Love2Create

DIY No Sew Fingerless Gloves In 2 Snips!

2011-12-04T13:26:00.000-08:00

Wow! Where has the time gone? Thanks Vic for the sweet comment on my last post. That was so kind of you to take the time to comment and see if I'm ok. :o) I'm ok... actually I'm great. Just super busy. A promotion at work, finishing up my masters in June, and my Etsy shop has been busy and it's satisfied my creative outlet lately. I have been super chilly in the evenings lately... Can

Happy Mother's Day!

2011-05-08T08:45:00.000-07:00

happy mother's day to all of you wonderful moms out there! happy mother's day to my mom who... ... encourages my creative side ... teaches me by example, how to be strong in life's adversities ... makes every holiday a fun celebration with her thoughtful gifts ... is an awesome quilter ... was there for me every day when i got home from school. it was always reassuring to hear "how was your day

Problems Loading Pictures on Etsy

2011-05-01T13:34:00.000-07:00

first of all, sorry that i've been MIA. i'm back in technology classes so that's where all my creativity has been taking place. last term it was making videos. this term it is building websites. eek. that's all i have to say about that. i have an etsy shop and i've had problems with seeing certain images- specifically my banner when viewed on Safari. i created the image in Photoshop and

How to fold a paper origami crane & support Japan

2011-04-01T13:45:00.000-07:00

this is something that is near and dear to my heart. when my older sister was 21, she had a brain tumor removed. the doctor gave her 1 year to live. needless to say, i lost it right there in the waiting room. long story short, she went through radiation and chemotherapy treatments, i prayed A LOT, and now she is 42 and doing great! while she was going through treatments we

i'm still alive

2011-03-19T13:15:00.000-07:00

sorry that i've been MIA. i'm in class again so homework takes up some of my extra creative time. the thing that has really taken up time though is a major change i've made in my lifestyle. i've gone raw. i'm now a raw foodie. i've been eating 80% raw and 20% whatever i want since the beginning of the year and i have to tell you that i absolutely LOVE it. being a person who cannot dip my

Uses for Cans - Valentine's Day

2011-02-23T18:06:00.000-08:00

i know this is a little late, but i since i was at home sick on valentine's day, i just gave my co-workers their v-day treats this week. this is what i gave them: i filled the cans with dry red beans and i used bar-b-q skewers to hold the rice krispie treats. i covered them in melted chocolate and sprinkled them with little hearts before they cooled. and then i covered the cans with

the perfect baby gift

2011-02-20T21:42:00.000-08:00

wow... i totally got wiped out by that flu bug going around. i didn't get to do the Tour de Palm Springs. that was a total bummer. all of my biking partners were sick too so none of us got to ride. i didn't get to make Valentine's day treats for my co-workers either. i'm finally starting to feel like myself again, so i'm going to make those Valentine treats this week. better late than

a quick valentine gift- sour cream container

2011-02-08T20:16:00.000-08:00

do you want to make a quick, simple, and economical valentine gift for someone special? i think these little containers are great for valentine's day, but they would also be perfect for birthday parties, baby showers, and other special events! here's something i threw together last week with supplies i had in the house... love that! these little "sour cream containers" have been around in

Mystery Box

2011-01-21T19:03:00.000-08:00

i'm so excited! the fed ex guy just dropped by and i just finished lugging this big box up the stairs... it is HEA-VY and i can't wait to tear into it! it's new stuff for my Etsy shop!! i've got to take pics, figure out shipping, and post them so they'll probably be up later this weekend. ooooooo the mystery.... what could it be? :o) by the way... i'm always looking to see what's the new

etsy purchases, business cards, and a giveaway!

2011-01-17T08:00:00.000-08:00

etsy has become such a big part of my life that i forget that not all people know about it. i love buying things that i can enjoy all day by wearing or carrying it around. my recent purchases have been this simple and delicate necklace The Charteuse Room and this fun purse... it's out of my norm of what i usually spend, but after reading the background behind it... "this darling bag was

Tour de Palm Springs

2011-01-14T08:00:00.000-08:00

Source please bear with me this next month. i signed up last week to do the 100 mile ride in the Tour de Palm Springs. it's on February 12 and i'll be training for it this month. over week i biked over 90 miles and my tushie is killing me. :o) TMI right? one of my goals for this year is to post 3 times a week... i'm still going to try my best to do that, but i might be featuring

be the change you want to see in the world

2011-01-12T08:00:00.000-08:00

Source i LOVE this poster and i really love that the designer made it available for print for free. i'm sending it to my local printer tomorrow. i'm looking forward to reading these words every day.

