the little things

memo board makeover

I recently rearranged some things in my craft room.. moved some frames from one shelf to another etc.  Just little things, but it left me with this little brushed steel magnetic memo board thing that didn't really fit on any of the other shelves it used to reside on.  To be honest.. I have never really used this thing to it's potential, wasn't quite sure what to do with it.  

Finally it clicked!  Instead of having random sheets of paper on my desk with my current to-do list scribbled on them (getting buried under other things, dropped on the floor.. completely lost ha ha ha!).. it would be the perfect home for my revolving to-do lists!  Right on my desk!  Who ever would have thought of that (as I roll my eyes at myself)!? hee heee!

 

Cute right?  Well.. I happened to see this challenge on the KI Memories blog, 'scrapping off the page' ..and this was sitting in front of me, and all of a sudden I was inspired to give it a bit of a funked up look! 

 

Yes, I think I might be inspired to actually keep track of my to-do lists better!  Who knew being organized could be so fun (and cute)!? ha ha!  

Supplies used: punched butterflies from this KI patterned paper, cut these border strips in half, took the stickies off the back of these metal badges and turned into magnets.. and printed off these flowers using a Digi KI kit!  Oh, and almost forgot.. I used these gems down the bodies of the butterflies. :) 

Is it weird that I am now looking around the house wondering what else I can give a little makeover to? ha ha!  Thank you for the inspirational challenge Staci!!

fabric pom pom garland tutorial

Happy Monday everyone!  Well, I finished up the promised tutorial this morning!  I decided to make a whole other garland for miss Laine's room, here it is all finished up..

 

OK, here we go!  To get started.. select your pretty fabric of course!  Did this step reaaaaally need a photo?  Nooo, but I do love how fabric looks all lined up, so I had to include it! hee heee!  I only chose 6 for this one, but you can use as many as you like.. or one fabric repeated even!  I based this on instructions for fabric flowers that I had previously found online (but I can't find the link, so if it looks familiar.. let me know... want to give credit where credit is due!!), then doubled it up to make the round pom pom.

 

Free cut strips into the fabric, I cut mine at approximately 2.5 inches.  Some were bigger, some were smaller.. you really can't go wrong!

 

Next, you are going to take your strips, and cut those into squares.  I used 13 total.

 

Now, cut those squares into circles.  I like to do it this way, instead of just cutting the circles out of the fabric.. I find it keeps the circles more uniform in size, and it is super easy to work with these smaller sections.

 

 

Take a circle, and fold it in half.. and then in half again, leaving you with a quarter circle pie shape.  For this portion of the flower/pom pom, I folded with pretty sides of the fabric out.

 

Then, take that folded piece, and place it on another circle.  With the point of the piece centered on the new circle.

 

Sew the piece on with a needle and thread.  I like to stitch each piece on a couple of times, just to make sure it doesn't unfold and open all the way up.  Then, repeat.. folding another circle into the small quarter circle shape, and sew on as well.

 

Repeat until you have 4 folded circles sewn onto the base circle.

 

For this final portion of the flower, I folded with the pretty sides of the fabric in.  Why?  I found after making a few, that this part really opens up.. so you will end up seeing more of the fabric.  These next 2 pieces, I folded a little different, instead of straight folds, I just kind of scrunched it together in the center.. again, I found this helps the fabric open up more.  You can keep going with the regular folds as well though.  Up to you.  

 

Go ahead and sew those on as well.. repeat one more time, so you end up with 2 of these layered on top of the original 4 folded pieces.

 

If you wanted to keep it as a flower.. this is where you would be done! Fluff it all up and make it pretty! 

 

Since we are going for a round pom pom look.. we aren't quite done yet!  Flip it over, and begin stitching on folded circles.. basically, you are going to repeat the above steps again.  Try not to stitch through the 'petals' on the other side though, just thread the needle through a portion of the backside of the base circle.

 

Keep going until you have 4 folded circles sewn on, and then the 2 'filler' scrunched circles sewn in there as well.  Secure with a stitched knot, and fluff it all up!  You may need to help it 'unfold' itself a little, so it opens up more.

 

Repeat as many times, with as many or as little fabric choices as you wish!!  I made 6 for this garland.

