Christmas from my phone

I'm dubbing this Christmas "the Paper Christmas". Almost all of my decorations are made out of paper. Paper chains & garlands happening everywhere. It's kind of like Elf. 

Last Saturday I literally rolled out of bed, made my way to the kitchen table & started crafting & pouring glitter everywhere.  I didn't stop until 6 pm when I was forced to shower for a date. 

 I made all the paper garlands, glitter reindeer silhouette, dipped pinecones, & cut out about 70 snowflakes w/ my new roommate. 

Oh, & the TV was never without a Christmas movie playing on it. 

Probably the best Saturday I've had in a long time. 

Do not fight the urge to craft when that urge comes-a-calling! Especially when it's about Christmas.

A CRAFT & A THOUGHT

// Craft night is becoming just as much about the food as it is the crafts.//

// My craft. lyrics from the popular fun. song. I'll probably be sick of it soon. //

Craft nights are so FUN. I mean for the food alone, it's well worth your time. And it doesn't really matter what your craft is. If you need to paint your nails or write a thank you note, that counts.

In other news I am feeling happy today. In general I'm a very happy person, but lately my days have been overshadowed by some sort of anxiety. Math tests, work, bills... just the regulars. This morning I woke up though and knew that all I can do is my best and leave the rest to the Man Upstairs. 

Have a great Wednesday!

SLOWLY BUT SURELY

We are filling these shelves up! I'd like to add something pink/coral to the mix next.

Caroling, caroling garland

I stumbled upon this little beauty of a DIY & made my own during craft night. I love how it turned out & it was the perfect addition above the lights. 

YAY for Christmas crafting, right? 

I have one more I'm working on, and then I'm cutting myself off. We are on the countdown now.

paper trees:
1. sew some pages together.
2. fold in half.
 3. cut in tree shape.
4. fluff.
I got my idea HERE.

Today was particularly long & stressful for me. Crafting, listening to music & reading Christmas stories by the tree were just what the doctor ordered to unwind.

Oh, & this dude shaking ping pong balls out of a box strapped to his backside helped too. (what are work Christmas parties for?)

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Mercury glass

During craft night with the girfs I finished these mercury glass mason jars. I'm going to stick in some white branches & put 'em up on a shelf.

I love them and now nothing is safe in my house from the mirror paint!







Honestly craft nights are the best. You eat lots of yummy snacks, make something awesome & chat around with a chick flick happening in the background.

It's not too much of an overshot to say I live for these nights!

DIY Campaign Style Side Tables.

I have been dreaming up the perfect solution for a coffee table in my living room. I should say, I've been dreaming up the perfect, most inexpensive solution. Then I saw this idea on LGN & am in love. It fits the bill! think I'm going to go with the classic white tables though.

 I already bought the brass corners on Amazon, so... I guess I'm committed!

in preparation...

So many halloween preparations at my house! We are actually having a witch party (tonight, woohoo), so the house is decked out to the max!! I will share some photos after the festivities so you can rejoice with me.

Here are a few things I've been working on:

Halloween garlands (I got the idea for the black bunting banner here)

 



The next two pictures are from our spoooky craft night, held at Brynn's new flower shop, Blooms & Co. You seriously need to get over there! Not only does she do amazing work with flowers, but she has tons of pretty decorations & jewelry. This is the place to get gifts for your girls this holiday season!

Lastly, I have really been working hard to get these taken care of. This is actually the second bag I've polished off so far. But I've been eating TONS of vegetables to counteract the sugar... no, no I haven't.

 

Bring it on, Halloween!

after school camp.

Pretty much I have never felt like I'm really good at one thing. (Besides being weird I guess. Honestly, I am told that I am weird every day of my life. I can't figure it out, because to me I'm totally normal...)

I am just okay at a bunch of little things. I always wanted to be a dancer, but lo, I am completely and utterly uncoordinated. If you were at BEHS cheer tryouts 2002 you know this to be a fact.

Anyway, to figure out my niche I've been doing something different every day. It's like after school camp! Or boy scouts!

Here is a sampling of this week's efforts :

Li'l birdie on a tea towel 

polka-dottie bag

 (complete with inside pocket, how do you like me now?)

the "do not judge me" painting

If you don't think you have many talents (it couldn't possibly just be me?), you should do something like this. None of my projects are that fantastic, but they're things I created and I know I can get better.

 I think it's important to feel like we can accomplish things. It is, gosh danget!

