Sometimes it's ok to be a follower

Thursday, February 26, 2015

Crooked Tail

My oldest pup has a very peculiar little quirk. When it's becoming stormy outside she gets very stressed. I know this isn't really unheard of, but somehow she shows shows her emotions through her tail. It becomes crinkled and bent right in the center. The first time it happen I thought she somehow had broke her tail, scared me so bad. Over the years I've come to learn that her tail is fine she is just very stressed and needs extra cuddles (and sometimes a little hand built fort to hide in). 

Her condition however, has become a very common saying among my family and friends. It is not unheard of to hear one of us say, "my tail is so crooked right now".

So in keeping up with tradition...
My tail has been crooked for the past couple of days, gah
I'm not found of having a bent tail.

Right in mid illustration my inking pen died. It's a bummer but not really a huge deal. I drove up to the local craft store to buy another. Sold out... okay I'll just call around to see where else I can find one. No luck what so ever. 

I decided to purchase one off Amazon and paid a little extra for next day shipping. By 9pm the following day, still no illustration pen. I checked the tracking number that morning and it was in my city, so where is it? I checked the tracking again. It's in Indiana... I live in Missouri. There's a little side note. Delivery delayed, package put on wrong truck. Well mistakes happen, what's one more day now anyways.

The following day I'm practically chomping at the bit waiting for the mail carrier. When I saw his truck, I was jumping up to meet him at the door. The moment he handed me the box I knew something wasn't right. The box was much to heavy.  What on earth did they send me?

I pop it open and inside find not 1 pen but a whole variety pack. I inspect the item and find that store label is miss-marked as a single pen even though it is clearly multiples. Okay, I'll just call them and tell them they sent me more than I paid for and see what they want me to do. Hours later, I still can't find an actual phone number for amazon customer service.

After waiting days for a pen, wasting money on fast shipping which didn't show, and now not finding any support to explain that I got more than I paid for; my tail is starting to get a major bend in it. I just want to finish my picture, but I'm not willing to steal something that was mistakenly stent to me.

I finally sent them an email. Fingers crossed that it made sense. I did get my pen but if I take it out of the pack it will ruin the pack and make it unsellable. Can I just buy the pack? How much is it? ( I don't honestly know if I could even afford it, so that might not be an option.) Send it back? How long will it take to get another single pen? 

I heading out today to find a similar pen of a different brand. Creating always makes me feel better and I need some joy right now. 

The lesson I've learned; if it's important to your craft keep multiples, lol.

Stock photo of what they sent
 

I'll work it out and have a new digi soon :)
Hugs,
Anna

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Wake Up Wednesday Linky Party



        
      

 week #57

 Wake Up Wednesday "Linky" Party

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

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Wake Up Wednesday Linky Party



        
      

 week #56

 Wake Up Wednesday "Linky" Party

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

Monday, February 16, 2015

Planner Pretties Decorating for a New Season

Valentine's Day has come and gone...
A new season means it's time to redecorate the art planner :)
Truly it's kinda fun changing it with the seasons and holidays.
 Here's a few pictures of the fun so far.
 
Current Bullet To-Do List (still need to change out the Vday goodies)
 
Front Dashboard, Sweet and Simple
Fun Add Ons & Pretty Zip File
Right now I'm going for a romantic, cottage, shabby chic feel.
I want soft, cute, and flowers.
And I'm am falling in love with everything Heidi Swapp.
Her little accessories are so fun to decorate with.

A Few Heidi Swapp Goodies
 Art planners are a wonderful way to release your creativity in your everyday life. A bit of color here, a few happy stickers there; makes a black and white to-do list of chores something to smile about. Any brand of planner is fine; any type of paper is okay. Choose items that motivate you and encourage you not only to get your tasks complete but also to inspire you to enjoy every little thing in each and every day. Even "ick " days are precious, they'll make us stronger for tomorrow; and joyous days, let's document them so that we'll hopefully never forget the awe in each moment.
 
Thanks for stopping by.
I'll have a super adorable digi later this week.

Hugs,
Anna

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

You've Got My Heart

 I've been wanting to redraw a few of my older Cuties for quite some time.
I feel like I've learned so much in the past few years and I want to breathe new life into some of my favorite originals. Bigger doe like eyes, fluffier hair, more movement in clothing...

A previous Valentine's Cutie, You've Got My Heart, was the perfect place to start with the holiday right around the corner. I always loved this Cuddlebug, but I remember when first creating her I ran out of room on my paper which left her cropped. I don't mind a cropped image but this time around I wanted a full image and I wanted all the other features that I listed above too.

