There is No Place like Home!

My Daughter is MILDLY in love with The Wizard of Oz.

She watches it over and over and over and over!

She asked for a DOROFEE Dress... and I was excited to find that the Walmart across town had some blue gingham fabric for $1.50 a yard!!!  Woot Woot.

I used this Skirt Tutorial as a base, but kept it to one layer.

Her ruby slippers were looking rough... I just ordered her a new pair... her 5th pair!

Zulilly had a really cute pair I couldn't pass up!

 Added a Folded over Square bib with neck straps.

 Decorative Buttons that she picked out!

 She picked out this ribbon too. Don't mind her hair, she just got out of a bath.

We had enough left over for a bow.

Hello Y'all.

I know it has been a while since I have posted. Things have not been going that great health wise. As many of you may have read previously... I have Takayasu's Arteritis. 

I have recently had trouble with my neck being soar and throbbing. 

It turns out my Carotid Artery is 80% Occluded and will require medical intervention. I am a little luckier than the average stent patient... because I am not a 'plaque' build up patient, I am at a lower risk for plaque coming loose and causing a stroke. I am still full of anxiety.

I have a few projects to blog about, But being fatigued and sick has kept my creativity at bay!

Until Tomorrow... Enjoy this giveaway over at Saturated Canary!

Get Lost over there for a while... or the rest of the day! 

Such a great Blog!

Copic Mini Journal Update Page, With new Colors.

I know I have not worked on much lately. 

We took a Vacation to Hawaii!!!

But I have had requests for updated pages for the Copic Munkie Mini Copic Journal.
I have not had a ton of time, so I sized down the Copic pages to fit into your book. I did not create these. 

Here is one of my books: 

Create A Mini Copic Journal

New pages:

UPDATED COLORS MARKER INVENTORY

Quick Cricut Project

I have been trying to keep my 3 year old daughters drawers a little tidier.
She is mildly compulsive, and hates mess. But she also has to pick out her clothes and change multiple times a day! Princesses! 

So, to keep her drawers tidy. We cut out these vinyl shapes with Paper Doll Dress up Cartridge and stuck them on her drawer to remind her where each item of clothing goes!

She puts away her own clothes now!

And Daddy says, he needed this for our oldest son as well... now he 'knows' what drawer when he is helping dress as well!

She has two more drawers higher up, that she just can not quite reach. They have all of the dress up clothes etc. So we will do some really fun costume type cut outs for those!

Butterfly Embellished Leather Journal

I LOVED the January Release from Our Daily Bread Designs! One of my all time favorites.

Here is a hand Stitched Leather Journal that I made with the butterfly. I have one with the cross in the works!

Orange Suede, Imitation Sine, Rhinestones OH MY.

One more for the road....

Alright, just one more sewing project and I promise I will do something else. HA!

Right before the Holiday break, I set up a booth for Arelia's Pretties at the MommySwagger Expo here in Katy. It was loads of fun. 

I was ENAMORED these GORGEOUS dresses at One Red Blossom, my husband was not enamored with buying my princess a dress that he felt I should be able to make... he just thinks I can make anything by the way. Not true.

Here is my attempt at it. I used this tutorial as a guide. I did my straps in the back... if that makes sense.

This one is a size too big for my boo bear... don't mind her faces, she was singing and twirling.
This is the Hawaiian version of this dress. Thanks to my gal pal that lives in the tropical paradise, and mailed me these great patterns!

I plan to add the blue pattern to the bottom in a ruffly fun way, and some ribbon trim... but I was lazy.

Here I sew again.....

My princess likes Dora. A LOT. I found this fabulous tutorial... and I thought it would make good use of our Dora scraps. I wanted the middle piece to be the Dora pattern, but I was goofy and cut them backward. ah well. As I said before, I am more than a novice. 

It was a HUGE hit, She is twirling all over the house. And had to wear it multiple days this week! Having a girly girl is so bizarre to me. Do not ask what I am wearing! Ha. I am no fashionista.

Sew Sew Sew Resolution: T Shirt Quilt

This year it is my goal to use my sewing machine more and to learn my way around the sewing department!

