Creativity Inspired By Leap Year

 

Dear Creatives, Happy Leap Year! An extra day to do what you wish this year. This year is steeped in traditions & represents leaps of faith in the past. Maybe some of you aren’t familiar with them. I am going to share a few along with some Leap Year art, photography & facts. I will reserve my creative post for later…stay tuned it is a banner tutorial for spring! & I have more up my sleeve. Now, let me get back to Leap Year.

Rebecca Pocai

First up I found this lovely illustration created by Rebecca Pocai.  Every fourth year is a Leap Year!

 

 

Erica Weiner

{Erica Weiner}

Speak Dear This Is Leap Year

It is said that Leap Year is the year where women can per-pose to men. St Bridget in the 5th Century. She is said to have complained to St Patrick that women had to wait too long for their suitors to propose. St Patrick then supposedly gave women a single day in a leap year to pop the question. In English law leap year day was not recognized by English law. It was believed that if the day had no legal status, it was acceptable to break with tradition.

 

 

 

Laura Bunker

{Laura Bunker}

The odds of being born on Leap Year are 1/ 1461 & babies born on this day are known as “leapers” or “leaplings”

 

 

Wikipedia

{Wikipedia}

We receive this additional day in Leap Year to align calendars with the astronomical or seasonal calendars. Seasonal & astronomical calendars do not repeat in whole number days. By occasionally adding this additional day this can be corrected. A year without the additional day is called a common year.

 

 

Raine Style Home

{Raine Style Home/Etsy}

So dear readers you can rest at ease having an extra day & that we are all being aligned with our calendars!

 

 

 

Olivia Bell

 {Olivia Bell}

This is the perfect day to take a leap of faith! Go ahead & try something new or ask someone something you have been dreaming of doing!

What leaps have you taken?

 

Don’t forget to enter the giveaway before you go!

Baking, Crafts, Dolls… Weekend Inspiration

Pin It

Dear Creatives, Its been a while since sharing some baking recipes along with crafts so I am going to share what caught my eye & then onto the Feature Friday! Along with spring right around the corner are  a lot of birthdays in our family, anniversaries & impending engagement parties. So what does that have to do with recipes? Lots! If you like making your own cakes or other foods for these kinds of events.

First rule of thumb always try your recipes ahead of time! Nothing is worse than taking a bite & it not being good for what ever reason, too dry, forgot something, too sweet, well you get the point. This goes for all the fixings too appetizers & meals.

My gang can be  my best / worst critics! Thumbs up or Thumbs down & nothing is worse than you loving a recipe, but the majority hating it. So here are some I am definitely going to try & maybe you might like to also. (you can see recipes I have tried under recipes in nav. bar or through the search too) First up: This cake, homemade Funfetti!

Sweetapolita

This is the first Homemade Funfetti recipe I have seen! Perfect for Sammie’s impending double digit debut 10! She loves vanilla cakes & has always been smitten with Funfetti so why not make it deliciously homemade! Here is where can find this Sweetapolita+Funfetti Recipe which is a version of her ever lovely vanilla cake! While you are there Rosie shares 7 links to various Funfetti Recipes from her friends around the web too, such as cake pops….

 

 

Busy-at-home

Dear Chocolate lovers I would never leave you out! Our house is divided girls vanilla, boys chocolate. You’d think it would be the other way around, right? Well I came across this gooey chocolate goodness of a recipe & how to for Rich Brownie Layer Bars via Busy-at-home. Not only did I find this great recipe, but Glenda uses Ziplist to share with. Why did I not know of Ziplist sooner for sharing, finding, storing, web recipe clipper, coupons & even transferring items into a shopping list. Hello! Online & into the phone I am now going to have an easier time with my list! Please if you know of handy app’s I should be using don’t hesitate to enlighten me! Perfect for keeping my crafty, creative bookmarks & recipes separate! Ah~

 

Inspirations by D

Have you ever made a vision board? I have. I tried to find where my photo was to share to no avail, but maybe I can take a new one soon a before & after shot! Since I love burlap & spotted this how to adding burlap to pin board. Of course you can use them at desks for catching those bits of important notes, reminders & photos you love too! To see how to create this visit Inspirations by D – burlap pin board I’ll have more recipes coming up, but wanted to share these sweet things today!

 

 

Now onto the Feature Friday!

First up Jess from A Winding Road. Let me tell you she is one crafty gal who loves making things. Cloth dolls, stuffed goodness, sewing & more. Today she is sharing a tutorial on a reversible tote bag on a guest post. Jess used to live in the country in Elks Mills, Maryland. She now lives in Littleton, CO.

Jessica Kenenske

She has even had one of her doll tutorials shared on HGTV. (you can see it on her site) Such a cute segment & she inspires me to get back into making cloth dolls, yes I have made a few, but not so cute as these gals! I love how she really puts a creative spin on some classic ideas, but don’t take my word for it just visit her to see!

