Embellishing Life

Craft Catwalk no.70 & A Brief Break

2012-02-26T16:00:00.000-06:00

I am taking a bit of a break. I need to get reorganized.

Lately my posting has gotten sparse, and I need some time to reevaluate how to balance between the blog, the shop, the kids activities, and my other commitments.

So....

This link party will be open for exactly one month, the amount of time I'm taking off. Come back each week to check out the new links and add your new projects! On March 26th, when the linky closes I will be back with a blog update.

In the meantime you'll still find me pinning away on Pinterest,

sharing shop updates on Facebook,

and in my Shop.

See you in one month lovelies!

Please remember to...

Link to the post you are featuring.

~ no giveaways, shops, or linky parties ~

Do not link up something you already linked here before,

Visit some of your fellow party goers, &

Link back here somehow.

Grab the Craft Catwalk button or add a text link somewhere on your blog.

~ By submitting your work you grant me permission to use your pictures in a feature post. I always link back giving you proper credit~

Craft Catwalk no.69

2012-02-19T18:06:00.000-06:00

Inspiration from last week...

Lovely Nursery at Simcoe Street

Sweet treat bags at Michelle Paige

Pretty wall decor at Pajama Crafters

Reading nook at Creatively Living

Shelf tutorial at At Home in the NorthWest

Adorable treat bags at Nifty Thrifty Things

Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe at Loopy Loop Creations

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Please remember to...

Link to the post you are featuring.

~ no giveaways, shops, or linky parties ~

Do not link up something you already linked here before,

Visit some of your fellow party goers, &

Link back here somehow.

Grab the Craft Catwalk button or add a text link somewhere on your blog.

~ By submitting your work you grant me permission to use your pictures in a feature post. I always link back giving you proper credit~

Boxwood Topiary

2012-02-15T07:00:00.000-06:00

I love the look of a boxwood topiary. I wanted to make a couple, but I wanted to make them for cheap.

After a while of keeping a look out for good deals I found a couple cute spring pots at Michaels for 40% off, and boxwood balls in the spring section at Hobby Lobby for 30% off.

In the pot I put Styrofoam and moss (which I already had). The munchkins helped me find the straight sticks.

Total cost for 2 topiary's was under $10. Yay for being thrifty!

Happy Valentines Day!

2012-02-14T06:00:00.001-06:00

I haven't posted anything really Valentines related yet this year. Talk about waiting until the last minute!

So here we go...

Our Valentine tree is very simple and I love it. Wood hearts painted red hand on branches the kids helped me collect. Twine holds a doily heart on the tin jug.

The kids made these cards for the grandparents. On Pinterest I found something similar and I thought it was too sweet not to make! I cut the tree trunk from cork paper, and the kids used their fingerprints to make the heart leaves.

Don't you love the dollar section at Michael's?! This little frame came from that fun filled section. I painted the frame white and added scrapbook paper and numbers. Inexpensive and simple.

These sweet little candies have been all over Pinterest, too. Since I had the stuff I gave it a shot. They look cute, hopefully they taste as sweet! Find out how to make them HERE.

Valentines Day morning the munchkins will wake up to a special Valentine breakfast.

They get so excited when we make the holidays a little extra fun. It's nothing fancy, but it's enough to make their day, and that's good enough for me :)

Craft Catwalk no.68

2012-02-12T17:00:00.001-06:00

Lovely things from last week...

At Home in the NorthWest

Polkadots on Parade

The Sewing Loft

Sew Can Do

The Crafty Scientist

Sew Fantastic

Jellyfish Jelly

DIY Kinda Girl

Please remember to...

Link to the post you are featuring.
no giveaways, shops, or linky parties
Visit some of your fellow party goers
Link back here somehow.
Grab the Craft Catwalk button or add a text link somewhere on your blog.

~ By submitting your work you grant me permission to use your pictures in a feature post. I always link back giving you proper credit~

Map Art (with a heart)

2012-02-11T20:02:00.002-06:00

Yay! Our computer is up and running again! Thank goodness, too. I love my iphone, but my eyes couldn't take one more day of using that little screen to check in on my etsy shop and emails.

