Autumn Blog Party!!

Today has been very busy day...actually you could say that about this whole week. Today I woke up went straight to work, ate lunch, met some people for a group project, came home and just continued to work on a debate for class tomorrow. I do have a little bit of time so I thought I would fill you in on this awesome event.

Laura has an splendid blog called Blue Eye Night Owl featuring  owls, music, photography and all kinds of lovely things. She had a Autumn Blog Party earlier today with some amazing tutorials, projects and giveaways. Go over and check out my Zombie Cake tutorial and all the other amazing posts featured today. 

Sorry I didn't have time to fill you all on this sooner, but I have been so over whelmed with projects. My November calender is basically filled up with working on them plus getting ready for my first craft show so I apologize for my absence and will soon return to normal blogging during my school break.

Busy Busy Busy

Sorry about my absence this week but I have school projects due soon along with homework so I may not be posting as much in the next two weeks. If you need me feel free to tweet me (@amberupbeat) or if you have my email address send me a message and I'll respond back. Just thought I'd let you all know :) Hope you have a good week!

Vintage Finds: 10/22/11

I have been fighting a cold this week but today I felt a bit better so I decided to check out this new thrift store that is located in the old thrift store I use to get good furniture (say that three times fast). They don't have as much stuff compared to the one before but they recently open it's understandable. They had great prices for huge pictures and even had a beautiful globe for $7. I was trying to spend less than $5 so I had to say no the globe but if I go back and it's still there then I'm getting it! Anyway back to my vintage find...

This carpet bag cat purse for only $1 :) There was a beautiful one with horses on it but the purses didn't have prices and I didn't want a huge surprise if they were more then a few dollars each. I might change a few things on it but it's huge and has plenty of space to put my junk it in. I like cats if you couldn't tell.

Well I need to finish another paper and then open for work. Hope you all are having a good weekend!

pf#35

This week Pick Friday will be while I'm waiting for my hair color edition. I still have a good six minutes so lets see how fast I can put one of these together. Note this is going to be very random!

Honey Sticks Pure Raw Summer Honey

I loved these things in the mountains and just the other day some students were talking about how our schools garden had honey they made and were going to sell it infused with some tasty flavors.

Polymer Clay Taco Earrings

Saw some like these on Kitschy Living and thought they were adorable!

Owl Wall Hanging Woven Mail Holder

I've wanted one of these for a while and I know U.O has them but I'm definitively not paying that much. So my search for one begins and I have the perfect spot to put the little guy.

Pumpkin Orange Flower Necklace

I love these crochet necklaces I've been seeing lately. It almost makes me want to learn to crochet again!

Dollhouse Miniature Pair of Cat Pillows

I have a doll house that was my aunts. My mom and I fixed it up over over 10 years ago but now I have it and want to fix it up again. These would be perfect for my little couch I redid for it!

ps- I didn't finish in the six minutes for I got three out of five done in six minutes *new record*

Obsession Wednesday

Sorry the post is a little late I've been sitting at the computer screen waiting for inspiration to work on a paper. I know the general idea of where I want to go with the paper it's just getting it started that is the problem.

Anyway this week's obsession is animal prints!

 

*click image to view source*

Adorable Signature.

I tend to do my own images and banners but when it came to creating a signature for the end of my posts I was at a lost. The same goes to writing my name, it seem everyone else can write my name better than I can so I decided to outsource the signature. I remembered Kaelah from Little Chief Honeybee was doing signatures for a great price and since I love her work I decided to get one done. It was a great investment and as silly as it is to love a signature I love it :)

Sore Throat Blues

     Yesterday my throat was a little red and sore but nothing I couldn't manage. This morning though I woke up and I was losing my voice and my throat felt even worse. It's like someone took carpet and rubbed it on the back of my throat...yuck. Luckily my first class was cancelled but I still had another one at 9:35 but I went a head and emailed the teacher because I knew I couldn't make it. After consulting the doctor (WebMD) I determined it wasn't strep throat or my sinuses because I have none of those symptoms like a temperature, white spots on throat or runny/stuffed up nose.  I'm going to get some over the counter medicine for now and just watch it to make sure it doesn't end up being something worse.

