Crafty McCraft-A-Lot

Stitchy, stitchy, stitchy! I have been stitching like a crazy lady! I am in a tea towel swap with some of my awesome friends. I am so excited to have my towel crisscross around the world and be stitched on by some of the greatest fiber artist out there. Seriously, you guys! I'm dying!

I stitched this up for my friend Tara and now her towel is on its way to New Zealand. The towel travels better than I do!



Remember the cross stitch I did for my friend AlwaysInspired? The alphabet gnomes? Her father-in-law made this beautiful frame. It makes me so happy that I was able to stitch this for her and to be a part of a family heirloom



I'm not just stitching things up, here are some close-ups of my Elmer's projects for the latest Craftster video. These mousetrap paperholders are so easy to make! I took of the hook on the trap, painted them and then added a few little doodads. Super duper cute and easy!

My big project for Elmer's was this clothespin wreath. The circle is an embroidery hoop and I cut a piece of cardboard in a circle, about an inch bigger than the hoop. I glued the circle to the hoop. I covered the clothespin and the hoop with decorative (washi) tape. The best part is I have my hoop already made and I can change out the clothespin as I see fit or as the seasons change. I have a cute red and white stripe tape that would look great for Christmas.

Whew! I have been busy and that's just what I've made in the past couple of weeks! I can't wait to show you what I am doing for the next Craftster video! I better get back to the craft cave aka, the couch. What? Don't judge!

Meh...

via http://tesaen.tumblr.com/

Do you ever have those days that are just kind of "meh?" You know, those days where nothing is really wrong but you are just kind of "meh." I was having one but I knew I had to work myself out of it. I think it started with a pity party I was having. I was thinking about how I was when I was younger. I was cuter, I didn't have a care in the world...which led me to think about being creative and how, when I work really hard on something, I think it's awesome and people are less than impressed. This then led me to feeling sorry for myself and questioning  my creative juices, my looks, my life and then I just sat down in tears and whined, "meh."

I knew I had to get out of this funk. I allowed myself a little whining,  had some cake at my pity party and then picked my my presents and began to unwrap them. I first started with my looks.

I told myself, yes, I am not the same as I was 10 or 20 years ago. I will never be that person again. I now dye my hair a little more, I have a few more pounds on me and I now see laugh lines around my eyes. All of these things remind me of the life I have led and the laughter I have shared with friends. I will never be that 20 year old, staying up until the sun comes up. I now get up at that hour and take care of a furry family (OMP included). I will never be the pretty young girl again but I am an experienced woman. I don't get the looks I used to but you know what, I have now learned that my self worth is not determined by the attention of another. I am comfortable and confident in my skin and with myself and although I won't win any beauty contests, I'm happy with who I see in the mirror.

I decided to tackle my feeling of inadequacy in the creative department. Here's the deal. I make cutesy stuff and that will never change. Some people just aren't into cute stuff and that's okay. I don't like everything I see either. I looked at a piece I did recently and the lines were crooked-my first thought was to throw it out the window and start over. I wondered how people could do this project so easily while I couldn't even cut a stupid straight line. UGH! I just wanted to cry but I still put it out there. Even though my lines are a little off, I am still trying stuff. I'm still creating. I may fail at a few things or be a little off but I'm trying.

Last, I looked at my life as a whole. This is a big challenge because it is so easy to find the fault and the "things I don't have" instead of focusing on the things I do have. I do have a loving caring wonderful husband, I do have three little dogs that make me smile and giggle, I do have a beautiful house and good friends. I do have the ability to communicate, an education, my health. I have so much to be thankful for and yet, I find myself slipping into sadness and focusing on the negative. I finally decided to just breathe, to just feel and be thankful and allow myself to be in bliss

After reassessing my attitude and my "meh," I started feeling better. Instead of focusing on everything that I perceive is wrong with my life, I decided to embrace it.  My body has carried me through a lot of amazing adventures, my creativity allows me to express how I want to see the world and my life is pretty blessed.

What do you do to get out of your funk and remind yourself of the good in your life?  Do you allow it to weigh you down or do you rise above?

(See what happens when I don't write for two days?)

