A Little Bit of Spring Inspirations

I thought that a couple of cute spring ideas might be perfect right now. 

This cute birds nest idea comes from a blog by Sarah Ortega.  

I imagine that the eggs could be made with beads or polymer clay.  

What a cute spring idea!  

 

 And Bonnie McLain published this adorable spring tag.  Such creativity!  

This would make a fabulous gift tag for a planted spring flower.  Very creative!

HAPPY SPRING!

Father's Day Card Ideas

Sometimes it is hard to get away from the girly cards that we all like to make.  Here are a couple ideas for cards for the men in your life!

This card uses the fabulous licensed realtree design that most hunters like.  This paper is available from Papers Best dealers or on their website.  This paper is fabulous for making masculine cards.  I have also used it to cover a journal and a clipboard.  How about desk accessories for gifts?

These were birthday cards, but they would make great father's day cards, as well.  Use some fishing themed paper with eyelash fibers to look like something made for a fly-fisherman.

Something that looks like wood is also masculine in nature.  Nature... wood... get it!  Ok, silly play with words, I know!  I'm not sure where I got this particular paper, but I do know that Papers Best carries something similar, as well.  In general, they are a great source for more realistic (rather than cutesy) outdoors themed papers and products targeted towards men.

My first giveaway - Happy Mother's Day!

Your chance to win!

In honor of Mother's Day, I am giving away this fabulous scrapbook collection.  It is the Vintage Scrapbook Box Kit by Remember When by Colorbok.  It includes 377 pieces and makes up to 20 pages.  Included is a 12x12 Postbound Album, 10 - 12x12 Page Protectors, 20 - 12x12 Patterned Papers, 30 - Accent Stickers, 18 - Journaling Stickers, and 298 - Alphabet Stickers

How do you win?  You have three separate ways to win. Each way gives you an additional chance!
1. Leave me a comment below - Simple!!
2. Get another entry by becoming a follower and then leaving me a comment telling me that you did it; if you are already a follower, just leave me a comment telling me that!
3. If you have a blog or a website, put up a link to this contest and then leave me a comment with the url to your link!
All simple ways to increase your chances of winning!

This giveaway will go on until midnight central time on Monday, May 3rd....  Good Luck!!

Get your financial life in order....

April is financial literacy month.  Getting your financial life in order can be one of the most rewarding things you ever do for yourself!  The sense of accomplishment in knowing that you are on the right path to achieve  security or your financial goals is amazing.  In my opinion, the best way to accomplish a goal is with consistent baby steps.  Here is a website that will help to guide you along the path to financial wellness.  They use 30 steps in 30 days and it will help guide you along your path.  I also found this exercise journal that really gives you a thorough process to securing your financial future.  From budgeting, calculating for retirement, and getting support, this book covers it.

Baby Shower Game

This was a really fun baby shower game!  I received a large pickle or olive jar (institutional size) from my wonderful sister, Tricia!  I filled it with bunches of little things for the new baby and the new parents.  Some things that I put in this jar were bath toys, baby wash cloths, hand sanitizer, q-tips, suckers with tags for each of the parents, a matchbox car, a bottle, wipes, teething ring, toy link, baby spoons, mini-first aid kit, on the go juice packets, and ...  because my brother, Bill, the new Daddy, is a super hero fanatic... a spiderman mini-ice pack, and spiderman socks!  I then added the blue polka dot fabric top with ribbon.

We passed the jar around for the women at the party to look at, and they could only look at it for 10 seconds each!  Then guess how many items were in the jar!  It was a fun game and the new mommy, Rachael, got to keep the jar of goodies!

You could use this idea for a bridal shower or centerpiece for an over-the-hill birthday party too!

For the Guys!! Deal of the Day - TOOLS!

Here are some for the guys, I don't know any that don't like tools!

Great Gift Ideas and Handy Things for the House!

Tooliday's new tool every day

One Tool A Day's site

And one for my oldest son - Automotive Tools!  He is an automotive genius, all I know is he can fix or figure out pretty much anything mechanical! (Sorry, link removed, it appears that tooliday no longer has a separate tool special for automotive - updated 4/5/11)

I even found a great soldering iron for myself on one of these sites, one day! Woo Hoo!

Spring-Easter Craft Project

This adorable Spring or Easter bucket is simple to make.  I just used one of the paint cans with clear plastic base that you find in the craft stores.  I cut circles for the top, a colorful one the exact size of the top and a coordinating plain colored one for inside of that.  I stamped a cute little message on it.  I did the same procedure for the center stripe inside of the can.  I also tied a bunch of coordinating ribbons to the handle.  I put some colored strips of paper on the base, inside the can.  Finally, I added the coordinating tootsie-pop suckers!

