Good news!  You can click on over all day long for 40% off Michaels coupons on the blog (up top and on the sidebar)!

What’s your craft supply store of choice?  Mine is Michaels.  I’m not getting paid to say that…it’s true.  Let me tell you why:

• I can get there in under 7 minutes.
  Their hours are longer than the other choices in my area.  (Maybe it’s just me that always runs out of something at 8:45pm?)
  They carry lots and lots of Martha Stewart goodness.
• I thought it’d be fun for me to share the top 5 things I buy at Michaels, so I made a list of 6. 
• Ready?
• Frames:  Michael’s has a great selection of frames.  They’re always my first stop, whether I’m looking for oval shaped frames for my kids’ silhouettes or giant frames for movie posters for the theater room.
• 

• Cardstock:  Pretty much any time you see a project involving cardstock ‘round these parts, that cardstock came from Michaels.

• 

• Chalkboard markers:  You all know I love the wet erase chalkboard markers, right?  I’ve talked about them before.  I get them at Michael’s.

• 

• Origami paper:  What?  You didn’t know I bought origami paper?  Well, I do.  And Michaels has by far the best selection…TONS of patterns to choose from.  A stack of paper and an origami book from the library will keep my older kids busy for HOURS.  Plus, it gives them something to do with the program at church.    Our favorite thing to make is a crane.  I found some directions here.

• Tracer Jr. Projector:  When I was looking for a projector to work on my Utah Jazz Mural, I found it at Michaels.

• 

• Martha Stewart Glitter:  If you’re gonna use glitter, USE MARTHA GLITTER.  (And her glittering glue is fabulous as well.)  It comes in like a zillion colors and I love how fine it is.

• 

• 

• So, there’s my Michaels top 5 6.

  If for some reason, you don’t see Michaels ads, you can still click here to get a 40% off coupon!

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It’s that time again…Silhouette promo time!

I’ll give you the details up front:

A Silhouette SD
1 package white flocked heat transfer material
1 package teal smooth heat transfer material
1 package dark pink smooth heat transfer
All for $219!

Or, if you already have a machine, take 25% off all heat transfer material.

As always, use code “CRAP” to take advantage of the savings from May 17th –25th.

Here’s a link directly to the machine bundle.

Want to see what I made with the heat transfer they sent me?

It’s a skirt (more on that later this week…SUPER simple tutorial, another reason you’ll want to make one).

I used the heat transfer to add the detailing.

(The yellow was from another project and Macy’s request.)

I’m flying home from Kentucky today.  Last night we went to Churchill Downs.  Here’s a shot of Lorie and me on the bus in our Derby hats:

See you soon!

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So, I’m here safely in Kentucky enjoying the GE Momsperience.

21C has quite possibly THE NICEST staff in the history of the world.

And did I mention the place is fabulous?

Because it is.

And tonight we made Derby hats, with the assistance of some lovely ladies from Dee’s Crafts.  Janice was especially helpful…just ask Lorie (who was pretty much the first one to start and pretty much the last one to finish).

You’ll see more of the hats, I promise, but I’ll let you have a peek at mine:

(My dress is on the left.)

Fun times, for sure.

Silhouette promo tomorrow.  Watch for it.

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Whilst I was at Abode, I picked up this beauty:

It’s a wallpaper sample book.  At first look, it was frightening.

But, the more I thought about it, the more I thought I could make something fabulous.  The result?

Wallpaper Pennant Bunting

Supplies:

Wallpaper
Double fold bias tape
Sewing machine
Pennant template (you can make it whatever size you want, but I’m including mine for those who are feeling especially lazy)

I’m sure you’ve seen this general concept before, so this will be brief.

Cut out pennant shapes from your wallpaper.

Bias tape has one side slightly shorter than the other.

You want the short side on top.

I like to leave about a 4” tail on the bias tape for hanging purposes.

Stitch the pennant pieces inside the bias tape.  I used a long straight stitch but a zig zag would be cute, too.

When you get to the end of that piece, put another one in.  Continue until you reach your desired length.

Add another one, if you want.

The perfect finishing touch?

This printable from the girls at eighteen25.

‘Scuse me whilst I go stare at my mantel for a bit.

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I guest posted on the blog for a local consignment store (Abode) a while back and thought I’d share the post here, too.

The header on my blog says “sometimes it’s amazing and sometimes it’s just crap”. I’m mentioning that because my project went through several stages of CRAP and it’s not at all what I had in mind. And I ripped off the awesome wallpaper in a fit of insanity. Don’t you worry…I’ve got other plans for that wallpaper.

So, if you’re a regular Abode shopper, I’m sure you already know this. If you’re not, pay close attention. There’s a room way back in the back full of all kinds of random junk. Go to that room and start digging. And don’t wear tippy heels.

What are you looking for?

Shutters.

I love shutters!!!

I used to have an awkward hole above my fireplace where random neighbor children would play. (OK, so the one on the left is mine.)

I suppose I could have put a TV up there, but then I would have had to listen to it. So, what’s a girl to do?

Shutter up, that’s what.

These particular shutters started out like this:

I removed the hardware and spray painted them Key Lime. Then I roughed them up and used a glaze to tone down the crazy.

They provide a great backdrop for my obsessive mantel decorating tendencies. See?

Christmas

Valentine’s Day

St. Patrick’s Day

Spring/Easter

So, what if you don’t find a whole set of shutters the perfect height and just find one or two instead?

I picked up these old drapery hooks at Abode:

They sat perfectly on top of the slats of my shutter.