Easy Peasie Letter Writing

2011-01-07T22:02:00.000-08:00

i stumbled across the coolest thing and had to share! as you know, i'm all into paper crafts and a pretty card, but more than all that, i totally value a handwritten letter. in an age when we are bombarded by text messages and emails, a handwritten letter is a wonderful surprise for the recipient... at least i know it is to me! :o) so i'm totally loving this site Letterfu! they make letter

Thank You Tag Free Printable

2011-01-05T08:00:00.000-08:00

per request of a blog reader (hi mommy!) :o) i have made the Valentine's Day tags into thank you tags. here you go! enjoy! Thank You Tags

valentine's day free printables

2011-01-03T00:35:00.000-08:00

i've been playing around in Adobe Illustrator and made these tags to share with you! they are perfect to use as cupcake toppers, as embellishments on cards, as a part of a banner and so much more! here's how i used them... to top my homemade cinnamon rolls to recover a small notebook and to top off an altered clothespin and to make a banner! this banner picture reminds me... i just

How to tie a small bow

2011-01-01T07:20:00.000-08:00

hi. my name is nori and i am bow challenged. i am known to breakout in a small sweat and panic over tying a bow. and a tiny bow??? omgoodness. no way jose. i found a cheater way to tie perfect tiny bows every time. now, i can't claim this as my own. there are picture tutorials on how to do this. that's how i learned. but i can't tell you how many times i read over those tutorials. i

Happy New Year!

2010-12-31T17:27:00.000-08:00

wow!! we have flown through another year! i loved 2010 and i'm looking forward to all the amazing things that are in store for 2011! :o) i just want to say THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart to you for stopping by my blog! YOU are what makes it fun to write and post on here. i really am grateful for YOU. *big hug* :o) ever since i woke up this morning i've been thinking about this

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-25T12:45:00.000-08:00

merry Christmas everyone! i pray that you all have a blessed day with your loved ones!

Bakers Twine Sampler

2010-12-23T23:36:00.000-08:00

hi everyone! i have exciting news! well, exciting for me. :o) i decided to open a new store front on Etsy. i wanted the name to be easier to remember and also to reflect my products... so i present to you.... Pretty lil Package on Etsy! i've added some new colors to the shop: dark blue and white Dark Blue and White Bakers Twine and airmail... blue, red, and white Airmail Bakers Twine

Parchment Paper- Multiple Uses

2010-12-20T18:25:00.000-08:00

i must fess up and admit that i only recently started using parchment paper for baking. maybe for the last year and half? and i L-O-V-E it. i can't remember what my baking life was like pre-parchment paper. i love how my cookies just pop off of the cookie sheets now. no more wrestling with the spatula. no more frustrating cookie pieces left on the cookie sheet. and the clean up?? easy

Christmas Decorations

2010-12-14T23:07:00.000-08:00

finally! some Christmas decorations went up this week! :o) i'm super simple when it comes to decorating for the season... most Christmases i just want a little Christmas color and smells in the house to get me in the mood for baking Christmas cookies and wrapping gifts. since Christmas is coming soon, i stopped by one of the local Christmas tree lots this weekend on my way home. they

Tile Words...Picture Words...Typography Words

2010-12-13T23:36:00.000-08:00

have you seen these super cute tile words all over the blog world? Source want to know an easy peesy way to make them?? well, tonight in class we were reviewing different uses for Flickr and my professor showed us this source, http://metaatem.net/words and i couldn't wait to get home and share it with you! :o) here's how you use it... click on this picture to view my video. have

Bakers Twine

2010-12-12T21:31:00.000-08:00

the thing i love most about having an etsy shop is wrapping and packaging the things i sell. perhaps that sounds silly, but it's true. i get so excited when i receive an email notification of a sale and i can't wait to get home that night so i can wrap it up. :o) thanks to ashley, i got to wrap quite a few packages this weekend! :o) i have to back up a sec and tell you that i LOVE ashley's

My Christmas Present

2010-12-08T19:16:00.000-08:00

merry christmas to me... :o) i treated myself to this very beautiful camera strap this year for christmas and i LOVE IT! :o) i've been wanting to dress up my camera strap, but i never seem to get around to making things for myself... so i thought i'd splurge! plus, i love supporting a fellow etsy shop! good excuse right? ;o) it actually was a great price and i really wanted to buy one in

Winner

2010-12-05T21:05:00.000-08:00

i'm sorry but i'm feeling really under the weather and i don't know if i'll make it till 11:00 pm so i am going to pick a winner early. the winner of my gift bag bundle and some other fun surprises is... jess... please email me your information and i'll send your fun package this week. i hope you all have a blessed week!

