eCraft "Back to School" Blog Hop!

Welcome to the BACK TO SCHOOL BLOG HOP!

All of the fabulous designers on this hop are showing you a BACK TO SCHOOL project using the
Fabulous and versatile eCraft.

If you just arrived here from Erika's Blog then you are in the right place. If you just happened upon my blog please start at the beginning over at Raven’s Blog. That way you will be able to see all of the amazing projects and you will have more ways to win.  After me, you will go to Faith's Blog :)

Here is my project for the hop :)

I decided to make a cute little "Survival Kit" for my daughter's Kindergarden teacher.  Heaven knows that that many 5-6 year olds will drive you crazy!  So i figured this little stash of treats will help her survive the first day of school!

So I began by getting a pencil case, on sale for .50 :)  talk about cheap!!
I gathered some paper I had on hand and measured and cut my paper...courtesy of eCraft, duh!
Next, with the help of some modge podge, I started putting the paper on the case.

I cut out my letters via eCraft.  The small letters were 1 inch and the larger ones were 2 inches.

Done with the modge podging!

Next I grabbed some treats and filled it up!

Then I got some cute "back to school" ribbon I had and tied it around the case.

It's ready to go!  I hope Emma's teacher likes it. :)  It's a great & very inexpensive teacher gift!

Thanks for stopping by!

Ok so back to business...

Here is a list of all the designers on the hop in case you get lost along the way:

Raven Baca http://love4stamps.blogspot.com/
Carley Carter http://the-real-icarley.blogspot.com/
Debi Tullier http://fabric-ecraft.blogspot.com/
Denise O'Connor http://purplepaperparadise.blogspot.com/
Erika Valdez http://www.craftysprouts.com/
Lyssa Zimmerman http://bornagaincrafter.blogspot.com/
Faith Freeman http://faithfulecreations.com/
KimberlyRae Forde http://kreationsbykimberlyrae.com/blog/
Rosa Ahrens http://www.for-micaela.blogspot.com/
Zeni Pradel http://www.scrappyzeni.blogspot.com/
Craftwell USA http://craftwellusa.com/

Okay so you probably want to know what you can win, right? As some of you may have heard from this hop, the amazing eCraft machine that we are all using is created by CraftwellUSA.com. This company is really amazing, their customer service is fabulous and the products are top notch.

Well when they heard about our hop they decided to giveaway (1) One eCraft to (1) One lucky winner!!

So what do you need to do right?!

1.)     Please leave one comment here on my blog (Only one comment will be
qualify per person additional comments will not count.)
2.)     Like eCraft’s facebook page  so you can see more awesome projects and tutorials.
3.)     Follow my little ol' blog ;).  You can also follow me via twitter, Facebook & pinterest...but not required ;)

***PLEASE READ***

Due to blogger difficulties going on, the Giveaway will end next Monday at 6 AM!!! 

Each blog on the Blog Hop will pick a winner.  Since there are 11 of us participating in the Blog Hop, there will be 11 winners that will go into the pool to win the eCraft machine.  We are also having another blog hop on September 5th.  ALL comments left this week and on the September 5th blog hop will be eligible to win the eCraft so this will give you more chances to win.  So at the end, there will be 24 chosen winners that have a chance to win an eCraft!!  Which means you better hit every blog on this Blog Hop and enter for more chances!!

(1) One lucky winner will win an eCraft Machine & be announced on Raven’s blog on September 10th. The winner will also be listed on the eCraft Facebook page 

All are welcome to hop, however the eCraft giveaway is only open to U.S. entries. Thank you so much for your understanding.

handmade business cards.

These are fun & easy business cards that will have people talking...

Just pretend I didn't just write that...haa ha I am on QVC or something...

anyways...You don't have to spend a forutne to order some and wait weeks to get some!  

Make  your own business cards!

The night before Bloggy Bootcamp, I realized I didn't have any business cards to pass out to other bloggers and participants.  I knew that it would be a great opportunity to share my blog with others so I got thinking...

I opened up a simple word document and formatted it horizontally so I could fit 12 cards on one sheet and not have to worry about cropping the sides.  Then I got to work.

Next I printed the sheet on a 8 1/2 x 11 white cardstock 

Next I used my trusty sewing machine.  Pick a thread color you want.  I used a salmon color.

I lined it up on my paper and sewed straight down to the bottom.  I did that 3 times on the page.

Next I started cutting out my cards.  First was the columns...

Next was the rows...

And wha-la!

Really digging out these turned out.  I love the "zig-zag" or "chevron" or whatever you want to call it...

To hold them in one place, I used a coin purse I got from Freshly Picked.

And I was ready to go.  What a great day.  

There will be more on Bloggy Bootcamp soon.  Hopefully soon right?  

I want to also show you guys some of my favorite business cards I got too!  

And because of all the great knowledge from it, my blog is under construction.  I've got big plans for it so things might be chaotic around here while I figure stuff out!

I'll be linking HERE.
&
Today's Creative Blog

Side table redo.

**LIttle reminder that voting for the free SNAP ticket opens the 21st, tonight at midnight!!**

Please help me get to SNAP!!  Can I bribe you from something from my shop? ;);)

And a big thanks to all you readers & followers.  You guys are super.  

aannnyywaaaayyysss...look what I did!

