Hand Made for Fall - A party and a Giveaway!

I've been a busy girl! I have been wanting to do a giveaway for Fall, and when my fab friend Heidi revealed that her Monthly Craft Challenge for October would be Fall-themed crafts, I thought "YES! I will do a giveaway of Fall items - handmade by me!" So today I'm linking up with Heidi, and introducing my Handmade For Fall Giveaway as I show you what I've made for Heidi's party! Sound good?

First, a while back I showed you some coasters that I made, but it was clear back when I first started blogging, so I'm going to show you again with this new seasonal set! This idea has been floating around blog land, and I've seen several different variations. Here's how I do it.


You will need: paper napkins, 4x4 ceramic tiles, 4x4 cork squares, MOD PODGE (what else?), sponge brushes (not shown), and polyurethane (not shown).


Start by cutting your napkin down to a manageable size, slightly bigger than your tile.
Next spread a layer of mod podg onto the tile. Smooth your napkin in place, and brush some mod podge onto the sides and fold the napkin down. Please excuse my disgusting fingernails...I got brown spray paint from one of my other projects under them!

Spread another few layers of Mod Podge over the top of the napkin (on the sides too). It will wrinkle up...that's okay! Wrinkles add character! When the MP has completely dried, do several coats of the polyurethane over the top and sides. Let dry thoroughly...like overnight.

Once your coasters are completely dry, finish them off by attaching the cork squares to the bottom with E6000 or other permanent adhesive.



This Halloween set is actually for my sister in law...but I have a fall one for you too! Just scroll down to see!

The first item in my Handmade For Fall Giveaway is this fun set of Fall Coasters!

Next up is an idea that I totally stole from my crafty friend and business partner Tanielle. She did a cute spring flower set of these clothespin refrigerator magnets back when the weather was warmer! I decided to give them a fall twist.

You need: wooden clothes pins, Mod Podge, sponge brushes, scrapbook paper, magnets and embellishments.

Cut your paper to the size of the clothes pin. Mod Podge the paper to one side of the pin. Add a couple more coats of MP over the top. Let dry.

Next, adhere magnet to the other side of the clothes pin. I used magnet strips that came on a sheet, but I had to cut them down to fit.

Next, attach your embellishments however you like. Here's how mine turned out: The picture doesn't show how cute they actually are...the leaves are sparkly!

These are the next prize in my HFF Giveaway!

The next item I actually already posted about here. Go check it out if you want to see how I made it.

Framed Glitter Leaves.

Last, if you know me at all, you know I LOVE these Mod Podged letter blocks. I showed how I made them at my very first edition of Mod Podge Mania... you can check that out here if you want. For my giveaway I knew I had to do a set for fall! What do you think? Do ya wanna win 'em?

Harvest Letter Blocks.

So lets review everything that is included in this giveaway:

1 Framed Glitter Leaf Picture, set of 6 fall coasters, set of 4 fall refrigerator magnets, and 1 set "Harvest" letter blocks!

So, you know the drill, but lets review:

1 entry for commenting

1 entry for following

1 entry for blogging about my giveaway.

Please leave a separate comment for each thing so I can use random.org! The giveaway will be open until Tuesday, October 6 at 11:59 p.m. MST. Cool?

Okay so back to the party. I also had fun doing these fall crafts...click on the titles if you want to read about them! Then head over to Heidi's to see what everyone else has done!

Kids' craft - glowing jack-o-lanterns.

Dollar Store Decor (flowered pumkins, wreath, and glitter leaf picture)

Thanks Heidi for the fun party, and I can't wait to see who wins the giveaway!

OH - p.s. Please feel free to keep linking up to Mod Podge Mania...I love your projects!

Mod Podge Mania !!!

Welcome friends! Are you so excited? Me too! I can't wait to see what you've all come up with!

But to start I want to wish a very Happy Birthday to my sweet Cowgirl. I can't believe she's 9! I have a post all about her to share, but I want to have pictures from the family Birthday party on Friday!

For my project, I must admit I STILL didn't finish the big project I've been hoping to show you. I keep running into problems. So I'm shooting for October's MPM to post that one!

But I was able to do another project that I have actually been thinking about for a while.

Since discovering all the fabulous talent in blog land, I have learned about, and fallen in love with the idea of accessorizing with books. I have a few spots around the house where I use some fun, old books in my decor.

Then I thought how cool it would be to Mod Podge the books! Well, I had this idea, and then I saw it in a catalog too! I don't think they Mod Podged, but it was the same idea. Anyway, here's what I came up with for a book set on my piano!

Got some cool books from Deseret Industries for $1 each.

I wanted to use old sheet music, but couldn't find any, so I just printed some up on the computer!

I traced the book onto the music, for the back I traced it to the exact size.

For the piece that would be on the front, I traced it but left one side long enough that it would wrap around the back of the book.

I mod podged the front piece on first, wraping around to the back, then mod podged the back piece over the the flap that was wrapped around from the front piece. Does that make sense? I don't know the best way to explain it. But it ended up placing the seam right on the back edge where the back of the book, and the spine meet. So it's not very noticeable.

I now have a fun little set for accesorizing my piano!

What did you Mod Podge this month?

Let's start linking up...and please remember:

Leave a comment!

Please link back to this post so that people will know where the party is!

Please take the time to visit as many other Mod Podge Maniacs as you can!

Following the above rules makes it more fun for everyone...I can't wait to see your talent !

Friend Makin' Monday!

This week Amber asks us to list a few things we can NOT live without!

So here goes:

1. Mod Podge! Check out how much I love this stuff by clicking on the Mod Podge Mania link in the right column....and be sure to come back on the 30th to link up YOUR projects!

2. Music! I love music. I love playing the piano, or listening to my son play the violin, or listening to my husband and daughter sing in the church choir, or just rockin' out to my favorite tunes on the ipod! Music is a HUGE part of my family life, and I don't know what we'd do without it!

3. Fabulous Earrings! I love cute earrings. I wish I had a different pair for EVERY outfit!

Of course, there's all the important stuff too, like my family, friends, and faith! What can you NOT live without?

Head over to Amber's to link up and make some new friends!

Look what I got!

I told you a while back that I was participating in the fabulous Shawn at Seriously's Brithday Swap! It was so much fun. The person who had my name was Michelle and she is adorable! Go check her out.

Michelle contacted me around the deadline to let me know she had special ordered an item with the funds that were allotted, but that it would be shipped straight from the company she ordered it from. Therefore I knew my package would be a little late. It was worth the wait!

A few days ago this fabulousness arrived!

I have always wanted a mother's necklace. I blurred it out to protect my children, but not only are their birthstones attached to the pendant, but also each of their names are engraved around the edge...isn't it beautiful?

Thanks Michelle...I love it!

Thanks Shawn for hosting such a fun swap!

Don't forget everyone, Mod Podge Mania on the 30th, and my Handmade For Fall giveaway reavealed on the 1st!

Dear Someone

Dear Dick Clark Productions,

You guys are jerks. Really.

I think it's really jerky of you to continually complain to YouTube about people posting favorite dance numbers from SYTYCD. Then YouTube yanks the videos, and suspends the users' accounts.

Why? The poeple who post the videos are not making money. You are not losing money. We all just love the show so much we want to keep revisiting our favorite moments.

I think I have proven time and again what a loyal fan I am of the show. I really don't appreciate logging in to watch a favorite dance I have bookmarked and getting the message "This video is no longer available due to terms of use violation". I just wanna watch the dances!

Know what else is really jerky? When I have posted a video to share with all my bloggy friends, and it's there for a couple days, then BAM! Nothin' but a big blank square on my blog because you guys have yanked the video. Why? What is so wrong with us wanting to watch our favorites over and over again? What harm is it causing YOU?

Just thought you should know what I think.

The loyal fan whom you continually disappoint,
Xazmin

Dear Monkey (yes...again!),

You know those little pink bags that mama has with her hairbow stuff? THEY ARE NOT WATER NETS FOR THE TOILET!

I purchased those bags for customers to carry their purchases in when Ribbon Blossoms does a boutique. I did NOT appreciate that you decided to use one in the bathroom to scoop water out of the toilet, and I certainly did not appreciate that you then flushed the bag down the toilet!

I also did not appreciate that you took the scissors and cut the ribbon streamers from the hairbow holders that Tanielle made for you and your sisters! Why would you do that?

I though we agreed last week that you and I were going to try harder to bring an end to my grey hairs and my yelling. Well guess what...so far - not so good!

