Crafts & Sutch

Vintage Post: Father's Day Banner and a Craft Fail

2011-06-07T18:13:00.000-05:00

Hello, Friends! I hope all is well! With Father's Day right around the corner, I thought I would share a vintage Crafts & Sutch post. This is a sweet way to honor all the dads on their special day...and get a jolly good laugh!

Originally posted on June 5th, 2010:
Have you ever had a bad craft day? Well, I had one today and I have to tell you, it's not so much fun. This post will make you laugh and cry...from laughter!

I made this super cute bracelet last night!

Totally FUN, right? So I woke up and started working on another one for a tutorial. Well, it was a colossal bust...literally. It busted open. See.

So needless to say, I took a brake from the fabric covered bracelet. It is salvageable, and there will be a tutorial...some day. :)

On to craft project number two, a banner for Father's Day! It's Keith's first Father's Day and I wanted to make it really special! I thought an "I love Daddy" banner would be perfect! Then I had a stroke of genius! I thought, "Why don't I make this two-sided?" I decided to put I "heart" Daddy on one side and Freedom on the other. I "heart" Daddy can hang until Father's Day and Freedom could be displayed for the rest of June and early July. Holy cow! What a great idea! See take a look.

Adorable!

And now here's the other side.

My stroke of genius turned into a very, ugly blond moment. :) Freedom turned into Modeerf...not really a patriotic word. When you put the start of one word on the back of the start of the second word (does that make sense), it doesn't work out so well. :) I can laugh about it...now.

I will definitely attempt the two-sided banner again because it is pretty fantastic. I'll just be more careful next time! My day wasn't a total bust. The I "heart" Daddy banner turned out perfect and I learned a GREAT lesson! :) LOL!

Happy Blogiversary to Crafts and Sutch

2011-05-27T10:15:00.000-05:00

Hi, Friends! I cannot believe that one year ago today I wrote my first post! I'm getting all nostalgic! :) I know many of you did not know me way back when so I thought it would be fun to show you how it all began! :)

If you click on the second pic, you can see what Crafts & Sutch used to look like. :)

Originally posted on May 27th, 2010:

Well, here I am! I'm so excited to make my very first post to my Crafts & Sutch blog. I've been truly inspired by so many crafty women in my life, and just recently discovered the craft blog world. Wow! I want to be a part of it too! :)

My first post has been a labor of love and has taught be sometimes Plan B is way better than Plan A. This past year I started to work from home and I needed a space that I wouldn't mind spending a lot of time in. I decided to paint a mural on one wall. I'm not an artist, just someone with a crafty bone and who isn't afraid to try something new.

I found an image on Google images of some modern flower silhouettes. I came up with my color scheme, and printed out my image. I borrowed a projector from my mom and traced the image on my wall (you could rent a projector from a teacher supply store or ask a teacher friend). I painted it with your normal, run of the mill craft paint and simply filled in the lines! Easy peasy!

As soon as I painted the swirls, I knew they were way too busy and needed a softer appearance. I took the wall paint and dry brushed over the swirls to give them a distressed finish (Plan B).

I love how it turned out! The total cost for this project was $6.97 ($2.98 for three bottles of craft paint and 3.99 for some paint brushes)! Not too shabby for a work of art!

Have a wonderful three day weekend, Friends!

No Sew Bleached Sand Dollar Pillow

2011-05-13T12:29:00.001-05:00

Hello, Sweet Friends! I have missed you! I'm sorry I've been MIA, but I have to admit I had hit a crafting brick wall until Delia invited me to join her Color My Summer series that she is hosting along with Kojo Designs.

I chose the color BLUE because it screams SUMMER to me...blue skies, cool pools, and crashing waves just make me want to pop on my sunglasses and soak up some summer sun.

I wanted to introduce a little bit of a beachy feel into my home for the summer, so I customized some fabric to create this sand dollar pillow in Caribbean blue!

You will need: a pillow form or fiberfill, Heat n Bond, fabric scissors, disappearing ink pen, iron, fabric (I used broadcloth), a print out of your desired design, and a Clorox Bleach pen.

Start by cutting two pieces of fabric approximately 2" larger than your pillow form. My pillow form was 14", so I cut my fabric 16" square.

Cut out the image and trace around it using the disappearing ink pen. I found my image using Google, copied it into PowerPoint, enlarged it, and printed it.

Now trace around the lines using the Clorox Bleach pen.

Allow the bleach to work it's magic. Let it soak in for about 10-15 minutes (or longer).

Then wash and dry the fabric. I love how the bleach spread unevenly giving it a more organic and natural feel.

While I could probably sew a straight line, I don't have a sewing machine. :( One of my favorite bloggy gals, Cassie from Hi Sugarplum!, made some no sew pillows awhile ago and I was instantly inspired to make one of my own.

Following the directions on the Heat n Bond package, fuse together three sides of the pillow (leave about 3/4 to 1" seam allowance on all sides). I put the sand dollar image right side up, adhered the Heat n Bond strips, put the back of the pillow on top (like a little Heat n Bond sandwich), and ironed it together.

Turn the pillowcase right side out and press the seams.

On the open end, turn the fabric under and iron a crease to create a finished seam. Apply the Heat n Bond to one side of the pillow (see image below), insert the pillow into the case, and then iron the last seam.

Plop the pillow on a bed or your sofa, and you are finished! :) It's as simple as that!

I wanted to bring in the seas so I bleached the fabric with a sand dollar design, but this project could easily be adapted to fit into any decor...think monograms, floral patterns, stripes, etc.

I'm so thankful Delia invited me to join her fantastic series! I adore my pillow. It's soft, squishy and reminds me of the seas! How are you getting ready for summer?

I'll be linking up to some of my favorite parties on my sidebar. :)

Guest Posting @ The Scrap Shoppe

2011-05-07T08:15:00.000-05:00

Hello, Sweet Bloggy Friends! I know I haven't been hanging around Crafts & Sutch lately, but you can find me over at The Scrap Shoppe today! Michele is on Bloggy Maternity Leave, and I'm helping out so she can spend some extra special mommy time with the new little man in her life! Congratulations, Michele! :)

I'm sharing a photo cube that I made for the monkey's grandmothers last Mother's Day. If you are still looking for something for tomorrow, it's a quick and affordable gift that is sure to please! :)

Here's a sneak peek:

Have a wonderful weekend! :)

Guest Posting @ Mine for the Making

2011-04-10T19:06:00.001-05:00

Hi, Sweet Friends! I hope you are all having a spectacular weekend! :)

You can find me over at Mine for the Making today!

I'm sharing an easy and affordable spring banner! Hop on over to say hi! :)

Guest Posting @ Whatever Dee Dee Wants

2011-04-10T06:00:00.000-05:00

Hey Sweet Friends! I hope you are having a lovely weekend! Here is the printable I shared over at Whatever Dee Dee wants last week! Take a peek if you missed it. :)

Hello Whatever Dee Dee Wants Readers! :) I cannot tell you how excited I am to be here and spend some time with you today! I'm Erin from Crafts & Sutch. I love all things crafty and have been diagnosed with "I can make that" syndrome. ...it's a real thing, I promise! I am constantly inspired by the things I see, so I like to create a little bit of everything. :)

Spring is one of my favorite seasons! I just love the air turning a little warmer, the clear, blue skies, and everything getting green and lush!

I love to create printables and play around on Picnik and in Photoshop, so here is a printable that I created just for Dee Dee's Spring Fling!

Isn't she lovely? :) She is all yours. Simply click on the image above, click again to open it in full resolution, right-click the image and select Save Image As. Open the file, resize it (if needed), and print it from home or send it to Costco or Wal-Mart. It would look gorgeous on glossy photo paper! :)

I have loved spending some time with you today! I hope you'll stop by Crafts & Sutch and say hi! :) Thank you so much, Dee Dee, for letting me come visit!

Guest Posting @ Whatever Dee Dee Wants

2011-04-03T11:32:00.000-05:00

Hi, Sweet Friends! I hope you are having a wonderful weekend!

I'm hanging out at Whatever Dee Dee Wants today! I'm sharing a fun, spring printable so pop on over and say hello! :)

Sutch an Inspiration

2011-03-29T06:00:00.000-05:00

Hi and Happy Tuesday! :) I've been a huge slacker when it comes to Sutch an Inspiration, so I'm making up for it today with a whopping double dose of inspiration! :) These are ideas I've earmarked from the past couple of weeks.

I love this springtime banner Holly made over at 504 Main! It has so much spunk and personality and is such a fun way to great your guests!

Carol over at The Answer is Chocolate made this chic ring from scrapbooking supplies and a ring blank! A jewelry project that is simple, affordable, and beautiful is right up my alley! :) I love how the scrapbook paper looks like fabric. That, combined with the sharp, black and white pattern really makes this ring look like a million bucks!

I want to make a pair of these Easter egg topiaries that Haley made at The Autocrat! They would look beautiful on my mantle! She did a fantastic guest tutorial over at Itsy Bitsy Paper to show us how she made it.

I think this egg crocheted garland that Mama Michie's Musings made is so sweet and simple. She has an easy to follow tutorial and since I've been to Mandipidy's crochet boot camp, I know what all the terms mean! :) This garland would look fantastic strung on your mantle, down a staircase, in front of a window, or wrapped around your kiddo's Easter basket.

Rachel over at Sun Scholars made this giant, flower pillow with cushy, super snuggley fleece! I think it is perfect for a little girl's room or even as floor pillows for a game room (and let them migrate into the living room for spring.)

We all know that I have a wreath obsession. I'm okay admitting it. I have it because of projects like this patch worked kite frame wreath that Carlee shared over at Ladybird Ln. I am over the moon about this project that she put together for under $5! Does it make anyone else wanna sing "Let's Go Fly a Kite?" No? Just me? Hmm... :)

I showed off Cyndy from The Exchange around Christmastime when she made some fantastic fabric covered topiaries from poster board. Well, she put a spring twist on her project by wrapping the trees in moss! Genius!

I sure do adore a modern mirror! Can you believe that Alicia from Thrifty and Chic made these from PVC pipe? PVC pipe is affordable and comes in several diameters. I don't think you could go wrong with this project because the visual impact is stunning! P.S. I love the console table too!

Hello, Beautiful! Nikki over at Kreative Knack "dressed up" an old dresser with a little elbow grease, some paint, and a cardboard stencil! I've never refinished a piece of furniture, but this project makes me want to try.

Malia at Yesterday On Tuesday made these bright and cheerful fanciful Easter eggs! She painted plastic eggs, added some sparkly glitter, and a sweet little sentiment on each egg. She also has a tutorial to make that adorable, little sheet music peat moss bucket!

Ladies, thank you so much for always keeping me inspired! :)

Birthday Party Gift Idea

2011-03-28T07:30:00.001-05:00

Hi Sweet Friends! I hope you all had a fantastic weekend! We had a weekend full of craftiness and family! Kason was invited to an art themed birthday party this weekend and he had a ton of fun!

We were asked to bring art supplies for gifts rather than the "usual" gifts like toys and clothes. Of course, me being the crafty gal I am, LOVED this idea and I ran with it! This is what I came up with:

I filled a tackle box with all the artsy craftsy stuff a little girl could ask for: watercolors and brushes, various sizes and colors of pom poms, pipe cleaners, construction paper, foam stamps, glittered foam stickers, crayons, sidewalk chalk, various stickers, and alphabet post it notes. :)

I found the tackle box at Wal-Mart for just over $5.00 and managed to fill it with lots of crafty goodies. The whole kit cost less than $20.00.

You could also rummage through your craft stash to add items like scrap paper, stickers, etc. and save a few dollars! :)

I personalized the gift by cutting some vinyl with my Cricut. I love that the apostrophe is an artist's pallet.

