Elmo 1st Birthday Party Decor SNW4

Sometimes it is good to step out of your comfort zone and challenge what you are capable of. 

As a creative, you get to know what your style is and things can start to look very much the same:}

Before I share this project, I want to say that my heart is full of gratitude!

Thank you to all of my family, friends and customers that have had an idea and have entrusted ME to execute that vision.  It truly is an honor to be able to create for a living, but especially when it is something that is created for someone specific.

OK, with that said, this particular request was from my niece for her daughters 1st birthday

{That would make me a great-aunt!! Yikes!!}

She gave me a color palette and a few photos for inspiration. 

If you have followed me for a while, you know that Elmo is not my normal style and was out of my comfort zone!

Challenge accepted

I honestly had a lot of fun creating these items!

I remembered what it was like when my babies were that age.

Life was really so much simpler then. More innocent.

Here are a few photos of what I put together...

{I didn't want to do a tutorial for everything, but if you have questions about a certain project, please feel free to ask. I'd be happy to walk you through it!}

Thanks so much for taking the time to check out my blog!
ENJOY!

 

DIY Ruffled "love" banner SNW3

I know not everyone is crazy about Valentine's Day. 

I, on the other hand happen to LOVE it!

I love hearts. I love LOVE! I love a special day to celebrate LOVE!

So when Valentine's Day rolls around, I like to do it up a bit and fill my home with beautiful decorations that exude that lovin feelin;}

 

 

For this 3rd week of something new
{and yes, those of you keeping track, I am a few days late getting this post up;/}
I wanted to make something quick, easy and be able to use the things that I had on hand
{isn't that the best feeling!}


Supplies Needed:
12" x 12" Fabric Paper
Ruffled Ribbon
Red Felt
Black Sta-Zon Ink
Foam Stamps
{rubber or acrylic is fine too}
White string
White Eyelets
Eyelet setting tools
Hot glue gun

Directions:
Begin by cutting 4 1/2" x 6" rectangles and 3" x 6" rectangles from the fabric paper.
Using your Sta-zon ink and foam stamps, stamp the letters l o v e onto the 4 larger rectangles.

 From the red felt, cut 2 matching hearts and glue them onto the smaller rectangles with hot glue. 

Then measure and cut the strips of ruffled ribbon and glue them along the tops of the rectangles.  When that is dry, using your eyelet setting tools, punch 1 hole in each of the top corners of each rectangle and set the eyelets in each hole. Finally, string the white string through the holes and hang!

I would love to see your projects for the week! 
Please feel free to link up below and share your masterpiece!

 

DIY Hand-Stamped Metal and Leather Cuff SNW2

I LOVE words!

{You've probably heard me say this a millions times;}

They have amazing power! 
I'm choosing to focus on the ones that build up and not tear down!

 

 

 

So it only made sense for week 2 to put together a piece of jewelry with beautiful words that inspire!

 

This is one of those projects that is pretty inexpensive and simple if you have or can borrow the tools needed!

This is what you'll need:

 

SUPPLIES

Leather Cuff

Metal Stamping Blanks

Metal Stamps

Stamping Block

Hammer

Eyelets

Eyelet Setter

Crop-a-dile big bite{or other heavy duty hole punch}

Permanent Marker {optional}

Distress Ink {optional}

 

Instructions

I wasn't crazy about the lighter cuff, so I began with distressing the front and sides using Tim Holtz Tea Dye {Note: I did try tea staining first and did not get the results that I wanted} I allowed that to dry overnight.  I chose the stamping blank that was the best fit for this size cuff and using my crop-a-dile big bite, punched holes in the 2 sides then set it on top of the cuff, marked the holes and punched coordinating holes in the cuff.  I then began in the middle of the stamping blank and began stamping {once you figure out your wording, find the center word and begin there} This next step is optional.  If you like the raw stamped look, leave it as is.  If you like a little more pop, color in the letters with a permanent marker then rub over the blank with a magic eraser. It will remove any extra ink left on the blank but the ink in the letters will remain.  Finally, place coordinating eyelets in the holes of the lined up metal and cuff, flip over and using your eyelet setter, hit 3 times to set!  voila! You have a fabulous new, conversation-starter piece of Jewelry!!

 

 

 

Thanks so much for joining me for this tutorial! 

Happy Creating!

Something New WeEk OnE: Linky Party Hostess



Don't fear failure so much that you refuse to try new things. The saddest summary of a life contains three descriptions: could have, might have, and should have.

Louis E. Boone

 

It has been 4 years now that I last did this. 

It was one of THE MOST productive years of my life!

At that time the idea didn't come to me until several week into the new year... so I called it

"Something New for 42" at that time;} but the premise was the same... Do at least 1 new thing every week!

There were new recipes, new holiday décor, new restaurants with hubby and that was the year that I ran the Chicago Marathon for the first time!

 

Make it your goal.  Challenge yourself.  It doesn't have to be super time-consuming or costly.  Just commit to doing at least one new thing in your life every week in 2014.  It could be as simple as reading a new book to your baby or as big as going on your first family vacation.  As long as it is new to you, it qualifies;}

 

Each week we will have a linky party here for you to share your newest undertakings, be inspired by others and encourage one another in this journey.

Soooooo, my something new for the first week is just that...

 

I learned how to host a linky party!!

