Back. With Photos. With My Philosophy on life.

Alright.  I'm here.  Have no fear.  Computer issues.  But I've stayed busy!

A little late.  I know.  Josh's friend pulled off my tag that said Leprechaun Juice that was attached to my bottle (thanks kid) so it got moved to a shelf up high.  The luck letters I made the same as the LOVE.  {And for some reason they look really dark in this picture but they are a pretty clover green}.  The green candle holder I got at Kohls for $1.99!  {It has a Christmas tree scented candle in it but since I'm not lighting it anyways..} The dice I made for about $2.  And the picture frame has scrapbook paper in it.  It's cute.  Plaid.  With pots of gold. 

Tell me that the candle looks more St. Patrick's Day than Christmas!! I think so!  The dice worked for St. Patrick's Day.  But I actually made it for my vintage game theme.  And then I found these.

Aren't these cool?  I got them at Hobby Lobby.  {I LOOOOOOOVE Hobby Lobby}

One thing that I hate about living in an apartment is....white walls.  And our living room is tiny!  But I suppose if I had to chose between larger bedrooms and a small living room or the other way around I'd take it as is. 

I've got a few things in progress. 

Don't you love those colors?  I can't wait to show you it when it's all done!
**UPDATE: OCD Obsessive Crafting Disorder is giving some of these fabrics away!  Click here to enter**

I've been crafting.  Here's my short philosophy on life.  Opportunities are created not presented.  A friend and I were talking about that earlier today.  An opportunity is never given to you if you've not done anything to warrant it.  So I would like to stay at home.  I would like to craft.  I would like to blog.  And I would like to pay my bills (well, help pay them at least!) So I need to create the opportunity for that to happen. 

That means adding to my store, doing craft fairs, and keeping up with my blogging.  Goal: Add 1 thing to my store each day.  And blog each day. 

So stay tuned for those.  What opportunities are you creating for yourself?

Here are some things I've made to add to my shop.

Easter Shirt.  I love the plaid.  $12.95

Strawberry Shortcake Houndstooth Blanket.  The other side is a soft pink Minky.  It's just so girly.  I adore it.  $45

Anyone still there? :) I just have to showoff Josh's school. 

Isn't his school playground HUGE?  And this is just half of it.  On the other side there is a big boat the kids can get in and it rocks.  And the other side has swings, a smaller play ground, basketball goals and so forth.  It's seriously the coolest. 

Josh is on Spring Break so we've been hanging out. 

So there's my update.  I'll be back tomorrow!  I've got a few projects in my head I want to get done!  So be on the look out for tutorials! :)

Gosh it feels good to be back!

Link up your best project for a chance to win!

Right now over at Today's Top 20 - it's Blogger of the Month!  Link up your best project here for a chance to win great prizes!! The top 10 will be voted on and a winner will be announced on Friday! Good luck!

Blanket Party w/ giveaway

Hey guys!  It's the end of the month - which means blanket party time!   Don't forget each Monday you can see a special blanket tutorial at Today's Top 20, here at We're the Joneses, and This & That Creative! 

For anyone new - I've started a blanket drive this year to raise blankets for Project Linus.  Why?  To donate blankets in my son Gabe's name.  I lost our baby in August due to a miscarriage.  I really wanted something positive to be associated with his name.  And giving back is the best way to do that.

Project Linus is such a great organization.  They donate handmade blankets to kids (newborn - teens) who need them the most.  I'm really happy to be working with them.

March is going to be a really hard month for me.  My due date was actually my birthday - March 14.  So I'm hoping to make a blanket drop off.  If you have any blanket that you would be willing to donate - please send them my way! {You can email me at amandablogs(at)yahoo}

Here is one of the receiving blankets I made with the help from Raspberry Creek Fabric.  She really went above and beyond - sending me super cute flannel for 4 blankets!  THANK YOU! :) Make sure to check our her shop for super cute prints!

And I have a taggie blanket ready.  This was thanks to Sew It Up Fabric.  She has kits that come with the adorable fabric, minky and ribbon all ready to go.  The instructions are super easy.  This was such a fun, quick project!

  So link up any blanket project you've got.  Mail me your blankets to get donated.  Email if you are interested in guest posting a blanket tutorial (it will be seen here at Today's Top 20, We're The Joneses and This & That Creative). 

Can't wait to see your projects!!

I'll pick one project using random to send out a little package of my favorite crafty things so make sure I'm able to get your email address! :)

And don't forget tomorrow is the Blogger of the Month Party.  Come link up your fave. project you've made in February for a chance to win a great prize from My Vinyl Designer as well as a month's of advertising here at Today's Top 20!

Blogging/Etsy Tax Tips

I know it is Monday and it's usually blanket day, but I thought that this was something you would all be interested in!  And if you already filed your taxes this year, keep records for next year!

If you make money blogging or on Etsy you have to (ok.  You really should) claim it on your taxes.  Congrats!  You are a business owner! :) There are lots of deductions you can write off.  I'm not an accountant, so you should talk these over with yours but here are some general things that can help you save some money.

1. Internet related expenses.  Without the internet - there would be no blog right?  Hosting fees, domain name registrations, internet access, blogging software, picture storing, linky party subscriptions are all things that fall into this category.  Don't forget selling fees - Etsy, pay pal, Ebay.  

2. Your equipment. You need a computer right?  Any upgrades (memory and so forth), software (including tax software, picture editing).  And don't forget those cameras, sewing machines, and silhouettes!!