I finished it off with a polka dot bow and a handmade artist's pallet gift tag and paint brush.

Because the kiddos were going to be "gettin' artsy," it was requested they come in clothes they could get dirty. I took this as an opportunity to make something new. :) Makes total sense, right? Kason and I made an artist's pallet t-shirt just for getting dirty. His hand print is the pallet and his thumb prints became the paints. The hubs came up with the "handmade" slogan. :)

The monkey's favorite station was the painting station. He stood in front of this easel for at least 30 minutes! Professional artist in the making if you ask me. :)

Here is his t-shirt after the party. While the paints used at the party are washable, I love the "new" look of his handmade shirt.

I might have to borrow this idea for the monkey's second birthday! :) He is definitely a creative little fellow!

I'll be linking this up to some of my favorite parties. See you all tomorrow for a double dose of Sutch an Inspiration!

Here are some of the best recent articles on Crafts:

Origami Craft Ideas: Origami Wedding Craft Ideas via Craft Supplies
Customizable Cross-Stitch Projects: Cross-Stitch Projects via Martha Stewart Crafts
Popular Trends in the Arts and Crafts World: Arts and Crafts Trends: An Overview was recently featured on online msw degree programs
Fun Spring Crafts for Kids: Spring Theme Crafts via Toddler Crafts

Keep Calm and Shine On {Printable}

2011-03-24T06:00:00.000-05:00

Hey Y'all! :) I hope you are having a most spectacular week! I'm in Colorado for a super duper quick trip. I flew in yesterday and I'll be back home tonight. :) I can't stand to be away from the monkey and the hubs for too long.

I've got a confession. I'm in a HUGE crafting rut. I've been in one for quite some time, and I'm having a hard time pulling myself out. Most of it is just life getting in the way...you know how that goes...

Anywho, I wanted to give myself a little encouragement and motivation so I made myself a printable. :)

If you need a little encouragement too or if you're just in a sunny kind of mood, then feel free to snag this sweetie! :) Click on the image to open it in full resolution, right click on the image and select Save Image As, save the file, open it, resize it if needed, and print. Both of these files are huge! They are big enough to be printed as posters! :)

I'll be linking this up to some of my favorite parties!

Baby Shower Decorations to Decor

2011-03-20T21:52:00.000-05:00

Hello, Friends! Happy spring! How was your weekend? :) I'm sorry I've been MIA. The monkey was sick last week and was in need of some extra Mommy time, so my "fun" job (and my real job) were put on a bit of a hold. We had a wonderful weekend that ended with a family dinner at our casa. The hubs, the monkey, two Memas, one Nonno, one Papa, me, a pot of spaghetti, a big bowl of salad, and two pies made for one perfect evening! :)

Last weekend a friend of mine hosted a baby shower for her sister and she asked if I would make a few decorations. The theme was "Under the Sea" to match the nursery. I used the bedding as color and image inspiration. Take a peek:

Isn't it too cute?! I just love that little octopus. He is adorable!

My first project was inspired by Michele over at The Scrap Shoppe. She made these diaper and washcloth cupcakes! I had never seen them before and instantly knew that they would soon become my GO TO baby shower craft.

I followed Michele's easy tutorial and ended up these cuties. I wish with all my might I could have found my pinking shears (I hunted for a new pair, but wasn't willing to spend $25 dollars on scissors...I just couldn't do it). I think the pinking detail adds the perfect finishing touch!

I topped each cupcake off with a pom pom cherry! An idea I got from Lindsey at BABY BOKY.

Then I made a banner to display at the shower and then move to baby Ian's room when he comes home. I used chip board circles that I got from the $1 bins at Michael's (all 5 for a $1).

For the octopus and turtle on each end, I uploaded the bedding image into Photoshop, used it to generate a black and white image, converted it to a .svg file using InkScape, and then cut the image using my Cricut. It sounds super complicated, but it's just a matter of a few clicks. Once the image was cut, I used a marker to add the detail. Again, I used the bedding as my guide.

I tied it all together with some "bubble" ribbon.

Next, I made a diaper wreath to greet guests as they came to the shower. This wreath would also look adorable hanging from the hospital room door and then the "I" can be removed and used as a door decoration for Ian's nursery.

I also made a signature frame so guests could sign with their welcoming wishes for baby Ian. It's great for mommy to take to the hospital too. This is a super easy and affordable keepsake. I was able to make this 11x14 keepsake frame for less than $15.

Of course, you know I had to make Ian his own stylish freezer paper stenciled onesies! I was inspired to create the "I" onesie by one I saw over at Gabriel's Good Tidings. The star print onesie got a rockin' guitar and the nautical stripe onesie got a super cute whale. These were a fabulous find at Wal-Mart for just $2 each.

I love to create decor that serves double duty for mommy and baby later! Everything can be used as decor in the nursery or by baby after the shower!

Kiss Me I'm Cute T

2011-03-15T13:40:00.000-05:00

Hello sweet friends! I'm not sure about you all, but this time change has really done a number on me this year. I've been feeling super late the past few days. :)

I made this freezer paper stenciled shirt a few weeks ago, but the monkey got it dirty before I could get pics of it. :)

I wanted to make him a green t-shirt so he won't be pinched on Thursday. :) The only green shirt I found had a pocket on it, so I just pretended it wasn't there. I cut the stencil with my Cricut, ironed it on, and painted it with white fabric paint.

While Kason is a fraction Irish, he definitely has more cute in him!

Quatrefoil Grapevine Wreath

2011-03-14T12:34:00.000-05:00

Hello, Friends! :) I hope you are having a great start to your week!

As I've said before, I don't usually decorate for St. Paddy's Day, but this year I added small touches of green around the house. I started with the Quatrefoil and Four Leaf Clover printable and now I've added this:

I wanted to keep the quatrefoil theme going because it's so classic and add touches of green to the wreath. This project was extremely affordable for the scale of the wreath! I made it for just $16.00.

To get started, you will need: four grapevine wreaths, thin brown ribbon or wire, greenery garland, and ribbon.

Lie two wreaths side by side and tie them together with the ribbon or wire. Be sure to make the knot snug.

Repeat the same process with the other two wreaths. Then lay one set of two on top of the other to make the quatrefoil.

Now securely tie these together with the ribbon or wire. I went around and through the grapevine. The picture below is a close up of where I tied the wreaths.

Now weave the greenery garland in and around the wreath. I simply tucked the ends of the garland into the wreath. I did not tie it. This will make it easy for me to quickly change the appearance of the wreath with the seasons.

Now do the same thing with the ribbon. Again, I tucked the ribbon ends into the grapevine.

And there you have it! I hung the wreath above the fireplace in the middle of a decorative wrought iron wall hanging. It reminds me of an old garden gate. :)

The all green wreath is perfect for St. Paddy's Day, but I plan on changing out the ribbon and adding some fabric flowers for spring. :)

I'll be linking this project up to some of my favorite parties!

1000 Follower Giveaway Extravaganza WINNERS

2011-03-14T10:25:00.001-05:00

What a week! I sure hope you had as much fun as I did at the

I just want to say again how thankful I am for you! I love being a part of this community and I adore the friendships I've made. I'm SUTCH a lucky girl! :)

This week was all about celebrating you, so let's get to the good stuff, shall we? All of the winners were chosen via Random.org. The winners of these fabulous giveaways are:

$30 credit to It's a Stitch
Comment #45: Christy @ Fudge Ripple

Hold onto Your Dreams Pillow Cover from Lisa Wine Studios
Comment #19: Jennifer @ Life, Crafts, and Whatever

$30 credit to Aya Fly Creations
Comment #16: Bev @ Flamingo Toes

Your Choice of Print from Mandipidy
Comment #102: Elisekeyem

Elf Hat from Minnies
Comment #1: Kristen @ Hudi's World

Anthro-Inspired Necklace from Flamingo Toes
Comment #83: Michelle @ Oh, Elle!

Your Favorite Item from BABY BOKY
Comment #23: MommyMeagan

Your Favorite Two Items from Jewels & Sutch
Comment #114: April @ Cup of Delight

Congratulations to all the winners! I will be contacting you via email soon with all the details. :)

NOTE: There was a giveaway that had to be canceled due to logistical difficulties. However, there will be a giveaway at the end of the month to make up for it. :)

A huge, giant THANK YOU to all of the fabulous shops that made this past week a huge success! :)

1000 Follower Extravaganza - Jewels and Sutch {Giveaway}

2011-03-11T09:15:00.002-06:00

EDIT: This giveaway is closed.

What a week! I hope you all have had fun! I know I have! I just have to say thank you to all the shops who participated in the 1000 Follower Extravaganza and a giant thank you to everyone who has decided to follow along! I'm so thankful for you and honoring you was what this week was all about. :)

For our last giveaway, I'm thrilled to introduce you to a brand new shop...mine! :)

Jewels & Sutch has been a long time coming, but this event finally got me on the ball to actually open my doors! :) I don't have a specific jewelry style. I just make what I love, so you will find a little bit of everything in Jewels & Sutch.

I have only listed a hand full of items, but more will be added over the weekend. Here are a few things you will find in the shop and a few sneak peeks! Enjoy!

So what do you think? :)

Giveaway:
One lucky winner will receive
TWO items from the Jewels & Sutch shop!

You can select a necklace and earrings, a necklace and ring, or earrings and a ring.

Mandatory Entry:
Head over to Jewels & Sutch and leave me a comment telling me your favorite item!

Extra Entries:
1. Add Jewels & Sutch to your favorites on Etsy .

2. Follow Crafts & Sutch.

3. Like Crafts & Sutch on Facebook.

4. Follow Crafts & Sutch on Twitter.

5. Blog, tweet, or Facebook about this giveaway.

Please leave one comment for each entry (up to eight) and include your email address so I can contact you if you win. The giveaway will close at midnight on March 13th and the winner will be chosen via Random.org on Monday, March 14th. The winner will have 24 hours to respond before another winner is selected. Good luck!

Discount Alert:

I'm offering everyone 20% off their order from now until next Friday! :) Just enter GRANDOPENING20 at checkout to receive the discount! :)

Be sure to check out the other 1000 Follower Extravaganza Giveaways:

$30 credit to It's a Stitch

Hold onto Your Dreams Pillow Cover from Lisa Wine Studios

$30 credit to Aya Fly Creations

Your Choice of Print from Mandipidy
Elf Hat from Minnies
Anthro-Inspired Necklace from Flamingo Toes

Your Favorite Item from BABY BOKY

ShoeDazzle WINNER

2011-03-11T08:41:00.000-06:00

Hello! Happy Friday...and for many of us, the start of Spring Break! Woowho!

The winner of the ShoeDazzle one month free trial is

Stephanie who said, "I have "liked" ShoeDazzle on Facebook for quite some time now!"

Congratulations, Stephanie! I'll be contacting you shortly to give you all the details! :)

Stay tuned! We have our last 1000 Follower Giveaway coming up in just a bit!

1000 Follower Extravaganza - BABY BOKY {Giveaway}

2011-03-10T12:00:00.003-06:00

EDIT: This giveaway is closed.

Let's finish up today's giveaways with a super sweet little shop called BABY BOKY.

BABY BOKY has got to be one of the cutest childrens shops I've come across in a long time! Linsdey, the gal behind the scenes, makes adorable and unique gift items for all the little loves in our lives.

You are sure to have the SWEETEST gift at the shower if you bring any of these cuties:

Like this personalized name onesie and matching bib.

These are rolled up together to create a "cherry-topped" cupcake!

Or how about these coordinating onesie cupcakes?

They are packaged together in a little bakery box complete with a ribbon and matching gift tag. Adorable!

A new mommy can never have too many receiving blankets, and these wrapped up like candy are just too sweet!

