Winner and Last Minute Idea

Sorry for the delay, I meant on Friday to post the winner of my stash...but I forgot!  Drumroll...

And follower #34 is Kwiltmaker!  Which is very exciting for us to have a true reader win, she's been with us since the beginning!  Congrats!  The other winner is announced on Quilt Story.

A couple of months ago my niece was going to take the ACT's.  We'd been texting back and forth about it and I decided to create a funny little study package for her.  The great thing about this idea is you can be totally creative about it and turn it into a gift for anyone!

Take packaging like this.

Remove labels.

Create new labels. I use photoshop. You could make them by hand with paper, online with picnik, etc.

Then you're left with a cute package like this!!

Christmas...palooza?

First, this is Heather, and let me just write a quick THANK YOU!  Everyones kind wishes and comments for my birthday were so so so appreciated.  I love that I haven't met most of you in real life yet you'll still take time to write something nice.  I had a great birthday too, by the way :)  And remember, Megan's giveaway from her own fabric stash is still going through Friday.  Check this post out to see more and to see the fabric!

Hi, it's Megan now :)  We had such a good response last time I posted with a title including palooza, so what the heck, right?  I've got some pics of my own holiday decor that I wanted to share.  Let me remind you all that I'm the budget sister...with a hubby in school and two little ones, money is tight to non-existent!

I busted out all my Christmas things and to my horror I thought, "How on earth did I decorate last year?!?  This stuff is awful!!"  To be fair, we've moved, so that always throws a wrench in things.  I finally "finished" this past week and here's what I came up with.

For starters, my stockings!!!!  My sweet sisters made these for me as my Christmas gift. I was beyond giddy when I opened them.  These were the stockings of our youth!! I have mine somewhere, in a box, but these are so nostalgic for me :)  In the toe they added the snowflake and embroidered each of our names.  Love, love, love.

I did have to tease them a little.  My girl is WHITE.  Like pure white as snow.  My hubby and boys are a nice golden, but apparently felt doesn't come in "Caucasian".

I needed some height on the ends of my mantel, but honestly almost everything was out of my budget.  I found these at Hobby Lobby.  The candle and glass were 50% off each, totaling $5 for both.  Then I picked out a golden ornament, also 50% off for $1 and tied it all together with some tulle.  For that price I'm quite pleased!

In the middle I have three different glass vases and an apothecary jar.  These are just from around my house.  I filled them with ornaments I had from the past...ones that are glass and actually break. 

fabric is Groovy by Caleb Gray for Robert Kauffman

Here is a project a friend and I made.  If you look closely it is still missing the 0's and 5's, and I have my family name to add to the bottom :)  We got the idea a Pottery Barn advent calendar, I don't know if it is sold out but I can't find it to link it, sorry.  It turned out to be quite the ordeal to make, I'll have some pretty funny memories of putting this together!  I told my little boy that an elf comes every night and leaves candy for him until Christmas.  He checks first thing every morning.  And several times throughout the day :)

 The wreath and garland are from JoAnn's.  So cheap.  They do all their Christmas and holiday things on sale pretty much immediately.  It was all at least 60% off, less than $10 for all of it.

I guess just trust me, this is a great improvement from where I started!!

Thanks for stopping by :)

Birthday Giveaway Palooza!

Today happens to be my amazingly super-talented sister Heather's Birthday!!

Now I would never reveal her age, I am way too loyal to her to do that.  I mean, seriously.

However what I will tell you is that she is much older than me.  7 1/2 years to be exact. :)

Malibu CA 2006 (?)

Sometimes I've found myself wanting to curse her for having a birthday in December.  But then I realized it isn't her fault so I took it up with my mom (or should it be my dad?  Ew.  So not going there.)

There are three sisters in our family.  Our oldest sister Amy is uber talented...especially at making babies.  She has 10.  That's why she isn't able to be in all our crafting adventures...but one day!  All three of us girls (and sometimes mommy too) talk on the phone.  All.  Day. Long.  Really.  If you're wondering, we make it happen with a blue tooth.

Daily we discover our new craft callings in life.  Today I was meant to be a machine quilter (I've officially quilted one table runner) and she an embroidery expert :)  I'll let you know about tomorrow.

I don't know how it happens.  But we always get the same crafting bug.  This time last year we were both knitting hats like nobodies business.  We haven't touched knitting needles in months.  A few years before that we were beading bracelets...making aprons...paper scrapbooking...We have problems. 

But one thing we both LOVE and never waiver.  Fabric.  Quilts.

Do you want to help make this Heather's best birthday ever?!!?

Me too.

My part...I'm giving away some of my own stash to one of YOU!!!

Now I would give that entire stack away if it weren't for shipping charges!!

I am giving away about 2 yards from the fabrics above (if you have a fave let me know I'll be sure to include it) to one of our followers.  So if you already FOLLOW...you're already entered :)

This is a great way to bulk up your stash...for FREE!

So...if you aren't already FOLLOW us!  I've said it before, but our self-esteem is greatly related to our follower #.  Seriously.  We both get really giddy when we have a jump.

But wait...there's more! :)

I am giving away another 2 yards to a FOLLOWer on our blog QuiltStory...so hop on over :)

Thank you all soooooo much for making our blogs so much fun to do. 

We love and appreciate all of you for your comments, participation, support, creativity, you are all amazing!!

and

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY HEATHER

Love you sister.

I'll also be linking up to some of these parties.

Edited to add this giveaway will run for 1 week thru next Thursday December 16th and I will announce the winner Friday December 17th.  Thanks :)

Introducing Douglas McSheeperton!

Welcome my new friend

DOUGLAS MCSHEEPERTON

Isn't he just precious?

I made him over thanksgiving weekend. 

He seriously makes me smile, that sweet face!

I was drawing with my daughters a few weeks ago. I tried to draw a deer. It turned into a sheep. Instead of starting over, I was so happy with my sheep I kept at it.

 made this mini wall hanging yesterday. Late into the night. I found some perfect fabrics in my stash if I do say so myself. 

Much to my surprise the children are not fighting over him, I think I will hang him in my room...would that be weird? 

He is cold, even though is has a big wool coat, he needed a cute hat and scarf to keep really snug.

Anyhow, Douglas McSheeperton embroidery pattern is in our etsy shop. You can make your very own Mr. McSheeperton! It is a PDF pattern, meaning we will send you over email the pattern and you can get started on him immediately. Instant gratification!



Hope you love him as much as I do. Stitching was fun, I have already started a new project (to be revealed in a couple weeks!)