My baby brother is having a baby!  This is actually going to be a prize for one of the games at the baby shower on Sunday!  What a fabulous little door prize or hostess gift!  Whatever season or occasion it is, you can make it coordinate!

Valentine's Day - Decor & More

 

One last post for Valentine's Day!

This is such an adorable idea from Martha Stewart, a container in a vase with flowers. 

  

This super cute conversation heart pillow is just adorable.

You can find the tutorial from Tara on her blog, sewtara.

I adore collage, and this gorgeous valentine's collage is no exception.

To see the full view of this work of art by Nifty Thrifty and to see the tutorial go to the spotted canary. 

This wall decal is so stunning and perfect for valentine's day.

Elephannie sells them on Etsy. 

Valentine's Day Vase - Tutorial

 

This was a fun & simple project and the result is stunning!

You could fill this vase with candies, red and pink marbles, flowers or any number of cool valentine's ideas.

You will need:

A Vase - I used a simple, inexpensive rectangle vase from Target.

Candies - or marbles or whatever you are going to fill it with.

Ribbon -I used dark red with white dots. Or use plain red or one with words on - like "I love you"!     

Rub-on or vinyl stickers with your desired design - This could be a simple scripted "Love" - I used a couple of the rub-ons from the fancy-free collection by fancy pants design.

A Glue Dot.

Tie the ribbon tightly around the bottom of the vase and secure with a glue dot.  Position the rub-on in the desired position and hold in place while you rub the entire design to the vase.  Do not remove the top layer of the rub-on until it is completely secure.  Lift the top layer slowly, if any design stays on the top layer, carefully lay the top back down and continue rubbing until the entire design is in place.  I used two separate rub-ons for my design but just one simple vinyl sticker or rub-on would look elegant.  Now, fill it up and you are done!

Super Simple!

Simple & Classy!

The ribbon with words on it was my original idea with a more simple rub-on but I couldn't locate the rub-on that I had planned to use.  Someone make one like that and show me your creation!  Actually, show me any versions that you decide to make, I would love to see it!

Valentine's Day - Food Ideas

 

This gorgeous treat is made from candy canes!  

These could be a treat, a gift, or decor!

Fabulous idea from Jodi at Pleasant Home.   

Raspberry Frappe

Oh My!  Valentine Treat from Heaven courtesy of 

Better Homes and Gardens. 

These Gorgeous Valentine Hearts 

are made from crescent rolls.

This wonderful idea is featured by Pillsbury.  

I hope you enjoy all this valentine eye candy!

There is more on the way!

Valentine's Day - Gift Ideas

I always have more ideas than time!  I have so many things that I want to make....  I just love crafting and arts.  I always want to make things for the people that I love, I feel like the time and love that I put into the things that I make will be conveyed to the recipient.  Here are some fabulous ideas to show your loved one how you feel, some are easy to make, some are a bit more difficult, and some you can purchase.

 

Better Homes and Gardens offers you the directions for this cute card.

This cute book can tell your honey all the wonderful reasons that you love him/her.  It's actually made from a simple one dollar deck of cards!  Check out the tutorial by Kelly at Trans-craft-inental.  

Gifts for you now has many personalized gifts from intimate apparal to coffee mugs.  This is also a great resource for wedding thank you gifts and shower gifts.

It's always a challange to come up with a creative kids valentine project.  

These cute valentines by Family Fun are ingenious. 

And... More...

Top 10 Last Minute Valentine's Day Gifts

Click here for: These cute and practical ideas from about.com are fabulous! 

How to return a Christmas Gift:

1. Pretend to love it. (By the way, this is not referring to ANY Christmas gifts that I have received; I truly do love them all!)

2. Keep it in the packaging and keep all tags attached.

3. Think about where they probably purchased it, but be embarrassed to ask.

4. Think about the gift on your next ten trips to any stores and scout out the source.

5. Keep forgetting to bring it along.

6. Remember to put it by the door so that you can grab it next time you go to the store.

7. Keep forgetting to grab it.

8. Finally, remember to put it in the car, so that it is there!

9. When at the store next time, forget it in the car.

10. Make a special trip back to the car.

11. Go to customer service.

12. Get told that it was about forty dollars before Christmas but with all the after Christmas discounts and no receipt, they will only give you a five dollar store credit!

13. Decide to regift it.

14. Wonder if they regifted it to you.

15. Put a post-it note on it so you don't forget who gave it to you.

16. Keep rethinking whether you should really regift it or maybe donate it.