Lindsey's shop also carries super cute onesies and bibs. This little pirate onesie cracks me up!

Any Little Mister will look like a gentleman when he's wearing his tie bib! :)

BABY BOKY is full of sweet goodies and personality! Any new mom would adore ANYTHING from Lindsey's shop! :)

Giveaway:
One lucky winner will receive
your favorite item in the BABY BOKY shop!

Mandatory Entry:
Head over to BABY BOKY and leave me a comment telling me your favorite item!

Extra Entries:
1. Add BABY BOKY to your favorites on Etsy.

2. Blog, tweet, or Facebook about this giveaway.

Please leave one comment for each entry (up to five) and include your email address so I can contact you if you win. The giveaway will close at midnight on March 13th and the winner will be chosen via Random.org on Monday, March 14th. The winner will have 24 hours to respond before another winner is selected. Good luck!

Discount Alert:

Lindsey is offering Crafts & Sutch readers 15% off your order now through midnight on Sunday! :) Just enter CRAFTSANDSUTCH at checkout to receive the discount! :) Thanks, Lindsey!

Be sure to check out the other 1000 Follower Extravaganza Giveaways:

$30 credit to It's a Stitch

$35 credit to Antique Paperie

Hold onto Your Dreams Pillow Cover from Lisa Wine Studios

$30 credit to Aya Fly Creations

Your Choice of Print from Mandipidy
Elf Hat from Minnies
Anthro-Inspired Necklace from Flamingo Toes

1000 Follower Extravaganza - Flamingo Toes {Giveaway}

2011-03-10T06:00:00.001-06:00

EDIT: This giveaway is closed.

Woowho! Let's continue this party with a giveaway from one of my favorite bloggy gals, Bev from Flamingo Toes!

Bev is like a crafting triple threat! She makes the cutest home decor projects, she can sew like a mad woman, and she makes beautiful jewelry! This is an unofficial statement, but she is kind of known for her knock offs! See take a peek:

Paisley Rebirth Necklace

Cameo Collage Necklace

Limitless Strands Necklace

She also has Flamingo Toes Designs where you can find some of her creations that she showcases on the blog like beautiful jewelry, easy to follow patterns, and adorable home decor items! Here are a few of my favs from her shop!

Pearl and Gray Ribbon Ring

Raindrops on a Sunny Day Earrings

Birdies in Love Dishtowel

I'm so excited for Flamingo Toes' Anthro Necklace Week this month! It's a week filled with five Anthro-Inspired Necklace tutorials, and then five giveaways of those necklaces! Woowho! But if you cannot wait for those giveaways, then enter the one below! :)

Giveaway:
One lucky winner will receive this

Limitless Strands Anthro-inspired Necklace!

Mandatory Entry:
Head over to Flamingo Toes Designs and leave me a comment telling me your favorite item!

Extra Entries:
1. Add Flamingo Toes Designs to your favorites on Etsy.

2. Follow Flamingo Toes, the blog.

3. Like Flamingo Toes on Facebook.

4. Follow Flamingo Toes on Twitter.
5. Blog, tweet, or Facebook about this giveaway.

Be sure to check out the other 1000 Follower Extravaganza Giveaways:

$30 credit to It's a Stitch

$35 credit to Antique Paperie

Hold onto Your Dreams Pillow Cover from Lisa Wine Studios

$30 credit to Aya Fly Creations

A print of your choice from Mandipidy

An elf hat from Minnies

1000 Follower Extravaganza - Minnies {Giveaway}

2011-03-09T12:00:00.009-06:00

EDIT: This giveaway is closed.

More celebrating? Yes, please! :) Be prepared to have your cuteness meter put on overload for this next giveaway! I'm so excited to introduce you to

Marta, the sweet lady behind Minnies, makes the most adorable hats, diaper covers, and other knitted and crocheted lovelies for the little one in your life! All of her designs are made with 100 percent cotton, bamboo, hemp and corn fibers, and can be customized to your preferences. I adore every single thing in her shop, but here are a few of my favs!

Cotton Earflap Hat with Matching Flower

Square Pom Pom Hat

Elf Hat

Mr. Froggy Hat, Diaper Cover, and Booties Set

Oh my holy cuteness! Bunny Hat, Diaper Cover, and Booties Set

I don't think I can pick a favorite! They are all perfection! ...and I'm pretty sure looking at all those sweet, little faces makes me want another kiddo. :)

Giveaway:
One lucky winner will receive this

Elf Hat (size 0-12 months) in your choice of colors from Minnies!

Mandatory Entry:
Head over to Minnies and leave me a comment telling me your favorite item!

Extra Entries:
1. Add Minnies to your favorites on Etsy.

2. Like Minnies on Facebook.
3. Blog, tweet, or Facebook about this giveaway.

Please leave one comment for each entry (up to six) and include your email address so I can contact you if you win. The giveaway will close at midnight on March 13th and the winner will be chosen via Random.org on Monday, March 14th. The winner will have 24 hours to respond before another winner is selected. Good luck!

Be sure to check out the other 1000 Follower Extravaganza Giveaways:

$30 credit to It's a Stitch

$35 credit to Antique Paperie

Hold onto Your Dreams Pillow Cover from Lisa Wine Studios

$30 credit to Aya Fly Creations

Your Choice of Print from Mandipidy

1000 Follower Extravaganza - Mandipidy {Giveaway}

2011-03-09T06:00:00.001-06:00

EDIT: This giveaway is closed.

I hope you all are having a wonderful Wednesday and enjoying our celebration so far! :) I'm so excited for this morning's giveaway because it is from one of my most favorite Blogland friends!

Mandy is one of my bloggy BFFs! We actually met through a giveaway on her blog, Mandipidy, and have been chatting away ever since! Mandy just opened a new shop on Etsy, Mandipidy Illustrated Prints, and I have to tell you that I LOVE every single print she has created so far!

Each image is hand sketched in ink by Mandy, then computer edited, and finally professionally printed onto textured card stock giving each one a canvas like appearance.

I love this The Tree is Carved with Love print! The details are so intricate...

...and she will "carve" your initials into the tree and your wedding date and your names are then printed at the bottom. What a special and personal gift for a wedding or anniversary...or yourself. :)

I cannot help but sing this next print, Sew Sew Sew.

Mandy and her hubs are expecting a little one, and so these next few prints were inspired by their new addition. I'm such a sucker for pennant bunting and think this alphabet bunting is too cute for words.

This little guy might be my favorite! I love this chunky E is for Elephant print!

Here is a close up of a print so you can see the detail of the textured card stock.

I love Mandy's new shop! YAY, Baby England for inspiring your mama to try something new! :)

Giveaway:
One lucky winner will receive a

print of their choice from Mandipidy!

Mandatory Entry:
Head over to Mandipidy Illustrated Prints and then leave me a comment telling me your favorite print!

Extra Entries:
1. Add Mandipidy Illustrated Prints to your favorites on Etsy.

2. Follow Mandipidy, the Blog: http://www.mandipidy.com/

3. Like Mandipidy on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Mandipidy

4. Follow Mandipidy on twitter: http://twitter.com/Mandipidy

5. Blog, tweet, or Facebook about this giveaway.

Be sure to check out the other 1000 Follower Extravaganza Giveaways:

$30 credit to It's a Stitch

$35 credit to Antique Paperie

Hold onto Your Dreams Pillow Cover from Lisa Wine Studios

$30 credit to Aya Fly Creations

1000 Follower Extravaganza - AyaFlyCreations {Giveaway}

2011-03-08T12:43:00.001-06:00

EDIT: This giveaway is closed.

Let's party on with a fantastic shop that gives back! I'm so happy to introduce you to Aya Fly Creations!

Aya's shop is filled with feathered beauties, but it was her philanthropic attitude that made me fall in love with Aya Fly Creations. A portion of every purchase is donated to the Rowena Wildlife Clinic. The Raptor Discovery Program at the clinic is specifically for rehabilitating birds and releasing them back into the wild.

Everything in Aya's shop is simply gorgeous, but these are a few of my favorites:

Blue Crush Feathered Earring and Hair Clip Set

Deep Blue Feathered Earrings

Fanned Peacock Hair Clip

Slim & Sexy Peacock Feather Earrings

Colorful Peacock Feather Hair clip

I love all of Aya's creations! Aren't they stunning? Any one of them would take a ho hum outfit and make it spectacular! :)

Giveaway:
One lucky winner will receive a

$30 credit to Aya Fly Creations!

Mandatory Entry:
Head over to Aya Fly Creations and leave me a comment telling me your favorite item!

Extra Entries:
1. Add Aya Fly Creations to your favorites on Etsy.
2. Blog, tweet, or Facebook about this giveaway.

Be sure to check out the other 1000 Follower Extravaganza Giveaways:

$30 credit to It's a Stitch

$35 credit to Antique Paperie

Hold onto Your Dreams Pillow Cover from Lisa Wine Studios

1000 Follower Extravaganza - Lisa Wine Studios {Giveaway}

2011-03-08T08:02:00.002-06:00

EDIT: This giveaway is closed.

Hello, Happy Tuesday! I'm excited to start today's giveaways with Lisa Wine Studios!

Lisa's shop is full of vintage inspired pillows and pillow covers to add a bit of charm and style to your home decor.

This French Postcard Pillow Cover is what drew me to Lisa's shop! I LOVE it and think it would be happy to live in my new (not started yet) office and craft space.

I love Lisa's Hold onto Your Dreams Pillow Cover one of a kind design! A fantastic message and the perfect addition for your spring decor.

This Skeleton Key Pillow Cover is positively delightful. I love it's shabby feel and the doily and fabric flower are perfection.

How fantastic would this Welcome Pillow be in your entry way? What a fun greeting for your guests that is sure to make them smile. I love the typeset letters and the length of the pillow. It makes it casual and a little quirky.

This Vintage Bicycle Pillow is so unique and fun! Lisa took an old photograph and printed the image onto cotton! I think this pillow would be a whimsical addition to a neutral nursery.

Giveaway:
One lucky winner will receive this Hold onto Your Dreams Pillow Cover

from Lisa Wine Studios! I think it's perfect for spring!

Mandatory Entry:
Head over to Lisa Wine Studios and leave me a comment telling me your favorite item!

Extra Entries:
1. Add Lisa Wine Studios to your favorites on Etsy.
2. Blog, tweet, or Facebook about this giveaway.

Be sure to check out the other 1000 Follower Extravaganza Giveaways:

$30 credit to It's a Stitch

$35 credit to Antique Paperie

1000 Follower Extravaganza - It's a Stitch {Giveaway}

2011-03-07T06:00:00.002-06:00

EDIT: This giveaway is closed.

Let's kick off this celebration with...

...a fantastic shop chock full of unique, hand-made jewelry and embroidery for your home. Malarie is the chick behind It's a Stitch and everything she makes is fun, trendy, and one of a kind! She uses vintage finds to create these beauties so every piece has character and a touch of whimsy.

I adore this Frosted Flower Necklace! Made with vintage eyelet, I think it screams spring!

I love elephants...especially ones with their trunk's up because it's good luck. These two are too darn cute for words. Trunk Love is another fun find in Malarie's shop.

How sweet is this What a Pear Necklace? It just makes me smile. :)

This Studded Deco Necklace would look fab with a LBD. Plus, it reminds me of something I would find in my Nana's jewelry box.

I think accessories speak volumes about someone's personality. This Framboise Ring says, "I'm effervescent!" :)

This is just a tiny sampling of all the goodness that resides over at It's a Stitch!

Giveaway:
One lucky winner will receive a

$30 credit to It's a Stitch!

Mandatory Entry:
Head over to It's a Stitch and leave me a comment telling me your favorite item!

