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Recently, I received the catalog from the Country Door.  While flipping through it, I came across this picture.

I couldn't justify the $40 to purchase these, plus I wanted a frame that was slightly darker.  So, I used this as an inspiration.  I looked for some great shadowbox frames, but I never found ones I liked (don't you hate when that happens).  So, I decided using wood plaques would be cheaper and easier.  This is what I came up with...

These little lovelies will be next week's Tuesday Tutorial.

Linking to the following parties:

The DIY Project Parade at the DIY Showoff

Motivate Me Monday at Keeping it Simple

It's so very Creative at It's So Very Cheri

Make it Monday at The Persimmon Perch

Room a Month at The Shades of Pink

Make it for Monday at Cottage Instincts

Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch

Just Something I Whipped Up Monday at The Girl Creative

I Made the World Cuter Today at Making the World CUTER

Market Yourself Monday at Sumo's Sweet Stuff

Make Your Monday at Twice Remembered

Made By You Mondays at Skip to My Lou

DIY Day at A Soft Place to Land

Get Your Craft On at Today's Creative Blog

Toot Your Horn Tuesday at Silly Little Sparrow

Trash to Treasure Tuesday at Reinvented

Talented Tuesday at My Frugal Family

Tip Me Tuesday at Tip Junkie

Make It Yours at My Backyard Eden

Look What I Made at Creations by Kara

Show and Tell at Blue Cricket Designs

Penny Pinching Party at The Thrifty Home

Works for Me Wednesday at We are THAT Family
Show and Share at Just a Girl
Easter Link Party at Bird Crafts
Be Inspired at Room to Inspire
Sharing Ideas Wednesday at the Trendy Treehouse

Whatever Goes Wednesday at Someday Crafts

It's So Very Thrifty at It's So Very Cheri

100 Ideas Under $100 at Beyond the Picket Fence

Strut Your Stuff Thursday at Somewhat Simple

Transformation Thursday at Shabby Chic Cottage

Show Off Your Stuff at Fireflies and Jellybeans

Thrifty Thursday at Tales of Bloggeritaville

Thursday's Treasures at Treasures for Tots

Get Your Craft On at Life as Lori

Frugalicious Friday at Finding Fabulous

I'm a Creative Cat at Poppies at Play

Remodelaholics Anonymous

Show and Tell Friday at Romantic Home

First Friday Party at Crafts in Bloom

I'm Lovin It Firdays at Tidy Mom

Frugal Friday at The Shabby Nest

Friday Fun Finds at KoJo Designs

Craft Concoction at That's so Cuegly

Spring has Sprung at Fun to Craft

Saturday Night Special at Funky Junk's Interiors

Check Me Out Saturdays at A Vision to Remember

Super Crafty Sunday at One Crafty Mommy

Weekend Wrap Up Party at Tatertots and Jello

Funky and Chunky

I love rings that are what I call...funky and chunky!  However, they are hard to find and typically cost a good 20 to 40 buckaroos.  

I've been looking for the perfect pieces to make my own, and I finally found them. Aren't these adorable?

  

The best part...these pieces were only $3.99 a piece.  I think that is pretty stinking good.  So, with the help of some glue and ring bases, I made these two beauties.

 

Although I wanted the BIG and chunky pieces, you could choose smaller ones and make these very easily.  So, for the breakdown on cost: $4.50 each ($3.99 for top circular piece, $.50 for ring base, free for glue that I had on hand).  I think that is pretty good!  Can't wait to wear them.

If you're interested in creating your own rings, this will be my Tuesday Tutorial next week. 

Tuesday's Tutorial

Last week, I posted one of my favorite projects to date.

As promised, here is the quick and simple tutorial.

**Sorry, I forgot to take pictures of each of the steps.

STEP 1:  Download, print, and cut out the attached drawing of a deer head.  Click here is the drawing.

STEP 2:  Iron some sort of adhesive to your chosen fabric.  I used Wonder Under, but freezer paper would work too.

STEP 3:  Trace and cut out the deer head from the adhesive paper and fabric.

STEP 4:  Peel the adhesive paper away, and iron the deer head onto the onesie.

STEP 5:  Using a coordinating thread, straight stitch around the deer. 

STEP 6:  Add a bow to one of the deer head antlers.

Pretty, Pretty Princess

Libby is my brother's daughter.  She turned 3 earlier this month.  Libby is adorable...quite the spit fire.  Recently, she's fallen in love with Disney Princesses.  Her favorite seems to be Snow White, so coincidentally she had a Snow White Party.

Continuing my Year of the Handmade Gift resolution, I decided to make Libster a Snow White dress.  I purchased the t-shirt from K-mart, and I added details, ruffles, ribbon, etc.  

Then, I used this tutorial by Stephanie from Somewhat Simple to create a matching headband.  

I love how it turned out, but I really can't wait to see Libby wear it!

