinnamon, lime, & orange.
Starfruit: Golden starfruit, juicy peach, and green apple
Summer Sorbet: Blend of tangerine, orange, peach, watermelon
Sweet Pea: Delightfully delicate flowery fragrance.
Texas Blue Bonnet: Sweet, rich flowery scent-but remains very light on the skin
Tuscan Wine: aka Sangria: A blend of wine, brandy, and sweet fruit.
Vanilla Bean: Rich and buttery-no tropical notes like storebrand vanilla soaps
Wedding Day: Similar to Yankee Candle: Clove leaf, galbanum, oakmoss, lemon, & bergamot.
Whispers of Bay: A blend of Bay and spicy clove
Wild Flowers: Just that fresh blend of daisy, wild roses, and juniper

The Soap Business is Picking Up

Well I have now had my Etsy shop for about 3 months and business is starting to pick up. I can't decide if this is due to the 100% positive feedback from buyers/sellers or if this is just due to fall coming and the holiday season starting to burn peoples pocketbooks.

I have been promoting myself via chat rooms, blogs & forums, and I just got a MySpace page, but I'm stumped as to new ways to promote. I'd like to find some party favor sites that cater to baby showers & bridal showers, but it's a lot of money to pay for ads.

Right now I will continue to talk talk talk and pass out samples & business cards. If you are interested in a sample soap just email me your address & I will get one out to you! I love sharing!

Retnaec@sbcglobal.net

Fabric is GONE!

Wow, that was crazy! I'm so glad I put it all out there though I now have an empty closet to fill up! I had one individual make me an offer I couldn't refuse on the entire lot of everything-SOLD! :)

Lastly are the cottons-These are all of the kids fabrics and prints that are cotton. The pieces range from 1/3yd up to 2yds-I did NOT measure every piece! I have two full boxes of cotton prints. $10/box +$9.80 s/h

Some of these particular fabrics are licensed like Carebears, Scooby Doo, and Spider Man. Please check out my last two posts also as I have two more boxes of all flannel prints, and about 10 different quilt sets! I'm happy to combine, I just need to move it out! We are planning on a spring/summer cleaning shortly because I have just lost my job and we need to restart our lives and I want to focus on my soap business. Feel free to ask me questions just email me: Retnaec@sbcglobal.net, and please check out my soap sight http://DreamersWeb.etsy.com . Lastly if you see a specific piece you really really really want email me I'll see what we can do! FIRST COME FIRST SERVE!!!

Flannel Kids Fabrics-Got to Go!

These are flannel kids pieces that range from 3/4 yd to 1 1/2yd pieces-I did NOT measure every single piece! From the looks I have about 2 full boxes of this flannel material and that is packing it tightly! This is all kids prints and flannel fabrics from JoAnn Fabrics & Walmart Fabrics Dept.

$10/box + s/h $9.80

Destashing all of my Fabrics!!!!

Okay here are some pics of quilt sets that I have-don't worry I have at least 10 more different ones, and I'm working on pics for the baby/childrens fabrics I've got. If you are interested please tell me what you are wanting and I will pack a flat rate shipping box full of the type of fabrics you are looking for for $10 + s/h $9.80.

Here's the measurements for what is pictured:

Fabric Pack #1:
6 Fat Quarters 18” x 22”-Bright Colored Pack
1 yd Multicolored Stripped Fabric


Fabric Pack #2:
1 ½ yd Butterfly/Grasshopper Fabric
1yd Orange Multicolored Polka Dot
1yd Green Multicolored Polka Dot
1yd Tiny Multicolored Dragon Flies
1yd Purple, Blue Stripes


Fabric Pack #3
2 1/3 yd Rose Pink Tiny Flowers
¾ yd Burgundy Scallops
1 2/3 yd Rose Scallops
2yd Queens w/Ivy Border
2yd Multi Pictured

Small Business Rebelling against Ebay

As you can tell from previous posts I am wholeheartedly trying to build up my fledgling business. I am finding opportunities to connect with many other small business owners via Yahoo groups, but have not yet had enormous success with any site but Ebay.
HOWEVER, I am choosing to eliminate my sales site on Ebay because of the gross ignorance of their newest feedback policy. I have had an excellent FB rating until this new change in policy in which sellers can now NOT leave anything but positive feedback for buyers. Which is ridiculous to begin with because not every transaction is going to be positive, period.
The situation that has occured is that a buyer decided to use blackmail, she emailed me requesting that I refund her money to her even though her package was delivered per physical documentation I have in my possession from USPS, stating that if she was not refunded entirely she would leave negative feedback for me which in essence hurts my future business.
I refused to refund her transaction and reported her to Ebay with copies of her emails and the signature delivery confirmation, and received an email back today stating that they could not remove her negative feedback because it didn't fit the guidelines for removal, but that they would talk to her about her emails to me. What the heck???!!!! That basically says we really don't care that she is using threats as long as we get our fees. So my current store on Ebay: Showers of Fun, will be closing shop shortly. I am already eliminating sales, and marking down merchandise that I am unable to relist on the new Etsy shop.
I will not allow a large corporation like Ebay to ruin my business opportunities in their greed. Shame shame shame on you Ebay, I really really hope you have run yourself out of business. Feel free to comment!

Noah's Ark Theme

This theme is an oldy but goody, especially if a new mommy happens to be having twins! I thought I would hit on a few popular themes for showers and give a few party ideas.





Invitations:
This is really the simplest part with this theme because there are HUNDREDS of noah's ark invites out there. Recently I visited the local dollar store and found a whole case of adorable ark shaped invites. If nothing else using blank computer paper run a search for Noah's Ark Clip Art and you will find TONS of clip art you can add to your own printed invitations.
Here are a couple of links to other versions of noah's ark invitations for baby showers:


http://angiespillows.com/invitationbabyshowernoahsark.html


http://www.paperpow.com/noahsark.htm





Decorations:
This is the fun part! If you can't afford to do much in this department that is perfectly fine. Find stuffed animals in pairs-two elephants, two bears, two bunnies, etc. and use them on each table as centerpieces! Or place them around the room tied together with a ribbon that is attached to a pretty balloon bouquet.
Balloons are a very low cost decoration that really make a venue look festive. You can buy a small helium tank for around $30 that comes with an assortment of colored balloons and a roll of ribbon-very cheap for your decorations. There is no reason to use decorated tablecloths when you can purchase solid colored disposable tablecloths at any discount store for much cheaper. So if you are having a boy go with blue & green, if it is a girl try pink & green, this will keep the noah's ark color scheme together.





Cake:
Bake a standard sheet cake and frost it with frosting-then go to your local walmart or kmart or whatever is close and purchase a tube/bag of tiny plastic animals. Pair them up in a march across the cake towards a tiny plastic boat. It doesn't even have to be an ark, but it will be a cheap way to carry the ark theme. Or check with local bakeries and cake decorators, most of them will have fabulous cake decorating sets that they can use to create a beautiful cake for you.

Games: This is a paired theme, so playing any baby shower activity in pairs will continue the theme but is absolutely not necessary. Try this game but replace the babies in the ice with tiny plastic animals:

My Water Broke-Before the shower take an icecube tray and place a tiny plastic baby that you can purchase online from any baby shower supplier, or in Walmart even, into each ice cube mold. Fill with water making sure each baby is submerged. When the shower starts each guest will receive an ice cube and the first to get their baby out wins! This is hillarious to see people rub the ice cube in their hands, put it in their mouths, etc. just trying to get the baby out.

Favors:
Obviously my favorite is Noah's ark soaps, but another alternative is to buy tiny stuffed or plastic animals and use them as scattered table decorations and then allow the guests to each choose one to take home. Or take gummy bears and fill up tiny pails or plastic baggies and tie a pretty ribbon on them.


And finally...if you are just too busy to do anything creative, that's okay too. Here is a link for a site that sells pretty much everything you would need to throw a baby shower in one complete package for one low price:


http://thepartyworks.com/index.php/cPath/79_519/page/2

Game Prizes

Okay, now that you have a great activity planned it's time to give the guests a small reason to participate. However, most people have VERY limited budgets and aren't able to put money into little giveaways when they are paying for a shower too.

Here are a few options:

Chocolates-Every woman loves chocolates! Go to the local Walmart or Target, or whatever chain department store is close and look at the candy section. Nowadays they have miniature boxes of chocolates for around $1 that work wonderfully for a small prize. Have a large group? Buy a box of a dozen regular size candybars for about $6 and save more.

Bath Salts-Make your OWN! 1 cup of Epson Salts, mixed with 1/4 cup of baking soda and a couple drops of body safe scent/color which you can pick up at the local craft shop. Put these salts into pretty little jars and tie with a ribbon, or if you are really limited you can pour into 2"x2" plastic zipper bags that you find in the jewelry craft section.

Dollar Store: If you have a dollar store nearby you are set for most of your shower decorations, activity props and guest prizes. This is a store that sells small candles, body wash, lotions, etc for only $1 each! Take your pick and go crazy! At my Price is Right party I had the following prizes and I gave them out one at a time-a large candle, a bottle of body wash, a selection of small soaps (my own obviously), a pretty glass baking dish, and my showcase showdown was a small 8" brownie pan, with a box of brownie mix, a spatula, and a hotmit.

Another idea might be a $5 gift card to a local ice cream shoppe, or fast food restaraunt.

