Yard work/landscaping.

It’s true.  BC and I are both way out of our element.  At our first house we ripped out/changed so many things that we decided to hire a professional when we moved to this house.  He was a nice guy and came up with a lovely plan.  Then, we paid some more nice people to install it all, so that we wouldn’t screw it up.  All of this is great, in theory…until all those nice people left.

We needed help.

We still need help, which is why I’m so excited about the Jordan Valley Home & Garden Club.

The Jordan Valley Home and Garden Club was founded to provide learning opportunities specifically geared to do-it-yourself homeowners. Landscaping is an important part of setting the home’s tone. The Club will provide a wealth of landscaping and garden design education, but there will also be a mix of interior and exterior DIY projects – a little something for everyone. Best of all? There is no club membership fee. (This is especially awesome if you don’t want to have guilt about not using the skills/information you spent a ton of money acquiring.  He he he.)

If you’re a local, the Jordan Valley Home and Garden Club activities will kick off with a Summer Soiree and Garden Tour on June 9, at 6 p.m. Tickets to the Summer Soiree are available online.   The event features some fun bloggers you may be familiar with including Justin and Cassity Kmetzsch, from Remodelaholic; Sausha Khoundet, from Sweet Pickins and Leanne Jacobs from Organize and Decorate Everything, along with several great classes. I can only vouch for Leanne ,but she’s DELIGHTFUL and I’m sure the others are equally awesome.

The Summer Soiree will include some AWESOME giveaways…stuff like a rug that was featured in Country Living Magazine (one of my faves), as well as furniture from Sweet Pickins and Forsey’s Furniture.

If you can’t make the kick off event (and I can’t…boo), regular Home and Garden Club classes will begin July 17, at noon. The classes are free – you can register online.

If you’re not a local (because I know most of you aren’t), Information will be available on the Club’s Facebook page following each class.

So, who’s with me?  Who’s taking charge of their yard once and for all?  Who’s saying NO to your retired neighbors offering to rip out a dead tree in your yard so they’ll “have something to do”? (That totally happened.  Last month.)

*sigh*

I REALLY need this.

*This post is sponsored by the Jordan Valley Home and Garden Club

I introduced them as a sponsor a few months back?

If that’s still not ringing a bell, here’s the lowdown…

Pick Your Plum offers a different crafting supply type deal (at an INSANE price) every morning at 7:00 MST.  I’m a little bit addicted, and most days I’m not even awake before they’re sold out (my PayPal balance is thankful).  Let’s discuss a few of the things I’ve personally purchased:  outdoor vinyl ($1 per sheet), heat transfer material (50% off), and most recently personalized name stamps for the kiddos ($6.50 each…and when you name your kids weird crap like I do, you know how expensive custom personalization can be).

(I heard a rumor that today’s deal is related to this picture ^)

I’m still kind of mad I missed the day they had jumbo ric rac.  I LOVE ric rac.  If these have already been featured, I’m mad about that, too:

And do you have any idea how hard these cupcake pop things are to find?

Not on Pick Your Plum, baby.

So, why am I talking about Pick Your Plum again?

Because they have a $75 crafting supply kit (full of ribbon, Mod Podge, paint brushes, wrought iron, ric rac, buttons…all sorts of goodies for a crafting goddess) for one lucky Crap I’ve Made reader, that’s why.

Awesome right?

TO ENTER (leave a separate comment ON THIS POST for each entry):

Like Pick Your Plum on Facebook

Sign up to receive the Pick Your Plum Email

Confess what you’ve already caved and bought from Pick Your Plum

***GIveaway closes Sunday night at 10 pm MST***

NOW GET OVER THERE AND CHECK OUT TODAY’S DEAL!

McKay says: I am so excited to tell you about a new website that my husband and I have created!

Our vision was to create a community where artisans (that’s you!) could share their talents, creativity and creations with others not
through money, but through swapping. We wanted a place where people could list their handiwork (photography, paper crafts, jewelry, art, sewn items, basically anything that they have handmade) and then swap them for others’ handmade items- completely eliminating the need for money.

