We're Talking Resolutions

If you are like me, you aim high when you are making your New Year's Resolution.  Mine it to run one race each month for the  year of 2011.  Well, like most people, I am trying to fulfill to things that I have had as my resolution in the past: to include more exercise in my life, and to lose weight! 

Well, these next few weeks I am going to give you the Scrappiness Guide to New Year's Resolutions, and ways to help you accomplish those common ones that just don't seem to work!

My first resolution:  Learn something new! 

There are two different ways to accomplish this easy task.  I just stopped by Urban Arts & Crafts the other day (a locally owned paper, yarn and fabric boutique) and oogled at the new list of craft classes starting in 2011.  This locally owned craft store is located here in Kansas City in Briarcliffe Village.  Google craft stores in your area and see what types of classes they have to offer.  Urban offers classes on wool felting, knitting, jewelry making, soldering, and many many more funky items that you can not find at your momma's craft store.  (I think only my sister may understand that one!)

You could also sign up for an e-course.  Elsie Flanigan, from A Beautiful Mess, offers a wide variety of online courses from how to go vintage, how to blog, or how to create a paper journal. 

Etsy is also a source for learning new tools of the trade.  They offer what is called a Virtual Lab, and will teach you randomness from the world of handmade. 

Or, if scrapbooking is what you crave to do (or digital scrapbooking) check out Two Peas in a Bucket.  The site offers tutorials, articles and even digital classes to help you master the craft of scrapbooking.  Once you arrive at the site, be sure to click the Education link at the far right of the page.  This will give you all the direction you may need. 

Okay, so how is that for starters.  If you dream of learning or mastering a new hobby, hopefully one of these links will help.

A Vintage Junky Christmas, anyone?

Michelle at Vintage Junky is full of all sorts of great ideas, and this year, her Holiday decorations are to die for.  I wish I was had 1/4 of the creativity that she has!  Around her home this Christmas you can find intricately cut snowflake garlands, handmade snowglobes, vintage garlands, fishbowl decorations, and personalized stockings, just to name a few of the many beautiful items that fill her home with the spirit of the holiday season.  Be sure to stop by her blog and say hello.  Stay for a while and bask in the beauty of all her home has to offer!  Then, check out her snowflake tutorial, because, if you are like me, your snowflakes end up looking like the craft project of a 6 year old...and that is so not vintage junky!

To Do List:

Lately, this blog has become such a mish mash of things that I have created a new description for it: my virtual to do list.  A combination of things that I plan on doing (someday) and if I don't post them on here, I have no idea how I will ever find the page again to complete this someday project.

Here are two more of the said projects.  Thanks to Abby with Sew Much Ado, I have found two EASY and free tutorials to complete for Willow's warmer weather wardrobe.  The first one is for Baby Leg Warmers.  After I read this tutorial, a light bulb went off in me head and I said, "Oh, that's how they do them."  Duh.  The second one is for a ruffle skirt out of an old t-shirt!  Well, Blake and I just so happen to have HUNDREDS of old t-shirts.  I bet you do too!

Lola's Room and Nesting Dolls

The Ardent Sparrow is hosting a giveaway for Lola's Room, an Etsy store full of beautiful photography prints that remind one of summer (in lieu of this cold crappy weather we have been having.  Check out some of her beautiful pieces then be sure to head over to The Ardent Sparrow for the giveaway contest!

This nesting doll print title "The Family" is my favorite from the shop.  I don't know what it is lately, but I just love this fun little dolls.  Mialucci's Etsy shop also features the nesting doll in a unique, crib warmer version.

If there are anymore "little Heinz's" on the way, I think it would be oh so adorable to have a nesting doll nursery...hmm.

2 diy projects you need to seriously check out!

1.  Vintage Paper Ornaments from Jess at Boho Baby Blog. I saw ornaments similar to these decorating the window of latteland in the power and light district.  Every time Blake and I drive by, I oogle the window and say to myself, "I have got to figure out how to make those."  Well, they are a lot more simpler than I ever could have imagined.

2.  Onesie Dress from Smile and Wave.  Okay, I know my blog is titled, "Your Scrappiness," and this has nothing to do with paper, but I just couldn't help myself.  This dress is SO cute.  I can just see Miss Willow running around in one of these right now.  This is the perfect transition dress, and will look adorable in all types of crazy weather.  Did I mention it is snowing in KC?