Scrappy Dog Sunday!

Today is Earth Day! Yahoo! Earth! The pups are having a great time celebrating Earth Day.


Let's plant a garden!



Compost is your friend, even if it is stinky! You can make your own from scraps of veggies and fruits and clippings (just no seeds!)


MOM! You didn't smash the yard debris down enough! Let us help you.



After the garden is planted, it's time to relax in the sun. Don't forget your sunscreen!

Saving the Earth is hard work! We'll just play ball and let mom and dad pull the weeds. BTW, mom, you missed a spot.

Happy Earth Day everyone! Get out there and do some planting! Be kind to nature and love one another or else Lola is coming after you.

Salivating Saturday

For some reason, I have a love for food that isn't pretty but is dang good. Chicken fried steak-ugly as sin but I can not resist it. Gooey cake-not the prettiest but it is delish! So, when I was cruising Pinterest and found this recipe, I knew it fell into the ugly food, yummy in my tummy category.

Lime Cilantro Chicken is easy to make, can be frozen for future use and did I mention that it is SOOOOOO good. The recipe I used was from the What's Cooking Chicago blog (her recipe was adapted from the Food Network). I did make one minor change but it was only because I didn't have the ingredient on hand.

Lime Cilantro Chicken 
1 cup fresh cilantro leaves (do not include stems)
2 1/2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons sliced, toasted almonds
3 tablespoons chopped, fresh garlic
1 1/2 teaspoon lime juice
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan
1 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 cup water
In your  blender, mix together the cilantro, olive oil, almonds, garlic, lime juice,Parmesan cheese, salt and water on low speed until mixed thoroughly

For the chicken
cooking spray
2-3 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut in bite sized pieces
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup cilantro lime pesto
 Season chicken with salt, pepper and garlic powder. In a skillet sprayed with cooking spray, saute chicken over medium high heat and cooked through.
Remove the chicken from the pan and put into a bowl. Toss cooked, seasoned chicken with the pesto.

We made tacos with them, using corn tortillas but I think this would be so good on a salad maybe with some blueberries or strawberries on top.

Now, for the freezing part. Just make all of this ahead of time and put into a freezer bag. You don't have to worry about the pesto because there isn't oil in it. It's either water, like I used, or chicken broth, like the original recipe.

There ya go!  The chicken may not be the prettiest, in fact, it kind of looks like a leprechaun's diaper exploded, but trust me-it is some of the best chicken you will ever have and against red and yellow peppers or a mixed green salad, it is beautiful!

Feel Good Friday!

Everyone's Friday should be filled with tutus, good friends, yummy food and a side of OMP. Mama is tired! See you guys tomorrow for more awesomeness. I promise.

Good Night!

Elmer's Master Craftsters

 
I recently had the opportunity to work with Elmer's and Xacto on a project for Craftster.org. I got to work with some very cool products and some seriously amazing crafty peeps.

First up is Cackle. Holy moly! She is killing me with such beautiful projects. Her paper cutting project in breathtaking.

I'm sure you have seen jillybeans around the internet. Her work has been featured in many crafty blogs.These pumps are off the hook crazy!

Oh my goodness! LimeRiot not only is just about the sweetest and cutest girl in the whole world but she is crazy talented. Seriously, can I be her when I grow up? Her driftwood houses are so stinking cute.

Okay, you need to run, not walk over to OopsICraftMyPants! I LOVE her! LOVE! I need this monster. Help me Rhonda, it's adorable.

Stifflersmom and I go way back. Her sense of style and puppy dogs is impeccable. Did I mention she can craft the pants off of anyone. Not that I have seen this happen, but I've heard rumors. These flying pigs would look great in my kitchen.

Last but not least, it's me and my silly video!


Make sure you check out all the other projects on the Master Crafster Elmer's and Xacto board. You will be blown away!

Oh! My Tummy!

At home with OMP.....

Me: The five year old part of my brain says that eating all the taffy is a good idea. The forty-one year old part of my stomach says not so much.

OMP: Which did you listen to?

Me: Which do you think?

OMP: I'll get the Pepto.

Ohhh....it's gonna be a long night.