tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87716636466645123612024-03-13T12:45:20.237-07:00The Pretty Neat CompanyThe Pretty Neat Companyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06983248419546166667noreply@blogger.comBlogger82125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8771663646664512361.post-64640256370198656542010-04-29T19:16:00.000-07:002010-04-29T21:06:30.265-07:00Family Values/Rules group project<div align="justify">Last Fall, I shared Family Values canvases that my friend Lisa and I completed.</div><div align="justify"></div>That post is <a href="http://theprettyneatcompany.blogspot.com/2009/11/family-values-canvas.html"><span style="font-size:130%;">here</span></a>!<br /><br /><div align="justify">I was inspired to complete this project from a post I saw on <a href="http://lindseycheney.blogspot.com/2009/09/family-rules-canvas.html"><span style="font-size:180%;">The Pleated Poppy</span></a>. I don't know that I've ever seen a project inspire more people that this one! </div><br />Here again is the Family Values canvas that I made.<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465768404639756930" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/S9pPZ7cbMoI/AAAAAAAABRQ/Uh7bwNzO7vM/s400/IMG_0125.jpg" /><br />And here is the one that Lisa made.<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 216px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465768398776595058" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/S9pPZlmicnI/AAAAAAAABRI/qbiXH9kGin4/s400/dgdgdg.jpg" /><br /><div align="justify">So, Lisa mentioned it to a craft group that she is a part of at <a href="http://fumco.net/templates/System/default.asp?id=27027">First United Methodist Church</a> in Oviedo, FL and they too were inspired! They were finishing up a project at their Wednesday night class and asked if she would show them how to make these! She asked if I would help so both of us attended the classes to pass along this great project to others! We took our canvases and showed them how we did it and I also shared about 40 pictures that I found online, mostly from comments at The Pleated Poppy where people shared their versions. This is a great project to show your creative side and make something special for your home with your family's input! </div><br /><div align="justify">I asked if I could share their finished projects so that we could give credit back to Lindsey and her guest blogger Nicole at <a href="http://lindseycheney.blogspot.com/">The Pleated Poppy</a> for inspiring so many of us. </div><br />Below is a picture of each person's completed canvas with a close up of my favorite part of their project!<br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 212px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465749126061963426" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/S9o93xJTOKI/AAAAAAAABPI/H0bLbrCNo9c/s400/img_0013.jpg" /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/S9pIHZsuaOI/AAAAAAAABRA/DT5E8GXeORs/s1600/img_0014.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465760389762279650" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/S9pIHZsuaOI/AAAAAAAABRA/DT5E8GXeORs/s400/img_0014.jpg" /></a> Big swirl-this canvas was completed with lots from the Cricut </div><div align="center"><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 215px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465759656623336242" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/S9pHcuix6zI/AAAAAAAABQw/pyoQLgp59pw/s400/img_0018.jpg" /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/S9pHdMbbFdI/AAAAAAAABQ4/ePp8SZdqcVw/s1600/img_0023.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465759664645543378" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/S9pHdMbbFdI/AAAAAAAABQ4/ePp8SZdqcVw/s400/img_0023.jpg" /></a> How perfect, the smear for 'imperfection' was an accident. I love that.<br /><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 212px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465759648389521186" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/S9pHcP3r3yI/AAAAAAAABQo/4cu3B5RArcs/s400/img_0025.jpg" /> <div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465758569144338706" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/S9pGdbXlSRI/AAAAAAAABQQ/ZHIRaQhpRGg/s400/img_0026.jpg" /></div><div>More fun swirls and I love how precise this one is</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 212px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465758571254703778" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/S9pGdjOu5qI/AAAAAAAABQY/AsxMZESouJE/s400/img_0028.jpg" /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/S9pGeKvxERI/AAAAAAAABQg/OBUKjW1801Y/s1600/img_0030.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465758581862240530" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/S9pGeKvxERI/AAAAAAAABQg/OBUKjW1801Y/s400/img_0030.jpg" /></a> COLOR. I love a girl who loves color!<br /><div><div><br /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 212px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465757446491149442" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/S9pFcFKNFII/AAAAAAAABP4/bFcUrMLddQQ/s400/img_0034.jpg" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465757453985476866" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/S9pFchE_cQI/AAAAAAAABQA/2uc-RmVPOV8/s400/img_0035.jpg" /></div><div>So much texture! That letter I think is an iron on? She used lots of great accents!</div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/S9pFdP1oS-I/AAAAAAAABQI/Ir6-N3RDXgM/s1600/img_0040.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 307px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465757466537511906" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/S9pFdP1oS-I/AAAAAAAABQI/Ir6-N3RDXgM/s400/img_0040.jpg" /></a><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465750974999278258" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/S9o_jY-TsrI/AAAAAAAABPo/ZLxAYoOLrqI/s400/img_0045.jpg" /></div><div>SO FUN! Can't you see the personality in this one? Bling and spunk, love it! </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div align="justify">One of our members enjoyed this project so much that she completed her rules canvas and then made this sign. When we were finishing up the class, she was about 65% way done with an awesome Pool Rules canvas! She caught the mod podge bug! </div><div></div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 166px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465750978911998226" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/S9o_jnjLERI/AAAAAAAABPw/LqfI4MXki1c/s400/img_0049.jpg" /></div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465750944713204962" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/S9o_hoJi5OI/AAAAAAAABPQ/WSZaLy2NA8M/s400/img_0052.jpg" /> </div><div>I really enjoyed being a part of this class and hope you enjoyed seeing their completed projects! </div><div></div><p align="left"><img class="centered" alt="post signature" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/BLOG%20DESIGN/kierstensignaturecopy.jpg" /></p><div></div></div></div></div><br /></div>The Pretty Neat Companyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06983248419546166667noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8771663646664512361.post-9187396812773896652010-04-28T20:20:00.000-07:002010-04-29T21:07:13.791-07:00I'm a blogging failure!<div align="justify">Wow. It's been a long time. At one point, I had readers and people who 'followed' me but I have really failed at this blogging thing. I'll tell you all, I have no real patience for blogging, or perhaps just blogger.com. It is PAINFULLY slow, don't ya think? </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">I'm a big facebooker. As someone self employed and with no real coworkers, I find it a great way to have conversations with adults and be the social person that I am! I post a lot of pictures there and am amazed at how fast their uploader is. I then come here and am TORTURED with the uploading system. I have also really thought recently about how my clients find me and it's not really through my blog traffic. What I did realize is that almost every client I have had in the past year has been on facebook and many of them asked me about my business because of pictures I shared on my personal page and actually became a client because of facebook. And people say that place is a waste of time! What I really want to share with those that are interested are photos with a little bit of words and blogging is mostly words with a little big of photos. </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">So, my point of this is that I am working now on getting a business page up that will focus on sharing my creative side and work, mostly through pictures. So there may be an album of a room Before and After of a clients or it may be my latest craft project! Whatever amuses me creatively-kinda like how this blog has been! I will post here again as I promised I would share something here soon and will post again with a link to my FB business page once I'm ready. I'm sorry to those who I abandoned in blogger world but am guessing you have started FB pages as well since I am not the first one to make this move . . . I hope to see you in FB land instead! </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Kiersten<br /></div><p><img class="centered" alt="post signature" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/BLOG%20DESIGN/kierstensignaturecopy.jpg" /></p>The Pretty Neat Companyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06983248419546166667noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8771663646664512361.post-84075466131685431832009-12-18T17:56:00.000-08:002009-12-18T18:51:37.341-08:00Teacher Gifts for Christmas!<div style="text-align: justify;">Time to make teacher gifts! Here is a 'before and after' of my project. Before was Wednesday around 5 pm and After is Friday morning around 5 am. I didn't work on this the entire 36 hours but I'm embarrassed and horrified to say that I did spent probably 12 hours on this? I know, pathetic. I blame it on the glitter glue. Read on for the details . . .<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SywzzQcn7eI/AAAAAAAABNk/ewSXlpNO2K0/s1600-h/6454923672_rLB34.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 251px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SywzzQcn7eI/AAAAAAAABNk/ewSXlpNO2K0/s400/6454923672_rLB34.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416761407501233634" border="0" /></a> My inspiration was the peppermint and white chocolate spoons that I bought at Crate & Barrel at an amazing price. I bought 18 sets and then decided to make cocoa to go with it. Easy right? I found the cute tins in the Target $1 section but switched out their ribbon. Still not too crazy right? Well then my friend Lisa bought me the Joys of The Season Cricut cartridge. I started to make tags which then turned into a hybrid of tag meets ornament. Still EASY but tedious and takes time to cut out the 'layers' and put it all together. THEN, I discovered A La Mode Glitter Glue. That took my craftiness to a whole new level. <span style="font-size:180%;"> Elements </span><span style="font-size:180%;">that were cute became adorable with glitter glue! SO much fun!</span><span style="font-size:180%;"> </span><span style="font-size:180%;"> </span>Here is one that I ended up loving~<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Syw45KGNdjI/AAAAAAAABN8/l2TbNGXxPIY/s1600-h/IMG_1183.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Syw45KGNdjI/AAAAAAAABN8/l2TbNGXxPIY/s400/IMG_1183.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416767006433965618" border="0" /></a><br />It was okay as paper but once I started on the glitter glue, I was LOVING it! You can also see 'bling' like pearls and rhinestones and that too is easy but just takes time. I just kept going and going and adding to it and all of a sudden it was 3 am. So then I thought, eh, who needs sleep? <span style="font-size:180%;">Focus on glitter fun.<br /></span><br />Here is what I ended up with after a full night of crafting! I napped after the parties! I made 18 in total. And before you think I'm nuts and wonder if I have 18 kids, no, I just don't know when to stop. I feel like all my kids' teachers are SO wonderful and it's so hard to not include everyone. Even with this, I didn't do the reading team or anyone in the office and I hated not having something for everyone. But there's only so much one can do . . . The initial is their last name, of course . . .<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Syw_f2QrojI/AAAAAAAABOE/VEV3EJBH7FQ/s1600-h/6458185022_5cMZ6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Syw_f2QrojI/AAAAAAAABOE/VEV3EJBH7FQ/s400/6458185022_5cMZ6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416774268193841714" border="0" /></a><br />Here are the buckets complete.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SywzzsD-QBI/AAAAAAAABNs/SyQSqUEHNfk/s1600-h/IMG_1260.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 126px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SywzzsD-QBI/AAAAAAAABNs/SyQSqUEHNfk/s400/IMG_1260.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416761414914031634" border="0" /></a>Of course I realized though that I still needed an actual tag as well as instructions on how to use their cocoa mix so that was another last minute craft to get together. There is a picture of that double side items in this little collage.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SywzzN1JaKI/AAAAAAAABNU/K7ixQ7dOVAA/s1600-h/6455053007_wkxcH.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SywzzN1JaKI/AAAAAAAABNU/K7ixQ7dOVAA/s400/6455053007_wkxcH.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416761406798784674" border="0" /></a>I loved them and hope their teachers did as well!