So expect to see some attempts at sewing. I shall call them Crooked Stitches.

Here is my first attempt of the year.

Now, I am NO quilter. In fact I have never even cut a square out of fabric!

But, my Son had some t shirts from all of his adventures in the last state we lived in. What to do! He also stated that my new sewing goal was not going to include him, but his little sister would benefit. Ha. He was jealous. 

I started with this tutorial: Easy T Shirt Quilt

Sooo, I used a 12.5x12.5in acrylic cutting mat to cut my shirts. And then cut 2 inch border strips and applied them the way this video showed: T Shirt Quilt Border strip Tutorial

I then added a backing and batting. Using the Quick turn Method : Since I have never quilted before... this seemed easiest. 

My Son LOVED it. I mean LOVED it. He took his old comforter off his bed, and this is now his main blanket. Goofy kid.

I would say that this cost me about $20 in materials and 3 hours. So in now way is it a perfect fancy smancy quilt. But my boy is 7.

Dazzling Faith Bracelet

I have been working on some fun stuff lately. 

I can not wait to blog about some of the projects I have been trying to complete. haha.

Here is a Jewelry Project I  started today. I have a ton of designs in mind. I will be adding them to my Etsy Shop tomorrow.

Visit Arelia's Pretties at Etsy for listings.

Making up for lost time GateFold Mini Album TUTORIAL!!!

Well, you may have guessed or already know that I have had a rough few months. After pneumonia, I never quite recovered and have been down for the count!

However, this gives me lots of time to surf the web (when I am awake, but not moving around)

I found this really awesome 'Scrapbook' made from 6x9 mailing envelopes and thought. I LOVE it.

I could not find the person on YouTube that she was saying made it... so I copied hers... and here it how I did it!

This is my first, and the Tutorial is a really ROUGH draft!

This one is for a friend, so it doesn't have all the stuff added in yet... I wanted her to be able to add her personal touches and pictures etc. But... I have all the elements for stuffing it that the original has!
Click on Photos for enlargement. 

Find all the stamps I used at Our Daily Bread Designs!

TUTORIAL on how to make your own pretty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mini Gatefold Album with Envelopes.

Step One: Cut your envelopes. You need the 6x9 Mailing envies. I pulled the metal tab off.

Cut 6 off them the way the picture shows. Trimming of the sticky closure edge creating a TAB with the 1/4-1/2 inch that is leftover, and a sliver at the fold to created an opening. Score at 3in. This will be Envelope A. 

Also Cut One Envie the same way but score at 1in, 3in and 2.5in. This will be Envelop B.

And one 3 inch piece for the cover.

6 Envelope A's

1 Envelope B

1 3 inch cover piece

 Step 2: Start at the back. Fold Envelope B's 2.5 inch parts and Glue one A's tab to the inside of the opening. creating a back piece that is 9 inches long, 3 inches from envelope B, and 6 from an A. And a folding flab from B, and one on the right side from A.

 

Step 3: Glue an A to the back of 1A's right flap.Leaving both tab and 3in flap both free. Not sure why the pic came out sideways... not the way I took the photo!

Step 4: Glue the back of 3A to Envie B, leaving tab and 3 in flap both free.

 Step 5: Glue a 4th A's back to the tab of 2A. Leaving 4's tab and flap free.

Step 6: Cut the tab off a 5th A and glue the back to the tab of 3A. Leaving the 3in Flap free. 

Step 7: Cut the tab off a 6th A and glue the flap to the flap of 5A. If you would like to mimic the one in the video, You would glue a 6.9 Envie that had been scored at 3 and 6 for three 3in accordion folds or similar.

Step 8: Close 6A creating cover and add 3 inch piece to tab of 4A to create right side cover.

Cover your Album, and Embellish.

This Tutorial shows the Project without a chipboard cover... like the one in the video. However, mine has one. I used masking tape and chipboard to make a flexible covered (then covered it in paper)  and glued the back of the album into it. Simple as could be.

Altered Box and a Card!

One of my favorite Crafty activities is to participate in Secret Sister Swaps!

I REALLY miss my local South Carolina group, and Secret Sisters' we use to have! So, Fun!