 

Then, you are going to join them all together to make the garland!  I used 'jute packaging twine' for mine, but any heavy weight thread/yarn would do.  Open up the center on either side, and use a yarn needle to thread it through.

 

It may be difficult to thread through, so if you need to, grab some pliers and use them to grasp the needle.. yes, I can be whimpy at times! ha ha!

 

Repeat with the rest of the pom poms!  I didn't knot the jute to hold them into place, but you could if you wanted to.. I found they stayed in place pretty good, plus.. leaving them 'free' allows you to place them just right once you have it hanging.  To finish off the ends, I threaded on a large bead and tied off the end.

 

Voila!  Fabric pom pom garland!  Hang it up wherever you want to add a little bit of pretty!!  The first one I made, I hung on the curtain rod in my work space.  This one, I made for my daughter's bed.  Love how it turned out!  Can't wait until she gets home and sees it! hee!

 

Whew!  That was a lot of photos huh!?  I might have got carried away a bit. hee heee!  Oh well, hope you enjoy!  Link me up if you make one!  I would loooooove to see!  Hope everyone is having a great day!!

Later! :)

soo.. those little pom pom thingies I was making..

All finished with the little project, and I loooooove how it turned out!  I made 11 pom pom flower thingies in total.. and it didn't take near as long as I thought it would. ;)

 

I added this garland to the garland that I already had on my craft room window.  The extra dimension is so so so pretty. 

I wanted to make a little something with some colour for this end of my room.. since all the other really pretty pretties in the room, are on the other end.. so I see them when I am at my work desk looking out.  This end was just begging for some equal opportunity.  It wanted to feel just as pretty.. it was begging, really!  So I had to help it out a little right? 

 

I used fabrics from Amy Butler (Love) and Heather Bailey (Nicey Jane) and Jennifer Paganelli.. all so very very pretty.

 

Oh and in the attempt to pretty up the view from the doorway.. I may or may not have stole some pom poms from the play room!  Yes.. I definitely may have done that! ha ha  I had bought the package of Martha Stewart pom poms, and had originally split them between the 2 rooms.. I like them all in here more. :)  The kids didn't even notice them gone.. I told Laine I took the pom poms out of the playroom and she was like 'pom poms? what pom poms!?" ha ha ha!  

 

I tried to find the link.. because I know I had seen how to make the fabric flowers online ages ago.. and for the pom pom style, I pretty much just doubled the flower (back to back).. but I am thinking I may just have to do a tutorial to share here!  Yes.. I think that may be tomorrow's project!! 

Long weekend here again (2 weekends in a row!).. perfect weekend for some crafting I would say! ;)  Now though, I need to go clean my house.. I can only ignore it for so long, it is in need.  I did the entire downstairs yesterday.. now it is time to deep clean the upstairs.  And to tackle Laine's room.. that is whole entire project in itself! ha ha!  OK.. better run!  Happy Friday!!! 

today..

Coffee and fabric pom pom flower thingies, yep.. that is what I am doing today...

 

And they match.  The cup and the pom poms that is.. and I didn't do it on purpose.  For real.  But it is kinda funny.. and as much as I am getting a total kick out of it... I am feeling a wee bit obsessed. ha!  

Trying something out for my scrap/craft room today.. will post pics if it turns out! ha ha ha!  I *think* it will.. fingers crossed anyway... or else I am going to have a lot of these little pom pom flower thingies that I will need to find a use for! ha ha!  OK, better go.. you know what I'll be doing for the next few hours! hee!  

Just so happens that these match yesterday's entire post as well! ha!  Oh my gosh.. I am obsessed aren't I? ;)

tumblr tuesday..

It is Tuesday right? ha ha!  Sooo.. I have been thinking about doing this for a while now.  Either 'tumblr tuesday' or 'tumblr thursday' ..but 'tumblr tuesday' just sounds better.. you know, the whole 't t' thing.  OK, so.. I looove tumblr, and the point of tumblr (for me) is to gather inspiring images.  I go to my tumblr page when I need inspiration.. either with decorating (if I am in the mood to switch something up) or crafting (if I need some eye candy).. and it works, I looove it!

I was thinking.. it would be neat to share a few of my favourite images from tumblr here.. just once a week.. on 'tumblr tuesday' (hee!).  This has been up in the air for me, because.. for the most part, I like to keep the images on my blog.. my images.  I kind of like that the pictures you will see here are pictures I took, or art I created.  But but but.. I got over it, and now I want to share a bit of what inspires me here as well... that ok!? hee heee!

Now that I got that rambling out of the way.. we should move onto the eye candy for the week!  Here are some of my favourite images from my recent 'tumbling' hee!

How cute is this..

 

tumblr via MaryKateMcDevitt  

I love the idea of the white 'sail' ..a little shady area all cozied up.. oh yes, I could see myself sipping an iced tea.. reading a good book, watching the kids enjoy the outdoors.. uh huh, could definitely picture that!

 

tumblr via Poppytalk via Canadian H&H

If only we had the water to go with this one..

 

tumblr via Poppytalk via Canadian H&H

Looooove this...

 

tumblr via Table Tonic

I soooooo love this apron.  So charming hanging there.. maybe I could figure out how to make one?  I am laughing at myself as I type that.. ha ha!

 

tumblr via House of Turquoise

Pretty pretty pretty..

 

tumblr via ania-maria

See a colour combo happening?  This post didn't start out that way.. but decided to roll with it! ha ha!  Such a pretty colour combo. :)  

Oh.. and one more (oops, this post is getting a little long isn't it?), because it is just the best thing I have ever ever seen..

 

tumblr 

Perfection really. :)  I need to track down the original source for that.. if it is a print available for purchase.. I think I may have to add it to my official 'wish list' ..as I sit here typing in my pajamas at 4 minutes to noon. ha ha ha! hee!  

OK, better get going, because obviously.. I should get on with the day.  Or should I? heee!  I am already in my jammies afterall! ;) Hope everyone is well!!

a layout share..

Happy Monday!  I have a quick layout to share.  I did this one for the KI Memories blog.. 'Focus On Glitter Stickers'.  I had a lot of fun playing with all of this sparkly stuff!  Finally got my turquoise glitter mist bottle working (wouldn't spray).. so that makes me happy camper! ha ha!  

 

Colour inspiration came from the fabric scraps I used on the layout.  I had chunks of fabric left over on my desk from some other projects I am working on.. and I was just itchin' to use some on a layout!

 

Pretty huh!?  This one is from Amy Butler's new Love line!  Yum yum yum!  The colours in it are gorgeous!

I took a detail shot as well.. some of the dimension was lost in the scan.  And that drives me nuts.. so details shots are totally new for me.. but I am loving it! hee!  I lifted the corners of the stickers and put in pop dots that I had cut in half.. holds the stickers up, so they have a lifted look.. but in the scan above, totally squished! ha!  

 

The object of the layout was to showcase the fabulous KI glitter stickers!  Yum yum yum!  I used the glitter flowers, letters and borders (which I cut to frame the photo).. continued the glitter theme with glitter mist and KI gems!  ALSO.. loooooooving the zebra print patterned paper (OMG) ha ha ha!  MUST get a stock pile of it happening here I think! heeee!  

Soo.. what do you have planned for the day?  It is a holiday here.. so no school. :)  The kids have locked themselves in the play room for some serious play time. hee!  Well, to be more accurate.. Miss Laine is playing on the computer in there, and in an effort to keep her little brother around for some company.. she has closed the door! ha ha!  James had to go into work, but probably only for part of the day.  And I have yet to decide what I will make of the day.. clean?  How fun is that though?  Downloaded a few new tunes this morning.. drinking some coffee... thinking about paper and fabric.. muuuuch better than cleaning! hee!

Later! 

snow snow and more snow

Blogging from the car today! Hubby driving.. (slooooooowly) ..why did today have to be the day that we haaad to go out? Well, the rain and gloom from the past few days turned into a full blown snow storm! So gross! The snow is so heavy that it is making the trees bend right over.. or break in this case! :( Came across this tree as we were leaving the house.. James had to get out and drag it off a bit, just so we could get by! Crazy! This is so very typical for here..but still so wrong for the end of May! Ok, better get going.. getting car sick from typing this out while the car is moving! ugh ugh ugh. Hope the weather is better in your area!

what do you do on rainy days?

Miss Piper Petunia has the right idea..

