(…continued from Part I, II, III, and IV)

So by now I should be preaching to the choir, right? Etsy is the best thing since sliced bread! The holiday shopping season isn’t just about buying gifts for other people. While searching for nice things for friends and family, don’t feel bad if you want a few things for yourself, too! Etsy sellers make guilt-free buying simple. The shops are run by people like you and me who understand the plight of the online shopper—shipping charges! Most sellers will combine shipping costs if you buy more than one item, so it helps if you know what you want to buy instead of browsing endlessly. Another cool offer I’ve seen is free shipping for repeat customers or free shipping within the continental U.S. This thoughtful consideration is what keeps me shopping at Etsy. Plus, just like other retailers, Etsy sellers put their items on sale!

Guilt free favorites:

1. Christmas decorations really help me get in the mood, especially since I live in a place that’s currently 68 degrees at almost 10 o’clock at night! Since there is no snow here, I have a great appreciation for nontraditional looking holiday decor. I love Rikrak‘s stockings! I needed a little one for my new kitty, but naturally I wanted to upgrade mine and The BF’s also.

2. The tree could always use some new trimmings. Even better are some vintage looking things. Brandywine Boutique crafts some very pretty things using delicately distressed papers, paint, and glitter. You can never have enough glitter during this time of year!

3. Buying stationary always satisfies my need to shop. Empty George has cool graphics and doesn’t shy away from fun colors.

Don’t forget thank you cards! (P.S. Take a look at the humor section!)

4. Gifts with purpose go along way. In order to lug around my holiday goodies to and from work, I sure could use one of these! Three Dog Party captures the look of a classic girl Friday on this canvas tote.

Another find that’s perfect for someone’s stocking and also for yourself are these nifty bookplates. Organization is very important, whatever time of year!

(…continued from Part I, II, and III)

Etsy.com can transform your shopping experience. There aren’t any lines, and parking isn’t a problem, in fact, you don’t even have to leave your house or waste any gas! Best of all, you don’t have to compete for the attention of rude salespeople. Any crafty person can have a spot on Etsy, and any person with access to the internet can shop—it’s a level shopping field, if you will.

Girl Friday hates holiday stress. Forgetting people on your list is the worst. I like to keep some small, thoughtful items on hand just in case. You can wrap extra gifts up and leave a post it note on them reminding you of what they are. Grab one before you head out for a party for a hostess’ gift, use them as stocking stuffers, or stash them for emergencies.

A list of sweet deals and cool finds…

Dirty girls must get clean, and what better way than with soap that looks like sugar cereal or soap that looks and smells like cake?!

1. Oh That Ashley might be aiming at kids who don’t like to wash up for supper, but her Fruit Loop and Apple Jack cereal soaps ($4.25) are something that even a grown up would use.

2. Suds Muffin is exciting our noses in an all new, calorie-free way. Instead of pumpkin pie leftovers, try her Spiced Pumpkin Souffle Soap Muffin with Buttercream Frosting ($9).

If pumpkin isn’t your taste, try any of her other slices of delight. Cake slice bars go for $6.

Gifts aren’t always about frivolity. Etsy artists show that you don’t have to sacrifice form for function.

3. Art isn’t just for walls. My Favorite Mirror transforms wall art into mouse pads and coaster sets. A few years ago I tried to master embroidery, but now I can throw in my tea towel and get these Jenny Hart classic embroidery designed coasters with a matching tin for $16.

If you loved the look of The Black Apple from my previous post, then you’ll love this set or a mouse pad ($14).

Notorious M.A.G. loves Stella Im Hultberg art.  Her coaster sets and mouse pads are an accessible way to introduce Stella’s art into her home.

Little gifts can be just a precious as the big ones. Don’t be afraid to think small! Etsy makes it easy to find needles in a haystack.

(…continued from Part I and Part II)

Finding the right gift, no matter what time of year, can be difficult. Big stores offer nice discounts, but the sheer size of the store can be overwhelming. Specialty stores may carry exactly what you want, but things may be totally out of your price range. What I love about Etsy.com is that it combines the best of both worlds—variety in options and variety in price point. To help narrow your choices down, try the Etsy Showcase and the Treasury; both are striking displays akin to those found in brick and mortar shops. What could be better than experts, artists, sellers, and fellow consumers helping you on the great gift hunt of 2007?

For the fanatic in your life…a list!

Remember when you were a kid and you just had to have a poster of Jem or New Kids on the Block on your wall? That same sensibility to surround yourself with familiar images stays with you well into adulthood. Etsy is just the place to look for the things that make you squee with delight. Whether you’re shopping for a TV junkie, a cinema freak, or a music buff, there are several shops that bring that magic to life in their art.

1. I bought a Breakfast at Tiffany’s print on canvas cloth from Elloh as a gift. The recipient and I couldn’t have been more pleased.

The canvases range from $15-24, and can be stretched by the artist onto a wood frame for an additional $15. The artist also immortalized the whole cast of the UK and US Office in a fabulous series.

2. Anyone who loves the Buffy the Vampire Slayer will pine for Betty Turbo‘s linocut prints on binder paper. The simplicity is genius! The look is reminiscent of something you’d doodle in class and showcase in the front cover of your binder (if only I was that artistically inclined). I like the attention to detail even in the ink names—blood red and wooden stake brown. For twenty bucks, you can bring home one of the men of Buffy. That’s five by five for me!

3. If music is more your scene, head over to The Black Apple and check out Neko Case, Bjork, and The Smiths Girls. All 8×10 prints are $13.

I like all the other girls, too, especially Amelie and this Alice in Wonderland series.

The portraits are vibrant and the girls’ eyes are expressive. They remind me of a younger, more petulant Girl Friday!

So…don’t be afraid to look for the perfect gift on Etsy, even for the pickiest person on your list.