What Now?

Halloween is over and my life is no longer consumed with costumes and candy - well, at least the costumes are out of the picture.

Pirate, Lanie (AG), Cinderella, Dora and Special Forces

The kids had a blast and everyone was pleased with the final costume.  (A huge relief for a stressed out momma.)  The candy haul was extreme this year, too.  We have some of the most wonderful and generous neighbors!  Although, I'm trying to decide if I need to remind the kids or the husband that trash goes in the trash can.  Hmmmm........

So, now I'm on to crafting and sewing whatever I want, right?  Definitely true - to an extent.  I have Christmas on the brain and that makes it hard to think of much else.  'What about Thanksgiving?', you ask?  I really enjoy Thanksgiving, but I don't feel the need to DO anything for that holiday.  Thanksgiving is just a great time of the year in which I know I get to spend a lot of special time with family.  Christmas is family time and stress time.

Now that you all know where my mind is, you know where this blog is headed for the next couple of months.  (Really - 53 days?!)  I've got some new ideas of my own and lots of ideas rounded up from other places I'm hoping to share with you during this time.  {If you are family, don't read this for the next month or so if want to be surprised.}

I've already started.  Here's a sneak peak at one Christmas project/gift idea I'll be sharing with you all very soon.

If you haven't yet, now is a good time to like This Too! on Facebook.  I'll be on there quite a bit adding little snippets and comments (or questions!) as the time goes by.  Feel free to post any of your own links, pictures, questions and comments, too.  Just please keep it craft related and G rated.  Maybe we can help each other make it to the end of the season with our crafts all wrapped and ready to give!

Identity Crisis

I often get on my blog and play around with the appearance of my blog.  Seems to be happening a lot lately.  (Have you noticed?)
I finally just made myself sit down and create my own banner and the above is the result.  A graphic designer I am not, so here's the run down on my sources I used to create it all.

Image Manipulation Program

I downloaded and used GIMP.

I didn't have a good program on my Mac and GIMP is great and it's FREE.  There's a learning curve with this program as with any other program.  A huge plus is having tutorials on the web and lots of 'how to' videos on youtube.com to make that learning curve a little shorter.

Images


There are so many sources out there for graphics to use on personal sites.  Just do a search and you will quickly be overwhelmed.  The specific site I used was Pixels and Ice Cream.  The background of my banner is 'Gypsy Garden' found under 'paper kits'.

And that's it.  Well, there is the time involved to get everything just the way you want it.  And all the extra time involved when you mess up and have to start over.  Or change your mind on what you want the end result to look like and have to start over.  (Or does this only happen to me?)

So?  What do you all think?  Do you have any good sources or products or resources you like to use?

Out of the Norm

This weekend was packed.  Even with Kevin having Friday off, it still went by much too quickly.  Graduation parties have started, end of school year activities are continuously going and several (extra) commitments with our church group are keeping us busy.

We did take a little time to squeeze in a date Saturday night, though.  We had a good time, met some new people and heard a little music - all courtesy of Kevin's employer. They aren't the best quality (since I didn't want to lug the monster Canon around), but they are pictures.  :)

Meeting The Band Perry

Luke Bryan

Tim McGraw

I've been a little too busy with life lately to have much crafting time.  But, life is good. :)

Stylish Blogger Award

Val, over at until tomorrow, val, sent me a very fun surprise in the form of a Stylish Blogger Award!  Thanks so much!!

The rules are to list 7 facts about yourself.  Here we go:

1.  My favorite smell is fresh cut wood.

2.  My favorite sound is power tools at work.

3.  I am great at starting projects but seem to have a horrible time getting them all finished.

4.  I had 5 kids within 7 years and all by age 31.  (Nope, I don't recommend the same for the faint of heart.)

5.  I detested coffee and lived a very good life without it for 30 years.  I then got pregnant with baby #5 and  haven't been able to stop drinking it since.

6.  There are several plans in the works for built-ins and such that I want to start (and finish).  I just need to find the time and the confidence to do them.

7.  I love summer and all that comes along with it - sunshine, warm weather, swimming, BBQs and outside play!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Now to send this award on to a few favorite bloggers out there:

1.  Fussy Monkey Business

2.  mmmcrafts

3.  Unsolicited Advice

4.  Olivia's Observations

I have gained some amazing inspiration and moral support from these ladies and their blogs.  Go check them out!

Have you been awarded? What do you do now??

