One Artsy Mama: October 2011

October 31, 2011

Are you scared yet?

ROWRRRR!

Were you scared? Don't be...he inists, "Don't say Aaaah, I'm a fwiendly dwagon!"

And indeed he is. Not only that, did you know that dragons love to make crafts?

Me neither, but this one does! This morning, we went to a special "Monster Mash" storytime at our fabulous library where three of the ladies in the childrens' department took turns reading stories like Go Away, Green Monster!, and The Monster at the End of This Book. Then, they got to make monster puppets and parade around the library in their costumes. The parade stopped at the circulation desk and the information desk where each child got some candy and stickers. Little Crafter was thrilled with the stickers and said the Smarties were for Daddy. You see, the only kind of candy he really likes are gumdrops and lollipops. Blue lollipops, in particular. Yes, the child actually hates chocolate! I have no idea where he gets that. If I hadn't been there when he was born, I'd swear he must be adopted...well, and if he didn't have my smile...

Ok, what about now? Are you scared yet?!

Here's my little dragon with his two favorite librarians, Ms. June and Ms. Beth. They are such amazing ladies, patient, kind, and so great with all the kids, it's no wonder he's totally in love with them.

This evening, we're going to do some "twick or tweeting", as LC says, first at the mall {which I love because it's bright and warm!} and then around the neighborhood a bit. Thankfully, most of the snow melted...how wrong is it to trick-or-treat in the snow?! A certain someone was insistent that Mama and Daddy needed to dress up too, and he even decided what we were supposed to be.

I was told, "Mama, you be a princess. I'm a dragon, you're my princess." How could I refuse?

Especially since the costume cost me nothing. The dress is from when I was maid of honor in my cousin's wedding, the gloves and bling are from various formal ballroom events, and the little tiara is from when I was a fairy princess a few years back. Easy and free...can't beat it!

Hubby was told, "Daddy, you be a pirate." Another almost-freebie. We spent $2 total on the bandana and eyepatch {side note: the Halloween section at Walmart was cleaned out, but we found the eyepatch in the eye care section around where the contact solution was}. Now I just have to rip a piece of red fabric for him so he has a sash...I have some left from LC's bed skirt. Easy peasy. To be honest, though, I'll be glad when this is all said and done so that he can shave the full beard and be back to just his goatee again!

Well, friends, that's how our Halloween is shaping up...what about yours? You know my feelings {I hate Halloween}, but I do enjoy seeing little kids in cute costumes! And now, I'm off to get a few things done while the dragon is asleep....shhhhhh!

October 30, 2011

Holidays, Snow, and Octopi

Hey, friends!Thanks so much for all the congratulations and for helping me celebrate 500 {well, 515, now!} You guys just make my day with your sweet words! I am also excited to have set up some fun guest posts on some of your blogs. Aaaaand, I just have to let you know how *crazy* excited I am about something that's just around the corner. You might have noticed the button over there on the sidebar ----->

The holidays are coming, and I've got a really exciting series up my sleeve!Check back on Thursday to see what it's all about and take a look over on the sidebar under "Coming Soon" to see all the friends who are going to be taking part in it! Can you see me jumping up and down?In the snow?

Yeah. You heard right. Snow. Ugggh. We had a freak snowstorm yesterday and had to break out our shovels before we needed our rakes! It's just wrong. The kids will have to wear boots to trick-or-treat...how silly is that?!

Anyway, I'm off to watch the Ravens game, which better be an improvement over last Monday's game! In the meantime, remember the aDORable little octopi I showed you last weekend?

Amanda over at ScrapProject 365 is having a giveaway to celebrate 100 followers {yay, Amanda! You go, girl!} and she's giving one away!! Along with a soda can cozy. You know you want one...go! Enter!

That's all I have for today...kickoff time!Happy Crafting!

October 29, 2011

500 Friends!

I honestly never expected this. When I started One Artsy Mama back in March, I remember watching my followers grow and celebrating when I hit 20. I hoped for 100 by the end of the year. My total ultimate goal that I hoped to hit "someday" was 500. And now here I am, just seven months later, with

Wow.

