Tip Junkie is all about inspiration and showing off creative women through their ideas and products.  Where as my other blog, Executive Homemaker is all about free files.  Someone has already done the work creating it – you get to print it out!

Being an Executive Homemaker is about organizing your life so you can get to the fun things about being a mother, wife, and woman. You’ll find many of the same categories as Tip Junkie, but instead of inspiration, you’ll find the actual project to make yourself.

Here are some of the most popular posts on Executive Homemaker:

• Executive Homemaker Binder (organizing planner)
• Transformer Birthday Party and Transformer Bingo
• Star Wars Birthday Party and Jedi Academy Invitation
• Indiana Jones Birthday Party
• Chore Chart Ticket System
• Green Day Memory (for St. Patrick’s Day)
• Don’t Eat Pete (fabulous and easy game for kids)
• Special Days Booklet (great for play dates and Spring Break for younger kids)

To make EH even better, I’ve enlisted several fabulous graphic designers to contribute and give you even more free files.  These ladies are incredibly talented and I feel honored that they will be apart of the EH team.  {{squeal in delight}}

Meet Janna Wilson, country girl, graphic artist, mama to three crazy-cute kiddos, wife to Scott, stitcher, jewelry maker, dreamer, wannabe painter, Sunday school teacher, and lover of ALL THINGS crafty!

These are some of my favorite posts of Janna’s:

• Enter her Birthday Giveaway (ends Tuesday, I think)
• Happy Birthday Tags
• Countdown to Christmas Calendar & Planner

Visit Janna’s online shop Whimsy Shoppe for fabulous downloads and handmade goods your family will love.This week on EH, Jana gave us her Pillow Box template.

Also meet Emily who lives in the recreational state of Idaho with her gorgeous husband and two kiddos. Her hubby is currently in the final semester of his graduate program and she gets to stay home and enjoy Buster “J” and Lady “P.”

Although Emily’s area of expertise is graphic design, she loves to sew, crochet, doodle, play, and anything else that gives her a creative outlet. where she gets to share ideas with others and make strangers her friends. Stop by for a visit!

These are some of my favorite posts of Emily’s:

• Pottery Barn Chalkboard Platter tutorial
• Free Easter Tags
• Owl softie ribbon teether

This week Emily gave us this darling, St. Patrick’s Day Patch Pin you can wear many ways.

I hope you’ll take a few minutes today and check out their blogs and amazing designs.  They are crazy talented with mad skills and I think you’ll love what they have to give you.

Have an amazing weekend!  {{hugs}}

Current Sponsors

Related Posts:

• Submit Your Birthday Parties!
• St. Patrick’s Day Party & Activity Ideas
• Your Personal Assistant – March

From the Tweets and e-mails I’ve been receiving, there might be a little confusion about the Tip Junkie Blog Events & Giveaway Directory.  If you are a woman and a blogger, you are welcome to add your blog events and giveaways you are hosting on your blog  for free!

Yep, it’s free!  I created it with the best of intentions to simply help you promote your blog through your giveaways and cool events you’re hosting. The women who have subscribed, are specifically looking for free stuff!

Right now there are 107 giveaways listed, a value of $6,391.  {{squeal in delight}}  Fabulous products with real value – way better than your average giveaways. Also, you can sort by “newest”, “highest value”, and a couple other options with a touch of a button.  I made the directory with large pictures so it’s easy to quickly browse what’s being given away.

Each giveaway is only allowed to be on there for 7 days, so it is constantly new with fresh, fabulous, and FREE products! We’re all pressed for time.  Therefore I’ve made it really easy to subscribe to the Giveaway Directory via:

• E-mail once a day with the newest submissions
• Follow on Facebook
• Add the blog button and scrolling widget to add to your blog. (see below)

<a border="0" href="http://www.tipjunkie.net/giveaways" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.tipjunkie.net/images/TJ_free-stuff-button.gif" /></a>

So head on over to the New Tip Junkie Blog Events & Giveaway Directory to find out all the fabulous things happening in blogland.

With this sidebar widget you can quickly scroll down to see if there’s anything you’d be interested in. {{squeal in delight}} To get the code, simply press “get widget” at the bottom of the widgetbox.

