A super fun project!

A super fun project I discovered I enjoy and am now making back up stock for my craft shows in the fall! Yes the fall I said! If I don't start preparing now, I'll never have enough stuff! It's amazing how many cool ideas you can find at the dollar store. Like these glass bubbles for instance. Now granted, only about half the bag are useable as there are usually several that are chipped or broken. I purchase my adhesive magnets for about $1.97 at Walmart for 18 in a pack and I find sooooo many wonderful things to make magnets out of! Pictures from photographs, magazines, wallpaper books, bottle caps, you name it! Once I cut the picture to fit the glass bubble, I modge podge it to the glass bubble. Make sure to get all the air bubbles out! I then modge podge over the entire back to seal the paper! There you have it! The magnets are strong enough to hold a couple sheets of paper, a picture, so many things! Have fun and involve the kids if you can! They will have a ball! Happy Crafting!

How do I organize all of these supplies???

Well as you all know, I am in the process of reorganizing my craft studio! Currently I am trying to organize my supplies and am finding it quite challenging! I am on my writing tools and paper. I spent last night sharpening all of my colored pencils. They are great for coloring in stamped designs on cards or scrap layouts or just doodling in my journal! My pens??? Well that's a different story as I don't have any great answers for this challenge! How do you organize your pens? I have so many brands and try to use them all (my favorite are my Copics and those I keep right on my work table!)but I really don't have a good organizational idea other than keeping them in a bin! Can you give me any ideas? Now my scrapbook paper is a whole different story! I currently have three floor to ceiling to paper racks filled with my scrapbook paper. I am trying to down size to two racks but that is quite hard for me! I buy some paper just for it's beauty and don't want to use it, just look at it! I organize by season, by theme, and by color! Hopefully two racks will be enough...As I downsize, I am making room for the door to my studio to be free and clear of clutter so that I can put a screen door on it and keep it open during these hot summer days for fresh air! My studio has two entrances, one from the inside of our home and the other from the outside of our home. It will be so nice to have the fresh air flow through, I am looking forward to that! So as we are expecting temps into the 90's over the next couple days, I will spend time in my studio, where I have air conditioning and I can continue on my reorganizational project! Happy Crafting!

And the winner is...

First let me say "THANK YOU" to everyone that took the time to visit my blog and enter my giveaway! I consider my blog simple and personal but very important to me to connect with those out there that share my interests! I had a very tough time choosing a winner so I asked my husband to go through and choose a winner! Drum roll please..."Growing Up Madison" is the winner of my first blog giveaway!!!She has won a custom made paper beaded necklace! Please contact me via email (ladybughaven@msn.com) with your color choices (give me three to choose from and I will do the best I can to accomodate!) along with your mailing info and I will be in touch when your piece is complete. You have ONE WEEK to contact me! Congratulations and thanks again to everyone who entered! Happy Crafting!

This is where I will do my crafting today!

What a beautiful day, isn't it? Well at least it is here in the Pacific Northwest! Sunny and warm, finally! I went out and cleaned up the deck and table a bit and thought to myself "Why not bring my crafting outside today?" So that's exactly what I am going to do! I've learned to take one day at a time and be thankful that I was given another day to wake up and enjoy life and beautiful days like this! So I have a little tray with handles that I load my supplies on and I can just carry it outside with me! Now all I have to hope is that the wind stays away:) Well here's to a great weekend! How about you? Any big plans? Whatever you do, take time to stop and smell the fresh air! Enjoy your weekend and Happy Crafting!

Yummy Cucumber/Tomato Salad!

Hello Fellow Blogging Friends! Hope this week finds everyone well...My daughter gets out of school day after tomorrow so we've been pretty busy this week trying to wrap up the school year! Big end of the year "Bash" as they call them tomorrow for all the 7th graders so Caitlyn is pretty excited to bring her yearbook and collect as many autographs as possible:) But on another note, I had to share a really great recipe with you all! We've had some warm weather here in the Pacific Northwest and it's kind of got me thinking about all the yummy things we get to eat in the summer! This recipe was passed on to me by a coworker and it is such a great salad, especially with this warm weather. Got your pencil ready? Here it goes: 2 lg. Cucumbers 5 roma Tomatoes 1 medium Red Onion 4 oz. Feta Cheese *Chop tomatoes,onion and cucumbers and place in a large bowl. Crumble feta cheese and add to veggies, set aside. *In a small bowl, combine the following: 4-5 T. Olive Oil 2 T. Red Wine Vineagar 1 t. Sugar Salt and Pepper to taste! Italian Seasoning to taste *Pour over salad and toss. *Chill and Serve. You will have to try this salad and let me know what you think! My daughter isn't real fond of the strong flavors but my husband and I absolutely love it! Until next time, have a great evening!

My Craft Studio Rearranging Project...

 And oh what a project it is! I always forget how much work it is but I love doing it...What can I say?
The pic here in the middle is my favorite as it shows the view out of my windows, in our backyard, to the forest!  It's just so beautiful!