 

She does not like the rain.. even though I don't think it has rained since this morning... she won't ask to go out today at all, in fact.. we will probably have to convince her she needs to.  This morning, I actually had to lead her down the stairs onto the lawn. Ohhh, it must have been so cold out there in that light drizzle. ha ha! She actually sat on the steps (like a human would do.. bum on one step, feet on another).. and looked at me like I was the craziest person ever, the look said.. "you really think I am going to go out in the rain?"  I won.  She was done in 30 seconds and back inside.. how she makes it through our winters, I have no idea.

Yes, our 70 pound boxer is the biggest suck ever!  By the way.. she isn't allowed on those sofas... and she knows it.. but does it look like she cares? ha ha!  I guess all rules get vetoed on rain days. Can't say I blame her, really.  I wish I could curl up on the couch all day.. I think I am even a wee bit jealous! hee!

is fabric the new patterned paper?

Ack!  As I was typing that title, I was saying to myself "heck no!" ..how could anything replace my addiction to my beloved patterned paper?  BUT.. there is definitely room for some pretty fabrics in my life! hee!

 

Last night was a late one.  Not too sure which is to blame.. making addicting fabric flowers, or the last few episodes of One Tree Hill (season 6 on DVD)!?  Either way, progress was made!  Look at me dropping hints, but not actually telling you what I am making! hee heee!  Is that mean? 

It is going to be a productive day again today I think!  It is rainy outside, so I can't feel guilty about not getting work done out there.. jammies for the day sounds like a really good thing... Harley is in the most excellent of moods, and as soon as I get some coffee in my veins I will be good to go! ha ha!

For the record.. 2am is much too late for this mama to craft on a school night! aahhhhhh!  I am soooo going to pay for that one all day! lol  To think.. I used to be a night owl!  On another note!? what on earth am I going to do until the release of the next season of One Tree Hill on DVD!?  I soooo should have been PVR-ing the new episodes this season and saving them for now! ha ha!

Later friends!!

I think my girl is a natural..

Yesterday, we headed out into the bush behind our house to take some pictures.  I walked out the door to James and the kids (who were working away on the lattice for under the deck) and snagged Laine, telling her we were going to go do a photo shoot! hee!  She looked at me with this 'I sooooo don't want my picture taken' look on her face, until I explained that it was going to be her taking the pictures.. not me!  You see, I needed a new picture for something super fun coming up.. and who better than Laine to take it? 

I checked all the settings on the camera, and had all that ready to go.. gave her a quick lesson on auto focus, and gave her a run down on how to focus and then recompose the image (so I wasn't right in the center of every photo.. but left it at that, let her decide how she wanted to shoot the image etc..)  This was one of the photos she took (my favourite one you will have to wait a bit to see though), and I sooooooo love it!

 

I did give it a slight crop in Photoshop.. because since I was on that side of the camera, I didn't realize that where I was sitting along the fence ..in relation to where she was.. well, I ended up with a fence post coming right out the top of my head! hee heee! So a quick tiny crop fixed that right up!  Other than that (and some post processing of course).. this is all her!  I couldn't believe it when I took the pictures off the camera!  She is definitely a natural!  Don't you think?  Eeeeeek!  So excited at how much she loved it!

And she is quite proud of herself too..

 

She should be!  So very proud of her. :)  I had been thinking about enrolling her in this for summer.. but now I think I definitely will!  She was sooooo into this by the time we were finished! Umm.. 160 photos taken by the time we got home, and I took maybe 10 of them! lol 

I think we may need to go on a few more of these adventures out in the bush together.. it was the best time, seriously.. we both loooved it! Until I remembered that it was just last summer that we had bears wandering around out there.. then we came home, in a hurry! ha ha!

Took a picture of my stylin' 'nature walking' shoes first.. (ha ha)...

 

Should have just wore my rubber boots I think.. between the mud and all the deer poo on the trails, it made navigating our way around.. well, interesting! hee!  LOL.. Laine was leading our way through the bush, and she would yell back to me.. "mom, a bunch of deer poop right here.. make sure you don't step in it!" ha ha  Oh yes, I really do love living in the country! ;)  

Well, except for the bears.  Which thankfully haven't made an appearance yet this year!!  Still not a great thing to remember after you decide to go nature walking.. in zebra print flats. ha ha! ;)