Current Sponsors

Related Posts:

• Lisa Leonard Giveaway and Project Show & Tell
• $50 Giveaway and Project Show & Tell
• Headband Giveaway and Project Show & Tell

I hope you’ll leave a comment on these lovely ladies blogs and tell them the Tip Junkie sent you!  {{hugs}}

1.  How To Make A Tiny Fairy Doll
2. How to make a scratch off sticker
3.  Wacky sack tutorial
4.  Boy freestyle mini-album tutorial

5. How to create mini stepping stones
6. Tips on how to start a dress-up
7.  Paper Mache Dinosaur
8. Felted Monster tutorial

Traveling with Kids

9.   Packing a Travel Busy Bag
10.  20 Travel Games and activities for kids
11.  Embellish a tray to use when traveling
12.  Real tips for plane travel with a baby and toddler

Tips to help the Kiddos

13.  Clever Ways To Teach Kids The Alphabet
14.  Tired of towels slipping off hooks? Add a loop!
15.  The Wheel of Misfortune
16. How to get your kids to clean their room in 15 min.

Other Tip Junkie Events:

• If you haven’t already, you can link up your creative blog posts on the Lisa Leonard Giveaway and Project Show & Tell post this week. The necklace is fabulous.  I’ll pick a winner next Monday night.  {{giddy}}

• To find out the latest giveaways and contest, sign up for the Tip Junkie Giveaway Directory.  You’ll get an easy to read e-mail with the new ones once a day.

• Join Tip Junkie on Facebook.

Current Sponsors

Related Posts:

• St. Patrick’s Day Party & Activity Ideas
• Make Over Monday – Fashion Addition
• Make your Thanksgiving Fabulous

It’s Tip Me Tuesday, where you can show off your creative tips and projects which enters you to win a fabulous prize! If you wan to know why I created Tip Me Tuesday, feel free to watch my video.  You can check out all the Tip Me Tuesday winners page.

I will “Tip You” by featuring creative women and products from the Visit Our Peeps widget. Then you “Tip Us” by linking up your latest handmade, creative project, tutorial or party blog post. (I will be bookmarking my favorites and featuring them.)

Come visit the Village! Sampler Village offers sampler boxes filled with handcrafted products. Want to be villagers of Sampler Village? Then, come sign up today to have your samples in the box!!

Shop:  Sampler Village
Blog: Sampler Village Blog
Follow on Facebook

Sevi Designs Blog is all about Handmade, Goodies, Crafts, Crafty Links, and Giveaways!  Sevi Designs Shop is all about Handmade Goodies for YOU!

1.  Silk Flower Tutorial
2.  Vinyl lined Crayon Roll Tutorial
3.  Hedgehog Applique

Blog:  Sevi Designs
Follow on Facebook
Twitter

Lisa’s handmade jewelry is meaningful, unique and perfect for everyday. Each piece is hand-cut, hammered, antiqued and polished sterling silver. You can create a custom mommy necklace or a piece with a meaningful phrase or date to wear near your heart.

a.  Vintage Frame Necklace, $38
b.  Illuminate necklace, $54
c.  Double Heart cuff, $99
Blog:  Lisa’s Blog
Shop:  Lisa Leonard Designs
Twitter

<a href="http://www.tipjunkie.com/category/tip-me-tuesday" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.tipjunkie.com/images/TipMeTuesdayButton1.png" border="0" /></a>

The lucky winner will receive a Heartstrings Necklace, a $58 value!
Next Tuesday, I will pick one MckLinky participant randomly.

All bloggers are welcome to link a post to win a fabulous prize from a Tip Junkie Mom-preneur.  Contest ends Thursday at midnight.

• Type in your blog name – then the tip. It makes it easy to read & will bring more traffic! Example link: Tip Junkie – Jewelry Organizer
• Please link to your direct post. We can’t find your project if you don’t link right to it.
• Add the Tip Me Tuesday button to your post, required to win.

To encourage uniting our community, choose five entries next to yours and leave a lovely comment. I will pick a random commenter who will receive a FREE 6 month membership to the Visit Our Peeps widget. (no strings & no obligation.) Whoohoo!

Current Sponsors

Related Posts:

• Headband Giveaway and Project Show & Tell
• Jewelry Giveaway and Project Show & Tell
• $50 Giveaway and Project Show & Tell

Do you have a make over tutorial on your blog? Submit it so I can feature you!   I’m still looking for tween, teen, craft rooms, laundry rooms, and boy room ideas.

1. Lego table make over {{fabulous}}
2.  Craigslist chair make over
3.  Coastal & White Makeover under $50
4. Refinished old bedroom furniture

5.  How to create a high end look with spray paint
6.  How to create a deep crown molding
7.  Painted Kitchen Counters
8.  Old Cupboard Door Turned Chalk Board/Message Board

9. Fun twist on the ‘to do’ list w/ chalkboard paint
10.  $20 DIY Kids Book Display
11.  Kiddie chair facelift
12.  How to paint a Rug on a Floor

Also, if you’re interested in finding some crazy good blogs to add to your Google Reader, check out MomDot’s Top 100 Mom Blogs of 2009.  Thanks Trish for including Tip Junkie!

Current Sponsors

Related Posts:

• Make Over Monday
• DIY Home Decor Tutorials
• Make Over Monday

Be sure to tell these fabulous ladies the Tip Junkie sent you.

1. Personalized Counting Book
2. Pudding Paint
3.  How To Make Easy Peg Fairies
4. Catch the ball

Painting & Art Activities

5.  Bored No More Box
6.  Crayons and a glass front door
7. Four crazy places for kids art
8.  Magic wand cayon tutorial

Sewing Tutorials

9.  Alphabet Bean Bags
10.  Puzzle Bags
11. Pin the Tail on the Donkey game
12. Quiet Book

Imaginary Play

13.  Make your own play kitchen out of an end table
14.  How to make a Volcano
15.  Bug Hunting Kit
16.  Make a barnyard

Dress Ups

17.  Faux makeup for kids
18.  PVC Swords/Lightsabers
19.  Recycled Cups noise makers
20. How to Make Minnie Mouse Hair Bows

Current Sponsors

Related Posts:

• DIY Home Decor Tutorials
• Make Over Monday Tutorials
• Spring Break – Keep ‘em Busy!

It in about 2 weeks! So start planning.  This year it falls during our Spring Break so a big party is in order!  {{giggle}}  I hope these ideas inspire you to do something OTT with your family this year.

St. Patrick’s Day Party Ideas

1. St. Patrick’s Day party for the adults
2. Make your own pot of gold
3.  17 things to do with your family for St Pattys day
4. DIY St Pats Party Ideas

St. Patrick’s Day Home Decor Ideas

5. Decorating your mantle for St. Patrick’s Day
6. Lock of the Irish Canvas
7. Good Luck Picture for St. Patrick’s Day
8.  St. Patrick’s Day Wreath for $3.75

St. Patrick’s Day Gift Ideas

9. Cute St. Patrick’s Day Buckets & Card
10. Lucky Pennies gift – free printable
11.  Sneaky O’ Lanigan’s pots of gold
12.  St. Patty’s Day greeting card template

St. Patrick’s Day Games and Activities for the Kids

13.  Little Leprechauns…Big Beards
14.   Mythology Papercraft – Leprechaun
15.  St. Patrick’s Day Math Activities
16  Make Your Own Pot of Gold w/ Rainbow

You might also like these previous St. Patrick’s Day posts:

• Green Day Memory
• St. Patrick’s Day Bingo
• Green Day Agenda
• St. Patrick’s Day party & traditions

Current Sponsors

Related Posts:

• Halloween Party Inspiration
• Memorial Day Celebration
• Valentine’s Day Celebration Ideas

It’s Tip Me Tuesday, where you can show off your creative tips and projects which enters you to win a fabulous prize! If you’d like a more detailed explanation about why I created it, feel free to watch my video.

I will “Tip You” by featuring creative women and products from the Visit Our Peeps widget. Then you “Tip Us” by linking up your latest handmade, creative project, tutorial or party blog post. (I will be bookmarking my favorites and featuring them.)

I’m totally easy on what kind of “tip” you link, the main thing is to link up so we can get to know you. Tip Junkie pretty much covers everything – recipes, crafts, holidays, home decor, gift ideas, parties, blogging tips, paper crafting, cleaning tips, etc. {{wink}}

There are FIVE lucky winners who will receive a zipper headband from Apostrophy.

1. #33 - My Cabinet Door Makeover – Jen @ Noting Grace
2. #46 – Making the World Cuter – Towel Poncho – love it!
3. #37 – Chic girly hanging flower ball tutorial
4. #35 – Ribbon and Pearl Necklace at Homespun Light
5. #43 – Family Room Remodel

The winner of the Visit Our Peeps widget for commenting on blog #33  is  The DIY Showoff. You can check out all the Tip Me Tuesday winners page.

On Kelli’s blog, 3 Boys and a Dog, you will find funny stories about the boys and dog, reviews, giveaways, super cool guest posters, recipes, and much more.

1.  Top 12 Household Notebook Sites
2.  How to write and tackle your to do list
3.  10 ways to get fit after the holidays
Blog: 3 Boys and a Dog
Follow on Twitter

Jen features home entertaining advice, ideas, and inspiration from a Chicago hostess on her blog Second City Soiree.

4.  How to make a Chocolate Bowl (and other videos)
5.  French Happy Hour
6.  Party Killers
Shop:  Second City Soiree
Follow on Facebook
Twitter

Cathy from Cap Creations is absolutely DARLING and is a  Tip Junkie Mom-preneur!  She has sterling silver jewelry for the entire family. Meaningful, personal and unique jewelry. You’re going to just love her products.

a.  He loves me hand stamped, $28
b.  Fleur de Lis For My Tamelica, $29.20
c.  Oval Monogram Bangle Bracelet, $46
Blog:  Cap Creations Blog
Shop:  Cap Creations

<br /> <a border="0" href="http://www.tipjunkie.com/category/tip-me-tuesday" target="_blank"><img src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc10/TipJunkie/TipMeTuesdayButton-1.png" /></a>

The lucky winner will receive a $50 gift certificate to Cap Creations!
Next Tuesday, I will pick one MckLinky participant randomly.

To enter to win, simply use MckLinky to link your post to Tip Me Tuesday. The winner will be chosen by a random number generator. Contest ends Friday at midnight.

• Type in your blog name – then the tip. It makes it easy to read & will bring more traffic! Example link: Tip Junkie – Jewelry Organizer
• Please link to your direct post. We can’t find your project if you don’t link right to it.
• Add the Tip Me Tuesday button.

To encourage socializing and getting to know each other, I will also pick a random commenter from one of the blogs who linked up below; she will receive a FREE 6 month membership to the Visit Our Peeps widget. (no strings & no obligation.) Whoohoo!

Current Sponsors

Related Posts:

• Lisa Leonard Giveaway and Project Show & Tell
• Headband Giveaway and Project Show & Tell
• Jewelry Giveaway and Project Show & Tell

Once again, Tip Junkie is here as Your Personal Assistant. Consider taking a day to really plan and organize your schedule to stay ahead of the game. Here are some things to do:

1. If you’re wanting to be more organized then print off the Executive Homemaker binder where you can keep track of everything in one place as well as printable worksheets to help keep you organized and on task. (Sorry, I still don’t have the 2010 calendars ready yet. I’ll get those done after the BlissDom conference.)

2. Check birthdays for the month, buy cards & presents, get them ready to mail or deliver. If you have a child’s birthday this month, plan it and get out the invites.

• Tip Junkie has tons of amazing birthday themes, party favor, game and decor ideas.
• Executive Homemaker has several games to print out.

Also since it’s a new year with a LOT of birthday ahead of you, consider making (or buying) neighbor, friend, and teacher gifts for the entire year. Organize a gift-crafting week with a friend and make it a fun event by stocking up on several handmade items you’ll need through out the year. This way if you’re ever in a time crunch or financial pinch – you’re covered!

3. St. Patrick’s Day will be here before you know it! Decide today what you’re going to make, how you’re going to decorate, what traditions you’re going to do.  St. Patrick’s Day falls on our Spring Break, so I’ll be hosting a big party for my kiddo’s and their friends.  I’ll be featuring more ideas this week!

• Green Day Memory
• St. Patrick’s Day Bingo
• Green Day Agenda
• St. Patrick’s Day party & traditions

4. Clear schedule for book club, girls night out, BUNCO, and other rotating activities. Make sure you have child care, your food assignment, etc. Here’s how to start a dinner club.

5.  This year Easter is Sunday, April 4, 2010.  It’s time to get Easter outfits for the family and schedule family pictures (if you haven’t already done so).  I usually rotate family pictures between Christmas and Easter every couple years.  This way there is a variety in our home.  If the budget is tight, you can always call a friend and meet at a pretty park.  I did this 2 years ago.  I took pictures of her family and then she took pictures of mine.  It worked out great!

If you’re already in the Easter crafting mood, here are some ideas to get your creativity flowing:

Easter Home Decor

• Easter Table Decorating Ideas
• Easter & Spring Home Decorating
• DIY Chic Easter Eggs
• Easter Craft & Spring Craft Ideas
• Easter Crafts and Spring DIY Ideas
• Easter Crafts submitted by Tip Junkie Readers

Easter Traditions

• Easter Traditions
• More Easter Traditions
• Don’t Eat Pete (game to play with Easter candy)
• Egg a House (ring & run activity with your kiddos)
• Spiritual Easter Eggs

Easter Gift Ideas

• Easter Gift Ideas and Decor
• Homemade Easter Baskets and Paper Baskets
• Easter Food and Goodies

6.  I can’t believe it’s already time to plan for Spring Break.  Holy Cow!  Where does the time go?  You can check out any of the “For the Kids” posts for fun and creative ideas to keep  your kids busy with Spring Break Staycation Ideas.

More Boredom Buster Ideas:

• Spring Break – Keep ‘em Busy!
• Spring Break Activities on a Budget

7. If you are doing a food storage, time to check the schedule and buy next on the list. Don’t forget to put some cash in there as well.

8. Change AC house filter.

9. Write one grandparent a letter, artwork, or card.

10. Plan Mommy/Son or Daddy/Daughter dates.

11. Plan a date night with your man, arrange the babysitter in advance or swap with a friend.

12. Let’s start the month off right and make a list of the things that are causing you added stress. Make a list of the big ones as well as the little ones. Is something in the house that’s broken, is there an insurance issue you need to take care of, do you need an extra trash can upstairs to help keep things tidy?

Once you’ve thought it out and made your list, next plan a day this week as your “ongoing problem day” and finally resolve those issues that need to be resolved. You’ll be glad that you did!

13. For moms with toddlers: Winter was always hard for me when my boys were young because they weren’t able to play outside as much. During the cold months, I would put together “Special Days” and some times invited a couple of their friends. I put together a Special Days Booklet with all my ideas that you can print out! Basically they are “blue day” or “Spider-man Day” and we would play games and do simple things using that color, shape, or theme. If you get another mother involved, it’s less work, and more fun. You could even rotate the days you host it.

14. A heads up, teacher appreciation is next month. If you’re going to make a gift, check the Teacher Appreciation and handmade gift idea categories for tons of ideas.  {{I’ve done all the searching for you!}}

15.  Don’t forget about April Fool’s Day pranks and traditions!  I’ve already posted about some fun pranks that you can do.  However, I’ll feature more this month as well.  If you have a fun one, be sure to submit it so I can feature you and give some fun ideas to readers.

If you want to remind yourself to head on over to Tip Junkie at the beginning of every month for this segment, here’s a button you can put on the sidebar of your blog.

What else do you do to get your home organized?

Current Sponsors

Related Posts:

• Now We Can All Be An Executive Homemaker
• Personal Assistant – January
• Personal Assistant – November

I hope this inspires you to do something fun for your little man!

1.  Boys Nautical themed room – boat bed
2.  Pirate themed nursery
3.  Boy’s Dinosaur Room
4.  Vintage Racing Room

5.  Bass Pro Shop Theme Room
6.  Turn a large closet into a pirate ship fort
7.  Boy’s Beach Themed Room
8.  Cool car themed paint

9.  Dr. Seuss Room
10.  A coming of age boys bedroom
11.  Transportation decoupage dresser
12.  Teal, sea-foam and orange boys room

A heads up, my fabulous friend Angie is hosting a giveaway Memory Mixer giveaway of the software plus a bound book worth $75.  Whoohoo!!

If you’d like more giveaway information, check out the Tip Junkie Blog Events and Giveaway Directory.  It’s free to post and sign up for the newsletter.  I’m just trying to do my part to make getting free stuff easy for you. {{wink – I’ve got your back!}}

Current Sponsors

Related Posts:

• Halloween Party Inspiration
• Trunk or Treat – Decorate Your Car
• More Fabulous Baby Shower Themes