Green beans anyone?

So I've actually kept my garden up this year, and have started to reap the benefits. My peas didn't do so good, but the green beans have more than made up. We have been eating fresh green beans for weeks now. Luckily the kids LOVE them! It was time to pick them all though. I've never canned green beans, actually the only thing I have canned is tomatoes. Once.

So I researched quickly on the internet. Realizing I need a pressure cooker, I ran to Wal-mart. Why is everyone afraid of pressure cookers? Seriously, people online mention them exploding, even checking out the guy behind me in line told me I must be daring.

I decided that since I'd never heard of someone dieing by pressure cooker they must be semi safe to operate. Even by a novice such as myself. And after spending the entire day in the kitchen I ended up with canned and pickled green beans to enjoy in the future.

Very worth it!

Shadowbox Ornament Tutorial

Before I get to the shadowbox ornament, here is a small book I put together using the Cosmo Cricket Little Boy Biography Collection I have for sale on my website. There is a you tube video of the paper pack and of me putting together this album. Click on the photo to go to the page:



Now on to the tutorial. I made these darling little ornaments the other day! So cute and so easy to put together. Click on either photo to go to the video. Enjoy!

Here We Go!

So I've been getting some things done! I got an order in from Cosmo Cricket the other day as well. Beautiful stuff! Check out this lacing card kit:



Super easy to put together! Click on the photo to go to the website to purchase the kit. I also made a video of the one I put together, check it out!

Dreams Video

Here are some of the items that I've made and added to the website. The fan embellishments come in various colors of paper and glitter. There are 3 different fonts to choose from as well. I'll be adding additional colors in the future.

The bag of tags is another new thing I'm working on. I'll have different colors and shapes as fast as I can get them done and added!



This paper pack from Cosmo Cricket is absolutely gorgeous! The papers have a vintage flair and there is also a Little Boy set. I've made a video of the contents of each pack. I'm working some photo books with the papers that I'll show you when I'm done. Click on the picture to purchase either pack!

Little Girls Video Little Boys Video




I've also added some Halloween papers and stamps. I'm going to be putting together a Haunted House album kit once I get all of the supplies in, so stay tuned for that!

I need a Vacation! I think...

Actually, I just don't know. Where in the world are the days going to? They are flying by so fast. If I think about it I get overwhelmed. Maybe if I took a vacation when I got home I'd be refreshed and able to collect myself? Or maybe I would feel even farther behind. Behind in what? I don't even have an answer for that! I feel like a hamster on it's wheel going, going, going. And I don't seem to accomplish a thing. What's up with that? I feel like I need a giant to do list to keep me inline. I suppose this all has to do with the new thing I'm working on. I've been developing a new line to launch under my business. The Olde Scrapbox. I am going to offer handmade supplies & embellishments for crafting, scrapbooking, etc. I'll be putting project kits together for sale and I've also ordered supplies from some great companies that I'll be offering on my site. I've got quite a few things drawn up and only a couple finished right now. I'm adding them to the site as I get them done. Here are just a couple examples:


These fan embellishments are great for adding to scrapbook pages, banners, party hats... They will come in different colors and fonts.


I will also have packages of premade journaling tags. This set features black ink on kraft card stock. I also have a bright colored set available and others in the mix.


I do enjoy what I'm doing, but right now my mind is working way faster that my body can process, so hence the overwhelming feeling. I need to tell myself, you don't really have a deadline, take your time!

I'd enjoy any feedback! Let me know what you think of the new line. I realize there isn't a lot on my site yet. It's coming along slowly but surely!

New Mixed Media Piece

I recently finished another mixed media piece. I got the idea from watching a video by Christy Tomlinson from Scarlet Lime. I made a video of making the piece and have it posted to youtube. I broke the video into two parts and had to cut a bit out just to get the time down. I had a lot of fun with this piece. Let me know what you think!

Part 1

Part 2

What to do?

This is a mixed media piece I've been working on for some time. I only do a little here and there. I started with oils painting the majority of it. I've added paper for the windows, fence, wings and words. Now I'm stuck. It really needs something added to it, but what?


What can I do to fill up some of this blue background?

I have thought of doing little paper flowers in front of the fence. Or maybe tissue paper flowers?

