It’s no wonder why Japanese stationery products always have a cult following – they are unique, high quality and inspire DIY creativity!  We have fallen for Washi tape, a multi-purpose adhesive tape that comes in all sorts of colors from pastels to bold neon and patterns that range from delicate lace to polka dots.

Our favorite way to use it is for gift-wrapping with brown kraft paper.  We love the way the decorative tape, which can be mixed and matched, dresses up the utilitarian paper making it look elegant and chic! The tape is archival safe and acid free making it a good choice for wedding scrapbooks.  You can write on the tape and turn them into labels for gifts or even basic home office organization.

Here are some of our favorite tapes from PrettyTape on Etsy and CuteTape.  They range in price from $4.50 for one roll to package of 4 rolls for $16.00.

PHOTO CREDIT:  Courtesy of PrettyTape and Cute Tape

Whether you to plan to attend an extravagant Halloween party or simply go trick-o-treating with the little ones, you’ll need to find a costume worthy of the occasion.  These handmade masks by Sundries and Plunder could be the finishing touch to your inspired ensemble.

Each mask is custom made – cut, tooled and sculpted – from a single piece of leather and fitted with a matching ribbon for wearing.  We fell in love with the Black and White Swan masks which will undoubtedly be a popular theme this year.  Other original creations, which range in price from $58 to $70 each, include a Yellow Finch, Buck, Deer and a Giraffe.

Custom masks for adults and children may be ordered through the Sundries and Plunder store on Etsy.  To make the upcoming Halloween deadline, domestic U.S. orders need to be place by October 14th and international orders by October 7th.

PHOTO CREDIT:  Courtesy of Sundries and Plunder

Make your mark.  The next time you send out a mailing of party invitations, take a moment to turn a drab envelope into something special. Our latest find on Etsy reinvents one of the oldest forms of printing with original modern designs for your return address or any message you wish to send.

These rubber stamps are made from maple wood blocks and high quality red rubber that can be used with any color of ink.  We love the look of white or metallic ink on a dark or colored envelope.  Check out some of our favorite styles from their current collection of stamps, which all retail for $19.95 (plus shipping and handling).

All custom orders can be placed at the 2impress shop on Etsy.  Allow 6-8 days for production and shipping once design proof is approved.

PHOTO CREDIT:  Courtesy of 2impress

Twinkle, twinkle little star. Consider decorating with these brightly hued celestial garlands this holiday season.  Each Star Strand ($15) comes with 15 hand folded paper stars which have been dipped in wax and sprinkled with matching glitter.  The 16 point, three-dimensional stars come in a variety of colors including red, yellow, green, purple and black.

To give the impression of being suspended in air, the stars are strung together with clear wire.   In addition to the strands, Starcraft offers a selection of mobiles in the shop ranging from simple clusters of stars to intricate constellations (starting at $25 to over $200).  Think of them as ornaments that don’t need the tree!

All items may be purchased at the Starcraft Shop on etsy.  For Christmas delivery, all orders must be placed by December 1st.

PHOTO CREDIT:  Courtesy of Starcraft

Our latest discovery on Etsy reminds us of vintage textiles and wallpaper.  Neapolitan’s shop sells a collection of  chic notecards and paper boxes that are beyond pretty.  We are crazy for the peach, lilac and gray Chevron patterned folded note cards (so Pucci!) and the Love card printed with the snakeskin pattern.  Each of the sets ($9) comes with three note cards and matching ivory envelopes.

Another elegant set offers three messages that would work well in any social situation.  Packaged in a pale pink box adorned with a white and gold rope flourish, the Three Greetings box set ($29) comes with six charcoal colored cards hand-calligraphed with chalk white ink with the sayings – Many Thanks, Best Wishes and Cheers to You.

Check out the assortment of handmade paper boxes which for $5.00 each are a great way to organize all of your jewelry, letters or precious mementos.  All items may be purchased at the Neapolitan Etsy Shop.