Thank you.

Thank you for coming on this journey with me. Thank you for reading, and thank you for inspiring me. I hope that I do the same for you.

When I hit 200 followers back in September, I hosted a fun, fabulous "Great Giveaway Weekend."

When I hit 400, I gave away a Circle of Hope necklace.

But this time, for this big occasion, I don't want to leave anybody out.

I don't want there to be just one winner. Because each one of you matters.

So, here are a few little gifts for each one of you, my followers and friends.

First, here's a free 5x7 printable I made with you {yes, you!} in mind.

Just right click the image, save to your computer, and print!

For those of you with blogs of your own, here's a button size version too.

If this quote describes how you feel about what you do, feel free to save it to your computer and display it on your blog, Facebook page, or wherever you like.

It's really true, you know. I can't begin to talk about all the amazing women I've 'met' and how they have blessed my life even though we live in different states or countries and may never see each other face to face. {I even got a real pen pal out of the deal!} I've gotten all kinds of encouragement, advice, participation in my events, and even a few fun presents. Bloggy BFF's, I trust you know who you are...and know that I love ya!

And, one more thing. I remember what it felt like to be just getting started. I remember wondering how I was ever going to get anyone besides my mom to want to read my blog or hear what I had to say. I remember getting discouraged after a few weeks when I still had just a handful of followers and saying to my husband, "I'll never be successful. I'll never be like those girls with hundreds of followers who are actually making a difference. I don't even know where to begin or how to get people to come see what I have to offer." And I remember him looking at me and saying, "Then you need to figure it out. See what other people do. Get out there and make it happen." It was great advice. The next day, I discovered my first linky party and shared a few projects...and found a few other parties to link up to. I emailed my local Macaroni Kid chairperson with the link to my blog and told her to feel free to use any of my crafts in her weekly newsletter. And she did. It was the start of this journey for me. Then, in September, I tried a few new things, like the Fall Craft Challenge, and my followers doubled in about a month's time. The journey continues, and I am so excited to see where it takes me next.

In the meantime, here's my offer for any of you who are just starting out, or who have been blogging for awhile without seeing much growth. This is not a contest, it's an open invitation for anyone who has less than 500 followers.

I know I'm still small potatoes compared to all the super-bloggers out there, but I do have a few things I'd love to do with/for you to help you in your journey if you're interested.

* Guest post on your blog

* Review your shop

* Have a little FAQ session with you via email

If you're interested in any of those {or a combination of them}, all you have to do is leave me a comment that includes your blog URL, your email address if it isn't connected to your profile, and which things you want me to do. I will contact you to set up dates and to give you more details.

Thanks again for being a part of One Artsy Mama!

I'm so glad you're here.

October 28, 2011

Cheap, Easy DIY Costumes

I suppose I ought to go along with the theme of my own party, so I figured I'd show you a couple of easy costume ideas that you can throw together without a lot of time, money, or effort.

This year, we're going to be a dragon, a princess, and a pirate...you'll just have to wait to see what we look like! But in the meantime, here's what we did last year.

Child of the 80's

All you need to be a child of the 80's are bright colors, big jewelry, and big hair {or a side ponytail!} You probably already have about half of what you need in your closet, and the rest {scarily enough} you can buy from Claire's or borrow from your teenage neighbor.

What I already had: flower headband, big necklace, black leggings, black tank top, bright pink and orange nail polish, blue eyeshadow {don't judge; it's part of a big kit!}

What I bought: denim miniskirt on clearance at Old Navy, heart belt from Goodwill, bangle and slap braclets, ring, and earrings from Claire's, hot pink t-shirt from Michaels

The only thing I had to do besides put it all on was cut out the neck of the t-shirt so it would have that familiar one-shoulder look you remember from the 80's...

I went for the "tie your tshirt in a knot" look; my friend Jess actually had one of those rings we used to use! You can also go for the "my shirt is really long enough to be a dress and I'm going to wear a belt with it" look. And of course, feel free to rock legwarmers. Highly encouraged.

