Frayed Flower Tutorial

Okay being that this is my very first tutorial, you will have to (please) bear with me!! You will need some coordinating (or not) fabric scraps, needle, thread, hot glue and a button cover set, (sorry I don't have a pic!! Its kind of like this one, but I got mine in the craft section at wal-mart.) I think thats it...

Okay, step 1: find some scraps, cut one about 1.5 inches x 12 inches. Cut the other 1 inch x 12 inches.

Layer the 1x12 on top of the 1.5x12, lining the bottom sides up.

Using your needle and thread, sew a running stitch along the entire bottom edge.

Bunch the fabric all up

Make sure your flower is as bunched up as you want it. Being careful not to let the thread slack, hold the two short sides right sides together and sew together using a backstitch.

Lay it down and admire your work so far:)

Cover a button and glue it to the center.

Cut out a circular piece of felt and glue it onto the back.

Attach an alligator clip, hair pin, brooch, etc... I used an alligator clip, its lined with cabinet lining to give the clip a no-slip grip.

See? Piece o' cake!! Clip it on to your precious girlie's head and take pride in your craftiness.

I'm happy to answer any questions! OH, and let me know if I missed a step:)!! Not feeling too crafty?? You can buy one in my Etsy shop. Have a grrreeeaat day!!

My ranting. Please skip if you want to read about rainbows and butterflies.

Today I am definitely a crabby patty. I think I am just angry at everything. My poor husband has to put up with me! (Thank you dear! ♥) Dumb Verizon wireless won’t let the hubs accept a stupid pic message… the picture message I'm trying to send? A piece of my car falling apart. I don’t know what it is. The siding metal strip has just decided to start peeling away from the car. Harrumph. As if I don’t have enough to deal with!





Sometimes challenges come and you can face them head on. Right now though, I feel like they are piling on top of me and I'm going to scream. Grrr.






I took a sick day off Friday. Turns out I don’t have any more sick days—there went my last vacation day of the year. No Disneyland on Chuck’s birthday I guess (free admission on your birthday in 2009).






On Saturday, I put Jesse down for a nap on my bed. Big mistake. He woke up and thud, I get the worst mom of the year award. A big bruise and a scab. I'm putting stuff on it so it won’t scar. Poor thing.

Then I come into work today and get all gloomy. I don’t want to be here. I feel like I'm already missing too much of Jesse’s life and it sucks because Chuck doesn’t have a job and I have to go to work. But even after Chuck gets a job it’s not like I can quit and be a SAHM because we made a stupid mistake 2 years ago and bought a brand new car. A car which we can’t really afford. And now I hate it. With a passion. Boo!






Even if I was a SAHM, I think I’d rather be a WAHM—help out with the finances and all, but I'm thinking that I don’t know how good I would be at that. My Avon business isn’t doing so well. I don’t have time to put into it, and I don’t have the financial understanding. I mean really, I would seriously have to talk to a tax professional before I ever went anywhere with my Avon business. I'm not even sure I'm doing it right as is even though I don’t make enough to have to pay taxes (I think). That and I’ve had an etsy shop for how long and nothing posted on it yet! Eek!






Even as I'm ranting I still can’t help but realize that I don’t have it so bad. I wish we had our own place, but at least my in laws have given a roof over my head. I wish that I was a stay at home mom, but at least Chuck is there with our son. I wish that we didn’t have the debt that we do (Come on Oprah—read my blog and save my family!!!), but at least we have an income. I wish that I wasn’t so crabby right now, but at least I have an outlet so that I don’t continue to yell at the hubs. I wish that life was easier, that I didn’t have these challenges, that I could go back and fix mistakes (dumb cars), but at least I am learning and growing.






End rant. Thank for listening. Or not. Ü


 

Check out my new blog design!

Look at my new blog design!  Jenna from the Neuff designed this great blog for me! Isn't it really cute? I'm all into the bee thing right now and Im loving my new blog design.  You should definitely check out her blog! (she recently had a giveaway that I won!) 

She also has this great thing called Fab Friday Newz! Its so we can all look back on the week and think of some fabulous things that have happened. Always good to look on the bright side of life!

So-- Grab my new button and go check out Jenna! Look around, grab her button, leave her a comment or two! And have a wonderful day!

Under Construction

My bloggy friend Jenna from The Neuff is helping me with my blog. So, Currently it is UNDER CONSTRUCTION. Thanks for being patient with me!

