tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55566345028982960642024-03-05T11:39:43.399-07:00Creating In Real LifeCreative ideas for real women who have real budgets and a real life.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5556634502898296064.post-38023930866128813522012-12-04T21:10:00.000-07:002012-12-17T14:25:02.773-07:00"I fell asleep at the kitchen counter" or "The sad tale of woe that has caused me to resort to writing letters to Santa"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4EgpzA042dwL6VeF-3C4yepxBhlgzXrInS7gfnzDngs0i7cXPeqa2eTvhpJ6ZP76SEZa82Xi00S3A1xj1EZTuVqv8ZAJcGxnVfVy6rQ1QdXUlGxQeXe7MVAIMqeJ7EXCMFT7CpTiWeehx/s1600/Silhouette+contest+nov+2012+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4EgpzA042dwL6VeF-3C4yepxBhlgzXrInS7gfnzDngs0i7cXPeqa2eTvhpJ6ZP76SEZa82Xi00S3A1xj1EZTuVqv8ZAJcGxnVfVy6rQ1QdXUlGxQeXe7MVAIMqeJ7EXCMFT7CpTiWeehx/s320/Silhouette+contest+nov+2012+006.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">My letter to Santa, who apparently knows the people at Silhouette America</span></div>
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I have a sad tale of woe to tell you. A sad, tragic tale of terrible woe.<br />
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Let me first start out with a visual aid. This is me:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhza3flSNUbWHYLIzhFgOhUUZDBOE-jC866OSqBna52sKjXVT_VT6oeIpufakBseIRMcMuBzRX1Is5_SLxfDXaV8i3Wx5IbwghZaWn8yB2EUrkh9DtMyesmKPbjU9qMFvxH8CS-mJKuqSgL/s1600/Silhouette+contest+nov+2012+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhza3flSNUbWHYLIzhFgOhUUZDBOE-jC866OSqBna52sKjXVT_VT6oeIpufakBseIRMcMuBzRX1Is5_SLxfDXaV8i3Wx5IbwghZaWn8yB2EUrkh9DtMyesmKPbjU9qMFvxH8CS-mJKuqSgL/s320/Silhouette+contest+nov+2012+007.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
There are so, so many things wrong with this picture. For instance, what is up with that hair? Someone get that woman a haircut! A cute, sassy one that makes her look more "Mom" and less "stay at home"! Anyway...this is how I've been feeling the last few weeks. This is called "Craft Fair Season".<br />
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I make signs out of wood and vinyl. Really cute, possibly unique and thankfully easily sold signs out of wood and vinyl. I make these signs to sell at craft fairs, alongside my husband and children, who also make cool things out of wood. We are what you would call "DIY"ers, also known as, "Sorry kids, you want that, you buy it yourself. What? You are only 8 and you don't have a job? Here's a piece of wood. Make something out of that and sell it." This is not just a fun hobby, we are trying to turn this into a family-oriented side business to teach our kids some stuff (super valuable stuff - like about taxes and tithing and using power tools) and help the family finances.<br />
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So I have been making these signs pretty steadily for a couple months now for the Christmas Craft Fair season. They've been selling well...which means I need to make more. Herein lies my sad tale of woe. I have a Cricut. Two, actually. They work very, very hard for me during Craft Fair Season. But, it takes me a painfully long time to use them. Punching the letter buttons for every single word - over and over for the more popular signs that I need lots of duplicates for- and having to enter more text after every 2 minutes of cutting. It takes HOURS to make a bunch of these bigger signs. I am completely maxed out on my time to sign creation ratio. A lean, mean cutting machine we are not.<br />
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So, I decided to look into an upgrade - something more time efficient and more versatile. I found out about...The Silhouette Cameo. And now I want one BAD. I mean SUPER bad. I even found a good sale on Black Friday and had my fist full of cash all ready to go. Here is where the sad tale comes to the woe. As I was looking at the great deal I found on the computer, up comes my eldest daughter, informing me that she can no longer fit her feet into her snowboots. Neither can my youngest daughter. It was snowing. Right then. Oh, and her PE shoes and church shoes don't fit either. And basketball starts in a couple weeks. And her other sister has grown out of her PE shoes, too (The boys were in it for the win that night - both still had shoes that fit).<br />
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Dang it.<br />
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There went my Silhouette money.<br />
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And so I am now back to looking like the above picture. Grateful for the business, but so, so tired.<br />
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I am BEGGING Santa to help me out. My house looks like World War III. My son is happy as a clam because I haven't bothered to stop him from wearing his sweatpants for two (hopefully only two...) days in a row. My little kids are throwing Cricut cartridges when they get their hands on them - usually at me.<br />
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For the love of Pete, I have GOT to get me a Silhouette. Faster, easier, more precise vinyl cutting? Yes please! No more punching and repunching the same buttons over and over again? Yes, please! Saving all my files on my computer and just...cutting it...because I told it to? YES PLEASE! Cutting fabric, paper, whatever else I can reasonably think of to make gifts, decorate our house, dress my children or preserve memories? YES!<br />
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So there you have it. I am appealing to Santa. That's how desperate I am. My kids are pleading, too:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuGrjMvUOdT0F7P0D9_siAAqPPP9qwGnL6aF7wfLBP8T0GhFQjcOh4ZZQC6uIqZ48znJcIMW2OHBZnlE-jzFIZAoUbaVgkctiulFx9pD4yH96EHLPTU8EH2ZKmrvxUjHw881FdIPCv8_rw/s1600/Silhouette+contest+nov+2012+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuGrjMvUOdT0F7P0D9_siAAqPPP9qwGnL6aF7wfLBP8T0GhFQjcOh4ZZQC6uIqZ48znJcIMW2OHBZnlE-jzFIZAoUbaVgkctiulFx9pD4yH96EHLPTU8EH2ZKmrvxUjHw881FdIPCv8_rw/s320/Silhouette+contest+nov+2012+001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">This is their "please please please please please release our mother from vinyl hell" pose.</span></div>
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I realize that I am greatly blessed - no one is in the hospital, we have talents and skills to help out in a time of need, we are able to help others and are happy together...I am just a Mom trying to help out her family and am in need of an upgrade to keep pulling this wagon.<br />
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If you feel that you need to appeal to Santa as well, you can also give this a try (thanks, Silhouette!): <a href="http://silhouetteamerica.com/santa/">CONTEST</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM8NUdGfWObfwO6JLcbk7jQT_5bdEwzAmUpgJYttyiGG3dieEP1LL-flb0SfB8-A5q8tIuA-pIz8OszH1Ia0R3zItK7n_4yVAUoyG8CkVtauNTQ64xs6QQtk_WeAqKy0cwsFdrSR_x7X0F/s1600/Silhouette+contest+nov+2012+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM8NUdGfWObfwO6JLcbk7jQT_5bdEwzAmUpgJYttyiGG3dieEP1LL-flb0SfB8-A5q8tIuA-pIz8OszH1Ia0R3zItK7n_4yVAUoyG8CkVtauNTQ64xs6QQtk_WeAqKy0cwsFdrSR_x7X0F/s320/Silhouette+contest+nov+2012+003.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">("Hopeful eyes" or "Crazy eyes", depending on you look at it)</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06113711613406673215noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5556634502898296064.post-69700773238432100402012-12-02T12:06:00.001-07:002012-12-02T12:06:03.985-07:00Elf on the Shelf, Meet Snowball in the BoxIt's finally Christmas Month,which means the interwebs are buzzing with the worldwide exploits of cute, naughty "Elf on the Shelf".<br />
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<img height="200" src="http://www.elfontheshelf.com/Portals/0/SmithCart/Images/01019_ltby_outbox_425.jpg" width="200" /></div>
I totally dig all the fun photos my friends are posting of their creative, super funny elves, but haven't gotten into the phenomenon myself for a few reasons:<br />
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1.) I am too cheap to spend $30 on what boils down to a stuffed toy that will see the light of day for 25 days each month.</div>
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2.) After 5 children, I don't have enough of a memory left to actually remember to do the elf antics each night, nor do I trust that I won't be lazy enough to come up with something funny every day. And, I don't want to clean up after the "elf". Let's be honest.</div>
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3.) Two of my 5 children are now old enough to have figured out the whole Santa thing, and I still wanted something that motivate them to step up it up this month.</div>
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4.) As super cute as Elf on the Shelf is, if I'm going to start a new tradition for my kids, I want it to be something more meaningful for the Christmas season.</div>
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And so, "Snowball in the Box", a collaboration between my 8 1/2 year old daughter and I, was born. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwNjjTNvSE9_C10zXBciUbC67-sHVeT70wQnmmAUVOYI_w45UyOvujIwxawYNd09g1MKLR4qS9w2MGkpR4ziZFJHZ-yZzpNBYoUGF9cs0K3Jd5K95oZG-iNWigwLaIo_VGVre0JjB3QEsX/s1600/nov2012+014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwNjjTNvSE9_C10zXBciUbC67-sHVeT70wQnmmAUVOYI_w45UyOvujIwxawYNd09g1MKLR4qS9w2MGkpR4ziZFJHZ-yZzpNBYoUGF9cs0K3Jd5K95oZG-iNWigwLaIo_VGVre0JjB3QEsX/s320/nov2012+014.JPG" width="235" /></a></div>
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Basically, we took a Pooki Scentsy Buddy (which was FREE because I had hostess credits from a Scentsy party I did with this girl: <a href="https://lowrygofish.scentsy.us/Scentsy/Home">Mandy Lowry</a>) - although any stuffed animal or doll would work- which comes in a handy box, and turned him into a Santa's Helper. We used some scrapbook supplies to cover up the Scentsy logo and gussy up his winter castle. Total time: 30 minutes. So, we are now into this zero dollars and 30 minutes. I can live with that.</div>
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Snowball's mission is two-fold: 1.) He watches the kids during the day to report to Santa at night on their helpfulness and good deeds (which will sometimes result in notes from Santa or little treats...Hershey's kisses for everyone making their bed before school? Yes, please!) and 2.) If he gets back early enough from his visit to Santa, he might do a good deed for one of US. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEPLUx5yKfWdXehevmTPcW6cili2Y-ebbLyUMXrglaBJ8vKE9RAz1X8b1QjcexLiAb1-2eglJQQTlL1pcvwiPT0Bun46oQv5HB23SLIiz5iZxEE34I8DXgpZ7I78zbZb-K8q0-NWB36bGv/s1600/nov2012+012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEPLUx5yKfWdXehevmTPcW6cili2Y-ebbLyUMXrglaBJ8vKE9RAz1X8b1QjcexLiAb1-2eglJQQTlL1pcvwiPT0Bun46oQv5HB23SLIiz5iZxEE34I8DXgpZ7I78zbZb-K8q0-NWB36bGv/s320/nov2012+012.JPG" width="210" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj53ZRZaENmE8C-4NUdbnLRXbUWntJ6DdcrZIJcXsPqnV0PyCYCK8phCAynFQoINuwWZTIfau5kzK35ntEBWPkJekSckHr2CDDPj67HFMhQ602GBNh3fb3Fz19KoFJdLXObA9QHT7ymoqSa/s1600/nov2012+013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj53ZRZaENmE8C-4NUdbnLRXbUWntJ6DdcrZIJcXsPqnV0PyCYCK8phCAynFQoINuwWZTIfau5kzK35ntEBWPkJekSckHr2CDDPj67HFMhQ602GBNh3fb3Fz19KoFJdLXObA9QHT7ymoqSa/s320/nov2012+013.JPG" width="197" /></a></div>
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Basically, I took Elf on the Shelf and turned him away from the dark side. Jedi bear? You betcha.</div>
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And, because its me, and I never miss an opportunity to trick my children into learning an important life lesson, there is indeed a mighty catch. The 8 year old is really Snowball's eyes, ears and hands. SHE is the only kid in on the secret (the 10 year old might be brought in later...but I have other plans for her this month...), and will be the one watching for good deeds (to report to Mom), and actually DOING the good deeds at night most of the time. She might fold someone's laundry and set Snowball on top, or fix her little sister's book and prop it up in the chair with Snowball, etc, etc. She is ridiculously excited to be part of the "Christmas magic"...and I am ridiculously excited for her to serve others at home without expecting anything back. Happily.</div>
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I get to motivate the younger ones to behave and motivate the older ones to look for ways to serve others...I'm basically calling this one a win-win before the month even begins!</div>
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What traditions do you have for your kids to help them remember to behave during a busy, stressful time of year and do service in your home?</div>
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And, by the way, to my Elf on the Shelf friends -- I will be checking facebook daily to see what your elves are up to :)</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06113711613406673215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5556634502898296064.post-31890305815292742522012-05-30T10:40:00.003-06:002012-05-30T10:49:01.003-06:00Summer's First...Craft.<div style="text-align: center;">
My kids know that the beginning of summer means one sure thing...Mom will surely manufacture a new chore chart and reward system, and come up with some cutesy paper crafted schedule. We all know it will only work for the first half of the summer, at which point we'll go out of town and everything will fall apart when we get back...</div>
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But this year - I have been empowered by Pinterest, which has showed me that the whole "family command center" thing is <i>awesome for the entire year</i> AND quite possibly a little bit trendy. Well, trendy in Pinterestland, which is about as trendy as I ever get. </div>
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In honor of kicking off a Pinterest-inspired, organized summer, I give you: Part One of the Family Command Center. Us crafty people all know that nothing is official until you've created something to commemorate it, so - Organization, meet crafty calendar board.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiraPSZp5nyTXU8tD8rpz5Uc7nWHm5ean1K3e88Pr1FV3Ri_3QfOw55rK8Egg0bvt5NeedXP7y9wtsZHl35Kz0AukjpkqY6_-74taLYoC0WNhRKORYU8V_DjksRPogdNzz2MieeauzGiqn9/s1600/One+Awesome+thing+a+day+-+May+2012+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiraPSZp5nyTXU8tD8rpz5Uc7nWHm5ean1K3e88Pr1FV3Ri_3QfOw55rK8Egg0bvt5NeedXP7y9wtsZHl35Kz0AukjpkqY6_-74taLYoC0WNhRKORYU8V_DjksRPogdNzz2MieeauzGiqn9/s320/One+Awesome+thing+a+day+-+May+2012+007.JPG" width="173" /></a></div>
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I made this little beaut for approximately $2 and 30 minutes- yay me! </div>
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The parts:</div>
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Frame with plexiglass: 25 cents at a thrift store</div>
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1 piece of blue cardstock: 25 cents in a huge multi-pack</div>
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Simple Stories elements: approximately $1.50 worth from a huge multi-pack</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWUnaSGx_4tTUmQXEJC9uIkUfbc3EdpB5YYdHDUjd0e6Z0INmcOgqmfl15gOe8AgWVfFkZcKqVQbOom6Y84Yk7XkcxfAwutSivy4OCAT4T2xBrs7WdJ-ZYNx7CAa06QFAHtWlyF_YMkGAc/s1600/One+Awesome+thing+a+day+-+May+2012+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWUnaSGx_4tTUmQXEJC9uIkUfbc3EdpB5YYdHDUjd0e6Z0INmcOgqmfl15gOe8AgWVfFkZcKqVQbOom6Y84Yk7XkcxfAwutSivy4OCAT4T2xBrs7WdJ-ZYNx7CAa06QFAHtWlyF_YMkGAc/s320/One+Awesome+thing+a+day+-+May+2012+002.JPG" width="227" /></a></div>
