A Craft Room (Part 1): The Furniture

A subscriber recently asked me, "What are the essential pieces for starting a craft room?"  An interesting question.  So, here's my take...what works for me.  Let's start with the furniture.



A big work table is a must.  I currently have a work table from IKEA.  It works, but I am looking to upgrade to something with a lot more storage on the sides.  If you have a recommendation, PLEASE let me know.  Here is a pic of something similar to what I use (though mine has a solid top):

The next thing that I think is important is storage.  I use mainly three different kinds of storage.  First, the  Jetmax Cubes from Michael's.  (Never pay full price.  Michael's runs these on sale frequently):

(Not my craft room, just a stock photo.  But I have almost all of these configurations.  For more pics and pieces, check out the Michael's website at www.michaels.com.)  They typically run about $25 each. 

Secondly, I have both of these shelving units from IKEA (reasonably priced and sturdy):

IKEA sells coordinating boxes or baskets to go into the cubbies as well.  The large unit is $69.99, and the small unit is $39.99

Lastly, I use the Target ClosetMaid 9 Cube Organizer ($39.99) and coordinating hot pink cubes. ($5.99 for one or $11.24 for a two pack).  Also very reasonably priced.  While I love the array of colors that the cubes come in, they are a bit flimsy if you are going to be putting anything heavy in them.  They are made out of a canvas type material and don't hold their shape like the baskets Target also sells to go in the unit.  (But I couldn't pass up the hot pink!)

In the next post, I will be discussing essential tools.

HTH!  :-) Angela

Ribbon Swap

If you want to get a brand new roll of ribbon from a crafting friend for the holiday season, join the PYL FB Group.  The direct link is in the upper left-hand column of my blog.  Then click on the documents tab at the top of the FB Group and sign your name under the document titled "Let's Have a Ribbon Swap".  Here is a copy of the document in the PYL FB Group:



Let's get this holiday season started!!!

So many of you, including myself, have been posting pics of some fabulous ribbon finds. Many of us have stores that others don't have. (Like those luck gals in NC with their New River Pottery). So let's spread some joy and share some fabulous ribbon!!!

Here's how it works. Sign your name and where you are from below to agree to participate. Deadline to sign up is Saturday, November 12th. Then on Sunday you will be given the name of another participant by me. FB Message that person for his/her address. Then, by Saturday, November 19, send one brand new, never used roll of holiday/Christmas/winter ribbon to that person. The ribbon needs to be at least 1.5 inches wide by any length (but as we crafters know, the bigger the ribbon, the better). Won't you be excited to get a fabulous roll of ribbon from a crafting friend!

I am going to leave this open to anyone in the FB Group. So, that might include Alaska, Hawaii, maybe Canada (though I don't know if I even have any Canadians living up there in the group). Hope you have some fun with this!

:-) Angela

New Blog Title...thank you Veronica!

I want to give a HUGE thank you to Veronica at www.vkdesigncompany.com.  I love the work she did on my blog title!!!  Veronica totally understood the look I wanted, and it just makes me giddy that she incorporated the PYL mascot, my diva puglet, Stella, so wonderfully!  I HIGHLY recommend her.  She was very fast and friendly and created something that truly expresses my style.

Thanks Veronica!!!

:-) Angela

My First Experience with Iron-On or Heat Transfer T-Shirt Vinyl

Hi Everyone!

In preparation for my child's Harvest Party at school, I decided to personalize goodie bags using a technique that I've been curious about ever since reading a blog post from scrapping blog, Joy's Life(http://joyslife.com/vinyl-pillowcases-chic-scary-cricut/).  So, I ordered my iron-on vinyl from www.expressionsvinyl.com and got down to crafting!

Here is the finished project.  I cut out my name and a pumpkin face for the test run using my Cricut Expression.  The name is cut using Cricut cartridge "Feeling Groovy" at 1.5", and the pumpkin face, which was inspired from a project my friend Rachel did, is from Cricut cartridge "Pumpkin Carving" at 3".

The goodie bags (6" x 6") are from Michael's (3 for $1).

I'm not going to reinvent the wheel here.  I followed the great www.Expressionsvinyl.com You Tube video step-by-step.  http://youtu.be/r-o46JcoRgA.  It worked perfectly!!!

Here are some pics of the vinyl before and after a term you might hear called "weeding".  Weeding simply means taking off the excess vinyl around the edges and those pesky little bits in the middle of o's, a's, e's...etc.

