Looking for a Gift for someone who loves crafts? How about a young artist?  Maybe you are just looking for new items to help with your crafts. 

Check out the 6 Best Selling items in Arts and Crafts for any Budget
Studio 71 deluxe art set overflows with color and creativity. For the serious artist. Set includes 24 color pencils, 24 oil pastels, 24 watercolor cakes, 2 paint brushes, 2 drawing pencils, pencil sharpener, kneaded eraser and sanding blocks. Provides an artist with a wide range of materials in a compact, portable wood case with handle. Small parts, not for children under 3 years.

User-friendly and portable, the CS6000i offers a wide range of sewing and quilting features, all at a price that’s easy on your budget. Select from 60 built-in sewing stitches, including decorative stitches and 7 styles of one-step buttonholes; choose from the 9 included presser feet; use the detachable, oversized table for larger projects; and take your machine with you to classes with the included hard carry case. The CS6000i is designed for ease of use, with its easy-to-view backlit LCD display, automatic needle threader, easy-to-follow threading diagrams, and adjustable sewing speed control. Included are a printed Quick Start guide, and a complete instructions manual in English and in Spanish. Enjoy sewing, quilting and crafting with the incredibly value-packed, CS6000i sewing machine!


Expand your sketching talents by mixing traditional mediums. Royal & Langnickel has brought a Deluxe Sketching set packed with great tools and some you may have never thought to use before. Besides the traditional graphite sticks and pencils, why not try some pastel pencils, vine charcoal or compressed color sticks to create more depth to your sketches. Add dimension or softness with the blending stumps, the possibilities are endless.

Our Gel Pen Value Set offers a full spectrum of distinctive inks that can add flair to your craft projects with the simple stroke of a pen. A wide variety of colors include neon, glitter, metallic and even two colors swirled together for eye-catching style. The free-flowing, acid-free ink applies to both light and dark paper easily. Total of 48 pens with 0.8 to 1.0 mm tips.

Craft enthusiasts will love this user-friendly shape-cutting and embossing machine. Appropriately named the "Big Shot", this handy tool can be used with a wide range of crafting materials, cutting everything from card stock to fabric -- basically anything that could be cut with a pair of scissors. The roller-style machine works with the entire Sizzix product library, including the biggest and smallest dies, as well as other die-cutting and embossing products on the market. Whether for paper crafting, school projects, or scrapbooking, the Big Shot makes it easy to cut shapes, emboss shapes, or cut then emboss. Other highlights of the Big Shot: stabilizing feet, a simple-to-turn handle, lightweight and portable, with a sleek, attractive design in black with pink accents.


The Silhouette CAMEO is an electronic cutting tool for personal use. Like a home printer, it plugs into your PC or Mac with a simple USB cable. However, instead of printing it uses a small blade to cut paper, cardstock, vinyl, fabric and more up to 12-Inch wide and 10-Feet long. The machine also boasts a quiet motor and the ability to register and cut printed materials.

 

Here is our list of the best books for 2013 Reviewed and Ranked

Picture
Looking for a  book for Christmas or another occasion?

Here’s a list of the top 10, ranked by readers at Amazon. I’ve linked each book both to Amazon and to the full review of the book.


The Cuckoo's Calling is a 2013 crime fiction novel by J. K. Rowling, published under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith.

"One of the books of the year." (USA Today)
"Rowling switches genres seamlessly...a gritty, absorbing tale." (People (3.5/4 stars))




An unforgettable novel about finding a lost piece of yourself in someone else.

Khaled Hosseini, the #1 New York Times–bestselling author of The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns, has written a new novel about how we love, how we take care of one another, and how the choices we make resonate through generations

What if your whole world was a lie?
What if a single revelation—like a single choice—changed everything?
What if love and loyalty made you do things you never expected?
The explosive conclusion to Veronica Roth's #1 New York Times bestselling Divergent trilogy reveals the secrets of the dystopian world that has captivated millions of readers in Divergent and Insurgent.

The #1 New York Times Bestseller...

“A novel that’s perfect for vacation reading.” --People


“It’s a knowing, touching, and entertaining page-turner. What a wonderful writer—smart, wise, funny.” —Anne Lamott


My darling Cecilia, if you’re reading this, then I’ve died. . . Imagine that your husband wrote you a letter, to be opened after his death. Imagine, too, that the letter contains his deepest, darkest secret—something with the potential to destroy not just the life you built together, but the lives of others as well. Imagine, then, that you stumble across that letter while your husband is still very much alive. . . .



