Adoption Process

As some of you may know, we are in the process of adopting a little boy who is now 2 years old. He came to us six months ago tomorrow! As far as we know, the adoption finalization process will begin in the early part of December, which means that the adoption will most likely be finalized in mid to late January! We are SO excited!

We are trying to raise money for the adoption fees, and so we are offering an adoption special in our Rio Oso Designs shop right now. From now, through the end of December, you can receive 20% off on anything in the shop. Your discount will come in the way of a Paypal refund after you have completed your payment.

Your dicount code is ADOPT20. Please mention this code in your "Notes to Seller", when you are checking out.

Here are some of the things we currently have for sale in our shop:

Photo Greeting Card Designs

(You can print them ANYWHERE you get your photos printed! Even at home!)

Birth Announcements and Adoption Announcements

Custom and Premade Etsy Banners and Blog Banners Custom Business Cards
PRINT YOUR OWN Christmas Gift Tag Sheets
Have a wonderful weekend and a fabulous Thanksgiving!

Angie

New Items in My Etsy Shop

Happy Halloween!

Gotcha! Nope, it's not Halloween...it's not even October...for that matter, it's not even fall, well at least not until Monday the 22nd!

But we have some very cute Halloween Photo Greeting Cards for sale in our Etsy shop. I hope you will take a peek.

New Items in Our Rio Oso Designs Etsy Shop

I don't know if you've noticed, but we have some new items in our Rio Oso Designs Etsy Shop. We now have digital scrapbook pages that you can order, and I will insert your pictures for you. You can also convo me to find out about custom pages.

We also now have birth announcement designs and adoption announcement design. We will also be adding birthday invitation designs, as well as relocation card designs, for when you move and you want to share with people your new address.

I'd love to know what you think!

Have a great day!
Angie

And the Winners Are....

Ok, now I'm ready! Thanks so much for your patience.

Congratulations to the following people whose names were randomly drawn by my 14 year old son:

Jennifer (tigerjennv) won the two burp cloths from Ambrosia Delights.

Bethany won the custom banner from Rio Oso Designs.

Ney Strokes of Magic won the free advertising spot from The Downtown Boutique.

Thanks so much for commenting, and for visiting the blog!

Angie

Blog Banners and Etsy

So this morning, I was reading in the forums, and there is a discussion about what it right and what is wrong to sell, if you are selling graphic designs. I sell banners that I create, as well as business card designs, avatars, and other promotional material.

I saw in the discussion that we are not allowed to sell blog banners. I have had a lot of customers who want a banner for their blog, so instead of getting in trouble for selling blog banners through Etsy, I have decided to sell them here.

If you want a custom blog banner, you can now buy one from me here. Please note that the banners you see in this post are only examples of banners that I have made for other people's Etsy shops. I will not ever duplicate a banner exactly, although there may be some similarities. If you click on each picture, you will see a larger image of each banner.

$15.00*

*This will get you up to one hour of custom work for your blog banner. Anything beyond one hour will have added charges.

Bloggy Carnival Giveaways

I don't know if you've heard of Bloggy Carnival Giveaways or not, but they are a fantastic way to get some new traffic to your blog, not to mention give away some awesome products!!

I just happened to find out that there is another Bloggy Carnival Giveaway going on right now, so I wanted in on the action (of course!!).

What am I going to give away this time? Well, a few things....

***#1: I will give away a month of free advertising on our other blog, The Downtown Boutique, for a 125x250 size banner spot. This is a value of $18. Note: We will not link to a site that has vulgar, obscene or otherwise inappropriate material.

***#2: I will give away one custom banner for your website or blog, any size you need, from our Rio Oso Designs Etsy shop. This is a value of $15.

***#3: I will give away 2 OsoBaby flannel burp cloths from our Ambrosia Delights Etsy shop. This is a value of $10.00.


All you need to do to enter, is to let me know which item you would like to win, and why. Please leave only one comment per person, with an easy way to get ahold of you. This contest is open worldwide. Deadline to enter is Saturday, April 26th at midnight PST. We will announce our winners on Sunday afternoon or evening.

Please be sure to visit our shops to see what else we sell! And check out The Downtown Boutique blog to see some amazing and wonderful handmade items. Also be sure to visit the Bloggy Carnival for a BOATLOAD of other great giveaways being held!

Happy Bloggy Carnival!

Angie

I've Been Featured on Another Blog!

I'm so excited! Normally I am the one doing the featuring of other fabulous artists. Well, now I've been featured by a wonderful Etsian, JLC Studio. Jennifer has an amazing blog where she has a segment called "Weekly Win It!", and I am the featured artist this week.


