Pom-Pom Bunny

I just couldn't resist this adorable little bunny over at The Crafty Side of Sarcasm. I see whole bunny family in my future!


See the Pom-Pom Bunny.

2015 Spring & Easter Categorically Crafting

Welcome to the

  SPRING & EASTER Categorically Crafting Show  

where you can show off all of your fun ideas for

Spring & Easter!

Please join your crafty post if, and only if, it corresponds with the category and theme of Spring or Easter. We would love to see any craft projects, clothing, décor, activities, gift ideas, or food ideas that correlate with Spring or Easter! (If it doesn't fit in this specific category though, you are welcome to link it up to Whatever Goes Wednesday.) If you have joined a project that fits this theme to a party on my blog before, feel free to add it to this show too! If you have a lot of projects to show off, please choose your favorites. Remember to link to the specific posts, not to your main blog page. This makes it easier for readers to find your awesome ideas.

Let's see what you have created (either recently or in the past)!

This linky will be open until May 15th, 2015, so keep checking back for more inspiration!

You can paste the "Categorically Crafting" button onto your blog post. I would love to see these floating around so more people can post their themed projects. Keep checking back for more ideas!!!

Spring Kite Hoop Art

A Cultivated Nest created this adorable and super easy piece of art that would be so cute for spring. I love the simple kites and burlap together!


See the Spring Kite Hoop Art.

Spring 2014 Categorically Crafting Party

Welcome to the
 

  SPRING Categorically Crafting Show  

where you can show off all of your fun projects for

Spring
 

Please join your crafty post if, and only if, it corresponds with the category and theme of Spring. We would love to see any craft projects, clothing, décor, activities, gift ideas, or food ideas! (If it doesn't fit in this specific category though, you are welcome to link it up to Whatever Goes Wednesday.) If you have joined a project that fits this theme to a party on my blog before, feel free to add it to this show too! If you have a lot of projects to show off, please choose your favorites. Remember to link to the specific posts, not to your main blog page. This makes it easier for readers to find your awesome ideas.

Let's see what you have created (either recently or in the past)!

This linky will be open until May 31st, 2014, so keep checking back for more inspiration!

You can paste the "Categorically Crafting" button onto your blog post. I would love to see these floating around so more people can post their themed projects. Keep checking back for more ideas!!!

Metal Flower Bicycle Wreath

Create.Craft.Love. made this amazing bicycle wheel wreath. You might not be able to tell from the picture, but those flowers are made from metal! How cool!

 

Go see the Metal Flower Bicycle Wreath.

32 Spring Cleaning & Organization Tips & Tricks

 I don't know about you, but I'm able to be more creative (and all around happy) when my house is clean and organized. As hard as I try, and no matter what kind of schedule I *think* I can stick to, I always seem to get behind on the cleaning. I usually get a hankering to do some cleaning and organizing during the spring, so I thought I'd compile some awesome cleaning and organizing tips. And then hopefully I can get back to feeling creative!!

 

NOTE: Some of these tips and tricks I have personally used and tested, but there are some that I haven't. Therefore, I can't attest to the usefulness of all these tips.

 

 

1.Tips for Washing Windows and Window Sills at Ask Anna
2.Clean your Top Loader Washer at One Good Thing By Jillee
3.How To Clean Blinds with Ask Anna
4.Unclog the Washer Drain - Fix Error Code 21 at Angela Says
5.How to Clean Your Dryer at DIY Project-Aholic
6.Reusable Swiffer Pads at Moments with the Montano's
7.DIY Microfiber Cleaning Slippers at Housing a Forest
8.DIY Reusable Floor Wipes at Pop Sugar
9.Clean your BBQ Grill at One Good Thing By Jillee

10.How to Clean Grease Spatters at Ask Anna Moseley 
11.Clean Your Drains Naturally with Family Balance Sheet 
12.Polish Your Stainless Steel Sink at Somewhere in the Middle
13.How To Clean Your Range Filters at Everyday Enchanted
14.The No Scrub Way to Clean Stove Burners at The V Spot
15.How to Clean Refrigerator Coils at Angela Says
16.Easy Homemade Oven Cleaner at One Good Thing By Jillee
17.How to Clean Your Dishwasher at One Good Thing By Jillee
18.Clean Your Pillows at Clean My Space    


We've also got a few spring cleaning tips from our Facebook readers:

Amy Allender says..."I microwave a bowl of water for 3 minutes before cleaning the microwave. All the baked on splatter wipes right off!"
(Amy, I do this too! I've seen things floating around the internet saying to use vinegar, but water works just the same!)

Meredith L. says..."If it's not pretty when it's clean, I won't be motivated to keep it that way! When it looks pretty (i.e. baskets, labels, underlying theme/colors in the decor, nice smells, etc) then I actually enjoy cleaning to keep it looking that way!"

Christie M. says..."My step son actually passed this on to me.. Clean the fans and ac vents then wipe with endust or something similar. It helps keep the dust from sticking. So far it has worked well here, in two months time I can still run a cloth over a fan blade and not see any dust!"

