Tool Time Tuesday...Recycled Ornament Storage

Happy Tuesday! I had different post written for today, but this past weekend I noticed today's date...September 25th. I know you thought I was crazy on Friday for having the "Pre-Holiday Planning post (click HERE to read that), so I thought I would stick to the theme because it's the 25th today...3 months to Christmas!! So here's another Pre Holiday Planning tip.

Sharing this recycling tip now will give you plenty of time to start saving this great recycled item!!

Does this look familiar?

How To Make A Blog Header...Picture Tutorial

I want to start by saying...I am a self taught blogger. There have been many trials and many errors over the years changing things around on this blog. More errors than I can count, but you can't learn unless you try.

It all started when I wanted to make one little change to my blog header. I wanted to change the font of the subtitle. In the template, you can change everything but that and it's off to the left and I wanted it centered...blah, blah, blah.

My quest began...

Sew Darn Crafty...Week 84

Hi Everyone! Hope you had a great week last week and another great one coming up. Sunday seems to be the "start" to my week here at Sew Many Ways and I love that I begin it with all of you. Sew Darn Crafty is so much fun and I love to see what you've been up to.

So let's get going and see what goodies you all have to share. I have another linking party going too, from yesterday. Join in the Souper Douper Party...click HERE. If you haven't seen it yet, it's ALL great soup recipes! Perfect for the weather coming up.

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If you want to add the button to your blog's side bar or your list of parties that you're in each week...Click HERE for a tutorial for adding a button

WHAT IS A LINKING PARTY...

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 who was 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. Copy and paste the address that's at the top of your computer into the linky steps.
• 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!
• linking is open til Saturday night, so plenty of time to join in
• just click the blue "click here to enter" button which is at the very END...below all the other picture links that everyone has shared. Click 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~

Souper Douper Linking Party...Soups On!!

Welcome to the 1st Annual Souper Douper Party...the place to find that perfect soup recipe.

Come on in and join the fun!!

To view any recipe...

• Just click on one of the picture links and you'll be directed to a wonderful blogger who is sharing a great recipe!!

To add a link to your recipe blog post...

• first click the blue "Click here to enter" at the bottom of this post, after all the other entries.
• fill in required steps
• To find the http address to a specific post, just click on the "Title" of your soup post. That way we'll go to that specific blog post for your soup recipe and not search your whole blog for it. Copy and paste the http address that's at the top of your computer into the linky steps

That's it...easy peasy!

Thanks so much for joining in this Souper Party. Couldn't do it without you!

Take care,

~Karen~

Tips For Pre Holiday Planning...

I know what you're thinking..."Karen is nuts!" Most times yes, but today I just wanted to share a few pre-holiday planning tips with you that I do each year. There are lots of different holidays coming in the next few months and if you're like me, I can procrastinate on some things and then I'm running around like a mad women.

Not to scare you or anything, but there are only 13 more weekends left before Christmas. That doesn't even take into consideration Halloween, Thanksgiving and Hanukkah. We NEED weekends...that's when we get things done and not to mention "regular" life that happens on those weekends.

Holidays mean family, friends, food, fun times and visiting. It also means shopping, cleaning, cooking, preparing, wrapping, decorating etc. Click HERE for the Santa Can Project above to start your decorating crafts now.

Here are a few things you can do along the way the next few months or even now, that can help relieve some of the stress. I will have more to add along the way...


1. MAKE LISTS...for EVERYTHING...gifts, food, guest lists, what's coming up for important dates etc. If it's written down and you see it, you're one step ahead of the game.

2. DEEP CLEAN...if you know you are having overnight guests for the holidays, don't wait until that week when they arrive to clean out that dreaded closet or under the bed. You know "that"closet...we all have it! Purge and deep clean things now, so all you have to do is the "regular" cleaning (we all hate to do) when they come...LOL)

3. STOCK YOUR PANTRY NOW...each week add a few things you'll need for entertaining or baking now. The benefit is 2 fold...less shopping during the hectic times and the money is spread out over weeks of your normal weekly shopping verses one big bill at the register at holiday time. Have you check expiration dates? You are definitely good to stock up now. I start stocking up now and store it in my pantry on it's own shelf, so the family doesn't use it.

4. START THOSE HOMEMADE GIFT PROJECTS NOW!!!...can't stress this one enough. We've all been there sewing, painting, crafting as the engine is running in the car on the way to the party.


I think I'll end here...let that soak in that I'm talking about Christmas in September!! I'm hoping to add more tips along the way about baking, decorating, gifts and much more.

Add your tips in the comments too...would love to hear them.

Thanks for stopping by and for not skipping this post when you saw Holiday Planning in the title.

Have a great day,
~Karen~

Thoughts on Thursday...

Is it just me or am I the only one who can not find the "Perfect" wallet and purse?

The wallet has to have slots for cards, pockets for coupons, pocket for receipts, spot for coins and bills, etc and easy access to it all with wide gussets on the side. It absolutely must zip or snap to close too. I thought I found the perfect one...even the compartments were labeled for coupons and receipts, but when I put everything in there it didn't snap.

This new wallet is almost perfect...it zips shuts on both sides so that's good, but I had to cut the little pen holder loop out because it got caught in the zipper every time. Who designs these things? Don't they put all the crap in there first to see if it works?

Now the purse is my biggest quest...like the Holy Grail. I won't even get into the details of what a dream purse is, because I don't think I know until I see it! LOL It does have to be short so things don't get lost in the black hole of the abyss in the bottom. It has to be sturdy and stand up on it's own, like a bucket purse...not floppy. It has to have a ton of little pockets along the inside walls for phone, keys, lipstick, iPad, medicine and oh yeah...straps for your shoulder.

Ok, I'm stopping here...I think I need to see a psychiatrist. LOL

You? (on the purse, not the psychiatrist)

Have a great Thursday,
~Karen~