Stephen King returns to the character and territory of one of his most popular novels ever, The Shining, in this instantly riveting novel about the now middle-aged Dan Torrance and the very special twelve-year-old girl he must save from a tribe of murderous paranormals.

An Amazon Best Book of the Month, July 2013: The setup: A beautiful woman is snatched from her vacation on Corsica. A ransom note reaches 10 Downing Street. An ambitious, unfaithful prime minister seriously needs a fixer. Which leads his fixers to art restorer and Israeli spy, Gabriel Allon, one of the more believable and likable heroes in recent spy fiction. To call The English Girl a page turner is an oversimplification. Smart, unpredictable, and packed with bits of history, art, heart, and imagination, this is a page turner to be savored.

A brilliantly imaginative and poignant fairy tale from the modern master of wonder and terror, The Ocean at the End of the Lane is Neil Gaiman’s first new novel for adults since his #1 New York Times bestseller Anansi Boys.

An Amazon Best Book of the Month, April 2013: Every time Ursula Todd dies, she is born again. Each successive life is an iteration on the last, and we see how Ursula's choices affect her, those around her, and--so boldly--the fate of the 20th-century world. Most impressive is how Kate Atkinson keeps the complexity of her postmodern plotting so nimble. Life After Life approaches the universe in both the micro- and macro sense, balancing the interior lives of Ursula's friends and family with the weight of two World Wars. (How many writers can make domestic drama as compelling as the London Blitz?) Life After Life is an extraordinary feat of narrative ambition, an audacious genre-bender, and a work of literary genius. --Kevin Nguyen

“It’s this summer’s Gone Girl – I gobbled it down in one sitting, and because of the wonderful writing, I did not feel one speck guilty.” – Anne Lamott, People Magazine

“This summer's sleeper hit” – The New York Times

“The Silent Wife is a boning knife of a novel, sharp and quick.” – Newsday
  
“Watch out, Gone Girl.” – USA Today

“A.S.A Harrison's The Silent Wife is a clean, understated thriller” – NPR.ORG

“You can't blame the publishers of The Silent Wife for hyping it as ‘the new Gone Girl.’ It's not. It just might be better.” – The Huffington Post

An Amazon Best Book of the Month, October 2013: Full of heart and humor, Simsion’s debut novel about a fussy, socially-challenged man’s search for the perfect wife is smart, breezy, quirky, and fun. Sure, it’s the precise equivalent of a well-crafted romantic comedy. (In fact, the book was clearly written with the big-screen in mind, and the film rights have already been sold). But you’d have to be a pretty cynical reader not to fall for Don Tillman, a handsome genetics professor who has crafted a pathologically micromanaged life for himself but can’t seem to score a second date. After launching his Wife Project, which includes a hilarious questionnaire intended to weed out imperfect candidates--smokers, makeup wearers, vegans (“incredibly annoying”)--Don meets Rosie, a stunning, maddeningly disorganized bartender/student who’s looking for her biological father. The reader knows just where the story is headed: Rosie’s so wrong for Don, she’s perfect. That’s not giving anything away. Half the fun of the book is watching pent-up, Asperger’s-afflicted Don break free, thanks to Rosie, from his precisely controlled, annoyingly sensible, and largely humorless lifestyle. By the final third, you’re cheering for Don to shatter all his rules. And you’re casting the film. --Neal Thompson

 

The Best Gifts for the Minecraft Fanatic

Picture

A year ago if someone would have told me about Minecraft, I would have had no idea what they were talking about.  Today, it is a completely different story.


Thanks to my son, I have found myself to be pretty well versed about all things that concern Minecraft.  I even admit, I love to play it with the kids.

If you have anyone who loves to play the game as much as us, check out the following awesome gift ideas any Minecraft addict would love to have.



Picture
  • Keep hostiles away from your room
  • Looks just like the torch from the game
  • Officially licensed Minecraft collectible
  • Hangs on your wall or sits on a table

Picture
Two of the most loved creature in the Minecraft universe, have been manifested into huggable 7 inch plushies. These plush will be a favorite for the young and old alike. There durable, there soft, and there so cute.

 

Skullcandy, the sickest gift, and we mean that in a good way

Great headphones, earbuds, and gaming sets plus fashion and lifestyle, you can't ask for more.