<br /><br /><p><img class="centered" alt="post signature" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/BLOG%20DESIGN/kierstensignaturecopy.jpg" /></p>The Pretty Neat Companyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06983248419546166667noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8771663646664512361.post-87214630394117958362009-12-08T18:45:00.000-08:002009-12-13T21:14:59.282-08:00Christmas House Tour!<div style="text-align: justify;">Merry Christmas! Here is the wreath that greets you at my front door. Please come in! I had lots of fun making this!<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Sx8WYnKShcI/AAAAAAAABME/3AlIguhmiBM/s1600-h/IMG_0745.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Sx8WYnKShcI/AAAAAAAABME/3AlIguhmiBM/s400/IMG_0745.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413069889207436738" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;">Here is my entry which usually only serves a purpose throughout the year as the center for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">nerf</span> gun fights but during December, it is our Christmas wonderland. This year, I decided to embrace the bright colors I am drawn to and went WHIMSICAL! I had lots of fun! <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Sx8SJOtfCzI/AAAAAAAABLM/fDtxaNVr4ro/s1600-h/IMG_0813.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Sx8SJOtfCzI/AAAAAAAABLM/fDtxaNVr4ro/s400/IMG_0813.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413065226899622706" border="0" /></a></div>This is the tree topper that I made. My 8 year old had fun making the pom pom springs with me. It looks insane here but you can see on a 12' tree that it works!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SyV38c5WhaI/AAAAAAAABM8/sSHW-_3rSAo/s1600-h/IMG_0716.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SyV38c5WhaI/AAAAAAAABM8/sSHW-_3rSAo/s400/IMG_0716.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414866007415489954" border="0" /></a><br />Here is the black and white portrait display on our stairs, which is where I display my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">santa</span> hat collection.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Sx8bI0j7qKI/AAAAAAAABMs/cwfmMKFFFFw/s1600-h/IMG_0776.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Sx8bI0j7qKI/AAAAAAAABMs/cwfmMKFFFFw/s400/IMG_0776.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413075115484883106" border="0" /></a><br />This is the post at the bottom of the stairs. It's hard to get the entire stair case as this is a long narrow entry!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Sx8WY3hJOII/AAAAAAAABMM/fdDD1UTRtWw/s1600-h/IMG_0753.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Sx8WY3hJOII/AAAAAAAABMM/fdDD1UTRtWw/s400/IMG_0753.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413069893598263426" border="0" /></a>This is another post ~ there are 4 in all.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Sx8SKmM98dI/AAAAAAAABLs/QMx7xlj1Gi4/s1600-h/IMG_0733.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Sx8SKmM98dI/AAAAAAAABLs/QMx7xlj1Gi4/s400/IMG_0733.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413065250385555922" border="0" /></a><br />In between the posts, I did this just for some added fun! Those are food picks! <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Sx8WYR9PvDI/AAAAAAAABL8/LFIL0ppkGA8/s1600-h/IMG_0738.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Sx8WYR9PvDI/AAAAAAAABL8/LFIL0ppkGA8/s400/IMG_0738.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413069883515583538" border="0" /></a><br />And another post!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Sx8WX8i4m7I/AAAAAAAABL0/_H0cvxCpOyk/s1600-h/IMG_0737.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Sx8WX8i4m7I/AAAAAAAABL0/_H0cvxCpOyk/s400/IMG_0737.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413069877767871410" border="0" /></a>The sole purpose of this table is to play all the great music that I love! I look forward to nothing more to the month of December than playing my Christmas music really loud while I wrap gifts and make candy trees!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Sx8bIeThH_I/AAAAAAAABMk/sgwkXbti9TU/s1600-h/IMG_0769.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Sx8bIeThH_I/AAAAAAAABMk/sgwkXbti9TU/s400/IMG_0769.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413075109510455282" border="0" /></a>These ornaments were done during one of my crafty Christmas nights with my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Cricut</span>! My friend Lisa gave the Joys of the Season cartridge to me and it is SO fun!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Sx8SKd4jBiI/AAAAAAAABLk/0YNYnAT0iZw/s1600-h/IMG_0686.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Sx8SKd4jBiI/AAAAAAAABLk/0YNYnAT0iZw/s400/IMG_0686.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413065248152421922" border="0" /></a>These cute felt ornaments and from Crate & Barrel. I have 3 sets decorating the garland on my dining room hutch. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Sx8bGyv4tBI/AAAAAAAABMc/vCcoG7G_e3M/s1600-h/IMG_0759.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Sx8bGyv4tBI/AAAAAAAABMc/vCcoG7G_e3M/s400/IMG_0759.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413075080638411794" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The chalkboard which still requires a fun holiday message to be added to it!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Sx8WZdJv8BI/AAAAAAAABMU/x-AEqvmN51I/s1600-h/IMG_0755.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Sx8WZdJv8BI/AAAAAAAABMU/x-AEqvmN51I/s400/IMG_0755.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413069903700684818" border="0" /></a><br />Another fun holiday craft! I love candy trees and had lots of fun making this one, though I'm still suffering from some hot glue gun burns from this tedious project!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Sx8bJYeAJ5I/AAAAAAAABM0/6qDdHcewuPs/s1600-h/IMG_0796.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Sx8bJYeAJ5I/AAAAAAAABM0/6qDdHcewuPs/s400/IMG_0796.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413075125123688338" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SyV5RT2mM_I/AAAAAAAABNE/eghzRi7WuJg/s1600-h/n705788505_1672904_8006602.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SyV5RT2mM_I/AAAAAAAABNE/eghzRi7WuJg/s400/n705788505_1672904_8006602.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414867465276896242" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Sx8SKBMIijI/AAAAAAAABLc/OVEhIUUN5jg/s1600-h/IMG_0707.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Sx8SKBMIijI/AAAAAAAABLc/OVEhIUUN5jg/s400/IMG_0707.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413065240449944114" border="0" /></a>There are many house tours going on for the Holidays and I have linked up to the ones below! Enjoy checking out other <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">bloggers</span>' homes decorated for Christmas and thanks for stopping by!<br /></div></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://theinspiredroom.net/2009/12/10/my-house-tour-ill-be-home-for-christmas/"><img class="aligncenter" alt="" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2506/4118104865_c4fc90c13c.jpg" width="225" height="225" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/2009/12/myyyy-christmas-treee-link-yours-up-too.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Funky Junks Christmas Trees Unite" src="http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b243/signmakergirl/funkyjunkxmastree2-1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" href="http://southernhospitalityblog.com/home-for-the-holidays-2009/#more-3424"><img src="http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/qq44/joannabrittain/homefortheholidayscopy2.png" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://hookedonhouses.net/2009/12/10/hooked-on-holiday-house-tours-party-time/"><img src="http://hookedonhouses.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/Hooked-on-Holiday-House-Tours1.jpg" ps="true" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thenester.com/2009/12/christmas-tour.html"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412854855527509026" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 125px; cursor: pointer; height: 125px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVn4CtNqkp29i0JY6fvs9VliotSb5vZFFlLySEou6TqAs-6fdzi25zAKkJvDJCr1J0x1yjCDK2B8m3css7c1kpt3JjFYsj7DksrwewAHfJGf-Wq3WcjIfTmhIZ5R4Fw79Nncgbh09EXcs/s400/-1-12.png" border="0" /></a><a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/"><img title="155" style="border-width: 0px; display: inline; width: 126px; height: 162px;" alt="155" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/SyWOiRaGx-I/AAAAAAAAGDw/oAYzzvwWatU/155_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><img src="file:///C:/Users/KIERST%7E1/AppData/Local/Temp/moz-screenshot.png" alt="" /><img class="centered" alt="post signature" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/BLOG%20DESIGN/kierstensignaturecopy.jpg" />The Pretty Neat Companyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06983248419546166667noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8771663646664512361.post-39647118805936255692009-12-05T18:07:00.000-08:002009-12-05T20:01:58.046-08:00Advent Calendar<div align="justify">I saw this in Joanne's after Christmas last year. I yanked the silver plastic knobs out of the holes before I took this picture but most of them were missing. Which is why I got this item with a price tag of $50 for $4! Yes, $4!!!! The challenge was on ~ I wanted to alter it completely and have fun with it! <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Sj7bq2liWaI/AAAAAAAABEo/Gx9M96mm7_8/s1600-h/IMG_4764.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349954936616671650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Sj7bq2liWaI/AAAAAAAABEo/Gx9M96mm7_8/s400/IMG_4764.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />I painted it with my green wall paint. Then, in order to put new knobs on this, I had to drill all the way through the holes. And then there were some brads I wanted to use and they need to fit into the doors so I had to drill for those as well.<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Sj7bqp0d3bI/AAAAAAAABEg/K-LJ3qj38As/s1600-h/IMG_4985.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349954933189631410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Sj7bqp0d3bI/AAAAAAAABEg/K-LJ3qj38As/s400/IMG_4985.jpg" border="0" /></a> I had to be patient and wait for the large order I placed from Scrapbook.com as I didn't want to mix stuff ~ I wanted everything I used to be from the same line so that my over the top project pulled together well. I ended up buying "We Are Memory Makers" White-Out Christmas Collection.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">Many hours later, here it is!</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Sj7bqbR8aYI/AAAAAAAABEY/vrhstzzYots/s1600-h/IMG_5479.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349954929286736258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Sj7bqbR8aYI/AAAAAAAABEY/vrhstzzYots/s400/IMG_5479.jpg" border="0" /></a> Here's the back<br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Sj7bp-BU-KI/AAAAAAAABEQ/E-KPaVblm0c/s1600-h/IMG_5482.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349954921432414370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Sj7bp-BU-KI/AAAAAAAABEQ/E-KPaVblm0c/s400/IMG_5482.jpg" border="0" /></a> Close up of the side. I used 'frosting' as well ~ the stick on '<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">bling</span>' that links together and it is so fun and easy to use! Another thing not from the paper line I mentioned would be the knobs. Those are beads. I wired them with a small bead behind the door to attach them.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Sj7bprWtUkI/AAAAAAAABEI/bMn5gfzYkOI/s1600-h/IMG_5488.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349954916421816898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Sj7bprWtUkI/AAAAAAAABEI/bMn5gfzYkOI/s400/IMG_5488.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />More close ups of the 'Glitz Frosting' which is the stone like embellishment I used. You may notice that some of the items are outlined in white. That is a huge trick of mine. So that things don't appear cluttered, I use a white gel pen to outline embellishments. It makes them pop and cleans them up too!<br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Sj7aOL1h-SI/AAAAAAAABEA/XYnPCxWH_sc/s1600-h/IMG_5495.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349953344593066274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Sj7aOL1h-SI/AAAAAAAABEA/XYnPCxWH_sc/s400/IMG_5495.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />The big door is so cute!<br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Sj7aNz2Y2gI/AAAAAAAABD4/PsBmSA1Xhro/s1600-h/IMG_5499.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349953338154211842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Sj7aNz2Y2gI/AAAAAAAABD4/PsBmSA1Xhro/s400/IMG_5499.jpg" border="0" /></a> More details including a bead<br /><br /><div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Sj7aNEoPDcI/AAAAAAAABDo/RWe_BXf4J_Q/s1600-h/IMG_5505.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349953325478383042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Sj7aNEoPDcI/AAAAAAAABDo/RWe_BXf4J_Q/s400/IMG_5505.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />One of the cute little doors!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Sj7aMhJrLYI/AAAAAAAABDg/PXP-qLrVfxo/s1600-h/IMG_5513.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349953315954961794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Sj7aMhJrLYI/AAAAAAAABDg/PXP-qLrVfxo/s400/IMG_5513.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />I love my new advent calendar and hope you enjoyed seeing it!