Thursday, February 9, 2012

BFF Open House Link Party #40 and BFF I Should Be Mopping The Floor !

In some ways, like the time between parties, the weeks just go faster and faster. In others ( ie work ..smile) they draaag on.

Let’s focus on the positive and meet this week’s BFF Kristi from ( and I both love and need to do her blog name) “I Should Be Mopping The Floor”. The rest of it goes : “But instead I’m pulling out the glue gun”.  Who can’t relate to that?

Kristi is a former event planner, part time graphic designer, full time wife, and mom to two boys. And she’s quite the creative genius. You may recall her re-purposed Keurig K Cup turned Valentine’s box I featured from last week’s party. Here are a few of her other awesome creations.
Photobucket
Love this painted and distressed coffee table that started out as a Cragslist find.
Got Mod Podge and aluminum foil? Cover a lamp base!
And you’ve got to see the incredible Toy Story themed birthday party she did:
Photobucket
Or the super Mario Cart racetrack cake she made for her older son’s birthday party. I want Kristi to throw me a party!
Photobucket
She’s got so much more including some great free printables, recipes, and hosts a weekly link party on Mondays called Mop It Up Mondays. I hope you’ll go visit!

Now, what’s everyone been up to this week? Please link to your specific post and no ads or shops please. Party On!



Field Trip: Shipwreck Beads

While Mr. C may tease me about my craft stash and how excited I can get over a new product or technique, he is extremely supportive of my creative pursuits. He’s surprised me with trips to favorite places and understands when we travel that I’ll have a list of paper / bead / art supply stores wherever we go.

We had gorgeous weather last weekend and we decided to go for a drive. He asked “Do you want to go to your bead place” which is about 90 min away from us. “Bead place” sounds like it might be a nice little bead store right? WRONG! In this case, it refers to  bead Disneyland, aka Shipwreck Beads, a HUGE bead supplied located in Lacey, WA. I think they do most of their business online but they have a ginormous retail warehouse. So you know my answer was YES PLEASE!

IMG_0440

These pics don’t do the place justice.It’s located in a warehouse / office park and it's wall to wall beads, findings, packaging, etc. Gemstones, sterling, pewter, Czech fire polished, seed beads, wire, chain, tools, findings, you name it. If there’s something associated with beading or jewelry making they have it.

IMG_0441

I’m always overwhelmed whenever I go there because every time I’ve been they’ve added more.

IMG_0445

One thing I love is that whether you’re buying in bulk or for a specific project, they offer almost everything by the piece / strand to huge quantities.

IMG_0447

They even have an area where those not shopping can sit and wait, as well as a cafĂ© and espresso bar in case you’re there so long you need to refuel.

IMG_0444

It’s very easy to become overwhelmed but you will not leave empty handed. Of course I didn't!

IMG_0443

I stocked up on some things I’ll use all the time like jump rings, spacer beads, Jablonex and Preciosa crystals, and then a few things for a specific upcoming project. I’m good for a while!

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Monster Birthday Card

I don’t often get the chance anymore to make kids cards, so I had fun making this birthday card for my nephew. 
Monster Birthday
I created the focal piece of the card using both My Memories Suite and Printshop Deluxe. I’m having a lot of fun with digital software.
Monster Birthday Closeup
Embellished this little guy’s spots with iridescent Stickles to make him more “scaley”.
KCo Birthday Hat
Finished with a layered accent party hat and coordinating scrapbook stickers from K and Co.
Monster Closeup

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

$25 Giveaway from Sneakpeeq!

I’m excited to share a fun giveaway with you all today! Have you heard of sneakpeeq? No? Well you have now!

sneakpeeq logo

Sneakpeeq is the largest and fastest growing social shopping company on Facebook. They  have over 300,000 users to date and are rapidly growing, strategically partnering with 600+ brands in the fashion/home decor/gourmet food categories.

Each day you get recommendations of things to sneak a peeq at, you'll see the retail price, and then you get to peeq  at a special price being offered. The items are only available for a short period of time and when they’re gone, they’re gone.

Here’s one of my peeqs that I might need to get for my son’s college roommate who has a little trouble getting up in the morning.
Nanda Clocky (Red)
It’s an alarm clock that runs away so you have to get up to get it!

