Holidays In Hand with Jessica Sprague

Don't miss out on this wonderful FREE class given by Jessica Sprague... Holidays In Hand.

The FINAL class of 2009 began this morning, but there's still time to toss your hat into the ring!  

FREE registration will end tonight at 11:59pm, so go claim a spot!

This class will help you capture the hopes, memories and wonderment of the holidays.  This class helps us focus on what's important during the holidays.

We'll be making a great project to help you tell your holiday stories both past and present.  This class is for EVERYONE. Since you don't have to know Photoshop or Photoshop Elements, grab a friend to join you in class!
Registration is easy and free!

• Go to JessicaSprague.com.
• Copy this code by highlighting it and typing Ctrl-C (Cmd-c on your Mac): HIHFREE2009

I'm Back....

I'm back...

Life has gotten chaotic-busy in wonderful ways and blogging was taking a backseat. I'm here now...in and out...still busy, but hoping to keep up on my all my blogging. I have so many saved posts and ideas. I haven't even had time to try and post one up. But hopefully in a day or two I'll be moving along.

I do have some great holiday giveaways planned...I owe that to you! I can't wait to give some presents away! ♥

I did finish the pettiskirt...

Go me! It was HARD! I'm not going to lie....tedious! But she was so cute as our little Autumn Fairy.

Homecoming was a blast...we had 20 kids over for a candlelight dinner. My girl is growing up! Makes me happy-sad...

Genealogy has become a big hobby for me lately...I could go on and on about that! What an amazing experience that has been... Found my long lost family that had been forgotten.

So much more has been happening in our little world, but with all the craziness I have managed to be creative and create...which has probably kept me SANE! I'll share some of my fun with you soon....

Sew...Busy! Adorable Pettiskirts!!!

I'm at it again... My dear friend keeps showing me adorable projects to sew. Well, we're working on this right now....

You can veiw a tutorial and at Martha Stewart.

Our girls are going to be "ballerinas". My little one is actually a "ballerina-fairy-princess". I have to get this done by Wednesday night, so hopefully I'll have some pictures to share soon.

And I also made a skirt with NO pattern. EASY EASY EASY! You can make it in less than an hour. So I'll post about that too once I get this project done.

HOW CUTE ARE THOSE!?!?!?!

Tuesday Tradition #46 - Homemade Halloween Fun!

Somewhere a long time ago, a few city and states ago, I was over at a friends house for a little Halloween party. Sometimes entertaining 3 and 4 yr. olds can be quite a task. But she pulled out this adorable homemade Halloween memory game and the kids played it for over an hour!

Take Halloween pictures from the past years, as far back as you want, and print out 2 - 2x2 squares of each picture. Mount them on card stock, Halloween style if you want, and cut those out into squares. You should have 2 of every picture. That's it!

Place the squares picture side down, in nice even rows, and take turns picking 2 cards at a time while trying to make a match. Whoever has the most pairs at the end of the game, WINS! My little ones LOVE this game. I'm putting together my family's Halloween Memory game today and I'm sure we'll get lots of use out of this easy, cheap, homemade game!

Enjoy!

Autumn Apple Vases

I saw this picture and I just made me smile...

We've had a rough week in our family, yet again, another death has come upon us. I was breaking from all the chaos when I spotted this picture. Made me smile and feel a twinge of excitement that my favorite time of year is fast approaching.

There is something about autumn and the holidays that jolts me back into warming up the home and preparing for lots of celebration. As a wife and mother, it's a pleasure to have the responsibility of nurturing my family and providing a home of warmth where we can all feel happy and comfortable.

To get instructions on how to create this adorable autumn apple arrangement visit Home Made Simple and see all of their seasonal arrangements and this adorable apple vase idea!

picture from Home Made Simple

Confessions of an Ex-Scrapbooker #35 - It's a Giveaway! I ♥ Vinyl Lettering!