Cuddlebug Cuties You've Got My Heart 2015


Cuddlebug Cuties Valentine's Planner


Cuddlebug Cuties You've Got My Heart 2015
Copics:
Hair: E41, 43, 44, 47, 49
Skin: E13, 11, 00, 000
Clothing: B91, 93, 95, 97, 99
RV10, 11,34, 66,69
E44, 43,42,41,40
Hearts: R85, 56, 59, RV69

Enjoy coloring and crafting with You've Got My Heart 2015 but please give me, Anna Stillwell at Cuddlebug Cuties, credit for drawing her.
 
If you'd like to view my rough sketches check out my Instagram on my right sidebar.
 
Hugs,
Anna

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Wake Up Wednesday linky Party



        
      

 week #55 

 Wake Up Wednesday "Linky" Party

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

We are so excited to have so many amazing bloggers party with us.
Check out this weeks Featured linkups.

Thank you so much to all those who share your blog in our party.
Last week we had  443 awesome linkups!   

 Wake Up and be happy, get excited and have fun with us! 
We want to be inspired, entertained, laugh and have a good time!



Your link will appear on the blogs of
     Lemons and Laughs   
          Kreative Corner      


This weeks 
Featured Bloggers


These simple shower decongestant drops are a perfect quick pick me up in the morning to help you wake up when you didn’t get enough sleep, clear your congestion or help to sooth your body after a long workout. Since they are not ingested or placed on your body, you won’t leave home smelling like the medicine cabinet. The key essential oils used are the eucalyptus and peppermint but rosemary and lavender add great healing benefits as well as smells. If you prefer to go with just the eucalyptus and peppermint you can easily do so by increasing the amount slightly.



With Sunday hitting us with daylight savings time, our schedule felt entirely off. When lunchtime rolled around, I realized it was rather late. I wanted something that could feed my entire family that was something a little different and would make for an early dinner. After digging in my refridgerator, I realized I had the makings for pizza, but I didn’t feel like making a homemade crust. When I noticed I also had a can of biscuits, I knew I’d be able to find a recipe that used the biscuits instead. After just a minute of searching, I found this recipe  from Pillsbury and knew it would be perfect for my pizza loving family. I did put a few tweaks on this Pepperoni Pizza Biscuit Bake for my family’s preferences.



1 Corinthians 13 is the ultimate explanation of agape love. In this easy Valentine’s Day Craft, kids can write special parts of the verse on a candy dish made of a plastic cup, fill it with candy, and take it home!



Can we achieve Civility in Co-Parenting?
Living in Mommywood
You have either accepted things must end and you have to begin to wrap up this chapter or you have been surprised by this turn of events and are asking yourself why?



Even though it’s January and I’m on a salad kick, no way am I going to give up cookies.  They are my favourite.  And what about some chocolatey cookies that taste amazing?  Sign me up!  Oh, and they’re healthy too!  Morning, noon, or night, you won’t find me hesitating to take a bite. What’s in these cookies that counts as healthy?  Almost everything.  Starting with superfood sweet potatoes, there’s also mineral-rich buckwheat, and unrefined coconut oil.  All natural sweeteners deliver plenty of good flavour to satisfy my sweet tooth without remorse.



It’s been awhile since we’ve had a killer chicken recipe around here. This one will be our go-to forever and ever, Amen. Yet it’s truly more of a summer chicken.  Let’s work on a winter one, shall we? Something just as extraordinary, yet suitable for indoor cooking as opposed to outdoor.  Meet sticky pomegranate chicken.   This recipe rocks. it. out. To begin, minimal ingredients. Win. Incredible smell in your home. We win again. And hey, the Orkin pest control guy might invite himself to stay for dinner.  Alright, pretty sure that isn’t a win. Actually, it was totally awkward but hey, he was impressed.


There is one thing that we can all be sure of in life: nothing ever stays the same for very long. And truth be told, none of us would really enjoy life if it wasn't for the twists and turns along the way. But let’s face it, the twists and turns can sometimes be extremely scary. Change brings on a wide range of thoughts and emotions. At times, we embrace it all, excited about the opportunities that lie ahead. Other times, we become paralyzed by it, unsure of what we feel and what we should do. And then, there are times when change enters our lives unwelcome, completely shaking our foundation to its very core. But in reality, change is an essential part of growth and without it, we wouldn't be able to become who we are truly meant to be.


I use my vintage linens to decorate the house with all the time.    I collect vintage tablecloths,  pillow cases,  sheets,  doilies,  if it's cloth....I love it!   Today I thought I would share with you some of the ways that I have used vintage aprons to decorate the kitchen.
In the photo above,  I have used small white tacks to attach three white aprons to the doors and wall above the kitchen range.  I didn't like how they looked just hung there,  so I gathered them in different places to add some texture.



If you’re looking for something other than red tissue hearts on Valentine’s Day, Love Butterflies is a perfect alternative. In this Valentines day craft, the red and pink wings are shaped like hearts, and a butterfly symbolizes eternity (as opposed to the caterpillar, which symbolizes life on earth). A Love Butterfly, when given as a gift, implies that the love between the sender and recipient will be for all eternity, like God’s love for us, like our love for our parents, and their love for us!




The first recipe that comes to mind when I think of a family recipe would have to be my Grandma’s Lemon Blueberry Bread. This is a staple at many family gatherings but especially the Fourth of July. Every year when we get to Grandma and Papa’s house we are greeted with ice cold glasses of southern sweet tea (we are from New England but Papa, who grew up in the South, loves his sweet tea!), fresh fruit salad and a platter of Lemon Blueberry Bread. Yum yum!



Decluttering and organizing tends to come naturally to some people. I have never been one of those people. I enjoy organizing my home so much, but I have to work very hard to keep it that way (and sometimes it’s not!).

I wish I could be like those people that it seems to come so naturally for, but I just am not. But let me let you in on a little secret.

It’s ok if decluttering and organizing doesn’t come naturally to you! You can still live in an organized space. I’m going to tell you how I do it.


I've decided that I want to work through my ever-growing stash of lip products; both in an effort to clear out half used and aging products, and to get reacquainted with beloved lippies that have been pushed to the side. For the rest of 2015, I'll be filling an acrylic lipstick holder with six glosses and six lipsticks, and keeping it in plain view on my dresser. Lets take a closer look at this month's picks, with swatches included.


I’ve been looking for a great Tiramisu recipe and this one is it.  I made this for some friends early in December and they loved it.  The hubby and I loved it too.  This recipe would work for any special or not so special occasion.



I love creating tablescapes for the various seasons and holidays. Since our front door opens into our living room, I usually put a decorative tablescape on our coffee table. When I went to my local Michaels and saw the heart marquee above on sale, I decided to buy it along with some products to create a simple and fun Valentine’s Day display.



These brownie hearts with raspberry buttercream filling are so easy to make and they taste just simply amazing!  Fresh raspberries can be pricey, but you can keep your costs down by using frozen raspberries.  Just make sure to thaw them completely and drain out all the excess juice!


I want dinner ideas that are tasty, of course, but don’t require a lot of fuss in the kitchen. As a busy mom, I like a simple recipe that can be cooked and served in less than an hour, doesn’t require some strange ingredients, and is hearty enough to feed my growing boys.



Razzle Dazzle Skillet Dump Cake is too easy for something so sinfully delicious! And, I love the concept of dump cake, don’t you?  Just plop a few ingredients in a baking pan, throw it in the oven and in an hour, instant deliciousness!



Our Craft Challenge team is sharing their craft of the month which is cardboard themed. My first attempt was a recycled shoebox into a decorated storage box. Not as creative as I'd like, so I decided to add a couple more.

This one started with a little side table and a shipping box. I wanted to turn this into a storage unit for my birds. It would be great for their treats, food and toys.



- For the full experience, prepare this the night before! -

For the muesli, place oats at the bottom of your jar (i'm using one of my beloved huge honey jars), add honey or agave and a splash of soy milk then toss in your buckwheat, oats, seeds or nuts (preferably soaked almonds).
continued.....



I’m giving Ken all the credit for my pretty hard-boiled eggs! I was so tired of ending up with crater-filled blobs when making ‘Angeled Eggs’ or hard-boiled eggs for a chef salad. Ugh!

I’ve had a chance to experiment with Ken’s directions for ‘perfect-every-time hard-boiled eggs’ using both older eggs and fresh eggs which I marked with an ‘O’ or an ‘N’.


Today is National Swap Ideas Day!  It is a day to share with your friends and family any great ideas that you might have been keeping to yourself!  And just maybe they will share something with you!  Since I am a major crafter, and I specialize in recycled materials, I want to share with you some great ideas to create from disposable cookie sheets! 



<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.
blogspot.com/-fXWdqbrTr0g/VI4OFht4egI/AAAAAAAAPlE/CsW-LP8jJUA/s1600/Featured%2B%40%2BWUWLP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style=
"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.
blogspot.com/-fXWdqbrTr0g/VI4OFht4egI/AAAAAAAAPlE/CsWLP8jJUA/s1600/
Featured%2B%40%2BWUWLP.jpg" /></a></div><br />

---------------------------------------------------

You can enter our
Paypal Gift Card Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Link up your funny stories, DIY posts, crafts, decorating, fashion, makeup, health & fitness, recipes, mommy moments -- anything at all, as long as it is family-friendly.