Jessica Kenenske

Also Jess recently shared this on her site which is so fitting for meal planning. Even with online tools I love writing out my meal planning like this & with her handy template it is going to make this so much sweeter to do! Meal Planning Template

 

 

Katies Nesting Spot

Now speaking of creative gals I had to share what Katie from Katies Nesting Spot made this card with pretty bits of scrapbook paper. If you paper craft at all you always hate to toss those 1/4 sheets of pretty paper & think what can I make with this? I’ll save it for….Well here is a simple solution that can brighten someone’s day with Happiness by making & sending on via snail mail! Flag Banner Happiness Card Tutorial Katie loves to travel, read history, visit National Parks & of course be creative & loves crafting. Katie’s site has oodles of paper-crafting, crafts, sharing her family life along with reviews & giveaways.

I hope this inspires you to get cooking, creative & have a crafty weekend! To see more great inspiration check out everyone who linked up right here! & if you have something creative to link-up just add it in right here while you are at the Feature Friday Link-up! Be sure & link back so others find out about it. Next Friday a new linky goes up & back to weekly inspirations so hope you can join in! Sorry I am late today! Have a great weekend!

& don’t forget to enter the giveaway before you go, just comment that’s it!

What are your weekend plans? Creative or otherwise

Spring Sewing Pattern Love

 

Dear Creatives, Do you ever find yourself wondering around the craft store knowing what you need & coming out with more than you need? That was me yesterday. I went with my little list, my discount coupon & a creative outing with Sammie. She found a book on how to draw Chibi’s. Its a type of anime. I didn’t exactly find what I was looking for, but more than I needed. I hope to be crafting with some of the things today to share at the beginning of next week.

Today I thought I would share a bit of sewing eye candy, patterns I found. I love February it means we are getting closer to spring! Which has me listing things I’d love to sew onto a little notepad.

 

via Pinterest

There is a Walmart with a little fabric section, a small high end fabric store & a quilt shop in town, but no place reasonably priced or having a large selection of patterns. So I did a little searching online to find some cute patterns. A little spring sewing love to share!

 

 

Megan Nielsen Patterns

With wanting to sew more this spring seeing patterns like this makes me happy! I just wish I wasn’t afraid to tackle lots of buttons & button holes. Megan’s site has quite a few maternity patterns, button free btw. Megan Nielsen Patterns

 

 

 

Colette Patterns

Then I came across this dress! For beginner sewers, better than that is some of the sewing tutorials on Colette’s site. This would be the perfect dress for spring birthdays & walks on the beach with a cute little sweater. Colettes Patterns

 

 

 

Sew Liberated

Then I found this pattern, what I love is that you can make it a long top or short dress. I love tops that you can layer over tanks as I live where it may start / end  rather cool & warms up quite a bit in mid afternoon.

 

 

Sew Liberated

I would love to find some fabric similar to this. This reminds me of taking the kites down to the beach to fly them out by the coast. Then we stop in our local coastal town & I usually get a soy latte & grab Russian tea cakes for Sammie. I can’t wait for weather like that along with a little spring sewing! Sew Liberated

 

Where are some of your favorite places to purchase patterns?

Do you like to sew clothes, crafts or?

Just a few more days to enter the giveaway!

Related Posts:

Valentine Heart Sewing & crafts

Market Bags

Broach Inspiration

Sew A Clutch Tutorial

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Top 10 List – Photography Tips & Tutorials

 

Dear Creatives, Since we just past the holidays I thought I would create a post of my favorite tutorials I have found & have listed to help me for when I get my dream dslr camera & then a few inspiring photographs to swoon over. Hope this helps all the new camera owners & inspiring budding photographers. 

 

Takeuchi Kiyoshi via DPS

Grab your new cameras, dust off your old camera & get ready, set, grow!

Morning Light In My Room

Whether your cameras are vintage, point & shoot or dslr there will be something for everyone in this top ten photography tips & tutorials list, dslr or not.

 

Alicia Vega for Old Fashioned- Way

So don’t be a deer in the headlights! Because I know I want to be able to take images like this one by Alicia Vega! What about you? Do you enjoy photography?

 

  1. Tips for beginners *DPS
  2. 31 Days to a better Photograph*series
  3. Photography Portrait Tips *101
  4. Getting The Shot Indoors
  5. National Geographic Photography Tips
  6. I Heart Faces / Tutorials
  7. Food Photography Kit Basics
  8. Basic Digital Photography 
  9. Cambridge In Colour Photography Tutorial & Tips
  10. Textures & PhotoShop Techniques

 

You might enjoy it more after reading some of these tips & tutorials making your results easier & better to have. Some food for thought.

 

Lucius Art

& if you have photography or something creative to share be sure & link up here while grabbing some Valentines Printable s & tutorials too.

