Update Your Furniture

Hello all!

Here is a little DIY tip for updating your furniture, use contact paper to cut out decals or place over drawers and in the back of your bookshelf cases. I have seen it on the internet and in magazines and it is such a good idea if you are looking for any  kind of specific look. I particularly like the modern look. Here are some ideas for you....

Felt Flower Barrettes for Craft Bazaar 2011

Here are the felt flower barrettes I mentioned in my last post. I will be selling them for $5 each or 2 for $8 at the upcoming craft bazaar this Saturday. 

So I found out that I got my application in too late and the bazaar ran out of room for me. But, God gave me some favor! The last time our babysitter was over we hung out for a few hours after I got back from my night out.

Shawl/Cascading Scarves For Craft Bazaar 2011

Hey all! Here is one of the items I will be selling at my church's craft bazaar. They are shawls that can be worn like a traditional shawl or for a trendier look, a cascading scarf. I made these shawls with solomon's knots. I plan on making several more. I will probably sell them for between $20-$30. 

5-5-5 Exercises for crafters

Crochet Articles & Tips

I've been crocheting a lot and needed some exercise to help with my wrists. I googled exercises for crocheters and found the page of the link above. I did the exercises and my wrists feel better. After I practice these exercises, I would like to do a video for you all since I couldn't find an immediate one in a search on Google. These exercises will save your hands and wrists, especially during the holidays if you are making a lot of gifts!

New Things To Try - Soap Making!

Hey all, I wanted to share with you today that I am trying something new-melt and pour soap making! I have always wanted to try it and my goal is to make green tea and almond oatmeal soaps (two of my favorites!). I tried making some this morning with a kit I bought and some glycerin bricks I bought from Michael's craft supply.

First off, I don't recommend using a kit. The reason why is because the products they give you are cheap and most likely have alcohol in it. I made my first soap bar with the kit I bought and used it to wash my hands and it dried my skin out! This is a sign of alcohol and cheap ingredients. Good thing I used a 40% off coupon on the kit, it was probably only worth that much anyway!

I am waiting for my other soaps to cure at the moment, but, I used olive oil glycerin that I bought separately to make them. I would like to let you know if they dry out your skin too, but I am going to need to wait to tell you. It takes about an hour for the soaps to cure so I have learned.

I poured my first couple of mixes into plastic soap molds I bought from the store. After doing a little research, I found you can use muffin tins, bread loaf tins, deodorant caps, pvc pipes, the works! Here is a link I found to a forum with good ideas for this: http://www.frugalvillage.com/forums/soapmaking/15102-what-do-you-use-soap-molds.html

Thanks for reading today!

Unfinished Projects and Pregoness

Hiyas everyone, I wanted to post a little bit about what I have been up to and how the pregnancy is going. It's been awhile since I last posted and I feel like I am abandoning my blog! That is the last thing I want to happen.

Lately I have been somewhat struggling to do side projects while keeping up with my two year old and morning sickness (which can happen anytime of the day). My intensified sense of smell has been keeping me out of my craft room and away from the computer. It smells stale in here and my window is nearly impossible to open. Such a dilemma and a motivation killer. I've tried a candle warmer and that didn't really help either. Even after my husband cleaned the room the smell is still there, and of course, I am the only one that can smell it ha ha. To be honest with you it has been pretty miserable on my part. But the good news is the baby is healthy and doing great.

My First Etsy Sale!

Hey all I just wanted to let you know that I made my first Etsy sale! Yay! As for another update, I am also pregnant with our second child. I am about 10 weeks along now. Things have been busy, hectic and I have been extremely tired with fatigue. Not to mention the morning sickness... So do please forgive me for the limited posting! Things should be back to normal in a few weeks when this part of the pregnancy is over.

In the meantime I have been making postcards because they are the easiest to do. I also was thinking heavily about seriously learning how to write patterns. I think they may sell better and faster than items. At least the success rate looks higher than those who only sell their items. Let me know your thoughts!

Well I am going to go work on some postcards. I will hopefully talk to you all again soon!

Thanks for reading!

Happy New Year! Arrange Your Schedules.

Oh it has been too long since my last post... Happy New Year everyone! My schedule is usually swamped at the end of the year due to the holidays and birthdays. Therefore, I have come to the complete realization that a schedule and plan is a good thing to work on. Today I am going to share with you a few ideas to help you out.

If you are a stay at home mom, you may feel like you are babysitting your kid 24/7 depending on the age of your kids. My daughter just turned two and I can tell you I have felt that way without a moments rest during the day. If you do not have down time to yourself, it's time to arrange some. Keeping yourself sane keeps you a good mommy! If your child does not take naps, it is time to introduce 'room time'. All kids need to learn independent play at some point in their lives and early is good. Put them in a safe toddler/child proof room. If they aren't use to this start out by setting a timer for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes go play with them for a few minutes and then reset the timer for another 20 minutes.

Image via Wikipedia

Digital Art Anime/Manga Style

I have been thinking about drawing again lately in contrast to my excessive crocheting. Originally I had a talent in art and in the pursuit of it I still haven't found something I could use it for in a passionate sense, like my crocheting. But, I found these digital pieces I created over a year ago and got a taste of inspiration to try again.

Entertaining an Angel

My first digital painting was done in photoshop with a wacom tablet. I bought a couple of books on how to watercolor angels and stuff and came up with this design. An angel being entertained by a human in love with God. The idea is based on someone believing in a God that isn't seen, when angels know he exists and are fascinated with this faith in the unseen and it's power.

Life Update End of Spring

Hi all,

It looks like Spring is near it's end. But for most, Spring does not really end until the end of June. Where I live, it's starting to get hot. I am thankful though, because the heat did not start in March. Almost every year, temperatures rise to 100 to 115 degrees 8 months out of the year. It's a dry heat. This year was very different!

A lot of people in our city have been praying for rain for about the past year. Our state was going through a severe drought and the lakes that I am near were practically drying up. Our major lake is actually a water source that is sent down to southern California. So, God's people got active and started praying eagerly for rain.

Lunch Time

It is now lunch time and I got a few more boxes packed. Kira and I are
eating Chili. Then I think it's time for some cartoons and relaxation!