Remember 9-11

Remember...

For the almost 3000 people who died 10 years ago...mothers, fathers, daughters, sons, brothers, sisters, friends. For those who lost their lives due to hijacked planes that crashed in New York, Virginia, and Pennsylvania; people from many nations, faiths and backgrounds.

Remember...

For those deeply affected by the loss of their loved ones and are still trying to live their lives after the devastation of that day.  For those who may not have known someone personally who perished but still mourn the terror that was inflicted upon our country and our hearts that day. 

Remember...

The way our country united together in a way that was unlike anything we had ever seen in this lifetime. We wore our patriotism with pride and we all seemed to pass one another...though strangers...with a smile and recognition that we were in this together. The way our country is supposed to be.

Remember...

As life moves further from this day there is a tendency for that same strong conviction to fade...but we can still endeavor to uphold the strength of the United States of America through prayer and a united front.

Remember.

♥

Guest Posting Today at Eighteen 25!

Happy Saturday Friends!

Just wanted to let you know that I am guest posting at Eighteen 25's annual Spooktacular today.  

I am beyond honored to be asked to participate with the INSPIRING and AMAZING group of bloggers contributing to this month long series.

So if you would like...peek in on this little DIY Fabric Birdcage for some lovely Fall decor!

I have Never Done a Jewelry Craft...So Be Gentle!

Do any of you incredibly creative and crafty people suffer from the same ailment that I have?

It's called..."I can SO make that-ITIS." 

I see things and I am convinced I can make not only the exact same way but maybe even better. 

Wow.  Talk about my BIG crafty head.

Here's what happened.  I am in a cute store.  Francesca's.  

Know it?  

It's kinda like poor man's Anthropologie in bite size form. Love. 

Anyway...I adore all the jewelry...funky and fun.  I spotted some earrings that had fabric ruffles on them.  Loved the concept but they were kind of busy looking.  So I was inspired by the idea but wanted to change it around.  No clear vision mind you.  I just wanted ruffles and maybe some fun color. 

But where to begin? 

I did not want to purchase jewelry making stuff since I have no idea what I am doing.

 But the other day, I'm at Walmart and found these inexpensive earrings perfect for my first try.

 So I got to work to give these ultra, blindingly shiny, metal things some personality and flair.

They turned out so cute...until I PUT THEM ON.  

It looked exactly like I spray painted and sewed ruffles to a pair of inexpensive earrings.

In 1984. And kept them.

Stellar.

But how cute would it be as a necklace? 

Oh, I think this actually could work!  

I think I have to rework this a bit.  I have never, ever made a necklace for myself to wear.  I'm just a see, like, and buy it kind of girl. Consider this my bling practice run.

Still...it is fun to be creative and share it with you.  Even if it is a bit of a craft fail I'm going to wear it proud. :)

Do you ever have any funny craftastrophe's?  Tell me I am not alone.:)

Hugs!

♥

First Day of School!

Just had to share with all of you precious friends! :)

Visit Becky Lee's blog for these fabulous digi school freebies to download. 

Feature: Amy J. from Delightful Distractions

I'm sure you have noticed my blog recently got a tiny makeover with my new happy banner.  Well I am excited to introduce you to the lovely Amy J. from Delightful Distractions who made it for me!

Amy started following my blog a little while back and as always...I need to peek in everyone's blog who decides to follow me....and the moment I did...I was hooked.

Amy's incredible blog is chock full of her incredible sense of style, graphic design skills, and inspiration galore.  Plus...she exudes oodles of friendliness and warmth in her writing voice with her transparent posts.

Oh and read her twins story but grab a box of tissues. An incredible testimony and her faith encourages me so much.

After seeing some of her Etsy shop and graphic design talent I was completely in love!  I knew we shared some of the same design tastes.  She combines a delightful merging of a love for vintage with a fresh modern feel.  I am in such awe of her skills which prompted me to ask her if she had ever considered blog design.