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As I've talked about before, Simple Stories is awesome - each set (this is the Year-o-graphy set) comes with 12x12 double sided cardstock (the calendar page above was one of these) plus tons of cut-apart journaling cards of all different sizes (all the other pieces above) and stickers. I literally just cut stuff apart and glued it onto the cardboard in the frame. I added a few stickers and word strips and ALL DONE! My kind of project - thrifty and crafty!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYT_7rWonzMk_Cqwskt6DVEthiQR5DgVWHLoSWOkoGLCX0vHaPpeWs1tC2fK6pyKdTe6LjsESYUPrFfOMCm9KaSTbZgE5bYkAAeS3aAeCb9_EHWX-SmJNHXOAVZjr8deCgue6rA0x5W7BY/s1600/One+Awesome+thing+a+day+-+May+2012+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYT_7rWonzMk_Cqwskt6DVEthiQR5DgVWHLoSWOkoGLCX0vHaPpeWs1tC2fK6pyKdTe6LjsESYUPrFfOMCm9KaSTbZgE5bYkAAeS3aAeCb9_EHWX-SmJNHXOAVZjr8deCgue6rA0x5W7BY/s320/One+Awesome+thing+a+day+-+May+2012+004.JPG" width="204" /></a></div>
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We use a dry-erase pen to write in all the necessary info:</div>
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Now we have the months' calendar, the day's activity/schedule, shopping lists, long term to-do list, garden weeding list (we cross of each item as we do it each week) and reminders...all in one place! It's right next to the chore chart (I will show you later...), so everyone sees it. </div>
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I'd like to think everyone in the family frequently looks at it because its so cute, but I suspect they take a look hoping they'll see "eat ice cream" or "go to Disneyland" magically appear on it... eh, maybe I should add little surprises on it from time to time. I'll start with "Make a Pinterest-inspired menu board"...</div>
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<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5556634502898296064.post-54935990259059876542012-05-04T06:00:00.000-06:002012-05-04T06:00:13.134-06:00Homemade Laundry Soap for Cheap PeopleSince I've been spending so much time messing with clothing and fabric, I thought I'd share one of my more brilliant money-saving moves with you. Have you tried making your own laundry soap?? It saves SO much money and is so ridiculously easy. I have been trying different recipes and concoctions of various types for a couple of years now and finally came up with a mixture that works really well for me. I will share it with you -- with the caveat that I developed this for my front loader (your machine's warranty may be voided and/or the machine damaged by using homemade laundry soap...please do your own research first) , super hard water (laced with lovely red clay) and ingredients available near me. What works for you and your situation may be completely different...so I suggest you do a little research yourself.<br />
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This recipe cleans like mad...but hasn't done much to prevent my whites from turning dingy (which happens no matter what storebought detergent I use, too) - so I am still working on that part. I also do not use this for my baby's cloth diapers - I use Rockin' Green for that. For all I know, Rockin' Green could be made of the same ingredients in different proportions, but its working as is, so its staying. I should also mention that since I have a septic tank -- I have looked up all the ingredients separately and they all *appear* to be septic safe. Use at your own discretion...<br />
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Anyway... here ya go. Let me know if you try it and how it works for you.<br />
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<u><b><span style="font-size: large;">Homemade Laundry Soap for Cheap People with Hard Water:</span></b></u></div>
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Ingredients (all can usually be found at a typical grocery store):<br />
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1/3 Fels Naptha soap bar, grated (other recipes online use castille or other soap - I haven't tried any of those, since I didn't want to spend $5 getting a $2 bar of soap shipped to me...)<br />
1 c. Washing Soda<br />
1 c. Baking Soda (note that these are different sodas...find washing soda in the laundry aisle, with the borax and fels naptha...baking soda in the, you know, baking aisle)<br />
1 c. Oxi-Clean (cheapest in bulk at Costco or WalMart)<br />
1 c. Borax<br />
A couple drops essential oil (optional) - I like lemon and lavender for the smell and natural anti-bacterial properties<br />
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Directions:<br />
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1.) Add all ingredients to a food processor and process until it blends together into a fine powder.<br />
2.) Don't open up your food processor right away - wait about 10 minutes for everything to settle so you don't end up breathing in the detergent dust (just trust me on that one...).<br />
3.) Put into a container with a lid and wash clothes with it.<br />
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That's it.<br />
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I use 1 Tablespoon (yep - ONE tablespoon) per load for my front loader. I would estimate a regular washer would probably use 1/4-1/3 cup, but I really have no idea, so you'd have to experiment there. <br />
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Now that you have the recipe, let's compare costs. You can buy all the ingredients to make at least 3 batches (plus leftovers of some ingredients) of this stuff for around $10 ($3 or less per batch). I've found that 1 1/2 batches is pretty equivalent to the amount of loads I can do with one of those big liquid laundry jugs from Costco, which cost $15-20. So...we're talking $10 versus $40 for 3 batches. Yeah. I'm in.<br />
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$30 savings ...think of all the awkward clothes I could buy at the thrift store to refurbish for that :)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5556634502898296064.post-42353991890401853422012-05-03T13:16:00.005-06:002012-05-03T13:25:45.786-06:00Health...ier Applesauce Chocolate Chip CookiesToday my 3 year old and I made up a "healthier" cookie recipe. I know, I know - there isn't any seaweed or acai berries or whatever - it could be healthier - but this is a step UP from regular chocolate chip cookies, and doesn't contain anything you can't get from your own pantry or a regular grocery store. They are also not the prettiest cookies ever, but these cakey little goodies satisfied our sweet tooth and will work great as a wholesome after school snack for the kiddies! They kind of taste like muffins...but a cookie...and let's face it - calling something a "cookie" gives us a little leverage in getting our kids to eat it, right?<br />
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I just caught my little helper trying to sneak another one off the counter, actually...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOy27J9KcutmzUCybpjw43AiV5MPuFz7nfD-lOhJbv7a7ev2PKhCh0WKia2tkkQsvL-aRLlVph6-uBrWhTzge-4E0hej2Cdmg-88gv_aDUq7Paz1PVApKhgJsO7V_-OLwO3AfcU6fMf-Fh/s1600/IMG_2886.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOy27J9KcutmzUCybpjw43AiV5MPuFz7nfD-lOhJbv7a7ev2PKhCh0WKia2tkkQsvL-aRLlVph6-uBrWhTzge-4E0hej2Cdmg-88gv_aDUq7Paz1PVApKhgJsO7V_-OLwO3AfcU6fMf-Fh/s320/IMG_2886.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>Healthier Applesauce Chocolate Chip Cookies</u></b></span></div>
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1 c. unsweetened applesauce (you want relatively thick applesauce that will round up on a spoon...if its too thin, you'll have melty cookies)<br />
3/4 c. raw honey, soft or melted (but not hot)<br />
1-2 tsp. vanilla<br />
1 1/2 T. plain Greek yogurt<br />
2 1/2 c. whole wheat flour<br />
1/2 tsp. salt<br />
1 tsp. baking soda<br />
1/2 c. chocolate chips (pulse in a food processor until the chips are broken up, but not mush)<br />
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Mix together the applesauce, honey, vanilla and yogurt in a bowl. Mix the flour, salt and soda together in a separate bowl and then add to the applesauce mixture until blended. Don't over mix. Your batter should be thick and keep its shape. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop by rounded tablespoon full onto a cookie sheet, a couple inches apart.<br />
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Bake at 375 for 10 minutes (your oven may need a minute or two less or more) until light brown and firm. Remove from cookie sheet and cool on wire rack. Depending on how much dough you eat (no eggs! Eat your heart out!), this is approx. 2 dozen-ish cookies.<br />
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I am not a food scientist, so I will just say: results may vary...if they don't turn out, sorry ;)<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5556634502898296064.post-61453755996077603812012-03-02T15:09:00.001-07:002012-03-02T15:09:13.164-07:00The Project is well under way...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We (and I do mean a very hearty WE, as my kids are totally getting in on the action) are having a BLAST with Project Free Wardrobe!!! I have a pile of partially finished projects (because really...who wants to change the sewing machine thread more than you have to?), and a few finished ones, and a whole lotta "to be something else" clothes sitting here.</div>
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First of all, I did this sweater the other day and successfully wore it in public (the dentist's office and grocery store didn't know what hit them, let me tell you). Unfortunately, a bunch of my latest projects have no "before" pictures to go with them. I'm ashamed to admit that my daughter had to HIDE HER CAMERA from me while she went to school, since mine is broken and I kept stealing hers. Pitiful, I know. You'll just have to imagine the transformation that took place here.</div>
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This sweater started its life as a giant 3XLT men's henley sweater - it was even too big for my husband, who is a big guy. So, I sewed new seams, cutting out all the excess, along the sides and sleeves. I cut out the henley part and serged the new neckline. then I cut off the bottom couple inches, made a band to fit my hips, and sewed it back on. The sweater:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzjOLRkqcXZB6T5wr3rRSXo1hDp00z-kkuzR4XVyv2ba6W_C1tQamRqU5JcbTpUm7CIfn96QoY132fmTqIg_XTnEuPuwHagxGCd0bbZE_XQtwpORMY9y_C4p71JG_SSnQabf7rkUiad_yU/s1600/IMG_0164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzjOLRkqcXZB6T5wr3rRSXo1hDp00z-kkuzR4XVyv2ba6W_C1tQamRqU5JcbTpUm7CIfn96QoY132fmTqIg_XTnEuPuwHagxGCd0bbZE_XQtwpORMY9y_C4p71JG_SSnQabf7rkUiad_yU/s320/IMG_0164.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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It's totally not perfect, but it is very, very me - I'm a neutral kinda girl, what can I say?</div>
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This is what Project Free Wardrobe has done to my kitchen table:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtWokLpcFIWV3NPrS9v9atpt5bMwq9J9kYAC926ME_89pAoPChCFcco18TEEyzQztNv2xDJKeiixcC795qE-S1VK8LnO5IU8gaZkeai1FyaSXBtD05ghsnC3NrT9xwuDlFOdmlsHYT-PiF/s1600/IMG_0194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtWokLpcFIWV3NPrS9v9atpt5bMwq9J9kYAC926ME_89pAoPChCFcco18TEEyzQztNv2xDJKeiixcC795qE-S1VK8LnO5IU8gaZkeai1FyaSXBtD05ghsnC3NrT9xwuDlFOdmlsHYT-PiF/s320/IMG_0194.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Whoops. Sorry, family.</div>
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Remember how I said "WE" are getting excited about this project? Well, today my second oldest, age 8, decided to try her hand at a little sewing (Santa brought her a REAL sewing machine for Christmas this year). I seriously could not be more proud - her shirt turned out DARLING!!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihbFbF-ah92IGNzyv4dFJa7U4VN_MrJGhuDtHT-h_SZCEc1LfPgojwKhs31OzdxaS-CYORC-SHffxW56xj5mn7IR4Ib3vYy7i29bBM8TLUu8K3CM7n1JNJLTNSif81iWxI_acqek17z1NC/s1600/Kimball+Feb+2012+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihbFbF-ah92IGNzyv4dFJa7U4VN_MrJGhuDtHT-h_SZCEc1LfPgojwKhs31OzdxaS-CYORC-SHffxW56xj5mn7IR4Ib3vYy7i29bBM8TLUu8K3CM7n1JNJLTNSif81iWxI_acqek17z1NC/s320/Kimball+Feb+2012+004.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGUdH579vall0GtrY24A3Ddvp6_l-z4PDgRVRLgH6QlKS138zrb_c919NuLZYwek4Y289gcM2Vc-WUtKFXNJT61h6qOn0qYLtpCstgU45Mq23LKB5tapeWvy-K_PeUR2AG1S6Ra22s5a6l/s1600/Kimball+Feb+2012+009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGUdH579vall0GtrY24A3Ddvp6_l-z4PDgRVRLgH6QlKS138zrb_c919NuLZYwek4Y289gcM2Vc-WUtKFXNJT61h6qOn0qYLtpCstgU45Mq23LKB5tapeWvy-K_PeUR2AG1S6Ra22s5a6l/s320/Kimball+Feb+2012+009.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Cute little "pillowcase" shirt - she even added some lace to the bottom. Didn't that turn out cute??<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT7olpyX4f3q_0T7qEdpSSusFJstGdX9HUZAhYFhlVPqqReaqnRoqIX_UlGs3sONT_aDWjHv218NqWSr5Law0SuHHEtXyiuDApwDxZG0ol2L7OBhge-zEiHGgG6orIlRS-YfBXhJQAME-v/s1600/Kimball+Feb+2012+011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT7olpyX4f3q_0T7qEdpSSusFJstGdX9HUZAhYFhlVPqqReaqnRoqIX_UlGs3sONT_aDWjHv218NqWSr5Law0SuHHEtXyiuDApwDxZG0ol2L7OBhge-zEiHGgG6orIlRS-YfBXhJQAME-v/s320/Kimball+Feb+2012+011.JPG" width="231" /></a></div>
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Of course, now that we're trying to be a little less frumpy around here, we had to accessorize her. She tried out my first attempt at an infinity scarf (free fabric from my stash):</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidV-Iors0pjyo_O2ERsQyK1AXW8XdAXWjddtWD1kQZp8lLNqUykqjKJGuCZzQbYkGWJ3emoyxFf3j2a25vgpzDsSWGYWFlYYNmhsgCmAoIdFZcQ-HheswU8q9HqemZ9nEjwSOYg6z-dTMX/s1600/Kimball+Feb+2012+015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidV-Iors0pjyo_O2ERsQyK1AXW8XdAXWjddtWD1kQZp8lLNqUykqjKJGuCZzQbYkGWJ3emoyxFf3j2a25vgpzDsSWGYWFlYYNmhsgCmAoIdFZcQ-HheswU8q9HqemZ9nEjwSOYg6z-dTMX/s320/Kimball+Feb+2012+015.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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(P.S. - my 10 year old daughter took that photo - isn't that cute? She's already had some pretty successful shots using depth of field - mama is so proud).</div>
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We HAD to do a little refashioning, too, of course, so we picked out a giant shirt from the PILE on the table - this one was so big, it may have qualified as a tent in some countries - so I just sewed up the two sides, cutting off the sleeves and taking out about 1/2 the bulk - to make a cute skirt to go with it. 5 minute project - can't beat that.</div>
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The final product:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ_S-hgLalkul06OkoQBVm90VFWOBVn_wwywSXoFKS_xBK4Mlmz4-_I2HGl_TY9-mNbYF8DtMp1lmRer6M7oXNaRQhx9QUKd9rXjG_KcYiUhVpG2-bGBcdmRY57yRIRkUZB2dlNlDbc2Hz/s1600/Kimball+Feb+2012+019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ_S-hgLalkul06OkoQBVm90VFWOBVn_wwywSXoFKS_xBK4Mlmz4-_I2HGl_TY9-mNbYF8DtMp1lmRer6M7oXNaRQhx9QUKd9rXjG_KcYiUhVpG2-bGBcdmRY57yRIRkUZB2dlNlDbc2Hz/s320/Kimball+Feb+2012+019.JPG" width="184" /></a></div>
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SO CUTE, right??! And so, so free!!</div>
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Stay tuned...there are lots more projects to show you soon!!</div>
