February 28, 2011

Take-A-Look Tuesday

Time to Take-A-Look at what you've been up to - Can't wait to see what comes this week - and who will be the most viewed link - maybe you?

- - just a run down- -

Link to a Specific Post, not your whole blog (to do this, click on the title of the post you want to link and it will open on it's own page, then copy that url)

Please don't link up a post that you've already linked here before - since we've been getting so many linkups (great!!) let's keep it to a maximum of 2 links per person - thanks

Grab my button below - you can post it on your post, on your sidebar, on a page of a list of link-ups, wherever.

Try to visit a few other people on the list - it's fun to support and encourage fellow craftiness - and everyone LOVES comments

If you're new to link-ups and have questions let me know and I'll do my best to help

Photo Wall Art - Portrait Display

As you know, our formal pictures are in our formal living room. For the Family Room, I wanted something more casual. I've seen several ideas about cutting boards and Mod Podging on photos so they look like they're on gallery boards or canvas, etc. I was going to do that, but then it evolved to all the pictures being on one board - I LOVE it!

First, I took down my curtains from my family room (seen at the bottom of this Post About Curtains) and rigged them up outside so I could take pictures with them as the background - I knew the pictures would match the room that way! For the casual feel I went with some crazy faces and some not - just take A LOT of pictures so you have options. The hardest was to get my just-turned-2-year-old to make crazy faces on demand - I ended up making faces at him and he would mimic them back. I made 8x10 prints (through MPix - so impressed with them).

To start, I painted a thin board (it can't be too heavy because it'd be trickier to hang on the wall) black - obviously, color choice is up to you. I had the board cut to 36 inches by 40 inches - I have 12 pictures with 1.5 inch gaps between everything.

Then I put mod podge on the back of the pictures and stuck them down where I wanted them.

Then I put a generous coat of Mod Podge over the top of everything - this helped seal down the edges of the pictures and give some texture (like canvas) to the finish.

We went with exposed hardware and put a screw and washer in each corner. Trevor found some rubber spacer things and used those behind the board (kind of hard to see - it's black) to make the board sit out from the wall - I love that.

It fills up the wall behind the couch. This view is standing in the family room looking back into the kitchen:

The kids love having their "crazy faces" hanging on the wall. I love the impact and personality it adds to our family room. You can do this - it's just spreading glue on a board - go try it!

entering this month - fingers crossed!

February 26, 2011

Random Info - - and win a blog button swap!!

How did the end of the month sneak up so fast?!? It's only a few days away - so I've got lots of end-of-the-month blogkeeping to do - - plus I need to giveaway for a FREE spot on my sponsor sidebar (button swap style - me on your blog, you on mine) - that info will be at the bottom of this post.

But first - sorry about the late notice, but if you want to spend your tax refund on a Silhouette, now's the time - through March 1st, so hurry, there's a great deal:

--You can get a machine, 2 rolls of Premium Vinyl, 1 roll of Transfer, and a Home Decor CD - a $395 value, for just $225 ($375 value) !! using the code "SUGARBEE"
AND, if you already have a Silhouette
--All Premium Vinyl is 25% off using the code "SUGARBEE"

Some projects using Premium Vinyl:

--House numbers

--Car Decals (no cutter machine needed for this one!)

--Memo Board

--Mixer Decals

In other exciting news, I put some stuff in my Etsy Shop - finally! Well, really only a couple of things, but maybe I'll get around to adding more items in the next few days.....

And speaking of Etsy, I keep meaning to point out that in various photos of me you might have noticed by bias tape earrings, from Along for the Ride's Etsy Shop - so cute! And while you're there, check out the mum hairclips - those are calling to me - along with lots of other fun stuff...

Interested in advertising on Sugar Bee Craft Edition (currently getting 2,400+ DAILY page views)?? Just send me an email (mandybeez at gmail)

Did you see my new sponsors??
Shaklee - healthier life!!
Vintage Garden Blooms - clay jewelry and more

Please check out all the sponsors so they can feel the support of Sugar Bee readers - because of them, I can make this blog what it is (link-ups cost $$, along with extra google storage, bigger photo accounts, and all those other blog fees you don't think about...)