And guess what?!! I'm giving something away! What is it? Well, of course it's a custom banner for your Etsy shop, blog, or website! Go check out Jennifer's blog and let me know what you think. Oh yeah! And don't forget to enter to win the custom banner!

Here's a sampling of some of the banners I've created:

Thank you so much for checking us out! Have a great day!

Angie

Need a blog banner?

Are you bored with your blog banner? Do you even have a blog banner? Do you want one? I would love to make one for you! I charge $15 for custom blog banners. If you're interested, please visit Rio Oso Designs or email me.

On another note, we are wanting to start a new feature for Mondays, here on the Rio Oso Designs blog. We're looking for an alliterative title. We have "Thursday Thumbnails" here. On our other blog, The Downtown Boutique, we have "Tots on Tuesdays", "Wordless Wednesdays", and "Friday Features". So please help me come up with a great feature name!

Have a great day!
Angie

A Little About Angie

Ok, I guess it's time for me to introduce myself a little better, and give you a wee glimpse into my crazy hectic life. Life really isn't that crazy and hectic, but it sure does feel that way sometimes!


I am a 37 year old Christian stay at home wife and mom. I met my hubby on eHarmony, and the rest is history. God really orchestrated our meeting, because my husband is everything I have always prayed for, and MORE! He has become a wonderful father to my 14 year old son, stepping into the role like it was especially created for him...and it was! My husband is a Godly man, and a wonderful husband and father. He never raises his voice unless he's really excited about something. He has lovingly taught our son and me to fish, and has sat back in the shadows while I have outfished him for the past three years! He is an elder in our church, and is involved in a Men's Prayer Ministry, he teaches Sunday School, and helps out in the Junior High youth group. He's an awesome son to his wonderful parents, and he's a great brother and uncle too.


Speaking of my son, he is a heart and stroke patient, having been born with only 1/2 of his heart. Before he was 3 years old, he had had two major surgeries on his heart, and then proceeded to have FIVE strokes! He is such a blessing and a miracle, but my heart aches that he has to deal with all of this. We have always homeschooled him, but next year he will be going to public school for the first time in his life! We're a little scared (well, I am anyways), but we really think this is going to be a great time for him. He is currently involved in jujitsu, and doing very well, in spite of his disabilities. He loves to help out at church, helping us teach Sunday School, hanging out in the Junior High youth group, and helping babysit the little one I watch.


Oh, you want to hear more about ME? Drats! Ok, I am the second oldest of 7 children (the youngest was adopted), born to an Oklahoma Air Force man, and an Ohio teacher. I have lived overseas...in Okinawa. I love to travel and see different areas of the country. One of my favorite places to visit is Branson, Missouri. Some day I would love to visit the East Coast and all the amazing historical places. I love US History, and this would be a fun trip! I am even hoping to travel with my family to Ireland, where one of our pastors from our church is going with his wife to be a missionary and plant a church!


I do many many things, including sewing, making jewelry, making greeting cards, scrapbooking (paper and digital), cross stitch (but not in quite awhile), baking, blogging, and making banners, business cards and more for fellow Etsians. I enjoy reading historical Christian fiction, and Christian mysteries (particularly from Dee Henderson). I love to go fishing with my family, and even enjoy our week-long extended family camping trip at a northern California lake.




I love children, and currently babysit a 2 year old who has been with us since he was 5 months old. My husband and I are wanting more children, and feel that the Lord is leading us to adopt. We are licensed foster parents, hoping to adopt soon. It's been a long road, but we know God is with us the entire way.

I have three blogs, and two Etsy shops, because I think I have ADD when it comes to doing the things I do. And yes, it keeps me pretty busy! You can check them out here, and let me know what you think:

This blog of course.

Ambrosia Delights Blog

The Downtown Boutique Blog

Ambrosia Delights Etsy Shop

Rio Oso Designs Etsy Shop

I sing on our church's worship team, and really enjoy it. I am also involved in a once a month "Girls' Night Out" with some very close friends from church. This is a time where we are able to get together at one of our homes for about 5-6 hours and just chat and laugh and eat. I would highly encourage you to get involved in something like this, if you aren't already. It's such a blessing to have these ladies as close friends, and be able to just visit with them for so long! It's really a treat for me.

Well, I think that's enough about me. Thanks for taking the time to read about my life, and thanks for indulging me by allowing all the photos.

Have a blessed day and don't forget to head over to my other blog, The Downtown Boutique, to enter for the giveaways during the Ultimate Blog Party.

Angie

Advertise on The Downtown Boutique

You've always loved working with your hands. As a child you delved into Play-do like it was the clay of a master crafter. Your dolls had their own special wardrobes, designed by you. Even the sandbox was a medium for imaginitive and masterful creations. You would have wire-wrapped and bejeweled the family pets if they had let you. Everything you touched needed to be "crafted". If this sounds like you, and you are now selling your creations, then The Downtown Boutique is the place for you.

