DIY: With Felt

If you see a progect you'd like to tackle, click the image and you'll be directed straight to the source and instructions!

Wanna learn how felt is made? It's rather interesting. You know the drill! Click on the video tapes!

 

You can also read about the history of felt making here.

And one last project...click here to see how to make a cutesey little whale plushie out of felt!

Valentine Craft Swap!

I signed up for the Christmas ornament swap and let's just say that it was a huge success! I've also signed up for the latest craft swap and I think that you should too!

What an hour and a half can do...

To this picture...

Before....

After!

I think it was worth all that time on picnik.com...

From Jeans to Cute Skirt!

A couple of extra tips!

1. Chose a fabric that matches for jeans, the more heavy-duty your jeans the more heavy-duty your fabric should be.

2. More is ... more! So get a little extra fabric than what you need. (if you don't end up using is you'll have fabric for another project anyway!)

Enjoy your comfy jean skirts!

Oh! And this project can also be done with other kinds of pants and even shorts!

I heart braids

I've always adored long flowing hair, especially when it's in a pretty braid...

Source

Source

Source

If you're anything like me, a great hairstyles come with it's own challenge.

So, I've rounded up a few helpful links with the most popular braiding techniques. 

How to french braid your own hair. 

(click the image)

Learn the fishtail/bohemian braid

And lastly, click the image to learn how to do a braided/twisted updo.

Here are a few other helpful links I found while researching...

How to french braid with ribbons

How to create a feminine twist braided updo

Hair braiding basics

Don't just stop once the elastic is in place.

 Make your hair extra cute by adding accessories...

Butterfly Clips?!?!

JK

Or bows

And flowers (check out these here)

However you wear your braid and whatever length your hair is, make it special and unique in your own way.

Our Engagement Story

The Monday right after Christmas, Mike took me on our best date ever. 

We went ice-skating. I know that may sound rather simple to some girls who always picture themselves going out to dinner at a nice place, then some other random activity...but I find joy in the smallest and simplest of things.

Ice-skating is one of them. In fact...it's just about my favorite thing ever!

So we went ice-skating, and have a lovely time except for the part where I landed on my knee...on the ice...ouch...

Mike was taking a bunch of pictures which is rather unusual for him because he's rather camera shy. After about an hour and a half of holding hands while gliding across the ice, we decided it was time to go. 

We took off our skates and left the rink to wait for our ride outside. Mike spotted a bench not too far off so we braved the knee deep snow and the cold as we climbed up to the bench. 

A pile of snow has made the bench it's home, but that was no obstacle for Mike and his gloves. We sat, chatting a bit, for a few minutes when Mike began telling me how much he loved me. He made a sweet speech and reached into his pocket as he knelt down in front on me (in the snow)!

Then he pulled out the most gorgeous ring I've ever seen and ask me to marry him. I started crying and don't even remember if I was able to blubber out "yes".

We quickly took a few pictures and afterwards he picked me up and twirled me around like a little girl. 

It was so perfect, and I'm pretty sure I was still glowing the next day!

Current plans are to set the date in the summer of 2012!!!!

My goals for 2012 are......

I've never been a big fan of new year resolutions, but perhaps by posting my goals here I'll be more inclined to keep them. 

The first one is "Plan my DIY wedding".

Mike and I won't be getting married until the summer of 2012, but since I'll be in school and have a super low budget, it doesn't hurt to start early. I think that I'll post tutorials and ideas here and on my youtube channel for other brides. I'll be making most of everything for my wedding including:

1. my veil

2. all the flower arrangements, bouquets and such

3. the cake (with Mom)

4. updating an old cake topper

5. favors

6.all decorations

7. programs (for the service)

and a bunch of other goodies!

The second thing on my list is to start my own business. I would like to sell some of the things that I make (mostly because I don't have room for everything) but also to make a small profit. I hope to make enough to save up for a nice road trip (adventure) vacation with Mike after we get married. 

I'm currently working on making more things to stock up my little shop with and you'll be first to know when it opens!

I would also LOVE to make one tutorial a week for my readers and my viewers. So far I haven't really been able to be consistent and I would really like to up my number of followers. I know that if I put the work into it, I will get results!

Losing 30 pounds....yeah that's for health reasons but also for my wedding. 

(Hey! Every girl wants to look her best!) 

Finish school! That's a big one. 

Why? I really really want my teaching degree and I don't want to have to deal with school right after getting married to Mike either. I would just love to get married, have a nice honeymoon, settle in a cute little apartment, and jump right into teaching!

Ahhh....that would be a dream.

What are you goals? Did you keep your old ones from last year? Oh yeah...download your own copy of this clip art here!

Happy New Year!