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Author: Elizabeth Smillie

Hello there! I'm Elizabeth. Welcome to my website and blog space. All the products in my little shop are hand crafted and stem from my desire to provide creative and high quality products that make people feel lovely. I believe the little moments of life matter, every day should be celebrated, and that the beauty all around us is a gift from the Creator to be enjoyed. I'm married to a wonderful guy who happens to be my greatest cheerleader and best friend, mama to three little ones and currently reside in the heartland of America.
customer love – Winter ONEderland Birthday edition!

customer love – Winter ONEderland Birthday edition!

Do you remember the custom snowflake cake garland I posted the other day?custom snowflake topper {and an update!}It was part of a batch of things I put together for a darling “Winter ONEdarland” themed first birthday, and I was so excited to open the email full of photos that the mama sent after the party! Look at how darling it was!!! a darling Winter ONEderland Birthday drink table and party decor ideas | The Path Less Traveled MarketThe colors she used were pink, blush, cream, white, glitter gold and aqua. Jaclyn emailed asking if the Confetti Circles Garland‘s colors could be tweaked a tad (my answer – “of course!”), and from there we added some Large Snowflake Garlands, a few custom garlands that were a combination of the two others (love this idea! and when I get a free day or two I might add a version to the shop – they’re so sweet!)

Winter ONEderland Birthday party ideas! | The Path Less Traveled MarketFor the cake topper, Jaclyn had the idea of combining two of the Snowflake Dessert Toppers with a mini version of the Confetti Circles Garland and the result (again!) was absolutely gorgeous and had me wondering why I hadn’t added something like it to the shop already. Amazing job Jaclyn! I love everything about this! :)

Do you have photos that you’d like to share? If so, you can either email them to me at elizabeth@pltmarket.com or tag them with #thepathlesstraveledmarket on Instagram – we’d all love to see your ideas!

XO

p.s. I often send “thank you” coupons to the lovelies who let me share their photos with you – so if you’re looking for a coupon for your next order, sharing photos is a great way to get a discount!

hello {again}

hello {again}

It’s been …. awhile. Life just keeps moving, doesn’t it?

We’ve been quite busy around here since the last post {Christmas!} – adding new things, figuring out new direction to take with the shop {and if we are taking a new direction – the answer? “Sort of”}. The littles are growing {Olivia is talking!} like crazy, and I’m trying not to blink and miss this precious time.

Here are some photos of the newest additions to the shop {and some fun custom projects, too!} that I thought you might enjoy :)

"Hitched" cupcake toppers from the Path Less Traveled new cupcake toppers in the Etsy shop! {inspired by the toppers for the barn wedding}High Chair Birthday Banner from the Path Less Traveled new First Birthday High Chair Garlands in the Etsy shop {and now I’m wondering why I didn’t think to make these for our own little ones’ first birthdays!}DSC_0014 a custom version of the New York Subway toppers – too cute with the “All Aboard!” flags personalized cake topper | the Path Less Traveleda personalized cake garland – such a sweet hybrid of the Name Bunting and the Confetti Garland!

DSC_0243Hopefully I’ll be able to get you caught up to speed soon {with lots of photos!}, but in the meantime,how are you? I’ve missed chatting here with you. Did you have a lovely holiday season? Make New Year’s resolutions? Are you snowed in {or experiencing 80 degree weather?}?

merry christmas

merry christmas

DSC_0160 DSC_0161 DSC_0162 DSC_0163

 

May your Christmas celebration be filled with true and lasting peace and joy. May you take time from the bustle to savor the treasure of this moment {that will not come again}. And may you celebrate Emmanuel truly this year.

Eph. 3:14-21

Merry Christmas to each and every one of you <3

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders.
And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Isaiah 9: 6
a last-minute Christmas Gift DIY roundup

a last-minute Christmas Gift DIY roundup

Well, hello again! This past {almost} month since I posted last has really flown by! You all have blown me away with your support of our shop {from the bottom of our hearts, thank you, to each and every one of you} and you’ve also been keeping me busier than ever before. :)

If you’re like me, chances are very good that you’re looking for a few quick, cheap *eh hem* inexpensive Christmas gifts that you can whip up before Christmas morning {tell me I’m not the only one!}. Today I’m rounding up a few of my favorite tutorials I’ve posted here over the years –  most of them can be made from materials {or ingredients!} you already have, and all of them are quick, simple, and sure to be loved by your nearest and dearest. :D

These fabric posy pins are quick to whip up, and are a huge hit as stocking stuffers {or could double as package toppers!}!

