DIY Twine Balls

Yoo hoo, bloggers! ;) How are ya'll?! We were hit with some minor setbacks these last two weeks, but we are slowly picking ourselves back up and brushing it off. Adoption hasn't happened yet... was postponed until Monday. We were notified 2 hours before it was to happen, so naturally we had this huge cake we had to eat. Couldn't throw it away right? Hahaha.

Anyway, to ease my frustration, I was finally able to work on some crafts! I've seen these done before and can't remember who did it first, so if you know, please tell me so that I can give credit where credit is due. ;) It all started with an inspiration that I found at GW. A dirty lonely platter seeking a table:

For $4, it was mine. Now, I had someone awhile back leave a rather... rude... comment about how my thrift stores finds seemed pricey. I recently discovered a thrift store on the opposite side of town that priced their items significantly lower. However, since I don't want to be making that 30 minute drive there and back, I will take my over-priced items instead. Thankyouverymuch! To me, the price STILL beats new, store-bought prices.

Anyway, after a couple of coats of some brown spray paint, it looked better:

Remembering the post I read ages ago about creating twine balls, I wrapped some jute and twine around balloons and coated them with my tacky glue spray can.

Once they were dry, I popped the balloon and removed it. The twine looked great and held strong, but the jute turned white and easily lost shape. I purchased that particular twine months ago at the dollar store.

LOVE the crazy looking twine ball, not so much the jute. Throw in some dollar store moss balls, jute wrapped around styrofoam balls I made here, bada bing, bada boom, and you have yourself a cute table centerpiece:

Remember that burlap table runner? I promised I would wait until fall to use it, but I couldn't resist! I blame it on the BHG magazine that was delivered to me today. Did anyone else see it? The fall leaves on the cover? *sigh* Be still my heart...

I had nearly all of these supplies on hand, except for the platter. Total project cost: $4! Yeaaa buddy!

Regrets, I have a few...

Hubby and I are approaching our 1 year anniversary from the day we bought our house. I can remember how envious we were when friends would talk about working on their yard during the summer. We longed for the day we could work on our own yard. Ah, to be young and dumb.

Back in May, we decided that our "major summer redo" would be our front yard. It has an odd layout, pathetic dead grass, and these tiny "lava rocks" that we would kick up whenever we stepped in them. After receiving numerous quotes on what it would cost to get the yard we wanted, we decided to roll up our sleeves, and do the work ourselves. Easy right? Did I mention we live in the desert where temps reach 100 plus in June, July, and August? Did I mention our particular city reached a record drought period? Here is the yard: I can't believe I'm friggin showing this to you

Oh! Did I mention the lone rosemary plant? See those stepping stones? They lead to a corner. A rosemary corner. ???

"Where's the rosemary," you ask? It died when we had a record breaking freeze. Yes, this is the city I live in... record breaking freezes AND droughts in the same year.

Working in the yard has SUCKED! There. I said it. Here is where we are at, and it ain't much:

First, where there is grass, we don't want grass. We wanted to create a divide, where one side would have broken concrete pieces (made to mimic flagstone steps) and the other side would be our desert landscaping.

Using our garden hose (technical work here, people), I laid out the design I wanted for our "wall." Once we were happy with the design, we started digging. We dug about 4 inches deep, and flattened the ground as best we could. Then we started laying in our rocks (reused from the rosemary section of the yard) and making sure it was all level. Lastly, we filled in the gaps with dirt.

Is this how to properly build a wall? Probably not. It works for us and cost nothing. THAT makes me happy. I don't have a photo of what it looks like now. We added a second layer of rocks and planted a Japanese Boxwood at the end of the wall. The plant is nearly dead and I am annoyed.

Any suggestions from readers? Photoshop would be awesome if anyone cares to play around with our yard. Anyone know of some desert plants/trees to save me from a project fail?

T is for Tags

If you've been keeping up with my posts as of late, you have probably read about my latest business venture with Creative Memories. *happy sigh* I think I love them even more now as a Consultant, than before when I was just a customer. I really don't want this blog to turn into a plug for my business, so I will try and limit the amount of posts I have about them.


In this case, I couldn't let this go without sharing it with my fellow money-savers, penny-pinchers, new uses for old thing-ers? ;)


There is this gadget called the TAG MAKER. Oh my word... let me show you how it works and then I promise to explain how it will be a blessing to you all.

Obviously, it's a shape maker that.... makes tags. You insert some heavy cardstock, or scrapbook paper, and out comes a cute tag.

Then, you insert the top of the tag into another slot, and you've got a hole to string ribbon, jute, twine, or whatever you want through it. Simple, right?

Well, this little guy usually goes for $27. BUT, through the month of July (and that is ending very soon) it has been marked at 15% off. That's $20.25 for this tag-for-all-occasions maker!!


For some of you who are thinking, "why do I need a tag maker?" Let me give you some insight into how this will help you save $. You can use it to create tags for:


1) kids' presents (because children don't appreciate a $3 card anyway)
2) CHRISTMAS TAGS (hello! no more itty bitty tiny little stickers. Now the whole families name can fit on there)
3) labels for your herbs/cleaning products/etc.
4) backpack IDs (once you laminate them)
5) VALENTINES DAY exchange cards for kids 
6) and of course, scrapbooking!


