Family name sign

A cute idea that I have seen floating around blog land is an adorable family name sign that says the family's last name and the year the family was established.  I think this is a great piece to add to the decor in your home to make it more personal and also I think this makes a great gift for newlyweds.  So when my sister called me up and asked me for some gift ideas for a bridal shower I was excited to try this project!  It was really simple and not too time consuming.  I cut out the words on my cricut, and because I am still learning the different letter sizes it took me a few trys to get the fit just right, normally this project should take no more than about 20 minutes.

Materials needed:

• a frame of your choice
• assorted paper
• glue
• cutting machine or scissors if you want to free hand the letters

I used another one of the 75 cent frames I had on hand and it was the perfect color already so I did not even have to whip out the handy dandy spray paint! Yay!  I love saving steps!

Oh and if you are doing this project late at night I suggest adding a Starbucks frappuccino drink to your list of materials needed! :)  Yummy!



First thing I did was measure out my patterned paper to fit in the frame...because of the size frame I used I had to piece together to pieces of paper.  I used the glass of the frame to trace around for an easy error proof way to measure. 

Then, I used my cricut to cut out the letters and numbers.  I used the Cricut Classic Font cartridge for the name and year and I used the Cricut Wild Card cartridge to cut out the "est."

Last, I glued all the letters onto the patterned paper and put it in the frame....and here is the finished product...

Super easy and cute!  Personalized gifts are the best!  I am linking up to Craft-O-Maniac link party.
Have a happy day!

Cricut Craftyness

In the great state of SC we don't usually see much snow...but lately we have had our share of that wonderful white stuff.  So due to being stuck inside I have had much more time to play on my cricut and create.  I am so thankful to have it because I may have gone crazy from the containment of my house if not for it!  Anyways, I wanted to share some of my latest creations!

First Project!  A little home decor

Step 1:  I sprayed some frames that I bought for 75 cents each

Step 2: I used my cricut to cut out the word "HOME" in brown card stock

Step 3: I traced around the glass of my frames and cut pretty green paisley card stock to fit in each frame

Step 4: I put the card stock in the frames (no glue needed) and placed them on top of my T.V. (aka my mantle)

Simple quick project that (I think) makes a big impact

Before: it needed something for sure!

After

Total cost of project: less than $6

SUPER!!



Second Project!  Baby name sign for my friend's new baby girl

Step1: I spray painted another frame I got for 75 cents

Step 2:  I used my cricut to cut out the name and tree branches

 Step 3: I cut a piece of green card stock to fit in the frame

and cut the birds out of a printed piece of card stock

Step 4: I glued everything and put it in the frame

Total cost of project: less than $5

Third project!  Birthday card and envelope for my nephew

I didn't take step by step photos of this project, however, it was super simple too.  I used my cricut Wild Card cartridge to cut everything.

Well I hope that these simple and inexpensive projects have inspired you!  I purchased all of the frames I used in these projects a while back at a store I use to work at, but great places to find frames for cheap are Dollar Tree, Ross, TJ Maxx, Good Will and yard sales!  Remember spray paint can do wonders! 

My advice: When you look at something...look at what it could become not what it is at that moment! 

I hope you have a happy day!

I am linking up to the CRAFT-O-MANIAC and Skip to my Lou link partys!

My Cricut Expression machine is AWESOME!

Hello bloggers!  I hope that you all had a fantastic Christmas and New Year!  My Christmas was great!  My husband and I had a special first Christmas together and we enjoyed all the time we got to spend with our families too.  Speaking of Christmas...I wanted to share with you one of my fantastic Christmas presents.  I got the wonderful Cricut Expression machine!!  I had been looking at them online and wishing for one but I didn't expect to get one this soon...however, my wonderful mother-in-law surprised me!

I love the color!

And it has a pretty design on it...I know I get excited over the little things! :)

My machine came with these two cartridges

I bought these two cartridges on ebay...they were brand new in the package and I only paid about $20 for each and shipping was free!  These same cartridges sell for $79.99 in the local craft stores.  So if you have a cricut or you are looking into buying one...I suggest buying all your cartridges on ebay!

I made a personalized plate of my husband's and my initials that is on display in our kitchen.

This is the only project I have completed thus far with my cricut...but don't worry there will be MANY more!

Cost of project:

Plate = $4

vinyl = $7 (and I have plenty left over for other projects)

Total cost = $11

Not bad for personalized decor!

So I can assure you that the Cricut Expression is an awesome crafting machine!  I love it and I can't wait to share more projects with you!