<br /><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5556634502898296064.post-43790391704373194552012-02-28T12:58:00.000-07:002012-02-28T12:58:06.018-07:00Project Free Wardrobe<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I must give most of the credit to my new project to Pinterest, and a whole slew of mommy-blogging/tutorial-writing/bargain fashionista types. These Pinterest-worthy bloggers make adorably cute, trendy clothes to fit their adorably cute, trendy, teensy weensy bodies. For those of us who actually LOOK like we were ever pregnant and gave birth to our brood (I have 5), this can be a little intimidating...so I decided that SOMEONE needed to pull some of these ideas together for the rest of us.Well, that and the fact that I have lost enough weight this year to need new clothes - but not enough to want to invest any money into it yet & needed a solution.</div>
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Solution: Project Free Wardrobe</div>
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This is my effort to make myself a new temporary wardrobe - for free - with as little effort as possible (because, come on - that's the way I roll!). I am also not naturally a trendy dresser - I am perfectly comfortable in a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, generally barefoot. "Clean" and "not falling off" are wardrobe wins in my book. However, I am realizing that I will get a lot more mileage out of my wardrobe - and not look as tired as I feel - if I put a little more effort into things. Therefore, I am going to try to learn a little more about how to not always LOOK like I gave birth to 5 kids and don't have any clothes that fit. I will share with you my finds and efforts!</div>
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So....here we go!</div>
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Part 1 - pants. I dug out a pair of two-sizes too big cords that I LOVED back in the post-partum period, but had marked for the reject pile. BEFORE:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1VuynGwVXKYCzPx1EXeMxBnEpqYKkTHVk9fQTV5mPJovw2Bj7aM53fMsEfGbtXJLi9HEqjHlttpRwXtQ66dXlNZkHngbDxGWDaGTjdOEjmWQfoYF94oHvj_8nSLHDnzlfNseinYY46bFx/s1600/Kimball+Feb+2012+029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1VuynGwVXKYCzPx1EXeMxBnEpqYKkTHVk9fQTV5mPJovw2Bj7aM53fMsEfGbtXJLi9HEqjHlttpRwXtQ66dXlNZkHngbDxGWDaGTjdOEjmWQfoYF94oHvj_8nSLHDnzlfNseinYY46bFx/s320/Kimball+Feb+2012+029.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
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(do you like the lotion fingerprints on the mirrror? thanks kids...)</div>
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I'm sure there are more professional ways to alter pants - but this is my TEMPORARY wardrobe, and I hope to alter these again in a few weeks as I lose more weight, so this works for now! SO...all I did was turn them inside out, put them back on and mark with pins where I wanted to shrink them up (along the outside seam). I just sewed up my lines (being careful to not catch pockets, belt loops and snaps in my seam), all the way to the waistband (I'm sure if you were using heavier fabric, you'd want to remove the waistband first - I didn't really care with these...), tried them back on for fit and then serged the seam to finish it and reinforce it a little once I was happy with it. I'd forgotten how much these stretch out during the day (thanks, Old Navy), so I should have made them a titch tighter than I'd want them to end up...I will definitely be taking these in further later.<br />
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Part 2: I had some knit striped fabric I'd gotten from a "free to good home" pile at church. I started using<a href="http://merricksart.blogspot.com/2011/11/dolman-sleeve-top-tutorial.html"> this</a> tutorial at Merrick's Art. See how cute she is? Let's just say my first attempt showed me that teensy, weensy mommies and tall, notsoteensy mommies probably shouldn't be wearing the same shirt. SO - I Sandyized it.<br />
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First, I added a wide band to the bottom (two layers of fabric, fits tight across hips). Then I opened up the neckline a little and added a very easy cowl neck (I will do a tutorial on this eventually - first I have to figure out how to do it without HAVING to wear a cardigan over it to hide the sticking out seam...).<br />
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Adding a cardigan from my stash (because my kids call this "the jail shirt" and because I wasn't super happy with the way the sleeves turned out...) and pinning down part of the cowl with a pin that my Mom and daughters made for me out of felt and hot glue, and whala! I may have actually created my first possibly on-trend outfit ever. If its not actually on-trend, just don't tell me...I promise its better than what I have on right now :)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir4ssHPkyW61gUfPzqz9xlgB3fQTeEGU3RcO-Jk6z6CbTotY9w2n-u7JLsywJ4ZOv7kobnJKDqV-U4mHgmm_FmN5t2aHTR2K74NJXGQwXipLIUbvJNVahKuiPcxWpOcZmeWk4qMyI2lKuc/s1600/Kimball+Feb+2012+033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir4ssHPkyW61gUfPzqz9xlgB3fQTeEGU3RcO-Jk6z6CbTotY9w2n-u7JLsywJ4ZOv7kobnJKDqV-U4mHgmm_FmN5t2aHTR2K74NJXGQwXipLIUbvJNVahKuiPcxWpOcZmeWk4qMyI2lKuc/s320/Kimball+Feb+2012+033.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
And here we go - shirt (oh yeah, I also tied a piece of leftover fabric around my hips - I'm not sure if that's a helpful addition or not, but I liked it), cardigan and newly smaller cords:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs6HaIP9wbN8Gy1hv7nvqq_y8Bl3EDhNVGYmTUZ3pMhXstlLghv6L2L1NmvKIfEmrTdm28-kHpypbn8tTkRUjXOh7swNyFtE8DHF42IlgCpm5aolu4W_MoMimZTXT36LsgyLTZ7ZeKrSA8/s1600/Kimball+Feb+2012+036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs6HaIP9wbN8Gy1hv7nvqq_y8Bl3EDhNVGYmTUZ3pMhXstlLghv6L2L1NmvKIfEmrTdm28-kHpypbn8tTkRUjXOh7swNyFtE8DHF42IlgCpm5aolu4W_MoMimZTXT36LsgyLTZ7ZeKrSA8/s320/Kimball+Feb+2012+036.JPG" width="226" /></a></div>
Now I just need a haircut, a camera (I am ashamed to say that I had to borrow my daughter's...) and some new shoes and I'm in business! Note: shoes don't count towards Project Free Wardrobe, since I am not going to be making my own shoes...something about size 12 shoes made out of T-shirt fabric - in the snow - just doesn't do it for me...).<br />
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So, what do you think? So far so good? Next step - cutting apart some old maternity shirts to make some non-maternity clothes. This could be awesome - or totally a disaster. I will show you either way. :)<br />
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Anyone else want to join my project? You don't have to be much of a seamstress - if you're using clothes you were going to get rid of anyway, you have NOTHING to lose! Grab some scissors and a sewing machine (or hem tape) and get going!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5556634502898296064.post-26470628505639520372012-02-02T10:51:00.002-07:002012-02-02T10:51:39.117-07:00The post where I hang my head in shame and promise to do better...Oh, my poor blog. So sad, so lonely, so neglected! I am bound and determined to get back on the blog-wagon and grow this thing this year! I have been making all kinds of things - some successful, some not - and can't wait to show you what I've been up to!<br />
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Our house is neck-deep in projects - a little hallway revamp that features some chalkboard paint, new faux-roman blinds going up in the dining room, some cool old-picture-frame stuff...there is lots going on!<br />
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Lately, I have totally fallen in love with Pinterest!! I struggle keeping track of regular bookmarks on my computer - I never remember what's what, and as a super visual person, its hard to sort through a bunch of links to find what I need. Pinterest has been a GENIUS solution for me! I can save PICTURES of what I want to look at later, and then find things easily. SIMPLIFYING MY LIFE! Yes!<br />
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Along with all the cool Pinterest-ed ideas, however, can easily come that overwhelming, "OhmygoshIcouldnevermakethat" feeling, followed by the "thathugeto-dolistmakesmefeelguilty" feeling. That's where I will come in - specializing in making things look harder than they really are is my SPECIALTY!<br />
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Watch for my upcoming "Pinteresting Knock-offs" posts to check out my take on all the cool things I find on Pinterest...and suggestions for simplifying and easily creating these ideas on your own...<br />
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Talk to you soon!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5556634502898296064.post-91306606974518579802011-10-06T08:16:00.002-06:002011-10-06T08:26:43.942-06:00Life's Celebrations Blog Hop!<div>
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Welcome to Creating In Real Life! Today we'll be "blog hopping" all over the internet to check out projects made by MemoryWorks TeamWorks members using the latest <a href="http://sandyzent.memory-works.com/index.mhtml?sp=1&category=product&page=product_list&product_category_id=499">Simple Stories</a> collections!<br />
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Today I will show you a few projects made with Simple Stories <a href="http://www.memory-works.com/admin/index.mhtml">Generations</a>. This beautiful line is a mix of darker, muted colors with a touch of "antique" - perfect for a heritage album or those black-and-white family pictures! Celebrate your Family in style!<br />
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First is a layout, using some 12x12 paper, a 6x12 card and two 4x6 cards...layered with lots of stickers! I also stuck a couple of smaller journaling cards behind the photo as pull-out tags:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ5aZ9sUNy1Ri5R9RZoscIFH9Xw5-VL7S8P6XTyy8quWksS0eYvoNOG7PbMKqnWtdzQjfF2pqwHYI_6TU9aOxU941fwpNbk9N53UauO808gvJem-wrXAZlgxYidsjyGcsz44QWBNOaAwUB/s1600/S+Zent+SS+Generations+-+Family+Layout.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ5aZ9sUNy1Ri5R9RZoscIFH9Xw5-VL7S8P6XTyy8quWksS0eYvoNOG7PbMKqnWtdzQjfF2pqwHYI_6TU9aOxU941fwpNbk9N53UauO808gvJem-wrXAZlgxYidsjyGcsz44QWBNOaAwUB/s320/S+Zent+SS+Generations+-+Family+Layout.jpg" width="314" /></a></div>
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Close-up of some sticker layering:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjednIRLY7wl-doCtMM5I2wEOR0DpIqhM34YnP-0VBSYBvQM6LsIRvJ8tTKcFciE2cDD7waO0pytX7dRJmrKv7ms-_enPwMXU9VXR0-meDbZJSrqyVLRqunAv4r62eDqC8VOttnub456rSM/s1600/S+Zent+SS+Generations+-layout+sticker+closeup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjednIRLY7wl-doCtMM5I2wEOR0DpIqhM34YnP-0VBSYBvQM6LsIRvJ8tTKcFciE2cDD7waO0pytX7dRJmrKv7ms-_enPwMXU9VXR0-meDbZJSrqyVLRqunAv4r62eDqC8VOttnub456rSM/s320/S+Zent+SS+Generations+-layout+sticker+closeup.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The tags (note: I put some cardstock on the back of the right side of the heart sticker so it wouldn't stick to the tags):</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV4QIlpWb8mmI32N9oC7q9_sFfH2TG1wC_ZcIcpww6O5hyphenhyphenAQimDFcBIxqZopuRoc0oMyxa9q0QGwsMxpWoNfh0v_xLBy5jqh3E8sB_DH1d2PuGRrPzoyYocaQSCEczyT6qE8oQxdKvsnZl/s1600/S+Zent+SS+Generations+-layout+tag+closeup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV4QIlpWb8mmI32N9oC7q9_sFfH2TG1wC_ZcIcpww6O5hyphenhyphenAQimDFcBIxqZopuRoc0oMyxa9q0QGwsMxpWoNfh0v_xLBy5jqh3E8sB_DH1d2PuGRrPzoyYocaQSCEczyT6qE8oQxdKvsnZl/s320/S+Zent+SS+Generations+-layout+tag+closeup.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Next up is a "heritage" card, made completely with patterned cardstock and stickers from the Generations line (well, plus a piece of twine..which is the perfect accent for Generations!):</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhkEddWc_3Pi6EcO2DP_xV-1me0JRyBhqPeuGTjhq8pgcagZLHWuWUWWvjUOWY7yrEb8_BkXQmnZ3nB6yh34t9-vVhi-uLpxdcl_pcweqVAWWuy_5fwFaklOyqnp-i4oN_7mShii5aaXx7/s1600/S+Zent+SS+Generations+-+Live+Life+Card.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhkEddWc_3Pi6EcO2DP_xV-1me0JRyBhqPeuGTjhq8pgcagZLHWuWUWWvjUOWY7yrEb8_BkXQmnZ3nB6yh34t9-vVhi-uLpxdcl_pcweqVAWWuy_5fwFaklOyqnp-i4oN_7mShii5aaXx7/s320/S+Zent+SS+Generations+-+Live+Life+Card.jpg" width="248" /></a></div>
Next are a couple of mini-albums, perfect for a make-and-take, stocking stuffer, teacher gift or brag book! Using 1 12x12 sheet of 2x3 journaling cards, I put 1/2 together with a binder ring for one mini, and the other half in tiny page protectors (bound matchbook style). Add a couple of stickers and a little ribbon and you're done!<br />
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Here is the Binder Ring album:<br />
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The mini page protector/matchbook album:<br />
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Please be sure to leave comments at all of the stops on our hop today for a chance to win the Grand Prize - the more blogs you visit and comment on, the more chances you have to win!</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">1. <a href="http://memoryworksblog.blogspot.com/">MemoryWorks</a><br />2. <a href="http://christymusack.blogspot.com/">Christy</a><br />3. <a href="http://ecoscrapbook.blogspot.com/">Danielle</a><br />4. <a href="http://www.thescrapyardrose.com/">Jade</a><br />5. <a href="http://kellyrholbrook.blogspot.com/">Kelly H</a><br />6. <a href="http://www.laceybugcreations.com/blog/">Lacey Igo</a><br />7. <a href="http://mykreativepursuits.blogspot.com/">Lisa H</a><br />8. <a href="http://creatinginreallife.blogspot.com/">Sandy</a> (YOU ARE HERE)<br />9. <a href="http://snippetsofme.net/">Sarah J</a><br />10. <a href="http://ascrappersmemoir.blogspot.com/">Sharon</a><br />11. <a href="http://www.thedesperatescrapper.blogspot.com/">Sheri</a><br />12. <a href="http://aaaclub-memorymaker.blogspot.com/">Shirelle</a><br />13. <a href="http://susan-nichols.blogspot.com/">Susan</a><br />14. <a href="http://simplestories.typepad.com/simple_stories/">Simple Stories</a> </span><br />