Sincerely,
The still greying, and yelling mama

Dear Tanielle,

It's okay that my husband did not appreciate it that you "glittered" the dog just for fun when we were working on costumes the other day. I thought it was hilarious.

Thanks for the laughs,
Your way less organized friend and business partner.

It's once again time for "Dear Someone" with Shortmama. Go here to join in the fun and read more letters!

Randomness and EM:ME

I'm tired ladies. Too many late nights. Too many Early mornings. And I'm missing all the T.V. shows I was so excited to watch!

The NCIS shows premiered last night. Tuesday night is Young Womens. Besides being the secretary, I'm also the Personal Progress leader. Last night we got the girls started on putting together their family history. It will be a neat thing for them to have, and to keep.

I'm working on mine as well...I'll have to tell you all about the Personal Progress program soon. I love it. For sure a lot more important than some T.V. shows!

Tonight it's So You Think You Can Dance. I'll have to miss it. It's our first School Town Hall Meeting of the year. I'm sure there will be A LOT of parents there, because of the recent announcement of the resignation of our school director. We love him. We will miss him. But he recently was given the amazing opportunity to be the DEAN of a college! He obviously can not pass this opportunity up. We are so proud of him, and excited for him, and feel so lucky to have had him leading our school for a time...but now the process of finding someone to replace him makes me tired to think about.

My kids are loving school. Today Bookworm gets to go to the Space Education Center and will be participating in a space simulation mission. He did it last year with his Discovery (awesome program our school offers) Crew, and said it was the coolest thing he'd ever done. They will be doing a different simulation this time. He won't be back at the school until 7 tonight! Then next week their class is doing an archeological dig!

Our school is so cool. I'm going to have to do a post sometime about our awesome programs.

For EM:ME hosted by my friend Amber...I just have this to say. I started running again - going with my mom, and taking my fat dog so she can get some exercise! Then I got the WORST freakin' chest cold! I mean, deep, painful coughing from the chest. You know the kind where there's no way you can run?

Yeah, that sucked. However, I did mostly lose my appetite and didn't eat much. Which could be a good thing, except I downed a TON of Dr. Pepper to help with my recovery! Oh, well - I'm still coughing, but I think I feel good enough to start running again...wish me luck!

I guess I'm pretty boring today...how's everything going with all you ladies?

Donny, Donny, Donny!

The title is meant to be said in the "Marsha, Marsha, Marsha!" voice from The Brady Bunch!

Did you watch last night? I think Donny did great! I mean...for a non-ballroom dancer. They raved about Aaron Carter, but honestly, I thought Donny did better. Something about the way Aaron moves bugs me. Oh wait, maybe it's just his personality that bugs me...whatever.

If you missed it, check it out:

Donny SMOKED everyone in the "dance relay" where they each have a 30 second spot dancing the same dance. Yeah...he did Utah proud last night!

What did you guys think?

Still up to my eyeballs in tutu costumes...I promise to get caught up with y'all soon!

Reasons

Top 3 reasons I don't buy Ramen Noodles:

1. My kids love them.
2. My kids can fix them by themselves.
3. I'm lazy.

See how these 3 things could equal trouble? If I have Ramen in the House, that's all my kids will ever have, because it's so easy to just say "yes" when they say..."Can we just fix ourselves some Ramen for dinner?" Yeah, Ramen on hand equals the end of balanced meals in this house.

Top 3 reasons you should change your comment settings to remove "word verification", and enable your comments to appear in a pop-up window:

1. Word Verification takes too much time (lazy...remember?). I really like to make sure to visit all my favorite bloggers, and when I haven't been by in a while, I like to go back and get caught up a little. Having to type in the word verification every. single. time. really slows me down!

2. "spam" comments are not nearly as common as you'd think. I removed my word verification months ago and have never had one. If you get one, it's not like you can't just delete it.

3. The pop-up window feature RULES! Sometimes, when I'm reading a particularly detailed post, there are several things I'd like to comment on. But often, when I get to the end of the post, I can't remember them all. With the Pop Up Window, I can still see the post, and just move the window to go back and re-read different parts of the post. This is also very helpful if you forget the name of the person (not the blogger, but the person they told a story about), or which child you are wanting to leave a comment about.