Extra Entries:
1. Add It's a Stitch to your favorites on Etsy.
2. Like It's a Stitch on Facebook.
3. Follow It's a Stitch on Twitter.
4. Blog, tweet, or Facebook about this giveaway.

Please leave one comment for each entry (up to seven) and include your email address so I can contact you if you win. The giveaway will close at midnight on March 13th and the winner will be chosen via Random.org on Monday, March 14th. The winner will have 24 hours to respond before another winner is selected. Good luck, Friends!

1000 Follower Extravaganza

2011-03-06T22:24:00.000-06:00

Hello Sweet Friends! I hope you all had a stellar weekend! Mine was super GREAT! The hubs was out of town on his first hunting trip with my dad (not the great part...I missed him), so the monkey and I had the casa to ourselves all weekend. We had tons of fun watching Nick Jr., playing outside, and just having some good ole mommy/kiddo time! It was perfect! :)

Another fantastic part of the weekend was that Crafts & Sutch reached 1000 followers! All I can say is holy WOW! I'm simply over the moon and so very thankful for all of you that come and visit my little piece of Blogland. :) I cannot tell you how much I appreciate your support and your friendships, and I want to honor you! Let's celebrate, shall we?

This week is all about thanking you so Crafts & Sutch is doing it up right with giveaways every single day! You won't want to miss a single one!

Giveaway {ShoeDazzle}

2011-03-03T15:32:00.002-06:00

EDIT: This giveaway is now closed.

Do you Dazzle? I do! ShoeDazzle is an online shoe haven that takes your personal style, mixes it together with a professional stylist's know how, and delivers you beautiful shoes at an outstanding price! ShoeDazzle is the BEST way to stay on top of the trends without breaking the bank!

I was introduced to ShoeDazzle last year by a friend. I signed up, and just kind of hung out for a few months...seeing what they chose for me. One month a sweet pair of patent nude slingbacks asked me to buy them and I said yes! :) I haven't looked back since. I have ordered heels, flats, boots, and handbags and have loved them all!

It's super easy to be a Dazzler. First head over to ShoeDazzle and take their Style Profile. Based on your selections, their stylists will pick out shoes that suit your style, then all you have to do is choose your favorite! It's that simple! You get gorgeous shoes every month for just $39.95!

At the first of every month you are presented with a new showroom. Here are some pics from my March showroom:

Five or six styles are selected for you to choose from. These come from your style profile.

You can click on any one of the shoes to learn all the good stuff. Here you can see the shoe up close and personal, get tips about how to wear them, and even see them styled on a model.

If you want to check out a few more styles before you make your decision, you can see 10-15 more shoes that almost made your top five.

You can also choose from a selection of handbags.

Or jewelry! They have it all!

I love the first of every month because it means new shoes for me! What more could a girl ask for?

If you want to know a little more about ShoeDazzle, be sure to check out their FAQs page. They have it all covered!

Now for the good stuff... ShoeDazzle is offering one lucky Crafts & Sutch reader a

FREE one-month trial membership

so you can Dazzle too (if you already do, then you will win a FREE monthly credit)!

Entry Options:
1. Head over to ShoeDazzle and take their style profile. Then come back and tell me what your style is (It's fun!)
2. Like ShoeDazzle on Facebook.
3. Follow ShoeDazzle on Twitter.
4. Blog, tweet, or Facebook about this giveaway and leave a link to your post (up to three entries)
5. Follow Crafts & Sutch or let me know you already do.
6. Like Crafts & Sutch on Facebook.
7. Follow Crafts & Sutch on Twitter.

Please leave one comment for each entry (up to nine) and include your email address so that I can contact you if you win. The giveaway will close at midnight on March 10th and the winner will be chosen via Random.org on Friday, March 11th. The winner will have 24 hours to respond before another winner is selected. Good luck, Friends! Happy ShoeDazzling! :)

Check Crafts and Sutch out at Pocket Change

2011-03-03T12:21:00.000-06:00

Hi Friends! I hope you are having a wonderful Thursday!

The super fabulous folks over at Pocketchange were kind enough to feature Crafts & Sutch for their Best of the Web series which is their bi-monthly review of the most unique, informative and intriguing sites on the web. Woowho!

I would love for you to stop by, say hello, and take a peek around! I love their Be@Home blog...so many fantastic ideas in one place. :)

See you soon for a giveaway that will make your feet pretty and your pocketbook very happy! :)

Patina Penny Ring

2011-03-02T14:27:00.000-06:00

Hello Friends! I hope all is going well! I've putting off my "real" work to work on my "fun" work. :)

Here are the fruits of my labor, a project that will give you a little luck everywhere you go!

This project was very simple and cost just a few pennies (ha)! :) You will need Folk Art craft paint in Patina, some super duper glue (I used E-6000), a penny, and a ring blank. Not pictured: a piece of paper towel or a cotton ball or a Q-tip.

Take a piece of paper towel and blot the paint onto the penny.

Now wipe off the majority of the paint, leaving just a little in the crevices and around the outside of the coin.

Repeat the previous two steps to build up the "patina" on the penny. It will take just a few minutes for the paint to dry.

Flip the penny over and use E-6000 glue to adhere the ring blank to the back of the penny.

Let the ring dry overnight and then slip it on your finger! Now you'll be carrying some luck around with you where ever you go. :)

I'll be linking this up to some of my favorite parties! See you all tomorrow for a dazzlerific giveaway!

Sutch an Inspiration

2011-03-01T09:49:00.000-06:00

Happy March! It is certainly starting to feel like spring in Texas. We have had clear, blue skies and gorgeous weather! It makes me want to go outside and plant something. :) Of course I won't because I have a black thumb...not green...not brown...black. I have a hard time keeping green things alive. My father, the landscape contractor, is so proud. :)

As I said last week, I'm not much of a St. Patrick's Day decorator, so I've been looking for ways to infuse the essence and fun of St. Paddy's Day without breaking the bank. I've been trying to use what I have or repurpose other items from around the house. I love these ideas from Blogland for some affordable and "green" inspiration:

I think these glass jars from Happy Clippings are a fantastic way to bring in a little green and a touch of spring. Debbie used scrapbook paper, ribbon, buttons, and other embellishments to dress up these jars and then filled them with tulips.

Chelsea over at Two Twenty One spruced up some plain hurricanes by gluing Goodwill candlesticks to the bottoms. Then she filled the hurricanes with dried split peas and tucked a candle into each one. Simple, easy, affordable, and adds just the touch of green I'm looking for. Plus, it's super easy to change out the filler with the seasons.

The first time I saw this frame from the Funky Polka Dot, I thought it was made from real buttons and I thought, "How cute is that?!" But it gets even cuter (and better) because this is a PRINTABLE!!! No, running out to buy buttons, you can just pop over to her blog and print it out...for FREE! :)

Hello, I'm Erin and I'm a wreathaholic. I really do have a problem. My husband is staging an intervention. :) I adore these rainbow inspired wreaths!

Real Life, One Day at a Time made this fun and bright wrapped rainbow wreath. I love the trio of pom poms and the little message in the middle, "beauty comes after the rain."

Oh my cuteness! It's like Wendy from Ramblings from the Sunshine State made this wreath for every girl in Blogland! She incorporated our favs...pennant bunting and rolled up felt flowers. The addition of the super chunky yarn is super cute too! :)

Ladies, thank you so much for sharing these projects! You are SUTCH an inspiration! :)

St. Patrick's Day Messages {Printable}

2011-02-28T06:00:00.002-06:00

Hello Sweet Friends! Happy Monday! I hope you had a wonderful weekend! I was so very happy to be home. I had a very rough time on Thursday and Friday traveling to Baton Rouge and back for work. It was two days full of late planes, delayed flights, canceled flights, and a broken flip flop (you gotta love walking around an airport with one flip flop). :) Needless to say, I spent my weekend relaxing with my sweet boys!

I cannot believe tomorrow is March 1st! I couldn't let you start the lucky month without this printable for your kiddos or sweeties...or whoever. :)

You know the drill...click on the image to open it in full resolution, right click and select Save Image As, save it, open the file, and print. Then cut out the messages and drop them into your kiddo's lunch box or your sweetie's briefcase. :)

I wish you a lucky March! See you tomorrow for some GREEN inspiration! :) I'll be linking these sweet messages up at my favorite parties!

Add This - Make it Easy for Your Readers to Share Your Posts

2011-02-25T06:00:00.000-06:00

Hello Sweet Friends! Happy Friday! I'm so excited for the weekend because I've been out of town the past two days and Saturdays are my solo day with the monkey! :) Can't wait for Mommy/Little Man date day!

I'm slowly but surely entering the social networking world. :) I love Facebook because it's familiar and now I finally feel like I'm getting the hang of Twitter. I love social networking because it's an opportunity for me to share cool posts I see around Blogland, and be able to discover new blogs when other people share what they find too.

That being said, it's important to make it easy for your readers to show you off! Holly over at 504 Main told me about AddThis, an easy-to-install (and FREE) tool that makes it super simple for your readers to share your posts to their favorite social networking sites!

Here's how to do it:

Head over to AddThis.

Now make your selections. I selected no on number two because I use a different service for my analytics.

Highlight and copy the code in the text box.

Open your template HTML, and paste the code between the [body] and [/body] tags (please replace the []s with <>s; see green text below).

Once you have installed the code, the AddThis button should appear at the bottom of your posts (see below). Now your readers can easily share your posts to their favorite social networking sites.

I love Blogland! I love our community, and I love the friends I've made! It's important that we support each other, so make it easy for others to show you off. :)

Have a wonderful weekend! Guess whats coming up on Monday! St. Patrick's Day lunch sack messages! :) See you then!

Quatrefoil & Four Leaf Clover {Printable}

2011-02-23T06:00:00.001-06:00

Are you in the mood for some luck? I have never, ever decorated for St. Patrick's Day before, but the bloggy world does something crazy to me. I won't be going all out...just adding touches of green here and there. I wanted to create a printable that was simple and classic and I thought using quatrefoils would be appropriate since they are essentially four leaf clovers.

Isn't she lovely? :) She is all yours. Simply click on the image above, click again to open in full resolution, right-click the image and select Save Image As. Open the file, resize (if needed), and print. This image file is huge, so you can blow this up to a poster size if you want to.

I hope this printable will bring you a little luck and get you in the St. Patty's spirit! :) I'll be linking up to these fantastic parties!

Sutch an Inspiration

2011-02-22T06:00:00.001-06:00

Hello and Happy Tuesday! I hope you're having a great start to your week!

There are so many fantastic things going on in Blogland that I found myself pulled in all different directions, so you'll find a little bit of everything today.

I guess I'm still all warm and fuzzy from Valentine's Day because I'm LOVIN' this LOVEly window display. Emily from Made with Emily Love cut the word out of foam core and added some texture with spackling paste. I'm already envisioning "Sutch" somewhere in my home!

WOW! I love gawking over laundry room redos and this one over at The Exchange is no exception. Cyndy's laundry room doubles as her craft storage room. She shares some fantastic ideas for organizing all the "little" stuff that you accumulate as a crafter. I especially love the tool caddy she uses to hold all of her brushes...and how about that subway art floor mat?

I've just recently discovered my love of vinyl! I have no idea why I took so long to jump on the bandwagon, but now I'm on! Michele over at The Scrap Shoppe has jumped on too and shared how she used vinyl to update some plain, white knobs. I love this print and I can't wait to see her finished project!

How cute is this tool bench? Natalie over at Johnny in a Dress and her hubs made this work shop for their little guy! I love the peg board! It makes it look "official." I know when the monkey gets a little older he would love something like this!

Honestly, this was too cute to not share with you! Do you know what he is made from? Toilet paper rolls! :) What a fun and affordable project to do with your kiddos! Sheri over at Childmade shares an easy to follow tutorial so you and your little one can "hop" to this project!