Fab Friday Newz

Fab Friday Newz. First, Its friday! That is the best.  Second, I have made Jesse's invitations. Now I just am handwriting all the information for the invites. I think Im getting done with these things early, but Im excited because I dont want to procrastinate!

And-- the best news. I completed a project!  My blog should be called: The unfinished project blog.  So, A coworker is having a baby shower today and so I made this to go into the big basket that was put together.

I originally had a cute monkey, giraffe, lion print on it but then I found this funky fabric and decided to take the whole thing apart and re-do it.  That is what took so long. I like the way it turns out but this morning I found out she is having a boy.  I wonder if she will think its weird that there is so much pink! :D

I'm sick so sorry its so short. But I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.

Nativity Scenes

Nativity Scenes? But its only October?  Well, I just thought I would blog a little about something that I love. Yes, Nativity Scenes. I think they are awesome. I collect them.  My husband bought me the wonderful willow tree set above.  The best part about my nativity scene collection? I keep them out all year long. I love to look at them and it helps me to celebrate that "Christmas Season" all the year through.  I love that I have big ones and little ones, and ones that are funky and ones that are traditional. They make me smile.

What is something that you collect? 

Birthday Scrapbook

Jesse's birthday is about a month away. How scary to think my little boy will be one! I was at Big Lots the other day, and I bought this little 8 x 8 scrapbook. I think Im going to try and scrapbook (in a month eek) the last twelve months. I am a simple scrapper-- I dont have a lot of snazzy embellishments so my pages are mostly pictures and journaling and thats about it.  If I get some completed soon I might post some pictures. But I will see how it goes. Been busy trying to fit any kind of blogging into my schedule. :)

This is Jesse's early birthday present. He was sleeping in a pack n play forever and when we finally had the money (well, on a gift card) we went and bought him his very own crib. I put it together and he seems to enjoy it (except when he wants to stay up and play and then cries himself to sleep).  He has been using it this month and I just noticed something the other day-- there are teeth marks in the wood. My little guy (who has 8 teeth) is scrapping his teeth against the wood.  Everything goes in this little ones mouth!

Thats all for today. Have a wonderful tuesday!

Well- as life turns out I didn’t get any crafting done.  (Semi-not a big surprise). I did go to a wedding and a mission farewell. And my poor little baby is slightly sick. He has hay fever. Poor thing.  I did get to clean up the bedroom a bit which was helpful to my sanity level. But mostly just hang out with family this weekend which was nice. Oh, Chuck and I started a That 70’s show marathon. That show makes me laugh.

It's Friday!

Hello friends! Today I am participating in Fab Friday Newz. Find all about it here! I was trying to think if I had any big news to share, but decided on a couple of smaller things.


First, I am almost finished re-reading the third book in the twilight series. In fact, I will finish before the day is done. I like to read these because they are easy and quick. I ♥ reading! So much!

Second, I am excited to be seeing family this weekend. We are going to a wedding on Saturday and to a family luncheon/gathering/thing on Sunday. I'm glad I will be able to hang out with the ones I love.

Another FFN (Fab Friday Newz) is that after this wedding (my mother in law is a wedding coordinator and is doing this wedding) I will be able to get some sewing done. Maybe I will be able to actually complete a project. Or two! Then I will def. be posting some cute things!


Well, Please check out Neuffj’s blog. :D She is way cool and you can share your own news and link it from her site! Have a wonderful weekend everyone!



***Update***  Today is a wonderful day! Finance department invited my CP (cube partner) and I to a hallway Ice cream Social! Oh it was divine!

Romance on a Budget

You are going to love this blog when you check it out! Who wants to spice up their relationship! I love to read about little things to do that are cute and oh-so-fun for the love of my life!  I am going to follow this blog because of the great ideas, and I thought I would pass it along! Enjoy!

Me. Katie:)

HELLO!! My name is Katie. I'm super excited to be a part of this blog! A huge thanks to Melissa for inviting me to contribute! (By the way,I don't know if its actually possible for me to refer to her as Melissa, she'll always be Missy to me:) ) Like Missy/Melissa, I am an absolute craft addict! I have three little girls so of course I am busy busy busy trying to find new ideas for girlie accessories!
Thanks for looking and check back because there is going to be lots of creativity going on over here:)

My new header bar

I am so excited for my new header bar! I have created some tabs with the help of my friend Jenna at The Neuff. Here is her Navigation Bar tutorial so be sure to check it out. Great directions! And dont forget to look around her site while you are there! Thanks Jenna.