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Happy Hoppin'!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5556634502898296064.post-30877987916920651662011-07-21T07:53:00.003-06:002011-07-21T07:55:47.998-06:00Giveaway at RisCCheck out the new blog of a friend of mine -- She's a SAHM who makes super cute stuff (jewelry, hair stuff, hats, etc.) for her etsy shop and is giving away a couple of fun things this week when she gets 50 followers!<div><br /></div><div>Go to <a href="http://rischandmade.blogspot.com/2011/07/first-giveaway.html?showComment=1311256376151#c6656060508982541001">RisC Handmade</a> to enter! Good luck!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5556634502898296064.post-23009192697271191532011-07-15T12:34:00.002-06:002011-07-15T12:34:49.063-06:00Tour my space!Go see a tour of my "craft room" on the MemoryWorks blog today!<div><br /></div><div><a href="http://memoryworksblog.blogspot.com/2011/07/inspiration-friday-sandys-scrappin.html">http://memoryworksblog.blogspot.com/2011/07/inspiration-friday-sandys-scrappin.html</a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5556634502898296064.post-32264025132302742542011-07-14T09:06:00.001-06:002011-07-14T09:20:33.850-06:00Simple Stories Blog Hop! 100 Days of Summer, baby!<div><span class="Apple-style-span">**Note: The Blog Hop starts officially at 10am MST...if some of the links to other blogs aren't working yet, try again then :) ***</span></div><div><br /></div>Hello!<br /><br />Welcome to my oft-neglected, but always loved, little crafting space on the web! Today I am showing you some fun projects made with the <a href="http://simplestories.typepad.com/simple_stories/100-day-of-summer-collection.html">Simple Stories 100 Days of Summer </a>scrapbooking kit, as well as a few other goodies.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/simple-stories.com">Simple Stories </a>is an AWESOME system developed by MemoryWorks founder Amber Crowell. The kits include doubled sided 12x12 paper, as well as double-sided element cards in various sizes to use for titles, photo mats, journaling blocks, etc. There are also stickers, ribbon and stamps! You can use the pieces stand-alone for traditional scrapbooking/paper crafting, or use the whole Simple Stories "system" which uses divided page protectors for fast, cute, hassle-free memory recording. Check out the Simple Stories website <a href="http://simplestories.typepad.com/simple_stories/scrapbookingsimplified.html">here</a> for more information.<br /><br />Now...on to the projects!<br /><br />First we have 3 wedding cards (tis the season for weddings, no?!) using 100 Days of Summer paper, some Simple Stories coordinating ribbon and a couple of Unity Stamps ("Nicest Place to Be" and "Rain or Shine" ittybitty sets). Feel free to click on the following image to examine them up close and personal!<br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigSlhOLPGtcO8EBEgdGhK2F5ptonsXUddQfzNeJctg1m3d_HfIAhwftGVODvP1G4WxDjNl38C_VkYk2Tn1useGm2rdYKhIkVvsSaPzyKBm2-AHJCwvYTyok0jwxrYR8Ir9ok5qNTus3xCo/s1600/July+2011+148.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 286px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629007166390151890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigSlhOLPGtcO8EBEgdGhK2F5ptonsXUddQfzNeJctg1m3d_HfIAhwftGVODvP1G4WxDjNl38C_VkYk2Tn1useGm2rdYKhIkVvsSaPzyKBm2-AHJCwvYTyok0jwxrYR8Ir9ok5qNTus3xCo/s320/July+2011+148.JPG" /></a> Aren't the colors in this kit yummy? Reminds me of lemonade, watermelon, blue shaved ice...SUMMER!<br /></p><br /><p>Next up is a "layout" using the Simple Stories divided page-protector system. The two colored blocks are a couple of the cut-apart elements that come with the kit - I used the Simple Stories/Unity banner stamps and some twine to make some cute garlands, added some photo mats and stickers and PRESTO! Easy-peasy layout waiting for pictures to slip into their pockets - no adhesive required - and I can add more journaling or multiple pictures to the pockets if I want to! I love this system!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHoA8PNpQnR2i0Pc02zPuCTyAjf561gWqHYgCV98C9XSkadE7klWXBxEB6jWSZGLmew_jIzRSL22zPnX_IV08ySLCEfe7YMY0i5PerH2BmmwmwyIJlHQgUJX3h0BhVVuOtOCQ1DIkZf8Nz/s1600/July+2011+147.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 314px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629007163295132082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHoA8PNpQnR2i0Pc02zPuCTyAjf561gWqHYgCV98C9XSkadE7klWXBxEB6jWSZGLmew_jIzRSL22zPnX_IV08ySLCEfe7YMY0i5PerH2BmmwmwyIJlHQgUJX3h0BhVVuOtOCQ1DIkZf8Nz/s320/July+2011+147.JPG" /></a> Here's a closer look at the larger photo mat. You can see that I used some pop-dots to add a little dimension to the banner, as well as some hand stitching along the photo mat:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq_DEV5TqItKZwgVO5xqrAoye3nLd2BzjNKgDCME0llCIqvel5WgemwQLagtigqVH2Z_sfCpjdcp2tffWQ7cK_oD_gOFmgAxU09sEl0Tmrd2lh-G-ntzM0YrLEE1o3tJSEqD7Xm3DwpUEa/s1600/July+2011+137.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 196px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629007008573513026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq_DEV5TqItKZwgVO5xqrAoye3nLd2BzjNKgDCME0llCIqvel5WgemwQLagtigqVH2Z_sfCpjdcp2tffWQ7cK_oD_gOFmgAxU09sEl0Tmrd2lh-G-ntzM0YrLEE1o3tJSEqD7Xm3DwpUEa/s320/July+2011+137.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDE5El2l8heNPJB0rfMGUVsl1pUN5XC0E62PuIA8z3IHC8pV9LHQ7x5XTiTouDZEVtIJ7AaD8hCjfZtu9vBUbEPwWRyzsVpRAaWrkEf_Y9FZwG54B7m2Cwvx5DX2YaeoXMB34GBI1K_DTI/s1600/July+2011+136.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 248px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629006992520046498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDE5El2l8heNPJB0rfMGUVsl1pUN5XC0E62PuIA8z3IHC8pV9LHQ7x5XTiTouDZEVtIJ7AaD8hCjfZtu9vBUbEPwWRyzsVpRAaWrkEf_Y9FZwG54B7m2Cwvx5DX2YaeoXMB34GBI1K_DTI/s320/July+2011+136.JPG" /></a>The last project I'd like to share with you has LOTS of parts (you wouldn't believe how much paper and kit elements I have left from this kit, even after making ALL these projects! You can literally make an entire scrapbook out of one kit and the divided page protectors!). </p><br /><br />This is my new "Household organizer"! I used a 7 gypsies library card holder set and put together an easy place to keep goals, budgets, bills, coupons, etc. - all the little bits of paper, post-its and to-do lists that I constantly misplace!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi1iXIQgKEIv34ARRfGPB-42dkNhsHbhTPKjK-xaI814m9rDYNrFMLGleo-DDK0OK6SxC_ZQaJavW0Wnx5jcBj3NVES0F6YbyE0Zey4Aoj6_PC58Hax-Rj4K29CAQJ3n7iwwx25KixnYSy/s1600/July+2011+125.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629006986363767378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi1iXIQgKEIv34ARRfGPB-42dkNhsHbhTPKjK-xaI814m9rDYNrFMLGleo-DDK0OK6SxC_ZQaJavW0Wnx5jcBj3NVES0F6YbyE0Zey4Aoj6_PC58Hax-Rj4K29CAQJ3n7iwwx25KixnYSy/s320/July+2011+125.JPG" /></a> I lined the bottom of the box with a piece of patterned paper from the 100 Days of Summer kit and used all kinds of stickers, stamps and cut-apart elements to decorate the cards inside. I laminated all pieces for durability:<br /><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAGp-_snt3VKwiw8bILk9QQ0Fr87fJmNw4ys8_lRiRePeATn1eRf4txf2LAmxaYPgW1cw11sPQG08htQvrsAuyZ6clMY_HcOXcvGwgx-urY37u_faSBD750QHprjZJuakO2CR7gM8fSALm/s1600/July+2011+123.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 233px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629006981206339730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAGp-_snt3VKwiw8bILk9QQ0Fr87fJmNw4ys8_lRiRePeATn1eRf4txf2LAmxaYPgW1cw11sPQG08htQvrsAuyZ6clMY_HcOXcvGwgx-urY37u_faSBD750QHprjZJuakO2CR7gM8fSALm/s320/July+2011+123.JPG" /></a> Here is a peek at some of the cards:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh8M_4DRc5yIcZKZJIBVMCf1UjedLvmD-eOc_kNEkqUkdTuivJPi5wEh3nPUvKn9jgx2W38SybVTkh1BQEM8wIfCozs47-iOwA7lVNTPBgOvQhyoJAYpP6yzTn_4ZQhIroHmDxJ0DnlyPD/s1600/July+2011+128.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 275px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629006988284134258" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh8M_4DRc5yIcZKZJIBVMCf1UjedLvmD-eOc_kNEkqUkdTuivJPi5wEh3nPUvKn9jgx2W38SybVTkh1BQEM8wIfCozs47-iOwA7lVNTPBgOvQhyoJAYpP6yzTn_4ZQhIroHmDxJ0DnlyPD/s320/July+2011+128.JPG" /></a> I will be sharing more photos and information about this system on the MemoryWorks blog on July 29th -- stay tuned!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Now that you've seen my projects...keep on hoppin' to the other MemoryWorks TeamWorks participants' blogs!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="http://memoryworksblog.blogspot.com/">MemoryWorks</a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="http://laceybugcreations.blogspot.com">Lacey</a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="http://www.thedesperatescrapper.blogspot.com/">Sheri</a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="http://susan-nichols.blogspot.com/">Susan</a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="http://www.thescrapyardrose.com">Jade</a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="http://creatinginreallife.blogspot.com">Sandy</a> (YOU ARE HERE)</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="http://mykreativepursuits.blogspot.com/">Lisa</a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="http://kellyrholbrook.blogspot.com/">Kelly</a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="http://ascrappersmemoir.blogspot.com/">Sharon</a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="http://www.snippetsofme.net/">Sarah J.</a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="http://christymusack.blogspot.com/">Christy</a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="http://www.simple-stories.com">Simple Stories</a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Be sure to leave a comment at each stop on the Hop to earn more entries towards the Grand Prize Giveaway! </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Thanks for stopping by!</div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com57tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5556634502898296064.post-50293552906581865182011-04-28T08:27:00.007-06:002011-04-28T09:09:24.185-06:00Simple Stories: Destinations BLOG HOP!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglE3SQnZ1uKkqQP2rx2LCN95Z67jIYLhq77fDLcpnMOmOuH114QpXjD4V1c69X-lSPHwxIgaFJ1XtAjqDhj0LtEW4LdTeER2CXFu6sA082uz_IojcKqJgZ9yRHKOp59WBXRHJArilyKY3F/s1600/MW+Destinations+logo.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 255px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglE3SQnZ1uKkqQP2rx2LCN95Z67jIYLhq77fDLcpnMOmOuH114QpXjD4V1c69X-lSPHwxIgaFJ1XtAjqDhj0LtEW4LdTeER2CXFu6sA082uz_IojcKqJgZ9yRHKOp59WBXRHJArilyKY3F/s400/MW+Destinations+logo.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600641820579677026" /></a>Welcome! The net is indeed a-hoppin' today while the MemoryWorks TeamWorks design team rolls out the red carpet for the new Simple Stories: Destinations line! I love the bold, classy look of this line and had a lot of fun designing with it!<div><br /></div><div>I challenged myself to to take this line in two directions -- first, to "go with it" and make a layout using the line in a more expected, muted way:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJE3B6_lXsqWalpQJlzvYVmIylcyBDqOSK0P4568wfLCvZIsKB3nI-gvG7loA6MEvJG71FKH1F6kK8RP321txrYY3Uq4A_-jisl5_ZR6Bu9oYJe1GKdm2qmJFqx0Z0DShujGJauYu6NPkM/s1600/DSCF6330.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJE3B6_lXsqWalpQJlzvYVmIylcyBDqOSK0P4568wfLCvZIsKB3nI-gvG7loA6MEvJG71FKH1F6kK8RP321txrYY3Uq4A_-jisl5_ZR6Bu9oYJe1GKdm2qmJFqx0Z0DShujGJauYu6NPkM/s320/DSCF6330.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600641653201493346" /></a>The included clear overlays make it easy (and mess-free!) to add a little extra touch to a photo. Here I trimmed up a sticker from the Destinations sticker sheet and slid it under the overlay for some added color:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXJsnm5-5ed9f33kpQE6zAuX1BmqkYs9rExMaFTiJKd7OSyzykC9fkKEb3ItLeqBcZFuvzLQ7eq95mGcIWskpu7nHDtuixdwQ53AAkDn-jkzvHX5wt891tM7EBmNPplbzm6fJqFUrMWqaQ/s1600/DSCF6333.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXJsnm5-5ed9f33kpQE6zAuX1BmqkYs9rExMaFTiJKd7OSyzykC9fkKEb3ItLeqBcZFuvzLQ7eq95mGcIWskpu7nHDtuixdwQ53AAkDn-jkzvHX5wt891tM7EBmNPplbzm6fJqFUrMWqaQ/s320/DSCF6333.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600641641257702098" /></a>Pop dots and a little twine turn flat stickers into 3-D embellishments!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-tMklH1HpWOcrxtYg-zxmGFDmszuSSgy3Gz-hZ1tzKMcObHooH4KW4UWaULkx3WFQ1I2iIND9EapNcSI1pMwEEJOsWxnPTWmUATFwPeRfNSJjPEjJIXNf-MJoReJNMuVNCYNArS7Rkcze/s1600/DSCF6332.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-tMklH1HpWOcrxtYg-zxmGFDmszuSSgy3Gz-hZ1tzKMcObHooH4KW4UWaULkx3WFQ1I2iIND9EapNcSI1pMwEEJOsWxnPTWmUATFwPeRfNSJjPEjJIXNf-MJoReJNMuVNCYNArS7Rkcze/s320/DSCF6332.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600641637558800002" /></a><b><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>"Family - Our Journey Together" Layout</b> -all materials from Simple Stories: Destinations kit, plus one piece of black cardstoc</span>k</span></div></b></div><div><br /></div><div>For the second layout, I decided to brighten things up and take the kit elements in a more playful direction. I borrowed a few items from the March MemoryWorks Express kit to brighten things up a little:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ_7MuwOPJkukFqsYXIG0Lyi92BsnWOd3g8vDVK68qm0u0LJ_XSPg9-UC4S4rSeWBIY2sVuo9gEHP6kf9hNwGXd_RNugkPeNXd2XgEP_iYIf6-Qm6CN5A31D76HM_MGL09nnCML-nKVbEA/s1600/DSCF6334.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 314px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ_7MuwOPJkukFqsYXIG0Lyi92BsnWOd3g8vDVK68qm0u0LJ_XSPg9-UC4S4rSeWBIY2sVuo9gEHP6kf9hNwGXd_RNugkPeNXd2XgEP_iYIf6-Qm6CN5A31D76HM_MGL09nnCML-nKVbEA/s320/DSCF6334.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600641196720648658" /></a>Again, a couple of pop dots go a long way in adding texture and dimension to stickers!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTltixmD6yilPopsKdx0oSVasiAWjbuDzMRQeTMEhlJDTEVyX08PG7gR7FrVlZsZY833oJvu2mUunUeBhQO4pxKwNaIIFo7UXoR2oUBv2oDhAoI7S71V0jsR6TjF1Cpl_d6uJSvC5nrxuS/s1600/DSCF6335.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTltixmD6yilPopsKdx0oSVasiAWjbuDzMRQeTMEhlJDTEVyX08PG7gR7FrVlZsZY833oJvu2mUunUeBhQO4pxKwNaIIFo7UXoR2oUBv2oDhAoI7S71V0jsR6TjF1Cpl_d6uJSvC5nrxuS/s320/DSCF6335.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600641189362798034" /></a>The multi-colored stickers in the Destinations kit are easy to incorporate in all kinds of layouts and color schemes:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ1DP6xMT9GNX69F7E-7X3Qs1lubAv0lmzfrFAtKfAkDm3DVKjdALXlTv9DE7aWQKpTX9wjvhLMktuljrI5Fl5Czo4Ih4OodD6ur4UMRHuVERxXK29sIep7OPZEBF4QGUd-Qvf7L1Lepjj/s1600/DSCF6336.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ1DP6xMT9GNX69F7E-7X3Qs1lubAv0lmzfrFAtKfAkDm3DVKjdALXlTv9DE7aWQKpTX9wjvhLMktuljrI5Fl5Czo4Ih4OodD6ur4UMRHuVERxXK29sIep7OPZEBF4QGUd-Qvf7L1Lepjj/s320/DSCF6336.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600641183077973458" /></a><b><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span">"Play" Layout Materials Used:</span></b></span></div></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">*Simple Stories: Destinations paper, stickers and journaling cards</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">*Jenni Bowlin Studio Flag Banner stickers</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">*Bella Road "Table Cloth" paper</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">*Webster's Pages "Spring Market" paper</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">*twin</span>e</div><div><br /></div><div>I put together this is a little travel journal for a design challenge on the MemoryWorks Consultant Studio message board:</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwdUzfeK_Xu9KPhyUP7BfAwEy8bQfjvUa-tik4FVbPo_dovAl7unyWVxnYAp40QpoUK4tLOSUWMRL_gBoiVVEPiHUsqtVK5_w8wxW7Vg7V_WQuFoiD79koAhW1avtyjqjBIdxmXOXsLpju/s1600/DSCF6337.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 275px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwdUzfeK_Xu9KPhyUP7BfAwEy8bQfjvUa-tik4FVbPo_dovAl7unyWVxnYAp40QpoUK4tLOSUWMRL_gBoiVVEPiHUsqtVK5_w8wxW7Vg7V_WQuFoiD79koAhW1avtyjqjBIdxmXOXsLpju/s320/DSCF6337.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600641177945610114" /></a>This is a fun, quick project - simply cover a small notebook with paper and embellish with a couple strips of paper and a few stickers - everything you need is in the kit, already matching perfectly! Punch holes through the front and back cover, add a few eyelets to strengthen the holes, and thread a piece of ribbon through them to keep the book closed. That's all there is to it! If you're feeing particularly tricky, you can cover a few inside pages and add tabs for dividers, as I did here:</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ1xGsuj9PZNT-lLPFdTyZRZH5agyb8bPYvy1CKYwd9qat3YxoWJlIPiTjtmiJ-Gt5YrqPHJWbb_t_onq5EGv8_FP0jLmpbV9X-OoDMi2yfBq9kUBpug08sWcDukOlkImayi-etpqAUqm-/s1600/DSCF6340.