Blog Swappin' with " The Creative Crate"

I am so excited to have Stacie guest blogging over here today. I've been a huge fan ever since she started! Thanks Stacie!

Well Helloooo Miss Crafty Pants Fans!!!!!

I'm Stacie...the CraZy one behind The CrEaTiVe CraTe...and I am SuPer Excited to be bloggin' over here on Erika's AweSoMe blog today! {Which by the way...I LoVe!}

A little about me:

I am a SAHM with 4 awesome kiddos...and a wife to one awesome...and very PATIENT hubs :)

• How long have you been married? 11 awesome years...man...time flies.

• Kids ages? 9,7,4,2

• Where did you grow up? I was born in SLC, but I grew up in Pocatello, Idaho

• Where do you currently reside? In SW Idaho!

• Religion? LDS

• Favorite Colors? I LoVe brown. brown & pink, brown & blue, brown and orange...ok...brown and anything.

• Favorite Food? I have always had a LoVe for Pizza... and anything Chocolate!

• How long has your blog been established? Since March of 2009!

• Fears? Spiders, Snakes, Falling.

• Favorite Blog/s and why? There are a TON in blogland...but if I must choose here are a few...

Ucreate-because Kari does all the hard work in finding awesome DIY projects!

Make It and Love It- I don't know how Ashley does it...but she is always coming up with FuN & CuTe sewing projects! {now...if I could only sew}

The Idea Room- Amy has a ALL-ROUND FuN blog with ToNs of great ideas.

• Naughty Little Secret? I do HATE with a passion...to clean Bathrooms. Especially when you have little boys. :)

• No Crafter is perfect...what gives or is neglected? Well...I'm not going to lie...but when I am in the middle of a project...I have a tendency to get in the ZoNe...where I forget to do everything else like getting the kiddos dressed... making lunch {unless they remind me} :) ... shower. :)

• Hobbies? LoVe crafting of course...camping with my Family...4-wheeling...traveling...clogging...blogging, going to thrift stores, checking out yard sales.

• Something you wish you could do better? Speak in public without getting so nervous...Cake Decorating & Photography.

• Favorite tutorial on your blog? Hmmm...probably... My $3 Frame Makeover.
  

• Which crafting skills do you lack? Definitely...Sewing.

• Do you sell your crafts? No...but i have been seriously thinking about it.

OK..OK...enough about me...on to the tutorial:

~DIY Painted Canvas Art~

First...I started off with a 16x24 canvas ...that I painted white...

Then...used my Cricut...and cut out the words that I wanted to stencil on the canvas...
Then...laid the letters on the canvas to decide where I wanted them...and marked lightly with a pencil...

Then used the stencil part of the cutouts...and taped the middles of the letters to the stencil so that my letters have middles...{hope that made sense?}

Then...line your stencils up to your markings you made...and start stenciling.
TIP: I placed a few books under my canvas to give the canvas a flat, hard surface to make it easier to stencil on.

Then fill in your tape marks from the letter middles...

Then...I wiped stain on the edges of the canvas with a rag {I use Minwax ...dark walnut stain}...

And there you have it!!! Very simple...and FuN!

Erika...thanks so much for letting me take over your AweSoMe blog today!!

HAVE A GREAT DAY EVERYONE!!

Guest Blogger: Crystal's Craft Spot!!

Today's guest blog is Crystal from Crystal's Craft Spot. Hop on by her blog for TONS of craft inspiration!!! Thanks for swappin!

Hi everyone! I am Crystal from Crystal's Craft Spot. I am so excited to be swapping blogs with Erika today. Doesn't she have the cutest projects and I love her digital scrapbooking products (I use them often).


Here's a little about me! I am a stay at home mom of two little girls and the wife to a very sweet and adorable guy. I stay busy chasing around the kids, cleaning, cooking and all of that other fun stuff. I also teach my daughter preschool at home. (you can find our preschool blog here). Crafting is my way to relax and take a break from everything else I should be doing. I love to do anything crafty and I am always excited to try something new. I love craft blogs and am constantly inspired by so many. If you have any projects or a blog please share them with me I would see them and possibly feature them. (If I follow your blog or leave a comment I show up as the Harris Family) I try to post daily and include a ton of tutorials so please stop by any time.
Erika had some fun questions she asked so here you go:

-How long have you been married? 5 1/2 years

-Kids ages? Aubrey 4 and Olivia (Livy) Almost 2

-Where did you grow up? central Washington and currently live in Utah

-Religion? LDS

-Favorite Colors? Red-I add it everywhere. But I love brown and pink for anything I make for my girls

-Favorite Food? Pizza & Reece's

-How long has your blog been established? I started in July of 2009 but really started posting a ton in September
-A few things we don't know about you-I was a cheerleader in high school (did I mention I hate being in front of people, I'm pretty shy), I am the oldest of 6 and would love to have 6 kids, I am terrified of traffic and would love to live in a tiny town in the middle of no where. I am allergic to most fresh fruits and vegetables. Oh and I love LOST.
-Something you wish you could do better & What crafting skills do you lack? organizing (and cleaning), exercising, photography, I'd like to learn how to sew a little better, I really want to start cutting my own wood and even build my own furniture (husbands not going for it)
-How would you explain your crafting style? I really like a variety-I get bored if a project takes too long or if I feel like I am doing the same thing over and over again. I often make things based on our current needs either for our home, a holiday, my girls, or anything else that comes up
-Favorite tutorial on your blog? probably my wall art. I love how it turned out.
Okay enough about me lets get on to the tutorial. I love decorating for holidays but even more I love when I can save time (and supplies) and use something for several holidays. That's where this project comes in. I saw this adorable branch in a Creating Keepsakes magazine and knew we needed one. I know Valentine's is just in a few days but wouldn't it be cute to switch out the hearts for shamrocks for St. Patrick's day, or decorated eggs for Easter, leafs for Thanksgiving-I think you get the point. This is so easy and fun-My four year old helped me and had a great time.