<br /><br /><br /><p><img class="centered" alt="post signature" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/BLOG%20DESIGN/kierstensignaturecopy.jpg" /></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div>The Pretty Neat Companyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06983248419546166667noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8771663646664512361.post-22028053109136925012009-11-15T19:28:00.000-08:002010-02-05T10:41:25.820-08:00Family Values CanvasI just completed a project that I am very proud of! I was very inspired by a Family Rules canvas that I saw at <a href="http://lindseycheney.blogspot.com/">The Pleated Poppy</a> a few months ago. After a few weeks of thinking about it, I stumbled across it again and was even more inspired when I saw the others who ran with her inspiration and made their own and then posted a link to theirs in her comments. If you like this project, you have to check out her original canvas as well as all the others as everyone has put their own twist on it! The link to her post is~<div align="justify"> </div><div align="center"><a href="http://lindseycheney.blogspot.com/2009/09/family-rules-canvas.html">The Pleated Poppy</a></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="justify">Here is the canvas I made. I called it Berkoben Family Values because we have had many talks in my family about living by certain values. I know some of these are 'rules' but whatever! My friend Lisa was interested in making one too so we did it together and think we may have 30-35 hours of working as well as several bottles of wine involved in this project! It was so much fun to do this with someone else and I recommend you do the same! </div><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SwDRgBMQaFI/AAAAAAAABK8/jwucsCyADUo/s1600/IMG_0125.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404549900850456658" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 266px; height: 400px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SwDRgBMQaFI/AAAAAAAABK8/jwucsCyADUo/s400/IMG_0125.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> Our Family Values (Rules) are:</span></div><div align="center">We Work Together</div><div align="center">Be Creative At All Times</div><div align="center">Jesus First, Others Second, Yourself Last</div><div align="center">Listen to Others</div><div align="center">Share Everything . . . Except Bad Ideas and Germs (Lisa is a nurse so we had to add Germs!)</div><div align="center">Family First</div><div align="center">Hold Up Your Head</div><div align="center">Sing Silly, Laugh Often, Dance Silly, Smile, Say I love you</div><div align="center">Always Show Respect</div><div align="center">Encourage Each Other</div><div align="center">Be Your Unique Self</div><div align="center">Have Integrity</div><br /><div align="justify">Here is a close up of a part of it. I love the black dots on the last one! Everything I did was printed on a laser printer or from my Cricut with some details added on like chipboard or rub ons to keep it interesting!<br /></div><div align="justify"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SwDOHjALbHI/AAAAAAAABKs/Pkfr4UdrpYc/s1600/IMG_0139.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404546181894990962" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 266px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SwDOHjALbHI/AAAAAAAABKs/Pkfr4UdrpYc/s400/IMG_0139.jpg" border="0" /></a> My favorite saying on my canvas is Hold Up Your Head. It is a subtle nod to my 10 year old who is on the autistic spectrum. You may know that the puzzle piece is the symbol for autism awareness and I love how it speaks to a main goal we have for him, which is confidence, though many may look at this and not know what it means to us. </div><br /><div align="justify"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404542358521537954" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 95px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SwDKo_06ZaI/AAAAAAAABKc/YSw62iwuquk/s400/IMG_0159.jpg" border="0" />I had lots of fun with this chipboard swirl though it did make getting the layout correct a bit complicated!<br /><br /><div align="justify"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SwDOHYpyXzI/AAAAAAAABKk/FmWW60VfOmw/s1600/IMG_0142.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404546179116719922" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 266px; height: 400px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SwDOHYpyXzI/AAAAAAAABKk/FmWW60VfOmw/s400/IMG_0142.jpg" border="0" /></a>A few people have asked me where I put this so I took a picture while standing in my dining room so you could see! It is 12x24" and fits great on this wall. I love how from this spot you can see all the colors that are throughout my house-red, green, tan and yellow. This pop of creativity ties all the colors together quite well!<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404549898552850546" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 300px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SwDRf4oduHI/AAAAAAAABK0/LGziCqr7bkI/s400/IMG_0176.jpg" border="0" /> My friend Lisa's board is hanging in her kitchen. You can see that we did our own unique thing but also stuck with a few great sayings that worked and shared some paper! You only need a strip of a great piece of paper so this project is great to do with friends as you can share !<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/S2xloUIAAvI/AAAAAAAABO8/tG2jDzOi4PE/s1600-h/dgdgdg.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 216px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/S2xloUIAAvI/AAAAAAAABO8/tG2jDzOi4PE/s400/dgdgdg.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434830593600783090" border="0" /></a>Here is a picture I took after the 2nd day of work. One thing that I noticed on some other boards was the seams if the canvas was wider than 12". I'm kinda a type A freak and couldn't handle that, though I DO like how the wider boards look! But I couldn't deal with the seam so that is why I bought a canvas that is only 12" wide-just something to think about if you decide to do this! Look at the MESS we made! My friend's board is on the left and mine is on the right. You can see how we had our papers chosen and laid out so we could estimate the space we were using and then we would pick one sheet and saying to work on and just kept going until we were done!<br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SwDKo_aoTKI/AAAAAAAABKU/rysYYEUZ_9E/s1600/IMG_8954.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404542358411300002" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 300px; height: 400px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SwDKo_aoTKI/AAAAAAAABKU/rysYYEUZ_9E/s400/IMG_8954.jpg" border="0" /></a> Here is mine hours before I finished. I just had the header left and some of the chipboard details that I put off until the end so I could finalize the colors that I wanted to use on them. It was quite exciting seeing it come together!<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404551873506149250" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 300px; height: 400px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SwDTS16Bg4I/AAAAAAAABLE/dTJBp05J90Q/s400/IMG_0108.jpg" border="0" />I am one who likes to CONTROL everything I do and modpodge has a mind of its own so that part was a bit stressful but it worked out just fine! I was very cautious to get each piece down as flat as possible and we also sealed each piece with a spray sealer to help make the paper less porous. </div><div> </div><div>This was very fun and rewarding to make and I really want to thank Lindsey for sharing it on her blog and Nicole for creating this unique project!<br /><br /><p><img class="centered" alt="post signature" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/BLOG%20DESIGN/kierstensignaturecopy.jpg" /></p></div><br /></div></div>The Pretty Neat Companyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06983248419546166667noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8771663646664512361.post-81434537564073810552009-10-26T18:57:00.000-07:002009-10-26T20:41:11.106-07:00Home School Room<div style="text-align: justify;">I was contacted late spring and asked to complete a home school room for a Mom who planned to begin homeschooling 2 children that would enter 2<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">nd</span> grade and 5<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">th</span> grade. Above their garage was a room that had been a catch all and she wanted it to be transformed into a classroom over the summer! Most people work a home school room into their dining room or a side of their family room or a side of a home office so it was very exciting to work on a room that would be 100% used as a classroom!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">She wanted a central work space, lots of storage, two desks as they would each have a computer and wanted it grown up, nothing too elementary as she has older children as well and knows how quickly they grow out of the 'kid' phase! She needed this room to be durable and did not want laminate furniture but also did not want to spend a fortune. She knew what she wanted but she had not had time to look for anything so she did not have any furniture chosen and needed me to select everything! The only thing staying was the couch. Yup, Dream Job!</div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The room is large, 19 feet x 12 feet. When you walk in, you are opposite from the large window and it is just one big rectangle! Here are two pictures of it before. </div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SuZbcFGkUBI/AAAAAAAABJg/VrlFUhCF4Kk/s1600-h/IMG_7663.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SuZbcFGkUBI/AAAAAAAABJg/VrlFUhCF4Kk/s400/IMG_7663.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397101741414305810" border="0" /></a>You can see lots of boxes and that would be solid wood furniture that I found from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Ikea</span>! Yes, solid wood! It is there, I swear! There is a perception of a decreased quality from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Ikea</span> but for their price point, they are in fact quite superior to many middle grade brands and have very ingenious ways of construction even the simplest product to last longer than other items that appear the same on the market. I am with most of you who would not choose <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Ikea</span> for your Family Room or Master Bedroom but for a kids room or work area like a craft room or home school room, I think <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Ikea</span> is perfect! The parson chairs, desk chairs and laptops were all very affordable options from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Walmart</span>!<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SuZbb-04iPI/AAAAAAAABJY/CIj2ZrVOi_8/s1600-h/IMG_7666.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SuZbb-04iPI/AAAAAAAABJY/CIj2ZrVOi_8/s400/IMG_7666.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397101739729520882" border="0" /></a>I focused on zones to plan the space. When you walk in, the desks and individual areas are on the left, the work area is in the center, storage for Mom is on the right and in front of the window is a reading center.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SuZh4NXzn-I/AAAAAAAABJo/4-P_PBr2bMc/s1600-h/IMG_8825.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SuZh4NXzn-I/AAAAAAAABJo/4-P_PBr2bMc/s400/IMG_8825.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397108821740199906" border="0" /></a>Here is the desk area where they each have their own laptop.<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SuZWfDWgOiI/AAAAAAAABHs/BWWiY--4r5s/s1600-h/IMG_8822.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SuZWfDWgOiI/AAAAAAAABHs/BWWiY--4r5s/s400/IMG_8822.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397096294925744674" border="0" /></a>In between their desks is a bookcase where they have a printer that they share. One of my 'tricks' for craft or work spaces for kids is to use a utensil caddy for craft tools. You can see 3 here. If a pen breaks or marker leaks, this will wipe right down and can even go in the dishwasher!<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SuZnDBcCWvI/AAAAAAAABJw/fC1wUl9u-tU/s1600-h/IMG_8808.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SuZnDBcCWvI/AAAAAAAABJw/fC1wUl9u-tU/s400/IMG_8808.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397114505073416946" border="0" /></a>they each have a map above their desk, one of the world and one of the United States.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SuZZcgdc-gI/AAAAAAAABIo/NTVhfk4T-xA/s1600-h/IMG_8811.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SuZZcgdc-gI/AAAAAAAABIo/NTVhfk4T-xA/s400/IMG_8811.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397099549734795778" border="0" /></a>Right in front of each child is an in basket which is where they put the work that they have completed.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SuZWgo3WdyI/AAAAAAAABIc/ZQqnk1xhMbc/s1600-h/IMG_8812.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SuZWgo3WdyI/AAAAAAAABIc/ZQqnk1xhMbc/s400/IMG_8812.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397096322175498018" border="0" /></a>In the bookcase, they each have their own storage bins and set of notebooks and Mom grades their work and then files them here. If it is daily work, it goes in the subject folder, if it is a grade or represents that they have completed their required curriculum, it goes into their portfolio.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SuZZdBa0FBI/AAAAAAAABI4/qf8w3qkEovg/s1600-h/IMG_8810.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SuZZdBa0FBI/AAAAAAAABI4/qf8w3qkEovg/s400/IMG_8810.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397099558582096914" border="0" /></a> The low cabinet on the right holds baskets and storage boxes perfectly for LOTS of storage yet every spot holds something specific so she can find anything she needs quickly.