Any way, with Valentines day just a few days off I thought I'd share a project with a heart. :) I know you've seen heart map art like THIS one and THIS one, too. Love them. I thought it was a such a sweet idea.

I made my own version by printing a free map I found online. If you do a google image search for the map of your state you'll get loads of results.
I cut the word "home" from card stock and then stitched (to the best of my very limited ability) a heart with red thread around our home.

The frame was one of those fabulous $5 frames from Walmart. I love those frames! Perfect price for crafting.

Find me participating at:
Craft-O-Maniac
Pinkapotamus
Sugar Bee Crafts
A Diamond in the Stuff

Craft Catwalk no.67

2012-02-05T16:49:00.000-06:00

(Sorry all...there aren't any features this week...I'm having computer issues. Not fun!)

Please remember to...

~ By submitting your work you grant me permission to use your pictures in a feature post. I always link back giving you proper credit~

Heart Cake

2012-02-01T18:00:00.000-06:00

I am so making this for Valentine's Day this year.

I'm just hoping it comes out as pretty looking as hers did!

Sprinkle Bakes

What's on your Valentine's Day menu?

Craft Catwalk no {66}

2012-01-29T19:20:00.000-06:00

First, some eye-catching projects from last week...

What a pretty Valentine Tree from Alderberry Hill

Lots of little details went into this Circus Party from Vixen Made

I LOVE these pretty dishes! Beautiful teal dishes at Raising Oranges

Large scrabble tile wall art at 4 Growing Boys

Lovely evolution of a living room at Tattered and Inked

Hot Chocolate Dippers at The Moody Fashionista

I love the look of this Pie Shelf at Pondered Primed Perfected

Homemade Guacamole at Five Days...5 Ways

On to the Link Up!

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Please remember to...

Link to the post you are featuring.
no giveaways, shops, or linky parties

Visit some of your fellow party goers
Link back here somehow.
Grab the Craft Catwalk button or add a text link somewhere on your blog.

~ By submitting your work you grant me permission to use your pictures in a feature post. I always link back giving you proper credit~

Big Truck Construction Party

2012-01-26T15:38:00.003-06:00

A couple weeks ago I shared the little guy's birthday invitation. Well, this last weekend we celebrated his 3rd birthday. Today I'm sharing some of the party details.

A few weeks ago we went to a birthday party with a fun craft table for the kids.

They liked it so much that we set one up.

The ladybug and little guy had fun making these signs. I hot glued a paper straw to a wood block I had, and they painted it black. Then I taped the paper sign to the top. They like helping make party decorations. I seriously think the party prep is one of their favorite parts!

Now this is some seriously fun road tape! They got it in their stockings this Christmas, and it fit in well with our party theme. This stuff can go on floors, walls, where ever, and does not leave marks when you remove it. Serious fun. I found it at Perpetual kid.

*Please disregard those horrible and uneven curtain rods...that's next on the to do list.* I made the paper banner will the clipart set from THIS post.

I found these construction cups HERE.

I used a chalkboard label from HERE and wrote the name on with a silver sharpie marker.

Everything tastes better with a straw. Honest truth.
(edited: gray straws found HERE)

I labeled the jar with one of THESE chalkboard labels and a chalk marker.

Loved these construction utensils!

Maybe they will inspire the little guy to actually eat ALL his veggies?

I found this idea on Pinterest. I found an image of a fuel gauge, printed it, and taped it to the container we were going to use for juice.

"I'm three, Mama!"

I made the cupcake toppers using the same clipart from HERE

His number three birthday shirt was from THIS Etsy shop. Last year we got him THIS number two shirt, and it was just so stinkin' cute we had to get one again this year.

Find me linking up here:
Yesterday on Tuesday
The Shabby Creek Cottage
Hookin up with HoH
What's Allie Making Now

Fingerprints on the Fridge
At the Picket Fence
504 Main
The Shabby Nest

Craft Catwalk no. {65}

2012-01-22T19:48:00.001-06:00

Beautiful projects from last week..

