Job Survival Kit

Our business venture Aunt Peg's Jewelry has created a new sister company called Joyful Creations!
We have partnered with 3 amazing women to begin this exciting chapter in our lives.
These 3 women, Joy, Ludean and Linda are currently working together in a professional capacity, but the goal for Joyful Creations is to grow large enough for them to leave their positions and focus on jewelry full time.

JOY, LINDA, & LUDEAN-wicked crazy, and so much fun!

Their excitement and enthusiasm for this project is making it so hard to stay focused in their current jobs that I decided to make them a small "JOB SURVIVAL KIT" to add a bit of humor and encouragement for the upcoming months...

I thought I would show you what I made for this...

I love this quote. Each time they might look at it I'm hoping to help them remember to keep their eyes on the horizon, for our goals are attainable, with some patience and a lot of hard work. 

A girl always needs some water to refresh herself, and the cute terra cotta coasters I made has a fabulous image of 3 old ladies "pole dancing"!

These are hand sanitizer bottles, with a fabulous insert that you personalize yourself. Here is the link to this great tutorial!  The Idea Room

Everyone needs a snack. Every day. Maybe all the time...

Best mustard dip you will ever find!

You can find the recipe here:  Sweet Mustard Dip/Sauce

Keeping your hands clean after snacking requires funny napkins!

A small way to cope instead of snap when your crazy supervisor stops by with some inane remark...lol

I made a fun calendar stand that I personalized  just for them with some inside joke images to keep them smiling...they loved them!

Here is the link to the awesome tutorial and free download calendar pages from Very Merry Vintage.

Well these are the items I gathered together for my friends...I hope it's working! 

My Valentine Decor

When I moved into my new home 11 months ago, I found a small wall space near my front door that I thought would be the perfect place to decorate for seasonal or holiday celebrations.  Well now I know that I sorely lack decorating talent!  My attempts at making this space fun and festive have turned out to be boring and sparse!
NEW GOAL FOR 2011-get some decorating inspiration and know-how!
(Oh, really my list of self-improvement needs is turning into a novel!)
Here are a few shots of my current Valentine inspired table.  Rather boring...

My coffee filter wreath
You can find the tutorial on how to make this here:
http://sistersallys.blogspot.com/2011/01/coffee-filter-wreath-for-valentines.html

Have I mentioned my addiction to Hershey Kisses? My most favorite candy ever!

That is a picture of my husband and I taken about 100 (really 12) years ago.

You can find the instructions on making this cute frame here:
http://sistersallys.blogspot.com/2011/01/youve-framed-my-heart.html

This is is a piece of ribbon wrapped around the lamp shade and secured with a brooch I've had forever.

It really is a bit of a snooze fest isn't it...

I'm going to improve greatly for St. Patrick's Day! 

Green here I come!

A Coffee Filter Wreath for Valentines!

I know that everyone have (or should that be has) seen these coffee filter wreaths all over blogland, me included, (where do you think I got the idea?) LOL.
I saw this idea back in October at PENNY PARLOR, and fell in love.  I couldn't wait to make one!  As usual, time got away from me and I didn't have a moment to get one created...until now!
I like how this turned out and I love the red accent, the ruffles seem so romantic for this lover's holiday.

What's your take?

I picked the x-large photo option cause I'm vain...

This wreath is simple.  

Super simple.  

Even I can make one and have it turn out decent

(please do not notice that my wreath is egg shaped-

that would be rude).

Here's how you do it.

Buy any kind of wreath-Dollar Tree for this one...

Purchase a package of basket coffee filters-Dollar Tree for these...

Take each filter individually, and fold it in half, then in half again, and once more in half.

Fold the pointed end up.

To make the edges of my "ruffles" red, I simply took a sharpie marker and colored the edges of the filter bundles before separating them.

Then it's just a matter of using your hot glue gun to attach the filters!  

It did take me a few filters to really get the hang of it, but I found putting the glue along the folded edge at the bottom of the filter and then just pressing it to the wreath worked well. No kidding.  Easy.  3 sticks of glue.

I do think it might be easier if you use a smooth wreath form such as  a styro one, but I say work with  

what you've got!  If I had wrapped the wreath with some ribbon or even duct tape it might have gone more

quickly, but I'm not sure it would be worth the effort.  Yep, I'm lazy.

Then just tie some ribbon around it to hang from (from Dollar Tree) and it's done!

THIS WREATH COST ME $3.00! 

I should win an award for thrifty.

I'm so proud...

11 Step Program For Those Thinking About Having Children

For those of you who haven't yet made the crazy choice to have children, this is a great guideline for you.

11 Lessons that you can expect to learn in the years to come.  For all of you that have wee ones, you will love this!

My 2 kids, Chelsey (now 25) and Chase (now 26)
This photo was taken 2011

Lesson 1

1. Go to the grocery store.

2. Arrange to have your salary paid directly to their head office.

3. Go home.

4. Pick up the paper.

5. Read it for the last time.

Lesson 2

Before you finally go ahead and have children, find a couple who already are parents and berate them about their...

1. Methods of discipline.

2. Lack of patience.

3. Appallingly low tolerance levels.

4. Allowing their children to run wild.

5. Suggest ways in which they might improve their child's breastfeeding, sleep habits, toilet training, table manners, and overall behavior.

