February 2012 Archives - A Pumpkin And A Princess

Ombre Four Leaf Clover Craft

February 29, 2012 20 Comments

Today’s the big switch..you know, to WordPress! Sorry if things look a little funky over the next few days. Hopefully it doesn’t take long for me to figure it all out. If you’re a GFC follower please consider following through RSS or by email, because starting tomorrow GFC will be disabled on my blog. Thanks again for being a reader. :)

I’d like to share with you an easy ombre four leaf clover canvas I made for St. Patrick’s Day. I originally shared this over at Darling Doodles. Do you remember my Valentine’s Canvas? Well, I’m reusing the same canvas since I made everything removable. I love when I can reuse craft supplies, which saves money and there’s no need to find a place to store another seasonal decoration.

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To make your own you will need scrapbook paper, a four leaf clover punch or die cut machine, glue dots, and a canvas or frame. Disregard the gingham paper in the picture, I ended up liking the solid colors only.

Using a small hole punch I added mini green brads in the center of each clover. This step isn’t necessary but I liked the look of the brads.

I then used small glue dots to adhere the clovers to the canvas. This makes them easily removable in case you want to reuse your canvas.

Then stick them onto the canvas and you’re done. I didn’t measure the spacing, but you could bust out a ruler and make sure they line up correctly.

It looked a little bare so I added some green raffia to finish it off. I think it completes the whole look. If you have an extra frame on hand you could use that instead of a canvas by adding scrapbook paper to the glass, then the clovers on top.

I don’t usually decorate for St. Patrick’s Day, but I thought this year it’d be fun to make some decor for the next few weeks. I’m not going all out but I do have a few things up. I’ll share my banner with you later this week.

Linking up to these parties, TCB, Sunday Scoop, Home Stories A2Z

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Earth’s Best Oatmeal and Mini Meal Sampler Giveaway

February 29, 2012 15 Comments

My daughter’s favorite breakfast item is oatmeal. Every morning we sit down and share a warm bowl of oatmeal together. If we’re feeling adventurous we’ll throw in a dash of brown sugar and a few raisins. It began as my husband and daughter’s “thing.” When she was younger our pediatrician recommended she ate oatmeal before bed to help keep her full longer. My husband took it upon himself to be the one to feed it to her every night. Then when we switched to eating oatmeal for breakfast and it became mine and my daughters “thing.” You know, those routines that you do and often don’t think about? Well for us, this is one of those things we’ll look back on and remember how every morning we shared a bowl of oatmeal and talked about our plans for the day. Since it’s after my oldest has left for school school and the baby isn’t quite up yet. It’s become our mother and daughter bonding time. :)

As much as I enjoy our oatmeal sharing, I’ve been thinking about trying out new breakfast items with her. Earth’s Best has a variety of breakfast foods that I’m just learning about. Like French Toast sticks (which I’m sure she would love) and Mini Blueberry Waffles. Or we could try some Apples and Cinnamon Oatmeal to change it up a bit. We haven’t tried the oatmeal but guess what? One of you (or your child?) will!!

Earth’s Best is generously offering one A Pumpkin and a Princess reader their Organic Instant Oatmeal and a Mini Meal Sampler!

(the actual selections sent to winner will be decided by Earth’s Best, which may not include those pictured).

To enter:

Champions for Kids: Energizer Light Up a Life Care Kit #EnergizerCFK

February 27, 2012 17 Comments

A few weeks ago I shared that I was participating in the Energizer Light Up a Life campaign as part of the Champions for Kids Simple Service Project. Today I would like to show you the kit my family and I put together and tell you about the organization we donated it to.

After researching several organizations in our area we decided to donate our kit to Valley Crisis Center. We chose this non profit organization because they work with all of the homeless children from the main shelter as well as battered women. Valley Crisis Center began as a 24-hour crisis hotline and has since grown into a full service organization that helps domestic violence victims and their children. I also found out that they host a weekly meeting with all of the children to teach them about safety, nutrition, abuse, and arts and crafts.

For our kit we gathered some personal care items such as soap, shampoo, deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and floss.

The safety items we included were Wet Ones wipes, band-aids, a mini first aid kit, sanitizer, an Energizer flashlight and batteries. My daughter picked the flashlight out at Walmart. When we donated the bags, the first thing my daughter said was that there was a pretty princess flashlight in there. She was so excited! This was the first time I fully explained to my toddler the importance of giving. She understood the concept pretty well and keeps asking when we can go back to visit her “friend.” One of my goals as a parent is to teach my children to give back to those in need. My son has been going with us to donate for years and I’m happy to now share these experiences with my daughter as well.

