Blog Love

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Easy Halloween Pennant Bunting

If you would like to enter the My Memories Suite Digital giveaway, click HERE.
It ends Saturday at midnight!



I have been wanting to make one of these for a looooong time!  I have about everything else for Halloween but a cute little bunting.  This one isn't exactly little.  Each piece is about 3 1/2 x 6 inches folded!  

This only took me about 20 minutes to make.  I cut each piece of paper with my industrial sized paper cutter.  Then I folded each piece in half, cut the bottoms of each pennant.  This paper is from My Minds Eye Boo to You and Spook line.


Next, I  found some black glittery chipboard letters for the "Halloween."  I used Mod Podge to glue them on the paper.  I only used the Mod Podge on the bottom.  It dries so fast, that's why I didn't use regular glue!


After the letters were dry, I measured a piece of ribbon, slid the ribbon inside the paper, right where it folds, then glued the ribbon with Mod Podge.  Again, it only takes it about 10-15 minutes to dry.  


There you go!  A cute, fast and cheap way to make a pennant bunting!  It also used up a bunch of my paper scraps as well!

Hope to see you SATURDAY for the kick off of the Monster CRAFT bash!  It's going on every day in October!! 

I am linking here with these parties:

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Monster Bash Party coming in October!

Do ya like my cute little button?

I have been soooo excited to tell you about this, I could hardly contain myself!  I have been wanting to have a party on my blog with guest bloggers, giveaways, etc, for months.

 Well, my friends, I finally put one together.  I am calling it Monster Craft Bash!! You are in for a treat!  Wait until you see what I have in store for you the WHOLE month of October.  Here's a peek at who will be hanging out here sharing a fantastic tutorial with you all:

Michele- The Scrap Shoppe                                                         Bev- Flamingo Toes             
Gina- Shabby Chic Cottage                                                         Jamielyn- I heart Naptime
Ginger- Ginger Snap Crafts                                                         Lindsay- Southern Lovely
Linda- Craftoholics Anonymous                                                 Allison- A glimpse Inside
Jen- Craftomaniac                                                                        Jennifer- Scissors and Spatulas 
Nan- You Could Make That                                                        Kara- Creations by Kara
Kaysi- Keeping it Simple                                                             Michelle- Michelle Paige
Janet- Today's Fabulous Finds                                                     Fawnda- Fireflies and Jellybeans
Heather- Me Making Do                                                              Hannah- Young and Crafty
Kelsey- Tattered and Inked                                                          Kathy- Dandelions and Dust Bunnies
Haley- The Autocrat                                                                    Ginger- Literally Inspired
Candace and Nicole- Crafty Sisters                                              Kristyn- My Lil Luna

Giveaways
Vintage Rose Wraps
Dandelions and Dust Bunnies
Expressions Vinyl
Cinnamon Sticks Jewelry
Sweet Pea Totes
Domestic Charm

Can you believe all these lovely ladies agreed to post on MY blog???  I am so honored and excited!!  
I hope you will stop by to see their fabulous posts and the fantastic giveaways that will be going on ALL month long.
See you Saturday! WAAHOOOO!!

PS. If you would like to post a button for my party on your blog sidebar, I would love you FOREVER!  
You can find it on the right hand side of my blog sidebar along with the text box(thanks Allison!).

Monday, September 26, 2011

5 Creepy Spider Finds

I am not a huge fan of spiders.  Especially the BIG ones.  This time of year, I am willing to put my fears aside and get out the scary decorations, and sometimes that includes spiders!  Here are some of my favorites I found on Pinterest.
I am lovin' these creepy crawly spider pumpkins.  You can find out how to make them at bhg.com

This spider in a jar, looks delicious!  Find it on blog.craftzine.com
These adorable Spider Krispies would be fun to make with the kids!  They can be found at Cookies and cups.com

Love, Love, this White Spider Pumpkin.  The bling is awesome! Find it at Bhg.com
What a creepy printable from Diary of Daves Wife

Hope you are having a fabulous Monday!  I start school today, yippieee!  I have a 3 hr. Math class starting in a few hours.  I am going to have a sore bum today:)



Saturday, September 24, 2011

My Memories Suite Digital Scrapbook Software Giveaway!

Lately I don't have a lot of spare time.  I am going to college, have 3 kids, and I am very active in my church.  I have been looking into ways to simplify my life while enjoying the hobbies I love. One of the things I love is  scrapbooking.3 years ago, I used to enjoyed traditional scrapbooking. I had (and still have!) drawers full of papers, stickers and embellishments.  I still love to do scrapbooking the traditional way, but I just don't have the time and it makes such a mess.
I have been thinking about getting a digital scrapbooking software but I just didn't  know which one was the right for me since I do not have a lot of computer skills.

When I was asked to review My Memories Suite Digital Scrapbooking Software I was so happy to try it out!  I have been wanting to switch over to digital scrapbooking for a long time.

What I loved about My Memories Suite is how easy, affordable and mess free this digital scrapbooking software is compared to dealing with paper scrapbooking.  For me the biggest appeal of this type of software is that those that I do not have the time, resources or patience for traditional scrapbooking and I can enjoy scrapbooking without purchasing fancy scissors,acid-free glue, papers and albums!

I was surprised, once I found my way around it, how easy it was to create beautiful pages!
It literally took me about 5 minutes to create these  pages:



My Memories Suite comes with a lot of template sets, paper patterns and embellishments. To add even more options,they offer free design downloads and hundreds of low-priced papers, templates and packs in their Design Shop. Using thisscrapbook software, you not only can create digital scrapbooks but also calendars, photobooks, videos and cards.



I honestly feel like this software is easy to use.  I am excited to make calendars for my family as well!

 My Memories Suite wants you to have your very own copy of the digital Software for FREE! and I want you to have it too!! 

GIVEAWAY GUIDELINES and open to everyone:

1 winner will receive My Memory Suite Digital Scrapbooking Software 
This giveaway will remain open until Saturday October 1st at midnight.
The winner will be chosen at random, notified by email and will have 48 hours to respond.

IN ORDER TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY, go to My Memories Suite site and leave me a comment telling me which is your  favorite digital paper pack or layout.


BONUS ENTRIES: Please leave a separate comment for each entry

Like  My Memories Suite on Facebook
Follow My Memories Suite on Twitter
Follow MY Blog!

Readers of my blog can also receive a 10% discount of the fabulous digital software using the code STMMMS19109

Disclosure: I received  a copy of My Memories Suite to review and I am very happy I did, all the opinions are my own.


Thursday, September 22, 2011

Wood Post Pumpkins


I have been working on these for a few days and I am so excited to show these to you!!  I have to give credit to Maria over at You Craft me up!  She came up with this fabulous idea!  I absolutely L.O.V.E. how they turned out.  She even has a video of how to make the notches in your wood!  


You've got to check out all the other wood craft ideas she has on her blog.  She is one Talented Crafty lady:)

This is such an inexpensive gift idea.  The wood post was about $7.50 at Home Depot.  You can get 2 sets of pumpkins out of an 8ft. piece of wood.  She gives all  the details over on her blog!

Here's how mine turned out:


To make the "Pumpkin Patch" sign, I just found a piece of scrap wood that looked about the right size, painted it Burnt Sienna, cut out the letters with my Cricut and paper, then stenciled the letters on with Light Ivory paint.  EASY!


Halloween Blocks Giveaway Winner!

Congrats to Mrs. Prince!  She is the Halloween Blocks Giveaway winner!!  I sent you an e-mail Jessie, and I hope to hear from you soon:)  

Mrs. Prince said:
I'm a follower! they are so cute!

I will be back later today with an awesome Pumpkin Craft!!

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Halloween Card and Spider Tags

Only 1 more day for the Halloween blocks giveaway!!  Click here to enter.

For a few years I was making Cards and Tags like crazy!  I love to give a handmade card!  I think it means a lot to people knowing that you made it.  Here are a few ideas for the Halloween Season:

This card is sooo easy to make!  You can buy pre-cut cards and envelopes, or you can make you own card by cutting down an 8 1/2 x 11 piece of cardstock to 4 x 6.  

Find some cute Halloween paper, cut it to size, then glue on the card.  I cut a coordinating piece of paper for the strip across the bottom.  

Then, using a scallop punch, I punched out a circle, added a the Happy Halloween sentiment which I just printed out off my computer.  I printed it out on printer paper.  EASY!  

For these tags, I simply punched a bunch of scalloped circles with my scallop punch, stamped the "Boo" and the spider with a cheap set of Halloween stamps,  punched  and cut them out, glued on the spider with a pop dot, and adhered the "Boo" with a tape runner. 

I bought some cute spider ribbon from Micheal's to finish off the tags!  I also edged the spider with black chalk ink. EASY and CHEAP!  

