I've Decided To Stop Blogging

I have decided to stop writing my blog and making Youtube videos. I'd just like to take a few moments to share why.  My post is a bit long, but I figure a few people I've gotten to know would be curious about all the fun stuff I'm doing that's keeping me away.

First off, let me say that it has been SUCH an amazing, fun, and wonderful experience to share my creativity with so many fabulous people. I have loved reading many blogs from other crafty people too. There is something so magical about creativity. All the kind comments have brightened my days on many occasions.

I got serious about my blogging because it was such a great outlet for me. I spent most of my time stuck in the house and it was a great way to connect with other people to write a blog, read other blogs, etc. 

As life has gotten more and more busy I have so much going on in my day to day life that blogging just keeps getting pushed to the bottom of the list, and then not done at all. I could try and push myself to make more cards and quick projects, but instead I've been doing far more time consuming things like knitting and sewing that take a long time for me to have anything worthwhile to show. Even after I finish those types of projects I didn't create the patterns so I can't share them with you so all I have to offer is a photo and maybe a quick tip or two. I know most people follow me for my cards and even though I have sweet friends who will say kind things about those projects I don't think I can provide nearly as much inspiration that way.

So, for anyone who is curious these are all the wonderful things I've been up to....

I'm working out 5-6 days a week. Currently I'm doing an awesome program called Turbo Fire that's very fun and challenging.

I'm homeschooling my kids. They are only 2 and 3 now, but I'm busy teaching my daughter to read, tell time, and working with my son on his letters, numbers, shapes, etc.

My daughter is currently in dance and gymnastics & my son just started Tae Kwan Do.

I am learning to bake from scratch and trying to cook all of our meals. I'd like to expand to starting a vegetable garden, canning, etc.

Instead of making cards my creative passions have been going towards sewing, knitting, and other more time consuming projects. Many of which I can work on easily while on the couch with my family instead of tucked away in my craft room by myself.

I have been volunteering at a rabbit shelter across town. It's a big commitment to do this every week, but it's very rewarding. We've decided to adopt a pair of rabbits of our own and will be picking them out next week. Obviously we want to have lots of time to adore and spoil our pets and that will be a big time commitment.

We've been blessed to be having lunch with my Dad every week. The kids and I enjoy getting to see him and he always gets the biggest smile on his face when he sees the kids smiling at him.

On top of all these things of course I have the usual daily cleaning, keeping the kids entertained, etc. I schedule my days with time for chores and all of that, and the only “free time” is a few hours here or there. I've decided I'd rather spend that time playing with my kids, our future pets, or just enjoying my longer term and shorter term projects without feeling pressured to get things done, photographed, and posted. I don't want to stop being creative, I just don't want to feel like I need to constantly be producing a finished product that is original and that I can provide inspiration with.

So, even though I still love blogging, at the end of the day I love the other things I'm involved with even more. All the recent talk of Google Friend Connect going away and other things has been the last straw. I don't need a new system of keeping up to deal with. I have many blogs I adore but I keep falling behind on stopping by and leaving comments.

I'm sure I'll still be around in some capacity, but I'd rather stop blogging and be decided about it that let it keep getting neglected.  When I do something I like to pour everything into it and do it to the best of my ability, so half halfheartedly updating the blog occasionally isn't in my nature.

I might keep my Facebook page and still post there or keep the gallery or something. I haven't really decided. I still plan on enjoying all your wonderful blogs when I have a chance, but I probably won't leave as many comments as I used to.

Hugs to all! It's been an amazing ride, but I don't want to be one of those people that just tries to do way too much. I want to focus my efforts on what my top priorities are, even if the things I have to let go are still awesome I have to be willing to let some things slide to make room.  To be honest I think the main reason that myself, and anyone else for that matter, feel unhappy is when we focus on too many things.  Trying to do too much, or trying to buy more stuff.  Less can be much better.  Simplicity makes life less stressful and allows us to enjoy, appreciate, and fully savor the little moments in our lives without being so rushed to the next task.  Since I plan on homeschooling for the long haul I will have a lot of control over our daily schedule and I want to use my time as responsibly as I can to take care of my family and do good in our community.