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ1xGsuj9PZNT-lLPFdTyZRZH5agyb8bPYvy1CKYwd9qat3YxoWJlIPiTjtmiJ-Gt5YrqPHJWbb_t_onq5EGv8_FP0jLmpbV9X-OoDMi2yfBq9kUBpug08sWcDukOlkImayi-etpqAUqm-/s320/DSCF6340.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600641173970304738" /></a>I plan to stick this little guy in the glovebox of my car to jot down little notes, memories, etc.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>Travel Journal materials</b>: twill ribbon, all other materials from Destinations kit</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><i>Be sure to check out all the other TeamWorks members Destinations projects today! A grand prize will be chosen from ALL comments left on all of the listed blogs, so be sure to leave lots of love all around- the more you comment, the better your chances of winning the prize!</i></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><i>Blog Hop Destinations:</i></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; "><ol style="font-size: 13px; "><li style="text-align: left;margin-left: 15px; "><a href="http://memoryworksblog.blogspot.com/">MemoryWorks Blog</a> </li><li style="text-align: left;margin-left: 15px; "><a href="http://laceybugcreations.blogspot.com/">Lacey Ig</a>o </li><li style="text-align: left;margin-left: 15px; "><a href="http://susan-nichols.blogspot.com/">Susan Nichols</a> </li><li style="text-align: left;margin-left: 15px; "><a href="http://scrappindanielle.blogspot.com/">Danielle Hunter</a> </li><li style="text-align: left;margin-left: 15px; "><a href="http://ascrappersmemoir.blogspot.com/">Sharon Hil</a>l </li><li style="text-align: left;margin-left: 15px; "><a href="http://www.thedesperatescrapper.blogspot.com/">Sheri Feypel </a></li><li style="text-align: left;margin-left: 15px; "><a href="http://kellyrholbrook.blogspot.com/">Kelly Holbrook</a> </li><li style="text-align: left;margin-left: 15px; "><a href="http://sadiescraps.blogspot.com/">Sarah Crawford</a></li><li style="text-align: left;margin-left: 15px; "><a href="http://www.snippetsofme.net/">Sarah Jimerson</a> </li><li style="text-align: left;margin-left: 15px; "><a href="http://creatinginreallife.blogspot.com/">Sandy Zent</a> (YOU ARE HERE!)</li><li style="text-align: left;margin-left: 15px; "><a href="http://simplestories.typepad.com/">Simple Stories</a> </li></ol><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span">(By the way...if you're new to "blog hopping", all you do is visit each of the above listed blogs and leave a comment in their Simple Stories: Destinations post. Have fun looking around and getting inspired!)</span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>Thanks for stopping by!</b></span></div></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com57tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5556634502898296064.post-1517952025537832212011-04-26T18:30:00.003-06:002011-04-26T19:25:35.932-06:00Somebody is making stuff again...There are many types of creativity, some of which I have, some of which I don't. <div><br /></div><div>I "Don't":</div><div>*Paint anything more complicated than a single color at a time</div><div>*Successfully make up new recipes, although I keep trying...sorry family...</div><div>*Have much luck sewing clothing without a pattern, although, sadly, I still try</div><div>*Have the "eye" for seeing future greatness in random ugly objects unless I have a specific project in mind and find exactly what I'm looking for.</div><div><br /></div><div>My mother-in-law, on the other hand, is very adept at all four of these things - especially the last one. MY creativity is more like - give me a defined pile of stuff and I can make something out of it or show me a picture and I'll find my own way to copy it. HER creativity is more visionary - she can go into a thrift store, craft store or garage sale and pick out cool things that need a makeover, <i>without knowing ahead of time what she's going to do with them. </i>When she comes up with a cool project idea, she usually has just what she needs in her stash at home somewhere. She has the EYE!<div><i><br /></i></div><div>I am so jealous of this.</div><div><br /></div><div>This weekend, I got to pick through some destined-to-be-garage-saled items at my in-laws house and picked up a couple of "projects". I told her that I wanted to make a tray with glass jars on it for my laundry room. She presented me with this:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqdRAe83GycSS5xyYH729xY7NsFBtZqvF6k9WTeZpCPh5dtKw0GI_iG04k5dpELGz3cdxITIYxWl50U0mKl1CruPoNjHZuGHaXx_V4eEKvb5mrsHeFKzIfqGsNC7tZHIIGI2cbmpOh0-wj/s1600/DSCF6319.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqdRAe83GycSS5xyYH729xY7NsFBtZqvF6k9WTeZpCPh5dtKw0GI_iG04k5dpELGz3cdxITIYxWl50U0mKl1CruPoNjHZuGHaXx_V4eEKvb5mrsHeFKzIfqGsNC7tZHIIGI2cbmpOh0-wj/s320/DSCF6319.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600055423082139186" /></a>She had found it at a thrift store somewhere and bought it because she liked the shape and thought she could make something cool out of it. Unless I already knew I was looking for a tray, I would have passed right by this thing at the first sight of those, um, interesting, um, birds. She has skills, I tell you - mad skills!</div><div><br /></div><div>She also had these jars:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhikjkEe37bn12_D6V7YomVAwEu66HQVPIzeebgmu4Y9GZHUquAXodpgtMDUJjkS3gsKPbZoTx_cgN9oCQ2A3reSM-QxStHaiEBgIKgu4JkBtKiPegR7o4Ti1iiUWWY7drCjCmu2HGNxR_o/s1600/DSCF6320.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhikjkEe37bn12_D6V7YomVAwEu66HQVPIzeebgmu4Y9GZHUquAXodpgtMDUJjkS3gsKPbZoTx_cgN9oCQ2A3reSM-QxStHaiEBgIKgu4JkBtKiPegR7o4Ti1iiUWWY7drCjCmu2HGNxR_o/s320/DSCF6320.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600055414859404082" /></a>Sweet! Once I had my pile of stuff, THEN I could figure out how to be creative with it. So...in case you find an ugly tray and some cool jars and want to transform then, here is how to do it.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>You need:</b></div><div>*A Wooden tray (look for a shape/size that works - you'll be covering everything else)</div><div>*A couple sheets of coordinating patterned cardstock</div><div>*Matching acrylic paint and brush</div><div>*ModPodge and brush</div><div>*Cutting and measuring tools</div><div>*Glass jars</div><div>*Self-adhesive vinyl and cutting tool/machine (I used a Cricut Expression)</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Step 1:</b> Sand off anything that will easily come off - like gold leafing - and smooth out weird spots on the tray, perhaps turning on a Scentsy or something to mask the puzzling but unmistakable smell of vomit-laced fart coming from the tray while its being sanded (or maybe that was just MY tray...)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdqdSptV8iDlaqQdxKxLWMP5CZhPsiO9BltSPiB1sekIB9h7g6FvE2bx-m1LifUVZswzXJ_rgHAgztCo3uboO-xyT_xc3_L1lf4i0B_-7dklu-Jp6Rc1j0sAxv6BTaDFUuBM_hELK129mC/s1600/DSCF6321.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdqdSptV8iDlaqQdxKxLWMP5CZhPsiO9BltSPiB1sekIB9h7g6FvE2bx-m1LifUVZswzXJ_rgHAgztCo3uboO-xyT_xc3_L1lf4i0B_-7dklu-Jp6Rc1j0sAxv6BTaDFUuBM_hELK129mC/s320/DSCF6321.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600055408911042994" /></a><b>Step 2:</b> Paint a couple coats of acrylic paint over the parts of the tray that may show when you're done. Marvel at your amazing paintery skills (seriously, this is as tricky as my painting gets):<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUjy3aN6qoq_BqS8UMHp7qXpDiZMbJWXx4NJ23228xLwecDS_eUoHRILSJt7kENjFrgFnwHcbUJKo80g-uDGa1icjJhojSApwU7Bp-idLzVOMdFz-jSYwqofOWkKw03ICUe8nGZT5AwMMf/s1600/DSCF6322.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUjy3aN6qoq_BqS8UMHp7qXpDiZMbJWXx4NJ23228xLwecDS_eUoHRILSJt7kENjFrgFnwHcbUJKo80g-uDGa1icjJhojSApwU7Bp-idLzVOMdFz-jSYwqofOWkKw03ICUe8nGZT5AwMMf/s320/DSCF6322.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600055401542353618" /></a><b>Step 3</b>: Spend several minutes testing your two rolls of black vinyl to try and figure out which one has permanent adhesive on the back and which one is repositionable. Kick yourself for not labeling them 4 months ago when the order arrived. Break out the Cricut and cut out the vinyl:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdt1udSU-TrH8ZvVlMWQ_MK5AxOOQcQkacvGiFeKQoDA5QtmHIV6dWblW-R5ZXWMudMmvBeqSL5-uq3Cuyg9LEV3lG0xEkkOCbjDpCCmgKbjqjxBNBla8c3_SOwW6KLkEf5OhLYnFgt6Iw/s1600/DSCF6323.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdt1udSU-TrH8ZvVlMWQ_MK5AxOOQcQkacvGiFeKQoDA5QtmHIV6dWblW-R5ZXWMudMmvBeqSL5-uq3Cuyg9LEV3lG0xEkkOCbjDpCCmgKbjqjxBNBla8c3_SOwW6KLkEf5OhLYnFgt6Iw/s320/DSCF6323.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600055395714657042" /></a><b>Step 4:</b> Measure and cut your patterned paper to fit the parts of the tray where they will belong. This was a little tricky for the curved parts and I have no words of wisdom on how to do that other than, try tracing the bottom of the tray and measure carefully.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Step 5</b>: Adhere paper to all sections of tray using ModPodge. Apply several coats to the top of the paper, allowing to dry between coats. Kick yourself for not using the "anti-bubbling trick" of coating one side of the paper with ModPodge and letting it dry and THEN adhering to the tray to avoid all the bubbles, creases and pulls you actually ended up with.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSnuUHu6bpOJo06OCtcMCZdIZlNnx2nl4OWnXNSje2sAelmUayrdZD7gFb9IH_i896786_RDkQBJPTPSJ81sJxKZOju9BpA45g_-pQs8nIytc7oFwVpQ2695kArVLNVG3EMLACHK35zNMh/s1600/DSCF6324.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSnuUHu6bpOJo06OCtcMCZdIZlNnx2nl4OWnXNSje2sAelmUayrdZD7gFb9IH_i896786_RDkQBJPTPSJ81sJxKZOju9BpA45g_-pQs8nIytc7oFwVpQ2695kArVLNVG3EMLACHK35zNMh/s320/DSCF6324.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600055195064293890" /></a><b>Step 6</b>: Apply vinyl lettering to jars (which have been carefully washed with vinegar and water and dried). Fill jars with whatever you've got waiting for them:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwx2UdvsTTUaN_QyYFXk_0phidj6D1Zq49rWMLVNlsdtTpgux92Qw3E-ydqUSK6qNMLPftVojrPRxVOJ1icZeZrRCL8EhlYTGvzHEudzJRWx7qWOYVrWDAtx3Ho8eQ0taM1DYOQuVrS4SZ/s1600/DSCF6325.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwx2UdvsTTUaN_QyYFXk_0phidj6D1Zq49rWMLVNlsdtTpgux92Qw3E-ydqUSK6qNMLPftVojrPRxVOJ1icZeZrRCL8EhlYTGvzHEudzJRWx7qWOYVrWDAtx3Ho8eQ0taM1DYOQuVrS4SZ/s320/DSCF6325.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600055189896833410" /></a><b>Step 7</b>: Decide that you have too many jars on the tray and lament the fact that you can barely see the cute patterned paper on the inside.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyStEMGoRsRJpK5W6y6RO3lgl4HYfTL7L72MoyqmV7UziDBwC0-lBiB5lwCYzn5hkrvH8mL8e_NvPkH3eulIngoqPP9KOubz_uMOzZNcS6ifjW_cJtvcs6e2ES25NCmlrxC-zulwtAhzL_/s1600/DSCF6326.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyStEMGoRsRJpK5W6y6RO3lgl4HYfTL7L72MoyqmV7UziDBwC0-lBiB5lwCYzn5hkrvH8mL8e_NvPkH3eulIngoqPP9KOubz_uMOzZNcS6ifjW_cJtvcs6e2ES25NCmlrxC-zulwtAhzL_/s320/DSCF6326.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600055182543508178" /></a><b>Step 8</b>: Remove one jar and put it on a shelf somewhere else. Strategically place two dryer balls on the tray:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRRC9h2jvp0PiS1_B7bifmt_y_b1QmndwTN0bhxFFywfQGuWzD-1M_HG63CSfP_yF6yKOiamR6YCybLaLu8ee1JMLZX2jNleQh_9kNmU0tYjhFt9stUTBzWwNdQucFkBrsFNIBigDUyJXY/s1600/DSCF6327.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRRC9h2jvp0PiS1_B7bifmt_y_b1QmndwTN0bhxFFywfQGuWzD-1M_HG63CSfP_yF6yKOiamR6YCybLaLu8ee1JMLZX2jNleQh_9kNmU0tYjhFt9stUTBzWwNdQucFkBrsFNIBigDUyJXY/s320/DSCF6327.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600055174854157186" /></a><b>Step 9:</b> Step back and admire your work...and then realize that your cute decoration doesn't really help the fact that the rest of the room is completely unfinished. More projects, right??<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglpsb7HL2lx19Ge1LD4HTzrXgf1gQGM4N-ERhQgmXER8HdAwGfMSO7DxTYstCNxbouwnFhKScJj0lYBEzkfU8tmnld8pnQ0t7LFrWL1JhRnjUGujgzS0e-HUIhQ_cu0GthUowEzG_IVq8H/s1600/DSCF6328.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglpsb7HL2lx19Ge1LD4HTzrXgf1gQGM4N-ERhQgmXER8HdAwGfMSO7DxTYstCNxbouwnFhKScJj0lYBEzkfU8tmnld8pnQ0t7LFrWL1JhRnjUGujgzS0e-HUIhQ_cu0GthUowEzG_IVq8H/s320/DSCF6328.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600055169974454018" /></a><br /></div><div>Wow - its hard to stage a cute photo for my project when there is nothing but a plain painted wall and a dusty washer and dryer. Oh well, this blog is about creating in REAL life, right?!</div><div><br /></div><div>Now that I am healthier, have successfully birthed another baby and am starting to feel like I have energy to do more than nurse, eat, sleep and do the occasional load of laundry, I plan on doing more creating and blogging! Definitely check back on Thursday because I will be one stop on the MemoryWorks Simple Stories: Destinations Blog Hop! That means - more projects! See ya then!</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5556634502898296064.post-14424780698660335412010-09-24T07:54:00.003-06:002010-09-24T07:56:21.023-06:00Summer layoutsCheck out a couple of fun summer layouts by yours truly on the <a href="http://memoryworksblog.blogspot.com/2010/09/so-long-summer.html">MemoryWorks blog</a> today!<br /><br />Thank you to everyone who participated in the MW blog hop last week...and for all your kind comments!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5556634502898296064.post-4714848660245639312010-09-14T08:11:00.006-06:002010-09-14T08:36:57.125-06:00Welcome Blog Hoppers!Today the MemoryWorks team is celebrating MemoryWorks newest, exclusive Simple Stories line - ele.ment.ary! Ironically it's Back To School night in our town tonight, so I guess I am now in the mood for some school products and projects!<br /><br />Make sure you start the blog hop at <a href="http://www.memoryworksblog.blogspot.com/">http://www.memoryworksblog.blogspot.com/</a> for complete rules and the list of ALL the blogs to visit today...you must visit and comment on EACH of these blogs to be eligible for prizes today - good luck!<br /><br />If you are unfamiliar with the Simple Stories system, take a look<a href="http://simplestories.typepad.com/simple-stories/about-simple-stories.html"> here</a>. Simple Stories is a quick, easy and innovative way to get your photos scrapbooked without stress...and still have your scrapbooks look spectacular, regardless of your skill level!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ZW7eXgHn01rOMatcCHbt6le7DgMtZREfAwaemiQ-s-RDybbVedhhwpOYDlCWPELqBJntAQlDvKnKGo4sWUn9ZjPZgiQ6wIqUnyRIbJ2e84IyNRRytmFVHEGD9BKxOodQh3wVz91DZGlL/s1600/ss+elem.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ZW7eXgHn01rOMatcCHbt6le7DgMtZREfAwaemiQ-s-RDybbVedhhwpOYDlCWPELqBJntAQlDvKnKGo4sWUn9ZjPZgiQ6wIqUnyRIbJ2e84IyNRRytmFVHEGD9BKxOodQh3wVz91DZGlL/s320/ss+elem.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516772928934866690" border="0" /></a>The Simple Stories lines are also GREAT for traditional scrapbook pages as well...in fact, I combine the two strategies in my scrapbooks.<br /><br />Here are a couple of cards made from ele.ment.ary elements:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0r-Bwa4IH3NxcJ7SZWMqkZcCPzSBrHFwOFW7_BY8j1RE9ufufWzokzkMCHxW3-cGlK97GjgjCbA2ybLW5wanypyJ-0WcFO9OUYunZnmFWLe4skWyUwaRWxQBEHGSx3bYAbHfPOcwErgCF/s1600/Sep+14+2010+002.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 218px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0r-Bwa4IH3NxcJ7SZWMqkZcCPzSBrHFwOFW7_BY8j1RE9ufufWzokzkMCHxW3-cGlK97GjgjCbA2ybLW5wanypyJ-0WcFO9OUYunZnmFWLe4skWyUwaRWxQBEHGSx3bYAbHfPOcwErgCF/s320/Sep+14+2010+002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516772379468741266" border="0" /></a>(the following card is what I call a "lunchbox mini"...using the same basic design as the above card)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhcnt1bJzN_PAqC4vfDirCvg52G2ug2-YB5HBNoAVdcdqCBiB_9Z3Ejn6pc2ps9r9wAgi5ysE-S_B9L0KnDlq0j53TPmQLrgm7Sa-iqsLt3ZvyRgPoYK0lhtYgwAFOsArxroz9M5lo4s7X/s1600/Sep+14+2010+004.