I ♥ Vinyl Lettering. I do.

I'm just going to come right out and admit it. I don't care if it's a fad or if it's a tacky. I don't care. I think vinyl is cool. So I made you something... Well, I made ONE of you something. ;o) I made myself one....and then I made one for you...

SO EASY to make too! Well, my friend has one of those cool Cricut doohickey things. Awesome little machine....she uses it for card making and such....she's an "EX" too. ;o) You likey?? Well, if you want one of my homemade-vinyl-lettering-picture-frame-decor-things, you've come to the right place!

It's a giveaway!

Here's how to enter this giveaway!

• For one entry go to my Cherish Bound store by clicking HERE. Visit the Story Starters (list on top left) and tell me what story you would love to capture and share. Oh and notice the sale I'm having this weekend! Leave your email if you don't have a blog profile or I will pick another winner (i'm saying it nicely)
• For a second entry follow my blog. If you already do, great. Just leave a separate comment.
• For a third entry Tweet about it and leave your link

US entries only. Giveaway ends on Thursday, July 2 @ 11:59pm. Winner will be announced next Friday. Please leave your email if you don't have a blog profile with your email listed. Winner will be picked by random.org

One more thing... EVERYTHING in my Cherish Bound Story Store is 20% off!!! Don't forget to check it out! ;o) okay...I'm done.

Thoughtful & Thrifty Swap Parties

I love "Home Made Simple".... It's a great show on TLC on Saturdays afternoons. I love their creative ideas and I love visiting their website for all their unique and crafty ideas...that I can actually do. They're affordable, usable, and fun! This is one idea from their current newsletter that I had to share....

"You know what they say about the art of gift giving—it’s the thought that really counts. This month, forego the penny pinch and host a fun-filled swap party with your favorite friends, right at home. From clothes and keepsakes to photos and food, it’s a wonderful way to get together, pass along personal treasures and walk away with something new. Find inspiration in our clever theme ideas and simple craft instructions for a party that is as fun and thoughtful as it is budget-friendly. And the best part? No one goes home empty-handed."

How fun does this sound?? They have so many swap party ideas that are great for some summertime fun with your friends and neighbors, or maybe at our family reunions. Here are some of my favorite ideas....

All ideas and images are from www.homemadesimple.com

Recipe Swap
Learn the secrets to your friends’ signature dishes by organizing a simple recipe swap. Ask your friends to bring in copies of their favorite recipe card to pass out to each guest, then craft decorative recipe tins for stowing cards in style. With a new collection of easy, sure-to-please recipes in hand, your guests will leave inspired to take back the kitchen.

Photo Swap
Hosting a photo swap with your favorite gal pals brings a whole new meaning to sharing memories. Ask each of your friends to bring a variety of picture frames that they no longer use, along with copies of their favorite photographs from special occasions and funny moments spent together. As you pass these treasured keepsakes around, you’ll relive your fondest moments as friends and come away with “new-to-you” frames and photos. At your swap party, you can offer inspired ideas for using picture frames in unexpected ways. Suggest using them to frame modern heirlooms like handmade face silhouettes, or as the perfect casing for delicate pressed flowers.

Plant & Seed Swap

Give your garden a boost by hosting a plant and seed swap party with your green-thumbed pals. Whip up quick and easy appetizers, served alfresco, and exchange gardening advice and plant cuttings or seeds. Set out a table where your guests can display their favorite plants and seeds, reminding them to label the pieces and mock up quick cards listing the care instructions. As you talk botanicals, start up a fun game of plant trivia, share your favorite photos of prize gardens, and even suggest an impromptu trip to a local garden center. With a simple garden swap party, everyone will leave with new knowledge and new materials to bring to life in their own backyard.

There so many treasures to swap!! Most of us have been neck deep in spring cleaning....so now is the time to plan some fun parties....all about swapping! Keep your parties simple and fun this summer...no more big elaborate over-done parties. Enjoy a brunch swap or chocolate night with your best friends and some swapping!!!

