Here is a super fun and easy Faux Pearl Necklace that you can make with just 3 ingredients you have in your pantry.  A great rainy day afternoon for the kids or a serious jewerly junky.

                       One of my favorite all time craft magazines Craftzine has announced that they will no longer produce a print-magazine any longer - sniff sniff. The CRAFT digital archive is available at http://craftzine-digital.com.  I have already bookmarked into my favorites.

Super easy to make and so much fun - have fun and enjoy!

My husband was in a play at his High School where he is the Assistant Principal. He had the staring role - very first time on stage. I was so proud. “For the blood of the Bullfinch”. I helped him with his stage makeup - he had to look like an old man. Day 8

This project took 2 days - I had to let the glue dry overnight- stupid long drying glue. When my grandmother passed away she left all of her spoons from her many travels to me. They have been sitting in a plastic bag. I decided to take them out and display them Martha Stewart Style ( or I think this is how Martha would have displayed them herself.)

I took my glow worms from my toy collection 1980’s Christmas past outside - they haven’t seen day-lite in a while so I thought I could super charge them with the sun. They were one of my favorite toys from my past. My pictures are titled Day Glow. Who had Glow Worms when they were little??? Thing a day 5

I went into my thread basket and pulled out every color I owned and then braided this simple little bracelet. Thing a day 4

If you know me you would know that I am horrified of sharks - don't ask me why? So I just found this amazing little tea infuser that made me giggle with fright and I wanted to share. Sharky is designed by Pablo Matteoda.

Today I was really struggling with what to make - that’s a problem with only 3 days into it right? So I went to my Magical Mysterious Lot of Goodies and found the not so used yard sale tags ( I was planning a yard sale 3 years ago and never used them ). For what ever reason my grandmother popped into my head and I remembered her favorite TV show when I was younger Hee-Hah. Minnie Pearl was her favorite character on the show, So I dedicated this necklace to my grandmother - The Minnie Pearl Necklace. Now the question is will I actually wear this out in public - I must find the perfect outfit to match! Day 3 Thing a day

Day 2 I was lying on the sofa with my new camera trying out different focus setting and I took this picture. I title it Fur Warm and Orange Toasty my little pug dog was snuggly under my favorite blanket.

Here is my very first project for Thing A Day 3  -  I Heart My Dishes. I wanted to buy a new dish sponge today and while I was looking at all of the square sponges in the store I was inspired to make my own. Square is so boring and with Valentines Day just around the corner I decided to make a heart themed sponge. To make here is what you will need: - pink wash cloth or hand towel - sissors - needle and thread - paper and pen Here I used a pink washcloth that I had hiding in the back of my linen closet. Cut out a perfect heart shape out of paper to make the pattern then place it on the towel to cut out - leave enough around the edge for seam allowance. I hand stiched around the edges about 1/4 inch - turned right side out and stuffed with the scraps of washcloth. Finish off the open end then fluff to get your perfect shape. Now for the entire month of February I will use my themed dish sponge and say "I Heart My Dishes"

Last year I participated for the entire month of February on a creative site - Thing-a-day. 

