I’m not dead…

although I very well could have been on Sunday night – I was so sick!

and to make matters worse – it was my anniversary – dang. huh.

The hubs and I had all sorts of fun plans starting with tin foil dinners in the mountains Sunday evening – but they slowly unraveled as I found myself puking up all that tin foil goodness a couple hours later -

and then pretty much fell totally apart when the hubs had the unique opportunity of cleaning vomit out of the carpet at 3:00 in the morning – and then cleaned vomit out of our sons bed at 4:00! Our son came and snuggled with me (may as well – misery loves company!) and we were up at 5:00 and 6:00 as well.  Then around 7:00 the hubs came in to inform me that our daughter (almost 8 months olds) smelled – and I quote – “like an outhouse.” yep – she was sick too! With one more round around 9:00 – we were pretty much wiped out.

This is one anniversary he will remember for years to come…

So yucky!

We had made reservations to spend Monday evening at the Anniversary Inn – so around 5:00 I finally pulled myself together, lysoled our entire house and – with warning – we dropped the kids off at my parents and were on our way. I sucked it up and we had a really nice time together – just the two of us. It is crazy that it has been 4 years -

I am so lucky to have such a stud as my man! He is the best and I love him so very, very much!

It is amazing how badly a tiny little flu bug can knock you out – and as I was walking around tonight cleaning up the wreckage and thinking about how I have neglected my blog – I remembered – I forgot to post the Every Creative Blog Linky Party.

Dang!

So today at 5:00 the party will go live! Don’t forget to link up and if you catch the flu too ( I hear it is going around and around) I am really, really sorry!

Feature Friday {The Ruffled Daisy}

Thank you so much for all your feedback last week. I have been doing a lot of thinking and I think that for now I will continue sharing new blogs with you – I love seeing new blogs and I think it is fun to feature another creative mind! I appreciate the time you took to comment – so thank you and without further ado…

Today I am featuring Beth from The Ruffled Daisy -

She is just starting off but already has some really cute ideas!

I love how she put together this cute “A few of my favorite things” sign – so cute!

I love this family subway art sign that she made – she also sells the vinyl if you love it too!

I la, la, la Love these super cute spice jars and the fun little labels she made for them!

Thank you so much for sharing your talent with us Beth!–
And remember to grab a Featured Button!

Do you want to be featured? Remember to link up to my Every Creative Blog Parties!
The next one goes up on June 26th! (This Sunday!)

Things have been sparse around here because …

It’s the summer time.

I went swimming the other day for an hour and came back looking like this: Ouchy!

I am pretty sure we are the only house for miles and miles with out AC – and yesterday it was 85 – inside my house – so I am in a “it’s too hot to do anything” funk.

I have no less than 10 projects going…

I am working on (and have all but given up) potty training.

The little crafts I have done aren’t worth the effort of posting – just humdrum stuff.

I have been playing with kids! I am trying to relish in the simple things –
and not worry so much about other things.

Oh –and did you see that I left a few comments! Thank you so much for your help with my little tech problem. I did download goggle chrome (can I just tell you how annoying that is) and it worked – and I also unchecked the box to sign in automatically and that worked for me as well! So A BIG FAT THANK YOU!!! for all your great advice – and I hope it helped out some of you as well!

What’s keeping you away from the good ole’ computer? Hopefully something fun!

Temporary Tattoos {Silhouette Promotion}

Silhouette recently sent me a couple packages of Tattoo Paper – and this stuff is so much fun!
I invited my sisters over and we had fun picking and choosing the designs we wanted for our “pin-up” babies!

You can use any print and cut design – obviously there are some that will work better than others but for the most part – there are a TON of fun designs that you can turn into a tattoo!

I followed the directions on the back of the package – and they are so easy. You simply pick the design you want, print it on the special tattoo paper, apply the sticky tattoo paper, cut out the tattoo and then using a wet rag – apply it to your  body. I applied my son’s sleeve in about 3 minutes! So easy!!

This month the promotion is awesome!

