How To Print Screen...Adding A Computer Picture To Your Blog

A few blogging friends have emailed me asking how I capture a picture image of my computer screen and then get that image into a blog post. The answer is "Print Screen".

Print Screen is a button on your computer that allows you to capture the current image on your screen then save it to your computer. I use Windows, so it may be different for Mac or other computers, but check your computer manual.

Here is a screen print of my dashboard as an example. This feature helps me in my Blog Buddy (blogging tips) posts. I screen print the steps on how to do things with your blog. I think it's much easier to learn something new with images than with just words.

Tool Time Tuesday...Ideas For Shoe Organizers

I haven't had an organizing post in a little while, so I poked around the house for something I haven't shared yet...so today it's shoe organizers!! We do use them for shoes, but we also use them for other things too. This is a short post of a few ideas that might be helpful in your home.

Here's one of two over the door hanging shoe organizers in Kelsie's room. Most all her shoes are with her at school, so I played around with some ideas to inspire you.

Shoes of course...

How about scarves, gloves, mittens, hats, belts and other accessories.

One pocket for each skein of yarn. Keeps it clean, organized and easy to see.

Toy holder...stuffed animals, barbie dolls, games

This is a small narrow closet in the girls' bathroom.

Holds all the essentials...easy to see when you are running out and need more soap, lotion, toothpaste, floss etc.

I actually cut this in half. The other side is hanging in Courtney's closet. She has a mirror on the inside of her door and this bag fits perfectly without covering the mirror. When you cut it the length of the bag, make sure you keep the seam for each pocket intact.

You could also hang this on the back of your kitchen pantry door. Keep all those small things from getting lost with the cans.

This clear over the door hanger is on the back of my husband's office door. Holds all the over flow office supplies.

These are the shoe bags that hang from the rod in your closet.

Nice and deep front to back.

Ahhh...fabric!!!

Charm packs, fat quarters and yardage all in one place!!

There are so many other things you can store in shoe organizers...

• cleaners
• medicine...as long as they are locked and out of reach from children. Great for child free homes
• canning jars filled with craft supplies (buttons, beads). Each jar fits in the pockets
• children's snack bars and treats
• socks, nylons, pantyhose, tights
• bra organizer...keeps them from getting crushed your drawer
• dog supplies...toys, stuffed animals, bones, treat, leashes, collars, brushes
• hair accessories...head bands, clips, bows, brushes, curling irons, straighteners etc

The list is endless what you can store in these bags. They are neat, tidy and out of sight behind the door.

Go through your home and see what you can gathered up and stored in one place. "Like" things stored together keeps things organized and easy to find...which equals less stress!!

Happy organizing,
~Karen~

Need Your Sewing Machine Opinion...

For those of us who sew, you know your sewing machine is like a member of the family and an expensive one at that. Some of us have a hand me down machine from our moms or grandmothers and some of us have invested in a new one. No matter where our machines come from, we all have our favorite brand, favorite model, favorite feature or accessories...and with that, this is where you come into the picture.

Rebecca, from the blog Trial, Error and Triumph, emailed me asking what type of embroidery machine I had. She is looking to invest in a new machine, has done all the research online, but (like all of us) is overwhelmed by all the info.

What better way to get true, honest opinions about sewing and embroidery machines...than to go right to the blogging world.

She would like to do monogramming and appliques to make gifts for family, friends. She also wants to make beautiful things for her Etsy Shop.

I would love it if you could share your opinion about the machine you have. Keep in mind Rebecca's goal is embroidery...monogramming and applique.

• what brand
• what model
• approximate cost (if you're willing to share)
• features you like
• accessories it has that you love
• ease of use

I think this may help so many other people out there too. There's nothing better than a "blogging friend" telling you things she loves. So let's hear from all of you out there!!

Thanks in advance for all your help,
~Karen~

Don't forget to visit Rebecca and follow her new blog too..cute, cute. Click here to pop over there

Sew Darn Crafty Party...Week 51

Hope everyone had  fun looking through all the wonderful projects in last week's Sew Darn Crafty Party. Thanks to all who linked up and thanks to all who came by for a visit.

Sharing thoughts and ideas is the theme for crafty linking parties, but with Valentine's Day just around the corner let's see what we can share with the color red, hearts or love theme.

You can still link up anything you'd like, but if you have an old post from a previous Valentine's Day project you can share that too.

If you want to add the button to your blog...Click HERE for a tutorial for adding a button


If you're NEW to Sew Darn Crafty, then grab a cup of something tasty, sit back and join in on the fun (starts Sunday and lasts all week long at Sew Many Ways).

WHAT IS SEW DARN CRAFTY...

• "Sew" for anything to do with sewing,
• "Darn" for anything to do with knitting. I always think of darning to do with knitting, but in my case "darn" is similar to the word I say when I mess up crafting!!
• Let's not forget the word "crafty"...which is every thing we create
• ...the dot, dot, dot means you can share just about anything!! 

WHAT IS A LINKING PARTY...

So now we all know what Sew Darn Crafty means, let's explain a linking party again. I subscribe to a linking service, which provides the ability to link thumbnail pictures on my blog. The picture is a link that other bloggers provide to share their projects.

Two things can happen at a linking party...looking and/or linking

• you can be greatly inspired by wonderful projects, ideas or vacation pictures (looking) and/or
• you can share what you've been up to (linking)

If you want to be inspired by all the great ideas...just click on a picture and it will take you to that post from a wonderful blogger willing to share her thoughts and ideas.


HOW AND WHAT TO LINK TO THE PARTY...

Sew Darn Crafty is all about YOU!! Show off your projects, share a tutorial, show us your vacation pictures, share a family favorite recipe...share anything. Not only does linking inspire us all, it also brings lots of new people to your blog for a visit. Click here for past parties and lots of inspiration

Easy steps to join in on the fun...

• link up to the specific project post, not your whole blog. Makes it easier to link right to that post and not  search through all your entire blog. To find the http address to a specific post, just click on the Title of your post.
• link as many projects as you'd like...old or new
• anything goes...cooking, sewing, knitting, crafts, organizing, remodeling projects, vacations, parties etc...
• visit other links to share some blogging love! You know we all love comments!
• grab a Sew Darn Crafty button for your blog (on my right side bar) or just link to the party in your post.
• the more we share, the more people will join and then there's more inspiration to look at!
• linking is open til Saturday night, so plenty of time to join in
• just click the "click here to enter" button and follow the easy steps

Have fun linking up! Don't forget to come back and take a look at all the great projects during the week
~Karen~

Blog Buddy...How To Add Your Follow Me Pinterest Button

I've had lots of requests on how to add a "Follow Me on Pinterest" button to the sidebar of your blog. If you're new to Pinterest...it's fabulous! It's a virtual pin board where you "pin" all your favorite things you find on the Internet to your own boards. It's like having a cork board for all different categories, right there in your own account!

If you want to see what Pinterest looks like...Click HERE to visit my Pinterest boards. I add new things to it all the time.

If you already have a Pinterest account and want to add the "Follow Me" button to your blog...here are the quick steps.

Thoughts on Thursday...

Our kids introduced us to a (new to me) tv show about a month ago..."The Big Bang Theory". A comedy about nerdy science guys. I love it, so funny.

What's your favorite tv show?

Happy Thursday,
~Karen~