So tell me....what swap party ideas would you love to host or attend???

My Mama's Mother Day Gift...

Many of you know I love making these cute little Scrabble Picture Pendants.... You can click here and here to see other posts on those and where to get the goodies to make them and how to make them. I finally got my mom's done today....so here it is...

It looks much better in person....i love the glass look over the picture. It's hard to see in this photo, but you put Diamond Glaze over the top and it look shiny and purty!

Look Ma! Look What I Did!

Okay....so yesterday I "confessed" that I was going to sew my little girl an Easter dress....

And I DID! Looky-Looky!!

Isn't she purty!? My darling, sweet, amazing, wonderful, talented, bestest friend EVER, helped me...she helped me with some of the tricky stitching....

But I learned how to do a nice little rolled hem...

She doesn't cut any corners AT ALL! She's does it right...if I were alone I'd try and cut corners because I like to blaze through projects and go as fast as I can...you know...i try and actually find some type of competitive thrill out of...sewing...What is WRONG with me?? So she's teaching me to s..l..o..w..d..o..w..n and enjoy..... {sighhhh} and look what we did!

Hummm...I might just make a Cherish Bound book out of my revived hobby and beautiful projects...

{wink-wink}

Now did I say I was sewing ties too?? Oh...yeah...getting to the ties...but sneak peak...they're the same fabric as the cute little puffy sleeves on this dress...beautiful green with tiny white polka-dots. And my two teen daugther's informed me they expected some skirts. Looks like they'll be picking up a new hobby this week!

No matter what...I'm going to admit that I'm VERY proud of myself! I think my dear sweet Grandme has finally rolled right side up in her grave...she's been tapping her foot up there just waiting for someone to pick up where she left off...I'll never be anything close to Grandme, but every time I hear the hummmmmmmm of the sewing machine, I picture my Grandme...so Grandme, this one is for you! ♥

Confessions of an Ex-Scrapbooker #31 - Look what I'm sewing today!

I know... Me? Sewing? Yes....I actually can sew. It's crazy to think that I can sew, but I can. I actually used to have a handmade purse/gift bag company that I did with my friend in California.

So....my inspiring and talented friend here in Florida has me all pumped up to sew our girl's Easter dress and ties for the boys. So today/tonight my sewing adventure begins....

Here's what I'm making...

For the BOYS

image from the purl bee

I'm using this AWESOME tutorial from The Purl Bee

to make those adorable ties!!!

And for the GIRLS we're sewing these....

image from sandi henderson designs

Adorable Peasant dresses from Sandi Henderson Designs

Her patterns and styles are some of my FAVORITES!!!

Wish me luck...Hope to have some pictures to show you...I hope ;O)

Confessions of an Ex-Scrapbooker #30 - I Ain't No Martha, but...

I ain't no Martha....but come on, you have to admit that many of her ideas are just blissfully charming... Well, if they are all her ideas, which I doubt. I'm sure she's got the MOST amazing crew of people digging up ideas and inventing everything up....but whoever is behind the scenes, I think they rock and when I grow up I'd love to be one of Martha's secret idea people... (LOL!)

I got my first FREE issue of Martha Stewart Living...yes, got an entire year for free thanks to one of my frugal blog moms...wish I could remember which one of you it was, but I think was I am Frugal...anyway, first magazine arrives and I'm drooling... Why? Because my FAVORITE THING is highlighted on the cover...

Decoupage.... AKA Mod Podge!

Easy Decoupage Eggs... Spring's Brightest Ideas - Fresh Take on Classics!

Did somebody say MOD PODGE? Yes, she did!

Look at these...

NAPKINS! Yes, use adorable napkins as egg decor???? Stop it! How cute is that!?

This is what I want my Easter brunch table to look like....the template for the little classic bunnies is on the site!