Ladies, thank you so much for sharing! You are SUTCH an inspiration!

Please stop by tomorrow for a printable that will make you feel lucky!

Veggie Chili

2011-02-20T21:54:00.001-06:00

Hello Sweet Friends! I hope you all had a great weekend! The weather was perfect here in Texas, so we spent some time outside everyday. Long walks, breakfast with a good friend, some delicious veggie chili, at home movie night with the hubs, and a trip to the park rounded out a fantastic weekend at the Sutch residence. :) What did you all do?

The hubs is one of those guys that thinks dinner is not dinner if there is no meat. :) Any other hubs like that? Well, I decided to give a vegetarian meal a try to see if he would miss the meat. Enter Veggie Chili!

I used this recipe from Kraft Recipes.com as a starting point and added my own flair.

Here is Kraft's recipe (my edits are in green):

What You Need

1 can (28 oz.) whole tomatoes, undrained, cut up - (1 28 oz. can diced tomatoes)
1 jar (16 oz.) TACO BELL® HOME ORIGINALS® Thick 'N Chunky Salsa (I used a generic brand)
1 can (15 oz.) black beans, drained and rinsed
1 pkg. (10 oz.) frozen corn - (1 16 oz. can of no salt added corn)
1 cup halved zucchini slices
1 tsp. chili powder - (I used a boat load! I would say at least 4 tsp.)
1 pkg. (7 oz.) KRAFT 2% Milk Shredded Mild Cheddar Cheese, divided
1 small onion diced
1/2 small green bell pepper diced
1 tsp. cumin
a few sprigs of cilantro (optional)

Make It

SAUTE onions and green bell pepper until the onions are translucent and the peppers are soft
COMBINE all ingredients except cheese in saucepan.
BRING to boil on medium-high heat; simmer on low heat 10 min., stirring occasionally.
SPOON 2 Tbsp. cheese into each of 8 soup bowls; top with chili and remaining cheese.
FINISH with cilantro.

This recipe was super simple, quick, and delicious! It's hearty and healthy!

Even the monkey loved it. I just spooned his over some whole wheat pasta because he isn't a pro at using a spoon just yet. :)

Here is the monkey's reaction when I asked him if he liked his veggie chili:

LOL! Take two!

For the record, the hubs did comment about the lack of meat, but I think it's only because I said it was veggie chili. He still gave it two thumbs up though! :)

See you tomorrow for Sutch an Inspiration! I'll be linking up to a few of my favorite parties!

Menu Organizer and Recipe Holder

2011-02-16T23:10:00.001-06:00

Hi Beautiful Bloggy Friends! I hope you are having a wonderful week! I don't know about you, but I'm ready for the weekend!

I've been on a cooking kick lately. I really do not like to cook, but I know it is so much better for my family and our pocketbook if I do. I've been making a valiant effort. I'll head over to KraftRecipes.com, pick out my dinners, add them to my shopping list, and print it out with all of the recipes. A week's worth of recipes and a shopping list equal several sheets of paper, so I came up with a way to help keep my weekly menu organized.

This project was so easy! Here's what I did: a scrapbook paper covered file folder holds all the recipes for the week. I glued the outside edges of the folder together to create a little pocket. I used my Cricut to cut out the label and the letters and spruced them up with a little distressing ink.

I Mod Podged scrapbook paper onto a metal sign (I found mine on clearance at Michael's, but I've also found them at the Dollar Tree), used my Cricut to cut out the word DINNER, and made some satin rosette magnets.

The magnetic board is the perfect place to display the recipe for dinner that night.

Now for the best part! I used 3M Command strips to adhere these to the inside of one of my kitchen cabinets. This cabinet is right next to my stove, so it stays open while I'm cooking and my recipe is always visible and up out of the way (so it doesn't get covered in dinner). :)

This system has been working brilliantly! It's so fantastic knowing that dinner is already planned, I just have to pick out what I want to cook. What do you think? :)

Have a great weekend, Everyone! :) I'll be linking up to these super parties!

Sutch an Inspiration

2011-02-15T11:27:00.000-06:00

Greetings, Friends! I hope you had a spectacular Valentine's Day! Yesterday was a little bit of a blah day for me and I wasn't feeling very Valentinesy, so I asked the hubs for a rain check. :) He was super sweet about it and brought me flowers anyway. We had a little snuggle time on the sofa watching TV. All in all, it was kind of perfect, but I'll be making our Valentine's Day dinner another night. :)

Anywhoodle...on to some inspiration! It's been in the seventies the past two days here in Texas and so I'm loving all the touches of spring "springing" up all over blogland!

This Anthro-inspired headwrap from Bev at Flamingo Toes is perfect for the winter/spring transition. It's cozy to keep your ears warm and it has the best spring accessory...flowers!

Another Anthro-inspired project is this lovely floral necklace. The Anthro version is a whopping $198, but Mama Jill remade this beauty for just $6! She has a fantastic tutorial if you would like to make one of your own.

This flower pillow screams spring to me! Marian at Perfect Chance Memories used ribbon to create the flower. I love this color combination! Be sure to pop over to her blog to check out the back of this pillow...it's just as sassy!

Rachel at Bubbly Nature Creations crafted this Dahlia flower headband from an old, leather purse! She even used the handles at the "band" part! Talk about using what you've got! :) She has a super tutorial on her blog if you would like to make this stunner for yourself.

Okay, this next feature just makes me smile! How cute is this "In the Mood" pillow from Nap Time Journal? One side says, "In the mood" and the other side says, "zzzz." :) As for what side you would see on my bed, I plead the fifth! :)

Ladies, thank you so much for sharing these projects with us! You are SUTCH an Inspiration!

Happy Valentine's Day

2011-02-14T09:27:00.000-06:00

Happy Valentine's Day, Dear Friends! I hope you have a day filled with LOVE! :)

Here are a few pics of my two loves...

Heart Necklace

2011-02-13T15:52:00.002-06:00

Happy Sunday, Friends! Are you all ready for Valentine's Day tomorrow? :) I've decided to make dinner for Mr. Sutch and myself since the monkey will be home with us. What are your plans?

Do you ever make something and then forget to post about it? I made this Jeweled Heart Necklace back in January.

I saw it over at Martha's when I was checking out her site for Valentine's inspiration. I made one, loved it, wore it, and completely forgot all about it until Jen from Tatertots and Jello showed off some she had made! I love her addition of ribbon! So cute and I like the punch of color!

I used black, smoky gray, clear, and light pink crystals. I wanted something I could wear year-round and I wear a lot of black. Then I threaded it onto a black chain. Sweet and simple.

Wishing you all have a LOVEly Valentine's Day tomorrow! :)

TWEET TWEET and a Printable Color Change

2011-02-12T06:00:00.002-06:00

Hello Blogland Friends! Guess what! Crafts & Sutch is on Twitter! I like to think of myself as pretty tech savvy, but Twitter is like a foreign world and it has me feeling like a total newb...not noob, newb. There is a difference. See? Urban Dictionary says so:

Noob: A "noob" is a person who is new or inexperienced in a subject, usually an online game. Noobs are usually annoying and excessively stupid.

Newb: A term used to describe a inexperienced gamer/person/etc. Unlike a noob, a newb is someone who actually wants to get better.

I'm definitely a newb! It may take a few days to get this whole @, #, RT, FT, etc. down, but I'm hoping to go pro by next week. :)

Now on to fun, free stuff! A super duper fantastic reader asked for the But the Greatest of these is Love Printables in a few different colors. So her request is everyone's gain! :)

Have a wonderful weekend!

Love Song Love Letters with {Printables}

2011-02-09T15:03:00.002-06:00

February is just flying by! I cannot believe Valentine's Day is right around the corner. I'm so excited! The house has little touches of red and pink here and there and I've just added the last decoration! As promised, a project you will LOVE!

The original plan was to cover the letters L-O-V-E in old love letters that Mr. Sutch and I had written to one another, but I could not find them for the life of me. ...and honestly now, I'm glad. When I find them, they will be in tact and we can read through them and get all sparky. :)

So plan B was to cover the letters in love songs that were special to the hubs and me. I copied the lyrics into Photoshop, made them pretty, and printed them out. Now on to the good stuff...

To get started, you will need printouts of song lyrics (love letters, etc.), Mod Podge, craft paint, letters (I got mine at Hobby Lobby), paint brush, foam brush, pencil, scissors, super duper glue, and a skewer or Popsicle stick.

Plan the layout of the design.

Turn over each printout and the letter. Trace around the outside of the letter with a pencil.

Paint the outside edge of each letter.

While the paint is drying, cut out the letters from the printouts.

Use Mod Podge to glue the printouts on to each letter.

Turn the letters over and glue them together. Be careful not to use too much glue in between the letters. You do not want it to seep out the front.

Use skewers or Popsicle sticks to add stability and support to the letters. Glue them in place.

Let the glue dry overnight, display, and LOVE!

Here are the printables for the songs I used to complete the project. Please feel free to print them out and create your own Love Song Love Letters, or just pop your favorite one into a frame!

Someone Like You by Van Morrison

The Reason by Hoobastank

Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton (Kathy, thank you for the suggestion)

Your Day Has Come by Bebo Norman

To print, click on the image, click again so it displays in full resolution, right click, and select Save Image As. Then open the file and print. :)

I adore this project because every time I look at it, I flash back to my wedding night and remember how much fun the hubs and I had dancing to each of these songs and it makes me feel all swoony. :)

Have a wonderful Wednesday! I'll be linking up to these fantastic parties!

Sutch an Inspiration

2011-02-08T06:00:00.001-06:00

Hi Beautiful Friends! I hope all is well and you are feeling the love! I cannot believe that Valentine's is less than a week away. How do you celebrate with your sweetie? I want to surprise the hubs with a nice evening but need ideas for staying in since we have the monkey. :) Any thoughts?

Well, there is definitely not a short supply of inspiration in blogland right now. My inspiration is a little all over the place which I guess describes me a little bit this week. :)

I am LOVING this wreath from Snips & Spice! How cute is that chain link detail? I love how Malory secures everything to the wreath with straight pins so she can change up the theme in a flash! So very clever!

If I were going out to dinner for Valentine's Day (BTW, anyone want to babysit?), I would want to carry this lace envelope clutch that Amie over at Kitty Cats and Airplanes made. It's big enough to hold the essentials and gives just a touch of sex appeal without being over the top.

If you still haven't bought Valentine's for you kiddos, then take a look at this super cute idea from searching simplicity. Making your own Valentine's is a win win win situation...you save a ton of money (2 packs of pencils at the $1.00 store and paper for your printer), you get to spend some time with your kiddos being creative, and your kiddos look super cool because their friends got a card AND a prize! :) Instant cool points! :)

And this little guy just made me think of my little guy! Need I say more? :) The monkey likes to watch The Backyardigans before bedtime. The Domestic Sugar Bake Shop astounded me with this 3-D cake of Pablo! It's perfection...especially little Tyron the moose peeking over Pablo's shoulder. So sweet...literally! :)

Ladies, you are SUTCH an inspiration! :) Please grab a button from the sidebar. You deserve it! :)

Tomorrow I have one more Valentine's Day project to share! You will LOVE ((insert foreshadowing here) my mom, the English teacher, would be so proud) it! :)

Thrifty Crafting Blog Design

2011-02-07T06:00:00.001-06:00

Hi there! Happy Monday! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend! Did you watch the game? I kind of listened to it while I was crafting. :) The monkey has been sick all weekend, and needed an extra dose of mommy time so crafting went out the window until his bedtime. :)

I cannot tell you how much I have loved all of the comments from the How to Add a Hyperlink in a Comment post!!! I am visiting everyone's blog, and am meeting so many new friends. If I haven't made it to yours yet, don't worry...I'll be there soon! I just haven't had a whole lot of computer time since Kason's been under the weather.