Kid's Pallet Table from Shabby Love

Numbered Shelf from Kensington Cottage

Family Art from Creatively Living

Snow Gear Organizer from Burton Avenue

Frosty Faces from The Seven Year Cottage

Lemon Bark from Moments with the Montano's

On to the Link Up!

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Please remember to...

Link to the post you are featuring.
no giveaways, shops, or linky parties

Visit some of your fellow party goers
Link back here. Grab the Craft Catwalk button or add a text link.

~ By submitting your work you grant me permission to use your pictures in a feature post. I always link back giving you proper credit~

Adorable Kids Valentines

2012-01-20T21:12:00.000-06:00

I love these Valentine ideas found on Pinterest!

I'm sure we'll be making some of these in the coming weeks!

armommy

While looking around there I also came across adorable free printables for the kids from mommy.

They include sweet messages like, "I love being your mom."

Such a sweet idea!

find them HERE

Simply J Studio

Friskars

Living with Three Moon Babies

(includes free printable)

Then She Made

Family Fun

Skip to My Lou

Valentine Inspiration

2012-01-17T21:13:00.000-06:00

I've been busily working on plans for the little guy's birthday (will soon share) and some larger orders for the shop. Since I've had several requests for large quantities of chalkboard labels I made special listings for anyone looking for large amounts. You can find those here.

Soooo, Valentine's day crafts are going to hold off for about another week. Today I'm sharing some of the things I made last year. I've some across so many lovely ideas from other people that I'll be featuring soon too.

Click on the titles below for more details :-)...

Valentine Wreath

Framed Heart

Valentine Burlap Banner

"Thumb"body Special Valentine

Valentine Lollipops

Paint Chip Valentines

Valentine Matchbooks

Have you been crafting some lovely Valentine goodies?

Link them up at the Craft Catwalk

Craft Catwalk no. {64}

2012-01-15T19:12:00.001-06:00

Yay! It's time to get inspired and check out what everyone else have been creating!
First, check out these great ideas from last week...

Best Chocolate Cake Ever at The Mommy Diaries
mmmmmm...chocolate....

A Baking Themed Party at At Home in the Northwest

Gallery Wall at Newlyweds on a Budget

Homemade Baileys (in seriously cute bottles) at Nifty Thrifty Things

Winter Vignette at Shabby Love
I love those white gloves hanging across the mirror!