Most of these looked fairly simple and easy...and inexpensive! Can't wait to get my Mod Podge out and glam up some eggs! Click Here to head over there and get some ideas.

All images are from www.marthastewart.com

Confessions of an Ex-Scrapbooker #29 - Spring & Home Crafts

Just because I'm an Ex-Scrapbooker doesn't mean I don't like to get messy and crafty...I LOVE it! The warm Florida sun and beautiful days have got me in a "springy" mood! Here are some cute crafts I've run into...think I'm going to give them a shot. And the kids can join in too!

Easter Bunny S'mores!

**UPDATE I have officially made these....VERY VERY CUTE!! Recommend using WIDE mouth jars.

OK...how dang cute is this! Oh my gosh....I love it! Go over to Creative Gift & Party Ideas to see how SIMPLE this project is!

Tin Can Herb Pots

Found this cute idea over at Kaboose.com. Very Cute and EASY!!

DIY Wall Art

Have an empty wall the needs some sprucing up? This is a brilliant idea...and it involved my best friend.... Modge Podge! Woot-woot! This great idea came from EightCrazy Designs

And how about this...

F-A-M-I-L-Y Decoupage Letters!

Adorable!! Found this over at My Little Gems Blog...So adorable!

Okay...these projects should keep us busy for the next few days right?

Tuesday Tradition #41 - Crafts & a Giveaway!!!

Crafts.

The dictionary says "craft" is a "skill, art, trade..." but most of my crafts are just humble little wannabes that most people would secretly mock. But I love them...

I think it's the thrill of the shopping trip that gets me all excited. I love laying everything out on my table and checking out all the goodies I've got...and I even love the little collection of "crafting supplies" that are slowly building up. So yes, I ♥ crafts! Most of the time I love my finished projects...MOST of the time. But not always...sometimes I secretly enjoy them and then hide them...and wait for the next community garage sale.

Anyway.....crafts are traditions. I've seen so many crafts passed down in my family (LOL!!) woo-wee....and I've started new ones too. I'll be honest though, I really miss sitting around the big table with my grandma, aunts, mom, and cousins while doing some holiday craft, laughing, jabbing funny jokes at grandma....that was a good time. I miss it dearly. It makes me sad to think that those days have passed, but excited to know that I can continue that tradition with my own family.

The past month I've mentioned a few times that I'm in serious crafting mode. I've made quite a few little things...Daisy and Sunflower hair clips for my little girl, Wooden words, decorated picture frames....and THE SCRABBLE PENDANTS!

These were not only easy, but turned out so adorable! I can't stand it! I'm hooked...I've made about...14 so far. Anything I can cut and paste is going on a scrabble chip.

Here's my first batch...

I gave my oldest daughter the one in the middle and my other daughter got the one of her playing softball! How cool is that???? Mom...if you're reading...you may have an idea of what you'll be getting for Mother's Day...and yes, you'll get Cherish Bound book too.

I'm giving away the cute one up there to one of you!! Here's how you can win!

1. Leave a comment telling us about your favorite craft. If you can, please leave a link to it if you have it on your blog. We'd love to see.

2. Sign-up for my newsletter (top right corner) and leave a separate comment.

3. Follow my blog and leave a separate comment

4. Follow me on Twitter @cherishbound176 and tweet about - leave a separate comment

Don't forget to leave your email if you don't have it listed on your profile!! Open to US residence only! Giveaway ends Monday, February, 23 @ 11:59pm. Winner will be announced on next week's Tuesday Traditions. Winner will be chosen using random.org.

Valentine's Day Gifts

I'm in some funky crafty obsession right now....it's like I'm nesting, but with glue and paper...and I'm NOT pregnant. What is it about Micheal's and JoAnne's that gives me goosebumps? And their weekly ad with the 40% off coupon...I mean, COME ON! It's just so inviting and I can't let something like that go to waste, right?? So I did a little drop-in @ Micheal's this past week while I was waiting for one of my daughter's to finish up her soccer practice...hum-hum-hum....had some fun! Here's what I making (right now) for my son's Kindergarten teacher....