 

1.Closet Organization from Not Just a Housewife 
2.Master Bathroom Organization from Liz Marie 
3.Dry Erase Freezer Inventory for Baby Food Scoops 
4.Garage Organization Tips at I Am Momma Hear Me Roar 
5.DIY Under Sink Storage from Pregnant With Power Tools 
6.Get Organized with Shoe Organizers from Mom on Timeout 
7.Craft Closet Organization from Polish the Stars 

8.Linen Closet Organization from Simplicity in the South 
9.Junk Drawer Organization at Organizing Made Fun 
10.Toy Organization 101 with The Organized Parent 
11.Toy Organization in a Closet with Housewife Eclectic 
12.Gift Wrap Storage from The Country Chic Cottage  13.Shower Organization from Designed By Dawn Nicole 
14.Organizing Photo Prints with I Heart Organizing     

Now that you've seen some of my favorite tips, what are some of your cleaning and organization ideas? We'd love to hear them!! If you've blogged about your favorites, feel free to share the link with us! :)

Simple Spring Bunting Made from Napkins

 

Spring has sprung, but it's not too late to decorate. Especially if you're using something as cheap and easy as napkins! I think I'm in love with this spring bunting from The Happy Housie! Adorable!

 

Find out more about the Simple Spring Bunting Made from Napkins.

 

 

Looking for more Spring decor ideas? Check out the Spring Categorically Crafting Party!

Glitter Spring Blocks

 

These adorable spring blocks from Crafting in the Rain would be the perfect little touch to any shelf or mantle. So warm and inviting - they make me think of spring!

 

Find out how to make these Glitter Spring Blocks.

Spring Sketch Pen Subway Art + New Silhouette Promotion

 Silhouette America was generous enough to send me a 24 pack of Sketch Pens. How awesome is that?!

Look at all these beautiful colors! It's hard to tell, but some of them are even glittery and metallic!

The Sketch Pen Starter Kit includes the following colors: Black (x2), white, lavendar, red, light blue, blue, neon pink, neon orange, neon green, neon yellow, glitter magenta, glitter gold, glitter bronze, glitter peach, metallic plum, metallic lavendar, metallic maroon, metallic navy, metallic light blue, metallic green, metallic charcoal, metallic grey, & metallic copper. That's a LOT of colors!! And, as a bonus with the 24 pack, you get a download card redeemable for 10 exclusive sketch designs!!

 

 

I've been thinking about what I should do for this project for a couple of weeks now. I'm not really big into card making - too much work for my taste. We don't have a color printer anymore, so I was curious to see how these would work for something like subway art. And, I think they stood up to the test pretty well.

 

Since I used some images from the online Silhouette Studio shop, I can't ethically give you all the file to sketch/print it yourself, but I can tell you how I created so that you can create your own.

 

I used the following online Silhouette Studio shop images:

- The Frame is the Sketch Chalkboard Frame

- The Chick comes from the Easter Shapes bundle

- The Bunny comes from the 4 Easter Sketch Design bundle

 

I also used the following fonts:

- Pea Stacy Fancy

- Bernard MT Condensed

- DK Carte Blanche

- Centeria Script Demo

- Neo Retro Draw

- Vladimir Script

- Stephanie Dots

 

A couple notes on this project. It took way longer than necessary. I designed it all, saved it, and came back the next day to sketch it. But somehow in the saving process, it had made it so I couldn't separate the words and images. Even after trying to ungroup and releasing the compound paths, it was just way too much trouble. So instead, I redesigned the whole thing and cut it as I designed. Also, if you want it to just be the same color, then you can just design it all and send it to sketch. If you want the different colors, then you can use my method. Another thing, I found I got better, consistent sketching results if I set the machine to "Double Cut". It will just double sketch everything in this case. Much better.

 

1. I measured my frame so I could know exactly how big to make the frame. To fit inside my 8x10 frame, I resized the frame design to as close to 9.75x7.75 as I could get it.

 

2. This is where you start placing your words and images. After your artwork is complete, move all of the images and words off of the cutting mat area, click the Trace button, and use the trace feature. Be sure to change our your blade for the sketch pen. Send it to the Silhouette and watch the magic. When it's done sketching, DON'T take the paper and mat out of the machine. Just leave it there. Trust me. If you take it out each time, your designs will be all skeewompus.

 

 

 

3. This is where the project gets a little repetitive. Undo all the moving you just did, choose the next piece to sketch, change your pen color, and send it to the Silhouette. Repeat this process for as many colors as you're going to use. And again, LEAVE THE PAPER AND THE MAT IN THE MACHINE BETWEEN SKETCHES.

 

4. Once you've run through all your designs and colors, cut your paper down to fit inside your frame and admire your beautiful work.

 

 

 

Want to get in on the Sketch Pen action? Silhouette knew you would, so they're running an awesome special for all of the Someday Crafts readers.

 

 

 You can get any of the following discounts by using the code "SOMEDAY":

 

- Silhouette CAMEO and the Sketch Pen Starter Kit for $269.99

-Silhouette Portrait and the Sketch Pen Starter Kit for $139.99

-Sketch Pen Starter Kit for $12.99

 

Wahoo!!!

 

 This promotion ends on March 31st, 2013, so you better act fast! I absolutely love my Silhouette machine and I know you would too!!

Creative Cake Stand

 

Circus Berry used mason jar lids and paper straws to create this absolutely adorable cupcake stand. Doesn't it just scream spring!? Now if only the weather would take the hint... ;)

 

Check out this Creative Cake Stand.