Upcycle those coke cans!!

So, I found this wonderful blog a while back and I just love everything she posts! 

Check out Positively Splended

Once you've done that...check out THIS link for a really great tutorial on how to make these!

 

So I know some of you guys that follow my blog are not from Texas. When I say coke cans I mean soda cans in general. It doesn't have to be coke (although hers are Diet Coke) 

Here in the south, coke means soda. So when when someone asks you if you want a coke and you say sure they are likely to say "what kind?" Just be ready!

Branch Out and Be Creative!

31 Days to Branch Out: Day 31

So, being as that I was out of the house all day today, my craft isn't really relevant at 9:50 after everyone's done Halloweening. But because it's still freakin cool, you can make one and store it for next year!

You can buy one here for twenty bucks. it includes the curtain and the rug. Or you can make it with dollar store curtains and rugs and red paint.

Perhaps a fabric medium for the rug though. Don't want to have to re-warsh your feet!


Anyway, Happy Halloween! Time for NaNoWriMo!!! YAY! See you all in a month.

Branch out and Be Creative!

31 Days to Branch Out: Day 29

So, I've been really into watching Gossip Girl (Silly I know) and I just watched the Christmas episode!! YAY CHRISTMAS TIME IS NEAR!!! I was so interested in it that I seriously thought about getting the tree out now...but I'm sure my husband will not really go for that till after Thanksgiving.

BUUUT, since I can't get the tree out, I'll go ahead and start working on other decorations!! I found these! Beautiful and green! It's a great thing to do with all those old wine bottles I've got in my fridge from the last wine tasting I went to with my mom.

Branch Out and Be Creative!!

31 Days to Branch Out: Day 27

Now, I never want to be one to rip off someones hard work and creativity but I'm also an artist who loves a good challenge! I found these and I just HAVE to try it! Especially when the totally awesome dollar flippy floppies come around at Old Navy!! Plus I have three pairs of Yellow Box that no longer fit me around the foot because of my pregnancy and my permanently swollen foot.

Branch Out and Be Creative!!

31 Days to Branch Out: Day 26

So, I've been on a big "Quite Book" kick. Little did I know they're super popular. I have been wanting to start a church quiet book since our church doesn't have a sunday school currently and before I know it M&M will be too big to nap on my chest during the service. So I googled it! I found these::

Photo Credit: Marta-Mojepasje

I LOOOOVE the butterfly page! I want to have an angel in there somewhere with full of different textures. :-) I can't wait to start this. The best part is you can add in all kinds of mediums onto the pages and totally get away with it!

Branch Out and Be Creative!

31 Days to Branch Out: Day 24

My wonderful hubby and I have been watching this show called the Colony which is about a group of people trying to rebuild after an apocalypse. This is something that has been on my mind a lot lately because we have been talking about becoming more self sufficient and going much Greener since he started his job at Whole Foods. So, in honor of that, I found these which will not only just be handy but much cheaper and totally resuable! They are available on Etsy or you can use your creativity and try to make your own. I'll try once I get some fleece and perhaps I can post a tutorial of sorts!

Anyway, as always,
Branch out and Be Creative!

31 Days to Branch Out: Day 23

So, we've covered Paper Crafts, Fabric Crafts, Knitting/Crochet, and Gardening! This week I want to touch on things that kind of put all of it together! Starting with THIS beauty!

She used pieces of leather she had around her house from bags that were destroyed and actual book pages for the books.
Then, a headpin through the middle of them all and a chain and voila! Beautiful necklace! It was inspired by Anthropology and they wanted $165 for it. She made it for around $4.00! I have someone I know that would love something like this for Christmas. Hopefully she doesn't see it! :-)



Branch out and Be Creative!!!

31 Days to Branch Out: Day 16

So, last night I totally didn't realize it was Saturday thus starting a new hobby week. So, I've been going back and forth on what I should do: Knitting/Crochet or Gardening. I don't know that gardening is a craft but it's a pretty popular hobby and one that I'm interested in starting so I think I'm going to do both. (Next week is reserved for Holiday kid activities). So starting today I'll post things about how to knit and how to prepare a raised garden bed! Have fun!

The Knit Stitch Video!
Note: when I started knitting, I picked a lovely grey yarn and got the needles that it suggested on the paper wrapping. I started with a straight scarf so I could get the rhythm down and then introduced patterns. Check out this link for a getting started in knitting detail that will help you get your bearings.

This amazing website called Sprout Robot lets you enter your zipcode and tells you what plant you should plant and when. Like a digital Farmers Almanac. It also has some pretty great illustrated tutorials on how to do just about everything in the garden. Below, you'll find the pictures on how to do a raised garden bed. It's terribly simple!

also, below that, potting soil basics!

Click HERE to see their website and how to do a bed if you don't want it raised...ya know, like ones directly in the ground...**REQUIRES DIGGING** :)

Plus, their little Sprout Robot is adorable!

Branch out and Be Creative! 

31 Days to Branch Out: Day 7

Today is the last day of paper crafts! But tomorrow starts fabric crafting! (One of my new favorite past times!)
So I thought I would post a wonderful tutorial from Bloesem Kids that I'm totally going to do for my M&M's room...as soon as I can get outside and gather some sticks. I really should get on that.

31 Days to Branch Out: Day 6

Hand made cards are always what I prefer...is it easier to pick up a card from the grocery store...yes, but it will mean a million times more if it's handmade!


Craft Obsession has wonderful handmade cards as well as card sketches which are great if you're having a creative lapse.  I love how simple this card is but it sure is lovely!

The Frugal Crafter has a great tutorial on how to make your own bakers twine because for some reason it's kind of pricey. But plain white string is a lot cheaper and you can customize it into any color you'd like!