What kind of camera do you use? What is your dream camera?

Thankful

 

Dear Creatives, Today I wanted to share with you how Thankful I am for having all you readers. I love sharing things that spark creativity, crafting & inspiring living. I have many things coming up in December including more giveaways, creative ideas, maybe a tutorial or two &  guest postings. ( I also want you to know my current giveaway is still open, link at bottom of this post)

 

F. Fitzgerald
Parker Fitzgerald

I know starting now  it will be a busy for us all &  into December which is just right around the corner. But finding a little time to ourselves to enjoy our passions, create & share what we love is always next to my heart and I hope next to yours.


 

Students in action!

Ishtar Olivera Belartvia Facil y Sencillo

There are a few things that have already sparked my creativity, making me create a list & I will be sharing them with you to savor soon. But for now….

 

 

found nature treasuresKnitalatte11

While you break from festivities for a quite moment to yourself I hope you have a chance to reflect. Enjoy your time to be with family & friends, share a meal or two, take a nature walk & remember what you are thankful for.

What are you thankful for?

 

Enter Giveaway

 

Giveaway Time!

Uprinting

 

Dear Creatives, I am happy to tell you about a Giveaway today & let you know you have a chance at winning!  Usually I don’t post on the weekends but wanted to give all those who stayed home this weekend something to look forward to! A chance of winning something! No strings, no hoops just see details and ensure a way to be emailed if you win! (Winner will be chosen at random on September 7th, 2011 at 7pm PST )

Here are the prize details that I am so excited to tell you about!

100 Postcards for One (1) Winner
5″ x 7″
14pt Cardstock Gloss
No Folding
Front Only Printing
2 Business Days Print Turnaround Time
Restriction: Limited to US residents 18 years old and above only

Nobody loves cheap postcard printing like I do, especially on postcard size & UPrinting offers so many sizes to choose from with their postcard templates.  And if you would like to thank the givers you can like/follow UPrinting on Facebook and Twitter or sign up on GiveawayBlogs. I am sure to have more goodness for you in the future so feel free to follow along here with me too!

What will you be printing if you win?  Photography, art  or something crafty you made?

Now go and leave your comment for me and *email  to notify you if you are the winner!

 

 

Disclaimer: This giveaway is sponsored by UPrinting.com, no monetary compensation was given and I will receive postcards for hosting. See more information about postcard size, postcard templates and postcard design at UPrinting.com.

 

Closed for entries! More Giveaway’s coming!

 

 

Bright Ideas

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Dear Creatives, I had this bright idea of updating my web site despite its relatively newness I found & fell in love with a new theme. Sometimes bright ideas come with complications.

 So instead of working on my sewing, crafting, art & blogging I have ended up trying to figure out and fix some things with the new theme. * some operator error,  not being the most super tech savvy person I have missed a post yesterday and probably not going to be finished just quite yet with the fine tuning, but the site is coming along.

Maybe if I had some glasses like this it would help?

I hope to be wrapping this up pretty quickly so I can continue serving up some creativity & crafty goodness.

In the mean time do link up to the Friday Feature to add your crafty projects to Mr.Linky &  read all about it. Just hop on over to that post and link up! I’ll be featuring someone. Although I may have to extend it a week due to my minor set back, but that means more time to get your crafts, sewing, recipes…. linked up! 
& do humor me~

What kind of set backs have you encountered when redoing a website or blog?

Sewing & Swooning Over Aprons

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Dear Creatives, Happy Monday! I did a little sewing over the weekend. I made a little girls apron and pot holder set. I can’t wait to share the project with you when I have taken the photographs. But in the meantime I am sharing a little hint of what I am wanting to sew next & my sewing machine love~

Sew Perfect! I wish I was sewing on this…

via Pinterest

A perfect fall crafting look~

Hostess Apron Tutorial by Angie Asplund

I lovely tutorial for a cafe style apron which reminds me I am so grateful not to work serving in a restaurant anymore!

simplypix.tumblr

 A perfect spot to hang your apron when your on the run~

I have more apron love for you but need to grab my apron and get painting. I have a few new projects to finish. Oh, speaking of projects if you have one you’d like to share Mr. Linky is up for a round up of crafty, creative projects, so do enter yours!! See Fridays post.

Do you wear an apron  when you craft? What is your favorite style?

Sewing Needle Book Tutorial

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needle book tutorial by Gingermelon dolls

needle book tutorial, a photo by Gingermelon dolls on Flickr.

This is a super cute and easy tutorial for a sewing needle book! Thanks to Shelly via Gingermelon Dolls. She even has templates for you to download and a full how to! I am sure you’ll love it! Now give her a visit and start stitching! http://gingermelondolls.blogspot.com/2011/08/needle-book-tutorial.html

Via Flickr:
Can be found on my blog:
gingermelondolls.blogspot.com/2011/08/needle-book-tutoria…

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