Getting Crafty

I have been having so much fun creating Crafty Valentines Decor! Margie's Ecourse really helped to jump start this! She had some great ideas - just fun stuff that got me motivated! Here are a few things that I did....

Lollies...

I also made about a dozen different garlands and just realized that I don't have any pictures of them! I'll snap one tomorrow and post it! 

I also decided to host a Craft Night at my house. I have always talked about doing it with a group, but usually only do a one on one thing.

I gathered all my supplies, purchased enough of a few things for everyone. It was so much fun to gather all my goodies! I loved pulling all the colors out and grouping them for Valentines Day. It inspired me to start doing this more often...for other holidays, to keep my creative energy going.

I love to be inspired! 

Who doesn't??

This little bird in a nest was inspired by a swap I participated in last year. 

I received so many pretty little birds! I have been keeping them up all year long, just keep updating them with the holiday decor.

I made this Banner using chipboard and some Valentines paper. Threw a few little extras on and there ya go!

I hope that some of my pictures have inspired you to go get crafty!

Playing Catch-up

Wow...I have been going full steam ahead and time has been flying by! I feel like I am missing something, but I am getting so much done!

I have been working on several projects the past few weeks and then we had a bit of the "sickies" over here. That was a tad scary and took up a lot of energy!

I last posted about my winner for my giveaway and didn't have a chance to post about my SUPER-Sweet, talented swap partner for my Valentines Swap! I did a small swap with a few Bella sisters, Stephanie was my partner and BOY did she spoil me for Valentines day!! I have been very blessed to have met Stephanie, and even more blessed that we have been able to get to know each other more since Silver Bella. She is someone I know I will be able to be keep "growing" with....I love the growth of friendships...you just keep learning and loving more about each other! 

It was so awesome to receive such a fun box of goodies!!! I really needed!! Here is a little peak of what she sent me...I didn't take enough pictures...but you can see just from this one that there were SO many little treasures!! Not only did she fill our standard match box size box with goodies, but she included the most adorable little dessert plate, FUN NEW JEWELRY, vintage wallpaper and vintage post cards...the cutest little porcelain birdie..in PINK...my favorite color, and she included beautiful little pieces of vintage jewelry! MAN was I a LUCKY girl!!!!

This is a view from my seat right now...I am working on 3 projects right this second. One for a friend who lost everything in a fire, one for a magazine submission and one for Heather's swap! Fun, Fun!!! I moved some of the goods over a bit so you can't see too much....you will just have to wait a little bit longer... but I am pretty excited to show you so it won't be long!

Can't wait to get started on my next swap project.....a Tussie Mussie!!!

Jennifer has been having a Swap every month...so much fun!

Tuesday Already??

For the past 3 weeks I have wanted to participate in this little blog above...and I have been creating away for Valentines and during our Blizzard of 2010 (BIG news in these parts!)...only to forget to post anything until about 2am on Tuesday morning!

Don't get me wrong, I think about it earlier and then I get a little wrapped up in the Blizzard that we have been dealing with...the kids being out of school for what seems like an eternity..and then there is the shop + Blizzard of 2010 that is burning a hole in my head.

It is sad really....and I am frustrated in a funny kinda way!

So here are a few pictures of some of my recent creations!

Valentine's Cards for a few special people..

Flower Pins ...

Fondant Wrapped Oreo's

Sugar Cookies..

Cozy little neck warmer! Love it..it is so warm!

There have been a few more, I will try to get them up soon.

AND!!! I have spent much time getting my Etsy shop pictures done. I should have the shop fully stocked and ready to run by the end of this week! Very excited. Need a few extra pennies these days!

I am "SNOW" over it...

We are in the middle of another Blizzard in the matter of days. Mother Nature barely gave us a break! We made it through the first one without anybody having to eat straight peanut butter. There were some serious damages from the first storm. It dumped 30+ inches of snow on us. CRAZY! Our little grocery store lost the entire from of the building because the awning collapsed. We lost a few days of business at our store...but luckily our roof held. Big concern considering it is FLAT!

That is the awning sticking up out of the pile of rubble and snow!

I never did get out and play in the snow.. part of me regrets it, the other part (the warm part...) not so much. Here are a few of the sites from Storm 1.....Mostly taken from my Craft Room window, the back door or in the house. Again, not going out in that nonsense!