We also made sure to include coloring books, crayons, gloves, and water. These sesame street bags were cute and fun to hold all the supplies in. The lady that helped us said that the children often only have the clothes they’re wearing, so coloring books and toys makes them really happy. Hearing this really puts things into perspective. It makes me appreciate everything we have been blessed with and encourages me to give back even more.

My goal is to start collecting art and safety supplies to donate several times a year. Even if it means picking up one coloring book every time I go to the store. I want to start compiling large kits that will hopefully help out all of the children in need in my community. I know the need is great and I can only do so much but little by little this is a goal I will accomplish. Just like the Mother Theresa quote I mentioned last time “If you can’t feed a hundred people, then just feed one.” I will forever hold this quote in my heart, because I know that I can help one child out at a time.

This was a wonderful campaign to be a part of. It was a simple way to help out a child in my community. I am now one of the 20 million people Champions for Kids is seeking to mobilize by 2020. I encourage you to make a kit for a child in your community as well. Even if it’s a small kit, please know that this will make a difference in a child’s life. Think of the impact we can make if we do this together. If you make a kit please report it to the Champions for Kids Simple Service Project.

To learn more please visit Champions for Kids Website, Twitter, Facebook Energizer Website, Twitter, FacebookMy Google + story This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. #EnergizerCFK #CBias

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Giveaway Week Winners

February 25, 2012 4 Comments

Happy Saturday my friends! Did you enjoy our 1,000 followers giveaway week? Before I announce the winners I wanted to say that I appreciate you reading my blog and all of the support you’ve given me. I may not get a chance to reply to every comment but I read every single one and they always put a smile on my face. I feel so blessed to be able to share my passion with each and every one of you.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

Now are you ready to see who the giveaway week winners are?

The Pick Your Plum winner is:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Expressions Vinyl winner:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cutting Edge Stencils winner:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Twinery giveaway winner:a Rafflecopter giveaway

and the Earth’s Best winner is:

Unknown Feb 15, 2012 10:11 PM

I like Earth’s Best on facebook

cathy c

Congrats to all of the winners!

I also want to let you all know that next week I’m switching to wordpress. Which means that GFC will not work on my site. I know I know, we just spent an entire week celebrating 1,000 GFC followers only to lose all of you next week. If you follow via GFC please consider following with one of the following methods:

RSS

Twitter

Facebook

I’ve also added the new Linky Followers tool

and Bloglovin

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Thanks for reading! I look forward to sharing some fun new tutorials with you over the next few days. And if you’re ready for a St. Patrick’s Day craft, head on over to Darling Doodles where I shared an ombre four leaf clover canvas.

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What I’m Loving: Paper Crafts

February 24, 2012 51 Comments

Paper flowers to be more specific, I can’t get enough of them. Last week during my regular Barnes and Noble trip I sipped on my favorite frappuccino, pulled up a chair, and skimmed through the scrapbook magazines. I was amazed at all the creative handmade cards featured. Then I started noticing all sorts of paper flowers. There were flowers on nearly every page. Maybe it’s because Spring is approaching, but the flower possibilities are endless and I want to try every single technique out there! I quickly purchased my new favorite magazine and headed to the craft store for scrapbook paper. I then spent the weekend making my daughter some new wall art for her room. The entire thing is made out of paper and I can’t wait to show it to you!

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In the meantime I made some yellow paper flowers to add a bit of color around the house. With low 70 degree weather and the flowers starting to bloom, it’s practically Spring around here. While the flowers aren’t quite ready to be picked from the garden, these little beauties will get the job done for now.

To make the paper flowers into a center piece I glued them onto a skewer. I then took a mason jar and wrapped twine around it just like I did with my spray painted jars.

What are some of your favorite paper crafts? Do you use an embossing machine? I really like the texture it adds to paper crafting but I’m clueless on which is the best out there.

Thanks for stopping by! Come back tomorrow to see the winners list from our giveaway week.

Linking up to these parties, TCB, Sunday Scoop, Craftionary

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Home Office Organization

February 20, 2012 58 Comments

Today I would like to show you my home office. Unfortunately I don’t have a spare room to convert into an office/craft room, forcing me to get creative with our space. We are currently in the process of making an office/craft space in our master bedroom but I have yet to find a desk that fits my needs. In the meantime I’ve set up a nice little office space in the kitchen that helps keep my whole family organized. This is where I read emails, blog, fill out paper work, and craft.