::: p i c n i c ::: p. I :::

a few of the ladies decided to have a BBQ.

dreams of hanging candles from trees, picnic blankets & colorful pillows filled this girl's mind.

mother nature, on the other hand, had other plans in store. 

after a mini-internal pity party, she decided what to do.

the boyfriend had a perfect room with tons of windows and practically zero furniture.

the indoor picnic was born!

homemade candles in lemons. so easy and super festive!

jars filled with shells and tealights 

   hard to see, but there's a picnic basket holding all the plates/utensils

 i have to admit, i love how it turned out.

it was fun to add a few details that transformed it into a real party.

thanks to the ladies that helped me set up at the last possible moment and @ the height of my stress. lifesavers!

i see many parties in my future.

someone declared this to be the "girliest BBQ" they've ever attended. 

mission accomplished!

bonjour and a proposition

HELLO!

pretty much i put all of my energy into surviving finals back in may, and when everything was over, i really didn't want to do anything for a while. but tonight i was thinking how much i have missed my little blurb on the interweb. but don't worry i have been keeping up with all of you, i love reading blogs.

basically, i am alive and glad to be here, and a few catch-up posts are definitely in order!

so i want to propose an idea to you(there is someone reading this right?) :

tell me if this is you.

"i love to craft."

"i have a lot of projects at once."

"hot dang, when will i get these done?"

i know i can't be alone in this. i've been stewing about this forever, and i have finally decided to go public. a regular craft night is in order! the idea would be just to bring your own projects and treats (what is a craft with out food? crap.), and we can hang out and get shiz done!

i am very loosy goosy with this and don't want it to be structured. just a fun time.

it would probably be 1-2 times a month, i haven't figured out a set night 100%.

**update: i told my friends cat & amy about this last week, and after much deliberation, we're going to do it on wednesdays, probably twice a month. the first one will be this coming wednesday(june 15th). also, i forgot to tell you that it is in slc. in case you didn't know where i lived. **

so, this is where i get brave: is there anyone out there that would want to do this with me? Even if we are not best friends, or i don't even know you (yet), this is the perfect opportunity for us to bond over hot glue and spray paint. seriously i think it would be so much fun!

if you want to come (and i really hope you do) email me at andreakjardine@gmail.com

hooray!

happy (sunny) weekend birds!

ps is there anybody reading this that i don't know about who has a blog? there is nothing better than finding new reading material (and online freinds)! let me know...

adventures in sewing: keeping it clean

for the past week, this is what my room has looked like.

sorry that i had to gross you out.

in leu of gettin' all creative on my day off, i desperately needed to clean. whilst i was, i realized i never posted pictures of my sewing projects for my room. how sad for you!

after i dilligently tidied up, i took some photos for your viewing pleasure.

this duvet cover was my first major sewing project. it took me a million hours and some cusses. but i love it now, and i dare say it was worth it!

i made these shams. i love the color grey, i think it's the supreme nuetral.

next came the curtains. easiest project and i love all the colors.

(the white has yellow swiss polka dots)

obviously i am not a photographer, sorry this is so dark!

up close action for you. i got this cute lamp @ DI and sprinted across the store when i spotted it. i'm in search for a new lampshade...

ok so these next two aren't sewing, but whatever.

where the magic happens. you know, this blog. i hope you like the edward card on my magnet board. t-boss got it for my birthday thinking it would be hilar. FYI i am a jacob fan. so i was pretty offended.

thrifted clothes that need to be altered, inspiration boards, bookshelf holding lots of random stuff. can you tell i need an accessory intervention?

well i guess that was just the grand tour for you. so lucky!

now i can actually relax in my room instead of have an anxiety attack.

hope you are enjoying this blessed sunshine!

adventures in sewing: a wreath & a sheet.

I usually have Wednesdays off and I always try to do something to satisfy my creative outlet. Here are the products from the last couple weeks!

Last week...

I couldn't stand this side table any longer! I made a cover for it out of another sheet I got at savers.

What do you think?

Don't mind that I am still trying to decide what to put on top! I need a lamp.

This week....

I made a wreath like this for my mom last Christmas and I just couldn't resist one for myself!

I've been having fun testing my craftiness and hopefully you've had fun reading about it!

EXTRA EXTRA: I also took advantage of Amy's creative outlet yesterday @ the MAC counter.

I loved it.

She will make you feel like a beauty queen!!

Happy Thursday birds!

this isn't much of a blog post, but I want to show you my little creation I made for Sarah's bridal shower. I actually love how it turned out! Just don't ask me how I hung it on the wall-let's just say it'll be staying there for a while:)

the lovely sarah-sad that this is the only proof of people at the shower I have

night night!