Using the code “Endeavor” you will get:
1 Silhouette SD and
2 Packages Temporary Tattoo Paper
all for $199 (U.S. only) (120 dollars in savings!)
Also, (wait for it…)

… 25% off all other products in the Silhouette shop (excluding gift cards and download codes)! 

25% off all other products!! Time to stock up!!
The promo will run June 21-29.

Happy Shopping!

I need tech help!

Have you noticed my lack in comments lately?

I have tried and tried and for some reason I just can’t leave them.

What in the world is going on?

I am doing the same thing I have always done. I go to your blog. I see something I want to comment on. I comment. Then I choose my goggle account and it takes me to login – then it says I am anonymous – then it takes me to login – then it says I am anonymous – then it takes me to login – then it says I am anonymous…

See how annoying it is. It is making me crazy!

I would ask if anyone is having the same problem but if you are – you won’t be able to leave a comment!

So – do you know how to fix it?

I need help!!!!

Feature Friday {feedback wanted}

It’s been almost 3 months since I started my Every Creative Blog Linky Party and started featuring other creative blogs on Friday – and I want to know – the cold hard truth – do you guys like it? Do you like coming here on Friday and finding new blogs to go visit or do you just want to come and see what I have going on? Do you like the linky party just once a month? Should it be more? Should it be less?

And since we are on the topic of “feedback” what do you guys like about my blog? What do you dislike? Do you just want to see projects I have done – or do you like the occasional “personal” stuff with a mix of features? I have been working on a few ideas and before I implement them I just wanted to get a feel for what brings you here so often. I just want to keep my readers happy – after all you are the reason my blog is growing and I just love you guys!!

Here is a list of all the great talent I have featured since I started my party in March – Go check them out!

Landee See, Landee Do
Homestitched
Crafty Girls Workshop
Wannabe Crafty
Increasingly Domestic
Dukes and Duchesses
Straight Stitches
Turbo Bubblegum
Not Just a Housewife
Sweet Treats and Good Eats

You guys are the best!

Home of the Free {Free Printable}

Last night our neighborhood welcomed home a man who was over seas serving our country!
What a blessing it is to live in a country with brave men and women who have, do and will fight for our country -

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

I created this print out (subway art) in Photoshop, printed it onto photo paper and put it in a red frame I picked up at Hobby Lobby last week – and I love it!

Want one too? I knew you would – so you can find the free file here!
(this is for personal use only! Thank you!!)

linked to

USA Glitter Frame {Tutorial}

Since the Fourth of July is coming up (and Pioneer Day for us Utahans)
I thought it would be fun to share a Patriotic project.

First: Find an old frame that you aren’t using anymore – I found mine on one of my thrift store adventures.

Second: Spray Paint your frame. I already had the paint on hand from a hutch re-do I had done previously. I love this color – Colonial Red from Rust-Oleum.

Third: While my frame was drying I painted the U S A chipboard letters that I bought at Hobby Lobby – I used FolkArt Thunder Blue. I wanted a deep blue and loved this color.

Fourth: After my paint was dry – I used Mod Podge and added blue glitter to my letters.

Fifth: While my letters where drying I used my Silhouette to cut out different sized stars with the Frosted Glass Premium Vinyl.  Then I cut them out and placed them all over my glass. I left a few of the small stars off on purpose.

Sixth: I used E-600 to glue the letters in place on the glass.

Seventh: Using the small stars that I left off on purpose I filled in any large blank spaces. I left them off because I didn’t want to waste one by covering the whole thing with a letter.

Eighth: I added a few dots of E-600 to the inside of the frame and placed the glass inside. The E-600 will hold the glass in and you won’t be able to see it.

And then your done!

Paint Your Kitchen Bar Stools!

Hello! Hello! Hello!

How was your weekend? Between two family parties and homemade ice cream (yum-o!) mine was relaxing – which was great because today I am rolling out the drop cloth for more painting. My hubby is taking our broken miter box to the shop to get it fixed (oh –happy day) so I can finish up a bunch of projects that are taking over my house! But in the meantime I thought I would share a fun project with you from a couple years ago.