You could use them for keys:

or to hang some little buckets on:

I think this would be fabulous in an office holding supplies or in a kitchen with potted herbs. What about one big bucket in the center with some sort of flowers? Cute, right?

So, go to the back room at Abode (1720 S 900 E in Sugar House, 11-2 Tuesday-Friday & 11-6 Saturday ).

Find some shutters.

Don’t be afraid to paint them.

Hang stuff on them.

Live happily ever after.

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***UglySofa.com is giving all of you (48 contiguous states) FREE SHIPPING for 24 hours only!  Use code “crapivemade” to take advantage of the deal NOW!***

In the past, I’ve posted the winners and screen shots, right?

That’s not happening anymore.

Why?

WordPress has a plugin for that.  (I still don’t get it either, so don’t ask me to explain )

I click on some magic buttons and WordPress picks winners for me and then I click a few more buttons and it emails them for me.  Sweet, right?

So, the names of the winners are: Jennifer, Sarah E., and Leanne.  Go check your email if that could be you!

I also had WordPress pick new winners for the Woombie and Imaginisce giveaways.  They were old contests, from before the switch, so I couldn’t click the magic buttons to have them notified via email.

The new Woombie winner is The Knapps.

The new Imaginisce winner is Heather (goldiecar).

You two will need to email me ASAP at [email protected] to claim your prizes!

And, guess who I met last night!

AMY FRICKIN’ BUTLER!

She was delightful and didn’t even act weirded out when I asked her about modifying one of her patterns to make it a dress.  You know…like I’m someone important or something and have the right to do that.  She was also kind enough to sign this for her biggest fan, aka Neighbor Jami:

Fun night, with some of my favorite local bloggers!

Today I have a kid home sick.  I think that might be the perfect excuse to make something!

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Remember how I told you I made something?

This is it:

I LOVE monograms, but C is officially THE most boring letter for a monogram in the history of monograms.  And, the room it’s going in has a horse trough for a coffee table, so a regular old C in a frame wasn’t going to cut it.  I needed something with a little “kick”.

I took a regular old Hobby Lobby frame and spray painted it glossy orange.  Good start, but it still needed a little more oomph!

The background is green, cut with my Silhouette, but I suspect I could have found a patterned paper that would have worked just as well.  However, I would have had to put pants without an elastic waistband and shoes on for that, so…

The C is the lowercase one from JFFerrule.  I cut that with my Silhouette as well.  It’s one lone letter, so you could for sure cut it out with scissors if you’re not Silhouette inclined.  And then I used spray adhesive to mount everything to a white backing paper.

Cute with my Target lamp (which is currently marked down to $18!), right?

Do you like monograms?

Do you have any on display in your home?

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1.  You can still enter to win one of THREE name brand (Lottery Yarn) slipcovers from UglySofa.com on this post through tomorrow.

2.  I have not heard from the Woombie or Imaginisce winners.  I’ll redraw and post those later today.

3.  Do you want to come to SNAP! ?  We’re giving away a full conference pass.  The contest starts Wednesday.  Go here for the details.

4.  Have I mentioned that I’m going to Kentucky this weekend for the GE Momsperience?  It’s true…I won the chance to accompany the fabulous Lorie from Be Different Act Normal and I’m GIDDY.

5.  In case you missed it on Facebook, Neighbor Jami had her sweet baby Lucy early yesterday morning!

6.  I ACTUALLY MADE SOMETHING LAST NIGHT.  I think the funk has lifted!

Got anything good going on this week?

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(See why I’m calling it that from my pal Lara over at LCMF)

I got all “deep” last year.

This year?  Nope. 

This year I want you to meet some people.

My step mom, me, my dad’s mom, my sister (yes I am aware we look nothing alike), and Macy down in front.

Me, my mom’s mom, my mom, and Macy down in front again…4 generations of crazy broads.  Just kidding, Mom.  You’re normal.  Ish.

How fortunate and blessed am I to be 35 years old and still have both of my grandmas living?  Getting to know your grandparents as an adult is a fabulous thing that most people don’t have the privilege of experiencing.

And you know what?  Sometimes there’s a silver lining in divorce.  I’m a big believer that people come into your life when you need to know them and that there’s never a trial without something good to help you get through said trial, even if you don’t recognize it as the “good thing” at the time.  My sister and I joke that we’re thankful for divorce and teen pregnancy, because we needed to be sisters.  And when everyone can put their differences aside?  More people to love your kids, and kids can never have too many people that love them, right?  (Random story alert:  One year we threatened Macy with no Santa if she didn’t shape up.  She said “That’s OK, I have enough grandmas and grandpas!”…7grandmas and 4 grandpas at the time!)

So, take a minute today to thank someone that’s helped and supported you on this mothering journey, will ya?

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Do any of you get insane when you don’t sleep?

I do…like friggin’ CRAZY.

And I’ve lost a sleep over this here blog this week.  Who knew I cared so much, right?

But, I do.  And this whole WordPress switcheroo made me lose 4000 subscribers.  And I cried.  A lot.  And I was short with my kids.  And I was short with BC. And I cried some more.  And I drank A LOT of Diet Coke to combat the fact that I wasn’t sleeping.  (At one point during a conference call about Snap! I may have demanded that we have a soda fountain at the conference next year.)

All over a blog.

Yesterday, I threw my hands up in the air and walked away.  I went on a preschool field trip with my 2 littlest ones.

I got a little sunburn.

And I felt joyful.

So today we’re ditching preschool and having lunch with friends.

I’ll be back with some crap soon (Neighbor Jami’s window treatments and crib bedding are finished, I just need pictures), but this girl needs to recharge.

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