Thanks for any input or ideas you can send my way!

Walnut Weekend

Well we couldn't have asked for a better weekend! The weather was beautiful!

It didn't start out so beautiful though. On the way to my mom's (a little over an hour drive) 2 out of 3 kids puked most of the way. I was hoping it wasn't a sign of how the weekend was going to go. I called my husband and told him to throw the eggs we had eaten that morning away, just to be safe. Once we got to my mom's they were back to normal, so who know! I guess they just wanted the trip to be memorable...

It seemed like it took forever, but I finally made it to Omaha. After a quick change at Holly's we headed to Grisanties for supper with our friend Julie. It was so nice to hang with the girls, it had been so long! After eating and talking, we parted with Julie and headed to DJ's Dugout to watch the blazing pianos. My cousin Andrea met us there. She's kind of sneaky and managed to get me on stage for my own song:


We stayed out almost til closing time! I wont go into any other details, as the girls probably don't want me to!

Holly and I did manage to get up early the next morning and head for Walnut. I did only snap a couple of pictures. It didn't seem like they had as many shoppers as usual. I'm sure the flooding in the area made it hard for some people to get there.


I wasn't really looking for anything and I didn't really buy that much. These are just a couple of the things I picked up. I had bought some things for my mom, but didn't get pictures. I also picked up some things that I'm adding to my etsy shop!


When we got back to Omaha, I headed to Archivers. I by far spent more money there! Oh how I wish I had a store like that a little closer. Well maybe not, I would be spending way too much!

It was so nice to get away for a little while, but oh so nice to get back to the kids!

Not so Crafty Post...

I'm soo excited! Only 2 more days!
Until Walnut!!

That's right folks, I'm breaking out of this joint! Tomorrow I'm taking my kids to my mom's and heading to Omaha to stay at my BFF's house. Be prepared, it could get a little wild! I can't even remember the last time I was free for a couple of days!

I've got so many things I want to do, I hope I can fit them all in! Don't worry I'll be taking a lot of pictures!

I don't really NEED anything, but I always find something I can't live without. I'm also hoping to pick up some things to sell. Is there anything you've been looking for? I love that show, I'm hoping with the flood waters everyone has safe travels getting there and back!

On to a completely different note, I don't think I've posted a pic of my herb garden yet... This is right outside my kitchen door. I'm new to the whole herb thing, so far all I've used is chives on my potatoes. Anyone have any fun recipes?


And last, I wanted to come up with a fun invite for our annual July 4th party. I was scoping the web and saw these somewhere. I used adobe illustrator to design the parts. (not hard at all!) Imported them into SureCutsAlot and cut them out with my Cricut.


I'll be back next week with my Walnut post!

Video, Really?

So I've been toying with the idea of making some videos lately. I've watched quite a few on youtube and I've recently stumbled onto Ustream. I love the idea of live video, it would be fun to do classes where the watchers have input on the design. I'm not set up to do live however. I can't hook my camera into my computer do to the fact that they are not compatible with each other. I don't even have a tripod yet!

So any of you people out there that have been doing some of this, I'm all ears for tips! This video is of a project I just finished. I've included a link to youtube and the video should show up below as well. But like I said before, any knowledge you have on this subject is greatly appreciated! Oh and please let me know what you think about the album I made, as it's the first one I've done. Thanks for your time!

Link to YouTube Santa Album

New Snowman Mixed Media

So I've kind of taken this mixed media thing and ran with it. These are my latest creations. I'm not done with them yet. There are a couple of things I'm going to add yet. I want your honest opinions on them. Yeah, nay, whatever!

I started with 3 8x8 canvas boards. I put down a layer of music sheet paper with mod podge. I painted the background with acrylics, did some stamping, and a little glimmer mist. Then I painted the snowmen and finished them off with a little marker and more stamping. I put down a protective layer of mod podge after each step.

I realize my photos aren't the best, but I just took some quick ones for you all to critique.



Each snowman has a name and I'm planning on adding the name to the picture. I don't have a fancy cursive handwriting, so I don't want to do it by hand. I was thinking about cutting the letters out with my cricut and sticking them on. What do you think?

This is Jack:
Wille
And Frosty

Thanks for your input!