Paint Chip Quartrefoil Art at the Crafty Scientist

Cupcake Liner Lights at Happy Looks Good on You

On to the Link Up!
~~~~~~~~~~~~

Please remember to...

Link to the post you are featuring.
no giveaways, shops, or linky parties

Visit some of your fellow party goers
Link back here. Grab the Craft Catwalk button or add a text link.

~ By submitting your work you grant me permission to use your pictures in a feature post. I always link back giving you proper credit~

This Little Guy's Construction Party Invite

2012-01-12T07:42:00.001-06:00

Our little guy LOVES his big trucks with big wheels. Now that's it's time to plan his 3rd birthday it seemed appropriate to plan a construction truck party. I just completed the invite...

I used this awesome construction colored tape from In the Clear on Etsy

And clip art from BlackLeaf Design on Etsy

More party details to come!

Come party with me here:

Yesterday on Tuesday

The Shabby Creek Cottage

Delightful Order

House of Hepworths

Craft Catwalk no. {63}

2012-01-08T19:30:00.002-06:00

Here is some of the inspiration from last week...

Take a pretty home tour at It All Started With Paint

Lovely interior window at Decorate With A Little Bit

Inexpensive DIY custom curtain rods at From Gardners to Bergers

New Year inspiration from Michelle Paige

{Pin this one for next year!}

Please remember to...

Link to the post you are featuring.
no giveaways, shops, or linky parties

Visit some of your fellow party goers
Link back here. Grab the Craft Catwalk button or add a text link.

~ By submitting your work you grant me permission to use your pictures in a feature post. I always link back giving you proper credit~

Book of Notes ({inspiration file})

2012-01-03T21:40:00.000-06:00

It's no secret I love paper stuff (scrapbook papers, notebooks, journals, ledgers, letters, books, files,...). Maybe they bundled me in paper when I was a baby, causing my paper passion:-) Who knows what draws me to it, but I do love it!

On Pinterest I came across this unique little book of notes from Hello Friend.

It's filled with notes tucked into envelopes and pockets.

Absolutely. Love. This.

I gotta make one of these! It would make a lovely Valentines gift.

When I read on to find out the idea for it was based on a children's book, I loved it even more.

I adore childrens stories and thought this was such a fun book. The Jolly Postman has letters written by fairy tale characters that are tucked into the book.

How fun is that to come across those letters as you read the book!

I can't wait to read this one with the kids!

Craft Catwalk no. {62}

2012-01-01T19:15:00.000-06:00

Please remember to...

Link to the post you are featuring.
no giveaways, shops, or linky parties

Visit some of your fellow party goers
Link back here. Grab the Craft Catwalk button or add a text link.

~ By submitting your work you grant me permission to use your pictures in a feature post. I always link back giving you proper credit~

Ringing in the New Year

2011-12-30T21:33:00.000-06:00

Woo hoo! Party all night!

source

Um, kinda.

We actually keep it pretty low key on New Year's Eve.

really low key.

In other words...

...we're all asleep before midnight.

source

Last year I told the ladybug that she could stay up as late as she wanted.

She asked to go to bed by 9pm. We like our sleep :-)

While checking out pinterest I came across this fun idea from How Does She? for the kids. I found similar idea at The Dating Divas.

On each hour they pop a balloon (or open a bag) with a fun activity inside.

How fun is that?!

What a great way to celebrate during the day, especially if you're in bed before the ball even drops!

I was inspired. So I planned out some activities to do with the kids, too.

We made it in checklist form on our chalkboard.

The last activity is at 9, because I don't think they'll make it past then.

If they do I'll improvise.

I've got a couple things I want to add to the list yet, but you get the idea. It doesn't really matter what the activity is, as long as it's something the kids will like!

Happy New Year!

Here I am!

2011-12-29T14:49:00.000-06:00

Well hey there!

I know I haven't been around much the last few weeks, but I'm not quitting yet!

{Every time I get behind on things I think of this. Good advice}

I've just been lost in a little bit of everything lately...

lost in "creative" messes,

at Christmas parties,

enjoying birthdays and baking,

making Christmas crafts,

more baking,

making Christmas gifts,
(seriously...why sometimes do the pictures load sideways?! Weird.)

enjoying Christmas plays,

savoring family time,

enjoying more family time,

heading to Macy's to mail last minute letters to Santa,

making fun and festive food.

This has been life the last few weeks, and that's where I've been. I've been focusing on enjoying the little moments and less time documenting life in scrapbooks and the blog.

Which means I am now waaaaay behind on December Daily and Project Life as well. The blog has been on the back burner, too. I've also taken on some extra commitments in life that have taken up a bit of time. I'm trying to get back on track and find balance again. Bear with me please :-)

The Craft Catwalk link up will be back up and running as usual on Sunday night.

In the meantime I've just updated the shop with Valentine goodies!

mini jotters

Valentine Clothespins

Valentine Kit

Craft Catwalk no. {61}

2011-12-18T21:42:00.000-06:00

Before linking up check out this collection of charming Christmas inspiration...