Babies... the movie

2010-11-30T20:58:00.000-08:00

i just got finished watching Babies... omgoodness!! what a precious movie! it was so fascinating and heartwarming to watch these babies in different corners of the world, grow and experience the world. :o) also, on a side note, i just signed up for the "watch instantly unlimited" plan on Netflix. i'm liking it so far. the just released movies are not available, but there are a lot of other

DIY Flat Gift Bag & A Giveaway

2010-11-28T17:42:00.000-08:00

hi all! i hope that you all had a fantabulous thanksgiving! i got a chance to hang out with my fam and had a wonderful time. :o) here's another tutorial for y'all! these flat gift bags are perfect for little trinkets, small journals, gift tags, etc. i hope you like it! :o) please let me know if you have any questions. also, please scroll down to the bottom for more details and also

$5.00 or less gift: DIY Votive Tea Light Holder

2010-11-24T20:40:00.000-08:00

this is a great idea to add to the $5.00 or less gift list! thanks noodlehead! click on the source link below the picture to see her tutorial. everyone have a wonderful, blessed, and safe thanksgiving! there is much to be grateful for. :o) source: noodlehead source: noodlehead

Lemon Jello Cake

2010-11-21T13:32:00.000-08:00

YUM! that's one word that sums up my grandma's lemon jello cake recipe. when i have some down time, one of my favorite things to do is flip through recipe books. lately i have been flipping through my grandma's old recipe box. i love looking at the old tattered recipe cards and reading where some of the recipes came from. this recipe came from her best friend Gertrude. doesn't it look

Christmas Treat Bags & Free Christmas Gift Tags

2010-11-19T18:25:00.000-08:00

i feel like it's been forever since i've posted. life has been busy with work, class, volunteer work, and getting ready for Christmas. is it just me or does it seem like someone pushed the fast forward button this year? it's just zooming by! i had fun preparing this video and creating these Christmas Blessings tags to share with you! but i've got to be honest... sharing something i made

More Fun Things To Do!

2010-11-09T21:59:00.000-08:00

i'm so glad i didn't find out about this after the fact! the Queen Bee Market is this friday and saturday! Queen Bee Market i've checked out some of the vendors who are slated to "bee" there and i've already made a list of a couple of the places i'm going to make a "bee" line to! :o) i'm going to get some christmas shopping done, but i'm not sure if it'll be more gift shopping for others or

Problems with Blogger

2010-11-08T19:26:00.000-08:00

i looked at my blog from another computer and noticed that it is acting all wonky. duplicate pictures and GINORMOUS pictures showing up on posts. i'm so sorry! has anyone else had this problem? i logged on and edited some posts on Safari and that seemed to fix the problem. i normally work from Firefox and i couldn't see the problems... has anyone else had this problem? i'm

YUMMMM Cupcakes!

2010-11-07T20:06:00.000-08:00

cupcake camp was a blast! sooo many talented bakers and soooo many beautiful diplays and deelish cupcakes! there were a TON 'o people there supporting this great event... it was a little bit overwhelming. here are some images from the day... i love the name of these cupcakes... moulin rouge. red velvet cupcakes. yum. these minis were super cute with the little pink straw!

Gift Tags Galore

2010-11-07T07:31:00.000-08:00

i love making gift tags... it's a simple little thing that can spruce up a gift, room, or card. here are some i have been working on... they'll all be in my etsy shop before the end of the day. :o)

Cupcake Camp!

2010-11-06T11:33:00.000-07:00

cupcake camp is finally here tomorrow at the beautiful Mission Inn in riverside! can't wait!! the mission inn is absolutely gorgeous, so if cupcakes aren't enough of a draw, come out to enjoy the beautiful architecture! :o) source

Online Magazines

2010-11-03T11:23:00.000-07:00

some of you may know that i don't like subscribing to a lot of magazines because i don't want the clutter in my home. i've limited myself to 2: Real Simple (that my generous sis subscribes to me every year since forever ago) i love that it covers a whole spectrum of things inspirational articles, the non-obligatory book list, recipes, fashion, decorating and more. my favorite part of the

$5.00 or Less Gift Party

2010-10-29T23:52:00.000-07:00

i'm so excited to share my $5.00 or less gift. i'm making these gifts for my co-workers. a monogrammed mug and homemade marshmallows. i picked up the mug at the Dollar Store and i bought the etching cream half off at Michael's. i cut out the N and the frame on contact paper with my Big Shot. if you don't have a Big Shot, i think you could easily trace the letters or frames on to

$5.00 or less Gift Party

2010-10-26T18:44:00.000-07:00

i'm getting presents ready for the $5.00 or less Gift Party going on here at Love-2-Create and i'm so excited! do you have a gift idea you'd like to share? the party will be open on November 1st... grab a button and invite a friend. :o)