When she decided to work with me I felt like it was Christmas morning!  I can't tell you how happy I am with my perfect banner and buttons.  I love how they illustrate my love of garlands, birds, and lots of color! It makes me happy every time I see it! And for icing on the cake...she was amazing to work with...so patient and really saw my style immediately!

I admire her work so much like the above nursery prints using scripture verses.  If I ever have another baby these will certainly grace the nursery walls! :)

She is also VERY crafty and I absolutely love how she shows us how to make our own washi tape out of mailing labels using one of her many lovely free printables.

Oh and these adorable printable menus to play restaurant with the kiddos!

Or these perfectly sweet labels that I used for the girl's picnic party!

 And such brilliance sharing ideas like using old books as picture frame mats covered in fabric!

Now if that does not speak to my fabric loving heart...I don't know what does!

And her decor style...oh be still my heart!  Fresh vintage style again.  I love Amy's idea to cover those chrome legged kitchen chairs with a vintage tablecloth that her mother in law helped cover. Brilliant!  Or her daughter's gorgeous bedroom!  Seriously, I could stare at her blog all day.

Please say hello to the lovely Amy.  

I promise you won't be disappointed. 

P.S.  She even has an awesome new chore chart printable.  

 See?  

Oodles of awesomeness.

And Amy?  

Thank you so very much for making my blog pretty. :)

I am thrilled to share you with so many of my other friends who I'm sure will just love your blog like I do. :)

Fall Flashback

I promise I have not been trapped under something heavy in my absence.  I seriously have so many behind the scenes things I have been working on...various projects that I hope to share with you soon. I have even been...ready?  Organizing and decorating my new...CRAFT/HOMESCHOOL ROOM! 

Oh the bliss of it all. ♥

Not to mention school starts for my oldest and both my girls are playing soccer.  I am just plain old busy.

But I figured I could share some crafts I did last year for Fall. It's my favorite, most happy inducing time of year!  But being in sunny Florida I gotta put forth the effort to make it feel like Fall. I even make it smell all cinnamony. Or sporting the fake pumpkins outside (boo to that). Real ones would be a squishy mess in a week. I should call the Fall decor inside of my house "Autumn Erupted" or something. 

And I do get real pumpkins at the pumpkin patch and put them inside. I need the real pumpkins.

Yarn Leaf Mobile

But this one is probably once of my most favorite crafts. I love anything that has to do with yarn and I even have one in the works coming to you soon. :)

And incidentally...this craft is in this year's 100 days of Holidays at Parents.com.  I always feel weird mentioning features in a post but I had this post going already so I figured I might as well mention it. :)

Apple Plates

I was one of the room mom's for Cati's class last year and got to do the parties. The first one I did was an apple theme.  I think fruit themed decorating has untapped happiness potential. :) These are just regular dollar store plates and I used white, green, and tan card stock to make them into apples and a little sharpie for the seeds.

Apple Garland

Who would not love a pom pom apple and some twine with paper leaves? Simple too.

You can check out those crafts posts here.

Apple Cupcakes

These were made with a combination of cake icing and cookie icing (to make them look like shiny apples) pretzels for the stems, and RIPS candy cut into leaves. Peek in on this one here.

Hope this leaves you with a little bit of inspiration (even though they are oldies but goodies) and to assure you that I am still here doing my crafty thing.  

Hugs!

"TEA"cher Gift: Pencil Coaster with Coffee Mug

Hey friends!  I have missed you!

The first thing on my craft agenda is this cute gift for Cati's kindergarten teacher. For those of you new to reading my blog, Cati attends a small Christian school where she attend 3 days a week and then I homeschool her 2 days a week.  The school is set up this way and all the families follow this curriculum with their children.  We love it. And because we are a small school, we all know each other and Cati already knows her teacher and she knows her.  Which is NICE!

So I happen to know that her teacher is an avid scrapbooker and appreciates a little creativity. I decided to make her a gift just to bless her as we come back to school to start the new year.  I for one appreciate all the hard work teachers invest and I want her to know we appreciate and pray for her.