Crafty, crafty, crafty....and disorganized

 

 

I've been working on trying to organize my workspace.  In my head, not in action just yet.  As my business has changed over the past year, the supplies I need to keep handy are changing as well.  

 

And while I need to have a place for everything, I'm also feeling that familiar urge to "keep it pretty" as well.  When I started selling on Etsy last year, I ended up taking over my dining room.  You might remember it used to look nice.....

 

 

 

 

Now it looks like this, sad I know. 

 

 

 

I've been snooping around online and found some inspiration.  Thought I would share it with you in case you have your own chaos to organize right now!

 

What is it about the New Year that makes us want to clean and organize?  It's so annoying! ;)

 

This is an adorable space I found on Sincerely Jen.  Great colors, everything out in the open so you can find a specific fabric easily.

 

 

 

I love this transformation over at Crafty Texas Girls.  She did a great job on her work space. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another great space from Clover & Violet, tell me this isn't the cutest fabric display ever?  It's just happy.

 

 

 

 

How do you organize your craft or work space?   I'd love some tips before I tackle mine!

 

Michelle ♥

 

Christmas Cheer

Just a few pics for the season.  I'll be decorating the house today with the kids, we're getting in the spirit. :)

 

 

 

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/340092209332272080/

 

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/207306389071016400/

 

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/175147872981909608/

 

 

 

 

http://weheartit.com/entry/43075112/via/Bella_Quotidiano

Sebastian's First Modeling Gig

I just had to show off my handsome furry boy!!   We used him to model a new dog collar for our Etsy shop, didn't he do great?    He was a good sport and even modeled the girly one with flowers.   And the best part is that he works for treats and behind the ear scratches. 

Have a wonderful weekend my blogging friends!

Buttery Yummy But Not Pretty Blueberry Muffins

 

 

Good Morning!  It's a rainy Monday here in PA.  A good day to sit with a cup of coffee (or tea if that's your thing), flip through a decorating magazine and indulge in these muffins!   I found this recipe a few months back and after making them a couple times, have decided this recipe is a true keeper.   Mine don't come out as pretty as I'd like but I'm a messy baker so that could be why.  They still taste great though!

 

 

Be sure to use grease proof liners for these beauties, as you can see I didn't and the paper cups lost their pretty.  I increased the amount of blueberries by about a handful.  How's that for a measurment?   Enjoy!!

 

 

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/to-die-for-blueberry-muffins/

 

 

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 3/4 cup white sugar 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons baking powder 1/3 cup vegetable oil 1 egg

1/3 cup milk 1 cup fresh blueberries 1/2 cup white sugar 1/3 cup all-purpose flour 1/4 cup butter, cubed 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Directions:

1.	Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease muffin cups or line with muffin liners.
2.	Combine 1 1/2 cups flour, 3/4 cup sugar, salt and baking powder. Place vegetable oil into a 1 cup measuring cup; add the egg and enough milk to fill the cup. Mix this with flour mixture. Fold in blueberries. Fill muffin cups right to the top, and sprinkle with crumb topping mixture.
3.	To Make Crumb Topping: Mix together 1/2 cup sugar, 1/3 cup flour, 1/4 cup butter, and 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon. Mix with fork, and sprinkle over muffins before baking.
4.	Bake for 20 to 25 minutes in the preheated oven, or until done.

Hometalk

 

 

 

 

Do you ever go on Hometalk?  I "like" them on Facebook and the pics always make me smile.  So many fun ideas and great inspiration!  You can find the website here:  http://www.hometalk.com/

 

All these pictures came from them, credit to Hometalk.   Check it out if you haven't been there before.  Be warned though, it's kind of like Pinterest.  You can get sucked in for hours!  Have fun!

 

 

 

 

Bird Nest Treats

Happy Spring everyone!!   In honor of getting through a snowy winter, I made these bird nests for the kids to eat.   So easy and super adorable. 

 

 

All you need is a box of shredded wheat, milk chocolate chips and chocolate Mini Eggs.   Add about 4 cups of shredded wheat to a large ziplock bag and crush it up till it's nice and shredded.  Melt the chocolate (I used a whole 11.5 ounce bag) in the microwave in 20 second intervals, stirring in between each time you take it out.  

 

When your chocolate is good and melted start adding the cereal.  I found it was easier to add the cereal to the chocolate a little at a time and stir until it is all coated and you can't see the cereal color anymore.   Also, my cereal measurement is kind of approximate.  I used the very precise "eyeball it" method on these. 

 

Scoop a tablespoon of your mixture into cupcake liners and use the back of the spoon to make your nest shape. 

 

 

Press a few mini eggs into each nest and let set.  You can pop them in the fridge for a bit to harden faster.   I don't like coconut in my desserts but I'm sure you could add some of the shredded variety in with the cereal if that's your thing.   

 

Easter is almost here, which means warm weather is coming soon I hope!  

Painting with Vaseline

 

 

 

 

Happy Wednesday everyone!  The sun is shining here, I think it finally feels like time to get the Easter decorations out.  I've been a bit of a slacker on that!   I had this unfinished plate that I wanted to make pretty.   Having read about using Vaseline to distress paint, I thought this little plate would be my guinea pig. 

 

 

I started out by brushing on some dark aqua and brown paint randomly around the edge....

 

 

 

Let that dry and glob on a bit of regular old Vaseline.  Depending on what look you want, you can use more or less.  I used more to get the paint to really look chipped and worn.  If you want it to just crackle a bit, use less.

 

Brush on your topcoat....

 

 

 

 

You can see in this picture how the paint isn't adhering as well in the areas of Vaseline...

 

I was bummed when I uploaded pics and this one came blurry.  By the time I realized it I had already passed by this step.   You can make out where the paint is rubbing right off.  Now at this point you can call it good and stop if you like the look.   I opted to do another coat of paint to whitewash over the sanded areas again. 

 

 

 All in all I used about three coats of paint, sanding inbetween to get a layered, worn effect.  

 

 

I love how it looks naturally timeworn unlike the crackle medium which to me just doesn't come out with a truly vintage look.  

 

 

After I was satisfied with my paint I cut a circle of chalkboard vinyl.  Have you used that stuff?   Amazing, love it!  So easy and it washes up beautifully.   And much less work than chalkboard paint...although I still use that too. 

 

 

I've been experimenting with Elmer's glue too.  I'll post about that after I mess around a bit.  So far I'm finding the cheaper glue works better for that method.  More to come....