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SuZZdTVLGPI/AAAAAAAABJA/cqBTzFtkWKg/s1600-h/IMG_8804.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SuZZdTVLGPI/AAAAAAAABJA/cqBTzFtkWKg/s400/IMG_8804.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397099563390277874" border="0" /></a>Here is a close up of the baskets and boxes--they are huge! <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SuZbbb8SXfI/AAAAAAAABJQ/mRRQ3_oqI_4/s1600-h/IMG_8797.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SuZbbb8SXfI/AAAAAAAABJQ/mRRQ3_oqI_4/s400/IMG_8797.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397101730365332978" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;">Here is another view of that area while standing from the window end of the room. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SuZWgPvbK4I/AAAAAAAABIQ/3CXIPeC-l4U/s1600-h/IMG_8815.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SuZWgPvbK4I/AAAAAAAABIQ/3CXIPeC-l4U/s400/IMG_8815.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397096315431365506" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">On the wall where the main entry door is, I have added a display area for their work. They both love creating art for their display wall and filled this up quickly! <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SuZWfQMOz7I/AAAAAAAABH4/VIrv3BJVve0/s1600-h/IMG_8819.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SuZWfQMOz7I/AAAAAAAABH4/VIrv3BJVve0/s400/IMG_8819.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397096298372321202" border="0" /></a>In front of the couch on the wall is a small bookcase that has all their books on it and they sit there daily to read while watching for the eagle that lands on the ledge outside the window. Their experience homeschooling is going very well, in large part to their ability to dedicate an entire room to becoming a classroom and it was an honor to create this room for them!<br /></div><br /><p><img class="centered" alt="post signature" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/BLOG%20DESIGN/kierstensignaturecopy.jpg" /></p>The Pretty Neat Companyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06983248419546166667noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8771663646664512361.post-26402890162445905212009-08-15T03:39:00.000-07:002009-08-15T05:20:43.084-07:00Have I gone too far?<div align="justify">Very soon, I am going to show you the completed pool house! <span style="font-size:180%;">FINALLY, right?</span> I had a great time finishing it and love it! </div><div align="justify"></div><br /><br /><div align="justify">While completing the details, I ran into an expense that I wasn't amused with. I custom made a bed skirt for the queen size bed in this space. Instead of sewing it onto a big square of white fabric which is the norm, I decided to just attach it around the edge with velco! Easy and simple right? Well, that velco was going to cost like $40! I needed many yards for this, of course. I have no problem spending money on something that I love or that adds value to a space or is needed. But $40 on velcro? That you will never see or ever use? What a waste! </div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">I am all about finding a shortcut if it's available. I am just fine with my solution and it worked great. <span style="font-size:180%;">But some of you may think I have gone too far.</span> The Nester, I am pretty sure, would be proud as this is certainly a spin on her 'mistreatment' mentality! But a few may think that this combination of frugality and craft skills is a bit much. Here's what I did. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:180%;">I HOT GLUED the bed skirt on.</span> Yup, I did. Rough edges and all. Will this ever be seen by human eyes ever again? Nope. When you sleep in a guest room, do your lift the mattress? If you do, don't visit me!!! I think it's pretty brilliant and it was FREE! Yes, I have some glue sticks lying around . . . that was no issue! Here is a shot of me hot gluing! </div><br /><br /><br /><div align="justify"></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370144996256133170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SoaWa_4wMDI/AAAAAAAABHY/k07LXy6eViY/s400/IMG_8106.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><div align="justify">If you wonder how I will wash this, well how often does one wash a bed skirt anyway? But I have already prewashed all the fabric (yes, it said dryclean only but I am wild and risky and dangerous like that) and can easily just pull it off, and wash and dry on low settings and then glue again! If I do this once a year I will be impressed. Tell me if you wash your bed skirts more often (this is the only skirt I own so I'm not up on this perhaps?) and if I'm crazy but I think it will be just fine!<br /></div><div align="justify">If you wonder how I did this, it was pretty simple. I used pins to space the fabric where it was needed and then stuck pins straight through the fabric into the box spring to get the edge hitting the floor correctly. Once it was all in place, I just started at one end with the glue gun and moved around the bed, taking out the pins as I went. I went through perhaps 6-8 glue sticks? I just sat in the middle of the box spring--easy! </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Here is a peek at the pillow shams that I made. I think you have to get your main fabrics as perfect as you can and that can't often be done with store bought items. I am a firm believer in spending money on the inspiration fabrics and then blending it with affordable and simple complimenting items. I'll show you the entire bed the next time but you will see these pillows mixed with simple items from Ikea! I think it's all about balance when you want to create something that looks fabulous but don't want to spend a fortune. So yes, this complete room will show you pillow shams custom made from $40/yard fabric and a huge queen size comforter from Ikea for far less than that! It's all about balance! The adorable Sea Horse pillow is from Stein Mart!</div><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370144986054003650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SoaWaZ4YC8I/AAAAAAAABHQ/58pMuBx3hoI/s400/IMG_8107.jpg" border="0" /></p><p>I will show you the rest soon!<br /><br /></p><p><img class="centered" alt="post signature" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/BLOG%20DESIGN/kierstensignaturecopy.jpg" /></p>The Pretty Neat Companyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06983248419546166667noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8771663646664512361.post-45600794687254232152009-08-02T19:21:00.000-07:002009-08-02T19:32:59.161-07:00Fall Hospitality Luncheon<div align="justify">Here are two pages I made to pass on to the new committee chairs for PTA hospitality. This event was done right before Thanksgiving. We normally do a Christmas themed luncheon but things get so hectic in December, we decided to do this instead and it went very well! Ham, Mashed Potatoes, fall inspired salad, vegetable, rolls, apple cider and other drinks and a great fall dessert buffet! </div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SnZKxTJsfEI/AAAAAAAABG4/wiU1YZ6ILqk/s1600-h/pta+-+Page+009.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365558216873507906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 309px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SnZKxTJsfEI/AAAAAAAABG4/wiU1YZ6ILqk/s400/pta+-+Page+009.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SnZKxK7yeEI/AAAAAAAABGw/Bq3X-VCMcdI/s1600-h/pta+-+Page+008.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365558214667696194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 309px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SnZKxK7yeEI/AAAAAAAABGw/Bq3X-VCMcdI/s400/pta+-+Page+008.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><p><img class="centered" alt="post signature" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/BLOG%20DESIGN/kierstensignaturecopy.jpg" /></p>The Pretty Neat Companyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06983248419546166667noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8771663646664512361.post-52739639528241141902009-08-01T21:04:00.000-07:002009-08-01T21:36:36.139-07:00PTA Events<div align="justify">I am no longer doing hospitality for PTA and thought I should post what I did do over the past 2 years! It was a LOT of work but so much fun and I really enjoyed it. We are weeks away from the new school year so it may seem like I'm in a sharing mood but no, I have to get these pictures to the new committee chair(s) and am in scramble mode! We pass on notebooks to help the new chairs understand the position and I certainly have LOTS of information but have I printed these pictures, NO! So I finally pulled together pages for each event and now just need to print! But why not blog first? That doesn't require me to leave the couch and it is midnight and I am watching Sex and the City. So a blogging we will go . . . </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">This is the Welcome Back Teachers Breakfast that we did 2 years ago. The school theme was "Reading for Treasure" and I had fun running with that!<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SnUULZt_pkI/AAAAAAAABGY/FQUTOg6iLP4/s1600-h/pta+-+Page+013.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365216717196731970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 309px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SnUULZt_pkI/AAAAAAAABGY/FQUTOg6iLP4/s400/pta+-+Page+013.jpg" border="0" /></a> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365216705516543202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 309px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SnUUKuNOHOI/AAAAAAAABGI/HNoQrdcrZDI/s400/pta+-+Page+014.jpg" border="0" />This last year's theme was Wild about Reading. We are in a rural area so t<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">he s</span>chool focused on camo for 'wild' and again, I had fun! I made that truck that is holding muffins and all the leaves my co-chair and I cut out and then twisted grocery bags into the branches to hang from the ceiling. That was a bit of work but looked great, don't you think?! </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365216695662689522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 309px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SnUUKJf4PPI/AAAAAAAABGA/7DaWJ-dqqKs/s400/pta+-+Page+011.jpg" border="0" /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SnUUK5bjHXI/AAAAAAAABGQ/tffn_N4U3Sg/s1600-h/pta+-+Page+012.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365216708529429874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 309px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SnUUK5bjHXI/AAAAAAAABGQ/tffn_N4U3Sg/s400/pta+-+Page+012.jpg" border="0" /></a> The new chairs (big job so we co-chair!) are working hard now to prepare for this years event and I'm sure it will be wonderful. We LOVE our school and our teachers so this job really is an honor as it's all about rewarding our amazing staff!<br /><br /><br /><p><img class="centered" alt="post signature" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/BLOG%20DESIGN/kierstensignaturecopy.jpg" /></p></div>The Pretty Neat Companyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06983248419546166667noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8771663646664512361.post-39276583310764123452009-07-15T07:10:00.000-07:002009-07-15T07:28:21.935-07:00Summer Crafts!I've been busy crafting! I attended the Memories Expo with some friends and then we spent a day finishing our class projects and doing other scrapbook stuff! We had a great time! Lisa is SO fast that she finished all her projects and offered to transform items I had into a wall hanging for the pool house! Here is what she whipped together in an hour! I would have done it very <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">symmetrical</span> and simple and it would have taken me 4 hours! I love how she is so creative and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">girly</span> with all the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">bling</span>! <div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358693200802651730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Sl3nExYknlI/AAAAAAAABF4/hMMcuw4tlMY/s400/IMG_8086.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Then I bought this Creative Memories Everyday Display that I think is 18"x18", it's the big one. I copied this before picture from another blog since I didn't take one so if that person sees this picture and notices it's hers, Thank You for being more focused than I and taking it! </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358693196990587378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Sl3nEjLtIfI/AAAAAAAABFw/SBTRDRVU7Eg/s400/DSC08599.