We asked the Etsy Teams what their plans are for the upcoming Valentine's Day holiday, and got some really great responses!  To find out more about what an Etsy Team is, you can browse around the Team Pages.  You can also join the Etsy Teams email list to keep up to date on important Teams information or visit us in our weekly workshop at noon (EST) on Thursdays!

The PLUSHTEAM is having a valentine's day contest called PlushLove. Plushteam members have been asked to create some love filled plush items within three Valentine's day themed categories and we are asking everyone at Etsy to pick their favorites within each group. Your vote is needed and as a plush perk, anyone who cast a ballot will randomly be placed into a drawing to win a $20 gift certificate into one of the participating plushteam shops. Voting begins Tuesday February 12-13 and you can vote at www.plushteam.com. 

In Scandinavia, Valentines Day is not popular.  Surveys done by local television show that most Nordic people feel Valentines Day is an example of North American commercial propoganda, with no history and therefore no place in that part of the world.  With the new found interest in hand-made/heart-made products growing on a global level, maybe a commercialized Valentines Day can be turned back to something with more meaning, bringing forth the made-from-the-heart-values. Members of the Creative Scandinvian Etsy Team hope to help make this happen. Etsy has been the best thing for them, "and has allowed us to expand in our crafts in ways unimaginable, we do see some of the paradoxes between cultures." Nicole6697, a founder of the Creative Scandanavian Etsy Team says, "The same resistence many every-day Scandinavians feel about the overwhelming influence of American culture is usually echoed by other artists and crafters within Etsy." As this holiday approaches, check out the shops of the Creative Scandanavians to bring handmade, heartfelt items to your loved ones.

Etsy BeadWeavers have put their time, their love, and their passion into weaving wonderful creations in RED so that you can express your love. Twenty-nine members of the Etsy BeadWeavers team submitted 42 entries into the RED Challenge, and 276 people visited the EBW blog to vote for their favorite. The winner of the Challenge was Fennel Skellyman with his Fire Garden Necklace. Fennel has the honor of being the first male member of the Etsy BeadWeavers team, and this was his first entry into an EBW challenge.
Check out the Etsy BeadWeavers blog to see all the entries and the runners up in the RED Challenge. Stay tuned, as the team members are now working on their entries for the next challenge: Spring Break

Eco-Etsy, a team dedicated to spread the word about reducing, reusing and recycling, are doing a secret valentines swap. Members who participate will receive an Eco Friend gift from another member of the team as well as send an eco-friendly gift to their secret valentine. No one knows who there valentine is!  The idea is to receive something eco friendly,recycled, sustainable, upcycled etc. You can also check their blog for an Eco tip of the week, where team members suggest ways Etsians can help reduce their global footprint.

In sunny Florida, EtsyFEST Team members across the state will be creating multiple handmade, stamped, designed valentines. They will then be taking our valentines to different senior homes, since Florida has a lot of older people who could use some handmade love this Valentine Season!

Team EJA, the Eclectic Jewelry Artisans, is doing another fantastic giveaway of handcrafted jewelry and gifts that is valued at $50! To enter the drawing: visit TeamEJA, click on "Collaboration", choose your favorite item to vote for.  Then cast your vote by filling out this form.  Please only one vote per person. Drawing will be held on Valentines Day, February 14, 2008.
Three people will win!

For in-person events, check out EtsyCREST, the Capitol Region Etsy Team. They are sponsoring a craft fair on February 16 - details can be found here. The Philadelphia Etsy Team is holding a trunk show at the Mew Gallery on February 8 (6:30-9pm).

Cupid needs your help to find his bow & arrow! Bow bear has been wondering around looking through the EtsyBABY Street Team shops trying to help cupid find special things for those special some ones, but now he's lost! Cupid is offering a reward and has been posting pictures of his bow & arrow in EtsyBABY shops. When you purchase the item where bow's picture is found you'll receive your cupids reward! This promotion runs from January 20 - February 29, and you can participate by searching the tag "EtsyBABY". For a complete list of shops included in this promotion, visit the EtsyBABY blog.

The etsyBEAD street team will be having a Valentine Themed Scavenger Hunt on February 3rd, 4th, and 5th. There will a different scavenger hunt held each day and players will be required to find specific Valentine's themed images hidden within participating etsyBEAD shops. Watch out, though! Some shops will have decoy images which will not count. The first hunter to find all the correct images for each day will be awarded a Valentine prize pack.  Everyone is eligible (except members of etsyBEAD) so watch for game details in the etsyBead promo thread February 3rd, 4th and 5th. Detailed information of the event, a list of prizes, and links to the shops in this contest will be available in the team blog. Many of the team shops will also be running Valentine's Specials. Check out the team blog for more information on this, as well.  

Many thanks to all the Etsy Teams for their enthusiam and creativity with these events! For more information on how to join a team, you can check the Team pages.