Valentine's Wreath {Tutorial}

Valentine's day is such a cutesy holiday.

With all it's lovey dovey non sense.

If you can't tell I am not really the 'romantic' type.

I don't like getting fancy jewelry.

I don't care of covered chocolates.

I enjoy getting flowers, 

but I would much rather them come out of the blue than a holiday where it's is expected.

We have been anxiously awaiting hearing about a short sale we have an offer on.

I have kind been ehhh I don't want to decorate in our rental anymore.

I kinda got sad.

I got to thinking about how this will be our last January here.

Our last Valentines in this house we have called home for almost 4 years.

Decided to kick myself in the butt and made something.

This is what I made for the last Valentine's wreath that will hang on the ugly rental door!!

Made out of love and coffee filters!

Here is the quick how to:

Supplies needed:

Package of coffee filters

Food coloring

Baking sheet

Glue gun and glue

Wreath form.

First put a couple of drops of food coloring in a bowl and fill with water.

It looks kind of orange.

I did this at night and the lighting in our rental is baaaaaddddd!

Submerge coffee filter into water.

Squeeze out the excess water.

Place on baking sheet.

Repeat until your baking sheet just can't take anymore!

I set my oven to 350 degrees and baked them for about 5 minutes.

Then repeat, repeat, repeat!!!

Once you have enough coffee filters dyed and baked (I don't know how many I lost count)

Get out wreath form and glue gun and glue filters to the wreath.

Oh my cutesy!!!

Oh AND in case you didn't hear!  I have entered to win a free ticket to SNAP the Conference!

I would REALLY appreciate it if you would vote for me!

Click here and I am link number 14!!!

Thanks a bunch lovely!

I will be linking this project to these ROCKING parties!

Strange Things Be Happenin'

 Have you ever been to a blogging conference?

Do you know what one is?

I have never been to one.  

And let me tell you how much I would love to go to Snap's three day of awesomeness conference.

SNAP the Conference is a craft and DIY social media conference.  

Which is right up my alley since that is mainly what I love to do!

The best part is, it is close to home at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi, Utah!  

Only 45 short minutes away.

I have been mulling over forking out the money to go.  

However we are buying our first home soon.  

SO every extra dollar bill is being saved for that!

Then weird things started happening!

First it started with getting my breakfast this morning!

 Inside my oatmeal box (YES I eat oatmeal, it isn't just for old ladies!!!)

 I found this note....

 Yes, I would love to go to this conference.

Three full days, of girl time?!?!
Ya who wouldn't want to do this!!!

I sighed and went along my day.

Then looking over the local ads today.

This somehow magically appeared in the middle.

 Feeling a little freaked out now.  

That a random piece of paper is following me.

I decided to go to the store.

 Getting into my car... there it was...

right above the steering wheel.

 Alright this was getting creepy!

Yes I want to go to the conference and hear all the amazing speakers,

Like Mandi for Vintage Revivals,

Ashley from Lil Blue Boo,

Cindy from Skip to my Lou 

and SOOO many more!!!

Oh and in case you were curious where my speedometer and such were at...

Didn't you know I drive a space ship around?!?!?

Check out my van's 'Control Panel'

 

Ya that is how I roll.

In my mommy mobile space ship!

What what!!!!

Anyway back to my totally realistic and not made up story...

I had to sit down and explain to the random piece of paper.

That while I would trade my kids LOVE to go to SNAP.

It just wasn't in the cards this year.

I drew it a picture...

I think I missed my TRUE calling of being an artist!

I mean really that pictures just SCREAMS pay me millions to make you artwork right???

Now I am not saying you have to be a Donald Trump employee to be able to afford to go to SNAP.

I always joke that we don't make much money compared to Donald Trump employees.

I am in luck though!

SNAP the Conference is doing a giveaway for a free ticket!!

Please vote for me!!  I am link number 14! Click here!!

*Disclaimer alert!  This post was made in good fun.  I do not believe a piece of paper is following me around. True facts in this post are: I would LOVE to go to the conference, I am terrible at drawing, oh and I TOTALLY drive a space ship!*

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner

Hey all! 

So excited to announce the winner from the Homemade by Cameron giveaway.

