Sparkly Resolutions

Posted on January 3, 2012 by jessa

Happy New Year folks!! I hope it’s gotten kicked off to an amazing start. How about those resolutions? Are you making them this year? It seems that I always have the same ones and do really good with them until March or so. I feel like everybody’s resolutions are the same, lose 5 pounds, get organized…etc, etc, blah, blah. Does anybody have any resolutions that are different or unique? I’ve heard that in order for resolutions to be successful you need to have a plan and really think them through…

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Here are my resolutions and in no particular order of importance:

Become a more creative cook - The lovely Joanna at Baked By Joanna has started the #bake365 Project. So there will be new yummy inspiration coming out of her oven each day. Additionally, I plan on taking a cooking class. I really prefer to eat low-carb, but my family doesn’t, so I plan on finding ways to make food that will satisfy every tummy.

Create more storage space in my house - I don’t know where to even start with this. There is tons on pictures of creative storage ideas on Pinterest, so I’m going to find an idea and do it. No exceptions. Getting the Sparkletots to use the storage effectively, or at all, is a whole other issue.

Grow a vegetable garden - In Arizona you can grow vegetables year round. So why am I not doing it? Because I’m afraid. Gardening here is nothing like gardening in the Pacific Northwest where I grew up. Since I’ve moved here I have killed almost everything I’ve planted outside. Well, I’m going to get over my fear and get help. There are a ton of resources. The Arizona Cooperative Extension is a great wealth of information like this pamphlet here. If you have any tips on desert gardening, I totally welcome them! Hopefully I can keep my little basil plant (above) alive.

Learn to take better photos - I’m not going to lie. I have camera envy. When I’m out an about, on walks or at the zoo, I always see people with their fancy DSLRs and I think I stare just a little too long. I look down at my own little, yet very convenient point-and-shoot and sigh. I’d like one, but I feel guilty making it a priority. That being said, I am going to make every effort to learn how to take amazing photos with my point-and-shoot and even my iPhone (like this).

So there are four.. somewhat simple and very attainable. They just require a little motivation. Right?

Best of Sparkle 2011

Posted on December 31, 2011 by jessa

It’s almost 2012!!! Have you been enjoying the holidays? I wish you a belated Merry Christmas, by the way. I have been super busy the past couple of weeks, and not always in a good way. Too much work. Ugh. Anyhow, I am totally looking forward to trying to simplifying life in 2012. That’s my main resolution. What’s yours?

2011 has been a fun year here at chez Sparkle. There were a lot of fun projects, a couple of craft fails, but most turned out good enough to post on the blog. Here are some of my favorites from 2011..

Desk chair recovered in Sunbrella fabric

Colorful Magnet Board

Independence Day Starburst

Felted Craspedia

Vintage Inspired Hanging Chalkboard

Burlap Leaf Placemats

Felt Poinsettia Photo Frames

Frosted Winter Tree

Layered Ribbon Trees

and last but not least…

Falling Snowflake Canvas Art

So those are my absolute favorite projects I did this year. Am I going to be able to top those in 2012?? I hope so. I’m planning on more home improvement projects, gardening and outdoor living projects and some furniture updates. Plus, loads of crafts and holiday projects ( I love those!! ).

2012 is going to be a great year!!

Gift Wrapping Inspiration

Posted on December 20, 2011 by jessa

As much as I want to say that I am all ready for Christmas and my ~~wrapping~~ er shopping is done, I can’t. So instead, I’m procrastinating, buy finding creative ways to gift wrap the presents I don’t have yet. Take a look at what I’ve found..

Typographic Gift Wrap via Man Made DIY

Woven Paper Gift Topper via minieco

Rolled Paper Gift Toppers via Under The Table and Dreaming

Cupcake Liner Flowers via Creative Chaos

Paper Bows via ellinée

Christmas Tree Lightbulbs via Good Housekeeping

Woven Ribbon Wrap via Martha Stewart

Repurposed Shirt Gift Wrap via Country Living

Mini Shopping Bags via Martha Stewart

Newspaper Bow via Adelle

Nature Inspired Gift Wrap via Martha Stewart

Yarn Plait Gift Wrap via Bugs and Fishes

giftwrap via Anthropologie

Gold Foil Bunting via Tokketok

Have you done some creative wrapping? Please share!

Woodgrain Tree Ornaments

Posted on December 8, 2011 by jessa

I’ve been seeing a lot of salt dough ornaments on the internet lately and I have to admit, they look a lot cooler than they did when I was in kindergarten. Lots of shapes, different kinds of paint and texturizing with rubber stamps. Salt dough is super easy and cheap to make and most likely you have all the ingredients necessary in your kitchen.