Speaking of awesome readers, did you guys see on my sidebar the list of top commentors??

Top Commmentors

How about a special prize for Kassi - - for all that blog love, you get a Blog Button Swap for February - congrats!!

And for everyone else, I've got one more Blog Button Swap Spot up for grabs - just leave a comment on this post and I'll pick someone Monday evening - - good luck!

And, more random info for the month of February -

Top Posts:

Full Apron Tutorial

Thread Rack - tutorial

Rolled Flower Necklace

Valentine's Pillowcase Dress - and kid sewing!

WIWW - discussing jeans - and a SUPER giveaway!!

Top Referring Sites - thanks for sending readers my way!

widget.linkwithin.com

www.google.com

www.inlinkz.com

www.u-createcrafts.com

somedaycrafts.blogspot.com

www.oneprettything.com

www.craftedition.blogspot.com

thepleatedpoppy.com

www.theidearoom.net

www.facebook.com

Style Stitches Bag #2

I saw the Sew Alongs for the Amy Butler bags and knew I wanted to join in - I tried to get the book from the library but I was WAY down on the wait list - after seeing the fabulous bags everyone was making, I couldn't take waiting anymore and ordered it via Amazon. But it wasn't going to ship til April - what?!? That's what I get with free shipping - so I canceled. Meanwhile, my aunt ordered her copy and somehow ended up with two - it was meant to be.

So I just got the book this week and figured I wouldn't participate in February, but then I really wanted to make that bag, so I just did! I liked the idea of using it for a craft tote (that picture in the book where it's filled with yarn) - the "shopper" bag didn't really appeal to me because (and don't hate me) I like getting plastic bags - we use them to wrap up stinky diapers, so the kids can empty trashcans into manageable sacks, etc.

Sorry for ANOTHER sewing post this week - it seems like I go in crafting spurts - all sewing, all repurposing, all paper, etc - anyways, I've been on a sewing kick. For you non-sewer, stay tuned because Monday I have an awesome photo board craft for you.

I made a few changes to the pattern -
--first, SOOO glad I looked through the flicker groups before I started - I saw that a lot of people divided the pocket and I thought that would be most functional for me. I also saw that someone added a ruffle to the front pocket, which I loved and copied:

--actually, maybe I should mention this first - I cut down the size of the whole bag. The pattern calls for a lot of fabric - I made this last-minute and used what I had on hand, so I had 2 pieces of Amy Butler Fabric that were 1/2 yard each. I made it work. The bag is still plenty big - especially since I don't want it to be a "shopper". The secret is that for the lining where you need more fabric than the outside (for the handles and outside pocket) I didn't have enough so half-way down I used plain fabric (fabric - sheet - - it's all the same - you know I love using sheets!)

--I didn't put any pockets on the inside - since it's half plain I knew I wouldn't be reversing the bag. So I added a pocket to the outside - the one on the back doesn't have a ruffle because I didn't have enough fabric.

Anyways, I LOVE my bag - you should make one!!

I made a smaller version for a little book bag - the girls picked their fabric and helped sew it - here's the neighbor, who LOVES hers. And a picture of my daughter, who sewed her own (I did the bottom - that part's a little tricky - the rest is just straight seams).

February 25, 2011

SYTYC Blog Swap

Every Friday I'm going to feature a fellow SoYouThinkYou'reCrafty contestant from Season 5 - check out their blogs!

Lauren @ Creatively Crafty Baby

i am
the mother of the two cutest kids in the world… sorry… its true

in love with James Bond… (seriously… im married to James Bond)
a lover of music… Its as necessary as breathing.
a singer
a lazy blogger at Creatively Crafty Baby
from the ghetto of southern california, living in a town with more cows than people… and I LOVE it…
a flip flop wearing, beach loving girl living where it is winter more than half the year… But I wear my flip flops anyway… (havent gotten frostbite yet)
addicted to creating… If I go for stretches without having a creative outlet I get a little cranky.