More D.I.Y.

So it seems that today has become the unofficial day of D.I.Y.! 

Erin from Yellow Canoe blog (by the way she makes and sells some fabulous art in her etsy shop... so you should hop right over and check it out) commented on my last post and asked if I'd heard of the new Martha Stewart Good Things For the Home d.i.y. Magazine.  Well I have in fact, and I've scanned a couple images to share with you all.


I'm especially fond of the covered magnet boards, but alas there is no IKEA close to where I live, so I'm thinking that this one might have to wait a bit.

While I certainly love this magazine, the beautiful photographs and the easy to follow directions... it seems that a lot of what is within its pages has come from previous MS Living issues.  This isn't necessarily bad (it is nice to have them all in one place), but it may be disappointing if you are looking for an entire issue full of brilliant, new, and never before seen ideas.  In any case...  I still enjoyed it, and think you will too.  xo Ez

Do It Yourself Magazine

I picked up the latest Do It Yourself Magazine (by Better Homes and Gardens) yesterday after I fell instantly in love with their clever repurposing idea for old side tables.  See them at the foot of the bed (image one and in image two, #6)!  I find this style of table at thrift shops all the time, and it seems likely that you could pick up a pair in your neck of the woods for under $20.  What a great project! 

The magazine has instructions for making most everything featured inside of it, and there are quite a few projects that I've put on my weekend endeavors list.  You can pick up this issue on newsstands or order and check out current and past issues on their website.

And the Winner is...

A big thank you and (and hugs) goes out to each of you who wrote in with your crafting experiences for the Softies Book Giveaway.  What fun (and funny) stories you all had to share!  Thank you!
To make things as fair as possible I used this Random Dice Roller... I rolled a 5 and a 2  (and counted up from the first post... only including comments with the required craft story) to choose the contest winner... and that winner is:
Jeannie Crockett!  Congrats Jeannie, and thank you all for playing along.  I hope to have more freebies and giveaways for you all in the near future. 

To receive your book Jeannie, please e-mail me (click the big round link button in the left column) with your mailing information and I will have this sent right out to you!  Yay!

xo

Softies... make your own cute.

This post has been almost two years in the making... well, at least the news within it.

Softies, a new book by Therese Laskey and Chronicle Books just recently came out and is filled with 25 fabulous d.i.y. softie patterns and instructions... and on page 41 you'll find Ms. Green Tea Bag... my creation!!!

It is a true privilege to be included in such a fantastic book among softie masters like Jenn Docherty,  Chika Mori, Tamar Mogendorff,  Hillary Lang (one of the very first people to inspire me to begin creating my own softies)... and so many others.  Thanks so much Therese and Chronicle Books!

You can pick up a copy of the book here and here... OR... I will be giving away a free copy of the book to one lucky reader!

If you want a chance to win, just leave a comment with your name and one of your favorite, silly, or memorable crafting moments (it can be about a project gone horribly wrong, a special time spent crafting with a relative or friend... whatever you'd like).  Next Wednesday I will randomly select a winner (it could be you)!  That's easy right?!  Can't wait to read your stories!

D.I.Why. Didn't I Think of This...

Paint Chip Card Holders! tutorial by  Design Verb.  (Found via my new favorite blog Design Mom).

This is such a brilliant and fun use for all the paint chips you have laying around your home... I know I'm not the only one with a hefty stack, right?!  These would also be cute to use as holders for secret love notes to your kids, bf, gf, partner, etc... or write a note of kindness or tiny treasure tucked inside and leave it in a conspicuous space for some lucky stranger to discover!  Give it a try and let me know how it turns out!  xo Ez