Changing the settings for your comments is VERY simple. Just go to your Blogger Dashboard. Click on "settings". Then click on the "comments" tab. Scroll down through your options. On the option called "comment form placement" select the "pop up window" option. Then move on to the option called "show word verification for comments?" and select "no".

Tada! You've just made it MUCH more convenient for your loyal readers to comment away!

Top 3 reasons my house is a disaster:

1 - Blogging
2- Ribbon Blossoms Halloween Orders
3- Again...LAZY!

I hope you're all having a fabulous Monday! Remember these IMPORTANT upcoming events:

September 30 - MOD PODGE MANIA!
October 1 - Monthly Craft Challenge with Heidi, AND the reveal of my Hand Made For Fall GIVEAWAY!

Halloween Kid's Craft, anyone?

The other day I ran across THE cutest craft idea for kids here. Loved this fun idea for glowing jack-o-lanterns, simple enough for ALL my kids to do, and cheap enough for me to let them!!!

Here's what you'll need:

glass jars (I used canning jars)
orange tissue paper
black paper
Mod Podge (saw that one comin', didn't ya?)
green paint

Optional:
lids and rings
green tulle

While the kids were busy cutting the tissue paper into strips (about 1.5 - 2 inches wide, length measured to fit the height of their jars)....


I went outside and spray painted the lids and rings (glued together with a dab of hot glue) green. You can just paint the top, threaded part of the jar green with a brush...but you all know I'm a lazy crafter. So spray paint it is!!

Once all the strips were cut...

It was time to break out the Mod Podge. Working with a section at a time, apply a layer of MP to the jar, then smooth a strip of tissue paper over the top. Repeat all the way around, overlapping the strips to create the stripe effect.

Once you have your entire jar covered, apply another layer or 2 of Mod Podge over the top. Then let dry.

While jars are drying draw your jack-o-lantern face onto black paper and cut out. Adhere face to your jar with Mod Podge, and finish with one more layer over the top.

Once they had dried, we put the lids on, and decorated with some cute green tulle tied around the lid. Use whatever you want to make your jack-o-lanterns glow. I used the battery operated flickering tea lights.

If you want to use a real candle, you'll have to leave the lids off!!

I took a video instead of just a picture so you could get the "glowing" effect!

My kids had a great time making these. Even Bookworm who thinks crafting is "for girls" and thought it "sounded dumb". He actually said "I thought this would be dumb, but it was actually pretty cool!"

If you try this out with your kids...come back and tell me...I love to see how everyone puts their own little twist on craft ideas they try!

Dear Someone

Dear Monkey,

Something has got to change. I mean it. I'm only 33 years old...I'm not meant to have this many grey hairs. Also, I'm pretty sure the neighbors don't appreciate the yelling they hear coming from this house.

So, I've been thinking about how you can be my big helper, and we can try to make the grey hairs and the yelling come to an end.

Let's talk about your relationship with the dog. I'm pretty sure she doesn't appreciate being blamed when you have an accident in your pants because you're too lazy to put your toys down and go to the bathroom. So please, I don't want to hear, "Ty's a naughty dog, she peed my pants" ever again. Okay?

Next, I really, really did not enjoy walking into the kitchen last week to find the floor, yourself, and the dog completely covered in flour. Dumping flour on the dog because you were, as you put it "making it snow on Ty" is not okay. I realize we're getting excited for Christmas, but it is NEVER okay to flock the dog!

Now, finally...I know you're a pretty smart girl. That's why I need you to get it into your head, that no matter now many times you try, you cannot fit the contents of your 16 oz. water bottle into the lid! So PLEASE quit trying to pour the water out of the bottle and into the lid so you can use it for a tiny cup. I'm sick of slipping in the water puddles you leave all over the tile.

I'm sure this isn't the last such letter I'll have to write, but my fingers don't have enough energy today to address EVERY issue you and I need to discuss - so let's just start here - shall we?

With All My Love,
They greying, yelling stressed out one - your mom.

I'm linking up to Shortmama's Dear Someone...go check it out to read more letters, or link up yourself!

New Stuff!

It's Wednesday! Man this week is turning into a long one! I'm sorry I haven't been by to visit these last couple of days...Ribbon Blossoms has been slammed with Halloween orders! That's a good thing...but I miss you!

