Two Twirly Skirts

K, I discovered 7 Layer Studio today and I want to share these darling skirts she made, too.

Little Girl Skirt

Ladies Skirt

Fabric Scrap Bookmarks!

I love to read. I love these bookmarks.

Find them here @ 7 Layer Studio.

Hooded Blanket for Dolls!

I am so excited to make some of these doll blankets for my li'l girls to play with!! Find out how @ Sparkle Power.

Fabulous Headband!

Sachiko @ Tea Rose Home shows us how to turn a dollar store headband into this trendy accessory, here!!

Creative Guest: Painted Glass Window Tutorial by The Creative Crate

Hi Everyone!!! I am Stacie…the crazy woman behind The Creative Crate, and I can’t believe it…but Kari has asked me to be her guest blogger for today!

I am just your average mom who loves loves loves to craft in my spare time! I think this obsession started when I was younger...when I would go with my mom to her Homemaking craft night... at the church...and help her make her crafts. One project that I remember helping her with was a cute wooden faced doll with really long, curly hair, and a fabric dress that matched my room. I remember helping paint the head, hands, feet and face . I think after that I was hooked! Now… I think my crafting itch is rubbing off on my oldest daughter. She always loves to help me when I get out the paint brushes!

Well…here are a few things about me:

I am a SAHM mom of 4 fun and awesome children (2boys & 2girls)…and I am married to 1 very patient, and good lookin man!
I LoVe living in the country! ! Heeee-Haw! (just kidding)
I also love everything about the older barn wood/windows/doors/antique look. My husband loves it when I bring that stuff home. When I show him he always gives me "that look"…and says “you had to pay for that?"…or…“what in the world are you going to do with that?" (Tee hee )---Like my old paint-chipped door that is leaning against the wall in my living room…LoVe It! . :)
I LoVe to craft! (of course) (when I have a few spare minutes! :) )
I LoVe to figure out ways to make the cute things that I see in the stores…but for cheaper!
I LoVe to yard sale!
I LoVe looking in antique shops!
I LoVe clogging!
I LoVe to eat my husbands homemade chocolate chip cookie dough! (Yummy!)
I also LoVe dunking my Mint Oreos in milk! The more soggy …the better!!!
O.K. I just LoVe Cookies period!
I LoVe camping!
I LoVe traveling!
… but most of all… I LoVe having fun with My FaMiLy!!

I am also very active in our church…and that is one of the reasons for starting this blog. I was
enrichment leader a few years ago…and when Super Saturday rolled around…it was so hard to come up with CuTe and CheaP crafty ideas . So…I started this blog hoping that it might be of some help to someone out there who is in the same boat. (Hopefully it has helped someone :) ?)! The other reason... is that I just LoVe sharing ideas, and meeting all of the awesome crafters out there who share the same passion as me! Speaking of ideas…. here is another one that I recently made! Check It Out!!

Painted Glass Window Tutorial:
Happy Crafting!!
P.S. Thank you Kari so much for letting me visit your awesome blog!! You’re the best!!

Painted Glass Window Tutorial:

Start off with any old window you might have...

I printed a star on some card stock from my computer...and cut it out with an x-acto knife...

then cut out your stencil...

start stenciling on your stars first on the wrong side and the wrong corner of your window...so that when you flip your window over...the stars will be on the right side...
I just used regular ol' craft paint. Be sure not to use too much on your brush...or your stars will bleed under the paper and look messy. Don't worry...you don't have to be perfect...that's what I love about it!
Wait for the stars to completely dry...then LIGHTLY (with ton of paint loaded on your brush) wipe your blue background over top of the stars. Don't go over the same spot when the blue paint is wet...because it will wipe your stars away...believe me...it happened to me. oops! You can do more coats of blue after the first layer is completely dry!

Then...paint on your stripes!!!...........

I did about 2 coats of paint on each of the colors.......

Then when it is dry...I just sprayed mine with a clear spray paint to seal the paint. I don't think it will completely keep it "scratch proof" but it will help!

And there you have it! Very easy...and Very CuTe!! HaVe FuN!! Thanks again Kari!!

"I SPY" Book

How creative is this idea from Brassy Apple!? You take your own pics and turn them into a book! Great for travel, church, or ANYWHERE!

Need a Wedding Gift?

I love this simple & classy wedding gift idea from The Creative Crate!

I am so making these for a couple of weddings I have coming up. Hey, while I'm at it maybe I'll make me one, too!

Albums with Fabric Binding...

Jamaica Edgell {who is amazing by the way} has this amazing tutorial on Ali's blog today. I love how bright and fun these little albums are! Go check them out!

Pillowcase Dress

I've seen these cute dresses around everywhere, but never learned how to make them! Nap Time Crafts shows us how and even gives us the different sizes {6 months up to 6 years}, here.

Lifesaver Firecrackers!

Grab some scrap paper, ribbon, and a pack of lifesavers and you have a darling treat or party favor!! {Idea found @ An Altered State of Mind}

Creative Guest: Hair Bow Holder Tutorial by Nannygoat

{created by Nannygoat}

I went to Goodwill on a mission:

To find the funkiest frame I could find...

Hello?!! FOUND IT!

A little glossy turquoise spray paint please.

Oh my goodness, I love those details.
Okay, this frame would look fabulous on anything but I have something particular in mind.

Flip the frame over and measure ribbon to stretch from top to bottom with a little extra and hot glue (I'd use a staple gun if your frame is made of wood) the ribbon, evenly spaced (mine are about 2 inches apart) to the top.
Then, when the glue is dry, glue it (or staple it) straight to the bottom of the frame. Let dry and finally, attach all of those little girly hair bows that are floating around your house

Seriously, so easy my friends.

WA LA, you have a "funky bow holder thingy".
It's like art with a purpose... I love multi-tasking!
Ooooh, I just had another idea...
Oh my goodness, I'm off to Goodwill, I need another funky frame quick!

Happy crafting!

;) Kathryn at nannygoat
PS Thanks for letting me come and visit U create, Kari!

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I LOVE this Apron...

Find out how to make this DARLING apron @ A Feathered Nest. You can never have enough aprons!!

Washer Anklets

Remember the fun washer necklaces here? Well, Creative Itch made them into an adorable anklet, here!! So stinkin' cute for summer!

Adorable Playroom

Go check out this AMAZING playroom by Nannygoat!!

Wanna Use Your Scraps?

If you're anything like me you might have a ton of scrapbook paper scraps that you don't know what to do with. Here are some super easy ways to brighten up li'l things around the house.

These notebook makeovers are by Becky Higgins & she shows you how to make these by just using a piece of paper and an embellishment, here.

Naptime Journal turns advertising magnets into something more exciting. She shows you how to make them with a little mod podge and paper, here.

I really love this simple, cute bookmark made @ Inspire Me Crafts.
Do you like giving books as gifts? Add one of these to doll it up!

I also love the way Love Stitched adds some fun scrap paper to these fun envelopes, here!

Puzzle Pockets {Genius Idea}

We are always losing puzzle pieces in our house. Solution? This genius idea from Cluck, Cluck, Sew.

Hot Shoe Makeover

Older pair of shoes + ribbon = one HOT pair of shoes!

I just thought this was so stinkin' cool I had to share! Hope Studios gives these old shoes a new look, here.

Car Wash Gift for Dad

I found this great Father's Day gift idea at The Children's Nest today. I think the kiddos will give this to the grandpa's. They'll love it! She has more great gifts for dad, too!

Modern Square Garden Quilt

This is going straight to my list of projects to do this summer!! I love, love, love this quilt pattern from Tea Rose Home and her easy step-by-step tutorial, here.

Creative Guest: Start Your Own Craft Club by Create Studio

Hey Y'all! My name is Sarah and sweet Kari has asked me to be the guest blogger for today! To introduce myself, I'm a mother to one "CrazyWildMan," wife to my best friend, blogger at Create Studio... and a little bit goof ball!

I'm inspired by: perfectly chosen words and attention to detail, Starbucks, Chick-fil-a Chicken biscuits, free time, office supplies (specifically the perfect pen... you know the one I'm talking about!), the dancing in my favorite movie of all time White Christmas, God's Word, sunlight, great color combinations, the flea market, my Bloglines list, library books, making lists, beautiful fabric, and the adorable Shop Around the Corner in You've Got Mail.

Come visit me over at Create Studio where I love to post original tutorials and creative inspiration. Here are a couple of my favorites:

Glass Etching Tutorial

Hanging Crib Toy Bag Tutorial

Start your Own Craft Club!
There are plenty of us who want to be crafty, but just don't take the time to do it. I was once one of those! Back in March of '08 I started a craft club because so many of my girl friends had said that they too would love to do crafty things if they had the accountability to do it and someone to show them how. Today I want to give you a few tips... who knows, it might be just the boost you need to start your own craft club!

Getting Started

I started the club totally by word of mouth. I didn't want anyone to feel obligated, and I wanted to open it up to anyone who may be interested. Plenty of the original group members have brought friends who I didn't even know at first. I emailed some friends, told them the info and just said come if you are interested. We started with a group of about 4 or 5 and now we've grown to about 10. It's a good size. Any larger might be too much. It's a great group... some beginning crafters eager to learn and others with specialities who are ready to teach.
Our First Meeting
For our first meeting we made paci clips this is a great first craft because it didn't take too long then we used the rest of our time together to talk about our plans for the future of our club. I asked each person in attendance to bring 2 or 3 ideas for something they were interested in making (with pictures or an example if possible) then we all voted on the projects we wanted to do and the months we wanted to do them. We discovered that it was best to take a break during June and July because everyone's summer plans were so crazy. Here's a link to the crafts we're planning on doing together this year: Create '09-'10 Schedule. At that meeting we also decided who would like to host each month.

How It Works
We meet once a month from 7-9:00pm (we found that Thursday nights are best for our group). We try to keep our crafts under $10/person. The hostess is in charge of providing her house and the supplies for that craft. The night of the club she teaches the craft and those in attendance pay her back for providing their supplies. About one week out (depending on the craft) I will email all the girls and ask who will be able to come. The girls let me know if they will be there and I tell the hostess how many girls to buy supplies for. We just started a rule that if you email me and tell me you're going to be there you are in charge of paying the hostess back even if your plans change, grace is extended, but that's the standard.

What We've Made
We've made some things I would have never tried on my own (like homemade lip gloss!) and I've learned some awesome new techniques. There is something about being with a group of friends that makes messing up perfectly fine and that is so freeing! Here are just a couple of my favorite crafts we've done as a group:

Paci Clips

Hanging Magnetic Photo Boards

Painted Storage Cubes

Ribbon Belts, Key Fobs, and Glass Magnets

Christmas Stationery

If I can answer any of your questions, or if you've started a craft club and you have some suggestions for me, I'd love to hear from you! You can email me at createstudioblog@gmail.com.

Thanks again to Kari for letting me visit today! Hope to see you over at Create Studio soon!

Sarah