One friend I met is Allison from Thrifty Crafting!

As I was poking around her blog, I found so many cute things. Allison seriously is the queen of thrifty crafting! Take a peek at some of her awesome projects...

How cute is this Upcyclyed Dinosaur T-shirt? Allison made it from a too small long sleeve shirt and a white shirt that had a stain on it...mix the two together and you end up with this custom T for your cutie.

Hello, Gorgeous! I LOVE this Poppy Bib Necklace! ...and I would love to have one too! Allison gives a great tutorial on how to make these poppy-like buds.

I'm all about the industrial, hammered nail look of this $1.00 Store Thumbtack Wreath! How very clever and you could easily change out the ribbon with the seasons or add a few pretty rosettes for the spring.

These Flower Brooch Fingerless Gloves are so feminine and pretty! I love how Allison attached brooches to these gloves so they could easily be removed and popped onto a jacket or bag.

As I continued roaming her blog, I found out that she wasn't loving her current blog design, so I swooped in to save the day! :)

I sure hope you'll stop by Thrifty Crafting to take a look at her new digs and tell her hello! She would love that...and so would I!

Have a great week! See you tomorrow for SUTCH an Inspiration!

Adding a Link in a Comment

2011-02-03T20:55:00.001-06:00

Holy Brr, Batman! It is pretty chilly here in Texas and they are even saying we might get some snow down here in the south! :) That is something we do not see very often so we always look forward to it!

Whenever I do SUTCH an Inspiration, I always leave the featured bloggers a comment on their post to let them know I'm showing them off for the day! It's a great way to network and meet new friends. I also like to leave a direct link to SUTCH an Inspiration in the comment so it's easy for them to come back and visit me.

It's super simple! If you can copy and paste, then you can do this!

First, copy the HTML link code below.
<a href="http://yourblog.blogspot.com">Your Blog's Name</a>The information within the quotation marks represent the link URL and the information between the ><'s represents the display text. This is the code for a link back to Crafts & Sutch.

Now replace the red area with the URL for your blog or post (be sure you leave the quotation marks) and replace the blue area with the text you would like to be displayed.

Here is what it will look like in action:

NOTE: Leave a space before and after the code.

And here is what the comment will look like when you post it:

See how Crafts & Sutch shows up as a hyperlink? Isn't that too cool?! Told ya, super simple! :) Now leave me a comment with a link back to your blog so I can come and visit you! :)

Stay warm, Dear Friends!

I'll be linking to these fantastic parties!

Sutch an Inspiration

2011-02-02T09:23:00.000-06:00

Happy February! I love this month of love and I adore seeing all of the lovey dovey crafty goodness floating around Blogland right now. Here are a few of the many things that caught my eye this week:

I think this Love Birds artwork that Michelle from Loving Every Second made is darling. It reminds me of the hubs (my love bird...do not tell him I called him that) and that makes me feel all swoony.

I think this ribbon heart would be adorable on the front of a Valentine's Day card! Nat Mac's Knick Knacks shows us how to create this sweet and simple Valentine's sweetie.

I'm a huge fan of silverware decor. In fact, I'm adding some silverware elements to my kitchen soon. Kelsey from the Poofy Boutique (super fun name) used some Pottery Barn artwork to inspire these hand painted replicas! I just love them and am thinking I want a set for my kitchen too!

Getting the new Ballard Designs catalog is kind of like Christmas day...and instant inspiration! :) Cleverly Inspired made this BD inspired newspaper dress for $4.00! WOW! So cute and super simple! Head on over to check out how she made it.

In the same Ballard catalog, I saw a bundle of books much like the ones Uruguay White Life made. I adore the addition of the antiqued-looking paper she put on the outside of each book. Stop by her blog to check out the tutorial...let the pictures be your guide (they are lovely...and have English key words).

Ladies, thank you so much for sharing these projects and for being SUTCH an inspiration! :)

Be a Better Me {January} Update

2011-01-31T21:33:00.000-06:00

Honestly, I almost forgot about being a better me in January! :) It seems to have flown by and I'm sitting here wondering where the time went. If I had made "true" resolutions, I would have epically failed. However, I made a resolution to tackle being a healthier me, so let's see how ~~poorly~~ I did. :)

Here is the list of things that I wanted to do this month:

Set up doctors appointments (one for a physical, and one to see the dermatologist) - hmm, this is moved to the February TO DO list
Eat out only once per week - haha! Considering I was on the road for 6 days this month, that did not happen. I didn't even try to be good. Just keepin' it real. :)
~~Cook and try new, healthy recipes~~ - I did cook quite a bit and tried new, healthy recipes. YAY!
Snack on veggies - HA!
Cut out caramel colored soda - I've cut back tremendously. At most, I'll have one cola per day, and some days none. :)
Walk or jog at least 3 times a week for at least 45 minutes - Again, moving this one to February. I do have some new workout DVDs that I'm hoping to give a whirl and a new Wii game.
~~Schedule a girl's night out~~ - I did schedule a girl's night out that turned into a brunch...where I had to bring the monkey. :) I tried.
Get a massage - I love February!
~~Make time just for me to do what I want to do (read, craft, blog, take a warm bubble bath, etc.)~~ - I have to admit this one was a toughy because January was super busy with my "real" job, but I did make time to take naps and read. I finished two books! :)

All in all, I did okay. I'm making ~~baby steps~~ strides to be a healthier and better me in 2011. :) How are you all doing with your resolutions?

Valentine's Messages {Printables}

2011-01-30T23:47:00.002-06:00

Hello, Dear Friends! I hope you had a super weekend! :) Can you believe that it was in the 70s in Houston this weekend? The monkey and I took advantage of the beautiful weather by going on a nice, long nature walk...and when I say nature, I mean off roading in my neighborhood. :)

Well, I couldn't let you start February without these babies!!! I hope you love them as much as I do!

I'm all about the "I love you to the moon and back" one for the kiddos...

...and the "Will you be my Valentine? Check: yes or no" one for your sweetie! :) I just love how it looks like it's on old, crumpled up piece of notebook paper.

If you would like to print these for your kiddos or sweetie, then click on the image, click again to open it in full resolution, and then right-click on the image. Select Save Image As, print it, and then cut each message out so you can drop them into lunch bags for your kiddos or your sweetie's briefcase! :)

So which one is your favorite(s)? I'll be linking up to these super duper parties!

I hope your February is filled with love!

But the GREATEST of these is LOVE {printable}

2011-01-29T08:40:00.001-06:00

I so LOVE Valentine's Day! I love that the first two weeks of February are a reminder to all of us to show our friends and family how much we love and care for them. I think in the midst of life, sometimes we forget.

I made this printable of one of my favorite verses. What a fantastic reminder of how powerful LOVE is.

I made them in a few different color stories, so please print whichever one suits your decor (if you would like one in a different color, please leave a comment. I'm happy to make it for you). :) Simply click on the image, click on it again so it displays it's full resolution, right-click and select save, and then print. :)

Wishing you more LOVE than you can measure!

I'll be linking up to these lovely parties!

Freezer Paper Stenciled Valentine's Day T-shirts

2011-01-28T11:43:00.000-06:00

Hello and Happy Friday! I cannot believe we are in our last weekend of January. It just flew by and now we are heading into a month of red, pink, and love. :)

I really wanted to get the monkey a Valentine's Day t-shirt, but I had a hard time finding one for a boy. They have tons of super cutie girlie stuff, but not a whole lot for little guys. I decided to make my own. :) Well, I couldn't make just one t-shirt, so I made one for each of the kiddos at Kason's daycare.

I think these are adorable and super affordable! I got the t-shirts at Wal-Mart for $3.50. I used my Sure Cuts a Lot software to design each of the emblems, and cut the freezer paper with my Cricut (you could also trace the design onto freezer paper and cut it out by hand like I did HERE).

I first heard about freezer paper stenciling from Cheri at I am Momma - Hear Me Roar, and I always follow her easy tutorial HERE.

I used plain ole craft paint and mixed it with Delta Ceramcoat Textile Medium. The textile medium turns any acrylic paint into a washable fabric paint. How cool is that?

Here are the designs:

The heart breaker design is perfect for any little man in your life.

This is Kason's Love Rocks T...it matches his mailbox. :)

I LOVE this peace and love T! The L appears a little dark in the pic, but it is actually red.

I think the tic-tac-toe, hearts in a row T is too sweet.

This one is by far my fav! I love the color combo and the sweet, "hidden" message. You know if you mouth the words olive juice it looks like you are saying I love you! :)

I think the kiddos are going to look adorable for Valentine's Day! I can't wait to see pics of all of them in their t-shirts!

I love freezer paper stenciling! It is super simple and pocketbook friendly. You could easily add a little Valentine's flair to your home by using the same technique for dish towels, place mats, napkins, or even on a canvas for some wall art!

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

I'll be linking up to these wonderful parties!

Valentine's Day Mailboxes

2011-01-26T11:53:00.001-06:00

Hi Friends! I hope you all have been well! I've missed you! These past two weeks have been extremely busy at work, so I haven't had much time to create. Now that things have died down a bit, I've had a chance to finish up this project that has been sitting half done on the shelf in my office. :)

This project has been on my TO DO list since last year! I was inspired by Stephanie Lynn over at Under the Table and Dreaming. She is always a source of inspiration for me, and this was too cute to pass up! She made this Pottery Barn inspired version for her little boy.

For this project, you will need: a mailbox (small - Target $1.00 bin, large - Michael's), wooden candlesticks, round plaque for base, super glue, craft paint, paint brush, and embellishments (depending on the embellishment you use, you might also need Mod Podge and a foam brush).

I gathered some "prizes" for Kason's (a.k.a. The Monkey) mailbox. I didn't spend a lot of money. In fact one of the prizes is a Happy Meal toy from my lunch one day. :) Other prizes include: crayons, socks, Little People figures, a silverware set, a stuffed monkey, and fruit snacks.

To get started, construct the bases by stacking and gluing the candlesticks on top of one another and then gluing to the round base.

Each base got a coat of white paint.

While the glue and the paint are drying, decorate the mailbox. I used my Cricut and vinyl to create Kason's Love Rocks themed mailbox and Keith's binary code mailbox.

Creating Valentine's Day things for a guy is a little challenging. Even though Keith said I could cover his mailbox in hearts (so love him), I knew that I wouldn't be happy with it. He is pretty technologically savvy, so I decided to go with I love you in binary code. I cut it out on vinyl using my Cricut and changed out some of the zeros and ones for I "heart" U. :)

I Mod Podged some floral embellishments onto mine and all of the bases got dressed up with a little craft paint.

I love how each one reflects a little bit of our personalities and I can't wait to start filling these (and opening mine) on the 1st of February!

I love the little "rock hand sign" on Kason's! Too cool!

Is love in the air around your home too?

I'll be showing these off at my favorite parties!

Sweetheart Wreath

2011-01-18T11:39:00.001-06:00

Hello Dear Friends! I hope all is well! I'm sorry for my lack of posts this past week. I have been traveling quite a bit for my "real world" job, and have had a hard time getting to the computer for my "fun" job. :)

Do you guys normally decorate for Valentine's Day? I never have before, but I think it would be fun to have some sweet decor around the house to remind us all to give a little love.

I love those little conversation hearts and I love a good wreath, so I thought why not put these two loves together to create a new one. :)

I don't have a step-by-step tutorial for this one, but it was super duper easy to make. I started with a round wreath form that was flat on all sides (round and flat? LOL). Then I wrapped the wreath in strips of pink tissue paper. I hot glued on rows of Sweethearts on all sides and finished it off with a pink, satin ribbon.