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 238px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhcnt1bJzN_PAqC4vfDirCvg52G2ug2-YB5HBNoAVdcdqCBiB_9Z3Ejn6pc2ps9r9wAgi5ysE-S_B9L0KnDlq0j53TPmQLrgm7Sa-iqsLt3ZvyRgPoYK0lhtYgwAFOsArxroz9M5lo4s7X/s320/Sep+14+2010+004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516772357531307922" border="0" /></a>Here is a traditional, non-school-themed layout using the ele.ment.ary elements and paper:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRGfvwQBD5Jx95Z-Mt-9Y8FNqEcX5iZcL4Vaw9dBxDbvN7Z9BzgxdUp42HeGW6r5hs0uUrqPlRINZS9TZx1AXNa3aGcimqr3IqY8breQ3fnko9KvfJqxk0F-HJG_72zEHHZfhq8J0IUw-b/s1600/S+Zent+SS-EL+Become+you+layout.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 311px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRGfvwQBD5Jx95Z-Mt-9Y8FNqEcX5iZcL4Vaw9dBxDbvN7Z9BzgxdUp42HeGW6r5hs0uUrqPlRINZS9TZx1AXNa3aGcimqr3IqY8breQ3fnko9KvfJqxk0F-HJG_72zEHHZfhq8J0IUw-b/s320/S+Zent+SS-EL+Become+you+layout.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516772189931717826" border="0" /></a>The following layouts are pages that will go in my daughter's K-12 school album. I plan on purchasing an album, ele.ment.ary kit and divided page protectors for each of my children and pre-making their school albums. As the years go by, I can just slip in the appropriate pictures - the work will already be done! For once I'll have a set of albums that I'm not BEHIND on! :)<br /><br />My plan is to have a "summary" page in the front of each album highlighting wallet-sized pictures from each grade K-12:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRTqExsJuV0RC8CGP6hVGWThKa8Ynq5ThOhyphenhyphenlisBheiBPsF3IM-04ESNW1Oxw07417ypm9bjw0Q70x-22QOL1mK9CctFPTu8gbiQo6lMDIX-675F7sp_TLhXD6EeLEEMxzmqRXe8oi5tkM/s1600/S+Zent+SS-EL+K-12+layout+close-up.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRTqExsJuV0RC8CGP6hVGWThKa8Ynq5ThOhyphenhyphenlisBheiBPsF3IM-04ESNW1Oxw07417ypm9bjw0Q70x-22QOL1mK9CctFPTu8gbiQo6lMDIX-675F7sp_TLhXD6EeLEEMxzmqRXe8oi5tkM/s320/S+Zent+SS-EL+K-12+layout+close-up.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516772160756983122" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNJgJa0B8LRjLBymxMXSH0PGdVO0lgmmJ6okHat0K8vvXPI3tqDY3x8EX90G10KqkQIn0QiEm2KyQEVM86hSAkL45k31X-jljskH3n0Rwn1yAXqRByKDJBfJ9fAbUrHodgJh98WGHwbE2q/s1600/S+Zent+SS-EL+K-12+layout.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 318px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNJgJa0B8LRjLBymxMXSH0PGdVO0lgmmJ6okHat0K8vvXPI3tqDY3x8EX90G10KqkQIn0QiEm2KyQEVM86hSAkL45k31X-jljskH3n0Rwn1yAXqRByKDJBfJ9fAbUrHodgJh98WGHwbE2q/s320/S+Zent+SS-EL+K-12+layout.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516772108097526610" border="0" /></a>Then each grade will have a "title page" with a large school photo on the front:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyx9i9HfkUJEnzLK2Tt1EIOoAIv2xEV-egH33e4DcRurKZwxCRYFMFS-3RxepE8bid_o6-3vYpXfVgEq7jkZNTKWLF8vjjXW6bku_Jzv6zwIZwPjfir4JvnIdfb1NBCo3mlWTVtMnEzGtM/s1600/S+Zent+SS-EL+1st+grade+layout+closeup.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyx9i9HfkUJEnzLK2Tt1EIOoAIv2xEV-egH33e4DcRurKZwxCRYFMFS-3RxepE8bid_o6-3vYpXfVgEq7jkZNTKWLF8vjjXW6bku_Jzv6zwIZwPjfir4JvnIdfb1NBCo3mlWTVtMnEzGtM/s320/S+Zent+SS-EL+1st+grade+layout+closeup.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516772099995200882" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4M_XCC7PPjy-G5RLv6D0XdMhqaQ4POCndDfaJ-r1oFhoHFG8Akd3UqW8rcArpRAdEn7FeEoTnKwhpLWlw5AQU5TtOSY239Nsaqjexq-ZV7yANrXA7fqdM0Emq_g1AQYgdCPmw6nNB7yAG/s1600/S+Zent+SS-EL+1st+grade+layout.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 318px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4M_XCC7PPjy-G5RLv6D0XdMhqaQ4POCndDfaJ-r1oFhoHFG8Akd3UqW8rcArpRAdEn7FeEoTnKwhpLWlw5AQU5TtOSY239Nsaqjexq-ZV7yANrXA7fqdM0Emq_g1AQYgdCPmw6nNB7yAG/s320/S+Zent+SS-EL+1st+grade+layout.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516772092193840850" border="0" /></a>Behind each of these, will be the divided page protectors - one set for each grade. All I have to do is slip important pictures in the slots, perhaps with a journaling card or two...and I'm done! Couldn't be easier! You can check out some of the layouts I created with the first Simple Stories system (Life Documented) in the divided page protectors <a href="http://creatinginreallife.blogspot.com/2010/01/ive-totally-been-making-stuff.html">HERE </a>(scroll down a bit - they're towards the bottom of the post).<br /><br />I hope after checking out all these blogs today, that you'll be inspired to check out the Simple Stories system for yourself! You won't be disappointed! If you're interested in more information about the Simple Stories line, or wish to purchase it yourself...those who already know me can order on my <a href="http://sandyzent.memory-works.com/">website</a> or you can find your local MemoryWorks consultant <a href="http://www.memory-works.com/admin/index.mhtml?page=findaconsultant">HERE</a>.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">NEXT ON YOUR BLOG HOP LIST</span>: <span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:medium;">Go visit Mary at </span><a href="http://thecareerscrapper.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:medium;"> http://thecareerscrapper.blogspot.com</span></a></span><br /><br />Don't forget to leave comments at each blog you visit to qualify for prizes! Thanks for stopping by!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com58tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5556634502898296064.post-87768762635167874532010-05-26T19:47:00.004-06:002010-05-26T19:50:42.251-06:00Mini-Album...Maxi-Blog-Avoidance...I know, I know...BAD BLOGGER! I HAVE been making stuff, just not posting things...for now, check out the MemoryWorks blog for a fun, <a href="http://memoryworksblog.blogspot.com/2010/05/where-i-live-school-is-out-for-summer.html">very cheap project</a> I put together this week, as well as a <a href="http://memoryworksblog.blogspot.com/2010/05/chomp-away.html">tool review.</a> By way of disclaimer, I did not receive the tool for free, so you can trust that I really like it, haha!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5556634502898296064.post-51273671144505685762010-02-16T12:03:00.006-07:002010-02-16T12:47:26.538-07:00Help save the planet AND look like a Super Mom, all with one easy project!Anyone out there need a Super Mom project? You know...the type that::<br /><br />a.)you can finish in one sitting (eliminating Project-Starter-Never-Finisher Guilt),<br />b.) Uses up project scraps or recycled materials so you can feel like a Stick-to-it-Budgeter,<br />c.) Helps throw a little something at the "Good intentions in my mind don't help the planet" guilt, and<br />d.) Can make you look like a snazzy, trendy, with-it green parent to all those who don't know it only took you 30 minutes to whip you the project?<br /><br />Yeah? You're in? Well, here you go --<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJKs_pdQp72GWbvIeGJaa2tdPQ84oQCMB94usoEUyoupCi0_9srNTI7lGEZQ4SrZhjJo-u6DxPSE6p0mKfRrUP_tvdsELWgMhn8veQtU3qyiasof7lRb2ZsOJSt2KfY_csN8M6Er7frMdh/s1600-h/feb+15+2010+002.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJKs_pdQp72GWbvIeGJaa2tdPQ84oQCMB94usoEUyoupCi0_9srNTI7lGEZQ4SrZhjJo-u6DxPSE6p0mKfRrUP_tvdsELWgMhn8veQtU3qyiasof7lRb2ZsOJSt2KfY_csN8M6Er7frMdh/s320/feb+15+2010+002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438920930497879586" border="0" /></a>Washable sandwich and snack bags! (Homemade bread and non-homemade banana chips optional...but if you pack your cute bags with some sort of homemade item...you get double points in the "cool" department!)<br /><br />Now I absolutely did NOT make this idea up. Lots of people make them. Lots of people sell them. Lots of people make and sell much cuter, much more finished-looking bags than mine. But my method is ridiculously fast and does the job - so I'm opting for that.<br /><br />You can make these out of whatever you want - I used quilting fabric (from my slowly shrinking fat quarter stash) for the outsides (but wouldn't some fabric from old jeans or something be cool?) and some leftover ProCare fabric from my diaper-making stash. You absolutely don't have to use waterproof fabric like ProCare or PUL for your lining, but it is helpful if you have children like mine who love to add things to their lunches like honey sandwiches and washed but not dried carrot sticks. I will justify the use of this non-organic, probably non-biodegradable manmade plastic fabric by saying that if I didn't use it, I would end up doing a lot more backpack and diaperbag washing....<br /><br />I used Ziploc bags (sandwich size and snack size) as a pattern - just cut them open, lay them flat and trace on your fabric. Once you get comfy with that, you can start making bags any size you want, based on what scraps you have.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT7pjXYw57ynIiDF5OS159oWZgAT4P_pnCIcbcY5L2RtFk8yqUcf4P4aU8Lp-z5yrWMsbLkRmwUQT-aIVXkWq5_4Y2YTl4l7ieFXAk3FYYwT3mlPDNA-jbckUrR4fC21PZVCAGc0ZiGNJV/s1600-h/feb+15+2010+014.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT7pjXYw57ynIiDF5OS159oWZgAT4P_pnCIcbcY5L2RtFk8yqUcf4P4aU8Lp-z5yrWMsbLkRmwUQT-aIVXkWq5_4Y2YTl4l7ieFXAk3FYYwT3mlPDNA-jbckUrR4fC21PZVCAGc0ZiGNJV/s320/feb+15+2010+014.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438919843598185842" border="0" /></a>For each bag you need a piece of outer fabric and a piece of liner fabric, cut to the same size. Make sure your piece are big enough to fold in half to become the bag! You also need a piece of velcro/hook-and-loop that is the same width as your fabric. I cut my 1 1/2" diaper velcro in half to make 3/4" wide velcro...but I could have gone even narrower with the same results.<br /><br />FIRST...put your outer and liner fabrics, right sides together, and sew across the two ends (serger or sewing machine) that will become the top of the bag:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVKSk64cgMW0176jnCABxNp83v_niqr3r3eY5ksalZ7-KjgQgNierU6MS8aLtUZ-QNjghsT5Zfapa_8HdexoUvFSevCh4IgHRoNd6lsxaDuMH1RVRV0s1401Tr4kVfBvg8KX8-u5IABfKx/s1600-h/feb+15+2010+015.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVKSk64cgMW0176jnCABxNp83v_niqr3r3eY5ksalZ7-KjgQgNierU6MS8aLtUZ-QNjghsT5Zfapa_8HdexoUvFSevCh4IgHRoNd6lsxaDuMH1RVRV0s1401Tr4kVfBvg8KX8-u5IABfKx/s320/feb+15+2010+015.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438919830999851202" border="0" /></a>You will end up with a tube that looks like this:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Om6V-EBl00R8WQONnx4hfuF_oxrRb-siqRwEEpnwOkjyZQ5Thp5GAW9fLIrfVLRr0dpn-CINlWsQkMG-BeadGA6JOi-Ee13Je6naEbfYQiDBLmV_f3M1kyvyCBrIOID7U6W1LqBxq5ZT/s1600-h/feb+15+2010+016.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Om6V-EBl00R8WQONnx4hfuF_oxrRb-siqRwEEpnwOkjyZQ5Thp5GAW9fLIrfVLRr0dpn-CINlWsQkMG-BeadGA6JOi-Ee13Je6naEbfYQiDBLmV_f3M1kyvyCBrIOID7U6W1LqBxq5ZT/s320/feb+15+2010+016.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438919826223763778" border="0" /></a>Flip your tube inside-out (so right sides are now showing) and finger press the seam down. You can iron it if you're a perfectionist, but DON'T iron it if you're using PUL or ProCare. Direct heat on plastic...you get the idea. On the LINING side, sew your piece of the hook side of the velcro along one seam, flip to the other end and sew the loop side of the velcro along the other seam (LINING side). Sew all around the 4 sides of each piece of velcro, making sure that the velcro goes all the way to the end of the fabric.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ucC6I7COWfCyfYOjlXc84_rWWnjdDsYW5_Se53QsIKJo_pHY3B-uKdzaGofT_ltQF1vFarUmMpWTIu3i2t8rtBAIHETkSY1VPq0xpRZ3Dd_xvwjAbpowEB8qcN64kuE0nyTmcoca83Jl/s1600-h/feb+15+2010+017.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ucC6I7COWfCyfYOjlXc84_rWWnjdDsYW5_Se53QsIKJo_pHY3B-uKdzaGofT_ltQF1vFarUmMpWTIu3i2t8rtBAIHETkSY1VPq0xpRZ3Dd_xvwjAbpowEB8qcN64kuE0nyTmcoca83Jl/s320/feb+15+2010+017.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438919812167173490" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCM4M3avO6YcW6x2Cy0Lz23-WC_z9imZT0FqnKXrN2d6pSyimS5I3HPCyi73betCmNRwOhqE3j0UJdjH4xCLQLMHD9nGZ9nJR-X6fPEr0LDeWFxDlVsasMkYgYLbmWGSRMTKdmiFJ_n4Vw/s1600-h/feb+15+2010+018.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCM4M3avO6YcW6x2Cy0Lz23-WC_z9imZT0FqnKXrN2d6pSyimS5I3HPCyi73betCmNRwOhqE3j0UJdjH4xCLQLMHD9nGZ9nJR-X6fPEr0LDeWFxDlVsasMkYgYLbmWGSRMTKdmiFJ_n4Vw/s320/feb+15+2010+018.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438919437433180642" border="0" /></a>I guess you could just put small pieces of velcro in the centers instead of all the way across, but I'd prefer my snack items to not leak crumbs everywhere, so I want that velcro sewn all the way across and into the seams!<br /><br />Next, line up your hook and loop ends and seal it shut:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOt_w9RfZUUF_-aaM9muHgUKOhYYsRPjtha8RzcZo7EHrI438-QIxa3ziW_vlXxpWBseogQ1SAA3aA6MlizILddPPdHI7cHUS0DgD1mRCRsaMhNb0R2SLu6JhulAMMY1id35ZOJ1tKouje/s1600-h/feb+15+2010+019.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOt_w9RfZUUF_-aaM9muHgUKOhYYsRPjtha8RzcZo7EHrI438-QIxa3ziW_vlXxpWBseogQ1SAA3aA6MlizILddPPdHI7cHUS0DgD1mRCRsaMhNb0R2SLu6JhulAMMY1id35ZOJ1tKouje/s320/feb+15+2010+019.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438919427394847746" border="0" /></a>Now, starting at the velcro end, just serge all your sides shut (or zig-zag if you don't have a serger...which you really should start looking for sales at WalMart for, because you can sew things very fast and furiously with a serger!). I sewed mine in a chain, so I didn't have to break to cut threads:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgapoQ2D5ijoDWddjRWRrXb8LF3GBH0KpQ1IMNLNClIIdSNNL9MF5qObio7tg-5SzBaOlMxIAzKe420Yq3Ai2GcGJ2nSIpELcJoRSYNgeWQa_SFogfGYveuRbwmTHj1O6U8VSx_7WQzyTqI/s1600-h/feb+15+2010+020.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgapoQ2D5ijoDWddjRWRrXb8LF3GBH0KpQ1IMNLNClIIdSNNL9MF5qObio7tg-5SzBaOlMxIAzKe420Yq3Ai2GcGJ2nSIpELcJoRSYNgeWQa_SFogfGYveuRbwmTHj1O6U8VSx_7WQzyTqI/s320/feb+15+2010+020.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438919416228472082" border="0" /></a>Cut all the excess thread off and get all the bags looking all trimmed and nice. The last thing to do is take each bag and sew a couple reinforcing stitches at the top (just above the velcro) so if your kids yank open the bags, they won't eventually rip open the seams. I broke 2 needles on this step before I switched to a denim needle...so I'd recommend that you switch to a denim needle to sew through all those layers:)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS4_ma8WoKxqmT3akl7lIgoFzKrjdyhoolA8o_N-vv_BzA2kBp395E3KJOOMj9_dvhyphenhyphencNc1b_cnmQMBYOvGS9tx88rwnk78CEfGyNn_Yrg3H4CB7hTW-y632WMNcarGdZSHKcZ179IvkXl/s1600-h/feb+15+2010+021.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS4_ma8WoKxqmT3akl7lIgoFzKrjdyhoolA8o_N-vv_BzA2kBp395E3KJOOMj9_dvhyphenhyphencNc1b_cnmQMBYOvGS9tx88rwnk78CEfGyNn_Yrg3H4CB7hTW-y632WMNcarGdZSHKcZ179IvkXl/s320/feb+15+2010+021.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438919408711583794" border="0" /></a>I made all these bags in an afternoon, which included stopping to feed children, put a baby down for a nap, do laundry, make a phone call, etc....but had I not been interrupted, once the pieces are all cut out, the sewing is very, very quick. If you only made ONE bag, it would literally take you 20 minutes - including threading sewing machines, cutting fabric, etc.