Simple Cards

2010-10-21T06:25:00.000-07:00

lately i've been on a paper craft kick. when i'm blurfing (blog surfing) you'll find me on paper craft blogs. my faves have been all of the gals on the Papertrey design team. the Papertrey mama bear is Nichole Heady. now that would be a fun job... how do you get to be on a design team? sign me up! :o) when i make cards i like to keep them really simple. i don't like taking out a ton o'

Cheap Gift Wrapping - Restyling a store bag

2010-10-15T13:57:00.000-07:00

is anyone else like me?... do you have a crazy stack of bags that you picked up from department stores that you just can't seem to get rid of? the other day i was happy that i held on to those bags because i restyled it to use as gift wrapping for a birthday gift. i wish i took a picture of the gift... it was for a sweet 11 year old who wants to go to FIDM when she grows up. i bought

Loving Me Day 2

2010-10-14T18:40:00.000-07:00

wow... i'm one day into this and i'm amazed by how my attitude has changed! i caught myself all day when i started in on the negative self-talk. thank you jess and barbara jean for commenting and sharing your hearts! i love that we can support and encourage one another in this incredible world of blogging! blessings to you two and anyone else who is loving yourselves! :o) so on the way

Loving Me

2010-10-13T22:20:00.000-07:00

please bear with my random post... it has nothing to do with creating... i'm sorry that i've been MIA... i wish i could say that i took an exotic trip to a tropical island, but honestly, i've just been caught up with life... work, class, homework, and all the usual stuff. and as long as i'm being honest, i have to say that blogging can get overwhelming sometimes. it gets overwhelming

New to Me Mondays 6

2010-10-03T19:53:00.000-07:00

sorry that i was MIA last monday. my job is crazy busy during september and october and i'm still getting back into the routine of being in class... i just plum forgot. this weekend was pretty busy and i wasn't planning on stopping for any yard sales. i drove past a sign in a senior community by my house and it was beckoning me. i stopped by on my way home and i'm so glad i did! i've

The Best Brownies... EVER

2010-10-01T21:18:00.000-07:00

i found this divine brownie recipe from King Arthur's website. it seriously is THE BEST brownie recipe i have ever tried. i know that i've tried over at least 10 different brownie recipes. i don't know that i could have described what i was looking for before, but one bite into one of these brownies and i knew i found it. it's not too cakey and not to fudgey. it's just pure perfection

Cupcake Camp

2010-09-20T23:39:00.000-07:00

ummmm... when i read about Cupcake Camp and i saw that it's going to be nearby in riverside... i thought about it for about... oh i don't know... a 1/2 second and said.... uhhhhh YEAH! where do i sign up??? Cupcake Camp is where cupcake lovers (that's me!) go to raise money for a good cause. if cupcakes weren't a big enough draw for me, then reading that they are raising money for breast

New to Me Mondays 5

2010-09-20T00:15:00.000-07:00

today i sorted through some bags of goodies i brought back with me when i visited my family earlier this year. i have a whole jar full of vintage buttons from my mom and grandma, but today i'm going to share these precious ones with you. i'm not sure what i'm going to use them for, but aren't they so sweet?? i love vintage ads and packaging. i think this sweater tag is absolutely

Numbered Tags

2010-09-13T21:44:00.000-07:00

tags are so fun to create and use. i have to be careful or else it would look like a box-o-tags exploded in my house. right now i am using them to label/number my craft supplies. it's horrible, but i'm still working on my craft room/office. these tags tie in with other things in the room, but i'm just not ready for the reveal. i've sorted my felt, sewing books, yarns, and some of my

New To Me Mondays 4

2010-09-12T19:16:00.000-07:00

i wasn't really in the mood to go thrifting this weekend... i know, i know... was i feeling ok? ;o) yes, i was totally feeling ok. september and october are crazy months for me at work, and i am in class again, so when the weekends come i just feel like going for a nice long bike ride or staying home and resting and studying. but while i was out running errands i noticed that a local

New To Me Mondays

2010-09-06T23:30:00.000-07:00

Eclectic Etcetera whoa! where did the time go??? i guess you can tell that i really enjoyed the long weekend... i did a lot of fun things and i completely forgot to do a post today... i'm so sorry! next week i'll post my thrifting finds and you're welcome to link up your finds too. :o) i did pick up something fun at a stationary store this weekend, but i'll post about that later this

Home Tours

2010-09-02T23:03:00.000-07:00

on martha stewart's site this month you can go on a little home tour of her editors' homes. my favorite was the gray and white apartment. the gray and white together look so simple and calm. i love the gray sofa in this picture! Martha Stewart gray, white, and silver... YUM! Martha Stewart the little pops of color really stand out in this color scheme. Martha Stewart Martha

Paper Flowers

2010-09-01T20:48:00.000-07:00

i've been enjoying my paper crafts lately... and i made these flowers this week. i started out with a 1 x 8 1/2 inch piece of paper. trimmed the edge with my scallop punch. scored the paper strip at each indentation in between the scallops. then folded the long strip of paper accordion style. when i got to the end, i had to use a really strong adhesive to join the ends.