    Now if only I could keep myself from wanting to do so many things today. I'm tired but not enough to go back to bed and since it is only my throat that is sore I feel I can/need do stuff today even if I'm not so peachy. I must resist being super woman today and focus on getting better for tomorrow. So for now I'm going to surf the internet, read some blogs, and refresh my email until I get that message. I hope your day started off better than mine!

*PS- That is an old photo of me sleeping on the couch with the worlds most comfortable quilt and cutest cat.

Pretty Packaging

I finally made the step and bought a stamp for Craft'n Bettie (rubberstamps.net) with the same font design as in the etsy banner. It's been something I've looked into before and after using a "Thank You" for notes to customers it seems very versatile. I also like the idea of using stamps because once you make the investment all you really need is stamp ink and an object to use it on.

(The old way I use to package items)

With this new item I've been thinking of different ways to package my products. When I first started I made a logo and printed it off my printer which was okay at first but I didn't like the amount of paper I used and ink isn't cheap. Later I started using paper from store catalogs that normally would just get thrown out and using the cards from a "make your own business card" package as a hard back for the paper. Even though they look nice I would like to improve it or even try something different.

I've been snooping around the blogishpere and found good ideas and great inspiration. Here are the ideas and products I'd like to share with you to help if you're just starting out or want to improve your shop.

Using colored tissue paper and paper dollies like Kaylah from The Dainty Squid.

Re-purposing paper bags for packaging like this DIY Mandi did for A Beautiful Mess.

Using colorful washi tape like Moorea Seal

Using ribbon or twine with a little note like this Vintage Hanky Gift tutorial from LA at Freckled Nest.

If you want to go real hardcore screen printing packages with image logo like Katie from I Go By Katie.

Hopefully these ideas have really inspired you on getting creative with your packaging. Plus some of these ideas are great for decorating gifts for family and friends!

pf#34

Finally figured out how I want to style the bedroom so here are a few wants that would help to complete the look (or really start the look).

This Clever DIY Project

REGOLIT Pendant Lamp Shade

US Wall Map

I See Your Points Statue

Over sized Chevron Pillow Cover

These are only a few style elements I'm leaning towards there are a few more but I'd rather not take the whole blog over with one post.

DIY: Mini Pompadour

(I couldn't resist posting Johnny Depp as Cry Baby)

I've really been wanting to do some sort of hair tutorial so I thought I'd share my way to do a mini pompadour. It's perfect for those days you don't have time to wash your hair or if you want some awesome volume. I have bangs now that I just push to the side but I have done this before with shorter bangs just the puff isn't as tall.

 *Note: I was trying to take pictures while doing my hair plus it was late so ignore my tired face and awkward photo angles.

Supplies:

• Hair brush
• Plastic Hair Comb
• Bobby Pins
• Hairspray
• Hair Putty (if your hair is clean run a little bit through bangs)

Step 1: Take a portion of your bangs and little bit of hair to create a small pony tail.

Step 2: Take the pony tail and twist it.

Step 3: After you have twisted the pony tail lay it down and don't let go of the pony tail.

Step 4: While still holding the pony tail down take the comb with your free hand and press it in. I like to gently push the pony tail then put the comb right behind the twisted part of the hair.

Step 5: If the pompadour isn't how you would like it just grab the pony tail piece and redo it.

Step 6: Once you have it like you want it take a bobby pin and put it on the extra hair left over from the pony tail. This helps keep the extra hair stay in place and not fall to one side.

Step 7: Spray all  over to keep everything in place.

There you have it the mini pompadour! Just a helpful tip is during the day make sure to just push the comb every now an again. It won't come out but it keeps the pompadour from going flat!

P.S- If you didn't notice in the photos I have a cow lick on the left side of my hair line.

Obsession Wednesday

This has been going on for the past few weeks so I thought it'd be perfect for Obsession Wednesday.

What is this thing exactly? Pancakes! I've been wanting some for the longest time. I know I could just make them myself but that would require more than just the mix like a pan that they won't latch onto for dear life. Here are some wonderful recipes and cute display of pancakes.

*click image for recipes and original sources*