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div align="justify">I tried to grasp Lisa's free flowing creative style and then did this! I'm working within square lines so not quite as cool as hers but I do love it! </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358693193302671250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Sl3nEVcb_5I/AAAAAAAABFo/EqJxbLSvpxo/s400/IMG_8090.jpg" border="0" /> <div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify">Soon, I am going to tell you about a project I did that may have taken my skills at craftiness and desire to not waste money a bit too far . . . I think The Nester would be proud of me! </div><br /><p><img class="centered" alt="post signature" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/BLOG%20DESIGN/kierstensignaturecopy.jpg" /></p></div></div>The Pretty Neat Companyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06983248419546166667noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8771663646664512361.post-40071519480103112542009-06-29T17:18:00.000-07:002009-06-29T18:44:23.019-07:00Warning, this is boring<p align="justify">BUT, it could be essential to a few of you so I will torture the majority to help the few who I have been told need some help! <span style="font-size:180%;">I was recently asked how to manage paperwork for a child with a medical issue. </span>Depending on how far back you have gone on my blog, you may know that I have a son on the autistic spectrum. The amount of evaluations, tests, reports, diagnosis’, etc. is unbelievable. The challenge of how to manage this began for me when he was 3. We had gone through 1 ½ years of figuring out what was going on, what seemed like a million assessments, pages and pages of reports and then ended up entering him into a program through out school system. Their evaluations and findings and then their plan for him was a stack in itself! For those of you in the loop on this, you know I am talking about IEPs. Now, I don’t know if this has the same name in every state but in Florida, that is my son’s Individual Educational Plan and I’m sure every state has something similar. It outlines what the school will do for him, how, when, by who, and on and on. Also outlines what they expect from him so I know what our current focus is. It must be done once a year but based on your child’s progress, they could do many a year. These forms are on top of every other assessment and testing that it done! James is going into 5th grade and we will be doing his 13th IEP at the start of school!<br /><br />As an informed parent, I want to be able to provide input in my son’s meetings. I want all his information at my fingertips and I want to be on top of it all! BUT, I don’t want to be crazy. I don’t want bags or bins or books of paperwork and I don’t want to be overwhelmed by it and looking for things while others are waiting on me. And it takes a while to get to the point I’m at but I don’t want his paperwork and issues to be a constant ‘thing’ in our lives. If I had to see his paperwork all the time, I would think about it all the time. I need it when I need it, otherwise I want it in order and out of my way!<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">So, here’s my system.</span> I will assume that you are into this many many years and will talk about how to catch up with yourself.<br /><br />First, in order to reach an end goal, <strong><span style="font-size:180%;">think about the point</span></strong>. Why do you keep the paperwork? You want to know what from it? Many questions come up over and over that you just need at hand like his birth (preemie? Issues? What medications did he have?) and diagnosis (who, when, what exactly) and then of all the evals and tests and IEPs what stands out as the important information?<br />-Change in services, label, therapist<br />-Need that was pinpointed for the first time<br />-specific scores from a test<br />-quote from a report that carries some weight<br /><span style="font-size:180%;">Determine when you look at each piece of paper what it is you need from that piece of paper. What sets each IEP or eval apart from the others. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">Here is where you want to start-</span></p><ul><li><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>Buy a notebook or folder that is Large and Durable</strong></span></div></li><li><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>Pull out all your paperwork and sort it</strong></span>-this is the hardest part. Make stacks doing the following:<br />-<span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Keep anything that has specific DATA pertaining to your child</strong></span>. You want to toss anything that is generic. For instance, the letter that was sent home to schedule the IEP and the legal document they give you at every meeting. Sure, keep one of those if you want it (it’s online if you need it) but it is not pertinent to your child’s history. Get rid of anything that is not specific about your child! Because we don’t want to do things twice, if you have a lot of paperwork, as you look at each document, highlight <strong>the date and the info from each that are most important and set that document apart from the others</strong>.<br />-<span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Sort Chronologically</strong></span>. After glancing at each paper, first set in a stack by year. If you have lots of loose papers like a 5 page IEP, make sure you sort it so they stay together. Once you have everything sorted by year, sort again so that you are now chronological. <strong><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></strong></div></li><li><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Recap this Data</span></strong>. Now that you have your crazy stack (or stacks if one will fall over!), go to your computer and open a new document.<br />-<strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Call it something that makes sense for you as you will use this file for a long time</span></strong>—mine is called James’ Overall Medical History. The goal is to have a chronological list of everything that is pertinent. If you fill this with things like “5-5-07 went to speech therapy” this will not work. The only entry you would want for speech is a start date with a specific therapist, test results, something huge that may have occurred and an end date with that therapist. If you are asked ‘When was he in speech therapy?” you can answer this quickly.<br />-<strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Start with your first item (oldest) as your first entry</span></strong>. Keep it short. This is not a story, it is a collection of data. For an example, here is what James' first entry looks like-<br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>March 26, 1999<br /></strong>Born five weeks early. RDS. Ventilator for 5 days. Nicu for 2 weeks. Had pneumonia—treated for seven days. Jaundice—phototherapy for two days. Slight heart murmur—presumed normal. Reflux—started on Cisapride (propulsid) and Zantac. Hearing test completed and was normal </span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:100%;">-</span><strong>Put that first document in the folder</strong></span>. After your entry, that paperwork (my example, this would be only his final discharge paperwork, not the daily reports or receipts or charting info or extra paperwork, just the recap report) goes in the notebook, so it ends up in the BACK! When you open your book and you are done, the top item under your recap is the most recent item.<br />-<strong>Make a tab for this item</strong>, if you think you will need to refer to this often. This is the only thing that I don’t have a clear ‘rule’ on. If it’s an IEP, I have a tab for it (label says, for example, 7th IEP, 9-05), if it’s a big test like IQ, I have a tab on it. If it’s a final report from an SLP that has nothing very interesting on it, I recorded the data, file it in order but didn’t put a tab on it. If I need it, I can see it on my chronological recap sheet and find it easily.<br />-<strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Keep going, recap and file, recap and file</span></strong>. </div></li><li><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Print your data recap and put it on the top</span></strong>, when you are done and it is ALL there. This is how my document looks. My header followed by each entry with date and then 1 or 2 sentences detailing each item.</div></li><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352924061000299954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SkloEo2QdbI/AAAAAAAABFg/qhE9oAVBdUY/s400/IMG_7925.jpg" border="0" /><br /><li><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>The next time you have a meeting, take your notebook and answer any question within seconds</strong>! <span style="font-size:100%;">Here is how mine looks with the tabs. You can see that it's simple, not grand but easy to follow and easy to find anything I need. </span></span></div></li><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352924055378411186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SkloET55PrI/AAAAAAAABFY/lNOvci05h8s/s400/IMG_7938.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><li><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>Behind all this, I have his year end report card in a page protector sleeve.</strong> <span style="font-size:100%;">Each sleeve has a grade on a file label sticker.</span> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">My son is entering 5th grade. When I get his 2nd grading period report card, the 1st one is garbage as the 2nd one covers that too! By the end of the year, you do NOT want 3 or 4 report cards as long as the data is retained in the final report card—throw the extras away! So the 4th grade sleeve has the final report card (shows all grading periods), final IEP report card (FL has a separate one), and his FCAT scores report. That's it! Here is a picture of my grade sleeves. If you look closely, you will see that I have an empty sleeve ready for 5th grade so what you see is the 4th grade sleeve behind it. Simple with not a lot of paperwork at the end of each year. </span></div></li><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352924053788130546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SkloEN-vfPI/AAAAAAAABFQ/WpoNv5hkDHw/s400/IMG_7936.jpg" border="0" /> <li><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>If your book is being made for a younger child or a child who visits other therapists and doctors with this notebook, you will want other documents.</strong></span> Use another page protector so that you can get documents in and out of it easily and copy his birth certificate, social security number, immunization records and insurance card. Those things are always asked for so have them available! Now that James is older, I took that stuff out but I had it in there for years. </div></li></ul><p align="justify"><span style="font-size:180%;">How to move forward is your next question right?</span> This should be easy now. When I get a new IEP or document, I enter it and make a tab and reprint my recap document. When he gets a progress report, I may just stick it in the folder for now but the next meeting I file it correctly and am updated within minutes. All documents should go here and you should continue with this format and it will always be updated.<br /><br />To help you determine how to write your recap, here are a few entries from mine. You can see they are short, precise, specific. In order to be respectful of his privacy, these scores are quite old and I'm sharing generic stuff from the last several years! There are entries with some pretty serious tests listing lots of scores and they are very at a glance so I and any professional can quickly grasp his results. In case you wonder, he is mainstreamed, very smart, adorable and a bit quirky but hey, I think I am too so whatever! He is the sweetest child you could meet and one of the reasons he is doing so well is because of these insane reports and all the school does for him! </p><p align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>October 26, 2001 </strong>Arnold Palmer. Updated Speech evaluation completed using The Rossetti Infant-Toddler Language Scale. Completed at 31 months. Findings—Pragmatics 18-21 months 100% (highest level of test), Gesture 24-27 months 100% (highest level of test), Play 33-36 months 100% (highest level of test), Language Comprehension 21-24 months 100% (same as before), Expressive Language 9-12 months 100%, 12-15 months 92%, 15-18 months 86%, 18-21 months 66%. Goals include identifying action words in pictures, understanding size, saying two and three word phrases. Email to family of progress included with evaluation for further detail. New OT evaluation also done. His play is at the appropriate age but he is behind due to lack of attention span and very low frustration level. </span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>February 13, 2003 </strong>3rd IEP to add OT and update his speech goals. He is using sentences, though difficult to understand, and has many words. The SP added precise goals regarding specific things she sees a pattern of (velar fronting, syllable reductions, stopping). His OT goals include working on writing skills, fine motor with buttons and zippers, new foods, and less pushing as this relates to sensory input. </span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>September 14, 2005</strong> </span><span style="font-size:85%;">7th IEP. Major change was for testing. Lots of accommodations—increase or decrease in time, variation in instructional methods, seating, get his attention before giving directions, outline of activities, break assignments into segments. Also special testing papers. Also flex scheduling, setting and presentation on and standardized statewide test. Goals increased to age level but the accommodations were the basis of this change. No Modifications made—full curriculum is required of him. </span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>April 24, 2006 </strong>OT evaluation. Pediatric Potentials Rehab. Poor visual tracking. Vestibular processing difficulties. Low kinesthetic awareness. Hyporesponsive to tactile, taste, vestibular and proprioceptive input. Hypersensitive visual and auditory input.</span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>November 26, 2007 </strong>Auditory Processing Evaluation. Disorder identified, mostly in right ear. Given a FM amplification system which he started using late December.<br /><br /><strong>December 3, 2007 </strong>10th IEP. Added alphasmart which he has been using in the classroom for a few months.</span> </p><p align="justify">You can see I'm not redundant with issues. There was a LOT more on his 10th IEP but it was nothing new. For us, All IEPs talk about how he has organizational issues but the only time I mentioned it is when a solution is being implemented as that is the one time that it really was relevant and not just everyday info about him. </p><p align="justify">I hope this makes sense and was helpful! Sorting and getting it recapped in a new document will be the hard part but maintaining it will be a breeze, I promise!!!