Here's what you need:
a branch-I found a few on the ground
white spray paint (optional but looks cute)
a vase (or something to put your branch in)
filling (we used Easter grass)
double sided pattern paper and colored paper
ribbon
glue dots
Start by spray painting your branch and letting it dry.

Add a little grass to the bottom of your vase. Add your branch and push grass in a little at a time to fill in any empty space (we used a pencil to push it down and in place) Cut out large hearts in various sizes from your double sided paper (you can use regular pattern paper but this was just easier if people are going to see the back). Hole punch and tie cute ribbon on to make a loop. Hang on your branch. cut out some tiny hearts on colored paper (I set my Cricut to 1 inch)

optional-Have your little one tell you some people she love and write one on each heart. Attach to your branch with glue dots.
Cut out various size of flowers-fold the petals upward to give them a dimensional look. Attach to your branch with glue dots. Add ribbon to your vase and your finished. A beautiful decoration for Valentine's that can easily be changed all year.

Come visit my blog anytime. Thanks Erika for letting me stop by today. I had so much fun!

We LOVE Sumo's Sweet Stuff!

With a new blog comes a new feature. We will be occasionally having a guest blogger join us here at Miss Crafty Pants. I am so excited to announce that Sumo will be our first ever guest!



Hello fellow crafty pants!

I'm Summer, or Sumo as my husband lovingly calls me. (And now consequently has all of my family calling me. Doesn't Aunt Sumo have a nice ring to it?)

I'm the blogger from Sumo's Sweet Stuff!

I use my blog to share my projects, tutorials, recipes, host giveaways, and shamelessly promote my etsy shop!

I AM:
- married to my best friend

- mother to the most beautiful little girl (and a baby girl on the way!)
- daughter and sister to the best family ever
- friend to some of the greatest people out there

I LOVE TO:
- play piano
- sing

- read
- craft
- go on walks

- spend time with my family
- drink Diet Coke
- bake/cook
- exercise (well, sometimes)
- crochet

SOME OF MY FAVORITE THINGS:
- Diet Coke
- popcorn
- chips and salsa
- anything that involves peanut butter and chocolate
- public library
- fall
- craft stores
- black and green
- Christmas
- historical fiction
- cats

Erika and I decided to share a tutorial with each other's readers today, so you are so lucky to get my easy sewing project. I just barely got a sewing machine for Christmas!

This was my second sewing project, which I did all by myself, and I am so happy with how it turned out! It was a gift for a baby shower. Reece (my daughter) had a tag blanket that my mom made, and she just loved sucking on and feeling the different ribbon sizes and textures. I think it's a fun idea, and thought I'd try my hand at it!

What you need:

- fabric (I used two different patterns and I used flannel)

- ribbon - all sizes and textures

I wanted the tag blanket to be about 15"x15", so I measured and pinned 15 1/2" x 15 1/2" on my fabric.

Cut it out.

Do this for both fabrics.

Cut your ribbon to the lengths that you want them. You will be looping them over.

On the right side of one of your fabric squares, pin as many ribbons as you would like. I didn't measure these. Living on the edge!

Sew along the edge a 1/4" hem. The ribbon can slide easily so be careful!

Do this all the way around your square of fabric.

Pin on the other square of fabric, having the right sides facing together and facing in.

Sew around the edges as 1/4" hem. Be careful to tuck your loops out of the way so that they don't get caught in the hem.

On the last edge leave a space to pull your fabric through.

Cut your corners, being careful not to cut your stitches.

Pull your fabric through, and pull your corners out. I ironed mine to get the hem all the way pulled out so that it wasn't folding in towards the center. (That made sense, right?)

Blind stitch your hole closed.

Finished! I think it turned out pretty cute!

I love making new blogging friends, so come on over to Sumo's Sweet Stuff! You can find something different each day:

- Market Yourself Monday: I share my latest projects and invite you to link up yours!

- Tutorial Tuesday

- Mouth-Watering Wednesday

- Things to Try Thursday

- Feature Friday

Thanks to Erika for letting me swap blogs with her! I've just loved getting to know her a little bit better and think she's pretty great!

Have a good weekend!

Blog Swap/Feature Friday

1. Answer as many questions from the ABOUT ME section as you'd like. But don't feel like you have to answer them all! (We've love to see a picture of you or your blog logo, so we can get familiar with you!)

2. Post a new tutorial of your choice to share on my blog.

3. If you own any shops feel free to put in a little plug for your business

4. Copy your HTML code, and email it to me no later then Thursday night.
senderikaaletter (at) hotmail (dot) com.

5. Be sure to take a button of your choice saying you've been featured

6. I will host a giveaway for any of your followers who follow my blog. If you'd like to do the same, let me know.

7. You also have a chance to win a free CUSTOM digital scrapbooking kit personalized to fit your taste and colors. If you can get at least 50 of your followers to follow my blog, you will earn a free 4 page, 6 elements kit. For every 10 followers {after the 50} earn an additional paper or element to add to your kit! Your followers will need to notify me in the comment section that they are now followers of your blog and my blog {just so I can keep count of how many items you earn}.