Sewing Machine

Since we are currently living at my in laws, most of our things are in storage. Until yesterday, so was my sewing machine. I would occasionally use my mother in laws machine but I always felt bad using it all the time and she has a lot of projects that she is busy with, so I brought my case to the house and Im going to set my machine on the kitchen table anytime I want to use it.

Oh, the endless possibilities. I have a lot of ideas of things I want to make and a little bit of fabric I bought at Joann's. I start sewing and all I have is issues. My mil's sewing machine is much nicer than mine and does things easier. I have to remember how to thread, and it comes in handy-- I had to rethread it almost 15 times in a half hour. Okay, maybe just 10. It was a nightmare.

I was getting frustrated and didn't want to complete any of my projects. That, and I just didnt have enough time. Taking too much time to figure out how to use this evil contraption, I only had enough time to make 5 cup sleeves.

I dont drink coffee, and the only time I have starbucks is when my little sister brings me a Zebra Hot Cocoa to work (and its not scorching hot by then). But, I know that these reusable cuties are good for the environment, and good for those who need them. I gave one recently to a coworker for her birthday. I would use one around the house on a regualr cocoa cup.


Now all I need to do is figure out how to put things on my etsy shop. and put a widget in my sidebar. Oh, these things will probably be put on the back burner for now.

Homemade cookies

My husband asked me the other night if I would make cookies. I wasn't feeling baking, so I told him I would help him make them. He wanted to make peanut butter cookies, but with my mom's chocolate chip cookie recipe. I didn't think this would work, until he pulled out some peanut butter chips. ah, now I understand.

Delicious Cookies

1 c shortening
1/2 c brown sugar
1 c sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp salt 1 tsp baking soda
2 1/4 c flour
2 c chocolate chips (** We used Peanut Butter Chips **)


Thoroughly cream shortening and sugars, add eggs and vanilla. Beat well and add dry ingredients. Add chips and nuts (optional). Place on cookie sheet 2 inches apart. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-13 minutes


Well, I think Chuck should always be the one to make cookies because he stirs them so well! :D I envy my mom though. She has one of those little cookie scoopers so that she can scoop a tiny bit amount in a perfect cookie shape. Mine never come out in uniform sizes and I like the smaller size too. But, here they are; they were delicious.

Side blurb. My little brother recently turned 17 and I mod podge a wood frame and put in a picture of him and my son for his birthday. Just thought I would share how it turned out.

Yay! My first Award

How exciting! I was nominated for my very first Blog Award! I am so excited and so grateful! I was graciously nominated by Neuffj at her blog here

Check her out! Her first giveaway is closing at the end of this month so make sure to enter to win! (but not too many times because I want to win :D)

Now for the Rules:

1) Add the logo to your blog

2) Link to the person from whom you received this award

3) Nominate 5 blogs

4) Leave a message on their blog – letting them know that they are ‘One Lovely Blog’

Nominations:
Craft Rookie
Craftaholics Anonymous
Lena Blair
Ann Matta "My world"
This is the year

Tip Junkie's Trade Sercret Swap

How would you like to be sent a box full of ideas? Or to learn someone else's secret?

Me too!

I signed up for the Trade Secrets Sway hosted by Tip Junkie and my wheels are already turning. Imagine all the secrets I can share. Some of my secrets arent as secret as others, but it will definitely be interesting to see where to send my package.

So here it is, the button link to this great idea:



Check it out and sign up! It should be a lot of fun to think of your secrets your could share. Just imagine the secrets that will be shared with you! Most worth it! Have fun :)

BreadWinner

For the past 3 1/2 months, I have been the working woman. Well, I have been working longer then that-- but that is when my husband was laid off. It has been a roller coaster ride of ups and downs. No one ever expects something like this to happen to them, but I have decided to look at this in a good way.

First, my son now has a stay at home parent.


Jesse is our first child and it is so fun watching him learn and grow. Charles has been also learning a lot from being a stay at home dad because it isn't as easy peasy as he thought it would be! (Ha Ha, he thought it was easy). It is hard to leave the two of them every morning and trudge my way to work, but I know that they both will be so happy to see me when I get home at night.

Second, Chuck has been able to go back to school full time. It is difficult trying to squeeze in homework between macaroni and patty-cake, but he is learning fast on how to be a juggler. He is currently taking night and online classes. Hopefully this will speed up the degree process (much better than the one class he was taking a semester).



Finally, Job searching can open your eyes. Trying to find a job when companies are cutting back is difficult; it can be hard on the optimism as well.