Salt Dough

Ingredients

1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
1/2 cup water

Cooking Directions

Mix ingredients together. Add additional flour if it\'s too sticky, or additional water if it\'s too crumbly.

It’s no secret around here that I love woodgrain. It just looks so..natural. So I decided to combine the two and make some woodgrain textured ornaments. Earlier in the year I bought this large woodgrain rubber stamp that I never used. I love it, but haven’t had a use for it, until now.

Supplies: salt dough, rolling pin, extra flour, cookie cutter, rubber stamp, straw, sand paper

Lightly flour your surface and roll out your dough to ¼ to ½ an inch thick. Then lightly flour the top of the dough. Place the rubber stamp on the dough and then push down hard and evenly. Then push down again..It seemed to take a lot of pressure to get a really good imprint of the woodgrain. Carefully lift off the stamp. Use your cookie cutter to make your shapes and your straw to make a hole at the top.

To dry the ornament, I put them on a cookie sheet and stuck them in the oven for a couple hours at 200°, turning them over every 30 minutes or so. Then I left them out overnight. Truly, they take a couple days to completely dry.

I then used a fine grit sanding block to smooth the edges, then I spray painted them with two coats of glossy white paint. I considered rubbing some brown or green paint into the grooves, but ultimately decided to leave them white.

Linked to: Whipperberry, Remodelaholic, Today’s Creative Blog, Tip Junkie, Home Stories A to Z, Centsational Girl, I Gotta Create

My Friendship Bracelet Maker Review and Giveaway

Posted on December 7, 2011 by jessa

**Giveaway now closed**

Remember when you were a kid and make friendship bracelets? Do you remember what a pain it was to use a clipboard or pin the embroidery floss to your pants and then having to use gobs of tape to keep the bracelet flat and the tension right? I do. Well, kids these days have it so good..

My Friendship Bracelet Maker

I was sent a My Friendship Bracelet Maker to review and let me tell you it’s a lot of fun! It comes with 56 pre-cut threads in 14 colors, all stored in a nifty little compartment. It’s easy to clip your threads to under the purple butterfly and the little fingers at the bottom hold the tension just right.

There is also a My Friendship Clipboard availiable, which is perfect for boys (boys make friendship bracelets too!)

My FBM Workshop which has video tutorials on how to make some really cool bracelets. My favorite is the BFF Mini Heart Pattern..

And I also love this Christmas Tree Pattern that I found on their blog..

The Create Friendship Company also sells the My Ribbon Barrette Maker, to make those cool retro looking barrettes..

Would you like one? Create Friendship Co. has offered to giveaway one of their products of the winner’s choice. All you have to do is visit their website at www.myfbm.com and come back here and leave a comment telling me which product is your fave.

For extra entries like My Friendship Bracelet Maker on Facebook and/or follow them on Twitter, then leave a comment to let me know you did so.

US addresses only please. Giveaway ends Sunday, December 11th.

********************************************************************************************************************

The winner for My Friendship Bracelet Maker is…

Lisa M!!! I’ll be in touch with you Lisa!

A complimentary product was provided for my review. All opinions are 100% mine.

Mr. Frosty Ornaments

Posted on December 6, 2011 by jessa

Forgive me, but I’m on an ornament making kick right now. I want to be ready for the tree when we get it. Plus, my craft supply closet is overflowing, and I’m challenging myself to only use what I have for the rest of the year. And maybe all of January too. Seriously, it’s gross.

I was digging through my stuff and found these wooden discs, and I had enough to make a snowman..or four!!!!

Supplies: Wooden discs {various sizes}, sand paper, hot glue gun, white acrylic paint, ribbon, paint pens {for the face and buttons, use can use acrylic paint too}, Mod Podge or craft glue, foam brush and epsom salt

First, sand the edges of the discs so they are nice and smooth. Using the hot glue gun, glue together your discs like above and then paint both sides white. Once the white paint is dry, paint it again. Then glue the ribbon on to the back (for hanging).

Using the paint pens, or acrylic paint with a fine brush, paint on a face and a cute carrot nose.

Look at poor Mr. Frosty taking an epsom salt bath..he must have some sore muscles.

Once the paint dries, use the sponge brush to paint on the glue, and sprinkle on the epsom salt. I did both the front and back. Gently tap Mr. Frosty on the edge of the bowl to get off the excess salt and then set him in a safe place to dry.

Of course you can use clear crystal glitter instead of the epsom salt..but I **love** epsom salt right now {and I have a ton}. Your choice!

Linked to: Whipperberry