Remember this little guy I got for $5?  Well he needed a facelift.  So we sanded down the rough spots and wiped it down.

Next came the painting.  Originally, I used 1 can of "Sweet Cream" by Krylon.  But it wasn't enough.  So I went to the store for more and they didn't sell that color :(

So I grabbed "Warm Yellow" from Rustoleum and used that as the second coat.  I really like how it turned out.  I am very loyal to Krylon but I really liked the color of Warm Yellow too.

So now it sits in the corner where my white shelf thing used to be, which is now up in my craft room.  I love how the yellow really brightens the room,

There you have it folks.  The yellow goes perfect with the color of the walls too.  Definitely a keeper!

Linking up HERE :)

book puff ball tutorial.

I'm doing a craft fair next week and wanted to make some fun new things to sell.

Of course i'm making wreaths, and other things, which I'll be highlighting this week,

but I had to show you my latest creation:

the Book Puff Ball.

And i'm going to show you how to make them...unless you are in the Wenatchee, WA area and want to just buy one from me, then that's cool too.

Supplies:

Book to rip up

Styrofoam Ball

Twine or sting

Pin

(I got all these balls for $1 at Sal's..score)

This baby is created exactly like my Book Wreath except you are gluing to a ball instead of a wreath :)

If you want it to hang, I tied twine around a pin,

Then I put some hot glue on the ball then stick the pin in the glue.

Then hang it up somewhere and admire...sigh, love how it turned how.

And look!  the balls had babies!  Little book puff balls!

These little guys fit in the palm of my hand.

I used the smaller size styrofoam balls and ripped the pages into fourths...so rip in half and then rip in half again!  So cute in a bowl or something, eh?

I love how these turned out!

I'm linking these HERE!

Guest Post: Anything Virtuous.

Hey guys.  I have a treat for you.  Steph from Anything Virtuous is here today to show you how to do an adorable fabric bracelet.

 I feel really cool because she's my cousin.  She is just beautiful inside and out.  And her bracelets don't disappoint.

Here's a bit about Steph and her blog:

I earned a B.A. in Communications from Brigham Young University. After working in and out of television news, law firms, and substitute teaching assignments, I'm now a professional mother. When I'm not hanging out with my ridiculously adorable son, I'm blogging, songwriting, or crafting.

My sincere concern for women young and old is what drives me to do this. Through my experiences in work and life itself, I am quite aware of the messages that women are pelted with every day. I'm tired of feeling down or disgusted when I open a women's magazine or see images on TV or the internet, and I want to make a positive difference.

I created Anything Virtuous to offer a site that shares helpful tips and thoughts, uplifts its readers, and lets them know about other great sites and products out there. I also wanted a venue to share my thoughts for my future daughters, and also for every other woman regardless of her age. I believe we are all daughters of Heavenly parents and that we ought to be reminded of it often.

Since I was a teenager my motto has been to positively motivate others through words and music. I am constantly working on both and striving to "stand a little taller and be a little better." -- Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley

Wanna add some wowza to your wrist? If I can do it, you certainly can. 

DIY Fabric Bracelet

You will need:
Appx. 4.5 x 8.5 in fabric
Pellon (just smaller than said fabric)
Appx. 2.5 in ribbon/bias tape, etc.
A button to latch
Embellishments, such as ribbon, lace, jewels, fabric flowers, tulle, beads, etc.

Cut the fabric to your desired bracelet size. I did 4.5 in x 8.5 in. Keep in mind you will be folding it in half hotdog-style so it won't be as wide.

Cut a rectangle of pellon just smaller than your fabric.

Iron on the pellon, glue side down, to the wrong side of your fabric. Then fold the fabric in half, hotdog-style and right sides together, and press the crease.

Cut your buttonhole loop material to fit your button (to latch the bracelet). I did 2.25 in.

Form the buttonhole loop on the inside of the fabric rectangle and align the rough edge ends of the loop with your fabric.  Pin both ends in place.

Pin down the buttonhole loop side and the long edge next to it, leaving the other end open so you can turn it right side out later.

Stitch close to the edge of your fabric, backstitching over your buttonhole loop that is hidden inside. At the corner, drop your needle in the fabric and turn the fabric to stitch the next side  -- get a nice square corner.

Stitch around the long side of the bracelet.

Backstitch when you get to the open end.

Turn your fabric right side out. Now it's starting to look like a bracelet!

Press your bracelet (a little starch helps) and turn in the edges of the open end and press. You may want to check the length of the bracelet on your wrist. If it's mega long, snip off some length til it looks/fits right. Remember you still need to sew on a button, so leave room for that.

Stitch the open end closed.

Wahoo! Now you get to add the fun stuff ...

For a button, wrap the bracelet around your wrist, mark or pin where you want your button, and hand-sew it on.

Then add ribbon, fabric flowers, lace, ruffles, beads, jewels, and anything else you want!

I'd love to see the Fabric Bracelets you come up with, too!

Steph, thank you for joining me today!

Everyone head  on over to Anything Virtuous and check it out.  

Leave her some love!