Item: Happy Birthday French Card
Seller: skribblykids

Want to mix it up a little bit next time you are wishing someone a happy birthday?  Do it in French thanks to Etsy seller Joanna from a shop called SkribblyKids!

I am in love with this cute “Bonne Fete” card listed in Joanna’s shop.  I first met this seller via an Etsy Item of the Day shop submission, and her shop is chalk full of amazing cards.  Here’s a little sampling:

Cute stuff, right?!

Joanna is a self-described cartoonist, illustrator, animator, and craftsperson.

“I just love to draw!” she told me.  ”My day job is as a Motion Graphics/ Visual Effects artist. I work mostly on movies and TV shows.  In my spare time illustration keeps me very busy with custom logo designs, portraits, and cartoons. My inspiration seems to feed off of keeping creative at all times.”

Joanna’s shop not only has darling greeting cards, but invitations, prints, and much more!

When she’s not working on new things for her shop on Etsy.com, Joanna told me she loves playing soccer.

“The thrill of the game (even if its low-level play) is just so exciting. It makes for great exercise too!” she said.

When Joanna is browsing on Etsy.com, she told me she likes to check out a shop called MatteArt.

“His style is so retro, yet unique,” she explained. “He has a great use of colors too.”

Wow, this recommendation is a great one – thanks Joanna!

Joanna has great advice to sellers on Etsy:

“Don’t give up. It’s a very hard and competitive business. Those who stay in there and have quality items are the ones who (eventually) succeed!” she said.

So what’s coming up next for Joanna’s shop SkribblyKids?

“I’m planning on setting up monthly photo contests to help promote my site. Each winner will get a free digital print of their pet or loved one,” she said.  ”I’m hoping to get some great pictures and great inspiration from this!”

It looks like this new project is underway!  Interested in getting involved and entering to win?  You can learn more on Joanna’s Facebook page or her website!

- Jackie

Item: “You’re Gonna Be Fine” Card
Seller:  JulieAnnA

Meet Julie Ann, the handmade seller behind the clever card shop on Etsy called JulieAnnA.  I heard about this seller via my Etsy Item of the Day shop submission page and I am really loving her silly cards.

The “you’re gonna be fine” get well card above is my favorite, but here are some others you guys may enjoy:

“I’m a 26 year old artist who has a weakness for anything turquoise and all puppies ever,” Julie Ann told me.  ”I sell a greeting card line on Etsy, which can also be found in several brick and mortar stores across the United States. I live in a little house in southern California with my boyfriend, Jordan and our Terrier girl, Penny.”

I asked Julie Ann what she likes to do when she’s not working on her Etsy shop, and here what she told me:

“When I take a break from work I like to relax! I enjoy taking bike rides with my boyfriend and our dog. We also ride down to the beach a lot, it’s pretty much my favorite place!” she said.

“I have been spending so much time improving my own shop I have a lot less time to shop on Etsy!” Julie Ann told me.  But, if she had to pick a favorite shop, she says she would recommend lamixx.etsy.com.

“She makes great clothes and I’ve bought quite a few shirts from her,” she said.

What’s Julie Ann’s advice to other people selling their handmade goods on Etsy.com?

“It takes time,” Julie Ann said.  ”Just be patient and don’t give up. Keep promoting, use Twitter, Facebook, post in the forums.”

So what’s coming up next for Julie Ann’s cute shop?

“Pretty soon I’m going to start offering gift tags for Christmas time!” she said.

In fact, you can find some holiday items for sale NOW at this shop!

Check out my favorite Christmas offering from this seller:

So cute, right?

Be sure to check out this shop by clicking the shop link (JulieAnnA) at the top of this feature!  You can also visit this seller’s website, send her a Tweet at @JulieAnnArt, and connect with her on Facebook!

- Jackie

Item: Thank You Cards
Seller:  InHausPress

I came across this Etsy shop (called InHausPress) on the home page of Etsy.com.  This shop was featured the other day, and I wanted to share the interview and this shop with all of you!

My favorite items in this shop are the cute “little notes” stationery sets.  Take a look at these awesomely chic items:

So who is behind this darling Etsy shop?  Below are some of my favorite parts of the Etsy interview, but you can read the entire interview here.

“My name is Treasa, and James and I own In Haus Press, a little letterpress studio in San Francisco,” Treasa said.  ”I’m a former pastry chef with a background in graphic design, but I was always more interested in designing packaging and business cards for my pastry business than baking itself. When we received our Adana 8 x 5 letterpress last year, everything fell into place and I was finally able to do what I’ve always dreamed of: building a business around designing and printing.”

Treasa was asked when she knew she was an artist, and here’s what she told Etsy.com:

“I don’t know that there was an exact moment when I knew I wanted to design things — I just knew that I was happiest when I was doing just that.”

When asked which handmade possession she loves most, here’s what Treasa said:

“My printing press bench (which, in its other life, used to be my pastry bench). It’s made from the butcher block of the now-demolished Esprit Headquarters here in San Francisco,” she said.

This is such a lovely shop, with things for your desk and your walls alike.  Be sure to check it out!

- Jackie

Item: Save The Date Cards
Seller: TheMemoryTruck

My aunt announced her engagement for her 2nd marriage over the weekend, and it didn’t take too long for me to spend some time on Etsy finding lots of great wedding items!

One of my favorites I came across are these cute “Save the Date” cards from TheMemoryTrunk, which is a truly darling paper/cards shop on Etsy.  I am obsessed with this shop – it’s a must-see!

Do any of you guys have favorite Etsy shops for wedding/engagement items?  Share the links below!

- Jackie