Baby bib, artist: Wendy

It was this idea that sparked the life of whoopdwhoop.com. Whoopdwhoop is a unique, currency-free marketplace where individuals can both list their creative endeavors and ‘shop’ for others’ creative endeavors — all without the use of money. Points (whoops) are earned by both listing and swapping your handiwork. You can then take the whoops that you have earned and ‘shop’ within the whoopdwhoop community. It’s the perfect way to partake in some retail therapy and not feel guilty! It’s free, it’s easy, and it’s fun.

Bella tote, artist: Kim (Tangent: I want to buy that purse based solely on the button!)

Our hope is that in this economy where things can be tough, whoopdwhoop will allow people to share their talents, creativity, and creations with others — all by simply swapping.

Here are some other items you can find at whoopdwhoop…

Crocheted owl hat, artist: Lindsay

Feathers and lace hair clip, artist: Nichole

Two button baby moccasins, artist: Sophie Goss

Thanks for having me, I hope to see you whoopin’ it up over at whoopdwhoop.

Happy swapping!

Are you familiar with Impel Clothing?

Impel is a modest women’s boutique. They specialize in high quality layering tees and trendy vintage inspired clothing. Take a peek at some of the looks they love for Spring…

Impel sent me a shirt to review, their Ribbed Henley Tee.

Here’s where you’d expect some pics of me wearing the shirt, but that would imply that the individual taking the pics (I’m not naming any names here) would have realized that the beeping sound meant there was not actually a memory card in the camera and no pictures were being taken.

Where was I?

Oh yeah…the shirt.

Despite not initially loving the color (it grew on me), I decided to wear it right away. I wanted to have the chance to wear and wash it a few times before my review. My first impression? The fabric was really, really nice and thick. And, the sleeves were nice and long. You know how sometimes you have to tug your long sleeves back to their proper location repeatedly throughout the day? You sure don’t with this shirt, which I enjoyed A LOT.

I’ve washed the shirt 4 or 5 times now. (Hey…I have 4 kids. We do massive amounts of laundry around here, like a minimum of 2 loads a day.) The fabric is still nice and thick and hasn’t lost its stretch or shape. There was no noticeable shrinkage, which means those nice and long sleeves are still nice and long. And, the color is as dark as the day it arrived.

I live in Utah, aka the home of modest layering tees, so I’ve experienced at least 3 other similar brands. The quality of this shirt from Impel Clothing is by far the best.

So, what’s in it for you?

Impel is offering one lucky reader a $25 e-gift certificate!

TO ENTER:

Click on over to Impel Clothing. Have a look around. Come back and leave a comment ON THIS POST (on the blog, not on Facebook or in reply to your email subscription) saying what you’d spend your $25 on.

That’s it…keeping it simple.

Ready? GO!

***Giveaway closes Friday, February 25th at midnight MST***

Social Spark, aka the company that hooked me up with that fabulous Pier 1 gig. If you have a blog (of any size!), you really should go check them out. You name your own price and decided what to accept or not accept.

Raspberry Creek Fabrics has insanely cute and affordable fabrics including a huge selection of Riley Blake.

Silhouette. Code “CRAP” will always get you the best current deals on your purchase.

The Ribbon Retreat is THE place to get all things ribbons and hair bows.

Amy Peters’ Studio offers inspirational jewelry for every occasion.

Say It on the Wall vinyl. Follow then on Facebook and sign up for their newsletter. There’s ALWAYS a fabulous special going on!

Expressions Vinyl sells high quality vinyl and heat transfer for all your crafting needs at great prices.

And Canvas People!

Not too bad for a wood craft novice, right?

Do you think you could come up with Makia’s next hit project? Now’s your chance!

*************************************

It’s here! And it’s HUGE…$4422 huge!

A craft contest that will have you earning MONEY for your ideas.

That’s right!

There is $4422 up for grabs.

Makia Creations Craft Contest

Just think of what you could create with that cashola!

Makia Creations is about finding the best ideas and turning them into ‘kits’ that are classy, fun, fresh and easy to assemble.

Makia was designed to help women get their ideas into production. We know you have the creative talent, so let’s get you earning some money for that brain of yours!

Hurry…This contest runs TODAY through March 11. There is no time to waste!!!

If we love your ideas, you just might find YOUR craft:

Produced as a kit (you’ll be earning royalties)

Featured on the Makia Blog

Displayed in homes across America!

Sold in Makia Creations

Happy crafting, and GOOD LUCK!!