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNOFBwas8J7IPFiShALADUnsFmMcVBy7OM3Do5YEMhVx_podgVcLSfCT8vaS6yDpbk1dArFnSfLNP_ZeiQ2fRiiVrEeJuwu-bxBCXGTBE4MUmCAg_MRoIeVV_C5SzRIODOzQ7jVGp_fell/s1600-h/feb+15+2010+022.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNOFBwas8J7IPFiShALADUnsFmMcVBy7OM3Do5YEMhVx_podgVcLSfCT8vaS6yDpbk1dArFnSfLNP_ZeiQ2fRiiVrEeJuwu-bxBCXGTBE4MUmCAg_MRoIeVV_C5SzRIODOzQ7jVGp_fell/s320/feb+15+2010+022.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438919398378498290" border="0" /></a>We are LOVING these bags so far, other than the fact that they are a little noisy to open in church...it helped to open the bag, then fold the velcro down so the baby couldn't keep shutting it and re-opening it (cuz that's fun!)...but I may need to figure out some sort of zipper/magnet/drawstring bag or something JUST for quiet places. Any ideas??<br /><br />I figured that all 24 bags I made probably cost me the same as 2 boxes of ziplocs (if I had gone out and bought all the supplies...MUCH cheaper if you use leftover stuff or recycle other fabric)- but we can keep reusing them until they fall apart, and every time you pull one out, you can think, "Dang, I'm awesome! Look how cute this is!"<br /><br />Now go sew...the planet wants you to :)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5556634502898296064.post-70538600889408771162010-02-04T08:12:00.004-07:002010-02-16T12:47:46.232-07:00Make a Valentine's Day Garland...so easy a 4 year old boy can make it!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWrGVnMiFUzkKYbGrzloRJ_GLYhLqlzTVQ6f6GPnnbr3oXbBhbPTGnp1Fe84bQiOD_N3z-ipAneqrZM__OmfD4pyBQ-ix02jQj0x0A9RK1icLxdR5g5f-EwpjlhN2Fko_iiRAbqNLfw5J5/s1600-h/feb+3+2010+002.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWrGVnMiFUzkKYbGrzloRJ_GLYhLqlzTVQ6f6GPnnbr3oXbBhbPTGnp1Fe84bQiOD_N3z-ipAneqrZM__OmfD4pyBQ-ix02jQj0x0A9RK1icLxdR5g5f-EwpjlhN2Fko_iiRAbqNLfw5J5/s320/feb+3+2010+002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434407394834601698" border="0" /></a>Yesterday my son and I decided that our house was woefully undecorated for Valentine's Day. I have my table runner (see last post) and a few heart-shaped decorations...and that's it. SO...we pulled my box of February MemoryWorks Express kit...land made this:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB18Y1t4_I3UkNyQ-hchVrXKxPE0xTwHGC0hiuF2VjYAD_7EcsmhE25ZzXpAwylObmdHOxNv98L7W6u7xQFy16oNT6v5N-X8cDvB6yMIS2ydF8NoAJPCawPz0OPMBfnVRtsEgnnf7cL0Ii/s1600-h/feb+3+2010+006.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB18Y1t4_I3UkNyQ-hchVrXKxPE0xTwHGC0hiuF2VjYAD_7EcsmhE25ZzXpAwylObmdHOxNv98L7W6u7xQFy16oNT6v5N-X8cDvB6yMIS2ydF8NoAJPCawPz0OPMBfnVRtsEgnnf7cL0Ii/s320/feb+3+2010+006.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434407169994298450" border="0" /></a>I kid you not, this took us 30 minutes! Easy as pie, and you probably have the supplies you need to make your own version at home!<br /><br />All you need:<br />*6 chipboard squares - mine were from a Fancy Pants chipboard book set (12x12 Biggest Board Book It set) - but you could even cut yours from a cardboard box if you want. They are each about 3 1/2" square, with rounded corners<br />*6 pieces of matching patterned paper - also 3 1/2" square each. I used the Crate Paper "Mia" collection - so pretty!<br />*Chipboard letters (or large letter stickers or someting) to spell out "LOVE". I used My Mind's Eye embossed chipboard<br />*Some fun things to embellish - diecuts, stickers, buttons, etc. I used some Crate Paper "Mia" glitter die-cuts, flowers from Prima and Petaloo and buttons by Creative Imaginations.<br />*You also need some ribbon...I used pink and blue sheer ribbon that I had leftover from other projects...you just need something that coordinates - and long enough pieces to tie all the letter square together AND hang it from your location of choice :)<br />*A crop-a-dile or other tool that will hole-punch through chipboard.<br /><br />Let's get started! Seriously...my 4 year old did most of the steps - so he will be my tutorial model today!<br /><br />1. Glue your paper to each square...Use a brayer or other smoothing device to get it down good and tight:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKg9keZCH4T5TEYvKOT0p8qleHOkyryackQUkXcHoaIcVUz9hfWg9Q_667Nb4p0oDKPDEHisWlOeehqgmxz-gvx6A7upDNvn__GxYAYkHDqxaHmjdg9Hn5vSf3Pf5wK79lWrT0tdnvcUV6/s1600-h/feb+3+2010+002.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKg9keZCH4T5TEYvKOT0p8qleHOkyryackQUkXcHoaIcVUz9hfWg9Q_667Nb4p0oDKPDEHisWlOeehqgmxz-gvx6A7upDNvn__GxYAYkHDqxaHmjdg9Hn5vSf3Pf5wK79lWrT0tdnvcUV6/s320/feb+3+2010+002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434406813981178466" border="0" /></a>2.) After the glue is dry, sand the edges of each piece:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyZRSVgzgvr5P_pJOaJG6FTpibXmu5Y-OKB5c4pdTJa2kPlxfXV-KXaBH6ytTs75MdNxpKLUi_ze8yLNMse2JDGQZxT2srE02rq-oYSwAk5-JhVA0B1Ab6b0MeHSLhjjlOezlGP2RLiHk3/s1600-h/feb+3+2010+003.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyZRSVgzgvr5P_pJOaJG6FTpibXmu5Y-OKB5c4pdTJa2kPlxfXV-KXaBH6ytTs75MdNxpKLUi_ze8yLNMse2JDGQZxT2srE02rq-oYSwAk5-JhVA0B1Ab6b0MeHSLhjjlOezlGP2RLiHk3/s320/feb+3+2010+003.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434406807930543842" border="0" /></a>3.) Use an ink pad to ink each embossed letter:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv8WkRquovpKIClIt4moklk1MExa6TqehUFZdOKGNVkKhwdNuoS473cuXmtVZ_apUP4McLsNySwSTmQ2I6zQlryVBn9EE6MuIN2ivrhao22PncrZ15kzwyGsBrpw4deHzKB_bSs3g5rhHm/s1600-h/feb+3+2010+005.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv8WkRquovpKIClIt4moklk1MExa6TqehUFZdOKGNVkKhwdNuoS473cuXmtVZ_apUP4McLsNySwSTmQ2I6zQlryVBn9EE6MuIN2ivrhao22PncrZ15kzwyGsBrpw4deHzKB_bSs3g5rhHm/s320/feb+3+2010+005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434406797465751442" border="0" /></a>4.) Here's the part where you get to go crazy - arrange the squares and letters how you like them, glue down the letters...and then embellish like crazy! You can refer back to my picture at the top, or do your own thing!<br /><br />5.) When everything is ready to go, punch holes through the sides of each square (punch towards the top or your squares will flip over when you hang them) and tie them together with pieces of ribbon. I also tied buttons together on each end before tying on my "hanging ribbons", as shown:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK8h2xesLKjMH4_nEUL2knBZp3ix1HwBW5T-3Rj5F1s07O9-M_3Jbb5Mb6IFcviVlUpb_kZlu9SO5UQoUuR6S9_rQ3GtQ9zTRGRvxBirYYccfZlgERqGA2crvDRHPtuzRQUzdEYBMbeYqU/s1600-h/feb+3+2010+007.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK8h2xesLKjMH4_nEUL2knBZp3ix1HwBW5T-3Rj5F1s07O9-M_3Jbb5Mb6IFcviVlUpb_kZlu9SO5UQoUuR6S9_rQ3GtQ9zTRGRvxBirYYccfZlgERqGA2crvDRHPtuzRQUzdEYBMbeYqU/s320/feb+3+2010+007.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434406787965380210" border="0" /></a>Here's another hanging shot...I apologize for the dark photo - its nearly impossible to get a good picture straight at a bright window!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjejk3aaezUphdoE4g-7oGXfYHV02CJvvOKT4Cqd0zhs_OBTKpo4MsMeIyUjCHcJcL1h8LOrSe7e4HhlPDuaep1LOpzJwcp5gWF5nOfozygb1hseWFCz4frZ4YAY3SWqB4tFIbu76Ob45fk/s1600-h/feb+3+2010+009.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjejk3aaezUphdoE4g-7oGXfYHV02CJvvOKT4Cqd0zhs_OBTKpo4MsMeIyUjCHcJcL1h8LOrSe7e4HhlPDuaep1LOpzJwcp5gWF5nOfozygb1hseWFCz4frZ4YAY3SWqB4tFIbu76Ob45fk/s320/feb+3+2010+009.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434406779414218594" border="0" /></a>This was so easy to make..and turned out so cute, that I think we'll be making a "lucky" one for t. Patty's day...an egg one for Easter...4th of July....oh yes, we will be making many garlands, haha!<br /><br />Have fun! Let me know if you try it - I'd love to see some pics!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5556634502898296064.post-51246554068626830152010-01-30T20:01:00.009-07:002010-01-30T20:32:35.984-07:00I've totally been making stuff!Do you ever get in a crafting funk? Like you just can't figure out what to make...none of your projects are getting finished? And then when you're done with something...you hate it? But then...you suddenly get inspired, motivated or in some other way - get OUT OF THE FUNK! And creativity resumes! Hurray!<br /><br />I've been enjoying the past few weeks of out-of-the-funk, madly making all kinds of things!<br /><br />I finally pulled out some Moda squares and a jelly roll and made my Valentine's Day/St. Patrick's Day reversible table runner that I planned over a year ago:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9DzN5kh6pCQq3jYQ93MnhRZVv1kAmox_27LCcPvbipfPQGcjGNzUidl1kWuvqlJhMZJvJhQYklHW8bbgWiUGLBylXeqdlFw_ymdjqBH8SFAc0Elh4WR6z-SbGOGJLwIKKv89C7zuOIBCG/s1600-h/table+runner+-+Vday+and+St.+Patty+001.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9DzN5kh6pCQq3jYQ93MnhRZVv1kAmox_27LCcPvbipfPQGcjGNzUidl1kWuvqlJhMZJvJhQYklHW8bbgWiUGLBylXeqdlFw_ymdjqBH8SFAc0Elh4WR6z-SbGOGJLwIKKv89C7zuOIBCG/s320/table+runner+-+Vday+and+St.+Patty+001.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432735256733993794" border="0" /></a>I made some fun projects with the MemoryWorks January Express Kit:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT-sX2SXd9khc60Q_lTPCN5cDRhF85leTP2c4qdHLSBaa02-ZpeI-wtGU4P5UiZ1eHMQIj0uwGbr96akamrbw2QBpOyzwnnrvndPnjJoyaTCpNmvo3wHhuHUnVHB-iSHthJGympCx9iMaW/s1600-h/Jan+2010+express+altered+frame+small.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 287px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT-sX2SXd9khc60Q_lTPCN5cDRhF85leTP2c4qdHLSBaa02-ZpeI-wtGU4P5UiZ1eHMQIj0uwGbr96akamrbw2QBpOyzwnnrvndPnjJoyaTCpNmvo3wHhuHUnVHB-iSHthJGympCx9iMaW/s320/Jan+2010+express+altered+frame+small.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432735125544432274" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWk_vSXGrWEcC5Zn3dQeYmiu4J3zYGArW47TG3a2S8IIRvE7gUWcylgwpil7RssNWCRdcBLxb-WOaoQdHh6hH8XyLX8ybb6cJq_Tx4sBq3fUiwVLnroksjDLY7QCcyFlgYVnJgLQm_epRo/s1600-h/Jan+2010+express+kit+005.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 319px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWk_vSXGrWEcC5Zn3dQeYmiu4J3zYGArW47TG3a2S8IIRvE7gUWcylgwpil7RssNWCRdcBLxb-WOaoQdHh6hH8XyLX8ybb6cJq_Tx4sBq3fUiwVLnroksjDLY7QCcyFlgYVnJgLQm_epRo/s320/Jan+2010+express+kit+005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432735123031678354" border="0" /></a>I made a couple scrapbook layouts, for example:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO_bEZclfmDgSeXIw-tllXGnlrc-zZdd33R9P4L1X-wFLSSwlvE1pml3TrSQnMpC5ee0FnS62HseXrSr8Dxps3D_V1VXVPwBcMcwLB-45GjZHeNcbax1Oiqmlop0Eg98fl5OoCd7gezBxS/s1600-h/Zent+FallCycling+layout.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO_bEZclfmDgSeXIw-tllXGnlrc-zZdd33R9P4L1X-wFLSSwlvE1pml3TrSQnMpC5ee0FnS62HseXrSr8Dxps3D_V1VXVPwBcMcwLB-45GjZHeNcbax1Oiqmlop0Eg98fl5OoCd7gezBxS/s320/Zent+FallCycling+layout.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432735110736967698" border="0" /></a>I finally finished my 3-frame set...it has been sitting in my scrapbooking hutch taking up MUCHO space since October when I made the first one...yikes!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpWWhd_3aQuIOk6lwHAe0g_szqKfv6cbLO7ccS6-BaGvrJ0VrYD3yFbQtNU7zSy0CnYp_VzurKDxvrT2XonRQIZh53-N04zqsj8VcdqMUYL86R3yUqtxzGpX9baXlA8d2sMY01DTU_xutP/s1600-h/jan+26+2010+005.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 154px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpWWhd_3aQuIOk6lwHAe0g_szqKfv6cbLO7ccS6-BaGvrJ0VrYD3yFbQtNU7zSy0CnYp_VzurKDxvrT2XonRQIZh53-N04zqsj8VcdqMUYL86R3yUqtxzGpX9baXlA8d2sMY01DTU_xutP/s400/jan+26+2010+005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432734764548662818" border="0" /></a>Now its hanging on the wall in our hallway - I have to smile every time I walk past - not because its so darn cute - but because I FINISHED IT! HAHA!<br /><br />And, I got to spend all my free time for a week (which I think totaled about 13 minutes per day...I must have skipped a trip to the bathroom or something to get that much time at once!) working on the Simple Stories line from MemoryWorks. Since I'm on their creative team, I got an advanced set and got to play!<br /><br />In true Sandy-fashion, I was only able to complete January-July of my full-year-overview album, because of course I only had pictures printed up for 7 months of the year! And my printer is broken! And now I'm on a budget so I couldn't just order me another 5 months on snapfish! Oh well...it just wouldn't be me if the entire project actually got finished all at once...that would just be weird!<br /><br />Here is what I did so far - the fun thing about this system is that there are divided page protectors, so you just stick things in the pockets - easy, and used little adhesive...which for some reason I keep running out of lately...hmph... Here's a couple of the pages:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNWB-uKM30WNbih1Bqp5I1-IvrMpKyoZ4qSssvxry8GvPxjbbxPpSKwKtGWhqtsXnxkW2riLdx1gG8IYWwWKWfy7ZcMw5hds3rOeXOdzjcOBdQdxxSHjk25WNZMxl2QQVjsXbj92rrdLTd/s1600-h/Zent+Jan10+SS+-January+layout.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 191px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNWB-uKM30WNbih1Bqp5I1-IvrMpKyoZ4qSssvxry8GvPxjbbxPpSKwKtGWhqtsXnxkW2riLdx1gG8IYWwWKWfy7ZcMw5hds3rOeXOdzjcOBdQdxxSHjk25WNZMxl2QQVjsXbj92rrdLTd/s400/Zent+Jan10+SS+-January+layout.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432734522379732130" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZNRKPz1VUrafgDyp_J3Nb3r8eKflIR2cqS-UcsDX4-PBXArghkjmJR4KZQXhfHztBNJbHNoFb0ESXaS0nlEwQusqPzioiSWkdNbqT-oHqo65pTJYNsx2ofvZKmwO0Bg_rPM6Yd6nys8fV/s1600-h/Zent+Jan10+SS+-Feb+layout.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 192px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZNRKPz1VUrafgDyp_J3Nb3r8eKflIR2cqS-UcsDX4-PBXArghkjmJR4KZQXhfHztBNJbHNoFb0ESXaS0nlEwQusqPzioiSWkdNbqT-oHqo65pTJYNsx2ofvZKmwO0Bg_rPM6Yd6nys8fV/s400/Zent+Jan10+SS+-Feb+layout.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432734511308713074" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2gg9lSAoiXZXUOzsGPmSwK_bsJc-q6hfeSzlPYmQzIe9Q5Vsw4EwV7KAT4_y1BG1sZep-Nm07bSK-0n25GMj640i8d3UTlwiZuXlrv6dg7Q4FnM0Ybadykh2GR4q3xWyM-KIQRg9iowmB/s1600-h/Zent+Jan10+SS+-June+layout.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 185px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2gg9lSAoiXZXUOzsGPmSwK_bsJc-q6hfeSzlPYmQzIe9Q5Vsw4EwV7KAT4_y1BG1sZep-Nm07bSK-0n25GMj640i8d3UTlwiZuXlrv6dg7Q4FnM0Ybadykh2GR4q3xWyM-KIQRg9iowmB/s400/Zent+Jan10+SS+-June+layout.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432734310696449570" border="0" /></a><br />So....coming up.....I am still working on my faux-roman-curtains. I will do a tutorial and show you how to alter your mini-blinds without permanently disabling them. I have a few other things up my sleeve, but please let me know if you have any ideas for a tutorial that you'd like to see.<br /><br />Have a GREAT day...and go do something crafty!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5556634502898296064.post-51912317601557773542009-12-30T11:18:00.002-07:002009-12-30T11:23:15.431-07:00Check this out!I have been a bad blogger...again...and have more projects to post - mainly scrapbook stuff - but wanted to put in a little plug for an awesome new product line that's coming out next month from MemoryWorks. I got to see the entire line a couple months ago and couldn't say anything....but now I can blab! It's going to be awesome!!<br /><br /><a href="http://simplestories.typepad.com/">Simple Stories</a><br /><br />Basically, its a system for scrapbooking quickly, efficiently...and still making it look good! There is paper, journaling cards, title blocks, etc...that all can be made into actual pages, or can be slipped into photo pockets. YOu literally could put an entire album together in minutes, using nothing but a paper cutter and a pen! OR, if you just can't let things be...that would be me...you can jazz it up, embellish it, whatever - make it your own!