New to Me Mondays 3

2010-08-30T00:10:00.000-07:00

i really love how easy it is to find great yard sales at http://gsalr.com/. today i stopped by an antique store that is going out of business. it really broke my heart. i spoke with one of the main workers and she was having a really difficult time dealing with the closing. she said that reality hadn't hit the owner yet and she was really overwhelmed with just clearing everything out.

Saving Water

2010-08-28T18:11:00.000-07:00

i let out a squeal when i saw this at costco this week... my dad happened to be with me because he was in town and he came over wondering what all the commotion was about... i pointed at the box and told him "i've been wanting one of these FOR-EVER!!!' the dual flush gives you two options when flushing the toilet... a 1/2 flush for #1 and a full flush for #2. LOL i'm SOOO sorry that

LOVE, love, love this shop

2010-08-28T00:22:00.000-07:00

i love window shopping on etsy, and i especially love window shopping in tamar's shop- Nest Pretty Things. she creates the most gorgeous jewelry. i especially love her necklaces. they're so happy and pretty. amazing, right?? i love this next necklace... with all the different colors, i could absolutely wear it EVERY day. i love the vintage glass beads on this necklace. simple and

New to Me Mondays 2

2010-08-22T23:07:00.000-07:00

i found this towel rack at a garage sale awhile ago and forgot about it. i've been rearranging my jewelry box because it's too bulky and cluttered for me right now. i looked all around the house for something to hold my necklaces and this was perfect. i found these matching set of prints... 3 for $2.00. perfect. now to change them up a bit for my craft room. do you have any "new

My Work Office

2010-08-18T22:16:00.000-07:00

since i showed you all my little dresser that went into my office, i thought i'd show you the rest of the space. this is my work office, not my home office. since i'm in my work office just as much as i'm at home, i wanted to make it feel homey. i also wanted everyone who meets with me to feel comfortable and at home. this is what it looks walking into my office. on my bookshelf i have

Refinishing A Dresser

2010-08-16T23:23:00.000-07:00

i finally refinished my little dresser! yaaaay! this was my $5 yard sale find that is now in my office and i'm LOVING it. i feel like it really completed the space. this dresser definitely needed some tlc. it had yellow paint and adhesive on it and it had also been the nesting ground to some spider eggs and bugs... YUCKY CHUCKY!! actually, the remnants of the spider eggs kept me from

New To Me Mondays

2010-08-15T23:02:00.000-07:00

sorry, i know that was a little abrupt... hey, i'm having a party... please come... like RIGHT now? :o) if i just have one friend who links up at my party i'll be happy, but the more the merrier! i'll host the party every monday, so i hope you'll join in. :o) this past week i stopped by Goodwill looking for contact paper and i walked out with no contact paper, but i found these two

i miss thrifting parties

2010-08-15T22:30:00.000-07:00

i miss the thrifting parties that Rhoda used to host. i loved sharing and seeing what treasures people picked up at estate sales, thrift stores, garage sales, etc. so, not being the type of person to wait around, i decided to host "New To Me Mondays". please come by on Mondays to post or see what fun things people found at a thrift store, an estate sale, a garage/yard sale, or maybe it was

Plans in the Making...

2010-08-12T17:12:00.000-07:00

this came in the mail today and i'm so excited!! stampin up's big shot lattice die cut. i have some plans for it... i can't wait to show you.

DIY Business Cards

2010-08-07T12:02:00.000-07:00

i've wanted to take pictures of local vendors at the farmers market for my blog, but i haven't because i've gone through this conversation in my mind... me: "hi, do you mind if i take pictures of your items/table/store for my blog?" them: "sure, what blog?" me: muttering on about my long blog address... so it's been easier not to take any pictures. i've thought about it more because

Organizing My Rubber Stamps

2010-08-05T05:37:00.000-07:00

whenever i get stamps out for a project, it always seems like i'm reacquainting myself with my stamps. i always forget which sets i own. i store my stamps on their sides in large rubbermaid drawers, so it's difficult to take one look and see its contents. i've been wanting to take inventory of my stamps for quite awhile now, but knew that it would take a couple of days to complete. so here

Incredible Images... Baby's Dreams

2010-08-04T11:24:00.000-07:00

omgoodness! i stumbled across the most wonderful blog... adele was a copywriter and concept designer and now... a new mom. she imagines her daughter's dreams and while her daughter mila is napping, adele creates and captures an image of it. it's so very precious... you can't help but smile when browsing through the images. her blog is Mila's Daydreams and you can check out SOME of the images

