A Crafter's Outing without Children

WOW, did I get to have a day, Yesterday! A big THANK YOU to my mother-in-law, who watched my 3 kids for the morning, so I could run around town. This was not one of my ordinary missions, this was special! I was searching for a missing part to one of my sewing machines.

Ohh, I went to all kinds of places, seen beautiful things and met wonderful people!

For an isolated, stay at home mom, as me, it was like spending the day in a foriegn land that you have distant memories of, a world beyond wal-mart! LOL!


So, searching for a component to a very special sewing machine, sent me to a Quilt shop in town, but I did not get a very nice impression and I was told I would have to wait (AT THE DOOR!), well if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all!


So moving on! I went to "A Stitch Connection", just north of Midway on US 41!
They were awesome!!!!!! I got the ankle for the machine and ordered my parts! I left there ready to sew!

You have got to stop in there sometime, if you have never been. The items they sell and the classes are amazing. They had a class in there at the time with 3 young girls (age ~12 years). They can help you learn about using your machines. But most of all, they are all about helping !!!!!!! http://www.astitchconnection.com/


Moving South on US41, I had to stop into Just Scrappin'. I was hoping to see the lovely Diane and Joanne, who I have not seen in about a year. But I got the privilage of meeting, Miss Dixie and her adoreable granddaughters! I was so excited when I learned that Miss Joanne has a SWARM at the end of each month! Check out their schedule at http://www.justscrappinllc.com/


SWARM: For those none cricket owners and the rest of you who had no idea, scrapbookers crop together. But the cricket machines act like typical crickets and swarm together!


Shh. her is a stamp set I really loved, that I seen there! I will have to see if Stampin' Up will have one like it or I might have to break down and get the whole set!



From there, I did pit stop at the honey baked Ham Company! Alright my fellow penny pinchers and pincher enveyist, relax! I did not buy a $50 ham, but I did buy a $5 ham bone with plenty of meat left on it!

You have got to have black-eyed peas for New Years! With a Honey Baked Ham bone and a bag of frozen peas, it's easy! I did learn that you can get a bag of scraps for $2!!!! That $2 bag was about 2 lbs! 2lbs of HONEY BAKED HAM!! can we say yummo!


Ohh I am almost home, were did I stop next! Aunties Quilt Shop in Punta Gorda. I did buy an 1/8th yard of this and that for my apron! I know I said wouldn't buy another yard until. BUT I USED IT!

Well I got this cool little YO-YO tool! So I made my first yo-yo, so easy, look at my bling-bling apron!

They offered classes too! You have to stop in for a list, but the one I want to do is the Baskets & Bowls for $20. Take a look at it! It takes about a yard of fabric and you use clothesline to make it! I love it! We will see if I can get a babysitter! Give them a call for their class schedule! 941-575-0005


So I guess this is really my first review of what is happening around town! Be aware! I might stop in and see you, if I have no kids with me. If you hve any suggestions on places I can go visit in the Charlotte County, Desoto County area! Send me the info! I love an adventure.

MY bling bling craft apron

Here is my apron! I love it! I took the inspiration for the colors from the allsorts blog - go check it out! I made the pockets to hold swaps for the stampin' Up! Regionals. Finished at 2 AM!

Deer in camo Craft Apron - #1

Here is my first apron! This one is for the most awesome cropper organizer in TOWN, Tracy Croy! I even added a little embellishment! Some extra camo for my camo addict friend!

Mine's next! I am planning mine to help me out with swapping at Regionals in a couple weeks.

I plan to have a little pam-pams to mine!

The wedding Gift - Completed

Here it is all wrapped up! Do you love the tissue paper? Their last name started with a M.

I stamped the candle to go wth it. Decorated the bag to match.

This Weeks menu and Groceries! - just for you Tracy!