Want to be an 80's couple like Gene and Claudia? Guys just need a t-shirt and jeans {ripped or french rolled is even better}, leather if you've got it, and of course a mullet if at all possible!

Remember, the key to the 80's: bigger and brighter is better!

The Blues Brothers

This might have been my favorite costume ever. The dance studio was having a Halloween party just two weeks after its 80's party, so I couldn't re-wear my costume. Hubby and I decided to be Elwood and Jake...can you guess who's who?

What we had: We both actually already had black suit jackets, white shirts, and black pants. Hubby had one black tie. We each had a watch, and we technically both had fedoras because we had bought them for a hustle showcase, but the average person might not have those already...

What we bought: Sunglasses...$5 at Walmart, a black tie for me from Goodwill

Yeah, crazy cheap!

On Halloween day, I wore my 80's getup and our friend Matt was Jake; he had his own suit, we just loaned him the hat, shades, and black tie and he was good to go. I think he makes a more convincing Jake since he's actually a man...giggle.

Little Crafter was a monkey last year and his costume came straight from Old Navy...just like it did again this year. I keep meaning to make them for him and then we see one and he falls in love and tries it on and he looks so ridiculously adorable that there's no walking out of the store without it. See what I mean?

His little girlfriend Tinkerbell was pretty cute herself! Did I mention we love the S family?

Hope you enjoyed this little blast from the Artsy Family's past and can put these cheap, easy ideas to use sometime! Stay tuned to see how we look this year...meanwhile, I need to get busy on an eyepatch for hubby. Everyone's sold out and a pirate's not a pirate without a patch! Oh, and while you're here stop by the party and link up YOUR costumes and other holiday projects, recipes, & fun!

Have a great day!

October 27, 2011

Falling for Crafts Challenge #7: Holiday Fun!

I have a confession to make. I hate Halloween. I really do. Even as a child, the only part I liked was dressing up {some things never change...I still enjoy getting in costume!}. I don't like to be scared and I don't like disgusting or gory things. Not to mention that as a Jesus-follower, the whole thing just doesn't feel quite right. I know we're the minority, but hubby feels the same way. Which is why we celebrate a little differently. We still dress up {albeit reluctantly for the hubs}, and we still take Little Crafter trick-or-treating, but instead of focusing on ghosts and witches and goblins, we do our own version of El Dia de los Muertos, which is how they celebrate in Mexico. Instead of being scary, it's a sweet, special time to remember loved ones who have passed away by telling stories, eating foods, and doing activities that remind you of those people.

Party Features

Boy, oh, boy did I have fun co-hosting the Crafty, Scrappy, Happy Link Party this past Thursday! I just loved seeing all of your creations. Thank you so much for sharing so many wonderful, fun, crafty ideas! Meanwhile, with almost 250 links, it was the hardest time ever choosing only a few projects to feature! Jaime will be featuring some on her blog too, but these are the top 10 that really stood out to me.

Babblings and More shared this new take on an old window.

Corkboard + fabric + photos + knobs = an absolutely GORgeous piece of decor for her daughter's nursery. I am so impressed.

Katie at My Darling Days made this cute photo prop for her first anniversary.

What a great idea that you could do year after year!

Speaking of photo props, I fell in love with {and pinned} these numbered onesies

made by Rachel at Holy Craft.

She bought onesies in a variety of sizes and appliqued numbers on them so that her sister-in-law can take photos of the baby wearing them to mark each month milestone. Then, she rolled them all up in a cute little box...what a fabulous shower gift! Makes me wish I knew someone who was pregnant!

Take a look at this Anthro Inspired Lamp shared by The Turquoise Piano! Isn't it fabulous?!

Amazing what some burlap and pearls can do to make an ordinary lampshade so chic!

Making Lemonade created this beautiful Butterfly Wall Art for her daughter's nursery. I just love the way the butterflies break right out of the frame and spill out onto the wall!

Kate, aka, Cheap Crafty Mama made these photo coasters for her mom's birthday. Wow! I want some with Little Crafter on them! Can you believe you can do this with tissue paper and Mod Podge?