Or how about some handmade tea-towels {always a lovely gift, and endlessly customizable to suit any personality and home!}

Or perhaps an cute ironing board cover for the newly-weds in your life {or maybe your mom who has had hers for 20+ years}?

Or maybe you need a special something for the foodie in your life? In that case, homemade Lemon Curd is delightful!

For the newest additions to the family circle, these embellished onesies here

and here are beyond adorable,

and cute-ified burp cloths are always appreciated!

Up-cycled crayons are perfect for your junior artist,

and if you have more than one little girl in your life, little matching skirts are quick, adorable, and might even start a tradition!

As I said, these are just a few of my favorites from the peat few years – have you made any of them? Or do you have a favorite {or two!} of your own to share?

Hugs to you all <3

THE 36TH AVENUE
it’s that time of year …

it’s that time of year …

Thanksgiving in the US is over, and that means that it’s now officially time to bring out the Christmas decorations and shop the sales!! Thanksgiving pies | the Path Less Traveled{all while enjoying some left over pie – we may have enough to last for a few days!}

I don’t know about you, but I like to try to get all of the decorating and shopping done as quickly after Thanksgiving as possible, allowing me time to enjoy and savor the rest of the season with the family at a slower pace {and have time to make the crafts and gifts I’ve been wanting to :D}.

This weekend I’m thrilled to be able to offer you all a 20% discount on orders of $20 or more – just enter code BEMERRY13 as you are checking out and it will automatically recalculate the total for you. This is even good on the massive sale we are having on the popular ice cream makers! Just add another item{s} to your cart to bring the total to $20 :) Use this code for Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and all the way through Cyber Monday!

One other thing – we’ve noticed that there are some issues with parts of the site, and we are working to fix them as quickly as possible. If there is something that you are trying to purchase and either having difficulty adding to your “cart” or receiving an error code on, please contact us at contact@pltmarket.com and we will be happy to set up a Paypal invoice for you instead of the website checkout. My apologies about this!

Thank you all for joining me here through the past year, for your kind comments and your encouragement. I’m so grateful for you!

some of my favorites

some of my favorites

Here we are, near the very end of November with Thanksgiving tomorrow – about time to post a round up of some of my favorite Thanksgiving printables!

There are some lovely versions to frame for your wall {or to use to decorate your Thanksgiving buffet with}, some beauties to use as tags to express gratefulness to the ones we hold dear, prompts to help us to remember the bounty we have been blessed with, and even a fun project for the littles at your gathering. So, if you need some lovely last minute pretties to add some festive color to your Thanksgiving celebration, look no further – you can print them off to use immediately {and they’re all free!}, too!

via a bird and a bean

via Jones Design Company

via Jones Design Company

via Honey & Fitz

via She Wears Many Hats

via Nest of Posies

via Nest of Posies

via Tom Kat Studio

via A Night Owl

via A Holy Experience

via I Heart Organizing

and something just for the kids’ table {or maybe the grown ups, too!}:

via Whatever Dee Dee Wants

 

Sale time!

Sale time!

Have you been getting Christmas gifts crossed off your list already? Are you the type of person who has everything wrapped by December 1st, or the type who finishes the wrapping Christmas Eve?

.5qt-Ice-Cream-Maker-Orange

Well, whichever category you tend toward, this next few weeks tends to be pretty busy with shopping {and taking advantage of sales!} and trying to find something “just right” for each name on your list. We have a few of our Ice Cream Makers, and thought we’d offer them at a closeout price to help you save some money and give something that will be truly enjoyed, even by the hard-to-shop-for person who has everything. We are offering the remaining stock at 40% off {the biggest discount we’ve ever offered!}, and when they’re gone, that’s it!