I Finished A Bead Point

I bought this beautiful bead point a long time ago and finally started working on it a couple of months ago.  It's the first time I've ever done one of these.  I found it very enjoyable and relaxing.  Things like cross stitch relax me, but I do have to think pretty hard about where I'm putting my colors.  This is just pre-printed fabric with a gorgeous design and all you have to do is add the beads.  I ended up using clear beads in some of the places it told me to put pink, not only was I short on pink beads, but I love the clear ones.  I just have to go buy a frame and it will be all ready for a gift in December.  I think I bought this kit at Joanns, but it isn't available on their website.  I found it here on Amazon if you want to do one, it is really a very pretty image.  All you need to do this kit is a pair of scissors.  I will tell you though... the thread they give you in the kit is pretty cheap.  I used it, but it ended up fraying a lot as I stitched which added to more tangles.  It would have gone more smoothly if I had used some better quality thread.   

Not sure where my card making mojo went.  The last card I tried to make turned out really horribly.  Now I'm busy knitting a scarf for my son.   I'm also about to sew my daughter a dress for Easter. I'm REALLY hoping it comes out after all the time I spent picking out the fabric.  *LOL*

Sewing Machine Cover

I needed a nice cover for my sewing machine.  It didn't come with a cover and I've been using a drawstring purse bag to protect it, but it's way too big and not very cute.

I found instructions on how to make a sewing machine cover with a pocket in the book One Yard Wonders.  It wasn't difficult at all and it went quickly.

Here's a side view.

I'm really enjoying sewing these days.  My creative mojo for new ideas seems to be harder to come by lately so it's nice to have a project where I just pick a fabric and follow instructions!

Thanks for stopping by!

Gecko Card

I thought this would be fun for a boy.  It would work well as a birthday card, but since the sentiment is generic it could be used for other things, like a congrats on an accomplishment.  I've left the inside blank so I can decide it's use later.

The little gecko was cut from the Cricut American Alphabet cartridge on my E2 at 3.5 inches.  Quick note here, I would NOT attempt to cut it any smaller than that.  His little feet are very delicate to remove from the mat.  I added some little tiny googly eyes to him and put him up on some pop dots.

The twine is Peapod from The Twinery.

The buttons were from the Michael's $1 section.

The stamp is from Unity's Mix Up of Cuteness set.  I stamped it in Versamark and embossed using some white embossing powder.

The paper is from My Mind's Eye Lime Twist Fly A Kite 6 by 6 pad.  

I rounded the corners on a 1/4 inch setting using my Corner Chomper.

Quick and easy!  Thanks a bunch for stopping by :)

Party This Way Card

I used Stampin' Up's set called Party This Way.  For the sign I used Only Orange ink.  It's up on Pop Dots and I used Crystal Stickles around the edges.

The balloons are stamped in Rich Razzleberry, Taken With Teal, and Real Red.  The strings are twine from The Twinery in Stone.

The card base is just Kraft.  I rounded the top 2 corners on a 1/2 inch setting using my Corner Chomper.  Then I went around the edges to do faux stitching using my Sakura gel pen. 

Love Card

Here's a little something I put together.  The patterned paper is from the DCWV Once Upon a Time Mat Pack.  I used Liquid Pearls in Petal Pink all around the card's edge.  The heart was cut from the Plantin Schoolbook Cricut Cartridge and is up on pop dots and COVERED in Diamond Stickles.  The word love was spelled out using some Thickers.  The ribbon is Shabby Crinkle Ribbon from Prairie Bird Boutique on Etsy.  Just something girlie and fun.  I hope everyone had a nice Valentine's.  Ours was very low key.  I made stir fry.  *LOL*

I Sewed Some Makeup Bags

I think these came out really well!

What's nice about a project like this is that since the bags are a rectangle you can just use sheets of paper to make a pattern.  I made 3 different sizes to make this gift set.

I purchased most things at Joanns.  The fabric and the zippers at least.  I didn't get a photo of the insides but they are just plain brown.  What's nice about these bags is that the way they are sewn the edges look beautiful inside just like they do outside.  I learned how to make them look nice on both sides by watching this tutorial. 

The only things I would note is that for this type of fabric I found I couldn't sew the zipper too close or it wouldn't open and shut easily.  Also, this fabric frayed easily while working with it so I couldn't really rip out a seam and fix a mistake.  I made a bag the same way out of cotton before and it was MUCH easier.  