I challenge you to send out at least one handmade card this year!  You can do it!!  It's really fun too!  I would love to see what you made!

Linking here:
The Crafty Nest
Southern Lovely
A Little Tipsy

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Autumn Burlap Table Runner tutorial


Hello Happy Hour Projects readers!  My name is Karen and I blog over at Pocket Full of Pink, where I post crafts, tutorials, recipes and sometimes just random stuff!  I am so excited to be here.

Today I am going to show you my Ruffled Burlap Table Runner:





I am absolutely LOVING my Table Runner!  I love how it turned out.  Wanna know how I made it?  
Here is what you will need:

Burlap (I used a piece about 17 inches wide, 45 inches long)
2 different fabrics about 1/4- 1/2 yard of each
sewing machine
thread
scissors, tape measure
I don't quilt, but I use the long plastic thingy (what is the name of it!!) in the picture and a cutting mat.

That's all you need!  This is so inexpensive to make!!


First I cut the burlap into the 17 x 45 inch piece.  Do ya know how to cut Burlap?  You make a little snip where you want to cut it, then pull out a burlap thread.  This will make a straight line through your burlap!  Now you can use scissors or a quilting cutter (I can't think of the right name for it!) to cut your burlap.  I hope that made sense.  It really makes it easy to cut the Burlap.

After you have cut your burlap in the desired length and width, iron it.  Mine had lots of creases in it.  Don't leave the hot iron on the burlap for long:)


Next, you cut your 2 different fabrics into strips about 2 inches by 34 inches long (twice the amount of the width of your runner).  I cut 4 strips of one pattern and 3 of the other pattern.  


Now here's the fun part.  I hated making ruffles until I learned how to make them!  My machine is very basic and I know every machine is different, so this probably varies depending on your machine.  You turn the thread tension up to the highest number.  I know the picture is hard to see, but my thread tension is at about 8 or 9.  


Next, you turn the stitch width to the highest.  Mine is 5.  


Here is what the ruffles looked like when I got done.  All you have to do is guide the fabric piece through the machine, and it makes the ruffles for you!  This works perfectly!  Remember, don't back stitch. I am a new woman now that I have discovered this!!


Next, I placed each ruffle about 6 inches apart.  Now, pin each ruffle onto the burlap in a straight line.


Sew each ruffle down, right down the center, but make sure you are not sewing on top of the stitch you sewed to make the ruffle.  Get as close as you can to it.  Then after each ruffle is sewn on, take your seam ripper and take out the ruffle seam (the one on the right that my seam ripper is pointing to).  The seam should come out really easy. 


After picking out the ruffle seam, I frayed each ruffle a little along the edges of the fabric.  I also cut any threads that were hanging.  

Admire your fabulous work and show it off on your table!!


We had some friends over for dinner last night and they absolutely LOVED this!  
It was so nice to say I MADE IT!! 


If you have any questions about my directions, e-mail me and I'd be happy to help:
kweight@byu.net

Thanks so much Adrianne for letting me stop by! 

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Pumpkins, Black Cats, and Witches

If you would like to enter the Halloween blocks giveaway click here!  

How is your weekend going?  Mine is very relaxed and we are actually getting some rain!  We really need it:)

Pretty Halloween Ensemble at Honey and Maple Syrup.

I haven't seen this Halloween printable yet!  Find it on Rebecca Cooper's Blog: Simple as That.

How cute is this?  If I was pregers I would soooo wear it.....but alas i am NOT prego! 
Find this on ETSY.

I want to make one of these!  I love it!  Find it on Etsy.

I LOVE this book!  I used to read it to my kiddos when they were little.  They loved it:)

Love this pumpkin tree!  So fun... At Country Living.

I love all things Vintage.  Especially Halloween! 
Find them here.

Hope you have a fantastic weekend.  I am so excited to make an announcement next week!  It's gonna be a SWEET October!!

Friday, September 16, 2011

Fall Burlap Wreath


Yesterday I spent my afternoon making this baby. 
I have to be completely honest....I don't know if I LOVE it.  

I saw Linda's pretty wreath over at Craftaholics and I knew I had to make one.  
I think her's turned out better, but I am not going to put mine down:)  I am happy with it, I just think my flowers turned out HUGE!


When I was making it, I couldn't decide whether to do the Halloween or Fall look, so it kinda turned out BOTH.  