<br /></p><p><img class="centered" alt="post signature" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/BLOG%20DESIGN/kierstensignaturecopy.jpg" /></p>The Pretty Neat Companyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06983248419546166667noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8771663646664512361.post-27040757489948819232009-06-21T20:33:00.000-07:002009-06-21T20:37:13.575-07:00How does this 'follow' thing work?So I follow lots of blogs but I don't have any of the auto notification things set up, on blogger or any other format. I know lots of you do this and someday I'll catch up and figure this out! I'm trying to clean up my tags and am editing lots of posts. So I wonder, every time I change something and hit 'publish post', do you get a notification? If so, you will think I am NUTS! I don't know how it works or how to fix things without hitting 'publish post' so if this happens, please ignore and forgive me! I hope to get these tags better organized and then will leave it alone! <br /><br />Kiersten<br /><p><img class="centered" alt="post signature" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/BLOG%20DESIGN/kierstensignaturecopy.jpg" /></p>The Pretty Neat Companyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06983248419546166667noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8771663646664512361.post-20677519881340144942009-06-21T19:35:00.000-07:002009-06-21T19:57:36.230-07:00Surviving the Summer<div align="justify">I'm home with 2 kids all summer while trying to work! Thank the Lord for Grandma! My awesome Mother in Law is so wonderful and helps so much. It is still a juggling act figuring out the schedule. As much as I love the summer, it is always a bit nuts for any Mom who works! So I thought I'd share my summer motto! Here it is, displayed in my kitchen for the summer . . . </div><div align="justify"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Sj7u039OHqI/AAAAAAAABFI/r9sbh7EM79Q/s1600-h/IMG_7263.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349975999504064162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Sj7u039OHqI/AAAAAAAABFI/r9sbh7EM79Q/s400/IMG_7263.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;">"Wine is the Answer, What was the Question?"</span></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">When I'm not working or out and about doing Mommy stuff, I will do my best to enjoy the summer with my kids and live by the intent on this dishtowel--relax and take it easy! <br /><br /><p><img class="centered" alt="post signature" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/BLOG%20DESIGN/kierstensignaturecopy.jpg" /></p></div>The Pretty Neat Companyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06983248419546166667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8771663646664512361.post-8312517434891383122009-06-21T17:48:00.000-07:002009-06-21T21:26:02.051-07:00Kid's Wall Art<div align="justify">When we moved into our new house, I did a LOT really FAST! My friends will tell you how nuts I was and how much I got done which is true, BUT the reality is that I rushed through a lot to get things pulled together. Here is an example. </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">My son Carter's bedroom is a super hero theme. He had quite the dress up collection so I wanted to do a hero's theme without buying Spider Man bedding or anything else that was expensive so that his room could change easily. So I bought some fun costumes the day after Halloween and bought these cute 4 x 4 inch canvases. He has a custom bed next to this area with some spaces to stash his favorite things so I decided to use "Hero's Hideaway" on the wall. I painted the canvases a color that is in his bathroom and used a red paint market to put on the letters and a black market to 'age' the edges and I was DONE! Quick, fast, easy and DONE! Here they are! I put them on his wall over the costumes and it was great! (Here they are on my floor as I forget to take a picture of them on the wall before I took them off for their makeover . . . )<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349949277244590386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 202px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Sj7WhbyFiTI/AAAAAAAABDI/JjPwzu0bwrs/s400/IMG_1568.jpg" border="0" />In the past year, I've been trying to upgrade some of these quick things. I knew they weren't as good as they could be but hadn't thought too much about them. My friend Lisa came over and told me about some Super Hero scrapbook paper and suggested I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">decoupage</span> them. I started looking for the items I'd need and didn't find paper that matched his room as most were like a newspaper print or the hero was big for such a small canvas. I was quite disappointed as it was a great idea. <span style="font-size:180%;">Now what??</span> Then one day, I saw wrapping paper and it all came together! I ordered letters from Uppercase Living and here is what I started with to redo the canvases. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349949280867713730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Sj7WhpR6AsI/AAAAAAAABDQ/sLc5X80fflY/s400/IMG_1569.jpg" border="0" />I left the sides the same color. Cut the paper with the letters in mind as I wanted them to fit well with the art. I then glued the squares on the canvas with a glue stick, blended the edges into the black edges of each canvas by rubbing on black ink and placed the letters on. They didn't "pop" enough so I used one of my favorite tricks--a white gel pen! I just outlined each letter with the white pen and they look great! <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349949273306317842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Sj7WhNHIRBI/AAAAAAAABDA/NKr360W43LU/s400/IMG_7251.jpg" border="0" />Here is the entire area! The uniforms are hung with wig forms. When I was planning, I was trying to figure out how to get these on the wall. I started searching for 'hat stands' and then 'wall hat stands' online and that eventually led me to wig stands and forms on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">ebay</span>! They mount on the wall and are made for stores to sell wigs and are perfect! <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Sj7YToqHlOI/AAAAAAAABDY/3Rn6oQjtv5o/s1600-h/IMG_7249.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349951239205917922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Sj7YToqHlOI/AAAAAAAABDY/3Rn6oQjtv5o/s400/IMG_7249.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />I STILL need to do roman shades on his 3 windows. We've been here 2 years and I am still NOT DONE! No one ever is though, right? I plan to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">decoupage</span> a cornice in James' room and have FINALLY had the main part cut but have I finished it yet? No. </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:180%;">This week is a good project week for me as I am home all week while family is visiting so I hope to get more up soon and hope to have a fun, busy and creative summer! I hope you are able to do the same . . . Perhaps there is a cornice board in my future? </span><br /><br /><br /><p><img class="centered" alt="post signature" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/BLOG%20DESIGN/kierstensignaturecopy.jpg" /></p><br /></div>The Pretty Neat Companyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06983248419546166667noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8771663646664512361.post-11632276328803294152009-06-09T19:47:00.000-07:002009-06-21T20:44:46.540-07:00Attacking Two Boys' Massive Messes!!!<div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center">Oh Boy! If I were a fake person who wanted to carry on the "Martha" persona that gets randomly thrown at me, I would NOT post this. I cleaned out my boys' rooms today on my first day at home in forever! What a fun way to relax on my day off!<br /></div><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="justify">But I'm an organizer and you know what, people constantly admit they don't want me to see their closets or I'll 'flip' when I see their house or they have to clean before I come over and guess what, we all have to deal with things getting out of hand! My boys' rooms are my 'issue'. My bedroom is on the lower floor so I avoid their wing at times as it stresses me out! I've been promising them that we were going to ATTACK and today we did! So, here's how it went! </div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="justify">Phase 1--The Before!</div><p align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Si8jfNKKUGI/AAAAAAAABCw/Gufj4bvkBF4/s1600-h/untitled.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Si8jfNKKUGI/AAAAAAAABCw/Gufj4bvkBF4/s400/untitled.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="justify"></div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="justify">What? Where's the picture? Oops! Okay so it was bad. You could walk through their rooms but it was bad. Their closets were mounds of toys and not one bin was holding the correct items as they were just throwing stuff wherever. It was a mound of toys. </div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="justify">Phase 2--Empty your room!</div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="justify">Seems drastic but it is the best visual for them to not only see their room clean but when you have 2 kids the same sex, sorting <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">legos</span> in one central area just makes more sense. So I had them bring everything out to the loft area. Start with one bin and if it's mostly <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">legos</span>, get the rest out and fill it with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">legos</span>! See lots of kinetics, start a bin and keep going! Oh and USE the trash bags! So here is the loft after they sorted for 4-5 hours and I joined for the last 3. Full on rushing, craziness--no sitting. This was WORK. </div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"></div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Si8e7BxW8NI/AAAAAAAABB4/tgfkia84Awc/s1600-h/IMG_7239.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Si8e7BxW8NI/AAAAAAAABB4/tgfkia84Awc/s400/IMG_7239.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Si8e7T_oBaI/AAAAAAAABCA/ujRDcfByqDc/s1600-h/IMG_7238.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Si8e7T_oBaI/AAAAAAAABCA/ujRDcfByqDc/s400/IMG_7238.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><p align="center">Here is the bar where there are bags that I'm getting rid of that we never use and I think you can see 5 garbage bags. There are 2 in the loft area and some in both the bedrooms and we ended up with 9 bags total!!! </p><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Si8e7tTbNHI/AAAAAAAABCI/rbTqXvqWs10/s1600-h/IMG_7241.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Si8e7tTbNHI/AAAAAAAABCI/rbTqXvqWs10/s400/IMG_7241.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><p align="center">Phase 3--put it all away!</p><p align="center">They picked their bins by priority and I inspected each bin to make sure it was sorted by like items and confirmed they were playing with those items. Once "approved" (they loved this) they put it away. Carter had 2 huge bins of matchbox cars. He is almost 8 and hardly ever touches them! So I made him sort down to one bin by picking his favorites and that was it! I worked all day and still need to organize their bookcases but the closets are done! Woo <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">hoo</span>! James, who is usually the messy one, got rid of a LOT! He is 10 now and doesn't need all the matchbox stuff like he used to. He is a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">legos</span> freak and has TONS--the bottom two bins are just <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">legos</span>. I hope that this cleaner area will really help make things easier for him to manage. I am OVER small parts and I worked hard to get rid of stuff that wasn't used often!<br /></p><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Si8fvv9eCEI/AAAAAAAABCY/h6HhKYDUwsE/s1600-h/IMG_7243.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Si8fvv9eCEI/AAAAAAAABCY/h6HhKYDUwsE/s400/IMG_7243.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><p align="center">Carter seemed neater but he has stuff stashed everywhere and had to keep more than James. He has a fun built in bed with lots of niches and places to stash stuff and I'm going to need to watch him so he doesn't let this get crazy again.<br /><br /></p><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Si8fvmGCDCI/AAAAAAAABCg/2ixYqWGxcZE/s1600-h/IMG_7244.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Si8fvmGCDCI/AAAAAAAABCg/2ixYqWGxcZE/s400/IMG_7244.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><p align="center">I love clear MATCHING bins for kids rooms. Look at how clean this looks. Imagine if I had the same system but some had a green lid, 3 had blue lids with a big curve, some were colored, etc. It is an initial investment but if you get good bins, they last forever! I have the clear shoe boxes from The Container Store, which I ordered by the case online, and they are used throughout my house and are the ONLY bins. Super easy long term and kids need to SEE what's on the bottom of their bins and boxes!!!<br /><br /></p><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Si8fv2gVFJI/AAAAAAAABCo/ODbB8jKO51Q/s1600-h/IMG_7246.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Si8fv2gVFJI/AAAAAAAABCo/ODbB8jKO51Q/s400/IMG_7246.