Happy Birthday to ME!

So this weekend was my birthday and I helped my dear husband out by getting myself a few things!!! (I love shopping for myself!) First of all I got myself a Cricut! Okay its not new but new to me! A girl in the area upgraded to a Cricut Expression so she was getting rid of her little one. I jumped on that deal!

Second, I got a new living room, at least it feels new. I gave my living room a face lift - new painted ceilings and walls, new shelves, and trim. (**Disclaimer** True be known I live in a old trailer house/mobile home/single-wide/tin tent/etc. Its home and really I love it. We bought it when we got married thinking in a few years we would upgrade and purchase a 'real' house, however, life got in the way of that plan. Luckily we were in a position that when my grandparents needed some extra help we were able to move our humble home to their farm to help them out.) Now you know what I am working with, here is what it looked like - beautiful 1970's wood paneling:

Now here is the finished (or mostly finished) I haven't hung the shelves.

(I really hate that lamp - it is soon leaving!!)

My next problem redecorating. I just can't figure where to hang things so for now the walls stand empty.:(

4H - Winter Projects

So I am an avid 4H leader. I know 4H is supposed to be a summer project but I love it so much that we do it all year round at our house. My little girl is 4 1/2 and she calls herself a little 4H kid. (Legal 4H age is 8 - we have a ways to go:) - we're just getting a head start) We are just finishing up Cake Decorating. There are 8 nine and ten year old girls. Last 4H year we did a few projects and had a blast. So we all got back together and its only January and we have already done 2 projects. The first one was Wooden Blocks. The girls did 2 projects. I have a picture of one of them.

These little snowman were so much fun! They are a great kids project. (My 3 year old made some for his Primary Teachers). A tutorial will soon be coming. :)

The latest project is Cake Decorating. The 1st year requirements are way fun - decorate 2 cakes and 12 cupcakes using edible decorations. These girls are so creative!! I had to basic patterns for them to follow for the cakes, then they just went crazy on the cupcakes. While we were working one of the mom's said "This is true cupcake wars!" We had frosting everywhere - on the floor, smashed into shoes, smeared on faces and in hair, all over the table - get the idea? We had a blast. The girls then had to do a 'dummy' cake for their final project. I will have pictures soon. The frosting was setting up so I didn't transport them. I am getting them tomorrow. So be on the look out for pictures!!!

Scapy Scrapbooking

How many of you are scrapbooking on a budget? I like, many of you, don't have a ton of extra money to spend on crafting supplies non the less scrapbooking. I have figured out a few ways to save myself some $$, but still make fun pages and preserve memories. I would like to devote this section "Scrapy Scrapbooking" to sharing ideas and hearing from you on your ideas.

My first money saving tip is STAMPS! I love stamps. Actually you can spend a fortune on stamps if you go crazy. But play your cards right and you can accumulate a small versatile collection. I like to get a new set occasionally from Michaels when they have a great sale. But I always look for ones that can be used from multiple things. Like finding ones that have letters and numbers, upper and lower case. Most importantly I find styles that are me, its a waste of money to buy anything that is the latest and greatest if you aren't going to use it. Michaels usually has a bin of $1 card stamps. They are small but can add a ton of fun to a page. I always watch The Dollar Tree, they have the darnedest things there. Here is the page I did this morning using card stamps from Michaels and a stencil.

** Keep in mind I haven't actually journaled anything yet - so technically the page isn't finished. But you get the idea.

What are some ideas that you have had? Can't wait to hear from you.

Amanda

I Made It!!

  Whew! I am finally here. I have been thinking about starting my own blog for about a year now. I think I am finally ready! :)
   I made a stack of things for Christmas this past year that I can't wait to show off. I love Christmas for that reason - two months straight of crafting. The added bonus - A DEADLINE! (yes, I am one of those that have boxes of started projects that will likely never get done).
   Also my New Years Resolutions might have a fighting chance if I am writing about them and occasionally checking back to them. Okay truth be known I don't actually have any resolutions as of yet. Hey what can I say I have spent all of the past two months crafting and trying to make that deadline. :) I'll definitely let you know as soon as I figure out what they are.
   Anyway, lets pause while I pat myself on the back and give myself a gold star for already getting one of my "To Do's" checked off!