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To make the space colorful I have a framed fabric covered cork board that I use for notes. My son also uses this when he has a school form for me to fill out. He knows that if it’s pinned I’ll see it and won’t misplace it, then have the teacher call me to ask if he can go on a field trip because he’s the only student who hasn’t turned his permission slip in. Not that that’s ever happened….

This X-ACTO Spira pencil sharpener is a new addition to my office space. We usually have the small dollar sharpeners that seem to always get misplaced. This is very frustrating when my son needs to sharpen a pencil to do his homework and it’s nowhere to be found. Well, the other day I printed this $3 off coupon, packed the kids up, and headed to Walmart to purchased an electric pencil sharpener. You can see more pictures on Google + but here I am shopping with my favorite 7 month old. Look at all those curls! This little boy melts my heart. :)

We now have an amazing sharpener that is both sleek and functional. The best part is that this baby is staying put, no more looking for lost sharpeners during homework time! Not only am I happy to have this sharpener for my son’s homework but it’s come in handy for me as well. You see I’m a list maker and note taker kind of gal. About 99% of the time you’ll find handwritten notes in my kitchen, room, and car. My husband will tell ya that I get most of my craft ideas while I’m out and about. I keep a pencil and notepad in my purse at all times. I’ll have to show you a picture of my random scribblings someday. I think you’ll find them comical. :)

The print on the magazine holders is so simple and modern, just my style! I found the holders and tray for a dollar each. I like when I find cute and inexpensive storage containers. The dry erase calendar I found for 50 cents. Here’s a little secret…I used a removable mounting square to hold the dry erase board up. That way when I need to plug in the sharpener I can just take it down, then put it back up to hide the plug.

Another way I stay organized, especially during tax season is by keeping folders and files. Throughout the year I keep our important tax information filed in a folder. I keep the W-2s, 1099s, blog information, receipts, and miscellaneous papers labeled. This makes it easy for me to keep track of receipts and paperwork that we will need come tax time. This is also when my note taking goes into overdrive. I’m constantly writing and erasing notes on forms. I’m going to definitely get some good use out of my new sharpener this weekend when I do our taxes.

How do you keep track of paper work, especially during tax season? If you have limited space like me, how do you stay organized?

Be sure to check out

Elmer’s on twitter

X-ACTO on facebook

and here’s a link to the coupon I used

$3 off X-ACTO Spira Pencil Sharpener

Linking up to these parties, TCB, Sunday Scoop, Craftionary

This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. #CBias #XACTO

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Cutting Edge Stencils Giveaway

February 20, 2012 4 Comments

Hey everyone, how was your weekend? We had a relaxing weekend filled with a lot of baking and crafting. I can’t wait to share some new tutorials with you this week. Today I have a giveaway that I think you’re going to enjoy. Do you remember my Bathroom Makeover? Are you dying to stencil a room in your house? Well one of you will win a stencil from Cutting Edge Stencils to do your own makeover! Just check out some of the beautiful stencils you can pick from:

If you’re not quite ready to stencil on a large scale they have a variety of craft size stencils available too.

Cutting Edge Stencils is generously offering one A Pumpkin and a Princess reader a stencil of their choice (up to a $50 value). To enter use the Rafflecopter gadget below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway ends on 2/23/12. One winner will be randomly selected. Winner must have a U.S. shipping address.

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The Twinery Giveaway

February 17, 2012 11 Comments

Hi friends! I hope you’re enjoying all of the giveaways this week. You’re going to love today’s giveaway from The Twinery!

Do you love using bakers twine as much as I do? It’s so much fun to craft with and the possibilities are endless. You can use it to make cards, package gifts, and so much more. Be sure to check out The Twinery Blog where you’ll find tons of inspiration using bakers twine like these:

via

The Twinery is generously offering one A Pumpkin and a Princess reader their new {I Dream in Twine} sampler pack. It’s 15 yards of all 18 colors. The winner is going to love this, just look at all that twine!

COLORS INCLUDED: Maraschino, Mandarin, Lemondrop, Peapod, Caribbean, Lilac, Pink Sorbet, Honeydew, Blossom, Charcoal, Cappuccino, Buttercream, Stone, Denim, Shore, Orchid, Flax, and Cantaloupe.

To enter use the Rafflecopter gadget below. If you have any questions please feel free to email me. Good luck everyone!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

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