We have had order after order for TuTu Halloween costumes come in...I love it! It's not too late to place your order...go here if you're interested. Tell your friends!

I spent last night updating our website to add some of the new products Tanielle and I have been working on. Here are a few of the products we've recently added:

Bitty Bling Bows

Blossom Clippies

Candy Corn Korker set

Applique Onesies

We are also working on some new Tutu costume designs to add to the site! Go check it out if you haven't been by in a while.

Also...we're gearing up for an awesome Christmas Giveaway from Ribbon Blossoms...so stay tuned!

I'll be catching up as best I can between making tutus this week! Love Ya! Miss Ya!

Friend Makin' Monday - Fall T.V.

So today for Friend Makin' Monday, hosted by the lovely Amber, the question is:

What are some of your favorite fall shows?

I am so excited for the season premiere of THIS show:

Mark Harmon AND Michael Weatherly on the same screen...doesn't get better than that!

And as if that weren't enough...The Powers That Be at CBS have decided to treat me with a double dose of NCIS, with their new show, NCIS: Los Angeles...with another tantalizing twosome...L.L. Cool J and Chris O'Donnel...how cool is this?:

Yes I Do watch some girly shows too: Don't tell anyone but my guilty pleasure?

One Tree Hill

And of course we've already been graced with the presence of the premiere of the Fall season of SYTYCD! Check out my FAVORITE moment from last week's auditions:

If you don't want to see the contestants' little bio and history with the show (well worth the watch IMO), just fast forward to 1:33. This is awesome. Make sure to hang in, past the judges comments to see the coolest part!

What are some of your favorite Fall shows?

I hope every one is busy workin' on a project for this month's Mod Podge Mania - there are so many fun ideas inspired by fall! So make sure to come back and link up on Sept 30, and don't forget I will be revealing my Hand Made For Fall giveaway on the 1st!

Dollar Store Decor

So last week I bragged about the crafty finds I scored at the Dollar Tree. Today for Amy's Round Robin I thought I'd share some of the ways that little trip has helped me get into the spirit of fall!

Remember I told you about these awesome fall leaves that came in a 10 pack? They are even more awesome than I first thought! They're poseable! So you can just crinkle them a little and they look SO REAL! But that's not what I used them for first. First I rounded up a couple of sheets of scrapbook paper, this dollar store picture frame that I roughed up a little with some sand paper... And also my handy-dandy can of glitter spray. This my friends is a crafters best friend. You know my motto "Everything's better with glitter!"

I sprayed the leaves with glitter, followed by a coat of clear acrylic spray to keep it from wearing off, cut the scrapbook paper down to size and glued it all how I wanted it (glue stick on the paper, and just a couple of dabs of hot glue for the leaves) and there you go!

The picture doesn't do it justice, it's very pretty and sparkly! This project cost me $2, because I already had the paper and glitter spray. It helped me turn this:

Into This!: Next I took these fun little gourds. They have those little plastic beads on them that make them kind of sparkly, you know what I mean? Anyway, I confess that these actually came from Walmart, not the dollar store...but they were still only $1!

These flowers that WERE from the dollar store,

And I glued the flower heads around the base of the Gourds...I love how they turned out! I used them to replace the candles I had in my candle holders on the mantel.

My mantel BEFORE: And AFTER!:

See how cool the leaves look, just scrunched a bit? And the glass and vase on the left are just filled with little mini-gourds I picked up from the dollar store...something so simple, but it really adds a lot to the mantel.

Last I took more of those Dollar Tree flowers, and this grapevine wreath that also was from Walmart...it cost me $3! (gasp!). I rounded up a few pinecones from my backyard, glittered them with my spray, and also used a few small pumkins I had left over from another project. I arranged everything how I wanted it,then went through and secured it all to the wreath with my hot glue gun.

Again, the picture doesn't do justice, you can't see the sparkles! And the flash doesn't show the true vibrancy of the colors. Please excuse the messy work surface, it's still on my craft table!

Here's a little close-up so you can kind of see how full it is!

This whole project cost me $8...Do you know how much one of these is at a boutique, or a home decor store?

I have had the best time getting in the mood for fall! Could any of these treasures show up in my Handmade For Fall Giveaway? Perhaps...You'll just have to wait until October 1st to find out!

Thanks Amy for hosting another fun Round Robin!