I am loving this woodland chic twig vase linked up by Wonder Forest. Simple but elegant...this is definitely on my to-do list! I'll have to put Little Crafter in charge of gathering some sticks!

You all know I'm constantly on the lookout for good kiddo projects and fun learning activities. So, I flipped out when I saw this neat {and edible!} project about seasons shared by The Nature of Grace. If you have little ones, you're definitely going to want to check this out and see the ingredients and how the tree looks decorated for each season!

And while we're thinking about kids, get a load of this iPhone costume linked up by My Own Road!

And it's no-sew! Just felt and an iron and you're good to go...this is a costume contest winner for sure!

Julia at 551 East Furniture Design shared this aMAzing dresser...it started out as "nasty retro" {Julia's description} and she turned into this gorgeous piece of art for her son by painting pictures from "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" onto it. Um, WOW! I know a certain little someone who would go crazy for this!

And those are just ten of the awesome projects you all shared! I'm blown away!
Thanks again to Jaime for the opportunity to share her party this week!

Tomorrow, we're back to the Fall Craft Challenge...anyone want to guess what the theme might be? Be sure to stop by and see, then link up!

And I have some things in the works with another bloggy buddy of mine for a weekly linky party starting in December...more details TBA!

Exciting times at One Artsy Mama!

October 26, 2011

Guest Post: Sweet Anne Designs

Hello everyone, my name is Kayla and I'm from Sweet Anne Handcrafted Designs. I'm a graphic designer, and I work for a non-profit. I've been married 8 months and I LOVE to make things!
Thanks a bunch to Amy for allowing me to share this project with you!

I wear a lot of hats in life, which means a lot of "juggling the panic" and staying on top of a bunch of things at once. In order to do that, I write lists. They're on envelopes, post-it notes, scraps of paper- anything I can reach when I realize I have to jot something down. Lately, I've been trying to organize a little better, and I've come up with this little doo-dad that seems to do the trick.
Try it out and let me know! This tutorial will walk you through creating your own to-do list tear off paper pad. Its super easy, and no one will guess you made it yourself! Think of the gift possibilities for all the busy women in your life!
DOWNLOAD THE FREE TEMPLATE

What You Need:

Letter sized paper (try a colored variety!)
The template
Printer
Way of cutting paper in half. (I used a rotary cutter, but you could use scissors carefully, or try a local copy shop. They usually offer cutting services for around $2.00)
Backing material. (This can be the back of an old notebook, the wall of a cereal box, or chip board from your local scrapbook store. Mine came as packaging from a recent shipment of paper I ordered. )
Modge Podge
Paintbrush
Clamps or clips

How to make it:

First, print out the template, about 10 copies. (Remember to set your print to "range: 2-3″ so not to reprint the instructions each time.)
Cut the pages is half, so the finished product is 8.5×5.5in.
Separate the different designs into stacks. ("What a day is today," "Keep calm, carry on, " "By order of the Queen", "One to-do list at a time".)
Arrange the pages in a pleasing order. I did one of each, then repeat. So there weren't two of the same next to eachother.
Cut the backing material to 8.5×5.5in.
Stack the pages on top of the backing paper. Be sure to tap the stack onto a flat surface until the sides and top of each page are flush. Clip or clamp in place near the top.
At the top of the pad, spread a medium coat of Modge Podge, careful not to get any on the sides. Let dry.
Repeat step 7 three or four times.
Allow to set for 24 hours to be sure its dry!

*************************************************************Oh. my. gosh. How cool is that, guys? Thank you SO much, Kayla, for sharing this fun project with us and for the free template! I am so printing this out right now! I'm forever looking for something to write my lists on. And who knew my beloved Mod Podge could hold a notepad together? Honestly, is there anything it can't do? Do you think if I write to Mod Podge headquarters they'd let me be their poster girl?Well, anyway, thanks again to Kayla for visiting us today; be sure to pop by Sweet Anne Designs and tell her how much you enjoyed this tutorial! And while you're there, you can see my post about how to make this little pretty...yes, I know, Christmas already {don't be a hater}.

Happy crafting!

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