The Downtown Boutique is a unique community, comprised of an eclectic smorgasbord of handmade arts, crafts, gifts, etc. You can find toys, jewelry, accessories, artwork, pottery, clothing, baby items, bath and body products, handbags, and much more at The Downtown Boutique.

Look for our "Friday Features" and our "Toys on Tuesdays" posts. Those feature a particular crafter or artisan, and will even include a fabulous giveaway! We currently have TWO giveaways going right now!

If you are interested in being featured, please leave a comment here, and we will take it into consideration. We ask that our featured artists and crafters be willing to do a giveaway, that is open to anyone in the world (meaning that you would ship anywhere in the world).

If you are in a spot where you want to advertise, we can help you there too. You don't have to be a crafter to advertise with us. You just need to have a family-friendly shop or website. We have three different advertising possibilities for you. In just 5 weeks, we have had over 2300 visitors to our blog, from over 25 different countries in the world. We average about 50-80 visitors a day, give or take. We have the ability to track when someone clicks out to your shop or site.

#1: Small Banner Sponsor Listing -- This spot goes for $7 per month or $18 for three months, and is for a 125x125 banner, linking to your site. We have 10 spots available at a time for this ad space.

Ad Listing Durations

1 Month $7.003 Months $18.006 Months $30.00

#2: Large Banner Sponsor Listing -- This spot goes for $10 per month or $27 for three months, and is for a 125x250 banner, linking to your site. We have 5 spots available at a time for this ad space.

Ad Listing Durations

1 Month $10.00 3 Months $27.00 6 Months $48.00

#3: EtsyMini Ad Spot -- This spot goes for $10 per month or $27 for three months. Shows up to six items from your shop...you arrange which ones are shown!

Ad Listing Durations

1 Month $10.00 3 Months $27.00 6 Months $48.00

If you need to have a banner made, please contact me through my Rio Oso Designs Etsy shop, and I will be glad to create a banner for you for $10.

***All advertising is subject to our approval. We reserve the right to refuse service to any shop or website that contains vulgar, offensive, or pornographic items in it. The Downtown Boutique is a family-friendly environment, and we would like to keep it that way.

To check out The Downtown Boutique for your yourself, just click now.

Have a great day!
Angie

I Just Bought Myself Some Great Items From Etsy.com!

My Christmas stocking is a beautiful and precious stocking. It was made 37 years ago by my mom's Great Aunt Eva, who is no longer with us. It was for my first Christmas, and is pink and white with a "toy mobile" on it...done in felt and sequins and embroidery floss and beads, and braids. I LOVE it! But alas, it has gotten more fragile with each passing year, so I decided to retire it, so that it wouldn't completely disintegrate.

So what did I do? I purchased a gorgeous handmade stocking from BarbarasCrafts on Etsy.com. What do you think?

While I was on Etsy.com last night, I also was flipping through the cool new device on Etsy, called "Pounce". I was having WAY too much fun looking at things! I found these fun magnets that I can use on my overcrowded and outdated refrigerator. I need to spice things up a little. After all, we live in a small apartment with an even smaller and very crowded kitchen. Our cabinets are just Colonial White. We can't paint them. Our refrigerator is...you guessed it...Colonial White, or at least some color close to that...maybe it's Almond or Eggshell, or Colonial Almond Eggshell! Anyways, I wanted some new fridge magnets, and when I found these from MissChief, and at such a great price, I just HAD to get them!!!

Well, thanks for looking and God bless!

Angie

Great Gifts for the Fun Kiddos in Your Life!

There's only 12 more days until Christmas,

but birthdays happen all year long,

so why not do some birthday shopping on Etsy.com?

Can you BELIEVE how many cool things there are out there for kids, that aren't commercialized and that hopefully DON'T contain lead?

Indian Headdress-The Matosapa from World of Whimm

Set of 7 Buzzlewic Coloring Books from Tricia Courtney.

Stock Car Race Car Step Stool from Tots Only.

Two Bite Cake Playtime Bake Set from Puka Shell.


"Benedict" from Little Red Pear.


Wooden Chicken Puzzle from Dsthings.


Puzzle Piece Shaped Soaps from Victoria's SudsnSoaps.



Thanks for looking and God bless!
Angie

Were You in the Running?

I posted a thread in Etsy to find people who would like an item from their shop featured on my blog. Some of them made it into my Favorites. You can see them in the EtsyMini to the right of the page here. Others will be featured as I am able to get to them.

Here are some now. If you click on the picture, it will take you to that person's Etsy shop.

I know it's only four, but I got such a huge response, that I will be doing more, a little at a time.