Organizing My Craft Room

2010-08-03T19:42:00.000-07:00

whoooweeeee... i've been working on my craft room in stages and i'm not quite ready for the whole reveal. i apologize, but i'm going to reveal it in stages. i have a difficult time deciding on things- so colors, location of furniture, etc. are always changing. you'll get a snapshot of what a disaster my craft room was in this picture. i started out with this multi-color drawer system that

Organizing Scrapbook Paper and Scraps

2010-07-25T19:02:00.000-07:00

i'm SO bummed! i lost my before picture of the hot mess i started out with. :o( well... close your eyes and imagine this... 6 stackable paper trays. 3 stacked with a crazy mess of paper and scraps all jumbled together. and in front of that, 3 more stacked trays with a crazy mess of paper and scraps all mixed up together and the pile on top is about to tip over... my paper was disaster! i

A Cheap Thrill

2010-07-24T16:05:00.000-07:00

i love going to my local farmers market every week. i almost took my camera with me today, but decided against it because my arms are always full of all of the yummy organic fruits and veggies i pick up. one of these days i'll tote it along with me. if i had my camera, i would have taken a picture of Tom, my favorite flower vendor. he always wears a flower tucked behind his ear and always

Mission POSSIBLE- Reorganization of Garage Complete

2010-07-18T14:00:00.000-07:00

6 days later... after building shelves, reorganizing, going through old boxes that i've moved over 10 times and never knew what was inside them, making multiple donation runs to the local thrift... I'M DONE!!! wooohooo! i've gotta tell you... it feels good!!! here's a little reminder of what it looked like before: and here's what i'm calling the "ahhhh... AFTER" :o) there's ROOM!

Easy "Homemade" Fudgesicles

2010-07-16T20:20:00.000-07:00

it's been blazing hot here this week which has made it challenging to stay working in the garage (stay tuned for my mission impossible garage reorganization reveal). it's so hot that i couldn't bring myself to leave the house to pick up popsicles. lucky me i'm on this diy-only-use-things-in-the-house kick. i started looking around for something to make popsicles with... lo and behold, i

Simple Black Dress: 4 Different Looks

2010-07-14T18:43:00.000-07:00

i've been working non-stop on my garage and it's coming along... i'm about 1/2 way there to the reveal. i wanted to take a break from the reorganization and tell you about a new "kick" i'm on. i've been loving consignment stores and thrifting for clothes! before i stuck with the housewares and wood furniture, but i saw a couple of cute things and i started opening my mind to the idea of

Mission Impossible: Organizing the Garage

2010-07-13T12:48:00.000-07:00

i'm off for the rest of the week and guess what i'm doing? hmmm... guess the title gave it away. ;o) my garage is completely out of control and i finally gathered up the nerve to tackle it. please pray for me. i've been going at it for 2 1/2 hours and several times i've prayed, "please God, don't let me be killed by a bug". hey... are you laughing at me? ;o) seriously though we have

Happy 4th of July!

2010-07-04T18:50:00.000-07:00

happy 4th of july! i'm going to a bar-b-q tomorrow and i'm taking a couple of desserts. the first is from pioneer woman... everything she makes is delish and it's so cute so i thought i'd give it a try. strawberry shortcake cake! i couldn't find any small flags at the grocery store so i made my own. i made a little tag with my "vintage" dymo... (hee! it was my sis' and she gifted

Weekend with the Family

2010-06-30T22:09:00.000-07:00

this past weekend i drove up to the bay area to visit my family. i had a nice early birthday dinner with my parents, surprised my grandmother with her bachelor's degree, and went out to fenton's with my sis and her friend. this is a video about fresno state's 2010 nisei project: and a picture with my grammie: if you are ever in the bay area, you have to stop by fentons. now they

I'm Losing It

2010-06-28T23:59:00.000-07:00

i'm losing it... to read more follow this link...

Happy Father's Day

2010-06-20T00:08:00.000-07:00

happy father's day to my wonderful pappy! my dad has always been a hard worker. he taught me what it meant to have a strong work ethic and to never speak an ill word towards my competitors in business. i can't tell you how much that has both saved and helped me over the years. he started traveling for work when i was in high school, and although i missed him a lot then, it became a

Produce for People- Community Gardens

2010-06-19T16:01:00.000-07:00

i love where i live... i love the weather... i love the pace of life... i love the people... i love that people still stop and say hi at the grocery store... but most of all, i love the community. when a problem arises, businesses, the chamber, schools, the city, and non-profit organizations put their heads together to come up with a solution. a problem plaguing our nation in this

where do you find reclaimed wood?