Pros of the Vinyl:

1. Super easy to cut.

2. Even easier to weed than regular vinyl, which surprised me considering my letters were only 1.5".  Because the shiny side is the built in transfer tape, the cut letters and images don't lift off with all the scraps you are trying to get rid of before transferring.

3.  Super fast to iron-on.

4. Professional looking.

5. Comes in an array of colors.

Con of the Vinyl:

1. Expensive. $6.49 for one sheet of 12" x 24"

Lastly, Expressions Vinyl sells swatches of the colors.  I love swatches because I really like to have the colors in front of me so that I know the exact one to order.  Color and tone are not always easy to judge on the computer. 

Expressions Vinyl calls this a Sampler Kit.  $3.99

In conclusion, I HIGHLY recommend this product. Here is the direct link to the iron-on or heat transfer t-shirt vinyl from Expressions Vinyl. http://www.expressionsvinyl.com/catalog/tshirt.html A link to the website is also on my blog.  The shipping was SUPER fast which always scores MAJOR points with me!  I think I got my order the very next day!

Hope you give iron-on vinyl a try!

:-) Angela

10,000 Hits...Sweet!

To celebrate PYL hitting 10,000 today, I decided to have a giveaway (which is a word BTW...I actually looked it up because I started to panic that I was incorrect.  I'm a bit of a grammar freak.)  Enough about my OCD.  On to the drawing.

Up for grabs is a brand new package of Delux Metallic Red and White Stripe deco mesh.  Since many of you were unaware of the different qualities of deco mesh, I thought I would make a delux mesh available for the giveaway.

To Enter:
1. Join my FB Group---direct link located in the top left column of my blog.
2. Comment under the post "10,000 Hits...Sweet!".  I will be making the post a document in the FB Group so that it can be easily accessed at any time instead of getting lost on the wall.

Thank you all for your support!  Good Luck!!!!

:-) Angela

PYL hits 10,000!!!

Wow, I am blown away!  PYL now has over 10,000 hits!!!  Y'all are AWESOME and totally inspire me every day to take my crafting to the next level.  Thank you SO much!

So, to celebrate, I am having a small giveaway.  I will post a pic this evening.  The giveaway is for US residents only (and only in the 48 contiguous states).  You have to be a member of my FB Group, Prettify Your Life, to play.  The direct link is in the top left column of my blog page.  In order to enter into the drawing, simply comment under the PYL FB Post "10,000 Hits...Sweet!" that I will be posting this evening.

:-) Angela

Episode 51: Deco Mesh Supplies 101

Episode 50: How to Use the EZ Bowmaker

I have read several great reviews of the EZ Bowmaker on the PYL FB Group, so I thought I would buy one and give it a try. I have always made my bows by hand, so I was a bit skeptical. Here's my analysis:

EZ Bowmaker, purchased at Michael's.  Retails for $9.99, but I used a 40% off mobil coupon.

Pros:
Great for even loops.
Helps hold the bow in place while you are working on it.
It includes instructions for several different types of bows.
The finished product is symmetrical and professional looking.

Cons:
It is cumbersome at first.
It is slower going, especially if you are used to whipping bows out by hand. (But I suspect with time the process will get easier and faster).
The ribbon spool dowel gets in the way, so I don't use it.

In general, I recommend it and am glad I have it on hand. HTH!

Here are some pics.  Video demonstration to follow.

The far dowel is for the ribbon spool (the one I won't be using).

The bowmaker has an 8 inch ruler on either side of the three middle dowels. 

The three middle dowels are the center point of the bow.

My finished wreath bow using the EZ Bowmaker.

And the demonstration video:



Sugarplums & Snowmen Wreath Contest!!!

I am SUPER DUPER excited to announce the very first ever PYL wreath-making contest!!!  The theme for this contest is Sugarplums & Snowmen which means your wreath decor can be anything holiday or winter related.


Contest Guidelines:

1. Your submitted entry must use ONLY ONE deco mesh wreath.  (any width deco mesh and any size wreath, as long as it is on only one form or work wreath)
2. One entry per person.
3. Deadline for submission is Wednesday, November 9.
4. Email photo submissions to me, Angela, at prettifyyourlife@hotmail.com. (Please don't post entries on my FB Group.  I want the submissions to be an exciting blog reveal.)
5. Photo submissions will be posted on my blog Thursday, November 10.
6. The public will vote on entries via a web poll on my blog. (Poll results kept secret.)
7. The winner will be announced on Thursday, November 17.

The lucky winner will receive a $50 gift certificate to Trendy Tree (www.trendytree.com) from the awesome owner of Trendy Tree, Jeannie Pence, and myself AND a $50 gift certificate to Hobby Lobby or Michael's (winner's choice).