<br /><br />I can't WAIT to get my hands on this - and as soon as I do, I'll get a review posted up here!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5556634502898296064.post-83697830743612130572009-08-28T19:21:00.003-06:002010-02-16T12:48:09.863-07:00Quick and Easy Bulletin BoardI posted a simple but fun bulletin board idea over at the MemoryWorks blog today - check it out:<br /><br /><a href="http://memoryworksblog.blogspot.com/2009/08/message-board-jr.html">Message Board, Jr.</a><br /><br />Oh, and if you go down a few entries to last Friday's, you'll find a more grown-up and very cool version of a message board by my friend <a href="http://laceybugcreations.blogspot.com/">Lacey</a>!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5556634502898296064.post-51594262790505370692009-08-28T18:59:00.004-06:002009-08-28T19:16:41.237-06:00Little Guy Tool-BeltHere's a fun one for the little fix-it guy (or girl) in your life!<br /><br />All you need is ONE fat quarter and a package of that hem facing tape stuff (or really fat bias tape...or a ribbon...or whatever else would make an apron tie!):<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0LmpdnhmWCHVsjkI2vfUUrXTt7wUBo9zy6veFkuNrTUZoZBS25Gm7DNWjsynL76YnNafUIeD3ionWpDmVlSHyLvbC0a2AxC7ixFdb9DQSyQKOyri3sOgeOlcyUTZqH2GP6s0O9YewvXcu/s1600-h/april+2009+and+easter+003.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375184309572146978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0LmpdnhmWCHVsjkI2vfUUrXTt7wUBo9zy6veFkuNrTUZoZBS25Gm7DNWjsynL76YnNafUIeD3ionWpDmVlSHyLvbC0a2AxC7ixFdb9DQSyQKOyri3sOgeOlcyUTZqH2GP6s0O9YewvXcu/s320/april+2009+and+easter+003.JPG" border="0" /></a> All you do is fold your fat quarter in half, right sides together. Sew three sides, turn rightside out, press and top stitch.<br /><br />Now fold up the bottom edge a little more than 3/4 of the way up to form a pocket. Top stitch around edges of pocket and top to bottom in a couple places to divide the pocket.<br /><br />Take your bias tape, hem facing or whatever you're using...fold it in half (if necessary) and pin to the top of the apron. Top stitch all the way around it to form waistband and ties.<br /><br />Use smaller pieces of your leftover belt/apron tie fabric to make little loops to hang tools on.<br /><br />Load 'em up!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5556634502898296064.post-52080803799790905762009-08-28T18:29:00.009-06:002009-08-28T19:16:21.761-06:00Repurposed Weird Baby Jeans + Moda Charm Pack = Quick, Cute, TOTALLY Do-able!Everybody ready for a tutorial?? This is one of my favorite projects of the summer! It turned out really cute, was incredibly cheap (we're talking like $2-3 for the entire outfit, folks!), is fast to make...and is VERY "operator error"-friendly!<br /><br />Here we go:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS-yL49ujI3MDSIdAZDTksxytbwsg_NGNj3UfXgMaQUIGUmFoQLzbpidt_1C2noQMa7csRqnUWfi8u2hHaKf93JOBB6ScCOQv56cP9E3yznT_shMQjuv6T_jItJuepWxFyFDUvEE8SnOtf/s1600-h/june+2009+063-crop.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375178734335342546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 241px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS-yL49ujI3MDSIdAZDTksxytbwsg_NGNj3UfXgMaQUIGUmFoQLzbpidt_1C2noQMa7csRqnUWfi8u2hHaKf93JOBB6ScCOQv56cP9E3yznT_shMQjuv6T_jItJuepWxFyFDUvEE8SnOtf/s320/june+2009+063-crop.jpg" border="0" /></a> Cute, huh?!<br /><br />This is what you need to decorate your baby in such chic cuteness:<br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375178002439472754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBBJAvgNYCOKVZjzYaHoPgoROrW8Ti5omjYq-OT0IRFHBy9_VkVZlfnRK6FObrbIHilH4z6PzdNzGnb-ykUo8-S7hf-Jsn1n5BMWoGenjXjiUzDpIc50oBu-DymPPR-fVmdVHlmuILsX9V/s320/june+2009+045.JPG" border="0" /> *A onesie or T-shirt (you probably have one at home you can use...so that would be FREE, my friends!)</div><br /><div>*An awkward pair of thrift-store pants. This particular pair has unusually short legs compared to the size of the waist...and denim sweatpant capris are never flattering, right?! (Awkward thrift-store pants: FREE to me, but if you went out and bought them...like $1-2, right?)</div><br /><div>*10 squares from a Moda charm-pack (5" squares if you're cutting your own). I used "Objects of Desire".</div><br /><div>*Sewing machine, serger is helpful, thread, rotary cutter, scissors, embroidery floss/needle<br /><br /></div><br /><div>First, lop off the pant legs. You can make them shorts:</div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_J8cuTafbjykrPe0puGEaPR8XW4UVP54cpK0wzClEL6AvJIJI0YXcI9tfR_cEfTWRyAzrhv1UHVMXp0KagVNtmXiDMbCkUQSXqkpJFgn-WhAqWnHnxxD_5W-Jugmgf0j9FLyZoDpxi_6p/s1600-h/june+2009+046.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375177794155642274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_J8cuTafbjykrPe0puGEaPR8XW4UVP54cpK0wzClEL6AvJIJI0YXcI9tfR_cEfTWRyAzrhv1UHVMXp0KagVNtmXiDMbCkUQSXqkpJFgn-WhAqWnHnxxD_5W-Jugmgf0j9FLyZoDpxi_6p/s320/june+2009+046.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Or cut a little higher and make a skirt, like I did:<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi64S5gKDTGFLOpoNOEy0RqTip5ljIKMDokZN1CuA2fXzT3M1WCLkpyqrNoX9w8h9I-50vNB6sECR9yD3EoeGYleT8VBuhFCIXHplnbYC0ok3rwI2Rmfu9904XebGQ1fibFRvOs0j7LjChy/s1600-h/june+2009+048.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375177782923483202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi64S5gKDTGFLOpoNOEy0RqTip5ljIKMDokZN1CuA2fXzT3M1WCLkpyqrNoX9w8h9I-50vNB6sECR9yD3EoeGYleT8VBuhFCIXHplnbYC0ok3rwI2Rmfu9904XebGQ1fibFRvOs0j7LjChy/s320/june+2009+048.JPG" border="0" /></a> Lay out your outfit so you know what you're doing and what fabric you want next to what:<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJgVRYThTa2hSEG_l8NPSrvQEEMh0O4DUCi_sPYZqFDYakjnfotcePzBZ00nchV4gQ4USTwUONHDHbN-K6FN9JHdEN518O-IZ_Cygrq2cjiyNax2mpGAk4Y9CrfZiyTakDrBsp7bPDLsln/s1600-h/june+2009+049.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375177770596238642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJgVRYThTa2hSEG_l8NPSrvQEEMh0O4DUCi_sPYZqFDYakjnfotcePzBZ00nchV4gQ4USTwUONHDHbN-K6FN9JHdEN518O-IZ_Cygrq2cjiyNax2mpGAk4Y9CrfZiyTakDrBsp7bPDLsln/s320/june+2009+049.JPG" border="0" /></a> Cut your charm squares in half - put one stack aside, you only need half of the halves. I can't really tell you how many total squares you'll need, because your cut-up pants might be a different size than mine...I think I used 10 or so - you need enough to go around the base of your skirt about 1 1/2 times (you'll be gathering):<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5JLKUuecHUXsiwlvmmaDMNrApKyIRbOmnAealy_vfGazcfpvo5F191XDyqGux4mbWT34EWGmVz6Rj-mm7DyR3k-8c5j6iYHBJNaZ-jXzTLrxQrnR45e_PXzad2rQtNTsn2-vibdskPwBO/s1600-h/june+2009+050.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375177764167311522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5JLKUuecHUXsiwlvmmaDMNrApKyIRbOmnAealy_vfGazcfpvo5F191XDyqGux4mbWT34EWGmVz6Rj-mm7DyR3k-8c5j6iYHBJNaZ-jXzTLrxQrnR45e_PXzad2rQtNTsn2-vibdskPwBO/s320/june+2009+050.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Sew all the charm square halves in a long strip like so:<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCMR9QVy2bBUQg6kwlJ1Id6C9YzEDlFPIRGOc8s6y8KBYeZZlD8nAHQexG_o73GXQ99sZUtRRxDM1PGzsMfVcSvNdqhFJdqqLD44YPzc0agHQz66uf6kS5eqEphE5btUQaQzD7P7TUcwkk/s1600-h/june+2009+051.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375177753139949266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCMR9QVy2bBUQg6kwlJ1Id6C9YzEDlFPIRGOc8s6y8KBYeZZlD8nAHQexG_o73GXQ99sZUtRRxDM1PGzsMfVcSvNdqhFJdqqLD44YPzc0agHQz66uf6kS5eqEphE5btUQaQzD7P7TUcwkk/s320/june+2009+051.JPG" border="0" /></a> Cut down the center, lengthwise, of the strip with a rotary cutter:<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLq2FqW0WvmTvALtGQEkPlMIfY8nAgVui0pJM8PF7PwE6VmT1XQ519Ig39J8hdq-GOyUdfyjvBRNC2tYnaMvwK4pkKZTlD2xrP9qa_0ELAWvsDTrxkXYNbIX_-ChoA_RqgyDj3rozxwfNr/s1600-h/june+2009+052.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375177295393846674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLq2FqW0WvmTvALtGQEkPlMIfY8nAgVui0pJM8PF7PwE6VmT1XQ519Ig39J8hdq-GOyUdfyjvBRNC2tYnaMvwK4pkKZTlD2xrP9qa_0ELAWvsDTrxkXYNbIX_-ChoA_RqgyDj3rozxwfNr/s320/june+2009+052.JPG" border="0" /></a> Sew the ends of the strips together to make a circle:<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaK_wghUu3D7lv3re92wa-wPGWbLGj4Cj99nJf5sofCJFOBcO4QCsZEjMFA1orftoQYE8y3UviX73rl-BSazprTj2KDb3l3-1YlluyeeniUSh9Z9abFcFj3o6vwZXBdH0e7-0InYNtDrQM/s1600-h/june+2009+053.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375177286315467474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaK_wghUu3D7lv3re92wa-wPGWbLGj4Cj99nJf5sofCJFOBcO4QCsZEjMFA1orftoQYE8y3UviX73rl-BSazprTj2KDb3l3-1YlluyeeniUSh9Z9abFcFj3o6vwZXBdH0e7-0InYNtDrQM/s320/june+2009+053.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Two things to do here -- 1.) serge all around along the bottom edge of your circle (or zigzag or whatever you want to do to finish it) and 2.) machine baste around the top edge:<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgJwcYiim5-JKSDmt3zYwTEMbl1Z6auakafFyoF2x2pj_34thZ_3AH0zbqNFf4PdayougrjithcyGmba3sqmGNpIjQNmaB99zCMs3jCCJEGk3PYErw3ZyXihTo-lS0xjSWFeT-fXjVaiKv/s1600-h/june+2009+055.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375177279800145842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgJwcYiim5-JKSDmt3zYwTEMbl1Z6auakafFyoF2x2pj_34thZ_3AH0zbqNFf4PdayougrjithcyGmba3sqmGNpIjQNmaB99zCMs3jCCJEGk3PYErw3ZyXihTo-lS0xjSWFeT-fXjVaiKv/s320/june+2009+055.JPG" border="0" /></a> Pull the machine-basting-thread to gather into a ruffle:<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO3p9Dr5HgFa9FXhY7rcULp66ULIOHFpeRLd6JIFl-Y_ZHME9GlgEvG3sVbeEBRp3IC80I9o17i_BnzOJgH2GXk-GhQ5PXOOJbS0K0MaLwb04ACn7cZdZGymVC44g5Wn79_CxWP5_nTiFM/s1600-h/june+2009+056.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375177271963159010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO3p9Dr5HgFa9FXhY7rcULp66ULIOHFpeRLd6JIFl-Y_ZHME9GlgEvG3sVbeEBRp3IC80I9o17i_BnzOJgH2GXk-GhQ5PXOOJbS0K0MaLwb04ACn7cZdZGymVC44g5Wn79_CxWP5_nTiFM/s320/june+2009+056.JPG" border="0" /></a> Adjust the basting so that the ruffle fits the bottom of your skirt and is fairly evenly gathered. Pin to the INSIDE of the skirt, sticking out as shown:<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiUMqEnjTMbXD6IbtCaZsunYo6PjVkGfoj-p52d0xjNCGrfHHyuPP3UrYDpXixXNN-XiB70Tu8LIAohh18P5L-uoyJH3sX3DkEdV-43isz3CiBaLSuSqeUqBgJnH18gftHR8JN7ZMSpisf/s1600-h/june+2009+057.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375177259893079986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiUMqEnjTMbXD6IbtCaZsunYo6PjVkGfoj-p52d0xjNCGrfHHyuPP3UrYDpXixXNN-XiB70Tu8LIAohh18P5L-uoyJH3sX3DkEdV-43isz3CiBaLSuSqeUqBgJnH18gftHR8JN7ZMSpisf/s320/june+2009+057.JPG" border="0" /></a> Sew 1/4" or so along the bottom edge of the skirt to attach the ruffle. Leave the edge of the denim part "raw" as shown:<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijtii6_fWTSLNu9lEVcmgHKq_Q4yzCYbbvlx-Zv7GOQiAz0X0fen4WAJgTgtVVNU7Dxd2BHavOIp5vnm3X4ci0-W710qExwY_p6zrILwu0wYYtnqQhbEAlTEIxufauNNyNMaPUPFG739d-/s1600-h/june+2009+059.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375176861308056594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijtii6_fWTSLNu9lEVcmgHKq_Q4yzCYbbvlx-Zv7GOQiAz0X0fen4WAJgTgtVVNU7Dxd2BHavOIp5vnm3X4ci0-W710qExwY_p6zrILwu0wYYtnqQhbEAlTEIxufauNNyNMaPUPFG739d-/s320/june+2009+059.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Remember those awkward pant legs you lopped off? Cut a few strips from them and attach a few around the waistband for some funky belt loops (leave edges raw):<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvCzPEu66QZt8i4dnS-iaBCuf7Jylvah0j2jEtNYZ0IUNSD4giQnmjHKlUb_VY3cRk4XTJHlGSCcFxT7n0hDqiET0hyK9I17TTaRsfMTeMDF_2Hhv8M9RhvG9t5T3dbDOCVo3bpCaxwb2V/s1600-h/june+2009+060.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375176850337081794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvCzPEu66QZt8i4dnS-iaBCuf7Jylvah0j2jEtNYZ0IUNSD4giQnmjHKlUb_VY3cRk4XTJHlGSCcFxT7n0hDqiET0hyK9I17TTaRsfMTeMDF_2Hhv8M9RhvG9t5T3dbDOCVo3bpCaxwb2V/s320/june+2009+060.JPG" border="0" /></a> Here's what we have now:<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhRobJhWrsGWAfb-flrNpXXv9SX-tnrRK-zRnEDkyKGSya8tk_H_SlCQrDxATlYPLQZbYNS7qjdW2hprJB0hT05n2kq4ZFSGPCD48SliWhQByunTCBUlzbywtr2L2EjdkAc8zATuXP5AVj/s1600-h/june+2009+061.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375176839542591906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhRobJhWrsGWAfb-flrNpXXv9SX-tnrRK-zRnEDkyKGSya8tk_H_SlCQrDxATlYPLQZbYNS7qjdW2hprJB0hT05n2kq4ZFSGPCD48SliWhQByunTCBUlzbywtr2L2EjdkAc8zATuXP5AVj/s320/june+2009+061.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Now, go throw it in the washing machine, get it good and wet -and then throw it in the dryer. All those raw edges will get nice and frayed! Then find a long, cute ribbon to thread through the belt loops for a belt.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>If you want to make a matching shirt (and I stole this idea from my friend JILL, who stole it from our friend TRISH)...stick a charm square under the top layer of the shirt and using embroidery floss and a needle, stitch a shape over the top of it. Then use some sharp scissors and cut out the T-shirt area inside the shape to let the charm square show through.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Do NOT do this, which I did:<br /><br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLcfo0bF8uAlz5mWb3nM6OGS2_I3W7RVZVjRvGg3MlZUydPxP5gu2BJJffh7Y43QxY65fU6ETc_JIvZ080vx54YlHzKiG-Z1XNZM06DBsKKznSYTfyerke3ZpXoK8iT1E120iOtuHfvKoO/s1600-h/june+2009+062.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375176829635138674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLcfo0bF8uAlz5mWb3nM6OGS2_I3W7RVZVjRvGg3MlZUydPxP5gu2BJJffh7Y43QxY65fU6ETc_JIvZ080vx54YlHzKiG-Z1XNZM06DBsKKznSYTfyerke3ZpXoK8iT1E120iOtuHfvKoO/s320/june+2009+062.JPG" border="0" /></a> I tried to cut the hole before doing the stitching. This was not a great idea, it was not fun, and it turned out weird. Still cute, but weird. I should really have clarified the directions before I tried it :)<br /><br /><br />When you're all done, you'll have yourself one sweet little outfit...AND you can be all impressed with yourself for "recycling"!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS-yL49ujI3MDSIdAZDTksxytbwsg_NGNj3UfXgMaQUIGUmFoQLzbpidt_1C2noQMa7csRqnUWfi8u2hHaKf93JOBB6ScCOQv56cP9E3yznT_shMQjuv6T_jItJuepWxFyFDUvEE8SnOtf/s1600-h/june+2009+063-crop.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375178734335342546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 241px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS-yL49ujI3MDSIdAZDTksxytbwsg_NGNj3UfXgMaQUIGUmFoQLzbpidt_1C2noQMa7csRqnUWfi8u2hHaKf93JOBB6ScCOQv56cP9E3yznT_shMQjuv6T_jItJuepWxFyFDUvEE8SnOtf/s320/june+2009+063-crop.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5556634502898296064.post-1630227778966140422009-08-13T15:40:00.004-06:002009-08-13T15:44:09.711-06:00OH where, oh where, have all the crafts gone?!Wow...it's been a long time! I have been making lots and lots of things...and not posting them! Sigh. I still need to show you how to make car organizers for the kids, binder bags for church (or any other quiet activity), fabric buckets, a super-super-super-cute baby skirt out of an old pair of jeans, a quick "tool belt" apron for that busy little guy in your life, an even quicker bowtie for that same busy little guy, lots of organizing and reuse/recycling tips...I've been up to things. Lots and lots of things. :)<br /><br />Hang in there with me...I'll get some stuff up here soon!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1