2010-06-18T23:45:00.000-07:00

i've been drooling over images like these that show reclaimed wood used as an accent in a home to line a hallway image from vintage timberworks as beams on the ceiling image from house beautiful as columns on a bed image from house beautiful or beams in a room image from house beautiful salvaged or reclaimed wood just brings such warmth to a room and i wanted some for

I created my first button!!

2010-06-17T21:16:00.000-07:00

wow! i created my first button! i was so afraid to attempt it, but now that it's finished, i can't believe how easy it was. i followed these directions from Oikology 101. so here it is! would you like one? please, feel free... help yourself. ;o) the code is available <----- to the left. if it doesn't work correctly please let me know... in fact, if someone doesn't mind trying it and

Success!

2010-06-15T21:48:00.000-07:00

oh. my. goodness. after many hours of wrestling with photoshop, i finally completed my butterfly assignment. granted, my final class was last night and my professor gave me credit for the assignment because i put in a lot of effort to unsuccessfully complete it. i really appreciated that, but i couldn't go down defeated... i gave it another try today and.... SUCCESS!!!! hallelujah!!! here

Lots of Baking and New Finds

2010-06-13T14:37:00.000-07:00

on friday i baked all day getting ready for the women's club flea market... here are the treats i made... double chocolate chip oatmeal cookies (i REALLY love that neiman marcus cookie recipe that floats around the internet... it's my "go to" cookie recipe. the key is, use really good chocolate. don't skimp there.) sour cream coffee cake (my grammie's recipe. she used to make it for us

Lemon Blueberry Pound Cake

2010-05-23T17:57:00.000-07:00

wow! it's been so long since i've posted, i'm wondering if i remember how to?? i started on this re-organizing kick and maybe you know how it goes... i totally wanted to post a big reveal, but it always gets messier and more overwhelming before it gets cleaner. {sigh} so my life has been filled with that, work, school, a visit to see the fam, and just life. i'm sorry for neglecting this

Reusable Produce Bags- Tutorial

2010-04-05T23:10:00.000-07:00

dear eco-conscious friends, whenever i took a trip to the grocery store, i always cringed when i reached for the plastic bag in the produce section. i always had an image in my mind of that bag ending up in the ocean and some poor fish or bird eating it, mistaking it for food. i started using reusable produce bags last year and i LOVE them. they have helped me cut down on so much waste.

Simple Beauty

2010-04-04T00:40:00.000-07:00

dear thrift loving friends, have you ever purchased an item at a thrift store and just knew it was meant to be? like the piece was meant to go home with you? do i sound like a crazy person? well... that is exactly how i felt about this lovely piece that caught my eye over 2 months ago at a local thrift. $12 was too much for me to pay for it, so i waited and waited. i can't tell you how

Stretching A Tight Canvas - with a video tutorial

2010-04-02T19:30:00.000-07:00

dear crafty friends, i'm sorry that i haven't been around lately... life has been a little busy with work and organizing my home. today i managed to do a quick transformation... I took a $2 picture of a butterfly and turned it into a place to keep and display my flower pins. it's amazing how doing something crafty is so re-energizing! while i was doing the transformation i shot a video on

I Love Ballard Designs

2010-03-22T22:40:00.000-07:00

have you ever noticed the style studio banner at the bottom of the ballard designs website? i finally clicked on it this week... hokie smokes!!! i couldn't believe all the wonderful tips i found there! my favorite was the house beautiful article on suzanne kasler... i mean... just check out these images. suzanne gives great tips like adding texture and making an entryway more welcoming

Letting It All Hang Out Part 2

2010-03-21T19:17:00.000-07:00

i'm going to take a little break from posting about flowers. i really have been doing other things. :o) remember when i told you i have some shocking pictures of my home to show you? well... this post is going to contain some nasty pictures, so please prepare yourself. my closet had literally become a dumping ground for my shoes and all my clothes both worn on a weekly basis and some unworn

Exciting News

2010-03-20T03:14:00.000-07:00

i'm so excited! the day has finally come! i finally opened my etsy shop!!!! please stop by for my "grand opening" click on the link on my left sidebar thanks for stopping by :o)

Flowers and More Flowers

2010-03-20T02:01:00.000-07:00

i told ya... i. can't. stop. here's what i've been working on... here's how they look on! i'm sorry if you're sick of seeing them... i'm just having too much fun making them! :o)

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner

2010-03-15T20:12:00.000-07:00

i'm feeling silly tonight. i think it's because of the time change... i can't believe what a difference it makes. i'm sooooooo tired that i'm punch silly. anywho, i've been making flowers like crazy (well, in between the cleaning, organizing, and re-arranging of furniture). i can't wait to share them with you. i'm sorry that i'm such a slacker. i completely forgot to draw the winner of my

Tutorial: NO SEW Fabric Flowers

2010-03-07T20:39:00.000-08:00

these no sew fabric flowers are deliciously beautiful and SO easy to make! grab your glue gun and here we go... what you'll need: - glue gun - iron - heavy starch - no fray spray - fabric spray your fabric with heavy starch and iron. cut out 3 different sizes of petals, lay out on a piece of paper and spray with no fray spray. this stuff is STINKY and potent. make sure you

Still Making Flowers!