PHOTO CREDIT:  Neapolitan

The sweltering summer heat calls for cocktails made with shaved ice, freshly pressed juices and premium spirits.  These vintage sterling silver straws with leaf finials are a chic way to enjoy these chilled concoctions.  Originally made popular in the South, sterling silver straws were often used in mint juleps served at the Kentucky Derby but we think they would add instant glamour to just about icy drink such as a frozen fruit margarita or even a frothy milkshake.

This set of six vintage silver drinking straws ($48) are from Denmark and can be purchased from the High Street Market’s Etsy shop, which was founded by an interior designer with a passion for vintage finds from flea markets and estate sales.

PHOTO CREDIT:  Courtesy of High Street Market

There is something so chic about using a brown paper bag for gift wrapping.  Not only is it the Lazy Hostess way to avoid the tricky and time consuming task of packing up your presents, it’s somehow effortlessly stylish.  On Etsy, we discovered a collection of Japanese design products that could transform your plain brown paper into an original piece of art.

Sold in packages of ten, these square wax paper bags can be dressed up with a variety of decorative stamps featuring lace doilies, chandeliers, birds and trees.  Sets of stamp ink, which can be used on paper, fabric, unpainted wood and terracotta, come in pretty colors like coral, cherry, clover, denim and espresso.

To create a gift bag, simply stamp your bag with the special ink and seal with either wooden clothes pins or patterned masking tape.  For a shopper, add handles in colored or metallic paper cord and fill bag with tissue.  Another clever idea would be to turn the gift bag into a make-shift vase by placing a glass inside to hold the flowers and water.

The wax paper bags ($6.50 for 10), stamps, inks and decorative tapes can be purchased from the Karuku’s Etsy shop and shipped from Japan to many countries around the world.

PHOTO CREDIT:  Courtesy of Karuku

A grown-up version of our beloved Cracker Jack, Maggie May has given a simple caramel corn recipe a kick in the pants.  Jack Crackin’ Bacon Caramel Corn is crunchy popcorn made with buttery brown sugar flavored with a splash of Jack Daniels whiskey and flecks of applewood bacon, chunks of Spanish peanut and a sprinkling of black pepper.

Another savory twist to a Southern classic, The Bacon Pecan Praline is made with crispy applewood bacon and toasted pecans.  Each piece is individually hand-dipped in grade A amber maple syrup then dry cured for 24 hours.

The bacon sweets, which come packaged in cellophane bags tied with a ribbon and hand stamped tag, can be purchased via Maggie May’s Etsy shop.   The Bacon Pecan Pralines ($7.50) comes with six large pieces of candy while The Jack Crackin’ Bacon Caramel Corn ($7.50) comes filled with 5 oz of popcorn.

PHOTO CREDIT:  Courtesy of Maggie May Bacon Sweets

Made of Japanese paper, these memo pads are shaped in the form of a green pear and a red apple.  To transform the flat pads into gorgeous 3-D fruit, simply fan out the delicate sheets of paper and secure with a paperclip.  They could be used together to create a conversation-starting centerpiece in a table setting or given as a clever party favor for guests. Each memo pad comes with 150 sheets and arrives with a cute white foam protector to resemble real fruit from the market.

The memo pads can be purchased via Lemon Tree’s Etsy shop for $5.80 each and shipped from South Korea to major countries around the world.  The shop also carries unique ink pads, rubber stamps, stickers and decorative tape.

PHOTO CREDIT:  Lemon Tree

Cheerful primary colors make this collection of glassware by Vital Home a stand-out on Etsy.  Perfect for a casual picnic serving chilled beer or lemonade, each glass features a vintage inspired bicycle motif which is screen printed with a special glass ink that is dishwasher safe.

Pint glasses come in red, green, yellow, orange, blue and white.  The Mega Super Bike Party Set ($56) includes eight bicycle print glasses in random colors and glass patterns.  Other options include a set of double old fashioned glasses as well as soy candles.

The collection is available on Etsy at the Vital Home store or in person at Tomte Craft in Denver.

PHOTO CREDIT:  Courtesy of Vital Home

In this digital age filled with instant texts and tweets, a beautifully handwritten note sent via snail mail is to be cherished.  To express your love and adoration this Valentine’s Day, Neither Snow is offering one-of-kind calligraphed letters with vintage postage for your special someone.  The stamp combinations are selected for their complimentary color palettes and miniature narratives such as Football Hero or Blue Moon (with Audrey Hepburn).

Addresses and personal messages (up to 20 words) are hand calligraphed in Neither Snow’s signature organic script.  Only 100 signed and dated valentines will be created this year.  Each valentine ($45) is available via Mara Zepeda’s Etsy store, Marasz.  Order by February 6th, 2010 in order to have valentines sent on time for this year’s holiday.

PHOTO CREDIT:  Courtesy of Neither Snow

The artist, who hails from Albuquerque, New Mexico, tries to incorporate paper from forgotten books, especially those with personalized bookplates and/or handwritten names and dates, for a personal touch.

Made to be enjoyed indoors, this handmade paper creation would look perfect over a mantle or would dress up any window or door for the holidays.   The wreath is 13″ in diameter and hangs from a brown polka-dotted ivory ribbon.  Another version of the wreath comes with a butterfly instead of Santa and would be suitable as event decor all year round.

Available for $65 on Etsy from the Haru shop.

PHOTO CREDIT:  Courtesy of Haru

Highlights include: exquisite milk glass plates, serving trays and footed bowls; silver candlesticks; and, one-of-a-kind monogrammed decanters.

All of the vintage items are personally selected by Ross, refurbished (if necessary) and very well priced with all items under $100.  The collection is available on Etsy at the Eddie Ross Shop.

In addition to the amazing store of flea market finds, his lifestyle company, Eddie Ross, Inc (founded with his partner Jaithan Kochar) provides styling services and guided flea market tours.

PHOTO CREDIT:  Courtesy of Eddie Ross

A little bit of whimsy can be added to your table setting with these delicate handcrafted paper creations.  The collection by Timeless Paper consists of menus, napkin rings and table cards in the shape of butterflies, peacocks and flowers.  Place cards are cleverly designed to perch on the rim of goblets for an eye-catching and original presentation.

Created with white or cream paper stock with handpainted dots in any specified color, the items are handmade by graphic designer Emily Arrison.  Space is left for calligraphy or may be ordered in advance with names printed in an elegant script.

The individual items are sold for $1 to $3 each and come in sets. The entire collection is sold on Etsy at Timeless Paper’s shop.

PHOTO CREDIT:  Courtesy of Timeless Paper

Opposites attract.  This pair of ceramic mugs, one white and one black, are hand painted with a delicate dandelion design in the reverse color.  Heat sealed and dishwasher safe, they would make an affordable gift for a housewarming or an appropriate gift for a co-worker.

The collection, which includes plates and tumblers, was created by graphic artist and illustrator, Soule (pronounced soul) who has been featured in the book, Stencil Nation, Community Art and Graffiti by Russell Howze.

The 8oz Dandelion Mugs are $19 for the pair and available on Etsy at Soule’s Shop.

PHOTO CREDIT:  Courtesy of Soule’s Shop

Etsy Finds is a recurring post about the treasures that we unearth on Etsy.com, the online arts & crafts marketplace.

Give Love.  Give Luck.  Give Wisdom.  At Chewing the Cud, they believe that gifts should be given to cherished friends with a positive message.  Hand printed on 100% organic cotton with soy based inks, these reusable fabric gift wraps are brightly patterned and include these meaningful phrases.

Based in San Francisco, Chewing the Cud creates charming letterpress invitations and cards on 100% cotton paper with non-toxic inks as well as other gift items.

The fabric gift wraps (28 x 28′) retail for $10 each on Etsy at Chewing the Cud’s Shop.

PHOTO CREDIT:  Courtesy of Chewing the Cud

Etsy Finds is a recurring post about the treasures that we unearth on Etsy.com, the online arts & crafts marketplace.