I really wanted this too!

So I am super jealous of the winner!

I put the numbers into random.org

and it gave me comment number 8.

Which is Sandra K!!!

Congrats Sandra!!!

Email me at MandiBeingCrafty{at}Gmail{dot}com

Feature- Duck Tape Boots

Steph at Crafting in the Rain made other those plain black boots.

With wait for it.... Duck TAPE!

Shut the front door!

How did she know I have a thing for hounds tooth.

And that I would die love to have a pair!

I think I will have to make a trip to the D.I. (Utah's goodwill)

Grab myself a pair of crummy boots and some duck tape.

And have myself a boot survivor party!!!

If you would like to check out the tutorial here is the link:

Duck Tape Covered Boots

Giveaway {Homemade by Cameron}

Hi to all of Mandi's amazing readers!  I'm Cameron from Homemade by Cameron and I am so grateful to Mandi for hosting this giveaway for me. 


I'm pretty new to the blogging world, but I am having a great time meeting new people - bloggers are such a terrific bunch!  I love to create . . . just about anything. I sew, knit, crochet, paper craft, have a kiln that needs to be hooked up and a pottery wheel that needs to be dusted off. My two kids keep me grounded and remind me of what is MOST important in life, and my husband may be the most patient man on Earth. In between all this I work nights as an emergency room nurse. Sounds exciting, right? It is - I love my life, and I love blogging about the fun stuff I make, and hot tips I find, and occasionally personal stuff . . . 

I'm very excited to be able to give away one of my fun homemade items, which will in turn help you make even more homemade stuff!  Mandi will be giving one of you lovely readers a complete set of delightful homemade goodies from my most recent endeavor - pattern writing!  One lucky reader will win an apron, pin cushion, sewing kit, AND the pattern to make all three . . .

Thanks Cameron!

I want to win this!!!

But alas I cannot, but YOU can!

To enter, visit Cameron's shop and leave a comment saying which item is your favorite! 

(Did you find something while you were there that you just can't live without?  

Use coupon code MANDI and get 20% off!)

Also you must be a follower of my blog!

 If you want to enter more than once, here are a few more ways to get your name in the virtual hat:

1 additional entry - "Like" Cameron's Homemade on Facebook and leave a comment.

1 additional entry - Follow Homemade by Cameron and leave a comment.

1 additional entry - Follow me on Homemade by Cameron Pinterest and leave a comment.

1 additional entry 'like' Mandi Being Crafty on Facebook.

Make sure to leave a SEPARATE comment for each entry!

I will pick and announce a winner next Monday January 16th!
Good Luck!!!

Valentine's Banner

 I have been wanting to try one of these banners for a while now.

My girl Thais makes them all the time.

Today I finally got the umphh to try it.

They are actually pretty easy.

And I even made this without sewing.

So I will give ya a short tutorial on how to make this.

Supplies:

Burlap

Scissors

Freezer paper

Stencil brush and paint

Jute

'How to'

 Decide what you want to print on the banner and cut out triangles out of the burlap.

I actually used a pattern, cause I am weird like that.

They still didn't come out exact... grrrrrr

Then using my Silhouette I cut out my images shiny side down.

I think freezer paper and the silhouette go together like peanut butter and jelly.

If you haven't tried it.

I highly recommend doing so.

It is a great alternative to just vinyl.

 Then iron the 'negative' onto the burlap.

It is easiest when doing letter like 'o' and 'e' negative first, then taking the center part and ironing that down.

Believe me it is better that way.

 Take your stencil brush and paint and color it in.

I use actual stencil paint.

Some people use regular craft paint.

I have never tried it with freezer stencils so I can neither confirm or deny if it works.

 What I do like about stencil paint is you can remove it right away and not worry it will leak.

After all your letters or images are finished get your jute.

 I used a needle with a fairly big eye.

Cause I am lazy like that and weaved the jute through the burlap.

 Like this!

Then you are done!

It took me about an hour from start to finish.

That is including clean up.

See the 'o' is funky... 

grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Linking here

Super Stalker Sunday Blog Hop!

Thank you for joining us for this week’s Super Stalker Sunday hop!