That is why, I am so glad that job searching has brought out the best in us. Well, at least in me :) The more we look for jobs and realize there isnt much that a. he qualifies for or b. that he could actually do, I remember all that we have. First, I have a wonderful job. I am good at what I do and I try hard so that I can be the best. Second, my husband is able to receive unemployment. Yeah, it stinks for me to think he gets more from unemployment then I do working 40 hours a week, but hey! we need it! Third, we are still being blessed. The Lord hasnt stopped caring for us just because of this. In fact, he is definitely making sure that we are taken care of as long as we are taking care of ourselves.

Lifetime and Braided Hair

I am very excited! Today I reached Lifetime Membership at Weight Watchers! I had gained 50 pounds while pregnant. Now that my son is 10 months old, I have lost the 50 pounds, plus an additional 8 pounds I wanted to lose pre-baby. I am very excited because it is definitely hard work! To all of you who are working towards the goal of a healthier weight I support you! I am so happy that I had others who supported me. What a help it was!


One thing I love and want to learn is to French Braid Hair. I enjoy asking my mom or mother in law to french braid my hair. If I ever have a little girl, I have to learn how to french braid hair! My mother in law braided my hair last night and I enjoyed my braids all day today.

A moment of Silence

First birthday

My son doesn't turn one until November, but I am already planning his birthday party! Oh how excited I am. First will come the ideas and the lists. I am definitely a checklist girl! I will write and re-write and the categorize my lists. My husband and I have decided on a baseball theme party (even though it is after baseball season, we are huge Dodger fans). I am going to make some home made invites, a 3d baseball cake, and have hot dogs. Those are just the tentative plans but I am so excited to start planning!

Two New Things

I have two exciting news bits. First, I have asked my friend Katie to be a co-author on this blog! I am excited. She and I are both busy moms and so we are going to try and update as often as possible and just get some of our fun ideas out there! Welcome Katie!!

Second, if was recently my DH and my 3 year anniversary. Just yesterday, my present arrived (via Avon!) and I am so excited. It is the new Butler Basics Organizer Bag! It is really stylish (for my "mom" style) and keeps me super organized! I have already organized all of my things and I still have tons of space!





P.S. You can get one too! They are $40, or if you spend $15 worth of products it is only $20 (So you get $15 of makeup and a bag for only $35) What is one of the best presents that you have received this past year?

Comment Help! eek!

Okay, so i thought I wasn't a blog novice. But I must be! I am having trouble leaving comments on some type of comment forms. If the posting comment opens up into a new page or into a pop up box, then I don't have a problem.

But, when the comment roll is at the bottom of the blog post, and you have to choose between Google Account, Open ID, Live Journal, Word Press, etc. IT WON'T LET ME POST!! I get so aggravated! For example, I wanted to post a comment here so that I could be included in the giveaway, but for some reason I can't. I always write what I want to post, then click on Google Account, and then post my comment... Nothing Happens!

Someone PLEASE help me! Tell me if my settings are wrong or what I am missing. I hope it is an easy fix - something I am just easily forgetting.

Blueberry Pie

My Husbands favorite dessert? Blueberry pie. Recently, I have learned how to make a lattice crust on the top. (Thank you Tia Annie!) I have been buying the Refrigerated unroll and bake pie crust. I place down the bottom crust, add my blueberry pie that I just threw together, and then roll out the second crust on a cutting board. I then roll it out a little bit so that its not as thick.

To start the lattice top, I cut my strips. I place every other strip on the pie (so that I make sure that I still have long ones for going the other way on the pie). The key to making a lattice top is remember which pieces you need to pull back. Every other piece, you pull back like in the picture below, and place down your strip. Then you place back the strips over your horizontal strip.




Next, you pull back the other strips you didnt pull back the first time, and place down another strip.

Continue every other strip pulling back and placing down so till you run out of strips.


Remember to protect your edges so they don't brown too quick!

Voila! A beautiful lattice top on a very delicious blueberry pie.

Wanna Be Skinny Mama

My Cousin Aly has a really cool blog I wanted to blog about. Wanna Be Skinny Mama is all about new and creative recipes to help us stay healthy! She recently bought a wheat grinder and so she has these fantastic Whole Wheat recipes! Check it out.

Have a wonderful blogging day!

a BIG thank you to my younger sister who made me a new header. I wanted a fuzzy bee with a trailing tail and I love it! Thank you!