I recently joined in on one in the SplitCoastStampers group.

Here is my Altered Shoe box that I filled with goodies, Black & Red theme. And my card to reveal myself to my sister!

 Amazing Sentiment from Paper Makeup Stamps.

 Silver fairy Digi from Wee Stamps

 Altered Shoe box.

Journal, Journals, Journals!

This week I finished 4 journals!

Phew! Go me! 

I have some more fun projects to show you this week as well!

some are for purchase in my Etsy Shop!

Thanks for peeking in! Each journal is handstitched with imitation Sine, using a suede or leather remnant! Stamped with staz on ink. This batch were mostly Unity stamps!

Paper Makeup Stamps Monster Bash

Monsters, Monsters, Monsters!

I love Monsters, I have three that live in my house... 2 cookie monsters, and a Potato Chip Monster.

The Monster's From Paper Makeup are the best Monsters around. 

Now I may be slightly biased. But if you are making your way through this hop then you know!

♥

I come from a family that shows love with food. Baked goods, fresh tortillas, Tamales, Baked Goods.... if we love you, we will make you something to eat, and you will likely get fat.

I sure do miss making Katie eat my creations!!!

So here is my Love Inspired Monster!

This Monster has the right Idea! A Cookie never killed anyone, never broke your heart...have another!

Paper piecing adds such a great dimension, really brings your little monsters to life! I added a little dimension to my cutey, by piecing the hat, gloves and cookies... bet you couldn't even tell! It just pops a little more.

♥ ♥ ♥

A Note From Katie: 

Today we have having a MONSTER of a Hop!!! Who doesnt love an ugly cute little monster?!

The Paper Makeup Artists, some of the Digi Artists and some of PMS's bestest fans are joining together to bring you fun monster cards using Paper Makeup Stamps!

And in honor of this hop, all monsters on the site will be on sale for 1 week using the voucher code MONSTERHOP, of 15% off!

So settle down, grab your beverage of choice and prepare to be scared, um, we mean, inspired! 

Get Shopping already!

Our Hop Line up!

Sitcky fingers....

I MAY have mentioned previously that I was unmounting my last hold outs - the wood mounted Stamping Up!

Now that SU has the clear mount option.... I am getting rid of the block!! I am putting all of my sets into the SU dvd cases. 

There are a few ways I have found that look tedious, involving tissue paper and glue and what not. I am strapped for time! So, I am ripping the rubber off the block, tracing it on the sticky side of the EZ mount - with the paper on... cutting out the shape, still with the paper on the EZ mount, then using a block that has tack n peel on it, to stamp in Staz On on the NON sticky side of the ez mount (paper off). Then I stick the rubber to the sticky side and now it has an index. TaDa.

Also... that EZ mount sure is pricey! So, I switched to the mount found at Stampers Best!

You should give it a try if you are unmounting!

Annnddd....

 

Use coupon code SuburbanCrafter for 10% your order... makes it an even better deal!!!

I like the uniformity of having all my SU in the DVD cases, and I like having the inserts that go in them to match as well.

If you do too, you have to check out this thread where you can print out lots of great set templates!

SCS SU! DVD Case Inserts!

Keep it Crafty!

I have been Up and Down with my health! But I am trying to keep it crafty!

I decided to unmount a large amount of stampage... so that has taken up some time!

I have a cousin who is getting married and she showed me some hair pieces that she said were $116... I told her to put the brakes on that... we can definitely make those! Duh... you crafters know what I mean.

So here is my sample for her.

These huge flowers are really in this season! I am working on some sewing projects as well! So, I am not doing to bad on keepin it crafty!

My Elegant Angel.

This is my first card, in a very very long time.

I have been trying to get back on the craft wagon... but it has been hard since I have been on all my medication.

My Granny loves Angels, so I thought I would start by sending her some Angel cards. She always loves any card I send, it doesn't have to be good. :)

Today is my Dad's Birthday. So, an Angel is appropriate today. 

Close-up!

This is Stampin Up ELEGANT ANGEL. She is colored with Copics, the inside is pretty as well, with the beautiful sentiment that comes with stamped inside. I will try to snap a pic of that and add it.