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Super Stalker Sunday is a weekly blog hop hosted by:

Kortney of Kortney's Krazy Life

April of Mama on a Green Mission

Emily of Nap Time is My Time

and Mariah of Formula Mom

As you know, blogs hops are a great way to meet other bloggers, socialize and gain more followers. We created this hop as away for you to connect with other bloggers via RSS Feed, Google Friend Connect, Email Subscribers, Facebook Fans, Twitter Followers, and the new Google+! How to Super Stalk

Follow each host at least one way. Remember to leave a comment, as hostesses we’re committed to returning the follows. But please be patient as we are busy mamas and it may take us a few days to return the visit and follow. You will only have to link up on one of the host sites and your link will appear on all as we use the same linky. After you follow the hosts and the featured blogger, follow at least the four blogs listed above you on the linky. If your time permits, follow as many other blogs are you are willing! If you're already follow somebody via GFC, consider following them in another way as well! Remember: You will only get as much as you give. The more blogs you can visit, the more visits you will gain in return. We are all here to socialize and greet, not visit only your blog. While we encourage sharing our button and hop with as many as possible, it is not required. The more you spread the word though, the more we socialize and all gain followers!  

This week's featured blog is  

If you would like to be a featured blogger, being shared with more than 32,000 combined followers between the hosts of this hop, please link up! At the end of each week we will select a blog via Random.Org to be the featured blog for the following week. The featured blogger will be emailed by Wednesday morning. Please be sure to check your spam folders! This week's linky will remain open until 3:00PM EST on Monday! Go ahead, stalk up a storm!  

Reality Check

 Life is kinda funny.

I have been feeling really discouraged about the hunt for a house.

I had written a post pretty much complaining about it.

Then after chatting with another sweet blogger last night, she gave me the encouragement I needed.

Instead of looking at all the negatives in the hunt I am going to turn them around and make them positive.

First- the waiting...

Yes with most short sales you have to wait.

But it gives us time. 

To not be so hasty.

To keep looking at other houses that may be better.

Second- The issue of cleanliness in said homes.

Most of these houses are trashed.

It will give us an excuse to paint the walls.

Get the carpets cleaned.

And hey if we like a house enough to buy it when it is dirty, we will love it when it is clean!

Third- Homes already being under contract

This is by FAR the most frustrating!

This will let us know that we were not meant to be in that house.

We will trust in God that he will guide us to where we need to be.

Buying a home is a dream.

And we are very fortunate to even be able to do it.

I need to enjoy it.

There I feel much much better! 

This is one of the reasons why I love blogging so much!  

There are so many fantastic people out there who give me so much inspiration!

Peace Out 2011!

2011 was an icky icky horrible year for us.

And it pretty much started right after New Years.

We are bloggy BFFs so this a no judge zone right?

Let us go back in time to 2007.

When the SSG and I were first married we had some trials.

He was working a job that didn't pay us very much.

I had quit my job to move to Idaho to be with him.

Our finances were a MESS to say the least!

Well later in the first year of our marriage my husband lost his job.

Thankfully he was already in the Army and we were very blessed they gave him work.

I think back on those months of not working, wondering how we made due.

Well we ended up having to file bankruptcy. (no judge zone)

We thought all was well and we had a fresh start!

Fast forward to 2011...

Seriously the day after New Years.

I got the mail and found a letter from an attorney's office.

Open up the letter, and started crying.

It was about my wedding ring.

They wanted $500.00 more than what SSG financed it for, or the ring back.

I called my husband balling, telling him what horrid news we got in the mail.

(Now, I completely agree that if we didn't pay for it we shouldn't have it.  However it had been 2 years since the bankruptcy and they never said a word about the ring)

We had the money to buy the ring. 

But it would wipe out our savings account.

I had to make a choice.

Do I love a ring, or our future more?

So sadly I agreed to give back my ring.

They told me they were going to put it in an auction to see how much money they could get for it.

*tear*

I packaged it up and gave it to the FedEx driver.

A ring doesn't define my marriage.

And a year later I still get a little teary eyed about it.

 There were more problems with 2011 too.

I don't want to dwell on them though.

It is a new year!

New start!

And I say bring it on!