Reindeer Silhouette painting at Tattered and Inked

Christmas Mantle at It's Overflowing

Gift Wrapping Inspiration at Space 46

Grinch Tree at Garden Therapy

Snow Globes at It's Overflowing

Kids Christmas Cards at Mommy Minded

Please remember to...

Link to the post you are featuring.
no giveaways, shops, or linky parties

Visit some of your fellow party goers
Link back here. Grab the Craft Catwalk button or add a text link.

~ By submitting your work you grant me permission to use your pictures in a feature post. I always link back giving you proper credit~

Our Elf on the Shelf

2011-12-13T22:30:00.002-06:00

This is a brand new tradition for us this year, and the ladybug and little guy have been loving it. I had no idea what the whole thing was about and how it was supposed to work until last month. When I read how the elf gets into mischief during the night, I thought we could have a lot of fun with this. (or be totally freaked out about a little doll watching us during the day and then running around in the dark while we sleep) Luckily, the kids are having fun with it - no freak outs here. Whew!

A few days after Thanksgiving we had a very simple, but festive surprise breakfast to introduce our elf, "Chip". It happened to work out that the Elf on the Shelf special was on tv the night before, and that's also why they chose the name Chip. We read the book that comes with the elf and enjoyed donuts and hot chocolate for breakfast. Hello sugar.

After our sugar high, we chose a spot for Chip to sit where he would be out of reach, yet able to see our daily happenings.

When they go to bed the mischief begins. Here's some of what our elf has been up to around our house. Most of these ideas came from other creative people courtesy of Pinterest.

The morning of the ladybug's Christmas program at school, he made some special elf sized donuts (cheerios) for us. What a sweet elf. He found the idea here.

One night Chip was making paper snowflakes. The next morning we had our first real snowfall. (I had no idea it was supposed to snow. That just kinda worked out!)

One night Chip got out the ladybugs porcelain tea set and had a tea party under the tree with Mary, Joseph, and Santa.

Tomorrow morning the kiddos will wake to find Chip enjoying a little r&r!

If you have an elf, what kind of mischief is he/she getting into?

Link up with me here...
http://adiamondinthestuff.blogspot.com/
http://lilluna.com/
http://somedaycrafts.blogspot.com/

Craft Catwalk no. {60}

2011-12-11T22:56:00.000-06:00

Here are a few of the festive wreaths linked up last week...

Alyssabeths

Garden Therapy

Turtle and Tails

Creatively Living Outside the Box

On to the party...

Please remember to...

Link to the post you are featuring.
no giveaways, shops, or linky parties

Visit some of your fellow party goers
Link back here. Grab the Craft Catwalk button or add a text link.

~ By submitting your work you grant me permission to use your pictures in a feature post. I always link back giving you proper credit~

Our Christmas Advent Calendars

2011-12-06T14:03:00.001-06:00

Wow, time is really getting away from me these days! Way too many things to do and way too little time to do them. Not complaining, just wishing there were more hours in the day. At least I'm done Christmas shopping. Nevertheless, my lists keep growing. Mostly because there is just so much cute stuff that MUST be made this time of year. Stinkin' Pinterest. Sucking me in to all that cuteness.

On to the calendars....

In had no idea these Playmobile calendars even existed until Ali Edwards posted about them. We gave it a try this year. This one is just for the ladybug...small pieces and all don't mix well with my little guy...who knows where those little pieces would end up! We always do this calendar when he naps so he doesn't feel left out.

She loves this. Next year I'll have one for both of them.

Last year I saw an idea somewhere about wrapping up your Christmas books, and letting the kids open one a day til Christmas to read. LOVED that idea. I didn't do it last year because I wasn't looking forward to wrapping 24 books. I love to embellish packages, not so much the wrapping. Maybe because one year I waited till Christmas Eve night around 9pm to begin ANY wrapping. Crazy me.

This year I buckled down and wrapped our Christmas books. After 5 years of having little ones around we had plenty of Christmas books for 24 days.

Since the little guy doesn't get to do a Playmobile calendar, the unwrapping of these books is his duty. He's usually pretty sweet about it and asks for the ladybugs help anyway. Then we all read the story together. I love it.

It's a way to be sure we get at least one book read a day even on those crazy busy days. :-)

Link up with me here:

http://www.sugarbeecrafts.com/

http://adiamondinthestuff.blogspot.com/

http://www.pinkapotamus.blogspot.com/

http://craftomaniac.blogspot.com/

Craft Catwalk no. {59}

2011-12-04T19:00:00.000-06:00

Before linking up check out these advent calendars from last week's craft link up...

It's Overflowing

Tattered and Inked

Modern Yet Old Fashioned

Queen B - Creative Me

Alderberry Hill

Tomorrow I'll share our advent calendars, but now it's time to link up...

Please remember to...

Link to the post you are featuring.
no giveaways, shops, or linky parties

Visit some of your fellow party goers
Link back here. Grab the Craft Catwalk button or add a text link.

~ By submitting your work you grant me permission to use your pictures in a feature post. I always link back giving you proper credit~