Linking to the following parties:

Made for Monday at Cottage Instincts

Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch
So Very Creative at It's so Very Cheri
Made It Monday at The Persimmon Perch
Just Something I Whipped Up at The Girl Creative
Making the World Cuter Monday at Making the World Cuter
Market Yourself Monday at Sumo's Sweet Stuff
Make Your Monday at Twice Remembered
Motivate Me Monday at Keeping it Simple
DIY Project Parade at The DIY Showoff
DIY Day at A Soft Place to Land
Get Your Craft On at Today's Creative Blog
Toot Your Horn Tuesday at Silly Little Sparrow
Trash to Treasure Tuesday at Reinvented
Talented Tuesday at My Frugal Family
Penny Pinching Party at The Thrifty Home
Make it Yours at My Backyard Eden
Look What I Made at Creations by Kara
Show and Tell at Blue Cricket Designs
100 Ideas Under $100 at Beyond the Picket Fence
Strut Your Stuff Thursday at Somewhat Simple
Transformation Thursday at Shabby Chic Cottage
Show Off Your Stuff at Fireflies and Jellybeans
Get Your Craft On at Life as Lori
Thrifty Thursday at Tales of Bloggeritaville
Thursday's Treasures at Treasures for Tots
Frugalicious Friday at Finding Fabulous
I'm a Creative Cat at Poppies at Play
Remodelaholics Anonymous 
Show and Tell Friday at Romantic Home
First Friday Party at Crafts in Bloom
I'm Lovin it Fridays at Tidymom
Saturday Nite Special at Funky Junk Interiors
Check Me Out Saturday at A Vision to Remember
Gifts from the Heart at Strictly Homemade

MOOD

Are you a Project Runway addict?  Each week the contestants are given a challenge to create an outfit with specific time and budget constraints.  Tim Gunn (my favorite) takes the contestants to what looks like the most mesmerizing fabric store.  Well, I decided since I was in NYC for a quick trip, why not take a cab and check out this place.

Enter Mood...

Three stories of what I would consider Heaven!  There are bolts of fabric from floor to ceiling (all categorized for "easy finding" - not so sure that is really the case).

Not only are there aisles and aisles of heavenly fabric, but there are shelves and shelves of boxes filled with buttons, buckles, zippers, and anything else you might need to create.

Making the place even more exciting, one of the owners brings his dog (a pug) to work...and they employ individuals with a disability (love companies like that).

Luckily, I escaped with under $40 worth of damage.  Check out their web-site if you have a free moment.

Doe a Deer, a Baby Girly Deer

Meet Christy (and her husband, Phillip).

Christy is one of my cousins, and I’m having a hard time believing that she is having a baby…she’s just a baby herself.  Anyway, Christy is having a sweet little girl (Gabby), and her baby shower was Saturday.  Keeping in tune with the Year of the Handmade Gift, I decided to create some custom burp cloths and onesies.  Christy’s family and her husband are hunters.  They love to go hunting for anything and everything.  So, I thought a pink camouflage theme was in store, and what would be better than a cute little stag head?

I love it because I think it is the epitome of girly.  Although the deer is not so girly, the pink camo, ruffle bottom, and hair bow on the deer’s antlers screams girlie.

I’ll be back Thursday with a brief tutorial.

I'm linking to the following parties:

It's so very creative at It's So Very Cherri

Make it Monday at The Persimmon Perch

Just Something I Whipped Up Monday at The Girl Creative

Make it for Monday at Cottage Instincts

Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch

I Made the World Cuter Today at Making the World CUTER

Market Yourself Monday at Sumo's Sweet Stuff

Make Your Monday at Twice Remembered

DIY Day at A Soft Place to Land

Get Your Craft On at Today's Creative Blog

Toot Your Horn Tuesday at Silly Little Sparrow

Trash to Treasure Tuesday at Reinvented

Talented Tuesday at My Frugal Family

Make It Yours at My Backyard Eden

Look What I Made at Creations by Kara

Show and Tell at Blue Cricket Designs

Penny Pinching Party at The Thrifty Home

100 Ideas Under $100 at Beyond the Picket Fence

Strut Your Stuff Thursday at Somewhat Simple

Transformation Thursday at Shabby Chic Cottage

Show Off Your Stuff at Fireflies and Jellybeans

Thrifty Thursday at Tales of Bloggeritaville

Thursday's Treasures at Treasures for Tots

Get Your Craft On at Life as Lori

Frugalicious Friday at Finding Fabulous

I'm a Creative Cat at Poppies at Play

Remodelaholics Anonymous

Show and Tell Friday at Romantic Home

First Friday Party at Crafts in Bloom

Funky Junky's Saturday Night at Funky Junky's Interiors

Check Me Out Saturdays at A Vision to Remember

Opening Windows

Last week I mentioned some good news I hoped to announce this week.  Unfortunately, the good news has turned to bad news.  I received a job offer from my first choice of schools, and I was thrilled at the opportunity to influence and impact the lives of pre-service teachers.  However, we were not able to come to terms on a contract.  Therefore, I am still in the market for a job.

I've shed quite a few tears over the last week.  It is hard (especially with a 10.4% unemployment rate) to turn down a job...especially when it is the one you definitely desire.  I won't get into the nitty gritty details, but I will say it has been a rough week.

As I've begun to broaden my job search and come to the realization that my dream job may have just slipped away, I am reminded of a saying I've heard many times, "When God closes a door, he opens a window."  I'm praying that God will open a window...and lead me to it.