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><p align="center">My cousin Wendy asked me about <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">lego</span> storage recently. We've done it all--big table, tried to sort by the kit, one big bin, sort by color but where we have ended up is a multi storage system. First, we have the 2 big bins in the closet filled. If I pick up, that's where I put things. But this fun thing is on his wall near where he plays and it's an easy place for him to toss them. If he had to walk all the way to his closet every time he found a tiny piece, it would be far worse. This unzips on the bottom so he can dump them all out and then it comes out of the holder so he can fill it and put it back on the holder and it's all picked up! There's a large lid bin in his closet with all his directions to all the kits he owns and he has a display area in his room for the things he has made that he doesn't want to put away. I think you have to make it easy to get to and easy to pick up or it won't work well. This works for us!<br /></p><p align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Si8e7qgzuCI/AAAAAAAABCQ/wTSswn5VI4w/s1600-h/IMG_7242.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Si8e7qgzuCI/AAAAAAAABCQ/wTSswn5VI4w/s400/IMG_7242.jpg" border="0" /></a></p>Someday I'll get photos of their rooms up but I am thrilled their closets are so clean now and had to share!<br /><br /><br /><p><img class="centered" alt="post signature" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/BLOG%20DESIGN/kierstensignaturecopy.jpg" /></p><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; BACKGROUND: 0% 50%; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial" alt="Posted by Picasa" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div>The Pretty Neat Companyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06983248419546166667noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8771663646664512361.post-56999673375957850522009-06-09T19:16:00.000-07:002009-06-21T20:54:08.849-07:00Weekend Fun!<div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center">We went to Georgia to visit my twin and her family for a fun filled weekend!</div><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"></div><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span style="font-size:180%;">Saturday was my <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">niece</span> Kate's dance recital.</span></div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"></div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Si8XnE38FAI/AAAAAAAAA_4/qBhGkzSe2lw/s1600-h/IMG_7092.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Si8XnE38FAI/AAAAAAAAA_4/qBhGkzSe2lw/s400/IMG_7092.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center">Kim and I at lunch before the recital</div><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Si8XnNVb6FI/AAAAAAAABAA/4URIHoq3h3o/s1600-h/IMG_7108.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Si8XnNVb6FI/AAAAAAAABAA/4URIHoq3h3o/s400/IMG_7108.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="center">My sweet family before the recital</p><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Si8Xm-GEWqI/AAAAAAAAA_w/q2UcsArZuXU/s1600-h/IMG_7079.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Si8Xm-GEWqI/AAAAAAAAA_w/q2UcsArZuXU/s400/IMG_7079.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center">Adorable Chloe! Remember the dress as my decor on the wall for the baby shower? </div><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Si8Y7cpkFmI/AAAAAAAABBo/RfGD3qXxxyM/s1600-h/4594_90681886522_715846522_2044398_2778289_n.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Si8Y7cpkFmI/AAAAAAAABBo/RfGD3qXxxyM/s400/4594_90681886522_715846522_2044398_2778289_n.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><br /><p align="center">Sweet Kiersten with her Mommy </p><p align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Si8bZPSuFRI/AAAAAAAABBw/4RUDb8S9JsY/s1600-h/4594_90681936522_715846522_2044405_1643323_n.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Si8bZPSuFRI/AAAAAAAABBw/4RUDb8S9JsY/s400/4594_90681936522_715846522_2044405_1643323_n.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">Kate dancing!<br /></p><p align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Si8Y7MoO7JI/AAAAAAAABBg/vpTWW9DHt9E/s1600-h/4594_90681916522_715846522_2044403_7108141_n.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Si8Y7MoO7JI/AAAAAAAABBg/vpTWW9DHt9E/s400/4594_90681916522_715846522_2044403_7108141_n.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><br /><p align="center">Kim & Eric and their sweet twins (Kim has Kiersten, Eric has Chloe)<br /><br /></p><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Si8XnfiDYiI/AAAAAAAABAI/lKRBxXRTLq4/s1600-h/IMG_7135.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Si8XnfiDYiI/AAAAAAAABAI/lKRBxXRTLq4/s400/IMG_7135.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center">Our cousin Wendy from N.C. came for the events! Here we are after the recital, relaxing!</div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"></div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span style="font-size:180%;">Sunday was the baptism of Chloe and Kiersten</span></div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span style="font-size:180%;">Now I couldn't blog without some fun decor stuff right? Here is what my caterer twin Kim prepared with two newborns at home for a 25 minute reception! It was beautiful and everyone had a great time at the baptism.</span></div><br /><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Si8X8AJEodI/AAAAAAAABAQ/_NUmsrplpbs/s1600-h/IMG_7143.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Si8X8AJEodI/AAAAAAAABAQ/_NUmsrplpbs/s400/IMG_7143.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Si8X8IlcllI/AAAAAAAABAY/cDIkdKiGJbg/s1600-h/IMG_7146.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Si8X8IlcllI/AAAAAAAABAY/cDIkdKiGJbg/s400/IMG_7146.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><p align="center">Yes, she made these, in her spare time.<br /></p><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Si8X9vlcIbI/AAAAAAAABAg/Nvs-qP0cgKY/s1600-h/IMG_7159.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Si8X9vlcIbI/AAAAAAAABAg/Nvs-qP0cgKY/s400/IMG_7159.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Si8X91oSBZI/AAAAAAAABAo/AS-a90HqYLo/s1600-h/IMG_7178.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Si8X91oSBZI/AAAAAAAABAo/AS-a90HqYLo/s400/IMG_7178.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;">The Twins holding the Twins!</span><br /></p><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Si8Y60Y_BgI/AAAAAAAABBQ/0qLxAiH94HQ/s1600-h/IMG_7187.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Si8Y60Y_BgI/AAAAAAAABBQ/0qLxAiH94HQ/s400/IMG_7187.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><p align="center">My sister's sweet family<br /></p><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Si8Y7ME_AWI/AAAAAAAABBY/0L97h6PBmEA/s1600-h/IMG_7196_0001.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Si8Y7ME_AWI/AAAAAAAABBY/0L97h6PBmEA/s400/IMG_7196_0001.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><p align="center">My sweet family</p><br /><p align="center">What a great time with family!<br /></p><p><img class="centered" alt="post signature" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/BLOG%20DESIGN/kierstensignaturecopy.jpg" /></p><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; BACKGROUND: 0% 50%; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial" alt="Posted by Picasa" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div>The Pretty Neat Companyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06983248419546166667noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8771663646664512361.post-54761822220862999992009-05-30T18:51:00.000-07:002009-06-21T20:42:44.078-07:00A few things in the Pool House<div align="justify">I finally had an ENTIRE day to craft for myself! Yay! <span style="font-size:180%;">This is what happens when an ADD girl with an entire day crafts!</span> I needed to laminate some labels and had no more chairs to move to so that's when I organized my projects again! I got lots done!<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341805687585780034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SiHn-IO2MUI/AAAAAAAAA_I/JE09dzXBxyY/s400/IMG_6960.jpg" border="0" /> My poolhouse is NOT done but I wanted to show you a few things! I haven't printed the actual labels as I still need to sort into all my new bins but the pretty tags are ready for labels once I get to that part! The tags on the metal buckets are laminated so I can changes things around and put on a new label whenever I want.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SiHn9y9yn_I/AAAAAAAAA_A/bn7NzgrgVmM/s1600-h/IMG_6962.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341805681877098482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SiHn9y9yn_I/AAAAAAAAA_A/bn7NzgrgVmM/s400/IMG_6962.jpg" border="0" /></a> Fun decor<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SiHn9fnoi6I/AAAAAAAAA-4/sdmpGO5FfDU/s1600-h/IMG_6965.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341805676683889570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SiHn9fnoi6I/AAAAAAAAA-4/sdmpGO5FfDU/s400/IMG_6965.jpg" border="0" /></a> More with some empty spots ready to fill.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SiHn9ETZlDI/AAAAAAAAA-w/oKNSnkDB7Bc/s1600-h/IMG_6971.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341805669351265330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SiHn9ETZlDI/AAAAAAAAA-w/oKNSnkDB7Bc/s400/IMG_6971.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />I started sewing but have lots to finish. This is part of some small curtains covering lower parts of bookcases for hidden storage. I am making pillow shams with the print fabric and bed skirt with the green.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SiHk4T6IfLI/AAAAAAAAA-o/2ZaxndaK_xA/s1600-h/IMG_6975.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341802289106025650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SiHk4T6IfLI/AAAAAAAAA-o/2ZaxndaK_xA/s400/IMG_6975.jpg" border="0" /></a> Here's my clock! The furniture is white so this is perfect right??? Ha! No way! This is my clock 'before' and I bought it at Walmart for a whole $4! This is my favorite type of decorating project!<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341805691398933170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SiHn-Wb-SrI/AAAAAAAAA_Q/ND4VBomOwC4/s400/IMG_6956.jpg" border="0" />Here it is after! The little sign says "it's 5 o'clock somewhere' in case you can't read it!<br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SiHk37vxIAI/AAAAAAAAA-g/V7QyP-rT-Fs/s1600-h/IMG_6987.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341802282620100610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SiHk37vxIAI/AAAAAAAAA-g/V7QyP-rT-Fs/s400/IMG_6987.jpg" border="0" /></a> Not a good zoom quality but I had to make sure you saw all the fun bling on it--it's quite fun to do something girly since I'm a Mom of 2 boys!<br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SiHk3iKM84I/AAAAAAAAA-Y/K8dTIYl1NT8/s1600-h/IMG_6981_0001.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341802275751654274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SiHk3iKM84I/AAAAAAAAA-Y/K8dTIYl1NT8/s400/IMG_6981_0001.jpg" border="0" /></a> Love my new stainless steel desk where I will do lots of sewing! Here's what I have on one corner.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SiHk3XLqlqI/AAAAAAAAA-Q/KJzcYjN1U7o/s1600-h/IMG_6992.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341802272805000866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SiHk3XLqlqI/AAAAAAAAA-Q/KJzcYjN1U7o/s400/IMG_6992.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Bedding isn't done but throw pillows are ready! Stein Mart has fabulous pillows!<br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SiHk3L4lRYI/AAAAAAAAA-I/5WW40Injl4k/s1600-h/IMG_6994.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341802269772170626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SiHk3L4lRYI/AAAAAAAAA-I/5WW40Injl4k/s400/IMG_6994.jpg" border="0" /></a>I sure hope I can get the room done so I can show you the rest but had to share a few details since I finally got lots done!<br /><br /><p><img class="centered" alt="post signature" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/BLOG%20DESIGN/kierstensignaturecopy.jpg" /></p></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div>The Pretty Neat Companyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06983248419546166667noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8771663646664512361.post-11979517445312802292009-05-24T08:54:00.001-07:002009-05-24T09:13:41.065-07:00Design & Cleaning Tip!<div><div align="justify">I know, that's awesome right? A design tip AND cleaning tip? It's all about my dining room table and things you should know. Ha! I fell in love with my dining room table in the store. I was building my farmhouse style home and thought it would be perfect! </div><div align="justify"><br /> </div><div align="justify">Well, let me tell you how wrong I was. Here's your design tip. <strong><span style="font-size:180%;">If you buy a dining room table, don't get one with pretty little grooves!