Enjoy it because it will be the last time in your life you will have all the answers.

Lesson 3

A really good way to discover how the nights might feel...

1. Get home from work and immediately begin walking around the living room from 5PM to 10PM carrying a wet bag weighing approximately 8-12 pounds, with a radio turned to static (or some other obnoxious sound) playing loudly. (Eat cold food with one hand for dinner)

2. At 10PM, put the bag gently down, set the alarm for midnight, and go to sleep.

3. Get up at 12 and walk around the living room again, with the bag, until 1AM.

4. Set the alarm for 3AM.

5. As you can't get back to sleep, get up at 2AM and make a drink and watch an infomercial.

6. Go to bed at 2:45AM.

7. Get up at 3AM when the alarm goes off.

8. Sing songs quietly in the dark until 4AM.

9. Get up. Make breakfast. Get ready for work and go to work (work hard and be productive)

Repeat steps 1-9 each night. Keep this up for 3-5 years. Look cheerful and pulled together.

Lesson 4

Can you stand the mess children make? T o find out...

1. Smear peanut butter onto the sofa and jam onto the curtains.

2. Hide a piece of raw chicken behind the stereo and leave it there all summer.

3. Stick your fingers in the flower bed.

4. Then rub them on the clean walls.

5. Take your favorite book, photo album, etc. Wreck it.

6. Spill milk on your new pillows. Cover the stains with crayons. How does that look?

Lesson 5

Dressing small children is not as easy as it seems.

1. Buy an octopus and a small bag made out of loose mesh.

2. Attempt to put the octopus into the bag so that none of the arms hang out.

Time allowed for this - all morning.

Lesson 6

Forget the BMW and buy a mini-van. And don't think that you can leave it out in the driveway spotless and shining. Family cars don't look like that.

1. Buy a chocolate ice cream cone and put it in the glove compartment.

Leave it there.

2. Get a dime. Stick it in the CD player.

3. Take a family size package of chocolate cookies. Mash them into the back seat. Sprinkle cheerios all over the floor, then smash them with your foot.

4. Run a garden rake along both sides of the car.

Lesson 7

Go to the local grocery store. Take with you the closest thing you can find to a pre-school child. (A full-grown goat is an excellent choice). If you intend to have more than one child, then definitely take more than one goat. Buy your week's groceries without letting the goats out of your sight. Pay for everything the goat eats or destroys. Until you can easily accomplish this, do not even contemplate having children.

Lesson 8

1. Hollow out a melon.

2. Make a small hole in the side.

3. Suspend it from the ceiling and swing it from side to side.

4. Now get a bowl of soggy Cheerios and attempt to spoon them into the swaying melon by pretending to be an airplane.

5. Continue until half the Cheerios are gone.

6. Tip half into your lap. The other half, just throw up in the air.

You are now ready to feed a nine- month-old baby.

Lesson 9

Learn the names of every character from Sesame Street, Barney, Disney, the Teletubbies, and Pokemon. Watch nothing else on TV but PBS, the Disney channel or Noggin for at least five years. (I know, you're thinking What's 'Noggin'?) Exactly the point.

Lesson 10

Make a recording of Fran Drescher saying 'mommy' repeatedly. (Important: no more than a four-second delay between each 'mommy'; occasional crescendo to the level of a supersonic jet is required). Play this tape in your car everywhere you go for the next four years. You are now ready to take a long trip with a toddler.

Lesson 11

Start talking to an adult of your choice. Have someone else continually tug on your skirt hem, shirt, or elbow while playing the 'mommy' tape made from Lesson 10 above. 
You are now ready to have a conversation with an adult while there is a child in the room.

This is all very tongue in cheek; anyone who is a parent will say 

'it's all worth it!'  

Remember, a sense of humor is one of the most important things you'll need when you become a parent!

Source:  Amy Lawrence  Thanks Amy!

Sport's mom's need custom sport charms!

This fabulous customized sports charm is being offered for all the mom's, grandmother's, aunts, and girlfriends!

YOU MUST CHECK THESE OUT!

They customize the charm with your child's jersey #, team color, and first name initial!

AND HOLY CRAP, THEY ARE ONLY $9.50!

NO KIDDING!

Spread the word, and hop on over to get one:

Pride and Joy Charms

Pride and Joy Charms

You've Framed My Heart!

I LOVE SIMPLE CRAFTS, AND THIS IS ONE OF THEM!

This was a super fun craft for me to create!

I purchased an unfinished wood frame from a local wood working company, quickly painted it black with craft acrylic paint, and drilled a small hole through the top.  

Using a little craft wire I simply made a small loop that I placed through the drilled hole, and then made a simple loop knot on the top of the frame with the wire to keep it from slipping back through.

  I hung my gorgeous heart ornament (I purchased it at Hobby Lobby) on the loop inside the frame, and then by tying some ribbon to the loop on top of the frame, everything came together perfectly!

 The cute words are simple vinyl lettering...imagine all the fun things your saying could be!

Try making these. Unbelievably easy, and use your creative imagination to make these for every holiday!

~Amber

We love linky parties, and we have linked up here:

 This valentine frame was chosen to be featured here:

Check out the other awesome things featured.

http://somedaycrafts.blogspot.com/2011/01/framed-hanging-heart.html