Honestly, I know you clever bloggers can come up with more uses. The possibilities are endless once you have the perfect paper to fit the occasion. Personally, when I think of all the kid birthdays we are invited to (church, neighbors, school, family, friends), this gadget pays for itself in one month. Just look at what a friend of mine did with the tag maker:

She created an advent calender for her kids! This tag maker has been a huge hit at my home parties and after purchasing one for myself, I knew I had to share it with you. I'm sorry I took so long to do so. The 15% off sale ends this weekend!  

As an added bonus, just because I love my bloggers so much, I'll throw in an extra gift to the first 3 people who purchase one through my site:


http://www.mycmsite.com/sites/amandarodriguez1


Here is the link to get straight to the shape maker:
http://www.mycmsite.com/sites/amandarodriguez1/Content/Shop/Product.aspx?sku=637571&path=/Hierarchy/Paper%20Scrapbooking/Tools/Cropping%20Tools/Makers%20and%20Punches

Please send me a message too, telling me you processed the order, just in case they come in, out of order. Remember, the first 3 who purchase a tag maker 1) through my site and 2) before July is over, will get an EXTRA GIFT from me. 

OK, there's my small plug. :) Have a great weekend! I've got a home party and then, nothing but home projects. WooHoo!

News from the home front

My toddler is still not potty trained. At what age do Mothers start to say, "oooh. Your child is still in diapers? I see." Maybe if I have a goal in mind this would work better. Potty trained by Christmas? The girl loves her diapers. Especially now that my Mother-in-law bought her those Pampers Prints with little pink flowers all over them. Why would my toddler want to give up those for Ariel undies??? She doesn't even know/like Ariel, Barney, Dora, and all those other cartoons displayed on them.


My Creative Memories business is taking off rather nicely. I gave myself a 30 day goal and I'm thisclose to reaching it. Of course, this also means I have quickly realized that "working at home" can very well turn into a 6 hour work day. I feel like I'm on the computer, phone, and Facebook all the time. Anything to promote a new business right?


With the extra "work hours" I have been putting in, I will indeed be working on some home projects this week as my down time. One of those involves painting my ceiling fans:

Yes, you heard right. Every single ceiling fan in my house is either dated or black. I will be painting them in an attempt to make them look new again. Anyone ever tried this? This week, I have to:


paint 2 black fans
give 4 ceilings a fresh coat of paint (b/c the rooms are all done except for that darn ceiling)
stain a wood mirror frame I found at an estate sale


Has anyone stained anything recently? Any tips for a newbie? I found this pretty mirror at an estate sale for $10 and thought it looked like one Hobby Lobby was selling recently (for $40).

I immediately wanted to paint it white, but then we were given a new dining set. The set is a gorgeous dark wood and now, I want my mirror frame to match it. Any products you recommend for staining?


Finally, thank you, to the ladies who participated in my Newbie Summer Link Party! I enjoyed looking at your ideas/projects and I even met some new people in the process! I'm quickly approaching some milestones with "Mama's Little Ladybugs." I'm almost at 100 friends, I am nearing my 100th post, AND I have been blogging for almost 1 year!!! This is pretty exciting for me as I never expected anyone to give a hoot about what I did. What was created for family only has turned into a huge network of friends. Thank you to the ladies who always leave comments, who have followed my site, and who email me regularly. You have made this so much fun! Hmmm, perhaps a giveaway once I reach each milestone?

Have a great day!

Big News!

ACK! I am so sorry I've been absent from the "land of blog" lately. There have been major developments in our lives that took up all of my free time.

Before I announce my big news, I want to thank all the ladies who are still posting to my Newbie Summer Link Party! There are only 4 days left and you are welcome to post multiple projects!

CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE PARTY!

Speaking of projects, I haven't had a chance to create one single craft. Reason? Well, the first bit of news is that after a year of being an avid digital scrapbooker (word?), I decided to join a business called...

Maybe you've heard of them? I've been using their digital software for over a year now to create some of my scrapbook pages. I love their digital products because everything is stored in my laptop. I don't need a craft table, or scissors, or glue... none of that! Here are some pages I've done in the last year...

My babies at a "pumpkin patch" at a local church.

 Halloween with a cat, a flower, and Mama was a ladybug. ;)

Last day of school for my older baby.

My fireman and I. swoon.

Seriously, I love their products. I enjoy creating special albums for my daughters. Eventually, I signed on knowing that even if I didn't sell a thing, I would be having fun. Thankfully, I have been blessed with generous and supportive friends who made my kick-off weekend a success. If you haven't heard about Creative Memories, you are welcome to visit my site:

http://www.mycmsite.com/sites/amandarodriguez1

or you can message me. I love talking about my job. Really. I do. :D

Now, the second bit of news is pretty exciting and a major factor as to why I haven't been able to craft a thing. On August 9th, my hubby is going to sign ADOPTION PAPERS declaring him the legal parent of my 9-year-old!!! Ever since we married, over three years ago, he has been trying to adopt her.

Our First New Years

I had her at a young age, and her biological dad walked out of our lives when she was 6 months old. She has never known a "Dad." One of the reasons I married my husband, was because he stepped up and took on the role of "Father" without me asking him to.

 He loved her from the start and never hesitated to call her his own child. After three years of battling lawyers, we have come to the end of a painful past and the start of a new family. He's been her Daddy in her heart, but now she gets to have him as her Daddy on paper. She's thrilled that we will all finally have the same last name. ;)

 

So, I hope ya'll can forgive me for the lack of posts. I've got an adoption date to prepare for. I will no doubt be a crying mess that day and will definitely share some adoption pictures with you all! Have a great weekend!