Then she made...

Mini Painted Bag & Bike Bag

2012-05-22T19:19:00.000-06:00

We pulled out the bikes last night and went on our first family bike ride of the season. I love riding my bike. I'll admit I drag my feet about going because I like to be at home but once I'm on it, I remember why I love it so much. One little hiccup I always have though, is where to put my keys and cell phone. Do you have that problem too? It's just not comfortable having them in my pocket while I ride.

In fact, bike riding aside, in the summer it seems I always have that problem. I don't like carrying a big purse, especially in the summer. They are too big. Too bulky. Too hot. So, in the summer I always pair down and just carry the basics - wallet, keys, cell phone. And, when I'm feeling fancy, lip gloss. hahaha

So, today I happily solved my problem.

I did these little bags start to finish in about 30 minutes. Probably less.

Here's what I did...

You will need a small canvas zipper bag, paint, painters tape and a paint brush. And, for additional optional steps you'll need stamps and a sewing machine.

** Please Note: I didn't use fabric paint. I just used regular craft paint, however, if you plan to wash these, fabric paint would be a better choice.

I picked up my bag at Hobby Lobby for about $3. You can get them for even cheaper if you print out a 40% off coupon. Bargain!!! They come in two different sizes, I went for the smaller size.

Step 1: Take strips of painters tape and tape them evenly on the front of the bag.

Step 2: Wrap the excess tape around the sides and onto the back.

Step 3: Then, take more tape and connect the end pieces so you have completed lines on the back, like shown above.

Step 4: Next, take a DRY paint brush - it needs to be dry, don't get it wet first - and paint in between the taped lines. Be careful not to push the paint under the tape.

Step 5: When the paint dries, or is mostly dry, carefully remove the tape.

You can pretty much do any design you want. I liked the simplicity of the stripes but I also did a checker board pattern as well. My daughter wants to do a chevron design on hers, so really, anything goes.

FYI: You can also use stamps on these too - I just painted a stamp with green paint to get the image on the bag above.

Technically you could stop there and be done. You'd have a small little bag to hold just the basics. However, if you plan to use it on a bike you'll want to keep reading.

To turn it into something I could hook onto my bike I simply added a canvas strip and a strong holding magnet clasp. Here's how...

Step 6: Take fabric, ribbon, or anything you think will work, and make a strip. I doubled over a piece of canvas-like ribbon for mine. Then, I centered it on the bag and sewed it in place just above the zipper.

Step 7: Next, turn the bag over and attach your magnets in place. The best way to do this is to follow the directions on the package. I put my top one so that the back part, the part with the prongs, is sandwiched between the two layers of canvas ribbon. Then I sewed the end of the ribbon closed. For the bottom magnet, I folded the prongs into the inside of the bag.

From the picture above you can see that when the magnet is closed up, the strip of fabric/ribbon makes a little loop like shown above. This loop and magnet is what will hold your bag to your bike

Step 8: Now the only thing to do is attach it to your bike, fill it with your treasures, and head off for a ride.

FYI: The little green bike on the strap is actually a little stamp I painted and used - so cute. I'm kind of in love with that little stamp.

Anyway, Enjoy!

Trendy? Trending? Trends? Giraffe!

2012-05-19T21:17:00.002-06:00

So, sometimes do certain words just feel weird coming out of your mouth? Every once in a while that will happen to me. Like the word: Trend. I'm not sure why, but I find it strange and it seems to be popping up everywhere lately. Characters on the shows I've been watching lately are using that word in their scripts. I've heard it say, "it's trending world wide." What? Trending? What is "trending"?

As for myself, I've never really thought of myself as trendy. In fact, I'm not. I usually steer clear of trends. I'm quirky, not trendy. Plus, I fear trends a little because they go out of style fast. I usually play it safe, stick with the classics, and live happily ever after. That was until I got my Mother's day gift.

Remember my box? My box of pure happiness? I mentioned it before but I failed to tell you what was in it.

Trendy happiness was in it.

I actually did a happy dance after the UPS man left the package at my door and I was absolutely giddy opening it up. Can you see it in there? It's hiding under the paper.

I mean - come on - wouldn't you be if you knew this was yours?

I hugged it. My family thought I was weird. They were right.

Yes, I'm going against everything I thought I was and I'm now following a trend. I own an animal head. Boy! That feels good to get that out.

So, why was I so happy about this? Well, it all started summer of 2011 I went on a trip and visited family in Utah. While there I roamed through the local Anthropologie store - sadly we don't have one in Fort Collins. Hanging on the wall was this giraffe and I was completely smitten. I almost bought it on a whim but resisted. However, I've been thinking about this thing ever since. I pinned it. I'd stalk it on the Anthropologie website and I'd talk about it. The mister, being the awesome man that he is, decided to buy it for me. I'm not sure if he did it out of niceness or just to get me to shut up. Maybe both. Regardless of the reason, it was a well received Mother's day gift.

Since receiving it, I've been seeing animal heads "trending" - see there's that word - everywhere. If you want to be trendy too you should check these out...

Savannah Story - Anthropologie - this is where mine came from. I think the Rhino is pretty awesome too.

West Elm Animal Sculptures - These were trending over at Eighteen25 this week. Check out the hippo.

And, last but not least - I'm SO totally love with this. Over at Little Blue Boo there's and AMAZING tutorial on how to make your very own animal head. My daughter has a joke thing going on with one of her friends about Unicorns and I tell you what, this just might be on our summer to-do list. It's just that awesome!

Unicorn Animal Head Tutorial - by Little Blue Boo

Smiles,

Amy

May Nativity Piece

2012-05-18T13:11:00.000-06:00

Remember our April Nativity piece tutorial? It was a little white lamb. It was pretty cute but it needs a companion. So, for May, we are just making another little lamb. Our Nativity set will be 12 pieces when it is all done and two of those pieces are sheep.

You've got some options here. You can make them both white, using the pearl clay like shown above.

Or you could mix it up a bit and add a little black sheep - ok, he's really gray, but you get the point. Right?!

And, if you are feeling the drive to take it further, you can do more than just two.

The End!

If you don't remember how to make these little sheep be sure to check out the tutorial here: Lamb Nativity Piece.

And, thanks so much for the great response I got about my Deal of the Day post - I still have necklaces available if you are interested in getting one.

Smiles!

Amy

Deal of The Day!

2012-05-15T16:26:00.000-06:00

Last week I helped some awesome young women from my church make necklaces for their moms. We had planned on having 12+ girls but as it turned out only 3 showed. So, since I had a ton of supplies left over I went a little overboard in playing around. I made all these below and several more that aren't shown.

The problem though, I don't need 15+ blue pendant necklaces.

I even made some of these - cute right? If you are familiar with President Uchtdorf, you may recall his awesome talk about the Forget-Me-Not flower. A lot of these pendants remind me of that talk, especially the one above. In fact, I gave a few of my pendant necklaces away as gifts to some of my friends along with a quote from his talk. It made a nice "thinking of you" gift.

Anyway, my point....

I've posted all of these latest creations in my ETSY shop and I've posted them for a steal of deal. Normally I price them at $16-$18 but I'd like to move these fast so they are only.....

$11.95

Some of the designs are similar but no two are alike so there are lots of options. I've even listed some rectangle ones too. They all come on a 20" silver chain and are packaged in a cute little gift box. Please check them out and help me get them off of my kitchen table (my husband would be most thankful)

Smiles!

Amy

An American Quilt

2012-05-14T09:40:00.000-06:00

Have you seen that movie? It's pretty old, from the 90's. It's been on my mind this morning. The gist of the movie, at least as I remember it, is a young and confused 20's something girl finds herself after she spends a summer with strong women who are making a quilt. Life stories are told, lessons are learned, and in the end the quilt is finished and you realize just how much connection there is between all these amazing women and the events that make up their lives. The quilt, which ends up being a story of their lives, is truly made of love.

It kind of sums up what I'm feeling today. I have a quilt like that.

This quilt was made by several women over the course of many, many years. My Great grandmother and my grandma, Nana, were strong, capable women who were resourceful and wise.

These two women, and sometimes my mom, used to make a lot of their own clothes. My Nana used to always make pajamas for her four daughters and sometimes for my older siblings. And, without fail, polka dots were almost always the fabric design of choice. All three of these women loved polka dots!

Because these women were resourceful, they'd save their fabric scraps. My mom took those scraps and started making this puppy dog quilt. She hand cut and then hand sewed all those dogs and bows onto each square and then pieced the squares together to make the top of the quilt. That is as far as she got. She died at a young age of 43 and never was able to finish it.

The quilt top was passed to me which, being only 9 when she died, I had no clue of it's importance or what to do with it so I kept it in my toy chest which I had converted into a hope chest for that "someday".

Years later, when I was 19 and about to get married - yes, I married young - my stepmom, another strong and capable woman, took that quilt top and finished the quilt for me. She picked out the back fabric, it's green polka dots, did all the quilting and then paid to have it bound.

This quilt is one of my greatest possessions. It has the love of my great-grandma, my grandma, my mom and my stepmom in it.

I've realized that we don't craft like that anymore. At least I don't, my creations, while cute and clever, they aren't long term works of the heart. They are disposable. for the most part I'm ok with that but I've realized I want to pass on a few things to my girls that sum up who I am.

Maybe I should make a quilt!

Mother's Day Pendant Tutorial

2012-05-13T06:40:00.001-06:00

I posted this tutorial over at Broken Treasures about three weeks ago and while I posted a link to it, I never did share it here. Since it's Mother's Day, and if you missed it before, Enjoy!

Here's the step by step tutorial...

Step 1: Start by picking out a stamp you will use. I used the cute little flowers from the "A Garden" set above. It is a CTMH stamp set.

Step 2: Next, pick a clay color. I went with Sculpey Turquoise. There are lots of different oven baked clays out there. Just check your local craft store. Sculpey is my favorite though. Once you've picked your color, break off a small piece and do what is called "conditioning". Basically you are just going to knead the clay and play with it for a few minutes to get it soft and workable. Then, press your clay flat like shown above. Kept it's thickness consistent, around 1/4 of an inch.

Step 3: Then, take your stamp and press it into the clay. You could use an acrylic block for this but I didn't have one handy so I just used the stamp. You want your stamp impression to be fairly deep and show well. If it doesn't happen that way the first time, just roll your clay up and start again.

Step 4: Using a cutting tool, cut the clay into the shape you want and remove the extra clay.

Step 5: Next, and this is optional, I like to add a little more detail to my stamped impression. So, using a sharp, pointy tool like a needle or toothpick, I basically trace the design by poking small holes in it. Later on in the tutorial we use paint and poking these holes will help your paint settle into your design a little better. Just don't poke them too deep or they will show on the back.

Here's a closer up look of the little holes in the design.

Step 6: Poke a hole in the center top of your pendant. Don't forget this step, it's an important one. You want the hole big enough so that a jump ring or jewelry bale can fit in it.

Step 7: Now that the front of your pendant is designed, if you want you can turn it over and add a personal message. I choose "love blooms" and added it by first spelling it out in small dots - kind of like in Step 5, then carefully connect the dots and make lines.

Step 8: (not shown) Once you are done, place your completed design on a paper lined cookie sheet. I just use regular, plain printer paper. Then bake in a pre-heated 275 degree oven for 15 minutes. Once it's done baking, remove it from the oven and let it cool completely before moving on to the next step.

Step 9: Now we paint. Choose a color that you'd like to go in the design on your pendant. I usually go with a dark brown. You will also want to keep a little water and some paper towels close by.

Step 10: Paint your pendant like shown above. Be sure to get paint into the design area. Then, while the paint is still wet, using a dry paper towel, carefully wipe the paint off of the top surface. Don't push the towel into the design, you want the paint to stay there. Then, after the majority of the paint is off, dip a paper towel in to water, remove the excess water so it is just barely damp, and clean the pendant up. You want to remove any paint on the top surface that didn't come off when you did the dry wipe. Be sure to check the sides too.

Technically you could end there but I like to give my pendants a finishing touch.

Step 11: I use a polyurethane finisher, it needs to be water base and I just paint a thin coat on the pendant and let it dry. Two coats is usually enough.

Step 12: After it's dried for several hours, now you can turn it into a necklace. You will need a chain and clasp, a jump ring or bale (I like bales) and enough supplies to make a small dangling charm.

Step13: Put the bale on first. If you are new to jewelry making, the bale is the little silver piece that hooks the pendant to the chain (it's pinched in between my fingers in the above photo). Then, hang your charm from the bale.

Step 14: Now all you need to do is attach it all to a chain!

Happy Mother's Day everyone!

Easy Chicken Recipe

2012-05-12T17:14:00.001-06:00

I'm not sure how it works at your house but at mine I have just a few meals that I make that everyone in my home will eat. There's about 5 of them total. I keep hoping that taste buds will mature so we can have more options but until then I fall back to the meals that everyone loves quite often.

I made one them the other night. It's so easy, requires two ingredients, and is always a hit. I'm all about easy recipes and if you are too, you might like this one.

You need this: Lawry's Sweet Basil, Citrus & Garlic Rub

I picked it up at Sam's club for pretty cheap. I think it was $7.50 - seems like a lot but you don't use much and it lasts a really long time. We've probably had this meal 7 or 8 times since I bought it new and there is still a ton in the jar, so you can see it's a good value.

You also need some chicken breasts. For our family of 5, I use about 3. 4 if we want leftovers.

Step 1: Cut up your un-cooked chicken into cubes or small pieces

Step 2: Add chicken to pre-heated pan. (You can add a small amount of oil if you want. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't and I really haven't noticed a difference)

Step 3: Sprinkle some of the Lawry's Sweet Basil, Citrus & Garlic rub on the chicken. Give it a good coat so you have some seasoning on all the pieces but be careful not to go over-board. I speak from experience here as I did that once. Ooops.

Step 4: Cover pan with lid and cook on medium heat for about 5 minutes.

Step 5: After 5 minutes, remove lid, stir and sprinkle a little more seasoning IF needed.

Step 6: Replace lid and continue cooking until chicken is done or no longer pink. Be careful to not over-cook.

It should look something like the photo above when it is done. Serve it with your favorite side dish and enjoy. We usually serve it with a veggie.

And, just in case you are wondering, no this is not a sponsored post. I just know that sometimes we all need a boost when it comes to meal planning and having a quick idea on hand can be a great thing!

Enjoy!

P.S. I haven't tried this on the grill but I bet it would be amazing!

Revisiting a Mother's Day post

2012-05-09T09:56:00.003-06:00

I've been on a little blog break since last week. This time of the year usually sends me into deep thought and I reflect a lot. So, while I'm working on a few other things to share, I thought I'd re-post a favorite post from last year. It's a favorite not because it's a cute, easy craft but because it's very real.

If you missed it last year, here it is....

Mother's day is a bittersweet for me. I love that I get to enjoy handmade trinkets, crayon drawn art and hugs from my kids. But mostly though, Mother's Day just reminds me the my own mother is gone.

I am a motherless mother.

This year is particularly hard for me because my twins are 9. I was 9 when my mom died and the thought of them being motherless at this age is unfathomable. The thought of me being motherless at 9 is unfathomable. Yet, 28 years later, I'm here and I'm ok.

I've stumbled, ungracefully, into my own. I managed to learn how to make Ramen, floss, and do my own laundry. I navigated through boy issues and mean friends. I found my faith and I became a mother myself. I'm proud of myself for becoming me but I often wonder how different I'd be if she was helping me along the way. I wonder what she would have said when I had my first kiss, or came home engaged. Or moved to a far away state. Mostly I wonder what kind of grandma she'd be to my three girls.

I'm jealous of women who have great relationships with their mothers and I'm sorrowful for those that are bitter, rude, and unappreciative to theirs.

I said mothers day was bittersweet. The sweet part is in being a mother myself. I'm not the best mother. I fail miserably some days and succeed greatly on others but I love my girls and I love being a mom. I have realized that I probably cherish being a mom so much because I missed out on having my own mom around.

So, for those of you that are not motherless mothers like me, I hope you will step back and truly look into the heart of your mother-daughter relationship. Look for the little things that bind you to her, the similarities, the quirks. Look at the accomplishments you've achieved that you know are a direct result of your mother's supporting hand. Then, love her with everything you have because you never know when you will be a motherless mother like me.

Note: The scrapbook layout above shows only one of three or so photos I have of me and my mom, just us, together. Be sure to take photos of you and your mom. Take them even if you are having a bad hair day or you feel fat or you don't have make-up on. Take them because someday you will want those photos, you will want to be reminded of your relationship with her.

Egg Carton Flowers

2012-05-01T21:19:00.000-06:00

I had a bunch of egg cartons left over from Easter and instead of throwing them out, I hung on to them. They sat on top of my fridge for awhile. They filled that space quite nicely but they were truly destined to be something else. They needed to be flowers and so that's exactly what they became. And, I love them.

And, before I go any further with the tutorial, these would be awesome to make for a mom or a grandma for Mother's day. An adult might have to help with the cutting but kids could pretty much do everything else and I think - actually, I know - they'd have fun doing it too.

So here's what you do...

First, you will need a pulp paper egg carton.

Using scissors, cut the carton apart. You only need the little egg holder parts, does that even make sense? If not, look at the picture, that might make it more clear.

You can cut out as many as you want. I did about 10 or so. I wanted enough to make a bouquet.

After you get them all cut out, use craft paint and give them a nice coat of color.

Warning: Your hands will also get a nice coat of color too!

Let them all dry. It will take a little longer than normal for the paint to dry.

When they are dry, poke a hole in the bottom of each one.

Next, take some baby breath - it's not the real stuff, I just got mine at the $1 store - and cut some small portions out of the bunch. Just make sure that you leave the stems kind of long.

Then, take the baby breath and push the stems into the hole on the flower like shown.

Next, take a food skewer stick and place it at the base of the flower next to the stems from the baby's breath. Then, using floral tape, wrap the skewer and stems together with the tape. Continue wrapping the tape all the way down the stick.

You're almost done! Next, find a vase or a jar, tie on a cute little bow and put your flowers in it.

That's it - you're done! Easy peazy lemon squezy!

Don't you think they are "egg"celent flowers?!

Winner, Winner & New Items

2012-04-30T23:27:00.002-06:00

Elizabeth over at Broken Treasures just posted the lucky winner from the guest post and tutorial I did for her last week.

Wahoo!
Congrats to ...

Kelly from Delco Deal Diva

Kelly won this necklace and also a fun CTMH stamp set from Elizabeth.

If you didn't win, but loved this necklace, it is now available for purchase in my Etsy shop. It would make a great Mother's day gift, just sayin'!

Plus, I've listed a few new items on Etsy so be sure to pop on over there and check them out. Here's a little peak. If you place your order before Thursday, they should, depending on your location, arrive in time for Mother's day.

Also, if you see a design you like but would prefer it in a different color, let me know. I'd be happy to make it for you.

Separation Update & a Recipe

2012-04-28T20:49:00.001-06:00

I hit a major milestone a few days ago and I didn't even talk about! I'm still kind of in shock that I'm holding up so well due to my long separation from one love. Remember my love? If you don't, here's the post to catch you up to speed. Goodbye My Love!

I separated from love on March 22, it's now April 28. It's been just over one month. That's a loooong time. I was fully expecting a painful separation. So, how am I doing?

Pretty dang good if I do say so myself. I've been pleasantly surprised. Here's a few things I've discovered over the past month?

1 - I've found that I don't crave it anymore except in times of stress. I got hit with majorly bad news this week about my dad's health and my first comment (after I stopped bawling) was, I just want a Coke. I find it interesting that this is the case. I realized that soda, Coke specifically, really was a comfort thing for me. Somehow I need to trigger my brain into thinking spinach is the new Coke. That would be a good thing, right?!

2- I've learned that my actions can encourage other people too - ok, don't roll your eyes at me, I know that sounds stupid or like a no-brainer. But, after three weeks of going without soda and noticing some differences, it means a lot when your 14 year old daughter turns to you and says, "I've been thinking and I've decided I'm not going to drink soda anymore either." Or when you are shopping with your 10 years olds and one of them sees soda and tries to hug it (yes, she's dramatic!) and the other one says "we haven't had it for so long it would probably taste gross." Those are comments to be treasured. They are realizing that their life can go on without it too - YEAH!!! Ya know, as a mom I always worry about my example, I try to watch what I say, I don't swear, I try not to pass judgments of others in front of my kids, I try to keep a safe environment in my home but I never realized that loving soda so much was encouraging my kids to do the same. I know, Duh! Why is it that sometimes the simplest things complete escape us?

3- I've found that if I drink something, like lemonade out of a cup with a lid and a straw it increases my desire for a soda. We had lemonade at the movie one day and I've decided I can't do that anymore. It still has a lot of sugar and the similarities are too close and I noticed the desire for soda slightly returning.

4- The most important thing I've discovered is that .... I CAN DO THIS. Which means I can probably do a lot of other things that I've been putting off too like, exercise.

And, just for fun I thought I'd share a drink recipe I enjoy. Now, no bashing please, I don't drink this very often, but once in awhile when I want something more flavorful than water I will mix this up. Yes, I'm aware juices aren't always great for you. It's not calorie free and it does have sugars in it, but every once in awhile it is just enough of a treat.

You will need Orange Juice and Cran-Raspberry juice. Plus, a glass of ice is a must to make this complete.

1- Fill half of glass with Orange Juice.

2 - Then fill the remained with Cran-Raspberry juice.

3- Mix and enjoy!

It is really yummy!

Budget Friendly Custom Art

2012-04-27T13:42:00.000-06:00

Sometimes I think I'm a cheap skate. I'm just not one to plunk down a bunch of money for something I can do myself. Know what I mean? Maybe that's not being cheap maybe that's being smart.

Ya! Let's go with smart!

Here's a good example. I wanted some large custom canvas prints for my wall and I wanted to use my own photos. These photos:

Yes, they are quirky which just happens to so fit our family. This is what happens when a couple of photography lovers take their kids to the park and then get board watching the kids play on the swings. Creativity + sunset = crazy photos that I love. If your an Echo and The Bunnyman fan you may recognize the inspiration for the photo on the bottom right.

Anyway, I went on a search trying to find a company to order from. Ummmm, HELLO!!! To get a 16x20 print on canvas it's upwards of $75+ and that's just for one. I wanted five of them. Ouch!

After having a little private pity party I moved on from feeling defeated and did some research. I found out that Sam's club does 1 hour poster prints. Did you know that? That is awesome in and of itself, however, what makes this news even better - they are only $5.86 each.

So, I ordered 5 of them!

Next, armed with a 40% off coupon, I headed over to Hobby Lobby. They sell a 2-pack of 16x20 canvases for $8. That's pretty inexpensive but using the coupon, it's an even better deal.

A blank canvas is a beautiful site!

Then I dug out the old trusty spray adhesive. I went to town spraying them down and adhering the poster prints to the canvases but, guess what? It was an Epic fail! The prints bubbled and wouldn't stick. They just looked kind of crappy. Have no fear though because...

when in doubt pull the Mod Podge out!

YES!!! Success! Mod Podge was just the ticket. Now all my prints are adhered to 16 x 20 canvases and I couldn't be happier.

So, just to review. I could have ordered them, waited 2 two weeks for delivery and paid $375 plus shipping. Instead, It took about 2 hours, and that includes the print processing time, and only cost... $41.00.

Cheap? Maybe. But I think I'll go with smart.

And hey, before I go, just a reminder about the drawing going on over at Broken Treasures, it's for one of my custom made necklaces. Plus, if you don't win, you can read up on the tutorial on how I made it and then make your own. The contest ends in on Sunday so be sure to pop on over there soon for a chance to win.

Tissue Wind Sock

2012-04-24T15:50:00.000-06:00

Today I'm sharing the cutest craft that I've never made. Yep, that's right, I didn't make this. My 10 year old did and she did it without any help. As a crafty mom, I'm kind of really, really proud of her. Check it out....

oh, and first, this is great craft for kids OR adults. Maybe it's a project that you can do together. Think of it as mommy and me time.

On Sunday my little Bug came and asked if she could use some of my tissue paper. My precious tissue paper. It cost me a $1 for a huge multi color pack so I figured she could go crazy and I wouldn't be out much. I didn't even ask her what it was for which is unusual for me. You know, you gotta keep tabs on kids crafting or you just may end up with tissue paper walls or car seat covers. Ok, maybe not to that extreme but we've had some pretty interesting craft creations in our house before so I'm usually cautious.

She took the tissue pack and quietly worked away. Occasionally I'd hear, where's the glue? or I can't find the string! But other than that, she was totally on her own. So, here's what she did.

Step 1: She took two sheets of purple tissue paper and cut out two long ovals. Then she cut out three fins.

Step 2: With a black sharpie marker she drew on some designs and an eye on one side of each side piece of tissue.

Step 3: Then she used white Elmer's glue and glued the fins to one of the ovals. and then glued the top, only the top, of the two pieces together. Think of it as gluing it from the top of the mouth all along the edge to the top of the tail.

Step 4: Next she took a piece of white cardstock and cut it into a long strip and turned it into a circle. She then glued the circle to the tissue paper in place where the mouth goes. I'm not sure if you can tell for the picture or not but think of it as a fish with it's mouth open.

Step 5: Next she cut 6 long strips of yellow tissue and then glued three strips to each side of the opening where the tail goes.

Step 6: Next she glued the bottom part of it together. So, from the bottom of the mouth all along the bottom edge to the bottom of where the tail goes. Does that make sense? You need to keep the mouth open and the tail part open. The wind needs to be able to go in and out of the windsock.

Cute, right?!

Bug's twin sister thought it was cute too so she made one in blue and pink.

Step 7: Poke a hole on each side of the mouth. Make sure it pokes through the cardstock. Then thread a string through the holes and then hang up your windsock outside. We hung hers on our porch.

Step 8: Wait for the wind to blow and smile at how fun it is to watch it dance in the wind.

Note: I was really doubtful that tissue paper was the right thing for a windsock. It seems like it would rip easy in the wind. However, we've had some windy days and so far so good. With the opening in the mouth and the tail, the wind fills it up but then passes through so there is very little pressure on the tissue paper. It's holding up just fine.

So there you have it a fun little craft brought to you by a cute little 10 year old.

Guest Post & Giveaway

2012-04-21T17:26:00.000-06:00

Hey All! I was invited to hang out over at Broken Treasures today. I'm sharing another necklace tutorial and I'm even giving one of them away. If you want to check it out and enter to win, head on over there for all the details.

This necklace could be a great one for Mom - you know, for Mother's day! Just sayin'!

And, thanks to Elizabeth for hosting me today!

Nativity Tutorial - Lamb

2012-04-20T10:10:00.000-06:00

This month's nativity piece is quite possibly one of my favorites. I just think it's super cute. So, without further ado, here's what we are making this month...

What do "ewe" think? I know, I'm so funny.

First, like always, gather your supplies. You will need:

Pearl Clay

(*white would be ok too, I use Pearl because it matches other pieces in the set)

Dusty Rose Clay

Black Clay

Tinfoil

Wax paper

Also, remember to always condition your clay before you start. For more information on that and other tips, refer to the first tutorial in the series: Wiseman 1

Step 1: Start by forming two balls of tinfoil. One will be larger for the body and a smaller one for the head. If you've made the Wisemen from the previous tutorials, you may want to pull one out and use it to compare size. You want your lamb to be smaller than your people. Because, well, that's realistic.

Step 2: Start with the larger ball of foil and center it into a flattened piece of clay. Wrap it up and smooth out the seams.

Step 3: Repeat step two only using the smaller piece of foil and wrap it up in clay. This smaller piece will become the lamb's head. Then, attach the head to the body like shown.

Step 4: Next, take out a small piece of black clay and condition it. Then shape it into a small square like piece with a flat bottom and slightly rounded out top. Then attach the feet to the body like shown. Note: at this point in the process make sure that your piece is sturdy and doesn't have a tendency to tip over. If it does, make adjustments. Flatten the bottom of the feet and what ever else is needed to stabilize it. Don't move on in the tutorial until it can stand with out tipping.

Step 5: Take two small pieces of clay and shape them into small triangles and attach them to the head for the ears. To make them look more like ears and less like triangles, bend them slightly, almost in an "S" shape and point the tips up.

Step 6: Now here comes the fun part - or the part that takes the most time. Break off a really small piece of clay and roll it out into a rope like shown. Then, starting at one end of the rope, roll it together in a coil shape. These coils will become the wool so you will need a bunch of these. This is not hard but because they are small, it can be tricky. It looks really cute though so stick with it.

Step 7: Place the rolled coils on the back of the lamb. Start up by the neck and work your way down. You could cover your whole piece this way but I found it easier to just do the top of the back and the head.

Don't forget to add some coils in between the ears.

Step 8: You're almost done, now you just need to add the face. Roll two tiny black balls for the eyes and shape a small heart out of pink clay for the nose.

Step 9: Place your lamb on a paper lined cookie sheet and bake your piece in a preheated 275 degree oven for 15-18 minutes.

That's it! You're now done with another piece - only 8 more to go!

Then She Made... a great big mess!

2012-04-19T22:59:00.001-06:00

I posted a comment on a friend's facebook page this week and said that statement about chaos and order, you know: "out of chaos comes order." Well, it was sage advice for her but in reality is was just a reminder for myself. Some where, and at some point in time, order will come out of this emotionally chaotic week.

If there ever was a picture that could speak volumes about my life this week, this would be it. It's not pretty.

And, note to self, I should learn to never say in my blog posts, "check in all next week" or "stay tuned" or "coming up" because every time I do, life happens and my big plans always get scattered.

Such is life.

So, what has been happening all week? Do you really want to know? Let me explain it with a little eye spy game of the picture above.

In the photo above I spy:
- Jewelry making supplies: See them behind the green chair. I've been working on a fun mother's day tutorial for a guest post that will be happening soon over at Broken Treasures. Elizabeth is kind of pretty awesome and has been very patient with me this week.

- Clay: It's in the box on the floor and some already made pieces are drying on toothpicks on top of the table. Those are for gifts and Etsy orders that needed to filled this week. BTW, Thank you for ordering my jewelry.

- Flowers: Actually they don't look like flowers in this photo but they are, or will be flowers if I get around to finishing them. I started them last week and then lost all my creative juices on Monday. I still believe they will turn into something cute to share but for now, they sit. in a pile. on my table. mixed in with the other mess. I need my creativity to bloom again, pun intended.

- Church stuff: I was given a new calling at church and it is represented in the pink bag on the floor. I'm the secretary for the women's organization at my church. I'm learning a lot in this new form of service, especially that personal revelation really does happen and that our Heavenly Father loves us, all of us. Women have a great power that is divine and I'm grateful I get to learn how to cultivate and share that a little more.

- Nativity Club: It's barely visible but this month's piece is on the silver tray. I'm sorry that I'm not very consistent with this club. I'm trying to stay on top of it but it does take dedication and sometimes I'm more dedicated than others.

- A Pay Stub: It's been a week of craziness where the jobs are concerned. I didn't talk about it before but at the beginning of the year I quit my job. This week, my husband who works for the same company as I did, quit his job. It was time for him but change is always hard and even though his new opportunity is a welcome one, it's hard to let go of what is comfortable. We've had lots of discussions and decisions this week all of which bring us closer together and for that I'm grateful.

- A Computer: The computer sucks me in. It's a blessing and a curse. Ever feel that way? This week it's mostly been a blessing that has allowed me to help others and connect with family in a time of heavy concern. The computer reminds me that all though I'm a few hundred miles from family, with technology, I'm really just a click away. I received bad news concerning my dad's health this week. He'll get mad at me for saying anything on this forum so I won't say much, other than it's scary and I've worried a lot. Tears have been shed. All the chaos on my table actually is a direct result of what is happening with him. I'm having a hard time focusing and finishing things. My heart is heavy and my mind is full.

- Finger Nail Polish and Remover: This is the one thing on the table that was actually not put there by me. This is a reminder that first and foremost, I have three beautiful daughters that are putting trust in me to be their mom. I'm their mom first. Craft piles can wait and blog posts can be delayed. But hugs, kisses and time spent together can't. I'm good at crafting but I'm better at being a mom, I just forget that sometimes.

Anyway, so these are the things have kept me occupied this week. And, despite the fact that I said I should never say it, the Nativity tutorial is ready to go and so is my guest post. You'll get two posts tomorrow just because I need to get them up and off my to-do list. So,....umm.... check back tomorrow!

Smiles,
Amy

A New Love! Camera Necklace

2012-04-14T18:38:00.002-06:00

I had a fun Etsy order last week. She ordered a few of my listed pieces and then also did a custom order.

This is what I made for her - I'll tell you what, I had a really hard time shipping it off because, well, I am in LOVE. (Thanks JP for your order)

Also, while I'm talking jewelry, I thought I'd answer a question that I get a lot about my word pendants. The question is about the size. You can make them any size you want but mine are usually just barely bigger than a quarter.

Here's a quick visual that might help.

And, while I was making jewelry last week, I made this. It's one of the few items I've made using store bought items and not out of clay, but it's quirky and I'm quite fond of it.

My lovely Miss M agreed to model it because, well, the rock just had no personality. It looks cute on doesn't it?!

And just a little news, check in all next week. I'll be showing some fun ideas and tutorials for Mother's day. I'm starting early this year. Plus, #4 in our Nativity tutorial is coming up too .... it's one of my favorite pieces in the whole set so I can't wait to share it with you.

Hope you are all having a great weekend.

P.S. - If you like any of these jewelry items, you can order them on Etsy!

Missing Maine: Green Olive Cream Cheese

2012-04-11T12:32:00.005-06:00

I mentioned last week that I've been missing Maine and missing getting a green olive cream cheese bagel from a local bagel shop. I realize that only about a 1/3 of my readers will stick with me on this post - green olives are certainly an acquired taste. I'm the only one in my family that likes them. Everyone else pretends to die at the idea of me eating them. Whatever! So, if you like green olives, or know someone who does, keep reading. Other wise, it's okay, I'll catch up with you later.

So, Maine! I love Maine! I called that state my home for 10 years and even though I knew in my heart that it was time to move to Colorado, it was hard to leave. My favorite little town, and the last placed we lived in Maine, is called Camden. It was there that I fell hard for green olive cream cheese bagels.

So, why did a Utah girl end up in Maine? Well, in 1997 my husband and I stood on the corner of Elm Street, in Camden, by the city green. I was holding my then 3 month old daughter and we both had a rush of emotion hit us. We were just on vacation but there was a sense of clarity in that moment and we knew we were supposed to live in that town. It was home! I'm pretty sure our family thought we were just drawn to Maine because of it's New England charm and one brother claimed it was the farthest away we could get from family, but, I've had those impressions before and I knew - I knew - it was something more.

It took us another visit a year later and then another two years to pull things together but we did it. We moved. Our family didn't understand. My parents thought we were insane. Moving 3,000 miles away from family and friends "just because" was unthinkable to them. But we knew it was right. And, years later, even my dad admitted it was a good move for us.

We didn't end up in Camden until 2006. We'd visit every chance we got but moving there didn't happen right away. When it did though, it was right and we were lucky enough to have this be our regular view on evening walks.

Beautiful! They'd shoot fireworks out over the harbor in the summer and I swear, it was the most patriotic thing you could ever see. I felt very American living in small town USA. Here's a little map of Camden.

We lived at "A". The Bagel Cafe was at "B". It was so close. The Village and harbor are at "C". I felt so spoiled that I lived in a Norman Rockwell like town were I could walk everywhere. It would take about 5 minutes to walk to the harbor, village shops, and the library. If you ever get to go to Maine, go visit Camden. It's a busy tourist town in the summer but the beauties are worth the trip. Oh, and see "D" - I miss that place the most. Laite Beach. It's not a beautiful beach as in sandy and warm. It's slightly rocky, and not very big, but it was my place. Very few tourist knew about it so it was a place to go and sit and think and most of all search for sea glass. I miss searching for sea glass. I miss Laite Beach. I miss my walks to the village. I miss the friends I left behind.

Ok, I'm starting to miss Maine even more.... let's move on.

I told you that I've been craving these bagels and that I haven't been able to find anything close to them in Fort Collins. Because of that, I came up with my own recipe. If you are interested, here it is....

You will need:
1 - 8oz package of cream cheese. I opted for the less fat version but it's good with regular too
Plain bagels
Onion powder
*Garlic Salt
Green Olives
(*edited note: My friend Mona, suggested Garlic Powder instead of Garlic Salt since the olives are already salt. I'll try that next time)

Step 1: Start by letting your cream cheese soften. You want it soft enough that you can stir it easily. Then, sprinkle on some Garlic Salt and some Onion Powder. I didn't measure, I just sprinkled. Start with less and then add more to taste as needed.

Step 2: Next, take a handful of green olives and chop them up. You'll want about a 1/2 of a cup, more or less. I tend to go for more but 1/2 cup is a good amount.

Step 3: Stir everything together. Taste it and if it needs more garlic or onion, mix in a little more.

Step 4: That's pretty much it. I like to let the spread sit in the fridge for a little bit, maybe an hour before I eat it. The flavors tend to settle this way. Then, when you are ready for a quick snack, toast a half of a bagel, spread on the yummy goodness and enjoy! You can also put it on Ritz crackers for an appetizer too.

So, thanks for letting me reminisce and if you try the recipe, let me know what you think.

Sunglasses & Money

2012-04-09T12:42:00.010-06:00

Check out these shades! Personally, I would never wear them but when she has them on, I'm in love. Yep, she looks cute but these sunglasses represent a great change that I'm witnessing with this girl. It's one I'm very happy about. It has to do with money and the hard lessons on teaching kids to budget. Ugh! Right?! You may have been there, or are going through it with your own kids. Here's my story and how we initiated change.

I'm not sure about you but teaching our kids how to wisely use money has been a big challenge. My older daughter, now that she babysits and has her own cash flow, gets it. She's been able to do amazing things with her hard earned cash. She saves, she's patient, she thinks before she spends. She gets it. My twins, they are 10, and well, money and budgets just haven't been something they understand or was even interested in.

I think for them, having money was like holding a hot potato, they just want to get rid of it fast. Do you have a kid like that?

As parents, we knew we had to work with them on this problem so last September we started giving our kids a small pay day every month. We were so tired of them asking for things they didn't need in the store. Asking might not be the best word - begging, is better. We finally decided that we'd give them money once a month and they had to budget it. If they wanted something they had to buy it themselves and if they blew all their money before the next pay day, well, they were out of luck. There would be no borrowing or lending. No debts to be repaid. Harsh? Maybe.

From September to the end of December, we had no rules on their spending. We'll, except one, they had to pay tithing. We pay a tithe to our church. We'd also advise them on spending choices but ultimately the decision was theirs. Without fail, all their money was spent almost as soon as they got it. They'd make lofty statements, "I'm saving for ______". But, being in a store, and the lure of having something right then, always over ruled their best intentions.

When the new year started, we had a family home evening on finances. I personally think it's a good idea to get kids involved in family finances, to some extent of course. So, I totaled up all the money we spent from September to December at our 4 most visited stores. Sam's Club, Walmart, Target and of course, Hobby Lobby. The numbers were quite shocking. We talked about what we bought with that money. Most of it was food, clothing, household needs and of course craft supplies. Then, I asked them to tell me where they spent their money from the last 4 months and what they had to show for it. My older daughter knew exactly but the twins, neither of them could answer.

Q: "Where did your money go?"
A: "I don't know."

Q: "Can you go get me something you bought with it?"
A: They couldn't remember

I knew where it went, cheap toys and candy. Instant gratification isn't so gratifying when you look back and realize your error. This sent one of them into tears. She cried and felt so bad that she'd wasted all her money. It's hard to see your kid hurting but I knew it was a lesson that she needed to have. Plus, we had a solution that would help her, and her sister, be great at keeping track of their spending and hopefully, help them to be wiser with their money too.

We then introduced them to a very simple ledger. Basically it was my own created version of a check register. It was just a half sheet of paper with columns and rows where they could track their spending. Keep a record of how much money they had on hand and it provided a place to list their purchases. When I ask them, "hey what did you spend your money on?", they will now know.

We told them there were three rules they needed to follow:

1- they had to set aside 10% for tithing
2- they had to set aside a minimum of 10% for savings (they could do more if they wanted)
3- they had to save receipts and record everything they spent.

We showed them how the ledger worked and we hit the new year running with a great goal to help them be better with their money.

I will admit I was expecting immediate results. I naively thought this was just the ticket that would help them give up their need to buy junk. It wasn't, at least not right away. You can see from the photo above that one of them recorded her purchases of a soft drinks and fake nails. It was so hard for me to sit back and let her spend. While the results weren't as quick as I had hoped, one of them caught on pretty quickly. With in a month she was making better choices, she was choosing to put more into savings, spending less and when she did purchase something, it was usually something useful that would last a long time, like clothes - buying her own clothes is like saying she's growing up and is independent. She loved that. She also realized buying a sweater lasts a lot longer than a bag of candy.

So, moving on to the sunglasses. Bug, she's a great kid but it took her longer for the light bulb to go off. However, last week, it happened. It was that magical moment as a parent that you see the results of your hard work in your kid's actions. She wanted to go shopping. Just to be honest here, I really dread shopping with my younger girls so I wasn't looking forward to it but I did take her.

Much to my surprise she actually shopped with purpose, had her ledger on hand, compared prices and even - get this - quality. She compared the quality of different products. I was floored. I didn't have to give advice or try to sway her. She wanted glasses, shopped for a good pair, compared everything from style to color to price. She found this pair at Charlie Girl for $6.99. She found another pair at Claire's that was similar for $12.99. She determined the sunglasses at Charlie Girl were not only a better deal but also better quality.

It was Awesome!

After purchasing the sunglasses she also stopped shopping. She still had money but she didn't want to spend it. I about shouted a giant "Hallelujah!" right there in the store. It clicked. She hit that milestone in her maturity, one that we'd been hoping for since last September. I'm sure she won't always be a sensible spender but it's a start. Plus, she purchased something she loves, those sunglasses - they go every where with her. I'm sure she will get a lot of use out of them. Not bad for a $7 purchase!

And on a side note, just to keep things real. Right when I was just about to pat myself on the back for my mad parenting skills, I was humbled. Two days after showing wisdom with her money, she took a razor and shaved one of her eyebrows off - yaaaaa, it was a great moment in our house!

Then She Made goes Italian, kinda

2012-04-05T06:24:00.002-06:00

I woke up this morning to a fun little surprise in my inbox. Surprise might not be the right word as I knew this was coming, I just didn't know it would be today.

A few months ago I was contacted by Open Kitchen Magazine.

It is an Italian cooking magazine that is most beautifully designed. They asked me to be a guest contributor and so of course I said yes. They have featured the paper basket. Here's a link, (I think this will take you right to my pages) and on the very back page, page 103, you'll find my mug shot and mini bio too. It's all kind of exciting for me.

Open Kitchen Magazine - Pages 70-73

I haven't read the whole magazine yet but from first glance there are some great features that are worth checking out. And, some delicious looking recipes too. I will be revisiting the article on picnicing and may just have to try the recipe on Lemon Cake. Yum!

You might be scared away by the Italian but have no fear, they've put a translate button on their website and easy-peasy, you can read it in English.

What a great way to start my day! Thanks Open Kitchen for including me in this months magazine!

Making Progress!

2012-04-03T23:29:00.000-06:00

There's a lot to catch up on. I've been busy and want to share but have limited my posts to my Easter projects lately, however, here's a little progress report of sorts.

1 - Remember my Goodbye, My Love post? I'm happy to report that it's almost been two full weeks and I am soda/Coke free. It honestly has not been as hard as I was thinking it would be. Day 5 was the hardest. I really craved a coke that day but I just kept gulping down water and the cravings eventually stopped. I haven't magically lost 50 lbs but I am noticing some differences. I have more energy, my skin looks more alive - does that make sense? And, while there is only minor changes on the weight, my clothes fit better and I don't feel so bloated. Ok, gotta stop there - bloated? I think that is one of those words that should be banned from my blog. Possibly from my vocabulary. What a great word - just what you want to read about. Seriously though, the change has been positive and again, I thank all of you who left positive comments and sent uplifting emails. You've helped me! Thank you!

2 - I sewed curtains out of sheets. Is that resourceful or cheap? They have flowers on them and are, quite possibly, at first glance too flowery for me. But they are orange, and blue, and green, and yellow and I kind of like them. Ok, I really like them. I've been on the search for fabric/curtains for almost two years so it feels good to finally find something I like, with all the colors I wanted. We also made a valance that ties in the wood choices in our home by just staining a piece of wood and putting it up with L-brackets. It's hard to see in the photo but looks great in real life and was so easy.

Side note: I realized while making these curtains that I'm just not a store-bought gal. I was looking at the items in our home and I tweak EVERYTHING. The art is custom, the framing is hand done, the Ikea boxes are painted, the pillows are hand sewn and some are from placemats. The curtains are from sheets. Am I the only one out there like this? I guess it's good. My home is me however sometimes it would be nice to be able to walk into a store and just buy something I love, as is, no tweaking necessary, you know?!

3 - I'm so totally in LOVE with the item in this box. I'm currently tweaking things (there I go again) to find it a home but when it arrived, I literally squealed in pure happiness and delight. Can't wait to show you but it deserves a post all to itself. And, actually, wow, it goes against what I just wrote in my side note above, it's store bought and I love it as it is. It's quirky and very me.

4 - I've been missing Camden, Maine. I lived there for four years and have been thinking about the Bagel Cafe. It's a great little place that only served breakfast and lunch and had the best bagels. The mister and I used to walk down there sometimes for a breakfast bagel. My favorite was an Olive Cream Cheese bagel and sadly, I haven't been able to find one in Fort Collins. So, I made my own. I'll share the recipe I created, if you like green olives, you might like it. And, check out that tall glass of water - yum!

5 - I'm working on, and am almost done with a canvas art project using my family silhouette photos.

6 - I filled and shipped off some blog and Etsy orders last week and am working on more this week. I love making jewelry so I'm having fun with these orders. With Mother's Day coming up, I'll be offering a special pendant just for moms and am working on the design. More to come on that.

So, that's what's been going on around here. I also made two skirts for my twins' school music program and am getting ready for a visit from my sister this weekend. It's a busy time but it's good to be busy. So, what fun things have you been up to?

Easter Card

2012-04-01T21:35:00.000-06:00

I was digging through my stash of crafty goodness and found some left-over heart mazes from Valentines day and knew just what to do with them. Want to see what I came up with?

I made this, it's a fun little Easter card. If you want to make one for yourself here's the supplies you will need and a quick tutorial.

Supplies Needed:
1 - 8 x 11 piece of white cardstock
Heart Maze (purchased from Walmart - they came in a pack of 6)
pencil
scissors
adhesive
pattern paper scraps (ears)
2 - small black buttons
Fine black marker or pen

Step 1: Fold your paper in half like shown above. It should be folded long- wise

Step 2: On the lower half of your paper, trace the heart maze.

Step 3: Set maze aside and draw in some fur about in the middle of the paper like shown.

Step 4: Carefully cut out the heart shape. Then cut along the line you drew for the fur. Continue cutting up the fold line so that when you are done you have something that looks like what is shown above.

Step 5: Next, fold the paper back into card shape and carefully cut out bunny ears on the back part of your card. See above photo.

Step 6: Now, it's time to decorate your card. Add some pattern paper for the inside of the ears. Attach the maze for the nose and buttons for the eyes. Then, using a fine tipped marker or pen, draw in some details.

Step 7: Don't forget the inside. Write in your message. Mine says Some "Bunny" thinks you are a"maze"ing. - Happy Easter.

And that's it. It's a pretty simple card that would look really cute attached to a plate of Easter goodies for neighbors or friends.

Duct Tape & Trash

2012-03-31T18:06:00.001-06:00

Hmmm! The title of this post doesn't sound so good. However, stick with me because out of duct tape and trash I've made a fun little treasure. I know, weird, right?!

A few weeks ago I picked up a few chicken sandwiches from Wendy's for me and the hubs. It's been awhile since I've eaten at Wendy's and they've made some changes. Like, did you know their sandwiches, at least the ones I ordered, now come in little boxes like these...

I'm a little warped in the head but I was so delighted by this packaging. I thought the over all design of it, the curved sides, the lower front, the higher back, the size ... well, I just saw potential in this little piece of trash. I'm easily pleased.

And, to add to the delight, my kids have been playing with Duct tape lately. Did you know Duct tape now comes in all sorts of designs, colors and styles. Umm, ya - it's awesome.

Aren't these polka-dots so cute?

So, I decided to combine the two items and make a quick little craft. Here's what I did.

Step1: Take two strips of tape and hook them together, face down. Then, place the container in the center of the tape.

Step 2: Wrap the tape up around the edges of the box. (The photos above are in the wrong order - oops!) I started with the long sides and then I folded up the side edges kind of like I was wrapping a gift.

Step 3: Next, working on the back, take a piece of tape and attach it to the top of the back of the package. The tape is not wide enough to cover it all so I just applied a piece to the top. Then, trim off the excess like shown so you can see the rounded corners.

Step 4: Take your tape and attach it, wrapping it all the way around the box. This will completely cover all the outsides of the package.

Step 5: With scissors, trim off the excess tape following the edge of the box so that the curved sides now show.

Step 6: Using a hole punch, poke a hole in each side of the container.

Step 7: Cut a small amount of ribbon and thread it through the holes on each side. Tie a knot to hold the ribbon in place.

Step 8: Add some cute little Easter grass

Step 9: And, finally, add in your treat and give it away! You could fill the whole thing with jelly beans or chocolate eggs. Or mix it up and do something like below.

And, just an FYI, don't take your peeps out of their package and leave them out all night. They actually start to shrivel up. My poor purple peep chick didn't look so good this morning when I took my photo. So either he was out partying all night or being out of his package made him age really, really fast. Poor guy! My daughter quickly put him out of his misery though.... she said "Yum!"

Also, this isn't the first time I've been inspired by packaging - remember my fascination with the Fry Box?http://www.thenshemade.com/2011/01/fry-box-valentine.html

Gum Bunny!

2012-03-29T22:21:00.000-06:00

Does "Gum Bunny" kind of sound like "Some bunny?" or "Somebody"?

Ya, probably not.

However, let's just pretend it does. Here's a fun little project that you can make from a pack of gum that "Gum Bunny" out there might love. I mean, somebody out there.

So, here's what you do, go buy this...

Then, pull off all the labeling so it's naked (gasp!)

Then, grab some scraps of paper and cut some shapes that look kind of like the ones below

I used white cardstock and cut out the mouth, eyes, and ears. Then I used a small dark pink scrap and cut a nose that kind of looks like a guitar pick. And, finally, two gray pieces that go in the ears.

Not Shown: Next, I grabbed my black ink pad and inked around all the edges of the paper pieces. This just helps them stand out more and gives it a more finished look.

Then, take your gum package and turn it upside down so that the opening is on the bottom and then glue on all your pieces. I used glue dots. After I put on all the main pieces I also added googly eyes and some gray whiskers. I thought about teeth but stopped with the whiskers.

And, finally I added a small little bow because, well, everything looks better with a bow. Then I bent one ear down just for good measure. Seriously, don't you think that "Gum Bunny" out there would love to find this waiting for them in their Easter Basket?

Plus, it was super easy. I made it in less than 15 minutes and if the girls had been home, it would have been a fun little project to do together so they could give them to friends.

And, before I close this post - don't forget about the drawing over at McHoot in Chicago you could win one of my necklaces but hurry and enter because the contest ends April 2nd.

Interview and a Giveaway

2012-03-26T18:58:00.000-06:00

Hey all, this is just a quick little update. I've been interviewed by Alyssa over at McHoot in Chicago. Pop on over to her site for the deets and a chance to win one of my necklaces. This necklace in fact...

Thanks McHoot In Chicago for the interview!