Since this is a new blog, I just want some feedback-- What are some things that you would like to see on your new favorite blog? I have some more craft tutorials I would like to post. That just means I have to get the time to make them and take pictures as I do it so you can have an awesome tutorial to look at. Okay, expecting some good ideas of other things you are interested in!

Check out this site's giveaway

Thanks to my friend Katie, I have signed up for SITS (see the button to the left). That took me to this blog for the Martin family. They are having a giveaway. A pillow. Not just any pillow, but a Serta Perfect Day Outlast Bed Pillow. I like my mattresses, but I LOVE my PILLOW! Check out her blog and remember to enter! She is picking a winner on thursday the 27th. Good Luck!

Explosion Box

I found a cute blog today. She makes paper crafts. She has a tutorial that shows you how to make an explosion box. I think I am going to try and make one of these. I will post a picture if I do. (I am going to have to see if my mother in law has double sided scrapbooking paper because I dont think any of mine are).

If you check out this blog and try her tutorial, take pictures and I will post them up for everyone to see!

Background and things

I am still learning about blogging. Each new post is an adventure and I am trying to figure out what I like and what works. My mom has shown me two really nice sites for blog backgrounds. The first is thecutestblogontheblock.com and it has all kinds of backgrounds. Search for what you want!

The second one is delightfuldots.blogspot.com I learned how to convert my blog into a 3-column format on her site. She has 21 of the 3 column designs, and many many more of the regular 2-column designs

Another one that I found that looks promising if you want to check out some more templates and backgrounds:

She has a template called Forever Families. It is really nice!

Saving Money in the Shower

Here is a tidbit that might save you some money. Often times, I end up using more conditioner than shampoo. When this happens, I sometimes try to “catch up” with my shampoo and use more than I need so that I can buy both at the same time. Now, you don’t have to do that! One easy way to save money is to buy pump bottles. Target and Wal-Mart have them. You can buy the soap kind like above, or the plastic ones they have near the travel section. Since we are saving money, you don’t have to buy really nice ones. I mean, its not on your sink for everyone to see—Its in your shower!

You should buy one for shampoo (if you and another family member use different, but another pump bottle), one for conditioner, and one for your body wash (if you don’t use bar soap). Because your shampoo and conditioner is now in a pump bottle, it is easier to regulate yourself on how much you pump out each wash. You can also teach kids not to waste extras by showing them they only need one or two pumps. And Body Wash—that stuff goes a long way if you lather it up, so this helps to save you money.

If you don’t buy body wash, but use a bar soap—this is what I have learned. If you open the bar of soap when you get home from the store and just set it in your cupboard where it can dry out, when your current soap is out and you pull this one out of the cupboard, it should last longer since it has had time to dry out (not a day, but a couple of weeks to a month should work fine). This is what I have been doing with some soap that I bought on clearance at Wal-Mart. It is just sitting in the bathroom waiting till it is all nice and “dried” so that it can last me longer.

Happy saving money!

Please leave comments on how you save money with your bathroom supplies! Everyone could learn from your experiences!

Give Away Today

I thought my first official blog could be about something that I really enjoy. There is this great blog here called Give Away Today. It is a simple concept. This blog posts a give away, and you have usually 3-4 ways of entering. You leave comments (per the instructions) to enter into the contest. Then each day winners are randomly generated. Some of the giveaways are really great! Check out this website. I will definitely be posting again about this website (sometimes you have to blog about a certain giveaway in order to get an entry).

If you end up checking out the website, let me know how it goes. Just leave a comment!

In the Beginning

I have just started this blog in order to release some of my pent up energy. I hope everyone enjoys and is able to take some information from my website and use it in your daily life. I have a lot of things I am passionate about, and some of those things include: My Family, My Faith, Crafts, Saving Money, Getting things for FREE, blogging :D, and much more.

I am not used to html codes, so I havent worked my blog out exactly how I want it. But, hopefully soon someone can show me, or I can get a blog makeover so that it will be what I want it to be.

Now, on to introdcutions. This blog is called HoneyBeeBzz because Melissa (thats me!) means Honey Bee. I am married to my very best friend, Charles and we have a darling little son named Jesse. We live in sunny (read here smog-gy) Southern California. Chuck is going to school full-time, and since being laid off is a stay-at-home dad. I work full time and I am a mom full time. I also, am a blogger/crafter/day-dreamer most of the time too!

I love to read other people's blogs. In fact, I follow a bunch and I get up earlier in the morning then I have to in order to read people's posts in my google reader before I head off to work. I would love to one day take a creative writing class and maybe write a book. That would be awesome. But until then, hello blog world-- here I come!