I Love My Sponsors Giveaway by rikrak studio

Tis the season to go shopping, and rikrak studios makes it oh so easy for you with her most recent giveaway.  Upon entering this contest, you have the opportunity to win a $25 gift card to any of her sponsored shops.  Make sure you check it out!  Just click here or on the rikrak button on the right.  

Happy Holidays from the Heinz Family

Gumball Greetings 2011 Christmas Card

Make a statement with custom Christmas cards at Shutterfly.

View the entire collection of cards.

The Key to Scrappiness

When people ask what the most important thing about being a scrapbooker is, I usually answer having good quality pictures.  Starting out in scrapbooking, I struggled with using beautiful pictures.  I typically used whatever came on the roll that I developed and filled the page with blurry, no good, low resolution prints.  I have turned my focus of scrapbooking from filling a page with lots of stickers and adding embellishments over the top to picking one fun, memorable, good quality photo and showcasing it with unique product.  Now, with all the photo editing software out there, I realize that creating beautiful scrapbook pages is becoming easier and easier.

I am not a great photographer.  I am on the lookout for a new camera to go along with our high tech editing software.  (If you have any suggestions, please let me know.)  Many of you may know that I am a teacher, and I do have a blog that showcases my students and their writing.  One of my students who is a phenomenal writer is also a brilliant photographer.  I urge you to check out her photostream on flickr.  These pictures make me go weak in the knees!

Paperdolls

I know I have expressed my love of paper dolls before.  Okay, before you make fun, I am almost 26 years old, and yes, I do love paper dolls.  I used to own all of the American Girl Paper dolls (we couldn't afford the actual doll) before American Girls became big...and did I mention big.  I can't believe the store here in KC.  A hair salon for dolls?  Anyway, I am totally off subject (but slightly perturbed at the things girls can do today that we did not have when we were younger...)  I am done with that tangent, I swear.  The ladies over at Red Velvet Art have their own coloring book and paper dolls.  Isn't that wonderful.  Now when you are stuffing stockings this year for Christmas, you can stick one in your daughter's, and then when she is not looking, you can borrow them for a little playdate.  They are so much fun and would even look great hung in a frame in a playroom or bedroom.  How perfect for yourse---I mean young ones!

I heart you.

Okay, so I am, and I am majorly crushing on this Etsy shop full of handmade paper goodies, home goods, and random accessories thrown in here and there.  I want to purcase just about everything, but especially this, this, and this.  Love!  Not only does Betsy have an Etsy shop, she also has a photography blog.  Make sure to stop by and say hello!

Blogs I Love

For Christmas decor ideas and DIY projects, be sure to check out these blogs for ideas: Freckled Laundry, Wren't Nest, Vintage Junky, and LuLu & Co.  Recently I fell in love with their homey feels, country inspiration (that reminds me of home) and unique contributions. I added their lovely links to my sidebar! Enjoy!

So I Pretty Much Stink

...at blogging lately.  Don't get me wrong, I have been on the lookout for great Christmas Project Ideas, Scrap love and the likes of DIY project love.  Let's just say that I have a little something called writer's block.  Or maybe I should refer to it as Scrapper's Block?  Anyway, to help get you through this downtime, be sure to check out Elsie Flanigan's 12 Days of Handmade at her site elsiecake.com from December 6th to December 17th.  If you loved her Halloween Tricks and Treats, you ought to love these 12 days of DIY gifts too!

My Holiday Decoration Wish List

1.  A beautiful wreath for my front door. 

2.  Owl ornaments for my daughter's tree.

3.  A little bit of mistletoe love.

4.  A bowl full of acorns.

5.  Perfect package decoration.

6.  Holiday Organization.

7.  Some glitter.

8.  Vintage ski patrol.

9.  Christmas in a jar.  Literally.

10.  Lots of letterpress.

Christmas DIY Project #12

I created this lovely banner with holiday scrapbook paper, and cut out the letters from the Cricut.  I attached the letters onto a 6 inch circle and then backed those with an 8 inch circle of kraft paper.  These are a timeless and beautiful holiday decoration.  Create your own and feel free to personalize it too.  If you would rather I make one for you, send me a quick comment or message.  Prices run at $1.00 per letter.

Sorry for the ugly photo.  I took it with my camera phone.  Eeks.

Monthly Kits, oh my!