Good luck!  I can't WAIT to see what y'all come up with!!!

Episode 49: Decorating Ornaments with Children's Tattoos

Now that you've seen the Twilight Tree video ( Episode 48: Oh no she di'int!), below is a super quick video demonstrating how I customized the generic tree ornaments you saw using children's tattoos.  Very easy and very quick.  But first, here's a pic of the supplies I used:

Supplies:

A damp washcloth

Cutter Bee scissors (or scissors of your choice)

Vampire tattoos from Target

Plain, silver ornaments from Hobby Lobby

 

Episode 48: Oh no she di'int!!!

Oh yes I did!  I decorated a Vampire (Twilight) tree that will serve double duty for Halloween and to celebrate the premier of "Breaking Dawn", in theaters on November 18th!  So mark your calendars and secure those babysitters if you are a TwiHard Mom like me (though my girls are much too young to watch the "Twilight" movies).

Here are some pictures of the decorated tree.  Video to follow at the end of the post.

And here is the video:

Don't forget about the Giveaway!!!

Just a reminder that I will be drawing the lucky winner of the Giveaway tonight at 8 CST.  See my Giveaway post for a picture of all the loot! http://prettifyyourlife.blogspot.com/2011/10/giveaway.html  To enter, join my FB group "Prettify Your Life" and comment under the wall post titled "Giveaway! Giveaway!" 

Here is the FB link:

http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/prettify.your.life/

Good Luck!!!

Episode 47: Take a Peep!

Here is a simple wreath that I learned how to do from the spring issue of "Celebrate" Magazine.  It takes under 30 minutes to make and, I think, is super cute.  The kids love using Peeps for decoration.

Supply List:

14 inch styrofoam wreath, with a flat top
3 packages of Peeps
1 roll of ribbon (I used almost an entire roll of 30 feet of ribbon in black--Hobby Lobby floral dept)
hot glue and gule gun
flora pin
small 3m sticky hook (or wreath hanger of your choice)

Here's the video:







Prettify Your Life FB Page

Here is the link to the PYL FB page:

http://www.facebook.com/groups/prettify.your.life/#!/groups/prettify.your.life/

Sorry!  I should've put the link in the previous post!

:-) Angela

A Giveaway!

Join my FB Group "Prettify Your Life" and comment below the wall post titled "Giveaway! Giveaway!" for your chance to win the Thanksgiving wreath supplies below!  Good luck!

Episode 46: Decorating Your Front Door for Halloween

This took me FOREVER!  I am SO glad it's done, but I am very happy with the way it turned out!!!!!!  Here is the supply list for the garland:

Ceiling Hooks
Lighted garland
Green metallic deco mesh
Purple metallic 16" wide soft ribbon
Green glitter ribbon from Hobby Lobby
Orange deco flex tubing
Witch cauldrons (See Episode 43: A Quick & Easy Witch's Cauldron)
Witch hats (See Episode 44: A Witch Hat)
Witch brooms from Michael's
Purple tree limb picks from Garden Ridge
Lime green sequin curly-Q picks from Hobby Lobby
Wire
Wire cutters

Here is the supply list for the wreaths:

Two purple work wreaths
Purple metallic deco mesh
Green metallic 16" wide soft ribbon
Orange deco flex tubing
Thin pieces of wood (3" wide by 24" long)
Black Deco wood paint pen to color the edges of the wood and around the edges of the wooden letters)
Black metallic glitter wrapping paper from Michaels for the sign background
Mod Podge and foam brush
Exacto Knife
Wooden letters from Hobby Lobby
Lime green puff paint (to paint the tops of the letters with)
Green stickles in "Firefly" (to accent the green puff paint, refer to the technique used in the Episode 45: A Spooky Goodie Bag Gift Tag)
Lime green sequin curly-Q picks from Hobby Lobby
Hot glue gun and glue
Cable ties
Wire cutters

Here are the pics:

And here is the video...

Some Pics of my Latest Projects

Hi Everyone!

We are off to do some fun fall activites today...corn mazes and pumpkin patches!!!!  Yay!!!  But before we go, I wanted to post.  I had a request for pics of my projects along with the videos.  I'm sorry.  I've been remiss, so I've posted some pics below of my latest Halloween projects.  Hope y'all have a great weekend, and be sure to share your crafty creations on my FB Group!!!  ;-) Angela

Pictures of my staircase:

Pics of Witch Cauldrons

Pics of Witch Hats

Pics of Goodie Bag Tag