1. Aknowledge the person who awarded you by linking them back in your post.

2. Share 7 random facts about yourself.

3. Pass the award on to other new found bloggers.

4. Contact each blogger to let them know they’ve received the award; and let the ‘giver’ know you accepted the award.

Under Construction

This title could apply to so many areas in my life......

In this case, it's applying to this simple little blog.  I have an obsession, it seems, with wanting to do little tweaks here and there to make it my own.  A couple of big hindrances for me not doing more at once are time and know how.  To combat these 'issues' I'll be doing little changes here and there (as I can).  I'll let you know in a post what I've been able to do and share any links that tell/show how to do what was done.

The first real change I've made is adding static pages to the blog.  This is really simple.  A good link?  Here on Blogger Tricks.

The next addition is the navigation tabs under the header.  I found how to do this by going to Blogger Sentral and using this tutorial.  Very simple and well explained.

Well.  There you have it.  I reserve the right to change my blog at any given moment.  (Which was already mine.)  Now, hopefully, I won't completely loose all my information in the process.

Happy Fall

I put my wreath up on the front door so it is now official - just because I said so.  :)

I have been busy.  Really.  It's just that none of the work seems blog-worthy.  I mean, do you really want a picture of me taking the vacuum apart to fix it?  Didn't think so.

So, posts may be very sparatic through this month.  I'll post as I can around activities, birthdays, appointments and general happenings.  As always, I do have projects and ideas running through my scattered little head.  Hoping I'll soon have some finished items to share with you.

On a totally unrelated subject - Happy 34th Birthday to my wonderful, patient and understanding husband. I'm so glad you are willing to put up with my craziness.  Love you LOTS and hope to celebrate many more years with you!  (Does this soften you up enough to get a couple more projects started?! :)

Crafting Saddle

Well, mentally I am fully ready to hop right back into the crafting saddle.  There is one thing holding me back.  What is that?  TIME .... or lack there of.  That being realized, I thought I should at least make a list. You know, a list of all the things and ideas I hope to do as soon I do find some time.  (Fully aware that few of them will actually get started and even less will be finished.)  It doesn't cost anything to dream and plan, though, does it?!

1.  Start living in an adult home.

Now, by this I mean to have a functional and decorated space for myself and my family to live in.  Looking around our home last week I suddenly realized we have lived without end tables or lamps or really any sort of home decor.  It's been this way for years.  How sad!  I've always had the excuse of moving every 2 years or less, but that is a bit ridiculus to put everything on hold for that.  Plus, I don't see a move anytime soon.  Time to get myself in gear.

2.  Make a softie pattern.

I have a great idea for a softie for my adorable little nephew.  Hoping to get that put together sometime soon and be able to share it with y'all.

3.  Van organization. 


I'm sure everyone else can relate to this problem.  Trash on the floor, crayons and books scattered, and kids always wanting something handed to them.  I need to figure out a good way to keep the kids happy on long trips and my sanity intact.  I'm sure my loving husband would be greatful not to have to pull the shop-vac out after a trip, too.

4.  Christmas presents.


Crazy to start thinking about this now, but with 11 nieces and nephews it's never too early.  Plus, I would like to have a homemade christmas for all (even my own), so I need to start early.  Several ideas rattling around inside my noggin - I-spy bags, doll clothes, felt food, coloring items..........

5. Learn how to use my serger.


I mean really use it, not just sew a straight seam.  I have visions of my kiddos running around in outfits like these or these made by me.  **sigh** Anyone have a good book to recommend?  As sweet as my husband is, sewing lessons are not going to happen anytime soon with a new baby in the mix.

6.  Get organized.


Oh, my!!! This is a loaded one!  Is there really such a state of being?!


I should probably stop here.  There is a need to be reasonable - I guess.  Why set myself up to fail!  I will be pleased as punch to get just these 6 things started if not done before the end of the year considering #1 and #6 are doozies!  I'll let you know how things go as I start posting.

Now, which one to start on first?

New (to me) Blog

Well, I've stumbled upon a new blog and they are doing a giveaway of 2 Janome sewing machines!  Yep!  You read right.  How exciting!

Kim and Kris have some great ideas and videos going on over at The DIY Dish.  Head over and take a look around at everything they are doing.  Don't forget to enter for your chance to win in the giveaway while you're there, too.



Can't wait to see what is to come!

New Look

I decided to take some time and revamp my blog while the youngest two were sleeping. Nothing too fussy, but definitely not too plain. While searching for ideas and inspiration, I stumbled across this little gem. The Cutest Blog on the Block has some great things for those of us that are graphically challenged. (Not to mention time challenged.) Check it out for some great free stuff and wonderful ideas.