My very first Printable!

I am so excited to present...... my very first printable.  I don't know about you, but I. LOVE. PRINTABLES! They are a cheap, easy and fast way to add a little "seasoning" to your decor. First let me start by giving a shout out to Kierste @ Brown Paper Packages (which by the way was the first blog I ever bookmarked) for the link to the super cute Halloween paper that you can find HERE. So here goes.... just print and enjoy. Also, I would {LOVE} if you would be sure to follow my blog. I will be sure to be putting up some super cute crafts in the coming days!

Or you can get the PDF version of the second one without the eyes HERE.
Thanks for stopping by.... Happy Crafting... Marissa ;)

Christmas in July- Part One.... The list

Well I know what you are thinking... Christmas already. I was kind of thinking the same thing , but you know its almost the middle of July right now! WOW.... this summer is going fast. (At least it is for me). I don't think there is one weekend between now and the start of school that we don't have plans. Ok ... let me get to the point..... as a crafter I like to think I am going to have ALL this time to create all these fabulous things floating around in my head, but the truth is that I will wait until the last minute and half, ok none, of the things I want to make will get made. So this year I am starting early, like right now! I have always found that a good place to start is with the list.
Challenge1: Make a list of everyone you might give a gift too. I mean like everyone you know... school teachers, mailmen, Sunday school teachers, PTA moms, coaches, etc.  Don't leave anyone out. You can always pair down the list later, but like my mama always says, better to have too much than too little. So that it is.... get going on that list.

Flower Arrangement

Here is another project we decided to do for the graduation party. For the cake and sign-in table we wanted a more elegant piece. I went to a wedding earlier this year and saw the most beautiful arrangement with hydrangeas and limes. It was delish!!!  First begin by covering a Styrofoam ball with moss.

 

Next we went a you tube and searched for flower arranging (I was kinda nervous being that this was my first attempt at floral arrangement). Anyway, one of the great suggestions on the video was to add in the big flowers first and do "fill ins" with the rest. I think it kind of looks like a little girl (lol)

 

 Last we just filled in with lots of other flowers. One tip for you: we saved all the leaves from the stems and where we needed a little filler... we just stuck it right in. I think the finished project turned out quite nice:) Happy crafting... Marissa :) 

Graduation Candy Topiary

Well its Graduation time 2011. Its the time of year that we all reflect (well at least me anyway) on how much has happened over this past school year, how much our children have grown and how our lives will be forever changed. One of my very good friends and co-workers, Denise, has a daughter graduating this year. It has kind of been an emotional year around the office because her daughter is an only child (as is mine) and we wish they just wouldn't grow up so fast :( Yes we have had PLENTY of pity parties this year..... anyway, Denise asked me to help with the Graduation party, and of course being the neurotic crafter, party organizer, helper, friend that I am I said YES! She decided she wanted to go with a "candy theme". Since I just finished my nieces' sweet treat party I had some {sweet} ideas from blogland :) This is one such idea. Basically it is a Styrofoam ball with lollipops stuck in it. One tip when creating this is make sure to use a secure base to keep it held up. I underestimated how heavy this would be when I bought materials, luckily for me my dad is a carpenter and had some scrap wood to help make the base steady. I then painted the rod, attached ribbon and put the base inside a bucket that was purchased at a local home improvement store. The cute flower shaped chargers are from Hobby Lobby and then we filled them with lifesavers! It would estimate that it took me about 30-45 minutes to do the whole thing, and the best part is it is so simple, you can watch your favorite show while doing it! Happy Crafting~marissa~

New Directions

I love notebooks! There I said it. I do. I can't help it. When I go to the store I always walk down the school supply isle and look them. I love all the cool cover designs and the crisp new pages just waiting to be filled with my ideas, thoughts, list, ramblings etc. I have anywhere from 3-10 notebooks going at one time. There is no rhyme or reason to what goes in which book, but rather a place to put thoughts down. O sure every year, I tell myself... this is the book for this year, but somehow, I always wind up with new notebook every few months or so. Ok..... so where is all this going. Well, I'll tell ya.... I want this blog to be a "notebook". Here I am free to post actual pictures of all the ideas I have floating around in my head. So here goes... for the second time :)