Craft Overload

Would you ever think that you could have a craft overload?  I didn't!!  But . .I did!  I loved looking at all of the crafty blogs and came up with idea, after idea, after idea . .after idea . .. . .after . .well, you get the idea!  My brain was scrambled with ideas that I wanted to make.  I took a breather for a few days and found that there was one blog that I LOVED.  Oopsey Daisey (http://oopsey-daisy.blogspot.com/) is fantastic! 

The more of her crafty ideas I looked at, the more I wanted to make.  I think one of the reasons I like so much of her stuff is that it is user friendly.  They aren't expensive or overly complicated for the most part and the items that are, look like something I would like to challenge myself with.  She also does some great teaching things too and, since her son is just a little younger than Josh, I can use them all! 

To help get my new found hobby under control, I had to get organized.  I created a folder on my laptop and within that folder, I created folders for everything from the various holidays to my "Misc, but still great projects" folder.  I than started back with her first post and have slowly gone through each of them (I'm almost done) and have saved the ideas into each of the appropriate folders.  (Boy am I glad she only started this blog in January!).  She also gives her favorite things every Wednesday so I've gotten ideas from other sites too but I always connect them back to her site.  The first folder I'll be working on is some things for Josh and Nate for Christmas.  Plus, I have a project I'm working on now that will be done in another day or two and I can't wait to post it along with a link back to her original tutorial.   I'm also recruiting my family to help me with another one of her crafts - just waiting for all of their pictures :-)

Once I finish going through her blog, I plan on weeding out some of the other crafty links I have that I was so excited about but now sit idle.  I want to search for the best to have on my blog so if you are looking for a craft idea, you know you can click on one of their buttons and find some awesome things!  And, I even have a few craft ideas of my very own I'm working on too that I'll share soon :-)

So make sure and check out Oopsey Daisy and if you leave a comment, let her know that I sent you (she knows me by name!)

Enjoy :-)

Week 1 - Making Your Home a Haven

A week or so ago I posted about an upcoming challenge from here - Courtney at Women Living Well.  Today begins week one and the first challenge is to light a candle in your home and pray for peace in your home each time you see that candle. 

This week, Courtney challenges us to be a Proverbs 14:1 woman "The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down".   Courtney gives two separate examples of homes and asks the question - which one is yours?  Is it the discontented, rushed, unhappy home or is it the contented, relaxed, fun, prayful home?  She has encouraged me this week to slow down.  I don't have to get everything done on my to do list but rather spend time making my home a haven - a place of rest.  This was also the topic of my devotions this morning - finding time to rest, just as Jesus did in his travels.  

Yes, I have lit my candle this morning - it is sitting on top of my entertainment center in my living room where I can see it from almost everywhere in my home.  I'm going to use the candle as a reminder to:

1)  Read to my kids, play with my kids, and do all of the little learning activities I plan each week

2) Listen to my husband more, encourage him after a long day and pray for him each time I see that candle flickering.

3) Continue to make my home decluttered, cozy, a restful place to be. 

4) Take time for myself - if I am worn out and discouraged, how can I encourage the rest of my family?  Taking time for my daily quiet time, doing something I enjoy each day and just making my family happy :-)

So, after all of that - are you ready to make your home a haven?  Light your candle and ask yourself, what will it remind you of this week?  Feel free to share with me in the comments section and also, head over to Women Living Well and read Courtney's inspiring thoughts.

I love the ocean .. water in general . .. it is one of the most peaceful places for me to be - sitting on the beach.  I want to make my home feel that peaceful today.  Ironically, blue is not one of my favorite colors but as I think about my main living area in my home, I wonder, maybe I should aspire to make it remind me of this . . . just something to think about.