I started gluing the hearts to the front first, then the inside, and finally the outside. It took about four 7 oz. bags of conversation hearts and about an hour and a half to complete. I just sat down in front of the TV and glued away.

I found that it was easiest to make one row of hearts all the way around the wreath, and then move on to the second and third rows (rather than gluing three across, then three below that row, and repeating the process all the way around the wreath).

I might have the sweetest wreath in town...literally! :) ...and on a side note, I'm pretty sure I got about 437 cavities while completing this project. :)

I'll be linking up to these SWEET parties! :)

Guest Posting @ Hi Sugarplum!

2011-01-13T09:14:00.001-06:00

Hello there! Come check me out over at Hi Sugarplum! today!

I just love Cassie and her blog! When I first discovered it, I read it all...the WHOLE thing! :) It's that good! :)

I'm also sharing a sweet, Valentine printable that you will only find over at Hi Sugarplum! :)

Please stop by and say hello to Cassie and me! We would love it if you did!

Sutch an Inspiration

2011-01-12T11:10:00.000-06:00

Hello Happy Friends! I hope your week is going well! :) I've been a busy bee traveling for work and am a little late posting Sutch an Inspiration. I do apologize, but you will not be disappointed by today's picks! I'm loving all the little pops of red and pink in Blogland! It means love is in the air and that always makes me happy!

I think it's obvious I was inspired by love and all things romantical this week. :)

I'm all swoony about these doily luminaries! Crafts by Amanda shows how to make these simple and elegant jars with things most of us have around the house. I bet they cast the most romantic shadows on wall.

Isn't this heart shaped notebook adorable? Lucy from Craftberry Bush shares how she made it with a dollar store notebook! Perfect for exchanging love notes with your sweetie!

I adore this smothered in kisses pillow made by Ameroonie! Tons of hearts are sewn to the pillow with little, tiny x's (kisses).

Kitty Cats and Airplanes made this Anthro-inspired lace bow. So sweet and romantic! Perfect for tucking into your hair for a night out with the hubs.

Bev over at Flamingo Toes shares how to make this P.S. ...i love you frame. The notebook paper is made by sewing straight lines onto fabric and then she hand stitched the message. So very clever! P.S. I LOVE it!

Thank you so much for sharing these LOVEly ideas! You all are SUTCH an inspiration! :)

Say it on the Wall Giveaway {WINNER}

2011-01-12T10:32:00.000-06:00

Hello Everyone! Drum roll please...

The winner of the Say it on the Wall

giveaway is:

Many congratulations to you, my dear! Look for an email from me soon. Thank you so much to everyone that entered and thank you so very much to Laura from Say it on the Wall! :)

Burlap Puffed Heart Valentine

2011-01-09T20:17:00.000-06:00

Can you believe that Valentine's Day is five, short weeks away? Maybe a little early to decorate for Valentine's Day, but it's not too early to MAKE for Valentine's Day. :) I've never decorated for Valentine's Day before, but I've been thinking of a few things I would like to add around the house to make me feel all lovey dovey. :)

I started with this big, burlap puffed heart valentine for my front door.

It really was quite simple to make. I was able to whip this up in two afternoons while the monkey was napping. :) You will need: red burlap, paper to make a template (tissue, newspaper, freezer paper, etc.), straight pins, chunky yarn, large eyed needle, plastic bags or fiberfill, hot glue gun and glue sticks, lace trim, ribbon, card stock, and letters for the message.

Begin by making a template for your heart. I used tissue paper. Pin the template to the burlap.

Cut two hearts out of the burlap.

Pin the two hearts together. Stitch around the outside of the heart with the yarn. I used a back stitch and left about a 1" border
.

Leave a few inches open to "puff" the heart.

Stuff the heart with plastic bags or fiberfill and close the heart.

Hot glue two ribbons across the heart. These will hold the message.

Hot glue the lace trim around the outside of the heart. I found this trim at Hobby Lobby. It has a nice, finished edge so I could glue right on top of the heart.

Add your message. I decided on Welcome Love. I cut triangles from card stock and the letters are glittered stickers in several different fonts. The "O" in love is in the shape of a heart. Take a look at the cute heart paper clip on the "O." I learned how to make it over at How About Orange. I'm not totally super duper wild about how the message turned out, but it will do for this year. :)

Hot glue ribbon to the back of the heart.

Hang on the front door and feel the love! :)

Have a wonderful week! I'll be linking up to these super fantastic parties!

Bottle Cap Magnets

2011-01-06T21:01:00.000-06:00

Yay for Friday! :) I hope you all had a wonderful week! I wanted to share a quick and affordable gift idea that was a huge hit for Christmas, but would make a fantastic gift for Valentine's Day too.

I saw these first over at Lemon Tree Creations and thought they would be the perfect gift for grandparents and aunts and uncles!

I followed Tiffany's easy tutorial and found the cute, little tins at Wal-Mart. They even had bows already on them. Everyone thought they were the cutest and I couldn't resist making a set for me too.

I ended up buying a few more tins at Wal-Mart after Christmas because I love this idea. I also found some non-Christmasy ones at Hobby Lobby on clearance a few days ago. Hmm...what else can I put on bottle caps? :)

I think any grandparent would love a set of these with all their grandkiddos on them for Valentine's Day, don't you think?

Have a wonderful weekend! I'll be linking up to these fantastic parties! :)

Sutch an Inspiration

2011-01-05T05:00:00.000-06:00

Hi there! I hope all is well and that the new year is treating you right! I've been an organizing crazy lady these past two days. My office/craft room was on the verge of getting me a one way ticket on an episode of Hoarders so I've been moving all of my crafty stuff into bins and they are getting their own home (YAY for a whole room for crafting) upstairs...after I organize and declutter the "storage room." :)

Needless to say, organizing has been on my mind and these are a few ladies that have inspired me to get it in gear for the new year! :)

I'm in awe of Toni over at A Bowl Full of Lemons! She has only been blogging for a few, short months and already has a ton of organization inspiration! She is currently hosting a Getting Organized Challenge with link ups everyday.

Not only is Jen's blog, I Heart Organizing, insanely adorable, it's chock full of organizing tips! Jen makes organizing easy and attractive! I love this recap of 2010 post!

I'm thrilled that I found DaNita over at Delightful Order! If one of your new year's resolutions is to help your family stay organized, then you will love this homework bulletin board!

Megan from Honey We're Home is hosting a two week organizing extravaganza! Some of her favorite blogland friends are sharing their secrets for organizing. You'll be inspired to organize your whole home at the end of this event!

Ladies, thank you so much for all of the ideas and inspiration! Now I'm off to go sort something. :)

Giveaway {Say It on the Wall}

2011-01-04T05:00:00.004-06:00

EDIT: This giveaway is now closed.

Hi, Sweet Friends! I hope 2011 is treating you well so far! :) How about we start off the year with something fun...like a giveaway? Please give a huge Crafts & Sutch welcome to Say it on the Wall!

Say it on the Wall is a vinyl lettering company that specializes in making your house a home! Many of you have made resolutions for the new year and what better way to help you stick with those resolutions than adding a little vinyl to your life.

If organizing was on your resolution list then you should give these a try: a dry erase calendar to keep your schedule organized, labels to organize your pantry, kitchen, or craft area, or a weekly menu planner.

If focusing on your family was on your resolution list then you take a look at these: a family established sign, the definition of family, a home is made of love tile, or a family saying to cap a picture wall.

If getting in shape was one of your resolutions then how about one of these on the wall in front of your treadmill to keep you motivated:

Say it on the Wall is offering 30% off all New Year's Resolutions vinyl for the entire month of Janurary!!! Just click HERE to go shopping and use promo code NEWYEAR30 at checkout.

Say it on the Wall also has a fantastic affiliate program and Laura is offering FREE vinyl to all affiliates right now. :) Becoming an affiliate is FREE and easy, and did I mention you get FREE vinyl? :) Click HERE to find out more and sign up.

Now to the really good stuff...Laura is offering one lucky Crafts & Sutch reader a $20 credit to Say it on the Wall! Here is how to enter:

Mandatory Entry:
Follow Say it on the Wall blog or let me know you already do.

Bonus Entries:
1. Like Say it on the Wall on Facebook.
2. Head over to Say it on the Wall and come back to let us know your favorite item.
3. Blog, tweet, or Facebook about this giveaway and leave a link to your post (three possible entries = three seperate comments)
4. Follow Crafts & Sutch or let me know you already do.
5. Like Crafts & Sutch on Facebook (just click the Like button on the sidebar) or let me know you already do.

Please leave one comment for each entry (up to seven) and include your email address so that I can contact you if you win. The giveaway will close at midnight on January 11th and the winner will be chosen via Random.org on January 12th. The winner will have 24 hours to respond before another winner is selected.

Good luck, Everyone! :)

I {meaning the blog} Got a Face Lift

2011-01-01T23:16:00.002-06:00

A new look for the new year! What do you think? :) Isn't she the cutest?!

Crafting with the Stars

2011-01-01T20:24:00.002-06:00

I'm so excited that Tam from Sew Dang Cute is doing another season of Crafting with the Stars! :)

I'm entering this little guy!

Please pop by and take a peek and wish me luck! :)

Be a Better Me {January}

2011-01-01T11:20:00.000-06:00

Happy New Year! What a fantastic day! A new, fresh start! Everyone is feeling optimistic and excited to tackle their resolutions and I have come up with a way to help me stay on track throughout the year! One year to be a better me, one resolution every month, make it a habit, and move on!

This month I'm tackling HEALTH! We all know most women have some resolution to lose weight, but this one goes way beyond just dropping some lbs. It's about improving my physical AND my mental health...changing eating habits, restarting my workout plan, visiting doctors (even if it's scary), making time for just me, and spending quality time with my family and friends.

I'm starting with a TO DO list so I can map out how I will implement these changes throughout the month:

Set up doctors appointments (one for a physical, and one to see the dermatologist)
Eat out only once per week
Cook and try new, healthy recipes
Snack on veggies
Cut out caramel colored soda
Walk or jog at least 3 times a week for at least 45 minutes
Schedule a girl's night out
Get a massage
Make time just for me to do what I want to do (read, craft, blog, take a warm bubble bath, etc.)

The list is a work in progress, I'm sure I'll add a few things throughout the month...like get a pedicure. :) I'm happy with it because it's a starting off point. I'm also happy that I don't have a specific number of pounds to lose or a goal weight. I know that implementing these changes will get me the results I seek!

At the request of a very, dear friend, I've made the Be a Better Me printable in blue and brown. Here you are sweet friend!

Wishing you the best 2011! :)

New Year's Resolutions Divided by Twelve

2010-12-31T11:10:00.001-06:00

I cannot believe another year has come and gone. Ever since Kason was born it just seems like time is flying by.

How are your resolutions coming along? Do you have your list yet? Do you make a list?

This year I want to be successful so I'm trying something different. I'm calling it One Year to Be a Better Me. Essentially I'm taking all of my "normal" resolutions and dividing them up throughout the year. Then instead of trying to focus on all of them at the same time and failing (I usually don't make it past January), I'll focus on one thing every month. They (I'm not sure who, but they) say it only takes twenty-one days to make something a habit, so the goal is to make the resolution a habit before I move on to the next one (fingers crossed).

By focusing on one resolution each month, I won't spread myself too thin. Every month is an opportunity for success! If I falter one month, I can redo that resolution later in the year. Months are small, achievable goals and with the first of every one, I have a clean slate.

In an effort to keep me motivated before I even begin, I made this:

babm - Be A Better Me

It's framed and sits on my nightstand so when I wake up in the morning, I'm reminded to try to be a better me everyday.