You'll find this idea (NO it's not mine...) over at Just A Girl.
Click HERE to view the directions & Tutorial!

I'll show you pictures of mine when I'm done..... maybe....depends on what they look like. But I did go over to one of my FAVORITE places, The Shabby Princess and downloaded a FREE Valentine's-themed Digi Scrap download to use as my cute little embellishments. I bought some adorable ribbon and paper over at Micheal's and some lotion and hand sanitizer w/ my Walgreens coupons....maybe spent a total of $4 for the ENTIRE project!

I'm also making these....

Scrabble Pendants!
Thank you to Tanya over at "The Smith Family" for this awesome craft!
Click HERE to check it out! So Easy!
I'm making my girls each one for Valentine's Day and I'm going to be giving one away on my blog....next week!!! So don't miss out on that!

Confessions of an Ex-Scrapbooker #26

What to do with all my junk? I have endless piles of paper and embellishments from my SB-day's. Even though I don't scrapbook anymore, I still like crafting with my hands and glue and getting it in my hair and such. So I've been trying to think of ways to use all junk up. So here's my latest project....

(sorry about the ugly photography, but my camera decided to break! only got 2 pics UGH!)

This is a cute little 4x6 recipe collection. Easy-Peasy!

Ingredients:

• One pack of 4x6 recipe cards/index cards
  
• One metal ring (can't remember the name of them...but they open and close)
• Scrapbook paper and embellishments
• Glue stick

All I did was gather a collection of favorite recipes. You can print directly onto the cards or you can print on paper and glue to cards. You can get as creative as you want with any clip art or pictures on the actual recipes. Sorry, no picture...camera Ka-pood on me! GRRR!

I then divided them up into the following categories:

Appetizers

Soups & Salads

Main Dishes

Side Dishes

Desserts

You can see my little "Sweet" divider for the Dessert section....I've had that little embellishment FOR YEARS! It finally found a home!

You can make dividers using the 4x6 cards. Then punch holes in the top corner, put the ring through it and then I tied little pieces of ribbon around the ring....had that ribbon for years too!

The cover was a piece of the scrapbook paper that I cut out in the same measurements as the card and I glued it onto the 4x6 card. I found the cute little metal tag and then printed out the Title "Secret Ingredients" and just laid and glued them down. Nothin' special ladies.

So I'm going to start making these for my FRIENDS for their birthdays. It's free, easy, and personal. You can design and create ANYTHING you want....my ideas are flowing right now as I type. I'll save it for next week. ;O) Oh, yeah....they ship in a little envelopes or wrap up really cute!

If you have any ideas or projects you've done using your old scrapbooking stuff, email me at tarabrown at cherishbound dot com so we can share it with everyone.

Happy Crafting!!

Christmas Craft ♥ So Easy...Even I can do it!

This craft was so easy and it's adorable! I wish I could take credit, but of course it's something I found online somewhere, can't remember where, and now I can't pass on the credit. If I figure out who it was I'll make sure I give them the credit for it. My daughter's and I made these trees last weekend and they look adorable up on the mantle.

We bought 2 Styrofoam-shaped cones, gathered buttons from home, but also purchased a few craft bags full of buttons, and stick pins. The buttons we used were reds, greens, and whites of all shades and sizes. We also used stick pins with the white balls on the end. There were a few buttons that had large holes so we used hot glue to secure them and there were a few tiny buttons without holes for the pins and we used hot glue to attach them in the little spaces that were left at the end. It's a quick fun project that is very cute when done.....

Voila! There they are... {smile} So proud of myself...and my daughters.
We actually FINISHED a project! ♥

For some more great Homemaking Monday ideas visit
11th Heaven's Homemaking Haven