Ring in the old, ring in the new! Well here we go again! It's now that time to start thinking of a new beginning again. Dust off your resolving mechanism and get it into high gear - and watch out everybody -here you come. Wipe the slate clean and start thinking of your New Years Resolutions for 2009. A chance to change the way you are living now and start your new year off right. So we make those determineding lists and eternal promises and by the time February comes you've lost that list and forgotten the promises. too bad, you meant well. It was a good idea: everyone needs to take stock and do some starting over occasionally, and the first day of a brand-new year is a good time for a new beginning. What do we do wrong? Sometimes it's a question of giving up way before you even start. You are so sure that you've got weak kneed will power that you play it safe sometimes to safe. You pick something so insignificant that it isn't worth being so firm about. You know darn well it doesn't matter with you stick to that or not, and when your determination gets the best of itself on the small stuff your conscience won't nag you at all. Or perhaps you are horn blower. Standing up and make a loud announcement of your good intentions. You may do it because you enjoy the pat on the back that you get for all the wonderful things you are going to do with your new resolutions. More often, however the biggest stumbling block to staying true to your resolutions is the newness of it all. Once you start thinking about the ways to improve yourself its hard to know where to start or stop. You can get too big about the resolution itself and try to demand impossible perfection. You reach a point where you have to work so hard at resolving to keep your resolution that the positive change you were trying to make in yourself gets lost in the shuffle. Now wonder you don't get anyplace. Tradition dictates that every 365 days, you should try to kick bad habits and start your life anew. So sit down with a cup of coffee, a paper and a pen, and reflect: What kinds of New Years Resolutions will you make for yourself this January 1st? Step 1 Be realistic by setting achievable goals. Step 2 Describe your resolutions in specific terms. Instead of "I don't want to be lazy," opt for "I want to exercise regularly" or "I will cut down on my television watching." Step 3 Break down large goals into smaller ones. For instance, commit to losing weight by resolving to join a gym and improve your eating habits. Step 4 Find alternatives to a behavior that you want to change, and make this part of your resolution plan. So you want to quit smoking but you smoked to relax yourself? What other forms of relaxation are available to you? Step 5 Above all, aim for things that are truly important to you, not what you think you ought to do or what others expect of you.New Year's Eve has always been a time for looking back to the past, and more importantly, forward to the coming year. News Years Resolution Post Card Swap This is a swap for you to send out postcards to old friends or new all over the world! For this swap you will be given at random 10 partners that you will send 1 postcard to each person. That means 10 different locations! Send 10 postcards out - you will get 10 postcards back with everyone’s 2009 New Years Resolutions listed. Who doesn't love to get postcards the old fashion way - snail mail. Be as creative as you would like. Use store bought ones or make your own. How to play along: If you wish to join the swap please email me no later then January 5th with your name and home address to: lancarrowmaltby@yahoo.com With the title "New Years Resolution Post Card Swap". On the 6th I will then send out the address of your 10 partners that you will be sending your Resolution post cards too. Invite your friends to participate - the more the merrier. Please send out your cards on or before January 31st 2009

I'm asking all artists, designers and crafters 101 reasons why you are going to buy or make handmade/vintage gifts for this holiday season (Please add your reason - so we can make it to 101) If you wish to participate, please follow with a comment starting with the #1 and then continuing till we get to # 101.

Please vote for my T-Rex Cookies over at Instructables in the holiday treats contest. Only 1 day left - votes ends tomorrow 12.10.08 I am trying to get into the holiday spirit so last night my husband said let make some cookies. Oh what fun - so I went digging through my collections of recipes, ingredients and cookie cutters and thought "no cookie says Christmas more than a gingerbread man cookie - right. All I could find was this T-Rex cookie cutter, so here is my twist on this classic cookie.

I'm posting in the near future on some gift guides for this holiday season and am curious about what you are planning to spend this year on holiday gifts. Of course this is entirely optional and completely anonymous. Thanks in advance for your feedback!

I just picked up the lasted copy of Venus Zine winter issue and let me just say I am so excited! My Elle Tie-On Slippers was runner-up in the Craft Off Contest and are featured in the magazine. Go check it out!!!

Wishing everyone a happy Thanksgiving 2008 - Tissuepapers

I will be having a contest and the prize is this lovely mini digital camera. As a artist/ crafter/photographer I am always on the look for great ideas and inspiration. Having a camera with you at all times makes it easy to take a picture so you won't forget your image and file it away in your inspiration notebook. This mini camera is perfect to keep with you at all times and have ready when ever that great idea pops in your head.   Info on the fabulous prize: The mini camera is a 3-in-1 that hold up 243 photos, you can capture several seconds of live action or you can connect to your Mac/PC to send images simultaneously through the Internet. You also get the USB cable to connect to your computer, easy to use software and "AAA" battery to get you on your way. The Contest will run until 12.15.08 midnight EST I've added the blogger "follow" gadget to this blog --> follow me and I will follow you.