If you are inspired to be a better (you) me too, then print this baby out! :) To print, click on the image, right click and select Save Image As, and then print it. It's perfect for up to a 5"x7" frame.

I hope you will take this journey with me! We are setting ourselves up for success! Swing by tomorrow to see what I'm tackling first!

Linking up to these super great parties!

Three Fantastic Opportunities to Win a Silhouette

2010-12-26T11:06:00.001-06:00

I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas filled with family, friends, and love! I loved every ounce of my time with my family and seeing the monkey light up when he opened gifts.

Silhouette is being mighty generous this season! Three of my favorite blogs have Silhouette giveaways going on right now! Think of all the wonderful things you could craft in the upcoming year if you won one of these babies! :) Be sure to stop by these blogs for your chance to win:

Good luck! I hope we win! :)

A Very Merry Christmas to You

2010-12-24T11:05:00.000-06:00

Here is a fun pic to bring you all a little Christmas cheer! :) Don't you love Kason's beard?! Ha!

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! :)

Sutch an Inspiration {delicious} Edition

2010-12-21T20:04:00.000-06:00

Hi, All! How are your holiday preparations coming along? I have all of my presents bought. I think that is a first for me. I'm usually running up and down the aisles of Target on Christmas Eve grabbing last minute gifts.

Well, it might be a little late to make something new to decorate your home for the holidays or give as a gift, but it's not too late to make dessert! :) Here is a quick round up of some holiday yumminess! Feast your eyes on these delightful desserts:

Hello, Sinfully Delicious! The hubs would flip, FLIP for these brownie covered Oreos that Michelle from Polka Dots & Pizza made.

I love trifle! It's so super duper easy to make and is always a crowd pleaser. I'm pretty sure I could dive into this cappuccino mousse trifle that Jillian made over at Heart of a Country Home.

One of my favorite desserts is apple pie, and this one looks divine! Katy from Crafty Mama shares this tasty recipe.

This festive popcorn would make a perfect last minute gift! It's fun and affordable! :) Abbi from My Garden of Eden shares the super simple recipe.

Madigan from madigan made might be my new best friend for introducing me to these peanut butter cookies stuffed with Reese's peanut butter cups! Holy WOW!

What dessert(s) will you make for the holidays? I've had a sweet tooth lately so cookies, pie, and cake are in order. :)

Let Them Eat Cake

2010-12-19T22:12:00.001-06:00

Hello and happy Monday! I hope you had a wonderful weekend! I was busy, busy! I finished, yes FINISHED Christmas shopping, baked and decorated two cakes, and celebrated our first Christmas of the year with my in laws! It was spectacular!

The hubs had a birthday on Friday so I made him this super duper MINI Cooper cake! Isn't it the coolest? He has worked for MINI for almost seven years so it was the perfect cake for him. My favorite part are the Oreo wheels!

Then I made this ornament cake for Christmas with my in laws. I was inspired by this cake over at KraftRecipes.com. Betty Crocker I am not so I used a box mix but to give it my own little twist, I added half a bag of chocolate chips to the cake batter before baking it. I decorated it with a combination of icing, gel, sprinkles, and candies. I topped it off with an ice cream cone and red licorice lace ornament hanger.

Since I'm showing off some cakes, here is one I made a couple of years ago. It's a mint chocolate chip cake. I added chocolate chips to the batter before baking it and added a little peppermint extract to the icing. It's absolutely delicious. I even topped it off with peppermint treats! This one is always a huge crowd pleaser!

What are your go to Christmas/holiday treats?

I'll be linking up to these wonderfully fantastic parties!

Along for the Ride: Designs WINNER

2010-12-17T20:20:00.000-06:00

A big, giant thank you to everyone that entered the Along for the Ride: Designs giveaway! :)

Random.org chose comment number 37, so our winner is STEPHANIE who said, "And here I shared it on FB."

Congratulations to Stephanie! Please expect an email from me this evening!

I wish you all a very happy weekend!

Last Day to Enter Along for the Ride: Designs {GIVEAWAY}

2010-12-16T08:52:00.000-06:00

Today is the last day to enter the Along for the Ride: Designs Giveaway!!! I'll be selecting and announcing the lucky winner tomorrow! :)

Click HERE to enter!

Have a happy Thursday!

Sweater Snowman

2010-12-15T05:00:00.002-06:00

Hi Happy Friends! Here is one of my favorite crafts of all time! I created this little guy last week for The Scrap Shoppe's Homemade Christmas event! I think he is just the cutest! Here is the post in case you missed it over at Michele's. :)

Hello Scrap Shoppers! I'm so happy to be back for another week of Homemade Christmas! I'm Erin from Crafts & Sutch.

I'm a crafty girl at heart and love Christmastime! I especially love decorating my home for the holidays! Today we are making a super duper cutie pie snowman out of an upcycled sweater! Are you ready?

To get started, you will need the sleeve of an old sweater, fiberfill, a glue gun and glue, a wooden spool painted black, two small black buttons, two small holly leaves cut from green felt, a small red button, an orange triangle cut from felt, ribbon, and scissors. Not pictured: black felt circle and a scrap of fabric. Disregard the needle and thread...I made this cutie no sew!

Turn the sleeve inside out and tie a knot around the wrist end of the sweater.

Turn the sleeve right side out and begin to fill with the fiberfill. This is the snowman's head. Once it is filled to your desired size, tie a knot directly under the filling.

Fill the body with the fiberfill.

After the body is stuffed, turn your snowman on his head and fold and glue the opening closed.

I folded it like a present.

This is what you should have so far.

I wanted my snowman to appear a little more "schmooshed," so I glued the head down to the body.

See? Definitely more "schmooshed" and cuter! :) Glue on the black, button eyes and orange, felt nose.

To create the top hat, glue the wooden spool to the top of the black felt circle.

Add a holly embellishment to the top hat by gluing on the green leaves and the red button.

Glue the top hat on his head.

For the finishing touch, tie a scrap piece of fabric around his neck. I cut little slits on each end of the scarf to look like tassels.

Isn't he adorable? I just love him sitting in the little winter wonderland on top of my fridge! He might need a girlfriend. :) It would be super easy to change this little guy up by adding different embellishments...perhaps twig arms, a crocheted scarf, or a tiny little pipe?

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a happy holiday! I hope you'll stop by Crafts & Sutch to say hi! Michele, thanks so much for letting me come visit again! I had too much fun!

I'm linking up to these spectacular parties!

Sutch an Inspiration

2010-12-13T21:20:00.000-06:00

Hi there! Happy Tuesday! I cannot believe how fast Christmas is sneaking up on me. I feel like I'm on track to have all our presents bought by the end of the week...at least that is the goal. How's your shopping coming along?

I'm loving all of the holiday inspired projects I'm seeing everywhere! It kind of makes me want to redecorate my house. However, I know that the hubs would not be on board with that. Hey, a girl can dream. :) Here are just a few of the many things that are inspiring me this week:

I love me a beautiful banner, but I haven't made one for Christmas yet. I love this burlap banner that Haley from The Autocrat shared. The little sprigs of holly and red backed letters are the perfect finishing touches.

How cute are these ice skate brownies? Foxy Fawni knows my idea of the perfect treat! All you need is a cup of hot cocoa and you are all set. I would use the candy cane "blade" as my stirrer. :)

I'm over the moon about these trees that Cyndy from The Exchange made! Can you believe she used poster board? She dressed them up with fabric and other embellishments and they truly look like she snagged them from a designer boutique! She made a TON more than just these three so be sure to pop over and take a peek!

Amy from H is for Handmade shares how she made this darling scrap fabric tree! What a resourceful and affordable way to use up some left over fabric and decorate your home! Too cute!

Kason will definitely be rocking this snowman shirt ASAP!!! Sarah over at Harrigan Howdy shows off her super duper cutie kids and their matching jammies! :) I love this Frosty shirt because it can be worn even after Christmas. :)

Ladies, you are rock stars in my book! Thank you so much for sharing these fabulous projects! You are SUTCH an inspiration! :)

Giveaway {Along for the Ride: Designs}

2010-12-12T22:02:00.001-06:00

EDIT: This giveaway is now closed.

Do you know Laura from Along for the Ride: Designs? If you do, then you know about her greatness. If not, then please allow me to introduce you! :) Along for the Ride: Designs offers unique jewelry and accessories at an incredible price (and FREE shipping until December 25th). I love the vintagey vibe of all of her pieces because it gives each of them a unique and one of a kind feel.

Here are a few of my favs from Along for the Ride: Designs:

I'm not a coffee drinker, but I love hot tea! I think if I owned this adorable coffee cozie I would become a regular at Starbucks just so I could drop my venti refresh tea into this cutie. :)

You know I'm a jewelry kind of gal, so I fell in love with these lemon lime earrings! I love this zesty color combo!

How cute are these little, bias tape rosette earrings? I think I would like a pair in every color!

These rosette hair pins would look adorable tucked into everyone's hair! I can't believe all of the color choices and that you can pick any two for $5.00!!!

Isn't this taupe pearl necklace just lovely? It's simple and sleek. A classic piece that is sure to be a favorite in your jewelry box.

Laura is offering one lucky Crafts & Sutch reader a $25 credit in her shop! Here is how to enter:

Mandatory Entry:
Visit Along for the Ride: Designs and leave me a comment with your favorite item(s)!

Bonus Entries:
1. Follow Laura's blog, Along for the Ride.
2. Like Along for the Ride on Facebook.
3. Blog, tweet, or Facebook about this giveaway and leave a link to your post.
4. Follow Crafts & Sutch.
5. Like Crafts & Sutch on Facebook. (just click the Like button on the sidebar).

Please leave one comment for each entry (up to six) and include your email address so that I can contact you if you win. The giveaway will close at midnight on December 16th and the winner will be chosen via Random.org on Friday, December 17th. The winner will have 24 hours to respond before another winner is selected.

Sweater Trees

2010-12-12T11:23:00.001-06:00

Howdy! I hope you've had a most wonderful weekend! I've been trying to get all of the presents wrapped and under the tree. I'm such a procrastinator when it comes to wrapping. I've been know to shove presents and tissue paper into Christmas bags outside my mom's house on Christmas Eve right before we open gifts. :)

In case you missed me over at Pocket Full of Pink last week, here is the tutorial I shared on upcycling sweaters into Christmas decor!

Hello Pocket Full of Pink Readers! I'm Erin from Crafts & Sutch and I'm so very happy to spend some time with you today!

I love all things crafty and have been diagnosed with "I can make that" syndrome. I am constantly inspired by the things I see, so I like to create a little bit of everything. :) Today we are getting into the holiday spirit and making some sweater trees!

To get started, you will need a paper mache or Styrofoam tree form, an old sweater, scissors, a glue gun and glue, straight pins, and a pencil or pen.

Lay the tree form down on the sleeve of the sweater with the top of the tree at the wrist end of the sweater. Cut across the sleeve approximately 1" below the end of the tree.

Put the tree into the sleeve and create a slip cover for it by pinning down the length of the tree. The sweater should be snug, but not tight.

Now fold the end of the sweater under the form and glue with the glue gun.

Remove the excess sweater by cutting along the inside of your pins.

It will look like this. Take the pencil or pen and draw a straight guideline for yourself down the length of the tree. This is where you will glue the sweater together.

Glue the sweater along the guideline. Create a neat seam by pushing each side together.

This is what the back of the tree will look like after you have glued the sweater in place.

And here is the finished product...along with a friend! I am loving how these turned out. They were super easy to make, quick, and affordable!

Thank you so much for letting me hang out with you today and thank you to Karen for having me! I hope you all will stop by Crafts & Sutch sometime and say hi! :)

I'm linking up to these awesome parties!