Alright, I started by taking inventory of the kitchen and the loot I got this month from Angel Foods. Then I looked at the weekly adds. Not a lot jumped out. So this was the menu I came up with:
Breakfast: assortment of cereals (got the other week for about a $1 a box), 1/2 doz donuts ($2), and 1 box of pop-tarts (wal-mart brand)
Lunch: Sandwiches, soup, left-overs, chips

Dinner Menu:
Monday: Chicken & Dumplins with Collards - Collards in pantry, Margaret Holmes heat-n-serve $1 can, chicken from Angel Food box

Tuesday: Chili dogs and Mac-n-Cheese - hot dogs & Mac (angel food), chili sauce ($0.42/can), Cheese had from last week, hot dog buns (day old bread store)

Wednesday - Christmas Eve: Order in Cearaba's large party order - Chicken Marsela, Mash potatoes for 12 servings, plus the bread and oil for $100 w/o tax - right now you can get a free $20 gift card for purchasing a $100 gift card. I have 3 Caesar salad mixes & green beans.

Thursday - christmas Day - Family's house - I bring a cake and we get to take home left-overs.

Friday - Spaghetti with Texas Garlic Toast

Saturday- Left overs

Sunday - Roast with vegetables and rice ( all from angel food box)


Walmart: $ 81.46
Gas: $19.96
Target: $39.59
Flowers Bread Store: $3.47
Sams; $10.43

This week total: $144.95
Bunk bed Fund: +$5.05 increase
I allot $25 for gas each week, although I am not spending it, I am letting it accumulate(I think cheap gas is not forever)

Walmart Frabric department attacked me!!!

Well maybe walmart did not really attack me but it felt like it, or more like twell, cotton, polyester, and blended fabric.

Well if you have not heard, walmart is doing away with the fabric department, one store at a time. ANd if you wait long enough, it gets marked down to 75% off!

Yes, yes this is were I had problems. Blew the budget. $107!!!!!!!! I only had $27 in my cash only responsible wallet. WHat is a girl to do!!! It is fabric!!! Thank full I found a cash stash for craftin emergancies like this and in the next few weeks, I will be rebuilding my stash.


so here is my LOOT!!!

I see pretty layered toottos (spelling on that, no idea) for the girls. Maybe even one for mommy. Of course I will only be wearing them to a crop in my Jammies. We have to be realistic, I do have my limits.

Alright, I really only went to the store for the red gingham. But look at all that goodness.

The piles, the glorious piles. Anything that was a solid print I took the rest of the bult or I got 4 yards. Solids are always great to have on hand.

Aren't these pretty. My funny shaped body has been desperate for me to make my own clothes. So I have no patterns yet, but I got a great slew of cordinating patterns for about $1.25 a yard. WOW! Look out church ladies! I will be looking nice. I hope to start on my first outfit by February!

Here is my inspiration! I hope to make a few of these for myself and a few others. I am all about the swap ladies. I grabbed this from
http://creativelittledaisy.typepad.com/creative_little_daisy/2006/11/craft_apron_tut.html

I will post them, As I create them. So start thinking of what you have good to trade. I would love to make a few of them.

My WOW book - instructions

Here is a gift for a wedding. I am showing it off and then down below, I show how I constructed it! Enjoy!

INSTRUCTIONS:

Here is my WOW Book that I am giving as a gift. This is not my own idea, but a version of something I cased. At first I was overwhelmed with what seemed to be the complexity of it. BUT there is a trick: 1 simply scrappin kit from Stampin' Up! makes 2 of these books.

So here is the step by step pics as I put the frame of it together.

1. Split the kit in half. There will be duplicates of the stickers and paper. Some paper may only have 1 sheet or an odd number, I just split those sheets into a 6X12".

2. Cut 3 - 6x12" paper: 1 for the over and 2 for the internal pages. Then Score at the 3" and 9", then fold.

3. Now place the inside page at the 9" fold to the 3" fold at the cover and bind, repeat on the otherside with the inside page 3" fold with the 9" fold on the cover. Now I have bond with glue, that I later had to reinforce. This time I used embrodiery thread. I think a stapler would work the best.

4. Then insert the ribbon, so it can be tied shut.

5. Then add covers to make from and back 6X6"

Now this is why I love the simply scrappin'. From here I would not know where to go, but since I have the kit, I just start decorating. My goal is to use the entire half of the kit to make the mini album. So hre are more pics of it!

I hope you liked it.

Mega BUY!! The NEW YourSTory

Totally Hiped! I have been thinking about buying a laminator for different odd projects. Well then Cricut has been promoting the new PROVO yourstory. It is a laminator and book maker. As part of that promoting, they have a rebate if you buy one at AC MOORE or Walmart.

http://www.tellsomeoneyourstory.com/default.aspx

Well it is being sold for $99.99 and it comes with the machine (oh it is pretty, with pretty swirls on it), laminator sheets, 2 album covers, and predesigned pages. Now besides laminating, you can create your own books using the heat binder on the machine. This is a home alternative to those expensive books you order for $20-$50 from walmart, Walgreens, etc.

Now I have to get it for a deal! So here is how I did it!
AC MOORE priced at $99.99
Brought my AC MOORE %50 off coupon and got it for $52.97 with tax!

Here is the coupon, good until 12/20/08:

http://www.acmoore.com/images/upload/week%2051%20coupons.pdf

Signed onto http://www.cricut.com/ and sent in rebate for $5.95
The rebate gives me 2 more albums, a free download of the paper kit desins that came with it, & $100 in cricut money!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now the cricut products are more expensive online versus getting them on sale. BUT! I am spending $60, I am getting my laminator, the ability to make books with the supplies for 4!, and a free cricut cartridge.

I think I am doing just fine! With my value. I can't wait to make my first book. Hopefully tomorrow. I will show you when it is done.

Check out my albums for Christmas

Here are the albums I am working on. They are 8 1/2 x 8 1/2 pages that come in a chipboard. You have to cover them.

Groceries!!!

Here are my deals for my family this week!

Winn-Dixie
Progresso Soup: Buy 1, get 1 free, plus go to http://www.progressosoup.com/ and print out the coupons. You can get up to 6 cans of soup for 75 cents each!
Chex Mix: Buy 4 boxes for $6 with member card. But then include 2 coupons from the coupons online, so that is $1 off 2 boxes. You will get the 4 boxes for $1 each.

These are good deals for us because, progresso is my favorite for lunch. I am going to use the chex for raindeer food and include it in our cookies for the holidays.

We got out of Walmart for the week for $70! WOW! I still have to go to winn-dixie, so I will add another $8.50. This leaves me about $50 for a few last gifts I need to pick up. I am leaving cushion, I might have to pick up a can of formula.

My goal after Christmas is to try and have about $10 left each week to put in a Christmas account at the bank. I want to also try and have a little left to put aside for a set of bunk beds. Currently the bunk bed stash is $0! We will get there. My 4 year old is willing to go without pop-tarts and McDonalds to help save for the beds.

Coupons to look for:
progresso, white cloud toilet paper
MICHEALS, JOANNs, AC MOORE!

The new craft sancuary!

Hello! Thanks so much for stopping by! I am about to go crazy! Our small house (2 bedroom, 1 bath with 3 children house) is a bit limited for space. Being the crafter I am since birth, this poses many challenges.

I started by stringing my stuff all over the house, then I tried moving it to the garage! No LUCK! Nothing worked, my stuff was getting scattered and unkept. SO being the obsessed crafter I am. I chose sanctuary over the only walk in closet in the house. So I have a lot less in clothing, but I can tell you after a hasty set up, it is worth it.

My crafting sanctuary is 52 inches by 70 inches. You feeling smushed yet? So stand on a few 12"x12" tiles and realize that is less than 5 tiles wide by 6 tiles. It does have a window and shelves.




I started with an old kitchen table that only had about an inch to spare on the side. I had an old shelf that came with the house, perfect for my cricut. I found a small spot for an old encyclopedia book shelf, rolled in an office chair and I WAS READY TO CRAFT!

I will have to install a security gate! I have an intruder sneaking in. I have high hopes. I plan to fit all my scrapbooking, stamping, Cricut parifanalia in. I also have plans for a few drawers on wheels to hold my sewing machines. I am moving all my fabric in. I still need to find a spot for my yarn. I also am ready to move the beading in! High expectations. I am blessed with ONE electrical outlet.

I got in there today! I worked on 3 scrapbook pages and covered 2 chipboard albums. I have a laundry list to get done by this weekend.

1. Wedding gift: Mini Album & to candles.
2. Christmas gifts: Calendars, album, cards.


I am so excited! I can not wait to show off all my creations. I would hate to overload you at once! Now that I have space of my own from the caious of my life.


Fewer clothes doesn't matter anyway. I would have to get out of my pjs to wear them. ANd I try not to have to do that!