Picture
Skullcandy INK'd Earbuds
11 millimeter drivers with neodymium magnets for full-range sound
Two sizes of silicone gel earbud sleeves for a perfect fit
1.3-meter nylon braided cable with gold-plated 3.5mm plug
In-ear design allows for passive noise isolation
Frequency response: 20-20K Hz

Picture
Skullcandy  Ink'd 2.0 Earbud Headphones with Mic

Leaving an undisputed mark on critics and believers alike, this popular bud has been re-shaped, re-tuned and re-produced for true fans. Complete with Supreme Sound, the Ink'd 2 is a remix worth hearing for yourself.

Picture
Skullcandy Hesh Over-Ear Headphone with In-Line Microphone and Control Switch
S6HECY-108 (Brandon Roy)
In-line microphone pulse control switch
50mm power drivers
Soft leather-touch ear pillows
Frequency response: 20-20 kHz



Picture
Skullcandy Hesh Headphones
S6HECZ-060 (Shattered Gray)
With 50mm high explosive power drivers, Skullcandy's HESH is locked and loaded to pummel your senses with pulverizing panoramic sound. The addition of the custom in-line mic only adds extra to the obscene levels of audio carnage and function you're in store for.

Picture
Skullcandy Skullcrushers Subwoofer Stereo Headphones
These power packing headphones feature an adjustable in-line bass amplifier and speakers with industry first built-in vibrating subwoofers. You can adjust the amount of bass effect with the in-line control wheel. The Crushers are ideal for MP3 Players, portable DVD, bass heavy music, and are the ultimate for any gamer.

Picture
Skullcandy Hesh 2.0 with Detachable Cable

Speaker Diameter: 50mm
Magnet Type: NdFeB
Frequency Response: 20 - 20K Hz
Impedance: 32 Ohms
Max Input Power: 100 mW



Picture
Shop Skullcandy
 

Gorgeous Gift Idea

Swarovski 2013 Annual Edition Crystal Star Ornament

Start a tradition and commemorate the year of 2013 with an elegant limited-edition crystal ornament.  Perfect Gift Idea for Newborn, Wedding or any Christmas ornament collector.



Limited edition to 2013

 
Picture
All the cell phones out there, and all the kids begging for one, how do you know when is the right time for them to have one and which phone do you choose?

My children have asked me many times if they could get a cell phone.  My answer was always no, until my eldest daughter started High School and became involved in various after school activities.

I sat many nights waiting in the parking lot, wondering why she was so late coming out only to find the times have changed.  She has come home early from practices, forgetting her house key, and has had to wait on the porch.  I decided, it was time to get her a phone as I was going insane trying to keep track of everything with her.  Since my daughter is an excellent student, and very responsible as a teen, it was time to cover the do's and don'ts of cell phone usage.  My next step was trying to find the right phone for her, for us. The joys of trying to find the perfect cell phone can be a challenge, especially for a child / teen.  I didn't want to spend a lot of money on it (let's face it, she's a teen, something WILL happen).  I also did not want to get stuck into a contract (what if I have to take it away, that's a waste of money). I have searched, researched, and researched some more.  I was determined to find a good quality cell phone at a low price, and I did.  I ended up purchasing the
LG 840G Prepaid Phone With Triple Minutes (Tracfone)


Picture
The TracFone LG840G Cell Phone has all the basics.  While it is not a smart phone, it is an awesome phone.  We have been using it now for 3 months now, and for the price of the phone (under $30.00), and the bonus of triple minutes, I think we ended up with a awesome deal.

This phone is app capable, with a 3.2" touchscreen and a built-in MP3 player.  It does have WiFi and 2G/3G data, and all the well-executed built-in widgets, like Music Player, Audio, Picture Viewer, Video Recorder, Voice Recorder, and more.  This phone has good reception, no delays, dropouts or missed calls.  The touch screen is great, better than some other phones I have used.   It does everything we need pretty much anywhere we go.



  • Includes Triple Minutes for Life FREE This means that every paid Airtime Minute you add to this phone will be tripled. For example, Add a 60 minute Airtime Card and get 180 minutes. ***
  • 3.2" Touchscreen Display
  • 3G/WiFi® Connectivity
  • 2 MP Camera with Digital Zoom/Video Recorder
  • Mobile Web
  • Bluetooth® Wireless Technology
  • 2 GB microSD Card Included
  • MP3 Player (cable not included)
  • SMS and MMS Picture Messaging
  • Hands-Free Speaker
  • Voice/Sound Recorder
  • Alarm Clock
  • Hearing Aid Compatible (HAC) Rating: M3/T3
  • Phonebook with up to 1,000 entries
  • Battery talk time up to 3.7 hours
  • Standby time up to 13 days
  • Includes Battery, Charger, Activation Card, 2GB microSD Card and Service Guide
  • TracFone Airtime Balance Display shows you how much airtime you've used and how much is left, so you control your costs
 
Picture
Looking for a gift for a kiddo and just not sure what to get? 