Dangerous for me is that they have tons of chocolate ! I mean LOTS of chocolate!
Seth Ellis   Dark & Mint Chocolate
So here’s the fun part. The folks at sneakpeeq are offering one of my readers the chance to win a $25 gift card usable at their site.
sneakpeakgiftcard25

In addition, everyone who signs up will receive 20% to new sneakpeeq users.
20% image

Here are the rules:

  • Enter the giveaway by clicking on this link: http://bit.ly/xoX4VZ and joining sneakpeeq (Sneakpeeq’s rules)
  • You will get 20% off just for entering.
  • Only new sneakpeeq users can enter the giveaway
  • 1 grand prize winner will receive the $25 gift card
  • Sneakpeeq  giveaways are currently limited to the U.S.
  • Leave a comment on this post telling me that you've entered

The giveaway will be open for two weeks and will close on Tuesday February 21 with the winner announced on Wednesday February 22.
 
Have fun “peeqing” and good luck!





This is a sponsored post; all opinions are mine

Monday, February 6, 2012

BFF Open House Link Party #39 Wrap Up and Features!

I hope everyone had a great weekend! There were once again some incredible ideas shared at Friday’s link party. I continue to be amazed at the creativity out there! Here are just a few highlights:

If you’re the owner of a Keurig coffee maker, save the boxes your K cups come in and make a cute storage container like Kristi from I Should Be Mopping The Floor ( me too) did for Valentine’s Day:

And wouldn’t this shabby chic dishtowel from Bev at Flamingo Toes look great hanging next to it , or could go inside it as a fun gift!

Since we’re getting close to Valentine’s Day, chocolate has to be involved right? You just have to be careful not to eat this fun chocolate play dough from Blue Skies Ahead which would be an alternative to sweets to give the kids:

You can definitely eat these gorgeous chocolate heart filled peanut butter cookies from Jenn at Rook No. 17:

You have to see the genius trick she used to create the heart imprint!

And be still my chocolate and peanut butter loving heart with these Peanut Butter Cup Brownies In A Jar from Tonia at The Gunny Sack:
Peanut Butter Cup Brownies In A Jar
Oh. My. YUM!

Finally, I adore this piece of altered art from Doreen at Altered Artworks, inspired by a famous line from the movie Jerry McGuire: You had me at hello.


Thanks to everyone who linked up and hope to see you all again on Friday! Make it a creative week!!

Thursday, February 2, 2012

BFF Open House Link Party#39 and BFF Pitter and Glink!

OK it’s February already! YIKES how did that happen? We’ve still got Valentine’s Day ahead of us (THE chocolate holiday of the year!) and I keep seeing the cutest ideas out there. Which brings me to this week’s BFF: Bethany from Pitter and Glink!

Bethany has got some adorable Valentine’s ideas on her blog, By day, she teaches literature to High School students, something I’m sure is as challenging as it is rewarding. Then she comes home to her wonderful hubs and fur baby and makes fun and beautiful things like these cute crochet thread pendants:


These go right along with the adorable heart shaped earrings she made from PAPER CLIPS!


Of course Bethany does more than just Valentine’s projects. I adore this curio shelf makeover she did…so 
elegant!



And I love this side table she did over using sewing patterns:


Bethany has got great, detailed, tutorials and you can check these and more lovely projects out on her prokject gallery page. I hope you’ll go over and visit.

Now let’s see what everyone’s been up to this week. Please link up anything that’s been made by you. Papercrafts, cards, layouts, DIY, upcycle, re-purpose, home dec, sewing, jewelry, recipes you name it! Just no ads or shops please and won’t you go visit at least one other person? Party On!



Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Valentine's Treats for College Kids

I used to love doing treats for class parties etc. when my son was in Elementary school.

Middle and High School provided fewer opportunities but surprisingly, College has brought them back!

P1314186
I think it’s because he and a lot of his dorm group are away from home and it’s fun to receive things in the mail, but also now that they’re actually older, they don’t have to pretend like this stuff is just too “kiddie” for them.

I decided to go with a turquoise and red color combo. Still not totally traditional for Valentine’s Day and incorporates a current color combo trend.

Making Memories Valentines

The tags for the goodie bags were made from a printable I created using My Memories Suite digital software. I resized the image and then trimmed the corners into a tag shape.

Valentine's Care Package (2)

I bought several different candies…Nerds, Smarties, Reeses Hearts, Hershey’s Hugs and Kisses etc. Oh darn...there may be extras!

Hugs and Kisses Card

I changed the printable size and used it on a card I made for my son, and also made him a special grab bag. I thought I had some bigger clear bags ( I can be a little OCD about everything coordinating!) but didn’t, so improvised with a brown paper lunch bag:

Brown Paper Package Valentines

Embellised with misc. stickers from my stash and tied all of the bags with red and turquoise bakers twine ( Twinery).

Brown Paper Packages Valentines

Sharing the printable here :

Hugs and Kisses-001

Sharing At: