Clothes Pin Holders

Hi. I still exist. Really. I know I've been MIA for quite some time. But really - when life is upside down and you have a demon-toddler to raise, who has time for cutesy, fun, crafty things? Well, not me. I'm working on that. So digging way back from well before Christmas, I figured I'd start maybe sharing a few of the things I have done. These are clothes pins I made as gifts. Way easy. Way cute. I didn't want to give them away. And someday, whenever I get off my lazy butt and get my etsy store up and running, they will be available for purchase (well, not these exact ones, obviously, but I think you get the picture). They're so much fun to make, I'm sure to get carried away and have way too many to be taken off my hands.

Shoebox Swap - BROWN!

We're hosting another swap. This time the theme is simply “brown.” Anything brown goes!

There are a few simple steps, "rules" if you will, to play along:

1. Send an email to withandwithout AT gmail DOT com, indicating you want to join this swap. Include:

Your Name
Your Address
Your blog address (if you have one)
A description of likes/dislikes to give your swap partner some direction
(This information will only be sent to your swap buddy)

2. Send the email no later than March 13. Swap partners will be assigned by March 15. You MUST ship your swap by April 5.

3. Swap items must fit in an average sized shoe box. We don’t want people going too crazy but want to have enough room to fit some cool loot.

4. This is a Brown swap. Everything you send needs to somehow tie in to the theme. It can certainly include additional colors but make sure overall the items have a “brown” vibe goin’!

5. Again, cut-off to sign up is March 13. Please send us an email before then.

6. Please read #2 again. It’s important you stick to the ship date to not ruin the fun for your swap partner.

7. Have fun!!Feel free to invite anyone you’d like. We don’t have a cut-off and would love to have as many participants as possible. We have created a Flickr group that we would love for you to join. This will enable us to share pictures of all the great things we receive through the swap and have discussions about the group.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email or leave a comment! We look forward to swapping with you!

I love this site!

I found Tip Junkie, through another site, and I love it.. its so crafty, its everything I want this site to be, but better. Go check it out!

Small makeover pt 2

As is the story of my life, my kids and husband have taken over "my" spaces. I noticed on Christmas day the place I had been calling my desk, had not been my desk for a VERY long time, and that needed to change. So, I moved my crap to the thing next to the fridge that I pile paper and junk on and was determined to make it my desk. Here it is!

Ohh and of course I needed to make something to go on my new desk. I saw this idea in a Close to My Heart idea book and had to make it. It was the final touch for my desk!

I love it when things work out!

Remember this gloating post? Well, after I checked at my local craft store and a 4 inch circle.. just a circle was $3.49!!!! Here is the finished product. It was a fun time for my daughter and I and really let her feel like she had control of her bathroom.

Christmas Tea

Remember these adorable invites? Well the party has come and it was wonderful! This is the third year Laurel and I have done Christmas Tea and is such a great tradition. Here are some of the details.

Decor... Red and White, swirls and mints everywhere.. felt minty just looking at it.

The sweets... chocolate dip, divinity, mint bark, brownies, cookies, stuff to dip, and a way cute cake Laurel slaved over.
Sandwiches.. cucumber, pb&j, bacon apple, and egg salad.. Ohh and some veggies to help with all the guilt!
Home made hot coco and we had an amazing party! And one last close up of the adorable cake.

Fun Vinyl

For Christmas Santa is bringing my girls new bathroom stuff. Its been a long time coming and took a while to decide on what to do. With each of them having their own bathroom now, I wanted something the same, but not identical. I found the shower curtain, supplies, towels and that left the walls. Normally I would get everything all set up Christmas Eve, but this year we decided to let them have the fun of it themselves, so the hunt was on for easy wall decor. I wanted vinyl but it can be costly. To my surprise I found 12x12 full sheets of vinyl for sale at my local craft store, for $1, and with a circle cutter I now have a ton of circles in fun variations to do 2 bathrooms. The best part.. it was $5. I am really excited to watch the girls decorate their bathrooms on Christmas!

Side note: thinks of the possibilities! I want to try these sheets in a die cut machine.. How much fun is this.. and how cheep!!