The Rainbow Loom is the hottest thing right now with kids.

Sometimes, the hardest part about finding a gift for a child is knowing if they already have it.  With Rainbow Loom bands and sets, you do not have to worry. Even if they already have it, they can ALWAYS use more (trust me, we have thousands of bands and my 9 year old still needs more).
Check out the Rainbow Loom and some of the refills and accessories below. 







 
Picture
Do you have a gardener or cook on your holiday gift list?

The AeroGarden 7-Pod Indoor Garden with Gourmet Herb Seed Kit would be the perfect gift.


Enjoy fresh greens at every meal no matter what the season. With AeroGrow's AeroGarden garden kit, it's easy to cultivate lettuce, cherry tomatoes, herbs, chili peppers, edible flowers, and more in an energy-efficient, organic-based environment right in the kitchen. This compact chef's tool includes everything the indoor farmer needs: a preseeded bio-dome grow pod, two daylight-spectrum bulbs, nutrients, and a helpful tending and harvesting guide complete with recipes. Just follow the simple instructions to set up, and the growing process starts immediately, with germination occurring within 24 hours and a mature plant that is ready five times faster than if grown in soil. The AeroGarden system monitors itself to create ideal growing conditions for each plant and alerts you when it's time to add more water and nutrients. No dirt or natural light is needed, so even low-light spaces are suitable. Plug kits for many kinds of plants are available from AeroGrow.
  • The original dirt-free indoor garden
  • Everything you need to grow now; Gourmet Herb Seed Kit Included
  • Easy, foolproof and 100-Percent guaranteed
  • No dirt, no mess, no green thumb required
  • Over a million satisfied AeroGardeners
 
Picture






Today only, save 50% on select toys from Melissa & Doug, including puzzles, building blocks, a learn-to-play piano and more.

This one-day offer is valid on December 4, 2013, or while supplies last.



 

Picture
Searching for that perfect gift and out of ideas? 



Check out our list of the 20 Best selling Toys and Games for babies to Adults.


Cards Against Humanity is a party game for horrible people. Unlike most of the party games you've played before, Cards Against Humanity is as despicable and awkward as you and your friends.

Super fun to wear rubber band bracelets and more!

Includes: Two templates, Hook, C-clips, Instruction, and 600+ pieces latex free rubber bands


The Little People Fun Sounds Farm brings imaginative play from the farm to toddlers. A new, taller barn and silo make it easy for them to sit OR stand to play.

Monster High 13 Wishes Room Party & Doll: Your wish for a monster-size party has been granted! The 13 Wishes party lounge is a great place for the Monster High ghouls to all fang out.

When you open the case, it’s time to monster mash! Girls can plug in their mp3 player and play their tunes right through the party room.

Discovering the wonders of science and building cool electronics can be done in a snap—with this exciting building kit. Winner of a Dr. Toy 100 Best Children's Products award, Snap Circuits Jr. comes with easy-to-follow directions that help you snap together a variety of intriguing experiments.

Create unique, multicolored crayons and toys. Mix Match colorful crayon bits and melt them down with the Melt 'N Mold Factory. Then, pour into the molds to make your own custom swirled crayons. No two crayons are the same.

This interactive train set features three destinations for Thomas, each with an activity or friend. Not to mention, your child can choose the destination. With over 50 sounds and phrases, All Around Sodor offers hours of engaging entertainment. Thanks to easy-to-use controls, your child will feel like a real engineer as they choose Thomas' next destination.

The Sit-to-Stand Learning Walker is part of the Sit-to-Stand series of toys developed to grow with baby. Little ones can play with the standalone activity panel on the floor while discovering animals, colors, music, shapes and numbers. Attach the panel to the walker as babies grow and they’ll continue to learn as they move along!

Spot it! is the addictive, feverishly fun matching game for every generation. The first thing to know about Spot it! is that there is always one, and only one, matching symbol between any two cards. Got it? Now all you need is a sharp eye and a quick hand to play all five party games packed into the grab 'n' go tin. Including up to eight players, Spot it! is a cinch to learn, plays fast, and is irresistibly fun for all ages!

Year after year, children and adults alike are baffled by the mystery of how Santa really knows who’s been naughty or nice. After much urging by the elves and Mrs. Claus, Santa has allowed his biggest secret to be revealed in The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition.