Confessions of a Craft-A-Holic

http://thesweetdetail.blogspot.com
http://embellishinglifeeveryday.blogspot.com
http://petitehermine.blogspot.com

Tuesdays & Wednesdays

http://www.paisleypassions.blogspot.com
Thursdays & Fridays

http://www.lovelycraftyhome.com/
http://naptimecrafters.blogspot.com/

Saturdays

The End

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Valentine's for the Troops!

2012-02-03T09:57:00.000-08:00

So a neighbor of mine is collecting Valentine's for the Troops in
Afghanistan, her husband is there, we are so proud of him for
going to serve our country.. Hugh's such a great guy he will be
definitely be missed...he will be gone for the whole year! His family
will definitely be in our prayers! His wife Alyssa is making Valentine's
Day packages to send to troops to brighten their day! That is so thoughtful!
I offered to make some handmade cards to go along with them. She said
they always like that sort of thing and so again with tons of paper, ribbon,
etc & nap times I was able to come up with a few to donate to the cause!
Here's a short tutorial on how I made them, hope you enjoy it!

Materials you will need:

Coordinating pink/red
Valentines day paper

Red card stock

a pair of scissors

tape runner glue (tombo
mono's work great)

white tulle

anything you have on hand
with Valentine notions

First Step: Cut your red card stock to the size card

you want. Second: Assemble 5 random sizes of squares/rectangles,

adhere with your Tombo Mono. Third: Cut out 1/2 a scallop edged

Valentine notion. Fourth: I was looking for something to dress up

the card a little so I decided to tie some white tulle in a bow,

I liked how it turned out so I went with it..

These steps should take you to here:

Fifth Step: Pick out your favorite Valentine's embellishments
to adhere on, be creative & have fun with it! I
Add "She Loves You" tags to the bottom

Sixth Step: I chose a cute heart, added an XOXO
tag and a red gem/white pearl to the center.
This really gave the card a new twist.
You should have something like this:

Seventh Step: Now the fun part! Design time.. I placed these hearts in
different spots, trying to see what looked best.. I ended up liking them both
so some hearts were placed in the middle and some were placed
on the scallop, I added some little red and yellow hearts to some
of them, but decided I didn't want to over load them, embellish
them too much so only 2 cards have extra hearts the rest only
have the XOXO heart.. I think they turned out really cute! :)
It took a couple of hours to design & assemble but it's
craft therapy for me, I'm really in my happy
place when I just relax and get creative!

Here they are:

THIS WEEKS LINKY PARTIES

Sundays & Mondays

http://thesweetdetail.blogspot.com
http://embellishinglifeeveryday.blogspot.com
http://petitehermine.blogspot.com

Tuesdays & Wednesdays

http://www.paisleypassions.blogspot.com
Thursdays & Fridays

http://www.lovelycraftyhome.com/
http://naptimecrafters.blogspot.com/

Saturdays

The End

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{Feedback Love}

2012-01-31T06:23:00.001-08:00

All Excellent so far....

A couple of posts ago here I mentioned I created a basket

for a customer's Best Friend in Nebraska. She ordered a Milkshake, an Ice Cream Sundae, Onesie Cupcakes and a Sugary Sweet Flower Bouquet, I threw in *my choice* of FREE sweet treats, I decided to give her 2 Jumbo Candies and 1 Lollipop, this customer was so thorough with her order, anticipating these free treats, she even told me to include them in with the gift basket! So came the birth
of my newest basket being sold on Etsy
called the {Snickerdoodle Sweet Treats} basket.

Since then I've had several inquiries about this
basket and another customer purchased this same basket
for her BFF...I just had to write a post on this last customer's

feedback! I've got tons of great feedback on my Etsy shop, which are available for others to see and decide whether or not they would like to shop at my store! So feedback is definitely really important in running this business! Here
is what my customer & her BFF had to say about the
"Snickerdoodle Sweet Treats Combo"!

*********************************************************
Hi Lilli,

"Alice loved the package. Both her and her husband are working artists, so finding them the perfect gift is never
easy. I always feel like I could have been more creative or personal about the gifts I send them, since they both always send the most amazing thoughtful creative gifts. Thanks for helping me find something creative to give back!"

Thought you would want to read her exact words...
please see Alice's email to me below...

"Eva!!!!

The most amazing package arrived today for us from
you and Ed! its just beautiful! I am opening it slowly
because its so beautifully wrapped and presented, each
item, so well crafted and presented! I love it! Its baby
clothes candy and cake and everything so cute! Thank
you so much. Its super creative! I'm not opening everything
at once as to savor it's loveliness. Its so, so cool and pretty"

Alice

*********************************************************

I highlighted that last part! That is just so sweet to say about my packages!! To... "Savor it's loveliness" I'm so flattered,
really!?!?! I am just so thrilled at her reaction to the basket,
it makes me feel like my business is really doing well! and my customers are getting what they want and more! As always I took pictures of the basket set before I sent it for my records, so here it is:

I just wanted to take a moment and mention some really cute feedback's I've gotten on Etsy, just to mention a few, so far I've had over 123 feedbacks recorded which really helps my business!
*********************************************************************************

Gena in California says:

"The Boy Deluxe Set is absolutely amazing!!!!! Aside from being super nice and accommodating, Lilli took an extra step to make sure that my package (my last minute package) got to me in time for my event. I will definitely be returning to her shop and I'll be telling all of my friends about her!"

Here is the Gift Basket Gena is referring to:

**********************************************************************************

This next shop item has been a pretty popular little set
among orders. This Cute Cuddley Cupcake Set is also inside the Snickerdoodle basket so I've sold a good amount of these sets! Another cool aspect of this cupcake set is the option of
personalization, the customers are able to request their
own "Panda, Hippo, Owl.. any animal they choose" as a
gift tag and also include a greeting with it! Here's what everyone's saying about this Cuddley Cupcake Set:

Irihana in Virginia says:

"These were a HUGE hit at the shower I attended! Seller worked with me to send the order in a rush, and got here

in plenty of time. Thanks so much!!"

Lovesoldstuff in Wisconsin says:

"Too Cute!!! And they arrived already gift wrapped and ready to give, you just can't beat that!! Excellent Shop, Highly reccomended!!"

***********************************************************************************

Another really popular set has been my Boutique Syle Tie Onesies & Burp Cloth Sets, the Turquoise & Chocolate Brown and the Argyle & Guava Stripes Sets, I've sold 7 Sets of these since I've been open in March. Out of 85 orders I think that's
great, but I love the variety my customers choose from Lollipops to Milkshakes, Ice Cream Sundaes to Cupcakes I
love all their choices! The Burp Cloths sets by far take me
the longest time to make & require much attention to detail, that is why I charge more for these sets/baskets!!

Verna from New York says:

(Verna's my elementary school friend! Thanks for
supporting an old friend's business!!)

"Absolutely love my purchase. Everything is done so nicely and is so very cute! Highly recommended!!! Thank you!"

**********************************************************
View all my feedback HERE 100% Positive so far!! Oh yeah!!
**********************************************************

Last but NOT least! Another favorite seller has been these cute little owls, I've gotten custom orders for owls with green flowers, different color owls, different amounts of owls and it's been so fun to ship these little guys out! See all the hoot everyone's making about these cute OWL buddies:

Old Soul Style in North Carolina says:

"These are adorable! Presentation and packaging is superior! Recommend this shop!!"

Melissa from California says:

"So cute! I love them! Thank you so much!"

Crystal from Alabama says:

"Quick shipping and order fulfillment!"

Thanks for stopping by! Going on a much needed

Vacation from Etsy in 3 days so get your

orders in SOON!! Yay!

Big thanks to all my customers!!

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Ladybug Blessings Blog Hop!

2012-01-26T19:02:00.000-08:00

Check out this awesome blog hop from Ladybug Blessings
over 240 different crafts for you to try.. Woohoo!!
Link up your latest and greatest!

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Root Beer Float Cupcakes

2012-01-24T07:24:00.000-08:00

So, I decided to get a little creative with our

dessert tonight, I bought this book called
"101 Gourmet Cupcakes" a while ago..

One of the ideas were "Root Beer Float Cupcakes"

I just had to try it, in the recipe they actually use

multi-colored straws that stick out of the cupcakes, I decided to use these cute Hazelnut Chocolate sticks, they turned out awesome, I was a little hesitant to use them - I did have straws but I just wanted something different. I'm going to be trying out some other ideas from this cute book!

Other cupcakes I want to try soon are

"Banana Split","Give me S'more" and "Angel Food Toasted Coconut" and ones with strawberries & raspberries.. I'm probably going to get stocked

up on shredded coconut, heavy cream, dark

brown sugar and several flavors of extract

for future bakes!

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Ethan's Diaper Clutch & Matching Car Seat Canopy

2012-01-24T06:20:00.000-08:00

I've desperately been needing something to organize Ethan's diaper bag, the diapers, wipes, etc. were driving me crazy! I had some scrap fabrics left over from Ethan's Car Seat Canopy.. what's great is that now they match!

This is such an easy way you can organize your diaper bag - it fits 3-4 diapers, a wipe case, sanitizer and there is an extra pocket in the back for whatever you want! I didn't even need to use a tutorial.. Not many out there for Diaper Clutches so I just winged it again, no pattern here just eyeballing, I can't stand patterns, I like to be creative and sew where I feel is needed, risky technique but still do-able!

I think it turned out great!

I really loved this Car Seat Canopy I

made back in 2009.. This only cost me

a couple of bucks to put together. Literally

$5 - $10 and it's completely homemade!
We used this everywhere when Ethan was a newborn!

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The Yummiest Bread Ever

2012-01-24T05:55:00.000-08:00

Herbs de Provence Bread

I've really been on a baking kick this week! I really

LOVE this recipe I got from the Caterer at Snell & Wilmer,

they called him the "Pajama Pants Guy" yes.. he wore pajamas

to serve a law firm.. haha you bet he was the best, he came all

the way from Heber City to Cater to our firm! The attorneys

would have Friday luncheons and the rest of the secretaries,
clerks & paralegals got to eat what they didn't finish.. total
bonus because these attorneys seriously ate like Kings!
No joke, I really miss the steak, ribs, chicken...whatever
they had was so amazing down to the desserts cheesecakes,
tiramisu honestly GOOD FOOD! Anyway, I tracked down
the caterer and got this recipe for Herbs de Provence Bread
try it out they are the best! There's a small recipe for Orange
Marmalade that goes great with this, I didn't make it..
but I included the short recipe for it!

Organic ingredients are recommended,
I try to supplement them where I can:
1 c. old fashion organic rolled oats
2 c. boiling water
2 tbsp organic butter
2 1/2 tsp salt
1/2 c. organic honey
1/3 c. warm water
2 pks. dry yeast
6 c. organic flour
1 tsp dry basil
1 tsp dry parsley
1 tsp dry summer savory
1/2 tsp anise seed
1/2 tsp thyme leaf

ORANGE MARMALADE (optional)
1/4 honey
1/2 orange marmalade

Let's begin..
Develop dry yeast in warm water. In large bowl,
place oats, salt, honey, butter and boiling water.
Let stand until warm, add in dry herbs.

Stir in developed yeast. Fold in flour and
knead for 5 mins. Cover and let rise in warm
place. Punch down and turn out onto floured surface.

Shape into knots and let rise a second time.
Bake at 325 degrees for 40-50 mins.

..and there you have it! So easy..
the yummiest bread ever!
You've GOT to try it!

Thanks for stopping by!
Have a great day!

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Sharing A Piece Of My Heart Through Scrapbooking

2012-01-24T05:16:00.000-08:00

Here are some of the pictures from Ethan's First
Thanksgiving, Thursday November 26, 2009,
he was only 5 months old in these pics, so cute!

Ethan was a red hot chili pepper, I was a medieval

princess and Adam was a mobster! lol

Ethan's First Thanksgiving November 2009

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Easy Car Seat Canopy

2012-01-24T04:41:00.000-08:00

I found some really cute fabric at JoAnn's the other day,
so I decided to make our little girl a Car Seat Canopy..
I was thinking to make the canopy with thicker fabric

but Adam reminded me of our awesome "Bundle Me"

which kept Ethan really warm in the winter. Anyway..

I started working on this project a couple of days ago

and in between diaper changes, feeding & Ethan's naps

- here is the final product! Now I can get started on some
of our Disney scrapbooking!

SUPPLIES YOU WILL NEED:

-2 yards of your favorite
coordinating fabrics

-a bowl to round edges
-a pen to trace the bowl

-an iron to make sure the fabric

is straightened out

-your sewing machine

-some velcro to wrap

handles around the car seat
- you trusty Fabric scissors
(I say "fabric scissors" because
once you use these to cut fabric
you will NEVER go back.. hm..yeah
don't use regular scissors to cut fabric
Come on Now!! lol)

First step measure out the fabric, I just

put mine on top of our Bertini and eye-balled it!

Second step round the edges with a bowl..

Third step, here's the FUN part..sewing it
all together! I just turned the fabric inside out and

sewed along the edges, not rocket science you can

totally figure this out.. I never use a pattern I just

eye-ball everything.. not the best method.. but
hey I can get the job done! ha!

Last step cut 4 long strips of fabric for the
handles... Attach the velcro to the back to

secure them around the car seat handle.. I just

ironed on the velcro so it would stick better!

Voila! Your done! Easy peasy.. Right?!?

Thanks for stopping by!!
Linking this craft to..
THIS WEEKS LINKY PARTIES

Sundays & Mondays

http://thesweetdetail.blogspot.com
http://embellishinglifeeveryday.blogspot.com
http://petitehermine.blogspot.com

Tuesdays & Wednesdays

http://www.paisleypassions.blogspot.com
Thursdays & Fridays

http://www.lovelycraftyhome.com/
http://naptimecrafters.blogspot.com/

Saturdays

The End

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DIY: Cute Handmade Cards

2012-01-24T03:59:00.000-08:00

I decided to make a couple of sets of cards, since I
have so much paper, ribbon & glue dots just sitting
around and all this time on my hands, well at least
2 hours each afternoon while Ethan & Laurelei
nap, I can get tons done in 2 hours!
These were SO fun to make!

First off are these cute Baby Boy Shower buggy cards

they were made with with the "New Arrival" Cricut
Cartridge, they have fun shadow techniques, blackouts
and silhouettes I just played around with, I really
like how the wheels on the buggys turned out.. too cute!

Next these are probably my favorite cards ever..

my Flower Pot Cards.. they were left over

from a scrapbooking class I taught back in the

Summer of 2010.. This card actually came from a
mixture of cartridges..including the Cricut Sampler..
I tied some rafia to the flower pot.. gave it a nice touch!

These next Thank You cards were made
with the "George & Basic Shapes" Cricut Cartridge,
I just love all the purple, pink, white & brown
combination! A cute & simple way to say Thanks!!

Linking up these cute DIY handmade cards... to

THIS WEEKS LINKY PARTIES

Sundays & Mondays

http://thesweetdetail.blogspot.com
http://embellishinglifeeveryday.blogspot.com
http://petitehermine.blogspot.com

Tuesdays & Wednesdays

http://www.paisleypassions.blogspot.com
Thursdays & Fridays

http://www.lovelycraftyhome.com/
http://naptimecrafters.blogspot.com/

Saturdays

The End

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Blog Hop from Petite Hermine!

2012-01-24T00:33:00.000-08:00

Jen is throwing another awesome Blog Hop over
at {Petite Hermine} link up your latest & greatest
creations below! Crafts, recipes, diy restorations...
have fun with it & spread some comment love!

It's a Blog Hop!

2012-01-23T22:52:00.000-08:00

Link up your latest and greatest projects today! It's a
blog hop from {It's So Very Cheri} link up Restorations,
Recipes, Spotlight your business or just come and get some
inspiration for some new crafts from these wonderful blogs!
Hope we can all be inspired to make some new!!

DIY: Fabric Cupcake Topper Tutorial

2012-01-22T15:51:00.000-08:00

I just had to make these Fabric Cupcake Toppers I came across on Pinterest!
I was so excited to make them for Laurelei's First Birthday party! From start
to finish it only took me 1/2 an hour, such a fun, easy craft! I actually did it

minutes before her party and I just whipped up a simple easy banner.. I'll

show pictures of as well.. I work well under pressure! haha Anyway
here are the cupcake toppers I came across on {Pinterest} check it
out for some awesome party ideas! I've made so many banners with owls
and different cuts, I wanted to try something new & fresh!

SUPPLIES YOU WILL NEED:

-2 Coordinating fabrics of your choice

-Glue Gun & Extra glue sticks

-Pen or Pencil

-Needle & Thread

-Lollipop Sticks

-Scissors

First step is to trace your circles onto your fabric, you will need 8

for one side I doubled up the fabric and cut 4 at a time, make the

circles 2.5 inches in diameter.

Second take one circle and fold it in half... like this..

Third fold it in half again..

Fourth do this same step for the next 7 circles.. gather them together
and run your thread and needle through the point like this..

Fifth make a few quick stitches in and out..

This is how it should look so far... pretty easy!

Turn it over and it should look like this...

The sides should look like this..

Sixth step get the other half (the other 8 circles folded & stitched)

and hot glue them both to the Lollipop Stick!

You should eventually get this..

Finally! Your lovely Fabric Cupcake Topper!!

Here are these bad boys in action! Laurelei's First Birthday Party!

Laurelei's birthday was perfect! She was surrounded
by her close family... what more could she ask for?
She got some really cute presents and got to try a
cupcake for the first time! She's never had any candy
or cake.. I figured she could have some this one
time! It was her birthday!

Enjoy linking up this week and don't
forget to browse some of the craft blogs
below for some great inspiration!

THIS WEEKS LINKY PARTIES

Sundays & Mondays

http://thesweetdetail.blogspot.com
http://embellishinglifeeveryday.blogspot.com
http://petitehermine.blogspot.com

Tuesdays & Wednesdays

http://www.paisleypassions.blogspot.com
Thursdays & Fridays

http://www.lovelycraftyhome.com/
http://naptimecrafters.blogspot.com/

Saturdays

The End

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A Bowl Full Of Rosettes: Necklace, Earrings & Ring!

2012-01-22T13:01:00.000-08:00

I've had my hands full with making my kid's grandmother's (Oma as
they call her) birthday present. I decided I wanted to make her a cute
fabric rosette necklace with matching ring and a matching pair of earrings.
So to the craft store I went! I've never really made jewelry before so this
was really exciting for me. It only took me 2 hours from start to finish,
I'm sure I'll get better at it. I bought the chain, earring backs and some
jewelry tools, round nose pliers, side cutters and a needle nosed plier.
Adjusting the components and fish hook earrings were all new to me.
I've scrapbooked, sewed, mod podged anything and everything, but have
never tried my hand at jewelry making, so yes this was exciting for ME!

Here is Oma's necklace, earrings and ring all finished. I cut a cute bird cage
out with my Cricut using the {Serenade Cartridge} to hang the earrings
from it. lovin' it! Today is her birthday and we are going to Oma &
Grandpa's house for a birthday dinner celebration!

I got this cute card from {Tiny Prints} they had a coupon

to personalize a free card, I made this last year and

finally was able to use it on her birthday this year!

Ok I'll be linking up these babies and some fabric cupcake topper tutorials

to this weeks linky parties! Have fun & enjoy learning some new creative

techniques from some of these exciting crafty blogs below!

THIS WEEKS LINKY PARTIES

Sundays & Mondays

http://thesweetdetail.blogspot.com
http://embellishinglifeeveryday.blogspot.com
http://petitehermine.blogspot.com

Tuesdays & Wednesdays

http://www.paisleypassions.blogspot.com
Thursdays & Fridays

http://www.lovelycraftyhome.com/
http://naptimecrafters.blogspot.com/

Saturdays