Our Christmas Decor!

This Christmas is extra special to me because it will be the first Christmas for my husband and I as a married couple!  I am very excited for just the two of us to spend Christmas morning together.  I am also excited to start new traditions and create wonderful memories!  Christmas is my favorite holiday and I have always loved to decorate for it!  This year I made several new purchases since I have never had to decorate an entire house before.  Here are some snapshots of our house decorated for the holidays.

 Our tree

 My adorable salt and pepper shakers that my husband bought me when we were dating (I have an obsession with snowmen) they are magnetic at the mouth so it looks like they are kissing

Our towel was an early Christmas present from my mother in law.

Our dining room table 

 Our "mantle"

And our decor would not be complete without the Grinch....my favorite Christmas movie! 

I also made a wreath for our front door.  The wreath only cost me a total of $9 to make! 

My husband and I made Rice Krispies treat houses too!  These however are not still decorating our house as you might imagine! :)  They were very YUMMY!

 My husband's mad decorating skills!

My mad decorating skills!

Well we don't have lots of beautiful decor yet, but I thought for our first Christmas we did pretty well!  After all, the best part of Christmas decor is collecting it over the years and each piece having a special memory or meaning attached to it.  I hope to buy some more decor after Christmas when it is on sale for cheap!  I also really want a nativity scene..I just haven't found the right one yet!  well I hope that your Christmas decor makes you as happy as mine makes me!  I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and remember the true reason we celebrate!  Give all the glory to God this special season!

It is time that I admit something to you...I am a NEAT FREAK!

I have always been obsessed with keeping things neat and organized and clutter free!  Most of you bloggers out there probably read that and thought...well that is not such a bad thing...but depending on who you ask it may be just that! :)  I take it to an extreme, I must admit.  Even as a child I would be obsessed with keeping my room clean and having things put in their exact place.  For example, I could walk into my room and tell if someone moved a picture frame an inch out of place...literally...I am not exaggerating, you are free to ask anyone that knows me well enough.  I am still this way today.  My family loves to joke with me about what we refer to as my "OCD."  Once when I was still living at home and my sister and her family were visiting, I came home from work to find that literally everything in my room was turned backwards and all of my clothing drawers and shoes were mixed all around.  My brother and brother-in-law did this as a joke.  They told me if I could keep it that way for the remainder of the night they would pay me $50...needless to say my room was straightened within the hour!  I know that is pathetic!

I joke with my husband that if anyone ever breaks into our house, no matter how good a job they do of trying to put things back in place, I will know it!  Well anyways, I literally am not able to rest if something is out of place or dirty.  I will sit on my couch and think about it until I have to get up and clean/straighten it up.  I also obsess with having things look clutter free and covering unnecessary things up in pretty ways if possible.  My loving husband has been so patient with me since we have gotten married and are living together for the first time.  I really thought this would be a more difficult hurdle in our adjusting to living with one another but he has really shown me love by allowing me to continue my obsession with keeping things tidy!  I must tell you that he is very opposite from me in this area, but they say opposites attract! :) 

Ok, well there is a point in me telling you all this.  In our living room my husband has made a home for his lovely ginormous television.  Now I must tell you that I love having a large television but I do not love that it leaves no room for storage to hide things like DVD players, surround sound speakers, and Direct TV boxes, etc...  Here is where my "OCD" comes in.  Since we moved in 6 months ago it has been driving me crazy that I have no cabinet to hide these not so pretty things away in!  I just do not want them to be seen!  Well I finally convinced my wonderful hubby to build me something to house these things in!  I am SO excited!  It is a simple fix that makes a big difference...at least my "OCD" self thinks so! 

All he needed was some wood, nails, black spray paint, and black material!

Gotta love that expression!

Here is the before:

Yuck!  Clutter!

And Ta Da!

I know in the picture you can see through the material a little but I promise it looks better in person!  He made this for me a few days before Thanksgiving so my Fall decor is still up in this picture but pictures of my Christmas decor are coming soon! 

Oh, and I almost forgot...a few months ago I talked him into covering the two black boxes on either side of the TV...those are DVD stands that were open so that you could see every DVD we owned!  Uck! 

Here is a picture before he covered those!

Well I am smiling because it looks SO much better to me!  Oh and I call the new cabinet my "mantle" since we have no fire place, I am going to use that as our mantle!

I don't know if you are obsessed with things being clutter free too, but I promise you that small changes make a big impact.  Look around your home and see what small changes you can make!