Personalize the gifts that you give the guests to make your event more memorable. By all means scour the internet! Consider purchasing favors wholesale if you are having a really large event, some website online offer unique favors for as little as $1 each, add a ribbon or gift tag and you are done!

Continue to check in for more great tips & info on event planning!

Baby Shower Activity or Game Ideas

If you are preparing to have a baby shower for yourself or a new mommy you love, one of the first things that crosses your mind, is what kind of activities will I do with these people. Most obviously there is serving food which takes time, unwrapping presents again this can get lengthy if it's a large party, but then what?
You could always hand out rolls of toilet paper and make some poor unfortunate guests stand still while other embarrassed guests try to create a diaper on them, but why? I have been to dozens of showers where this kind of humiliation occured more than once during a two hour party, but I can swear that I have never subjected anyone to this sad event myself. Here are a few alternatives for activities that will be less on the spot and embarrassing for your guests, and will also help the new mommy get items she needs for baby.

Eye on the Baby:
On a tray or platter, spread out some small baby items such as: Diaper rash ointment, a rattle, baby booties, baby washcloths, nipples, bottles, nail clippers, baby tylenol, travel size anything for baby, etc. This tray will serve as a centerpiece for one of the guest tables, or the gift table-somewhere prominently displayed so that all of the guests see it and take note of it. After everyone has arrived you will quietly hand out notecards and pens, and tell your guests that there is now a test to see how observant they are and whether or not they could keep track of a baby. Remove the platter without allowing anymore time for guests to view it, and start timing. Give them 1-2 minutes to write down everything they remember from the platter, be sure that whomever wins receives a small prize. I will post more later about acceptable prizes for guests. The new mommy gets to keep all of the items on the platter!

Price is Right:
Recently I did this game using a small cart that is sold at walmart that is meant as an organizer for babies stuff, you could use any sort of table or cart as a display. Before the shower pick out several baby items I used: a pair of baby shoes, a box of baby detergent, a jar of Butt Paste rash cream, two containers of formula, and a bottle of baby tylenol. Before the shower: On an index card write a description of the item and its retail price-do not allow any of the guests to see these cards before the game! Pass out index cards and pens to the guests and begin your gameshow. You will ask all of the guests to write down what price they think the first item costs-the guest the closest receives a small prize. Continue this until you get to the last item. This is your showcase showdown, all of the guests that have NOT won participate. For this part I used the organizer cart that all of my items was displayed on-it was the priciest item at 19.98. The new mommy gets all of the items, and guests get to participate and receive small prizes! Great game for large groups! You can limit the number of items or cost of items depending on your budget, and this one game can be the only activity you do without seeming too short!

Decorating for Baby:
This is an individual activity, and is best for guests that love to be creative. Purchase plain baby onesies, bibs, or burp cloths, and a set of fabric paint pens. Before the shower place wax paper inside or under the garments to protect the back sides and table underneath, you may also want to design one of each item yourself as examples. When the guests arrive have each guest select an item and design it the way they would like, including the mommy; ask everyone to sign or initial their design so the mommy knows who's love created it. Let these items dry while you continue with the food and gifts, and the new mommy now has a wonderfully unique wardrobe for the new baby!

I will continue to post great activity ideas, and baby shower tips! Thanks for visiting!

Noah's Ark Soaps

Another popular soap is my Noah's Ark guest soap! Who would have thought that Noah's Ark would still be popular for baby nurseries and showers! These come in a variety of colors/scents, but the most popular is baby blue and baby powder scent. They are approximately 3" x 3" x 1/2" and can be packaged in cellophane or organza favor bags. I have also used these as unique gift toppers by printed a small label that says To: New Mommy From: Lori and tying the soap on to of the package. See these in my shop along with other ideas at http://dreamersweb.etsy.com/

Sleeping Babies

I thought I would add a photo of one of my most popular novelty soaps from my shop. These are tiny sleeping baby soaps that I package in small cellophane bags and tie with ribbons. Mostly individuals buy them as baby shower favors or just a couple in a bag for the new mommy. Visit my shop at http://dreamersweb.etsy.com/ to see other ideas or email me if you would like more information. I would love your feedback on what you think of my products!

New to Blogging

Woohoo! My very first blog! I'm sooo excited! I really want to share my products and knowledge of baby showers & small event planning with EVERYONE I can, so I thought why not start a blog. The first tip and my favorite tip for a baby shower or special event is to personalize it! Every person is different in their likes and dislikes, and it is not required to use a packaged party set to have a good party. I love to create unique favors to match weddings & showers because then I am helping someone to create a special memory on a very memorable occasion. Whether it is unique decorations, or a personal favor make it your own! I'll be putting tips up as I blog on different aspects of small event planning, and of course my favorite events weddings & showers!