2010-03-07T11:23:00.000-08:00

i love this combo! as i've made more flowers, i've come up with an easier, quicker way to make them requiring... no sewing whatsoever! :o) i'll post a tutorial soon.

DIY "Emersonmade-like" Fabric Flowers

2010-03-06T12:09:00.000-08:00

i am having so much fun making these flowers this weekend! if you're not already familiar with Emersonmade, you have to check out her BEAUTEEMOUS flowers. i would LOVE to have one of every flower she makes, but until my pocketbook allows it, i'll make these beauties... here's a side view of the flower where you can kinda see the depth. i just got back from my local thrift store where i

Letting It All Hang Out

2010-02-28T11:48:00.000-08:00

dear trusted friends, i don't know what happened to me. something about reading that article about being an innie or outie just RELEASED me. i've been on this cleaning and organizing rampage since yesterday morning. **deep breath** so this post is going to start my series on "letting it all hang out". i'm going to show you some horrifying before pictures and the (hopefully beautified) after

Are You an Innie or an Outie?

2010-02-27T18:21:00.000-08:00

dear disorganized friends, please don't be offended. maybe this doesn't describe you at all... perhaps i'm just writing a letter to myself. since the new year, i've had this goal of organizing my home. if you saw it, you just might throw up. sometimes I feel like doing it. i start the process of organizing and rearranging my home, and every time i stop short simply because i get so

Vintage Coffee Filters

2010-02-27T01:03:00.000-08:00

something that i've come to love about blurfing is seeing alternate uses for a variety of items. i was checking out decor8's post on Snug Studio and now i've added vintage coffee filters to my "on the lookout for" list. check out these images from decor8's blog and you'll want vintage coffee filters too (although you might have to wrestle me for them!). cute right??? Check out Snug...

Recovering a Lampshade

2010-02-22T00:40:00.000-08:00

dear creative friends, i think that christmas really did me in this year... i've had a hard time getting back into sewing, crafts, and refinishing furniture. i can't believe this is my first project since the new year. man, i really need to kick it in to gear. i picked up 2 of these tea light lamps from GW for only $1.50 each. i just thought they were way too cute! i've had a hard time

Rose Bowl Flea Market

2010-02-14T23:00:00.000-08:00

WOW! i had no idea that the rose bowl flea market would be so huge! we walked around for over 3 hours and still weren't able to cover all the grounds. here's a couple of shots of what i saw (sorry about the quality, i took them with my phone): wouldn't these mail cubbies be great to store some craft supplies? or this (i'm not sure what it is...maybe something from a hardware store)?

A Great Find

2010-02-13T12:42:00.000-08:00

dear friends... i haven't been out thrifting or at yard sales much lately, but today was such a beautiful day that i decided to go out and see what i could find. i'm so glad i did!!! i found this beaut for only $5! i'm going to hold off on refinishing it but i just wanted to share what a pretty little thing she is. AND... she fit in my trunk!!! yahoooo! this is going to be the new

i want a truck!!!

2010-02-13T08:51:00.000-08:00

dear fellow thrifters, i SO want a truck. i mean i really, really need one. can anyone relate? i keep my bike racks on top of my honda accord and straps in the trunk just in case i come across an awesome find that i can strap on to the top of my car. unfortunately most things are just too big and too heavy to just strap on top. i'm afraid that i'll either 1) get a ticket or 2) crush the

Happy early Valentine's Day!

2010-02-12T19:50:00.000-08:00

dear loved ones, you'd think i'd love valentine's day because i LOVE love, i'm super sappy, i've watched the notebook at least 10 times, and i love pink and hearts... but the rebel inside me hates valentine's day. maybe that's a little harsh... i really dislike it. it's not that i'm a downer about people being in love, like i said, i love love... i just don't like having a specific day where

Finding My Voice

2010-02-09T00:33:00.000-08:00

This might sound weird, but after 121 posts, I'm still trying to find my "voice". I've gone back and read some posts and I just don't feel like it's MY voice...I feel like it's choppy and formal. Just today I emailed my cousin back and forth catching up on our lives and in one of her email responses to me, she said, "I laughed and sighed all in the same email". It hit me right then that that's