The Crafters File Box

2013-04-25T10:00:00.001-04:00

Hello.... anyone there? :)

I thought I would do a quickie little post to share my pinterest page, if you wanted to see where I am now "filing" all of my current ideas! I can't help it... it is faster than blogging and with things being as crazy as they always are.. I got a little lazy. The Pinterest version of the Crafter's File Box can be found..... HERE! :)

So if you are looking for more crafting inspiration, you are welcome to check out my latest idea-hoarding location! Don't worry, I still have a tutorial or two to share. Just don't don't know exactly when that will be. Maybe the summer? Maybe not? :)

Have a fantastic day!

Just Sleep Rocks!!

2012-06-27T15:28:00.003-04:00

Okay how cool is this... I posted my love *rant* for Just Sleep (see below). Someone at the company saw it already and sent a coupon code for YOU!! Save $5 bucks when you enter the coupon code FRIEND. I forgot to mention... that with every order, you get a Franklin Covey ebook for FREE.
Check them out @ www.myjustsleep.com

(This is NOT a paid endorsement... I wish it was! :) I just wanted to pass on another of my favorite things!)

2012-06-27T13:49:00.000-04:00

Hello, everyone! Has it really been four months since I last posted? I have a good excuse… I promise. I have been really taking my Word of the Year to heart: Balance. Part of that balance included not blogging for awhile. It is really wonderful letting go of anything extra for awhile. I have been amazed at what I have missed in my own family’s life by being so caught up in other’s lives. I have been able to relax and take off a lot of expectation of myself. I’ve even said “No”! Turns out, that is a very helpful word!

I have to share a little secret with you. A huge part of bringing my life into balance is just one word…. SLEEP.

Yep, sleep. What a glorious, yummy word. I have always been a night owl. I could stay up til 2-3 AM with no problem. The flip side? I am NOT a morning person. I used to think that the world should start stirring around 9AM. Since that wasn’t possible (my kids had to get to school, right?) , I would just wake up early, then be groggy and unclear all day.

Enter in JustSleep. Peeps, I can’t even begin to tell you what this has done for me. I go to bed and 9-10pm-- on my own!! My mind doesn’t race, I don’t think about crazy stuff, and I don’t toss and turn for hours. I don’t feel the need to get out of bed and start a craft or home decorating project that has been tickling my mind. NOPE! I just close my eyes, and moments later…. this lady is snoozing away.

Getting this quality sleep has completely changed me. I am so much for more calm, I can think straight, I don’t feel so compulsive and my moods have stabilized. I feel more like… ME! A lovely, healthy me!

Let me tell you a bit about JustSleep, my little miracle in a bottle. It is a all-natural, side effect FREE product. There is not one drop that is made from addictive or chemical substances. It is made with all F.D.A approved ingredients. It is so safe and effective that I even use it with my kids. (And I am such a helicopter/over-protective mom that that speaks VOLUMES of its safety!)

I know one concern that I had when taking any sort of sleep aid was that I didn’t want to not be able to wake up to one of my kid’s or for an emergency. The truly amazing part of JustSleep is that you can wake up – or be woken up—at any time without feeling like you are in a medicated fog. I used to wake up really easily throughout the night, and once I woke up it was a least one frustrating hour before I could go back to sleep. Now, if I am awakened, I fall back to sleep in minutes.

This is life changing, people!!! I had no idea that to bring balance to my life,
I needed to JUST SLEEP!!

If you would like more information, you can visit their website-- myjustsleep.com. They have tons of informative videos that helps tell you better than I can exactly how it works, what it is made of and so forth.

Cease and Desist

2012-01-25T10:01:00.000-05:00

Life is so full of surprises. Take yesterday, for instance. I was just out and about at the Ballard's Design outlet "saving" lots of money, when this little email popped up on my phone.

Hello...

I found your very nice website online, using the "Planket" name. We understand that at times, persons might find the Plankets name as appealing as we do. However, please be aware that the word, "Plankets" (or any of its variances, including its singular form, "Planket") is a fully protected and Trademarked commercial name, and its usage in your applications is in direct infringement of its trademark:

US Patent and Trademark Office

Registration Number 2305693

We hereby request that you cease and desist in further usage of the Planket name, and that the name be removed from www.craftersfilebox.com and any of your other websites that the Planket name resides, and that any commercial benefits received by the usage of the protected Planket name will be grounds for potential legal compensation or restitution to the Planket trademark owner or their assignees.

We request that this action be completed by January 27, 2012. We thank you for your immediate conformance in this matter.

Please contact me directly should you have any questions, or would like additional information.

Sincerely,

(name omitted in case that is trademarked, too)

How crazy is that! I made this tutorial almost two years ago. Before I posted, I did a search on the name "Pl@anket" to make sure that it was not already someone else's idea. Nothing came up. Oh, well.

However, I have modified the tutorial (my FREE, not-for-money-tutorial) and took out the controversially name. I kindly ask that if you have reposted the tutorial (thanks for the love!) that you take the name off, too. I have also edited out the name-that-shall- not- be- written in my picture, so if you can use that new picture, too.

Pl@nket... you and I have now severed all ties. Love you while it lasted, my friend!!

My Planner= Balancing My Life

2012-01-18T10:13:00.003-05:00

I have always been a planner person. There is just something so satisfactory as writing down a task, seeing it to completion, and marking it off. It is a delicious experience. Over the years, I have tried several different types of planners, but this one is my favorite. I am just starting my second year of using this style of planner and I LOVE it!

Who designs these sa-weet planers? Why, Erin Condren at ErinCondren.com. I love her quirky, fun and bright style. It makes me happy as I plan out my days, meals and various appointments!

One of my favorite things is the ability to personalize your planner. Last year I had a photo of my family on the cover. This year, it's all about the colors!

I also love how the days are marked off by sections-- morning, afternoon, and evening. It is a great way to see your availability at a glance. Also, there are these cute pre-filled and blank stickers that fit perfectly in every section. Dr's appointments, PT conference, date nights, birthdays, etc.... are the staring show of your day. I am amazed at my productivity AND focus when I schedule out my days.

And scheduled days = a BALANCED life. Yes!

So what do you do to quell the chaos?

(This is NOT a paid endorsement... I wish it was! :) I just wanted to pass on one of my favorite things!)

Balance-- My 2012 Word of the Year

2012-01-17T09:43:00.000-05:00

I know this is a craft blog, but I hope you will allow me this one indulgence at sharing my power word for 2012.

BALANCE.

At the end of 2011, I was ragged. I had spent my year running, but not moving anywhere. My days and nights were filled to overflowing-- but I had nothing to show for it. When I began to think of the New Year and all the exciting possibilities that a mental fresh start could provide, "balance" popped into my head almost immediately.

I don't want to give up anything up there on my list and luckily, I don't have to. I just need to learn to pace myself. Not my strong suit, as I am mostly an all or nothing kind of girl.

RELATIONSHIPS: I really, really love people. I truly do. I love to know about what they think, what they are excited about, and what we share in common. But sometimes, I can get more involved in others lives than my own. While it is great to feel empathy and feel that connection, I need to be able to go only as a vistor--- not as a resident.

HEATH: Man, I stink at this. Ten months after I got married, I had a baby and then had three more in the next four years. I felt I had to put my needs on the back burner to be a good mom. Now, my baby is eight and the kids are doing just fine on their own. I have got to once again remember that I need to have a part in my "take care of everyone" mentality. It's time to remember that to be the best mom, I have to make sure my needs are met. Darn it. It is so much easier taking care of others!

SERVICE: And speaking of taking care of others... I love to serve. Or, I guess I should say... I can't say NO to any service opportunity. :) I don't want to lose that part about me, but I do want to put it in some sort of balance. And part of that means an introduction of a seldom used word into my vocabulary... NO.

PROJECTS/TIME/BUSINESS GROWTH: I feel like these three are always battling for my attention. I go round in circles trying to do them all simultaneously and end up doing a half baked job on each one. Boo. I want part of my balance this year to include giving each of those things the full attention it deserves.

FUN/WORK/LIFE: I think every parent is trying to find the balance in this one! :) Living a full life with my family means that we have to mix in equal parts of FUN and WORK. I want to continue working on that balance with my relationships with my children and husband... and with me!

Thanks for indulging me and my ramblings. Do you have a word of the year you'd like to share? Link up with Layla at her "This Little Word of Mine" party. I'd love to see what word you chose... and WHY! :)

Happy Balanced New Year, everyone!

(all images of BALANCE via Pinterest)

Clip Board Art Gallery

2012-01-13T08:02:00.001-05:00

Okay, so this isn't the first time I have seen this done, but I love the "industrial" take to it! This is going to save my walls in my youngest's room. She loves to tack all her creations up. It is a little hole nightmare!! :)

Clean and Scentsible shares the easy step by step to bring a boring clipboard to industrial-ville!

Wine Bottle to Lamp

2012-01-12T07:58:00.000-05:00

I have a rather sentimental wine bottle that I have been holding onto forever. (It's funny really, since I don't drink wine!), but it has been gather dust in the box. Not anymore! I am pulling her out of the dust and she is going to debut in my new living room.... as LAMP!

Pondered, Primed and Perfected shares a great tutorial on how you can DIY one for yourself.

2012-01-11T10:20:00.005-05:00

Why does my youngest have to grow up?? I would so love to put her in this little creation. I am Momma-Hear Me Roar shares this darling tutorial on how to make these cutie pants. Hope someone else out there who still has little ones will be able to use this. :)

Picture Collection

2012-01-10T10:05:00.007-05:00

Anyone else take a billion pictures a year? I am a crazy person when it comes to pictures. I love this idea from eighteen25 to make a DVD annually of your year in pictures. I already save all my pictures by month, so make a quick DVD is a cinch. Then, I put it in our safe and ensure the safety of all those memories.

Click here for a the post with the free download.

Snowman Tee

2012-01-09T07:44:00.000-05:00

This is super cute. I'm going to make one for my youngest... but add a little bow to make her a little cuter! :) Brassy Apple shares her tutorial here.

What to do with those Christmas Cards?

2012-01-08T07:38:00.008-05:00

It is so hard to throw away the precious face of your friends and family after Christmas. But what else can you do with them? Brown Paper Packages shares this great idea... make a memory book! What a treasure it would become! (And no more guilt of throwing away your family's and friend's faces!) :)

Creative Yarn Chandelier

2012-01-07T10:17:00.000-05:00

How cleaver... colorful... and all around awesome are these yarn chandeliers??? I love them. They would be a great stand in for paper lanterns.

Hostess with the Mostess shares this awesome (and easy-yeah!) tutorial here.

Self Portrait Ornaments

2012-01-07T10:04:00.000-05:00

This is so going on my "To-Do" list for next year! I love doing picture ornaments for my kids... and they love to see how they grow up. I think this will be a great idea to do next year since they call can draw. I've also seen this idea with little mini canvases which also work really well, too. Eighteen25 came up with this great idea. See all the details here.

Bangle Ornaments

2012-01-07T07:34:00.006-05:00

When shopping the clearance section, keep your eye our for some cute bangle bracelets. Then you can get a leg up on your Christmas ornaments next year. Love this idea to add bling to a regular ornament! The Crafting Chicks share their tutorial here.

Mirrored Snowflakes

2012-01-07T07:28:00.000-05:00

If your house is looking bare and you're feeling a little bit of the after- Christmas blues, these cute sunburst ornaments might just do the trick and cheer you up a bit. Kate, the Centsational Girl ,shared this ornament tutorial at Christmastime, but I think it would be perfect for a bit of winter bling, too!

Snoman Cups

2012-01-06T07:22:00.000-05:00

Aren't these so cute and jolly? Perfect for your next winter party. Best of all, their a cinch to make. Blue Cricket Designs shares her tutorial to make seventy-five of these cups in an hour here.

Merry Christmas to All!

2011-12-25T12:06:00.000-05:00

I hope your family woke up to happiness and joy this morning!

My family woke up bright an early at 6am to see what Santa brought them before our 9am church service. There is nothing quite as magical as Christmas morning, is there?

I had to take a picture of their jammies that Maria Vonn Trapp- ed up. They are made from a set of full size flannel sheets bought on clearance from Target for $5 a few years ago. The hills are alive, friends!

I hope you enjoy the rest of your Christmas day with your loved ones! I'll soon be posting all of the great ideas out there on Blogland so that we all know what to do for our NEXT Christmas. :)

The Christmas Card

2011-11-23T02:38:00.001-05:00

Okay, peeps. We've been all been friends for what... a couple of years now? So I can be honest with you, right? I have a secret to tell, and I am not proud of it. Are you ready for it?

I. did. not. decorate. my. home. for. Halloween. OR. Thanksgiving.

There it is. I feel so much better admitting that. It has been so crazy this year, that I literally could not find a day to put everything up. Sadder still is that my sweetie had to haul all this from the attic to sit. At it sat there... unused.

The good news is that I have reserved all of my creative juices for Christmas. I have so many projects in the works right now that are going down simultaneously with my whole house make-over!

I am also quite happy to report that I have tackled the one beast that starts to loom over me mid-October...

The Christmas Card.

Getting the Christmas card out takes a Herculean effort. First there is the picture itself... outfits, location, securing a photographer... Then you have to actually like some of the pictures enough to send them out to everyone you know.

Next is is finding that right card that says... THAT IS SO US!

Lucky for me, I found a virtually smorgasbord of holiday cards at Tiny Prints. Have you been by yet? Then I will say, "You're welcome" in advance because you are going to die at all the options that are available. There are some for the modern family, the traditional family, and the little-bit-of-both family.

I am happy to say that I have narrowed it down to three contenders.

The Motley Medley

Welcoming Words

and last, but not least #3

Christmas Grid

Right now I would have to say that I am leaning towards numero uno...

So...if you are still waiting to tackle your Christmas card beast, get on over to Tiny Prints!

Get that off your checklist! Then you'll have time to do all the really super important things... like exploring Pinterest for the third time today! :)

Bunting Banner

2011-11-17T13:51:00.000-05:00

Looking to jazz up a party? This free bunting banner printable from Kara's Party Idea's ought to do the trick! Click here for the link.

A Bib Made from WHAT?

2011-11-16T07:31:00.000-05:00

I am so out of the bib phase, but I have friends who aren't. Can you believe this cute bib is made from a reusable bag?? So clever, right? Homemade Ginger shares this cute tutorial at Someday Crafts. I never cease to be amazed by people's creativity!

Christmas In a Jar

2011-11-15T07:25:00.007-05:00

In keeping with my Christmas-mid-November theme, I have to feature the cuteste printable tags EVER! Not only does Kiki Creates share this sweet download for FREE, but she also shows other cute ways to wrap AND fun recipes. Score! Go see Design Dazzle for all the details!

Christmas List Printable

2011-11-14T07:23:00.000-05:00

Forget Thanksgiving... my kids are full Christmas mode at my house. That's why I was thrilled to see this free printable from Emily Jones Design for (cute!) Christmas lists. Click here to find the download.

Woven or Chalk?

2011-11-11T21:49:00.000-05:00

WOVEN PIN BOARD

love the texture and design and practicality

Go here for full tutorial from Emily Jones Design.

CHALKBOARD

love that it is a framed, finished piece, but still functional

Visit the Project Queen for a great tutorial on how to turn anything with a frame into a chalkboard.

Decoupage Lace Vase

2011-11-11T21:41:00.001-05:00

Seriously, what can't you decopage? Shoes? Sure! Bags, why not? And now... vases?? Yep. and they are oh, so lovely! Urban Comfort shares a fabulous tutorial peppered with pretty pictures. This is perfect for a sweet event like a baby or bridal shower!