I need your honest opinion.  Do you like it?  Be kind and gentle.  I am having PMS right now....
My kids loved it!  I should be happy about that, right?  

I need peer approval please....

I am linking here:

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

DIY Halloween Wood Blocks and Giveaway!

Have you visited Andy over at Poppies at Play?  She has created some fabulous printable's to use for free!
I was visiting her blog recently and found this cool printable for these Halloween blocks.  I HAD to make them!

Most of you may already know this, but I had a problem with the ink running when I put the mod podge on.  I sprayed the printable with Krylon Matte spray and that seemed to do the trick.  

I like the antique, worn look, so I sanded around the edges and on the top of the letter a little.  It also covers up any mistakes or ink that ran a little:)


I have sooo many Halloween decorations here at my house, I couldn't possible keep these blocks.  Would you like the chance to win them?  

Here's what ya gotta do:
- Follow my blog and leave a comment saying you follow (if you are already a follower, just leave a comment saying so)
-make sure you leave me your e-mail or some way to contact you!

For extra entries:
- Tweet about this giveaway and leave the link. (2 extra entries) 
- Give a shout out about this giveaway on Facebook and leave the link. (3 extra entries)

That's it!  What a cute addition to your Halloween decor these would make, right?  
 This giveaway will end Wednesday Sept. 21st at Midnight.  I will announce the winner on Thursday morning the 22nd.
U.S. and Canada only!
  

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

A day in the life of an Adult with ADD


Let me begin by saying… I don’t expect you to read all of this, I know I wouldn’t (if you’re anything like me, you won’t sit here long enough to get through half of it), just wondering if any of you have days, weeks or
you live like this? I love the creative side of my brain, but the other side is driving me crazy.  

I debated about whether to even post about this, but I think there may be someone out there who needs to read this.  I am 43 years old and I have ADD.  There, I said it.  Here is what my days are like:

6:15am:  wake up, get kids to school, eat breakfast, put the clothes in the dryer that I forgot about and left in the wash the day before.
8:00am: exercise (if I don't do it now, it won't get done)
9:00am:  check my e-mail, my blog, and usually spend at least an hour looking at blogs and answering e-mails.  
10:00 or so:  take a shower
10:30am:  think about the things I should do, then decide to get on the computer again.  Sometimes I start a craft, but I don't usually finish it.   Maybe throw a load of laundry in the wash.

12:00: eat lunch while I am on the computer checking e-mail and my blog. (I  know. I am a addict)

1:00: think about all the projects I want to do, but don't actually start anything.  Feel overwhelmed by some of the things I should be doing.  maybe remember to put the clothes in the dryer.

2pm: Think to myself, "What happened to the time? I can't believe it's almost time for S to come home!"
Look at the pile of stuff in my bedroom against the wall and think about how I need to do something with it. I decide I'll do it tomorrow.

2:30:  Take a nap until S gets home.

Are you thinking, "Holy cow, that woman is REALLY lazy!"  Well, that's what I think sometimes.  I really have good intentions about what I am going to do that day, but it never really works out.  

This is totally me!  
You should see my house.  Can you say Clutter?  I look at it and just don't know what to do with it, so I do nothing.
I hope I don't scare anyone out there, I actually function pretty well,  it just gets old.  I am tired of forgetting stuff, blurting out stuff, not finishing a task, or not even starting it, having a low self-esteem, etc...etc....etc...
I was diagnosed about 6 years ago, along with my then, 8 year old son.  He was put on medication which has helped him tremendously.  I tried the medication, but I didn't like the way it felt, so I quit taking it.

Many of you know I started College last Fall and I have been doing really well.  But recently I have felt so scatter brained, forgetting more, and having a hard time getting ANYTHING done.  So I went to a Dr. He gave me a written test to take and did confirm that yes, I do have ADD. 

So now I am taking some medication for ADD and so far it is working GREAT!   I don't feel so exhausted all the time, my mind seems more clear, and I feel more driven to get things done.  It's not perfect, but things are getting better.
  If you think you might have ADD,  or you have a kid or a spouse with ADD,  you should watch ADD and loving it?!  It was recently on PBS.  It was awesome!   Here is a quote from the show:

When ADD is diagnosed and treated, life can become very sweet. A liability can become an asset. As one expert explains, "This is not a diagnosis to fear. This is a diagnosis to understand and embrace."
I am learning to live with ADD and I know others can too.  I hope this helped someone out there.  It helped me to write this!