This is the view from my craft room. It is a little deep on top of the car there!

We woke up to this on the windows...Snow! Stuck to the screens, it was blowing so hard all night long.

The girls playing in the snow. Lily is so tiny the snow was past her waist! She came in right after this picture was taken. In fact Bree is yelling that Lily wants to come in..

This is our walkway out front...do you see how deep that snow it???

Inside we were much cozier...I had these pretty things to look at and work with in my craft room....all was good on my end.

Remember the flower pins I posted about? Well here are few that I made. I did change up a few things after I made a couple. I found a technique I liked a little better for putting them together when you use different patterns for the petals.

I made a mistake on one of them....can you figure out which one?? That is the "beauty" of being interrupted 122 times by a four year old. You lose your place....alot.....

Mother Nature is supposed to give us another "dusting" on Monday.......WHY!!!! The Governor lost his cool a little bit today and said..."Don't even start with that....why can't you pave my roads down to the asphalt....just, Don't even start with that!" It was a little funny. You could see the "father" in him coming right out! Loved it!

I think the guys driving all those plows are doing the best that they can!

Flowers in February

I linked to a flower tutorial the other day that was really easy...here is one of them finished. I can't post anymore because they are going to be gifts but I think it turned out really cute. Both my girls want one...lucky for them, they will be getting one for Valentines Day!

I started with the paper template...

But then I transferred the pattern onto this stabilizing paper just because it was easier than working with the paper flower cut outs for me.

Sewed the backing onto the felt and then just glued the felt piece to the flower..this is something I would NOT normally do. I would normally hand sew it all the way around but this was cheap felt and I was afraid if I sewed the entire thing it would rip. I HEART real felt but just don't have any right now.

This is the stack of fabrics that I am ready to get started with ! I have some serious flowers to make!

I am adding a pretty pincushion to my list of projects for the weekend. I hate that red tomato one!

Valentines On the mind

The snow arrived verrrryyyy slooowwwlllly..... not really what the kids in mind!

Glad I didn't hit the grocery store, much better time was spent at home...on the computer searching for Vintage Valentines Images and washing fabric. I finished a shirt that I was working on for Lily. She is such a peanut that I am going to need to take it in again in the shoulders....she is like this teeny tiny little pixie!! I make a 2t and it is too short, I make a 3t and it is like a potatoe sack! Geeshhhh!

I found sooooo many cute things! I think I overloaded my computer with images and downloads!

Here are some of my favorites:

Paper Dolls!! Love Paper dolls and Lily spent much time trying to cut their little outfits out just right.

These are the Betsy McCall ones, very cute. Never heard of them before but they are cute!

(She scored VERY high in the fine motor skills portion of her recent 3yr preschool progress report....Big Wink for ya! HeeHee.. But no joke, she really did....)

Then I found these great images! I have big plans for some of them. I also used this tutorial last night and made a few of them.....I am planning a really cute combination of the both for Valentines Day for all my girls!

Download the PDF here....and please link any and all credit for that Tut to Wise Craft. I am very grateful to people who do what I can't do....make those blasted little PDF's!!

Check out some of these images! Feel free to lift any of them that you like. I found most of them at the site I listed yesterday and a few just by surfing the net.

Finally came up with my plan for Lily's Valentines for her class. Very cute!! I love being inspired!

SNOW.....?!?!?!

More snow is headed our way! They are calling for snow tonight and then major snow all weekend....crazy! I love snow, but only so much...



While everyone I am sure is out at the grocery store - I am washing fabrics and getting patterns ready. I plan to sew, sew, sew while it Snows, Snows, Snows!!!



I am stuck with two different knitting patterns right now so I am returning to my sewing roots. I had plans to go scrapbooking this weekend, wonder if the snow is going to screw that up?? Valentines projects are on my agenda, luckily I have all the glitter and supplies I need here so no more trips to the store in the snow.



I am still searching for the perfect Vintage image for Valentines Cards - so many to chose from but one just hasn't jumped out at me yet! I found so many here and last year I found several here. Just too many options for my Craft ADD!!

Tomorrow I will show you more of my favorite valentine links. So many to chose from!!