crafts

has it really been that long...

2011-08-24T10:22:00.000-07:00

     Over a year ago I began this blog with some inspiration from my great friend Kelly. I haven't been very successful in getting subscribers or even posting regularly and the poor blog has gotten at least 3 face lifts! I am hoping this is the one that sticks. I enjoy sharing my thoughts but they are far and few between (if we exclude wedding stuff).
     Which oddly enough has brought me to the latest look! Homemade & Heartfelt... I love the way the words go together. It is what I think about when I remember crafting with my mom as a little girl. At the time I could never understand why she would take hours to decide which color of flower to paint, or the design of one of her many teddy bear bags.
      Now, as I develop my own crafting style I can understand. There is just something in the picture that drives the design. Sometimes creativity flows effortlessly into the masterpiece and other times you have to walk away becuase the page or the design is just not working out! I have begun this blog to talk about beauty and crafts and I will continue to do so & hopefully more often!

if you love it... why not frame a picture of it!

2011-02-14T13:58:00.000-08:00

I will admit it... I LOVE LOVE! What better time to see that in another couple than on their wedding day! A day in which they pledge their devotion to one another.
In planning my own wedding I began to seek out ways to bring that feeling of love and devotion in the details of the decor. I absolutely LOVE the idea of incorporating wedding pictures our parents, siblings, and grandparents in our ceremony decor but how?
I began by looking for ceremony and reception decor images on theknot.com. There were some very eclectic and beautiful display but they just didn't translate to what we already had going on.
In the end it was my brother's wedding that had the most influence. I really liked how he incorporated family, heritage, and love in his wedding reception decor. Their cake table displayed more than just cup cakes! A table cloth with the iron on transfers of their families wedding photos for the cake table. It turned out really beautiful, and it was definitely something very unique to their wedding.
This was just the inspiration I needed! I knew exactly what needed to be done. It was pretty simple too! I bought some inexpensive wooden frames from Michael's and began to deocrate them to match my theme.
I used extra supplies from the wedding; silk flowers & leaves (from bouquets & centerpieces), scrapbooking paper (from the invitations),ribbons, etc. I think they turned out pretty cute. I couldn't have done it without the support of my fiance and help of my bridesmaid Helena... THANK-YOU!!!
Here are a few of my favorite frames (so far). Now to collect all the photos!!

LOVE.. (How to)

2011-01-28T11:56:00.000-08:00

I am so excited to have made a very cute wedding and or valentines project!

I will be using this little cutie as part of the display near our guest book. You could easily make one of your own.

The supplies

- 4 (4x4) canvas frames

( I used you could use any size)

- tissue paper

(use your favorite color)

- glue dots or favorite form of adhesive

- scissors

- ribbon (

- stapler

(to attach ribbon to canvas)

- letter cut outs

(I used my Cricut to cut out LOVE)

Heres the How to...

1. Lay out tissue paper, measure to fit canvas. The tissue paper should cover all sides of the canvas and be able to secure to the back.

2. Cut tissue paper to fit canvas.

3. Fold and fasten the tissue paper to the canvas.

4. Once they are all covered, they should look like this.

5. You can embellish your in any way. I picked LOVE to go with my upcoming wedding theme. However, you could use this project for any upcoming event like a baby shower.

6*. Using the stapler attach the ribbon to the first canvas in the form of a loop.

7*. Now make sure all the canvases are attached securely & hang!

*steps 6 & 7 are optional.

Other options....

You could make loops for all canvases and hang each seperately.

You could hang them individually.

more progress!

2011-01-16T18:07:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to share some more progress!

I have completed some more things...
A while back I completed the corsages for the Mothers and Grandmothers (see image on left). Simple pin on corsages for each of the lovely women we would like to honor at our wedding. I was so excited to have another thing checked off my massive to do list!!
After sharing with my Mom & Nonni that they were done and I was so proud of them, I was shocked to hear that they would like wristlets instead! At first I was frustrated because I had just completed the project and now I had to go change something! I had just checked it off my to do list. Wristlets were not in the original plan. I think you get the picture!!

So after some deliberation I decided I would find a way to convert my finished project into something EVERYONE would love.
It really was a simple fix! I ordered the bracelet materials from orientaltrading.com and simply attached the premade corsages to them. It was so simple and I had stressed out about it for no reason!

Here is a couple pics of a finished one.

wedding progress...

2011-01-12T21:03:00.000-08:00

I have been working on wedding things. The kit I originally bought online from oriental trading. The kit makes a beautiful set that has champagne/beige color. The instructions say to paint all the pieces white, tie on ribbons, add some rhinestones and paper white flowers (very pretty in the picture but not in my color scheme). Almost a month ago (wow has it been that long?) I covered these wooden letters with a beautiful grey/purple color with a white damask pattern. I haven't been able to come up with a completed design until tonight! I finally finished them!! The ribbons are shades of purple and a silver/grey that has a hint of purple. I Spray painted and distressed the additional damask pattern pieces (also made of wood).

