by Stephenie Hamen | Jan 3, 2018 | Love It
When you are starting in a new craft, it can be scary heading to the craft store, looking for supplies. Paper crafting can be one of the worst with so many different products out there.
Knowing where to start and what to buy first can go a long way in having fun. And isn’t that what crafting is all about anyway?
These tools are my top 5 paper crafting tools for beginners. They make creating easier and are tools you will use over and over and over again. Whether you are making cards or scrapbooking, these are tools that will be glad to have.
A good paper trimmer is the first thing to buy – before paper, before stickers, before card bases. It will be the one tool you will always use. It’s not the most glamorous of purchases, but it will save you time and time again. Cutting out school pictures and want them straight? Paper trimmer. Cutting cardstock down to make card bases? Paper trimmer. This one from Tonic Studios is compact enough to use for cardmaking, but also cuts 12” x 12” paper if you are doing scrapbooking. It is portable, cuts straight, and makes quick work of cutting paper, pictures, and cardstock.
A craft mat is essential to keeping your table top clean and damage free. A self-healing mat is the best kind because you can do detail cuts with a craft knife on it without damaging it to much. They are typically pretty easy to clean and can save you a lot of heartache if you spill something on your work surface like I did once. This 18” x 24” mat from American Crafts is a great size to work on and it comes in a super bright and fun shade of pink.
A sharp pair of scissors is critical for paper crafting. Maybe you are just cutting bits of paper and ribbon or maybe you are cutting super detailed images out – either way, you want to make sure you have high-quality tools for the job. These scissors from Tim Holtz are the perfect starter. They are large enough to cut through bigger projects, but make detail cutting easy as well. Plus, they are serrated to cut through thicker materials with ease. You can use them for any of the projects that you will have starting out which makes them that great investment when starting out.
I love the Xyron X for sticking oddly shaped bits and pieces to my projects. It makes anything a sticker! Pictures, papercuts, punched items, intricately cut items, little cardboard shapes – I could keep going! All of these easily become stickers to add to any project. And, what is really nice is that you aren’t trying to add adhesive by hand to tiny little bits. It is an economical purchase and it is refillable, which is even better.
If you are interested in stamping, but have never done it, then tools like the Tim Holtz Stamping Platform will help to make the job easier. You can use rubber or clear stamps, it holds your paper in place, and it lets you line up your image before you stamp so that you know it is going exactly where you want it. I find that if I take the stamps before I ink them, lay them out where I want them on the paper then close the lid, they stay right where I want them and make my life a whole lot easier! Stamping is simplified with this tool and if you love to stamp, it will be your best friend.
While there are dozens and dozens of options out there, starting with a basic toolkit will help you get started on a fun and creative journey. If you have the right tools for the job, the creating goes faster, smoother, and easier. Now all that is left to do is to create!
Happy crafting!
by Stephenie Hamen | Dec 29, 2017 | Love It
Coloring has come a long way since I was a kid. I used to take my 24 pack of Crayolas (not the 64 pack with the built-in sharpener, but 24 was better than 8!) and a coloring book of Strawberry Shortcake and sit for long stretches of time on our screened in porch when I was a kid. Or I would crawl into my sheet fort and color there. As a child, there was nothing better than a new page in the coloring book and the smell of crayons to start the day.
Now, as a grown-up, coloring has come back into our lives, only now we get mandalas, Zen tangles, and detailed images to color with our colored pencils and alcohol markers. It has become a way to destress and to recapture some of that lost youth. Now we color at our desks or on the couch, enjoying some artistic solitude and finding a little peace in our day.
If you haven’t had a chance to jump into the coloring craze, now is your chance. You can grab dozens of free downloadable and printable pages from these websites to help you kick-start your adventure.
Best Sites for Free Printable Adult Coloring Pages
- Just Color has hundreds of pages ready for instant download in all kinds of categories. Love animal? Feeling zen? They have you covered.
- Hello Kids has a section just dedicated to adults, but they have lots of pages for kids too. Print out favorites for everyone and have a family coloring day!
- Coloring Pages for Adults has mostly mandalas but, boy, are they pretty. I might just print out every single one.
- Adult Coloring Pages has a whole section of patterns! There’s nothing more zen that coloring the same pattern over and over. Have you tried it? It’s like a weird form a meditation – just like those zen rock gardens!
- Everything Etsy has an awesome roundup of some of the more trendy prints out right now. There are cactuses, unicorns, and mermaids! You can’t go wrong.
- Art is Fun has finished examples alongside the printables in case you need some inspiration to get started.
- Faber-Castell came up with some beautiful and intricate designs you have to see.
Good luck and have tons of fun in your coloring journey! Did you just finish a page? Share it with us on our Facebook page or tag us on Instagram. We love to see what you’re working on.
by Stephenie Hamen | Dec 3, 2017 | Love It
Gift giving can be fun and rewarding, especially when you know exactly what someone likes – like wine! Of course, the easiest thing to get a wine lover is a bottle of wine, but if you want to change it up a bit, this is the list for you.
As a fellow wine lover, finding the latest and greatest wine-related gifts is not a difficult task at all – I had to stop shopping for myself! So I have to admit that I love everything on this list of creative and fun gifts for wine lovers. I especially enjoy finding gifts that were special and unique. Bottles of wine come and go, but these gifts can last forever.
Below are 12 gift ideas that are fun, cute, sophisticated, simple, and unique, guaranteed to make the wine lover in your life one happy camper.
12 Genius Gifts for Wine Lovers
- First up is this Callaway Wine-Champagne Bucket – it is a Crate & Barrel exclusive. It is a gorgeous, but simple gift for the white or sparkling wine drinker.
- Stemless wine glasses are chic and these Riedel O Stemless Cabernet/Merlot Wine Glasses are a fabulous addition to any wine lover’s collection.
- Want to do something a bit different? This wine bottle succulent planter from Looking Sharp Cactus on Etsy is the perfect centerpiece for any table.
- Looking for a fun little gift? These luxury combed cotton “Bring Me Some Wine” socks are the perfect solution.
- This Cuisinart ® Dual Zone Wine Cooler might be a bigger purchase, but it will definitely be a huge hit as a gift for someone extra special.
- Know someone that collects their corks? If you want to give them a custom gift, then this wine cork shadow box from Home Wet Bar is perfect!
- This work/wine doormat is a cute way to brighten up someone’s new home or just for a hostess gift for a wine-loving friend.
- Need something stylish? This geometric 11 bottle wine rack is not only trendy and beautiful, but functional as well.
- For the person that is a true wine buff, having a dependable and trusty corkscrew is important. This Amazon best-selling rabbit wine opener corkscrew in luxury golden is the perfect addition to any wine lover’s toolkit and is beautiful, too.
- This Christmas ornament from Favor Universe on Etsy will make a nice little tag on a bottle of wine you give.
- Have a friend that is not only a wine lover, but a coffee drinker as well? Then this mug from Beholden Prints on Etsy is for them!
- Decanters are functional and serve a purpose, but they can be stunning, too. This gorgeous decanter from Sagaform with oak stopper is a great price point and an elegant gift.
There’s definitely no shortage of gifts for wine lovers. With this list you’ll definitely find something just right for the wine enthusiast in your life. Did we miss something? Let us know in the comments!
by Vicki O'Dell | May 22, 2017 | Love It
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Over 215,000 people bought an Instant Pot
on Amazon’s Prime Day back in November of 2016. Were you one of them?
What’s an Instant Pot?
I was and several people I know did too. The thing I’ve noticed is that, while there are lots of folks gushing about their Instant Pot, there is very little instruction when it comes to actually using it. The box includes very little help. Especially if you’ve never used a pressure cooker before or are a new cook. I’ve seen several comments from people who bought one but who are afraid to try it.
If you’ve been watching videos and reading about the Instant Pot on the web you’ll find lots of information about how to put the lid in the handle so it stands up and about the tri-ply stainless steel disk on the bottom for more even cooking and maybe even about the removable silicone ring, but next to nothing about how to actually USE it.
What are all the buttons on the Instant Pot?
You might want to highlight and print out this bit to keep handy.
- Sauté function (lower left on the panel)– use the Sauté button to sauté in the stainless steel pressure cooking pot with the lid off. You can also press Sauté and the Adjust button once (more) for browning. Press Sauté and the Adjust button twice (less) to simmer.
- Keep Warm/Cancel Button (Lower right on the panel) – Use this button to cancel a function or turn off your pressure cooker. On the Smart mode, you can use the Adjust button to reduce or increase the keep warm temperature from 145° (normal) to 133° (less) and 167° (more).
- Manual button is an all-purpose button. Use the manual button if a recipe says to pressure cook on high pressure for a specific number of minutes. Use the “+” and “-” buttons to increase or decrease the cooking time.
- Soup – high pressure 30 minute cook time. Press soup and the Adjust button once (more) to cook for 40 minutes. Press soup and the Adjust button twice (less) to cook for 20.
- Meat/Stew – high pressure 35 minute cook time. Adjusted to more – 45 minute cook time; adjusted to less – 20 minute cook time.
- Bean/Chili – high pressure 30 minute cook time. Adjusted to more – 40 minute cook time; adjusted to less – 25 minute cook time.
- Poultry – high pressure 15 minute cook time. Adjusted to more – 30 minute cook time; adjusted to less – 5 minute cook time.
- Rice – cooks on low pressure and is the only fully automatic program. It’s for cooking white rices and will adjust the cooking time depending on the amount of water and rice in the cooking pot.
- Multi-grain – high pressure 40 minute cook time. Adjusted to less – 20 minutes cook time. Adjusted to more – 45 minutes warm water soaking time and 60 minutes pressure cooking time.
- Porridge – high pressure 20 minute cook time. Adjusted to more – 30 minute cook time; adjusted to less 15 – a minute cook time.
- Steam – high pressure 10 minute cook time. Adjusted to more – 15 minute cook time; adjusted to less – 3 minute cook time. Use this function with a rack or steamer basket because it heats at full power continuously while it’s coming to pressure and you don’t want food in direct contact with the bottom of the pressure cooking pot. Once it reaches pressure, the steam button regulates pressure by cycling on and off similar to the other pressure buttons.
Some things you should know about the Instant Pot:
- Cook times for the Instant Pot sound really fast, but you have to remember that it takes about 10 to 13 minutes to get up to pressure (less if you’re using less water) and another 15 to 20 minutes to release the pressure after the cooking has finished.
- The Instant Pot cooks at 11.5 PSI, which means that it takes longer to cook than a stovetop pressure cooker. If you’re using a recipe designed for a stove top pressure cooker, add about 7 to 15 percent more cooking time. If you’re cooking at high altitude, you’ll need to add even more time.
- Don’t forget to close the vent after adding food and setting the time. Otherwise, you’ll hear hissing after a few minutes. If this happens simply close the vent. An open vent won’t allow the food to cook properly, so always try to ensure the vent is closed when you make each meal.
- Some cooks have reported that heating up the pot by using the sauté helps the InstantPot come to pressure quicker. For you truly impatient types.
- If you cook foods with strong flavors – fish or garlic – you may wish to purchase an additional seal for other foods like yogurt. You may also wish to store the InstantPot with the lid on upside down so that the seal will air out and not hold odors.
- The InstantPot needs a minimum of 1 cup of water or liquid to reach and maintain pressure. The more water – the longer to reach pressure.
- Heed the MAX FILL line on the side of the stainless steel pot to avoid messes.
- Natural Pressure Release allows the pot to naturally release pressure on it’s own after the food is done. It’s a form of release that is often used with pasta, soup (including lentils), beans, and meats – or a pot that is filled up to the max line. If a recipe calls for 5 minutes NPR, you will want to wait until the pot says L0:05, then you can release the pressure after that by opening the vent.Quick Release allows you to manually release the pressure on your meal by turning the vent valve at the top to open. You can use this for veggies, or for non-starchy foods. Always use tongs or a fork/spoon to avoid turning that valve with your hands when you release the pressure.
- The Instant Pot is not to be used for pressure canning.
- The Silicone Sealing Ring typically needs to be replaced every 18-24 months. It is always a good idea to keep an extra one around.
That is a good start. Some dos, don’ts and how-to’s regarding your new Instant Pot. I sure hope you find it helpful.
by Maggie Kmiecik | Feb 3, 2017 | Love It
What a whirlwind of a month! We’ve been busy here planning projects, coming up with article ideas, and meeting new, amazingly creative people! I can tell you that I would not have been able to handle it all without some serious scheduling and planning.
I thought I was old school because I still use a planner. And I freaking LOVE my planner. I mean, I tried to go digital. I really, really did. With all the todists, the evernotes, and the wunderlists, and there was just always something missing. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m a creative person and it’s fun for me to highlight, color code, and add stickers or what, but I can tell you that none of those digital calendars or to-do lists did it for me. So I went back to my trusty old planner.
Well, when we went to the Craft and Hobby Association show in January, I was pleasantly surprised to find out I wasn’t the only one! There were so many paper companies with SO many cute planners. Luckily, I had the perfect one gifted to me earlier in the year otherwise, I would have had to make some tough choices.
Don’t believe me? Just look at these adorable planner pages and decals from Carpe Diem. Yea, that’s right, you can pick a planner in whatever color you want and then add the decal that’s calling your name. Customizable planners? Genius! I love the Carpe Diem Robin’s Posh Egg A5 Planner Boxed Set and the Carpe Diem Posh Basics Stickers!
Or what about the completely personal and customizable collection from Webster’s Pages? I honestly wasn’t familiar with this brand until the show, but I LOVE how easy it was to turn these binders into planners, albums, or even scrapbooks.
The team at Heidi Swapp has the most moral boosting pages. Each planner set has great quotes to keep you motivated and keep your eye on the prize, because we all have those days that seem like too much. Now you have a little cheerleader inside your planner! This Heidi Swapp Memory Planner Kit is an awesome way to get started with a beautiful, themed planner!
There were even really cute stamp companies that had planner pages and adorable stamp collections for calendars, invites, or other planning. This collection from Waffleflower really caught my eye!
If you’re like me, shiny and glitter catch your eye. So obviously I gravitated towards this adorable gold planner and then I realized it was calling me beautiful and it was a double win! Thanks DCWV, you’re too sweet 😉
Of course, Me & My Big Ideas had such a cute selection of planners and stickers. Their planners look adorable just on their own, but the stickers are made to fit perfect within the pages so even if you’re not super creative, you can make it look like you are!
***** UPDATE*****
This giveaway is now closed. The winner is Mackenzie M.
Congrats Mackenzie!
If you’re looking at all these cute planners and thinking “damn, I didn’t pick one up this year” it’s not too late! It’s only February, there’s still plenty of planning to do. That’s why we’re giving away a 2017 Happy Planner from Me & My Big Ideas!
To be entered just fill out the form below to sign up for our mailing list. One winner will be picked on February 17th!
Contest ends 2/17/17 at 11:59pm EST. One entry per person. Must 13+ to enter and a resident of the US. Winner will be contacted via email.
by Vicki O'Dell | Jan 19, 2017 | Love It
Work, school, diet, exercise, productivity, grocery shopping, price comparisons, and even personal safety – there’s an app for that! Whether you are a stay-at-home mom, a CEO, or a freelancer, if you are reading this, chances are you are a super busy woman. Sometimes it can take all of our energy just to get the basic tasks done each day. But with a little help from our trusty devices, we can turn more days into super productive ones.
Check out our list of 11 Apps for Super Busy Women and be prepared to conquer the world. Or at least your “To Do” list.
11 Apps for Super Busy Women
Most of the apps listed below are available on both iPhone and Android.
Calorie Counter –
Calculates how many calories you’re consuming when you log what you’re eating, or scan the barcode of a food package. Having the energy you need to be a super busy woman starts with what you put in your body. Want to keep up with it all? Feed your body good food. This app also helps when you’ve forgotten to plan dinner and are trying to make a quick, and healthy, last-minute decision.
Out of Milk – Allows you to create and share a grocery shopping list. Because the list is on your phone it’s super easy to update. By sharing it, you and your spouse will know which items have been purchased and which ones have not.
Shop Savvy – Scan the barcode of any product and get all the best prices, both on the Internet, and at nearby, local stores.
Mint – Mint is the free money manager and financial tracker app from the makers of TurboTax® that does it all. Mint brings together your bank accounts, credit cards, bills and investments so you know where you stand. See what you’re spending, where you can save money, and stay on top of bill pay like never before.
Todoist – A beautifully simple to-do list and task manager built for the pace of modern life. Whether you need to collaborate with your team, keep track of your most important projects, or just remember to pay the rent, Todoist is there to help you achieve more, every day.
BrightNest – Keep your home in great shape without breaking a sweat! BrightNest helps you tackle important tasks with our home tips, personal schedule and helpful reminders. From simple cleaning tricks, to interior design ideas, BrightNest delivers everything you need to shape up your home and simplify your life!
EverNote – Intuitive, easy to use and cross-functional allowing you to use it on your phone and desktop. Write, collect and capture ideas as searchable notes, notebooks, checklists and to-do lists. Take notes in a variety of formats, including: text, sketches, photos, audio, video, PDFs, web clippings and more. Use your camera capture to easily scan and comment on pieces of paper, including printed documents, business cards, handwriting and sketches. Attach Microsoft Office docs, PDFs and photos. Organize your receipts, bills and invoices.
LastPass Password Manager – LastPass is a password manager and password generator that locks your passwords and personal information in a secure vault. LastPass autofills web browser and app logins for you, and generates new, secure passwords instantly.
Dropbox – is the place for your photos, docs, videos, and other files. Files you keep in Dropbox are safely backed up, and you can get to them from all your devices. It’s easy to send large files to anyone, even if they don’t have a Dropbox account.
Circle of 6 – Circle of 6 is a personal safety app for everyone. Winner of the 2011 White House and HHS “Apps Against Abuse” Technology Challenge, and Winner of Avon Foundation for Women/Institute of Medicine “Ending Violence @Home”. This app will give women piece of mind knowing they can tap twice to let your circle know where you are and how they can help. Great for women with teenage or college-age children. You just might sleep better knowing that if your kid needs you they can contact you immediately.
Pomodoro Timer Pro – The Pomodoro Technique® was found in the 80’s and it continues to be one of the most popular time management techniques being used today. The Pomodoro Timer Pro is the ultimate weapon in your battle with time. You can add multiple tasks, their time estimates, see their history, and much more. You can always clearly see how much time you have left. The style of this app was inspired by the original pomodoro “kitchen” timer.
Did we miss your favorite app? What apps make life easier for you? Which ones can’t you live without?
on Amazon’s Prime Day back in November of 2016. Were you one of them?