3873_1.5qt-Ice-Cream-Maker-Purple_500These ice cream makers are incredibly handy and easy to use – they are electric, ice-less {i.e. mess-less} and cute, too! Each one will get shipped by the next business day, ensuring that they arrive in time for gifting.

What’s on your wish list this year?

 

xo

customer love – nautical baby shower edition

customer love – nautical baby shower edition

I love it when you invite me to be a part of your celebrations by creating custom pieces for you, and then send me photos of how you’ve used my creations! And every now and then I get a chance share them here on the blog { :D } – continue reading to see a darling nautical baby shower!unnamed This was a nautical themed baby shower for a baby boy in Southern California – his mama asked if I could make some little sails for the cupcakes that were going to be served, and together we came up with some pretty darling ideas! customer love - a nautical baby shower with darling vintage book paper sailboat cupcakes! | the Path Less Traveled These little boats are made of vintage book paper and red paper sails atop of some scrumptious looking chocolate cupcakes made by a local San Diego baker. Aren’t they just too cute?!a darling nautical baby shower with custom boat cupcake toppers | the Path Less Traveled

And then, even cuter, there were little Jello cups topped with these white sails in Mandarin orange “boats”!

Do you have photos that you’d like to share? If so, you can either email them to me at elizabeth@pltmarket.com or tag them with #thepathlesstraveledmarket on Instagram – we’d all love to see your ideas! Also, I often send “thank you” coupons to the lovelies who let me share their photos with you – so if you’re looking for a coupon for your next order, sharing photos is a great way to get a discount!

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sometimes you need to look past the thorns

sometimes you need to look past the thorns

autumn thistles | the Path Less Traveled autumn thistles | the Path Less Traveled

These were just simple weeds on the edge of a parking lot. Until I took a second glance, and saw the beautiful purple and green, the spiny forms that would look so lovely in a pewter vase on our autumn table.

How often this is true in life! Things, circumstances, people that we first see as simple, ordinary, or thorn-covered, when we look closer are beauty-full.

May you see the beauty in the everyday ordinary bits of your day today. <3

there are some new lovelies in town – introducing our new cork coasters!

there are some new lovelies in town – introducing our new cork coasters!

Well, hello again! Nothing quite like an unintentional break on a blog, is there? :) In between business picking up, a baby girl who is trying to catch up with her siblings and has learned to crawl, climb and WALK {!}, and, well, life …. this blog graciously took a back seat for a bit. I’m sure you understand! I’m back {at least, I plan to be – we’ll see how this goes!}, and I have a brand new product line to share – cork coasters!

DSC_0151Cork Snowflake Coasters, set of 4 | the Path Less TraveledDecorate (and protect) your table top with this set of versatile and eco-friendly heart shaped coasters (and they can be turned into ornaments, too!)!

Cork Christmas Tree Coasters, set of 4 | the Path Less TraveledCork Star Coasters or Ornaments, Set of 4 | the Path Less TraveledShamrock Coasters or Ornaments, Set of 4 | the Path Less TraveledShamrock Coasters or Ornaments, Set of 4 | the Path Less TraveledCork Christmas Ornament Coasters, set of 4 | the Path Less TraveledCork Snowflake Coasters, set of 4 | the Path Less TraveledDSC_0180Cork Snowflake Coasters, set of 4 | the Path Less Traveled DSC_0138

Our range right now includes 6 shapes: snowflakes, hearts, Christmas trees, Christmas ornaments, shamrocks and stars. We are making them available in sets of 4, 6 or  10, and offering the option to include ribbons with them so that they can be used as ornaments. They are all handmade by us from natural cork which has legendary heat absorption properties. If yours get a “ring” on it from use {a hot chocolate spill, perhaps?}, just use a cloth dampened with clear water to clean it.

We have been making a list of all the different ways to use these versatile little coasters, and so far have come up with:

– hostess gifts

– stocking stuffers

– graduation gifts

– wedding or party favors

– housewarming gifts

– Christmas ornaments {attach a photo one and use it as a gift for the grandparents!}

– teacher appreciation gifts

and the list is still growing!

What do you think? Can you add an occasion or use for these to the list?