 

Well, sort of... I'm sure I'll be working out kinks for a while, but it's something I've wanted to do for a while here on my blog and I took that first step;}

 

If you're not sure what a linky party is, Bargain Hoot does a great job of describing it here

I found a great tutorial from My so called Chaos that helped me set up my account with Inlinkz

Isn't the blogospere fantastic!!!  I love {and am SO thankful} when other creatives share their knowledge!

I have started 2 new boards on Pinterest... Achieve 2014 so you can see a sampling of the things that I just might attempt this year;} and Something New for 52 {2014} for the things that I do!

{You can also follow ALL of my boards here}

Here are a just a couple pieces of eye candy to get your inspired!

{Button button} 

 

{iheartstitching on youtube} 

 

Come back each week not only to see what I've been up to, but what others are doing as well!

Ready. Set. GO!

{and be sure to let me know if you're up for the challenge!}

Something New for 52! Link up

One Little Word 2014

“We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day.”  
― Edith Lovejoy Pierce

 

I love a new year!

I am an optimist that genuinely believes it's the perfect time to do things better!

I know, I know, it's something we can strive for all year long, but there is something splendid about a completely fresh and different year.

 

For the past 4 years I have chosen a word for the year.   The idea was sparked by a story I heard on K love and it really struck a chord with me.  You can see my 2013 word and the story behind it here.  Other years have included the words "Intentional" and "Simplify"  The idea is to choose a word that sums up your focus for the new year!  That's not too hard, right??!!

 

This year I knew early on what it would be... probably some time in late November. My sister was the only one that I shared this with.

 

2013 had been a challenge {and to be honest, I did not do well honoring my one word, "choose"}.

 

We all have different challenges of different sorts at different times and this past years challenges for me were more internal. 

 

I found myself second guessing all of my choices... silly and simple choices.  I was doubting everything... my path, my purpose, my parenting, my relationships. I felt hurt and disappointed by people that I love. Maybe it was something as simple as an unanswered text, a broken date or not being included. Do you ever find yourself just shutting down because you don't want to confront that hurt??   I need work in that area!

 

There is something that I say ALL THE TIME to my kids!!!  Then I heard that gentle whisper "practice what you preach"?  It was: "you can't control what others do, you can only control how you respond" That led me to my word for this year:

 

CONFIDENCE

 

con·fi·dence:

: a feeling or belief that you can do something well or succeed at something
: a feeling or belief that someone or something is good or has the ability to succeed at something

: the feeling of being certain that something will happen or that something is true

 

But even way above these dictionary definitions, I want to have confidence in God's will for my life. 

I want to trust that when he lays a passion or decision on my heart, there is a good reason even when I don't immediately understand it.  And finally, I want to trust that every person and relationship that is a part of my life has a purpose.

 

I want to challenge you friend, if you haven't done so already, to choose YOUR word for 2014!

 

Each year I make a piece of jewelry with my word on it as a constant reminder. You can find this years Necklace in my Etsy shop.

 

 Be sure to share in the comments what your word is!!

Blessings to you all for a fabulous 2014!

 

 

 

Bruised but not Broken

Oh, how I have missed this place!!

I haven't taken the time to be still long enough to verbalize thoughts and happenings for quite some time. I apologize to the 3 of you who actually read my blog;}

 

Something happened a few days ago that really made me pause... like literally... the wind was knocked out of me for a brief moment and I didn't move.

 

I rushed down my front steps, as I do most days, to get the mail.  Only on this day I hadn't taken into consideration that it had snowed...then melted... then froze.  Oh, I'm sure you can imagine what happened next. 

 

I bit it!  I mean... REALLY BIT IT! 

 

As in, if someone had seen it, had a camera and posted it to youtube, it would have millions of hits because folks would be laughing hysterically at my misfortune {once they realized I wasn't really hurt, of course;} 

 

You know when people say "it happened so quick!", well this happened so quick!  Thanking God now that it wasn't worse and I can laugh at it, but I actually hit my head on the stair and didn't move for a moment.  There was no one around to see me if I had been really hurt {unless they were peeking out their window laughing hysterically!}

 

After a moment, I got up, dusted myself off and rushed back inside.  Didn't bother with the mail... that would have required walking further and in the event that someone did see, I wanted to save myself the embarrassment:/ 

 

So, now I have a bruise on my right elbow, my left forearm, my thigh, my back and my pinky {which I swore was broken because I couldn't move it for about an hour and then it swelled up to double the size!} but I am just fine!!! Thank you Lord!!!

{Random fact: I love battle wounds!  I was thrilled when I lost 5 toenails while training for my first half marathon...disgusting, right!}

 

Funny how random scenarios lead to profound insights.

 

Hence the title of this post... one of my fave Joss Stone songs, "Bruised but not broken"

 

So many thoughts of this past year in particular, came to mind. 

 

Things not happening the way I had hoped

 

Being hurt and disappointed by others

 

You know, just life sometimes!

 

But it reminded me too, as in this particular situation, I may be bruised but certainly not broken!

I am still very much alive and as long as I am, there are SO many things to be thankful for!

 

So I wanted to take a minute to show you a few things that I am thankful for right now...

 

Fall

{pinterest}

 

Encouraging Words 

  {all quotes from my my pinterest board WORDS}

 

God's work in the lives of my children!! and the amazing youth leaders at Rockford First who put so much time and energy into these young lives!! {That's my Mikah in the yellow shirt;}

 

 

 There are so many more things to be thankful for... I'll add more later;}

Blessings to you all!