Branch out and be crafty!!

31 Days to Branch Out: Day 5

Oh the many many uses scrapbook paper. They sure do not have to just be used for scrapbook pages.

For instance:
A Sprinkle of This and That

Casos e Coisas da Bonfa  (This one is in Portuguese but has wonderful pictures)

Enchanted Sisters: An Etsy Shop 

House Revivals 

Swap-bot Blog (Awesome templates!)

Chica and Jo 

I hope these are motivate you! I am DEFINITELY doing the rolled up Christmas tree one for our house!

Thanks for joining us today and keep on crafting!

31 Days to Branch Out: Day 3

So,  I hope your first scrapbook page came out well or that you found some interesting ideas. A somewhat new trend in the scrapping world is DIGITAL SCRAPBOOKING. It is the paper crafting without the paper. There are so many amazing options out there that you can have all of the embellishments of regular scrapbooking saved away on your hard drive in nice neat folders...which I can't say for my actual scrapbooking items.

But, since this is paper crafting week, we'll touch on tangible embellishments. You can go here to find a huge array of embellishments that you can order online. There are also half off coupons for Hobby Lobby on different types of embellishments each week. You can pick from stickers, 3D stickers, pre made paper embellishments, and don't forget ribbon.

Go forth and be creative!!

31 Days to Branch Out! Day 1

So, you all should know by now that my mind changes faster than south Texas weather. My original 31 days was already taken and I was inspired to do something else anyway- more of what I want this blog to be about anyway so it's October 1st: TAAADAAA!!!

For the next few weeks we'll be covering the basics of crafting! We'll cover Paper Crafts, Fabric Crafts, Knitting and Crochet, Holiday Crafts, and UpCycling!

I really hope everyone will check in every day to see what you can learn! So, basics in paper crafts!

TOOLS!!

So, first things first:

 

These are scissors! :-) Just kidding, I know you know what scissors are...but if you're not familiar with the paper crafting world, these are not just scissors: these are Cutter Bee scissors. You'll pay a smidgen more for these babies but they are sharp all the way down to the tippy point and can cut very small details out of your paper. Really handy when you're cutting out something you've traced. 

 Next is this baby! The Fiskars paper trimmer. I love this one because the ruler that pops out there on the side is extremely sturdy and the numbers wont rub off when you use it a lot (you'd be surprised how many trimmers I've had to toss because I couldn't read the numbers any more). Also, it has this great little wire thing where the slidy cutter goes so you can line up where the blade will go. Perfect if you're cutting pictures or something that's not an exact measurement.

The crop a dile! This little beauty sets eyelets (or grommets if you're more familiar with that term) which are these and really makes it a lot easier than trying to work a hammer.

 

Adhesives are important too. I like these value packs because you get a bunch of different ones that will adapt well to your different projects! Always make sure your adhesive is ACID FREE. 

 CLICK THE PIC for free printable scrapbooking paper!

And of course you have paper!!! Any kind of paper will do for just about anything. ACID FREE is a term you'll find a lot in paper crafting due to the nostalgic nature of scrapbooking. It means the things you create won't yellow from age like all those old photographs and papers from your grandmothers house. If you find something that you want to use that is not ACID FREE there are sprays you can get from your local hobby stores.

BIT OF ADVICE: Do not use original old photos. Make a copy of it and store the original in a safe place. You don't want to possibly ruin the only picture of your Great Aunt Maude because you used the wrong glue.

Feel free to ask any questions that come up as we go along in the days and weeks. I'm not an expert but I know some things and I will certainly do my best to find the answers for you.

RAIN check!

So, I didn't get to do too much of the project for today because it actually rained!!! :-)
First it was too darn hot to be outside and while I was taking care of M&M, it began to rain and hasn't really stopped. It's pretty icky outside now.

So, check back tomorrow and I'll be able to work on it a bit more!

Also, check out the new thing thats starting over at the Nester! I will be participating in this!

I have it all planned out and I will be posting every day. YES...EVERY DAY... I know I'm bad about posting every day but I have it blocked into my schedule and I will be posting every day. I'm really excited about doing this even if I do it alone!

So, now its off to sonic for some ice cream. See you all tomorrow!!

I'm BROKE!!! Check it out!

I'm BROKE!

In honor of this, I'm going to do something tomorrow that uses something we ALLLL have around the house. PLASTIC BAGS! You will need a sewing machine for this project but it shouldn't cost you a dime to make our project.

Gather: Plastic bags (about 24), Iron, Ironing board, wax paper, scrap fabric, sewing machine, and coordinating thread.

Log on to Facebook and "Like" me if you want to do the tutorial in real time. (Starting at 1pm) If you can't, be sure to check in later here and see it all finished.

#3 Pinterest Challenge!

Hello friends!

Man, this has been a crazy day! Drove up to Austin today to go to the Whole Foods so Joe could meet the managers up there. They weren't there but it was fun to spend the day with him. M&M didn't like being in her seat that long but she did pretty good.
Anyway, it's Monday and you know what that means!!!

#3 Pinterest Challenge!!!

Without further ado: 

 Lotion Bars

 

While waiting for Craig Ferguson to come on watching the local news, I saw that there is a cold front heading this way! Which means we'll drop to a bone chilling high of 88 by Friday (pssh yeah I'll believe that when it happens!) But it got me thinking...Fall was on Friday. The cooler weather is on its way even if it's not as cold as you hearty women up north. So here are a couple of really great and EASY recipes for homemade lotion bars. Just click the picture or the title for a link to the recipes! I really cannot wait for this especially after my trip to Whole Foods. 

Let me know how they work out if you're able to do them! Have fun!