just our story

I did it...

After much fear, self-doubt, and procrastination I finally did it...I opened up my Etsy.com shop.

This is something that I have wanted to do for several years but just never did it. I think the biggest reason was self-doubt. It's a big step to put yourself "out there" in the world with something as personal as your creations. There are SO many amazingly talented people and I am really bad about comparing. But, I am trying hard to stop that and my biggest step to date is opening my shop!

I still have a lot of half finished projects on my desk that I am pushing to get finished, photographed, edited, and posted to the shop by Friday. Lots of Holiday themed items and gifts so the pressure is on since it's only 41 days until Christmas! I love putting pressure on myself, makes me work better.

Here are some photos of a few of my favorites that are in the shop already.

Red, white, and kraft holiday gift tags

Dream Butterfly Glass Charm Necklace

Believe Red Birdcage Glass Charm Necklace

Tomorrow I will post some photos of the projects that are in progress.

If you stop by my shop I would love to hear your thoughts on it!

Have a great evening!

 

 

12 * 12 * 12 Holiday Blog Hop Part 2

Welcome back for the last post of today's Holiday Blog Hop!

This time I am going to show you a quick, easy & inexpensive way to make Peppermint Bark.

If you would like to try this out yourself, you can click here to download the full size pdf.

Hope you enjoy this recipe and have a very Merry Christmas!

12 * 12 * 12 Holiday Blog Hop

Welcome everyone to my first post for the 12 * 12 * 12 Holiday Blog Hop.

Today I am going to make magic Reindeer Food. My kiddos love to sprinkle this on the lawn on Christmas Eve, right before they head off to bed!

If you would like to try this for yourself you can click here to download the full size pdf.

Also, you can click here to download a page of the tags I used on my packages.

Hope you and your children enjoy!

Your next stop on the 12 * 12 * 12 Holiday Blog Hop is to check back in with Laura right here.

Merry Christmas!

12 * 12 * 12 Holiday Blog Hop Starts Now!

Welcome to the start of our Holiday Blog Hop!

Over the next 12 hours you will find links to myself and 5 other creative bloggers who will be sharing some amazing holiday crafts and recipes with you!

We are thrilled that you are joining us and hope that you are inspired by what you see!

Enjoy and have a wonderful holiday!

Here is the schedule for today...

9am: Laura http://cameroncrazymom.com/

10am: Mel http://sunlight-simplicity.blogspot.com/

11am: Sharyn http://sharyncarlson.typepad.com/

12pm: Carrie http://throughthecameralens.typepad.com/

1pm: Maya http://mayadahan.blogspot.com/

2pm: Julie http://juliejohnson2007.typepad.com/just_our_story/

3pm: Laura http://cameroncrazymom.com/

4pm: Mel http://sunlight-simplicity.blogspot.com/

5pm: Sharyn http://sharyncarlson.typepad.com/

pm: Carrie http://throughthecameralens.typepad.com/ 

7pm: Maya http://mayadahan.blogspot.com/

8pm: Julie http://juliejohnson2007.typepad.com/just_our_story/

Check this out...

12 hours on December 12th we will bring you 12 different holiday inspired posts.

Please join us starting at 8am CST for a day of holiday fun - see you here!

* Catching up on my December Daily / Journal Your Christmas *

page credits: template by Ali Edwards, background papers by Mindy Teresawa, kraft paper words by Katie Pertiet, stitching by Libby Weifenbach, tree dates were downloaded from karenika.com, photo from stockxchng.

 

page credits: template by Ali Edwards, background papers by Mindy Teresawa, kraft paper by Katie Pertiet, tree dates were downloaded from karenika.com, photo from stockxchng.

December Daily & Journal Your Christmas

I committed to myself several months ago that I was going to record/journal/scrapbook this Holiday season for my family. So, I signed up for Shimelle's Journal Your Christmas and planned out my Ali Edwards December Daily album. 

Fast forward to December 1st and guess what? I am ALREADY behind. 

Whatever. That is just how I roll, I guess. I am not going to let it stress me out or cancel my plans. I will just go with the flow.

I did manage to {finally} decide that I am going to do this project digitally. That just works better for me right now even though I bought tons of paper supplies, sshhhh, don't tell hubby.

Yesterday I managed to create my cover page for the album. I am going with SIMPLE in theme and style this year.

Here is my cover page.

 

page credits: template by Ali Edwards, background papers by Mindy Teresawa & Danielle Engebretson, stitching by Libby Weifenbach, sparkly alpha my own design.

While I was working on the page I knew I wanted a sparkly, glittery alpha for the text but couldn't find what I wanted online. Then I remembered a glittery holiday alpha I made several years ago {when I was still designing digital product}. I still think it looks awesome after all these years!

So, in the spirit of giving, I have posted a graphic and link for you {my darling blog readers} to download and enjoy.

Download SparklyRedAlpha

All I ask is that you use this for personal use only :) I would love to see how/where you use it, so please send me a link in the comments.

On my Christmas list...

Keep Calm And Carry on Poster

Turquoise Blue by sfgirlbybay

via www.etsy.com

Oh my...I am in LOVE.

via donnadowney.typepad.com

I saw these ADORABLE handmade ornaments on Donna Downey's blog this morning. I am completely IN LOVE with this idea! I love fabric but am deathly afraid of it because it is not something I have really ever used. I love words and quotes and the idea of having our Christmas tree covered with meaningful words and quotes just makes me smile! I bet I could even get the kids involved in doing some stamping on these!

  
  

Christmas Creatures by mibostudio on Etsy

How adorable are these guys? I am totally going to make these to display on the mantle or even add some string and hang them from the tree!

click on the graphic to go directly to Mibo Etsy shop :)

via www.etsy.com