Do you love to scrapbook, but have found yourself with scrapper's block?  I recently discovered JBSMercantile and the monthly scrapping kits they send to your door.  This isn't your momma's scrapbooking.  These kits have a vintage twist and you can even choose to order extra add ons to give your page that extra oomph.  Debited from your monthly account, these no hassle, no fuss kits come regularly unless you decide to cancel.  So to create your one of a kind scrapbook page today, make sure you take a trip to JBS Mercantile.

Small Gifts and Stocking Stuffers

I am still a loyal Etsy lover, but I have fallen in love with a new site.  Papersnitch is an exhibition site full of handmade treasures displayed in an online boutique like setting.  For stocking stuffers such as these, make sure you check out what Papersnitch is featuring.  

Ticker Tape Quilt

I stumbled across this adorable little quilt on the Sew, Mama, Sew! website.  I do have a TON of projects started and underway at home, so I think I am going to save this one for a few months until my little lovie really starts playing with all of her dolls, but I just loved this tutorial, and the end product is crooked, uneven, and oh so perfect.

Christmas Project Idea #11

This wreath is full of memories, cheer, and neckties!  This would make a great gift for a vintage collector or tie lover. You'll need a 14-inch wire wreath form from a crafts shop and 19 ties. Cut all ties but one into 15-inch lengths. Position the narrow end of first cut tie, front side up, on a section of the wreath. Wrap tie around form until pointed end is positioned as shown, hiding the rolled tie; secure with pins. Repeat, overlapping ties slightly. Flip wreath over; sew rolled-up ties to the backs of points. Pin on the uncut, bowed tie.

Stocking Stuffers

This DIY is perfect for your little babe's stocking.  Instead of buying them for $5-$8 at the store, create your own with your fabric scraps.  This tutorial shows how to create these clippies two ways: with a surger and with a sewing machine.  They are too cute! This tutorial was featured on Sew, Mama, Sew!  and was created by Dana from made.

A Little Scrapbooking Inspiration

Thank you Tia Bennett for creating this awesome, free download for you to use and to download and print at your whim.  After Christmas is over and all of the decorations are down from Willow's playroom, this sweet saying is going up on her walls.  Click on the picture to download your own.

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!

I am addicted to Blog giveaways, but rarely ever do I actually win anything.  Well this time, I did!
Bleubird Vintage was giving away one lucky reader a $100 giftcard to Gypsy05 (comfy slippers and sweats, but oh so expensive) AND I WON!!!  Now, to pick out something for me, Blake, or Willow...that is the ultimate question.

New Digi Kit

I am in love with this new Digi kit by Hazel Olive Designs.  As descripbed on Two Peas, "Makes Me Happy is a vintage collection of fabulously contrasting colors! Rich dark papers meet meet the sunny disposition of yellow! This play on hues is such a fun and dramatic combination! Vintage additions add a unique storybook theme to your projects. Beautiful, sweet, playful...and just a bit romantic. Loaded with bright and sparkly pieces, vintage charm, and elegant detail."   Sounds like a fun kit to test out on a cold day.  Order yours now by clicking my Two Peas link on the left.

Willow has a wish list

I will share it with you...Wee People, Free People's new clothing line that is a bit--ahem--too expensive for our medical school budget, but cute enough to share with you anyway.  I could just picture my little peach sneaking around in these duds...and then spilling her blueberry yogurt all over them.

Did I mention that Free People is giving away $1000 in clothing to one lucky winner?  All you have to do is click here to enter.  Good luck.  In the meantime, have a peek at a few of my favorites.

Christmas Project Idea #10

Oh Martha, you did it again.  These tote bags are a super easy Christmas project and will guarantee excited gift openers.  I had totes similar to these made for my bridesmaids as thank you gifts.  Skip the monogram, and create your own pretty clip art for the front.

Recent Loves

I recently became a Two Peas affiliate...so if you need anything scrappy related, click out the link on the left.  Two Peas is every scrapper's best friend. They include shopping, blogging, product tutorials, galleries, and much more all on one website! One of my favorite things to do on Two Peas is to check out all of the members layouts, you know, to give me ideas for my own pages.  One member I love to "scraplift" from is a Two Peas member by the name of Paige22.  Her layouts are random, colorful, and creative.  She loves to mix and match patterns and colors to create a unified effect.  Perfect!