Rise's Hutch decorated for Valentine's Day!

Trying To Stay 0rganized!

I am a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants type of girl! I don't really do things the same way from day to day. Infact, (this will seem really freaky to all you organized people out there), I actually feel stress if I am under too tight of a schedule! To me it feels so confining, and doesn't allow the artist in me to "do it when the inspiration comes". I'm all about inspiration. However, having said all of that, I fully realize that I am not being as effective in my life as I could be if I had more discipline, made more lists, tried harder to have some form of order in my life. So, I am giving it a try. I purchased a daily planner in December when I was Christmas shopping with my friend, Rebecca. We were in Barnes and Noble and saw this beautiful planner! I said to Rebecca, "Let's buy eachother one!".The pictures don't really do it justice. (Especially because I took them!) The planner looks as if it has been scrapped with beautiful vintage wall papers, music sheets, and old buttons. It also has a bird theme, which makes anything beautiful in my book! The pages to write on look like lined school paper, with circular dates that resemble old typewriter keys! It is just fabulous. This work of art inspired me to actually write in it. I have also been chopping up my magazines and adding little pictures of things I like.Imagine the cuteness that can be added with images from all of the differnet holidays! Making this an "artsy" thing is helping me take the plunge into getting organized! I love to look at it, and I am filling in the days with all of my "to-dos" and I do think it is helping me to get more things accomplished each day! I hope this idea inspires someone, and if it does...please let me know how. It may be that cutting up magazines will help you too! Luv, Kristin
P.S. The planner is called "In Tune With Nature" and is done by Jean Lowe and Greg Johnson. http://www.andrewsmcmeel.com/

Snap a picture of your Valentines Decorations and email it to me to win this!

There is still time to play my Valentine's Day Blog Challenge!

See 2 posts down for details....get your photo in to me at kristinseling@cox.net, and I will post it to my blog and send you a sweet, handmade-by-me, valentine ornament! Free stuff people! I am allowing five winners, the first five to email me a picture! Above is a photo of the ornament I will send you, and my own picture I took of my hutch all decked out for Valentine's Day. I went around collecting red and pink things and displayed them all together.Try to think of things in a new way....you probably have lots of things that would look adorable together but you just never thought of it that way. Glass will match too! Search high an low, can't wait to see what you come up with! It was really fun! Hope you have fun too! Go to it right now and email your photo to me!

I Have Received Something Wonderful......

I received my package in the mail from my swap partner, Karen, and it was a good one! Swaps are too fun....they really add a spark to life! To be waiting for something to arrive in the mail is fun, and it is even better when you know it is going to be something creative and beautiful! Karen scrapped two heart shaped candy boxes for me and filled them with crafting goodies. Vintage red pom pom trim, old buttons, a glittered "K" for Kristin, some scrapped tags to decorate, red lace, heart charms....red, pink, and white goodness! I will have so much fun creating with the new supplies she sent. We are planning some more private swaps for the future. Thanks Karen!

Blog Challenge! Share Your Valentine's Day Decorations....

The first pictures for the challenge are in and posted here! They came from Eunice of The Little Things. She has been creating beautiful one of a kind treasures for seventeen years! Please visit her etsy shop here.

I have a challenge for everyone.....please decorate an area of your home for Valentine's Day, take a picture, email it to me for my blog, and I will post it and send you a Valentine ornament for participating. This offer is good for the 1st 5 people to respond, and since my blog is new, that means that I doubt anyone will be left out. Some ideas, gather all your red and pink and white items laying around the house and display them together on a table top. Don't forget old books, vintage toys, china, rolling pins, chocolate molds, candy in jars, old bowls. Please send your snail mail addy when you email or comment so I can send out your ornament! Thank you for participating...I love Valentine's Day and wanted to do something fun to celebrate on my blog. Can't wait to see your pictures!

Artsy Mama's "For the Love of Supplies" Swap

I joined a swap with 100 ladies recently and have been working to get ready to send the box I made to my swap partner, Karen, in Utah. The directions were to take an empty chocolate box and fill it with 20 small paper candy cups filled with crafting supplies. It is a definite toss up for me which is yummier.....a box of chocolates or a box of colorful crafting supplies! Unless we are talking about See's Candy (nuts and chews of course), then the scales would have to tip slightly to the chocolate! I doctored the box up with scrapbook paper, crepe paper, a bingo card, an old valentine image, glitter, and vintage buttons. It was so much fun pulling everything together to fill the inside! Please let me know if anyone knows of another upcoming swap I can join, this is addicting, in a good way!

Getting Ready for Valentine's Day!

I love everything about Valentine's Day! I think I get as excited about this holiday as I do about Christmas. For one thing, I love the colors! Red of course, which everyone knows I absolutely cannot get enough of (as proven in every room in my house). I also love all different shades of pink (don't all girls?). Throw in some white, and maybe a little black or brown....and it is such a wonderful palette to work with. I could sit all day (literally) with a big spread before me of paper, doilies, old valentine images, buttons,etc...just creating. (Which is great for my kids too!) Besides the wonderful colors, there are so many other things to look forward to. Baking (with lots of different Valentine-y sprinkles and cupcake picks!), decorating the house, filling out Valentine's with my kids, wrapping something pretty for my Mom, and a fabulous date with my husband are in order too! I am getting excited and I feel a list coming on!
Another super important thing I love about Valentine's Day is the opportunity to use it to teach my kids about loving others. As most kids do, my children (there are 4) fight quite a bit. But we can use this time to reinforce loving one another! Bringing cookies and chocolate dipped strawberries to neighbors with the kids is a great way to do this. This year I would like to start taking them into nursing homes to visit the elderly too. My youngest is old enough now to make it through a trip like that (without needing a diaper change, etc.). Best of all, Valentine's Day reminds all of us of God's love for us. He loved us so much He sent His son Jesus to die for us, and He is the one that enables us to love each other!

Happy, Happy New Year!

I said goodbye to our two Christmas trees today....so sad! But a new year is here...and that always brings excitement. What's on my mind? A healthier me in 2008. Physically, spirtually, and emotionally. My plan? Read my Bible, read my Bible, read my Bible. Go out and walk and then walk some more.Eat in a more healthy way. Love on my husband, kids, and friends. All of this can only be accomplished by the grace of God ofcourse. Pray for me, I really want some change in my life! Happy New Year everyone! Love, Kristin