When the hubs and I were ALMOST done (and almost is a relative term as we have been ALMOST done for 3 years now!) with our remodeling – I was so excited and started decorating a little bit here and there – really the only space I could decorate was in the kitchen – (and we didn’t even have cabinets in yet!) but I had my rug purchased and my table sitting in storage and I knew what colors I wanted and EVERYTHING!!

I knew we were going to have a bar top and that meant we needed bar stools – and there are so many lovely barstools to choose from. But since we were nearing the end of our remodel – we were also nearing the end of our $$$$. sad day. I knew that I wanted something simple, yet functional and of course fun and cute!

So instead of spending upward of $50-$100 per barstool – hit up my local Wal-Mart and purchased 3 of these bad boys – for $30 total.

 

I think we can all agree that they are simple and functional but they are U.G.L.Y. (you ain’t got no alibi…)

I got them home, busted out my sander, paint, sponge brushes and polyurethane (we were also working on our wood floors at the time!) and went to work – and I have to say….

… I love the result!

I shabbied them up a little bit -

I really love the way the color {pops} in my kitchen!

I also love that I can push them under the bar top, they don’t take up much space – but they add the perfect element to that part of the kitchen – don’t you just love paint?? Me Too! So before you throw out your old bar stools – sand them down and paint them – with a million colors out there – the sky’s the limit!

Thanks for making this one of your stops this busy Monday and I hope you have a great week!

Feature Friday–Sweet Treats and Good Eats

First up – I am guest posting over at Sumo’s Sweet Stuff today -

So after you are done looking at this sweet post – come over and visit me and check out my project.

I have a big treat for you guys today – really I do!

I am spotlighting Jesseca from Sweet Treats & Good Eats -
Her blog is dangerous because she has so many yummy looking items.

How great do these chocolate chip scones look? I would love to have these as an awesome breakfast in bed – and I can! Because she shares the recipe here!

Double Chocolate Cookies!? Yes, Please! Double + Chocolate = Love!

Between breakfast, cupcakes, cookies and other yummy desserts – she also shares a few dinner ideas like these Baked Creamy Chicken Taquitos – They look so yummy. I am thinking I should make some for dinner!

(Picture from Pennies on a Platter)

And guess what else I read on her blog – that she is always looking for people to “try out” her sweet treats and good eats – and she is in the Wasatch Front – and guess who else is?? Yours Truly!!

But in all seriousness – Thank you so much for sharing your talent with us Jesseca –
And remember to grab a Featured Button!

Do you want to be featured? Remember to link up to my Every Creative Blog Parties!
The next one goes up on June 26th!

How to Make a Chalkboard {tutorial}

I recently showed my little guy (who is almost 2) how to draw with sidewalk chalk –

and then it started raining. and raining. and raining. and raining…

 

So I decided to bring the chalk inside –

 

 

Making a chalkboard is so easy but creates hours of fun!!

 

First all you need to find is a piece of wood with a smooth side. I used a scrap piece of melamine that we had floating around in our garage. Then I simply sprayed a layer of white primer…

 

 

And then used Rust-Oleum Chalk Board Spray Paint and started spraying on the layers.

 

 

Just like with any spray painting project, go slow and spray on layer after layer

until you have covered the entire surface.

 

 

Note: When you are done spraying on your layers and it is all dry and you run your hand over it, it will feel bumpy/rough so simply run a sponge sander over it and then spray on one last coat.

 

Before you draw on your chalkboard, take a piece of chalk and run it all over the board and simply wipe it off. This gets the board ready for all the fun drawing you will be doing. 

 

After you have wiped the chalk off – your chalkboard is ready to go!

 

I added the phrase “Live Creatively” with vinyl to the top of our board – and I love it!

 

 

Now go and find some scrap wood and make one for your family! You guys will love it!

 

p.s. I am linked to TT&J Weekend Wrap-Up Party