It really *is* all about the packaging.  Shortly after I started CBT, I wanted to stand out from the crowd a little bit.  Create a little bit of excitement when our packages arrived.

What better way than in the packaging?  

Normally we have our famous Owl tissue paper, but our supplier was out of it when I went to pick up my supplies this past Saturday.  I brought a friend along who is creating goody bags for an event, so we decided on colourful tissue paper, of which I gave her a few set of to get her started - it was a BIG batch of tissue paper!  But no worries, I'll be popping back to my suppliers'

I picked up my boxes though...and stamped all 80 of them this morning!  They might last me a few months (more likely not at the rate we're going!).  I find the stamps make us stand out, and get customers excited when our orders arrive.  I also enjoy being able to provide a personal touch to every order (aside from the toys I create!)

I picked up this cute Feather Stamp from an Etsy seller - I'm all about supporting other Small Business owners, and this was the perfect stamp to add to my growing collection 

I also found a cute set of mini Owl & little bird themed stamps while picking up some supplies from the UPS in Ogdensburg, New York.  

It is a bit of a project, but after doing this for a few years, I just get into the stamping zone, and get them all done at once.  It's much easier for me to do big batches vs only a few.  

We won't go into how in the beginning I hand stamped Every. Single. Business Card/tag.  Thankfully Husband was kind enough to buy me business cards the first Christmas after I started CBT.  I could NOT keep up with stamping 

That's all for today for a bit more insight into the workings of Crystal's Bird Toys. 

As I attempt to type with Merlin on my knee, head, the back of the chair, now looking out the window, I also attempt to keep the dogs at bay, as they're in full play mode. Welcome to the jungle.

And Merlin's back on the floor again, searching for my husband, who left for work an hour ago. 

Ahem.

I came up with Tree on my long drive home from work, as I was passing the same old trees and a cardboard box. I remembered I hadn't used my new stock of corrugated cardboard strips my husband had just brought home for me (his excuse - it's part of his first anniversary paper gift to me) in any of our toys recently.  I could make a "tree" out of these strips. 

Merlin interruption: Merlin's now chirping like the birds outdoor - it is only 6:50am here.

I came home to my husband making dinner, and 45 minutes to bide before it was ready. So I took out my supplies, and created Tree before I forgot my moment of inspiration (I actually drew it out in highlighter as soon as I had the thought on the back of the map we used to get to Murphy's Point Provincial Park the previous weekend so I wouldn't forget).

So far Rosco is loving it - he's a big paper/material chewer, so I thought I'd test it out on him. Merlin's not a big chewer - he takes his time with everything - so he's nibbled at the paper rope and gnawed away at a few corners. 

Fynn interruption: Fynn, our younger Ridgeback, just came in for a snuggle - he must be tuckered out from all that playing.  And now Merlin is making the baby cockatiel chirp (back from years ago when I bred cockatiels) - I think Merlin's feeling neglected now. Fynn has left the room, and Merlin's back to ignoring me and back to preening himself. 

Without any further interruptions, here's some close up pictures of this shredder's delight!

It's hard to determine the full 3-D effect of some of our toys from one picture.

I'm going to start showcasing more details/photos of our unique toys starting with Twirly 2.0.

Starting with a spiral wire base, beads, buttons, material, straw hats, Birdie Bagels, sisal, hemp rope, and mini grapevine balls adorn this toy built for cockatiel to Pionus sized birds.

Our cockatiel, Stryder, loves to tweak the sisal, and perch on this toy, whereas Rosco, our Caique, will dangle from one foot or get in the middle to enjoy the full effect of the toy.  The straw hats tend to go first, then the grapevile balls, followed by the material - it's a time consuming task, but Rosco is up to this challenge.

Here are some close up photos of this fun-filled multi-material toy!