I love how they turned out!

Here they are with a little better lighting!

pssst... have your heard??

2010-06-19T12:15:00.000-07:00

ok... so the other day I read about this lip gloss that supposedly can tell if your drink is spiked. Now this would be really cool if it were true. If you read closely the lip gloss itself is not going to be able to detect a drug in your system or if one were placed in your drink. However, it does come with TEST STRIPS that you can use to see if your drink has been spiked. My concern with this product, the fase sense of security it can give. There are so many variables... you have to be able to complete the test accurately, you have to test all your drinks, and unfortunately if your concerned or worse starting to feel the effects of something there is nothing that the test strips can do for you. If you are interested in this product, and would like to read up on it yourself, check out the website at http://www.2lovemylips.co.uk/ and see for yourself!

where does the time go...

2010-05-22T13:25:00.000-07:00

May is almost over and try as I might I am at a loss for how I have spent all of this time. Time that has slipped away. Time that has been "well spent" I hope. How funny it is that the time I have most recently spend scrapbooking the past 5 years of my life. In looking back have I stopped pursuing my future? On that note... Gmail wants me to do MORE advertising... something that I am not sure I want. I am not some hardcore blogger looking for success and fame... this is a project just for fun! That's why there are so few entries... sorry pals! well... i want to hear from you... what kind of product are you looking for? what do you want to know more about? In looking toward the future... a fun packed memorial day weekend... maybe travel will inspire some terrific beauty finds!

May is the month of Buzz worthy Beauty finds!

2010-05-11T22:35:00.000-07:00

Spring is in the air, and even though the weather has been crazy and can't seem to make up it's mind. Here is a little bit of info so that you can make up your mind when it comes to picking out something special. I recently went in search of sweet beauty buys that might have the bee's buzzing with jealousy. My first is find is a product that has been around a while... it is gloss that plumps! I was first introduced to this type of product long ago by a little company called Skinmarket, the product was Lip Venom. It made your lips burn and wasn't very plesant and didn't taste good either. Victoria Secrets lip plumper comes in various shades which is fun. I am always partial to the baby pink color because it gives just a hint of color and looks nice on "everyone".

APRIL!

2010-04-02T21:51:00.000-07:00

Well, no April fools joke here! April is Autism Awareness Month.I am proud to say that I love someone with Autism. I am greatful to have the opportunity to make a difference within the community. Wear blue for Autism Awareness! Now is the time to show support, send love to those in the community, spread awareness for this cause. Autism Spectrum Disorder is spreading not just in notoriety.

Autism affects 1 in 110 children and 1 in 70 BOYS!

March is National Craft Month

2010-03-21T10:22:00.000-07:00

So one of my favorite things to do is being crafty... especially SCRAPBOOKING! I scrapped my brother’s wedding, summer trips, sorority events, even other craft projects that I have completed. I have completed a quilt for my parents ( I couldn’t have done it without Mia & Leia- my “slelves”), a no-sew blanket for Ryan, some onesies for some preggo friends, and of course scrapping the last 5 years of pictures that I have accrued. I have had so much fun working with my friends on some random projects… I encourage you to get crafty too! March is national craft month… so let’s get crafting! I have posted some ideas below…

... my favorite product ...

2010-03-16T14:52:00.000-07:00

A long time ago Target was cemented in time as my all time favorite store. It has great variety and is never a let down in the beauty isle. I adored wandering down the lanes looking for that little something extra for an upcoming special night out. I was introduced to the wonderful world of Berts Bees and Soap & Glory. I used to bee fanatical about Berts! Until I found the best lip set EVER! Soap and Glory's Mighty Mouth Kit is undoubtedly amazing! It has two parts that pull off the trifecta to a perfect pucker. When you open the kit there is the double sided black tube and a lip gloss, which is nearly sheer so it goes with pretty much any skin tone. The double sided black tube is ingenious! On one side it has smoothe over, an exfoliant, and on the other is soften up, aloe to soothe the lips. The combination almost instantly starts to heal those poor chapped lips. Then if you choose to add the lip gloss you get the plumpest looking pucker... and the shine makes it look soooo glamourous!
So there you go… my favorite product...Mighty Mouth™ 3 steps to gorgeous lips kit and includes a Double Smooth & Soften Lip Stick and Super Filling Lip Shine. Check out the link below to order some for yourself!
http://www.soapandglory.com/us/products/skincare/mighty-mouth

BEAUTY_IN_ALL_SIZES

2010-03-15T21:08:00.000-07:00

This blog was the wonderful idea of my good friend Kelly*. She suggested that I start a beauty blog since I am always more than willing to tell her about my new favorite products, uses for items and all things girly! I am excited to start this new venture and share this all with you! I am hoping you will find this useful and fun too! I love beauty products AND crafting products… so a little bit of everything and anything I can think of will be posted… including my latest “obsession” over weddings even though I am not engaged…yet! I am also interested in what you would like to know or get advice about!
Enjoy!