Here's a closer look at the little zipper pulls I made before I attached them to the bags.  I just used some beads I had laying around in my jewelry supplies and I think they made an awesome finishing touch.

After spending many hours getting these bags done I really wanted to present them nicely so I made a custom gift box.  Before assembling the box I stamped all over the lid with a Fiskars set called Winter Wishes using Stampin' Up ink in Tempting Turquoise and Chocolate Chip.  I also made a gift tag using my Nestabilities Labels One dies.  The back layer is embossed with the Cuttlebug folder Divine Swirls.  Here's the completed box they went in all tied up with pretty grosgrain ribbon.

So, there ya have it.  A custom gift set of makeup bags.  I'm very pleased with how they came out and think they made a perfect gift.  I may make more in different colors for other friends in the future.  I'm trying to do more sewing :)

Thanks so much for stopping by!

I'm linking these up to the following parties:

Cutie Pie Card

I decided to use the adorable image called Cheeky Cherry Pie from The Greeting Farm.  I stamped her in some Rich Cocoa Memento ink, all but her lips.  To get just her lips to stamp red what I did was ink up the whole stamp in the brown, and then I used a damp paper towel corner to very carefully remove the brown from her lips.  After the lips were clean I quickly rubbed on some Real Red using a Stampin' Up maker.  I just had to have red lips on her.  I colored her in using a variety of copics.  For a finishing touch I added some Diamond Stickles to her eyelids and apron ruffles.

I used my Nestabilities to cut her out and layer her onto some scallops.  I used my paper piercer to push holes in the scallops.  I pop dotted this up onto my card base.

For the card base I rounded the top 2 corners on a 1/2 inch setting.  I went around the edges with faux stitching lines using a Chocolate Chip Stampin' Up marker.

Along the bottom of the card you see a piece of patterned paper from the Echo Park Little Girl Collection and a sticker from the same collection.  I went around the edges of the paper with some Icicle Stickles.

 

The scallops along the bottom are actually part of the inside of the card.  I just trimmed a little off the bottom of the card front before decorating it.  I used the EK Success Open Scallop punch.  This is a cool effect because the scallops show on the outside of the card, and also help make the inside cute.  I added the same marker stitching lines to the inside of the card.

Thanks for stopping by!

Dinosaur Layout

I wanted to play with my Copics so I colored up this awesome dinosaur from the Dinoroar set by Stampin Up.  I hand cut him and glued him to a piece of cream cardstock that was cut into an oval with my Nestabilities.  I sponged it with Close to Cocoa ink.  I layered that onto a piece of kraft that was cut with a scalloped oval Nestabilities.  This was pop dotted up onto a layer of cardstock that was embossed using the Oriental Weave Cuttlebug folder.  The dinosaur border was an EK Success punch.  I stamped a sentiment from the same Dinorar set using Chocolate Chip Ink - it reads "Roar! (that means happy birthday in dinosaur)"  I added a bit of brown grosgrain ribbon. The corners are all rounded on a 1/2 inch setting.

All the cute stickers are from Little Yellow Bicycle.  I also used some Stampin Up rub ons to create a border of circles on my kraft cardstock before journaling with my Chocolate Chip marker.

The photo mats are sized to work with 5 by 3 inch photos and leave a nice yellow border.  I will round the corners of the photos when I get them printed as well.  I had the photos on my computer in front of me when doing the layout, but I need to send them for printing.

Follow Your Heart Maze Card

How fun is it that this card has a little maze on it that you can actually play?!

The maze is available from Stampin' Up.

The stamp set is designed to coordinate with the maze and is called Totally A-maze-ing.

I stamped the pink background using Pixie Pink ink.  Then I went in with a Real Red marker and added some stitching lines and doodle dots.  I filled the little heart in the center with Fruit Punch colored Stickles.

I layered the maze onto a piece of white cardstock that's 3 inches square with corners rounded on a 1/2 inch setting using my Corner Chomper.  The stitching lines were drawn with a Real Red marker.

The card base patterned paper was given to me by a friend.  I have no idea what brand it is.

The banner along the bottom was simply hand cut.  I stamped the sentiment from the same Totally A-maze-ing set using Real Red.  The glittered chipboard heart is from DCWV and has been in my stash from a kit I purchased a long time ago.

I'm feeling the love in the air for Valentine's Day :)

Thanks for stopping by!

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