3. Do you tweet from your cell phone?  You can use part of your cell bill as a write off.

4. Any new office furniture?  {My table from the trash would not count here lol}

5. Supplies/Stationary.  Supplies add up quickly.  Fabric, thread, needles, pins, rulers, cutting mats, pens, staples, paint brushes, Stamps.  Keep all of your receipts.  Your accountant can help you go through all of them.  I write notes on mine so I know exactly what project I bought each item for.  If it's something like Mod Podge I just write general.

6. Advertising, Promo and Design.  Do you advertise on other blogs.  Ask for a receipt or print off your pay pal receipt.  Advertising also include promos and giveaways! Did you have someone design your blog.  Print off a receipt! 

7. Travel and Entertainment.  Did you go to a blogging conference?  Conference fees, travel accommodations, and dining expenses can be written off. 

8. Office Space.  Do you blog from home?  Do you have an office?  You can deem that part of your home as your office and write off a small amount of your household bills for rent plus your utilities.

I know.  It's a lot!  Just remember to save your receipts!  Make small notes on them.  I put all of my receipts into a big folder and at the beginning of each new month I sort them and staple each category together.  I also try to keep Etsy/blog stuff away from my personal stuff when I check out somewhere.  For example I was buying tablecloths and towels for an order at Target but I also had milk and a movie.  Just have them ring it up as 2 transactions.  

I also keep a sales order book on my desk.  (You can get them anywhere).  Every time someone orders something or pays for advertising I write it down.  I keep all of the receipts in the book.  I also write how I got paid (pay pal, cash, check).  Keeping them in one place makes it easy to have them ready to go!    

Any tips you have for tax time?

Josh's Valentines...and fabric for sale!

I almost forgot -- yesterday was Valentine's Day.  DUH. 

Josh's school is known as the Pirates.  So I found some pirate treat bags at Hobby Lobby and we filled them with some candy.  I just printed off some not so fancy bag toppers and stapled them. 

They say you aarrrg a good friend. 

I was trying to use his school's logo but I couldn't find a good one to use that wouldn't kill my ink.

And now that I look at this one I realize that it's not cross bones back there they are bats.  Oh well.  :)

He liked them.

And I didn't have to beg him to write his name a million times.

So you saw my table.  Well today I was moving stuff into the new craft room but I had to unload the drawers of fabric.  My table looked like this.

This fabric situation is out.of.control.

So come take my stuff!!!

1 yard of butterfly fabric
pre-washed
$5.00

I thought this was cute.  No clue what my plans were for it. :)

pre-washed

2 yards

$8 (for both yards)

Kitty fabric

1 yard

pre-washed

$5

Sand dollars

1 yard

pre-washed

$5

Snowflake

pre-washed

half yard

$3

princess dresses and shoes

1 yard

pre-washed

$5

I'll post a few more tomorrow!  If your interested email me or leave a comment! 

I'm also getting rid of my old camera - canon A1100 IS.

Here is the amazon link

click!

Amazon sells used ones for $110.  I'm just asking $50. 

It's in great shape. Less than 1 year old.  Comes in original box with the memory card, computer software and everything. I'd rather one of you all get it!  Then I get a chance to see your pictures! :)

My Craft Room ... Help me pick a paint color!

So I've finally decided to take my crafts out of the closet and turn our extra bedroom into a craft room.  It's kind of a mess right now - computer, Ebay clothes, our holiday decorations.  Plan is to put decorations in big closet that holds all my craft stuff and take all that stuff and put it in here. 

But we don't have any furniture in here.  And I really don't want to go out and buy furniture.  I'm more concerned with buying bedroom furniture! {Which our bed/dresser should be delivered here in a few weeks!}  Oh, and I want to get a pub table.  And a new entertainment center.  And then we will have to get the rest of the bedroom set.  See?  Furniture in here is waaaaaay down the list.

So when I saw our neighbors dragging this outside the other day I jumped on it.  {Andy was way embarrassed that I was hauling in their trash} But this thing has potential!

The top is a little banged up.

But it has drawers!

Granted only 2 drawers because the 2 from the other side are missing.  But either it's going against the wall OR I may have a plan for those. 

Plus it has a chair.  That I don't have a picture of.  But it's got some character.  I like it. 

But it's perfect.  I can put my sewing machine on it.  And my cutting mat.  And I have room for my Cricut.  And just, well, room. 

Million Dollar Question:  What color do I paint it? 

Blanket Tutorial

So this week I wanted to do a blanket! I made it about a week ago.  And I went to upload my pictures and <duh>.  I had to erase them when I put my memory card in....

<cue cheesy game show music>

my BRAND..... NEW.....CAMERA. {Crowd cheers.  Or at least I do.}

Yup.  Happy Valentine's Day!  Andy got me a Nikon D3100.  And I love it.

So it's a good thing it's as basic as basic gets.  Maybe just something you wouldn't have thought of to do.

Is that a table cloth?  Why yes it is.

And all you do is take a table cloth (I got this one at Target for about $4 on clearance.  The thicker ones work best!)

Lay it out right side up.  Take a piece of fabric (I used 1 yard of fleece...I stocked up when Joann's had it for $3 a yard!!) pin it together.  Sew leaving a small opening.  Trim your corners.  Flip and sew it up.

Sound boring?  No way!  This is perfect for storing in your car.  Put the tablecloth side down when you take the kids to the park.  Your blanket won't get all muddy.

Do your kids play sports?  Well, it always seems to drizzle when it's game day.  Put the fleece side down to keep you warm and when the rain hits the tablecloth side it keeps you dry!

Kids having a sleepover and want to eat in the living room in front of the TV?  Put this down tablecloth side up!  No juice spilling on your carpet.  Wipes right off. 

MACHINE WASHABLE (make sure you check your tablecloth package to double check!)

I love these blankets!

Remember to check out My Vinyl Designer for all the latest in Vinyl! :)