Please visit some other bloggers and make some new friends and say hello to old friends..
  • Please leave me a comment , I love to hear from you.
  • Please Link to your family friendly post 
  • I'd love for you to grab my party button for your blog party site but it's totally optional
  • Please No adult content blogs
  • Please do not add links to shops or selling websites (they will be deleted from the party)
  • Giveaways are always welcome.. Add your giveaways to Sew Crafty Angel's Pinterest Community Giveaway Board too.  
Adding your link to this blog hop gives Sew Crafty Angel permission to share your posts and pictures via social media and as features on Sew Crafty Angel And Co-Hosts.  Note- All features on Sew Crafty Angel And Co-Hosts will be linked back to the original source .Social media features are linked back to the linky party.

Sunday, February 8, 2015

The CLIMB Chain Linky


 Top crafty pick for January is:
 Alexandra from Funky Jungle


Awesome post. Love the bracelets! They are so pretty.

Alexandra


God’s Growing Garden
 photo 2toclimb_zps515fa21c.jpg
 
WELCOME!
It's the month long Networking Blog Hop 
Networking means helping each other grow!! 
If you want to promote a CLIMB link, then use #ChainLinkyCLIMB on Twitter or Google+ so that we can all help each other grow!
Here's how the Giveaway & Co-hosting works - the co-hosts from the previous month's CLIMB will have the opportunity to participate in a Giveaway during the next CLIMB - that gives co-hosts 2 months in a row of blog growing fun!!  (If you would like to co-host please sign up at the end of this post using the last "Linky")
________________________________________________ 
New starting this month - Highest CLIMBer Features!!
Each permanent host & cohost will feature their favorite link from the previous month CLIMB!
Cuddlebug Cuties
My Highest CLIMBer from January 2015 is:
________________________________________________ 

Also, our CLIMB GIVEAWAY!
Please enter below -one person will win:
- $20 Paypal cash from Sew Crafty Angel & from Cuddlebug Cuties 
- 1 Ad Space on A Peek Into My Paradise - $30 value
- 1 Monthly Ad Space on God's Growing Garden - $15 value
- A gorgeous Necklace with natural raw marble beachstone by ShorelineDesigned - $20 value


MARVELOUS MARBLE NECKLACE
 photo CindyFebruary2_zpsyioj9vr2.jpg

Marvelous Marble - Natural Raw Marble Beachstone from Lake Michigan, Black Waxed Cotton Cord, White Recycled Glass Krobo Bead Unisex Necklace
"Simple and elegant Stone. Glass. Fiber.  I have found and drilled this Lake Michigan raw black and white marble beachstone, hand drilled a 5 mm hole, hand strung it onto a quality waxed cotton cord and topped it with an ice-white recycled glass Krobo artisan bead.  This unisex necklace can be worn long as is - perhaps for layering with others, or you may snip and re-knot the cord to your liking.  As is, the necklace as tied will hang a long and leisurely 27 inches including the 2 inch glass and stone pendant."


by ShorelineDesigned

Total prize value is $85!!

CLIMB Giveaway Rules & Conditions:
- this is open worldwide (void where prohibited)
- You must be 18 years or older to enter 
- You MUST have a blog to win the Ad spaces (otherwise these will become a second place prizes)
- You must live in the lower 48 of the United States to win the Necklace (otherwise this will become  second place prizes)
- You MUST have a valid PayPal account to win the Paypal Cash (otherwise this will become a second place prizes)
- This Giveaway is open from January 31st, 2015 until February 28th, 2015
- Winner must respond to email within 48 hours or a different winner will be chosen
- Giveaway Hosts & Co-hosts can NOT enter this Giveaway!, however - FEBRUARY 2015 CLIMB blog hop co-hosts ARE allowed to enter this Giveaway (provided they are not also part of the Giveaway)
- correspondence is done through email and the winner's email addresses will only be used to deliver or set-up e-prizes.  Email addresses will NEVER be sold or shared.
- All prizes will be delivered by the contributing Bloggers/Shop Owners.
- if you have any questions or concerns about this Giveaway please email one of the hosts:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Now onto the CLIMB (blog hop):
We have changed it up a bit - instead of linking your homepage you may now link up to 4 of your family friendly blog posts per month!!

 
CLIMB by Angie Ouellette-Tower for godsgrowinggarden.com photo ClimbIntro_zps6919dad8.jpg


CLIMB by Angie Ouellette-Tower for godsgrowinggarden.com photo ClimbRules_zps77e9b7a4.jpg
By participating in this blog hop your understand that your link might be featured &/or promoted on our blogs & social media.  Also, by participating in this blog hop your email address will be added to our CLIMB list & you will be sent an email reminder next month. 

CLIMB by Angie Ouellette-Tower for godsgrowinggarden.com photo ClimbLink_zpsf527c076.jpg

Remember - If you co-host you will receive a free Weekly Sidebar Ad and your blog button will appear on both Angie's blog & Angel's blog!!

(The Ad will run live a few weeks after you have co-hosted)

CLIMB by Angie Ouellette-Tower for godsgrowinggarden.com photo ClimbCo-host_zpseca2ac09.jpg