Well as you can see I have a big job in taking this on! I have so much that I am just not willing to part with as I am a hoarder...when it comes to my craft stuff that is! I tell myself I am going to get rid of what I don't use by donating it and I simply can't part with it! How many of you are the same way??? Well I am running out of places to hide my things so I am going to have to come up with something!!! Any suggestions?
Well I guess it's back to work for me! You all have a great Father's Day! It's suppost to be another beautiful day here in the pacific northwest so we are looking forward to making Daddy breakfast in bed and throwing some steaks on the barby later on in the afternoon! Whatever you may be doing, enjoy the rest of your weekend! Happy Crafting!

Craft Studio Day!

Good Morning Crafty Blogging Friends!
  As I sit at my dining room table, looking out at the beautiful day (6:15am here!) I am reminded of what I have at the top of my priority list today and that is to dig in, once again, to my craft studio! I am always moving stuff around and giving it a new fresh look! Well I've begun to tear into it and got pulled away and nothing has been done since! Sound familiar? Well today is my day! After a few morning errands, I shall be spending some time in the studio! I've already begun to pack away a few of my favorite things that right now are on the back burner. I've turned my dye cut table into my beading table! WOW!!! So nice to have all this extra room! My husband isn't to keen on the idea as I have moved those things to our downstairs bathroom linen closet:) It's true! My crafts are taking over the house! As I ponder how I wish to have my studio looking this summer, I got curious and went to Google.com/images and entered craft room ideas and OMG! I couldn't believe all the wonderful ideas that just gave me so much inspiration, I can't wait to get started again! Well back to my room I go! I'll keep you posted and let you know how things are going at the end of the day! Have a beautiful Saturday! Happy Crafting!

Beads of Courage donation ready to be shipped!

Hello Crafty Friends!
  Well I am so excited to say my first shipment of paper beads are ready to ship out for my "Beads of Courage" donation! Aren't they beautiful?
  In case you've not read my earlier post, Beads of Courage is a non-profit organization that tries to teach kids art through medicine, those battling serious illness. They hold beading workshops for these children and for every appt. they attend, for every chemo session they have, etc. they get to choose a bead for their collection! It's amazing these children know and remember what every bead stands for!
  When I saw they were being featured here at our Children's Hospital in Seattle, it really touched my heart.
My passion with paper beading began when my sister took a turn for the worse. It was my therapy to help me get through the hard times and to help me get my mind off of things. I call them my "Mindy Beads"! Mindy was my sister's name. So you can see why this organization struck me as one I needed to be involved with! And what better way than to make a donation of my "Mindy Beads"!!!
  So off in the mail they go with a note thanking them for allowing me to be a part of something so important:)
Happy Crafting:)

Kick things off with a giveaway!

I would love to kick off my new blog with a giveaway! Have you seen my new PAPER BEADS in my Etsy Shop? Stop by and check them out at ladybughavencrafts.etsy.com, because my first blog contest give away will be a paper bead necklace! This piece will be one I custom make with my winner in mind!  All you have to do is join my new blog (which I really think you will enjoy!) and leave me a comment under this posting! That's it! That's all! Contest begins NOW and ends Saturday, June 29th! Tell your friends and RT for me! Good Luck!
Thanks for stopping by and Happy Crafting!

My Memory Garden...

I recently lost my sister to melanoma cancer in April. It's been a big struggle for myself and my family but we are taking things one day at a time. I wanted to do something that would give me a place to go and talk with my sister or just sit and relive some special memories. 

I made this memory garden in my side yard and I think it's just what I needed!

My lavender is just beginning to bloom, the smell is fantastic (can you smell it?!!!) 

I have several little plants in my memory garden that aren't in bloom yet so I will be looking forward to that later in the summer time!

It has a very special solar angel that lights up at night. When I look outside before I go to bed and see

the angel lit up, it puts a smile in my heart and it lets me know Mindy is ok:)

It's my special place to go when I am feeling down and just need a moment alone and it's

just perfect for me!

Thanks for reading! Until next time, Happy Crafting!

One of my new crafting passions!

Paper beading has been my latest crafting passion! Back in April, it was a way to help me get  through my sister's passing. Now, I just can't get enough of it! It's very time consuming but I have had so much fun with it! I've used everything from magazines and newspapers to scrapbook paper and wall paper! My husband is now making my paper bead rolling tools so I will never run out! They are also available in my Etsy Shop at ladybughavencrafts.etsy.com. Stop by and check out all of my papercrafts, including all of my paper beads! Until then, Happy Crafting my friends:)

Welcome to my new blog!

So much going on over the last several months. My sister passing away in April really has taken a toll on myself and my family but each day is a new day and I try to take it all in one day at a time.
 I've had such a struggle with my blogging lately, just trying to find a system that worked for me! After trying Wordpress, here I am back at Blogger! I am not very computer savvy so I guess I have to stick with what I know! I've made it a goal to post at least twice a week and not to beat myself up if time gets away from me:)
This NEW  blog has been set up to share all of my new crafting ventures but also, a little bit of everything else! So grab a cup of coffee or tea, kick your feet up and enjoy reading about what's going on in my craft studio and in my life! Leave a comment and let me know you stopped by!
 I appreciate your following and your friendship! Happy Crafting:)