</span></strong> The slats are gorgeous and fit into my style and match my wood floors that are in the room next to the dining room so aesthetically, LOVE IT! But crumbs and spills? Uggh! Seriously, how did it not occur to me that the bread crumbs from a Thanksgiving Dinner would be more work to clean than all the dishes? I do think that if the manufacture would fill the grooves with a sealer or lacquer that is used on the wood or something that it would be fine but my grooves are thin and DEEP! <br /></div><div align="justify">So this weekend, I have been scrapbooking a lot! I had some girlfriends over and one of them, Lisa, made an awesome wall hanging for my pool house, that I am still working on! Someday hopefully soon I will share that with you! One of her cool techniques is to sand the edges of paper and boards! As she worked, I knew my pretty little table was going to annoy me the next day! We all made a mess and had bits of paper everywhere! Here is an area of my table this morning! Check out the pretty stuff in the grooves. I have used a steak knife to pop crumbs out of these grooves before. </div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339421691860598866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/ShlvvUFdwFI/AAAAAAAAA94/Nh_xR4biR44/s400/IMG_6910.jpg" border="0" /> <div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">So I was cleaning up today and the perfect solution occurred to me! My boys had so much fun helping me keep our automatic vacuum thingy in the area around the table. Then I thought, why not use it on the table? <strong><span style="font-size:180%;">So that's my cleaning tip--use your automatic vacuum on your annoying slat table if I am too late to give you a design tip and you have one too-- it works perfectly!</span></strong> I am not freaked at what germs may be on my floor that I just put on my table because I just wiped it down with a lysol wipe after and I set my scrapbook stuff on the floor and then put it on the table so what's the difference? We don't really eat here much anyway--it's a clever cover up for my craft area as all my tools and such are in the next open area! I also love a good tablecloth so I would cover it for the random meal anyway! It worked great and my boys had so much fun watching it (there's a sensor so it won't even fall off, goes to the edge and spins!) that I thought I would share! </div><div align="justify"><br /> </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339421696318297922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/ShlvvksQ10I/AAAAAAAAA-A/eLCmmuhnMic/s400/IMG_6913.jpg" border="0" /><br />I'm going to scrapbook again in 45 minutes with a great friend so I may be doing this again tonight! <br /><br /><p><img class="centered" alt="post signature" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/BLOG%20DESIGN/kierstensignaturecopy.jpg" /></p></div>The Pretty Neat Companyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06983248419546166667noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8771663646664512361.post-69085878522706031732009-05-07T17:55:00.000-07:002009-06-21T20:50:04.452-07:00Altered window treatment<div align="justify">I am working in a home right now where we are making lots of changes! So many things that I haven't photographed but one big thing that has been happening is a new nursery for a sweet baby boy that will arrive in the next 2 months! </div><br /><br /><div align="justify">The homeowners knew someone who makes custom baby bedding. I sew but that seems like a LOT of work so I was thrilled they had someone who could design and complete this! I looked at fabric samples for them, gave my opinion (not only as a decorator but as a Mommy!), helped with accessories and they worked with the bedding designer. She did an amazing job! Here is the crib-</div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336932696235022754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/ShCYAs1BmaI/AAAAAAAAA9w/lZ4AA8jDjUY/s400/IMG_2315.jpg" border="0" /> <div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify">My client asked that she make a window treatment which is not something she normally does. There is one window and it is in the center of the main wall, so quite a focal point. She agreed to make one and described a balloon valance and made it and went above and beyond to complete the room for them. It was a great balloon valance but the homeowners just weren't so sure they loved it. This type of treatment is great in a bathroom or in a room where there are several windows that are higher off the ground with furniture under them. But one window that is the first thing you see when you walk into the room needs to be a focal point, not an accent. The husband knew it wasn't right but wasn't sure what he thought it should be and the wife liked it until he didn't but then also didn't know what to do so they asked that I 'figure it out'! My professional window treatment diagnosis? <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Whimpy</span>. Yup, that was my answer. Not sure why that was my only word but once I said it, they both were like, yes, it's just to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">whimpy</span>! This room is gorgeous and it needed a bit more "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">umph</span>" to live up to the amazing bedding that she made! Remember, she doesn't make window treatments and did this as a bonus! She did a great job! We could have started from scratch but we decided to highlight her amazing bedding and build on what she started by altering her design to create the focal point it deserved! So, here is the before: <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SgOEYU1c_eI/AAAAAAAAA8I/aYrL8awye4s/s1600-h/OldBabyscurtain.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333251937181433314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 276px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SgOEYU1c_eI/AAAAAAAAA8I/aYrL8awye4s/s400/OldBabyscurtain.jpg" border="0" /></a> And here is the after:<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SgODxsxs8FI/AAAAAAAAA74/9hD3hmqtkZg/s1600-h/IMG_6304.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333251273593253970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SgODxsxs8FI/AAAAAAAAA74/9hD3hmqtkZg/s400/IMG_6304.jpg" border="0" /></a> We found gorgeous trim to add to the bottom. I used the ties that she had used and trimmed the edges. The treatment wasn't much wider than the window and I didn't love seeing the brackets on the rod so the trim helped fix those issues as well. I hand stitched the pleating as the fabric wasn't long enough to function as a true shade anyway and think it turned out great!<br /><br />Here is the lamp I found for the room! It was $48 but it was wobbly so it was on clearance for $10! So I bought it, spent a whopping 25 seconds tightening one bolt on the bottom and then used my hot glue gun to add the trim. Quite the gorgeous lamp isn't it?<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336928298107900258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/ShCUAshzkWI/AAAAAAAAA9o/6CQkYZNdO70/s400/IMG_6685.jpg" border="0" /> Here is the expectant Daddy seeing the bedding for the first time!<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336924749184756754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/ShCQyHwl7BI/AAAAAAAAA9g/cUibPTw1xRg/s400/IMG_2316.jpg" border="0" /><br />Now all they need is a cute baby!<br /><br /><p><img class="centered" alt="post signature" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/BLOG%20DESIGN/kierstensignaturecopy.jpg" /></p></div>The Pretty Neat Companyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06983248419546166667noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8771663646664512361.post-4181467128918262092009-05-07T16:06:00.000-07:002009-06-21T20:58:53.892-07:00Teacher Appreciation Week--through a PTA Mommy's view<div align="justify">Wonder what I've been up to? Well I have been working lots first of all! Lots of decorating and 1-2 days a week helping a mortgage company organize and create new processes after a few years of neglected file and system management. But when I'm not working, I have spent lots of time this past month doing another 'job' I do--Hospitality for PTA at my children's elementary school! </div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><br /><div align="justify">I have held this position, co-chairing with my friend Kay, for 2 years and this was our last official event! We decided to do an Italian theme but dump the red and white checkered tablecloth and bring on a Tuscan bistro feel!</div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><br /><div align="justify">Here is the centerpiece on the drink table--tea, diet lemonade and raspberry lemonade were the options.<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="justify"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SgNyz-z_ErI/AAAAAAAAA7A/ulsuRPMTk2A/s1600-h/IMG_6514_0001.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333232621096735410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SgNyz-z_ErI/AAAAAAAAA7A/ulsuRPMTk2A/s400/IMG_6514_0001.jpg" border="0" /></a> Focal point on the buffet table. I need to now refill these jars with my cotton, sea salt and sponges in my bathroom! The entree was lasagna made by an amazing local restaurant and salad with Olive Garden dressing. To my friend Kim if you read this, the sign in the middle says "Mangia, Mangia!" Thanks for the fast Italian help this morning!<br /><br /><br /><div align="justify"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SgNwXgvYKcI/AAAAAAAAA64/kLlKGwbDikk/s1600-h/IMG_6536_0001.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333229932964751810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SgNwXgvYKcI/AAAAAAAAA64/kLlKGwbDikk/s400/IMG_6536_0001.jpg" border="0" /></a>Here's the start of the buffet-rolled silverware is just so much better than bins of silverware with napkins, don't you think?<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333249406808298114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SgOCFCdfEoI/AAAAAAAAA7o/2Sb_NMlYJjk/s400/IMG_6509_0001.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://localhost:49876/fa5781beaebd408e4404ef5a53586518/image/7e01acec6f04fc79.jpg"></a></p>The tables where our teachers and staff sat had fresh flowers and more food! Macaroni Grill bread, with pepper mills we bought from their local supplier and olive oil, was served hot to the table along with fresh grated parmesan.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333248683819682626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SgOBa9HkS0I/AAAAAAAAA7g/fnBi2rMmOBc/s400/IMG_6510.jpg" border="0" />When you were done with that, then you headed to the other side of the room where we had an ice cream buffet set up! Oh yes, how fun!!! I have done this for a couple birthday parties too and it's so fun and easy! I have lots of pieces from the Southern Living at Home, Gail Pittman Sienna collection and this is the first time I used this much of it and it worked so well!<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333248677627147458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SgOBamDJtMI/AAAAAAAAA7Y/plLt5O_9Jrc/s400/IMG_6523.jpg" border="0" />Here is our president during the last week of her reign of two years! She was our hostess, handing out our gifts! She's off to middle school and we will miss her!<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333249828394420706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SgOCdk_cyeI/AAAAAAAAA7w/XSAc2NaQEYU/s400/IMG_6517.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div align="center"></div>Here's the room (we took over the music room since there's no furniture in there!) with some of the staff on their break! No running lights were on--just lots of Christmas lights and it was a very nice atmosphere.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SgNwXA_Lj4I/AAAAAAAAA6o/mvEOSo62ai8/s1600-h/IMG_6543.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333229924441100162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SgNwXA_Lj4I/AAAAAAAAA6o/mvEOSo62ai8/s400/IMG_6543.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />A few of us during a moment where we weren't running, enjoying ourselves as everyone on our board is awesome. Don't be crazy jealous, but we have lots of fun during our PTA event too! I know this isn't the case everywhere so had to tell you how lucky I am to be at this fab school! Oh and yes, we are crazy where we assign a dress code for our volunteers to fit our theme so the all black was on purpose. Don't they look great? Last holiday, we did a Christmas Morning Brunch and yup, we all wore our PJs! FUN!!!<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SgNwWxC4SKI/AAAAAAAAA6g/BAZQHPCwHBE/s1600-h/IMG_6546.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333229920161646754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SgNwWxC4SKI/AAAAAAAAA6g/BAZQHPCwHBE/s400/IMG_6546.jpg" border="0" /></a> Here is everyone, except Christine! Thanks for taking the picture! </div><div align="justify"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333288874577044482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SgOl-XW1JAI/AAAAAAAAA8Q/f0DSC7Hwpfk/s400/eTALuncheonVolunteers.jpg" border="0" /><br />Here are Kay and I, at our last event together as co-chairs! We work so well together as I just fret about all the decor and do nutty things like sew table runners and craft labels and fill all my jars with pasta and she works her tushy off pricing caterers and making schedules and lists and it was a perfect match! We will both be on the board next year but I'll be doing 1st VP (fundraising) with another friend and she will be doing newsletter! I have been asked to share pictures from our past events and I think instead of spending time emailing them, I'll spend time uploading them so I can share them with you all too! I know this isn't organizing but it is being creative so you'll deal with it right?<br /><br /><br /><div align="justify"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SgNwWdb5HnI/AAAAAAAAA6Y/TZiV1HUZzsU/s1600-h/IMG_6547.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333229914897849970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SgNwWdb5HnI/AAAAAAAAA6Y/TZiV1HUZzsU/s400/IMG_6547.jpg" border="0" /></a> Oh, Kay got Macaroni Grill to give us tons of their paper! So we wrote a note to the teachers on each table, hoping they would scribble, play tic, tac, toe or do whatever and what did they do? Wrote us sweet Thank You notes! See why we do this?? I took lots of pictures but here are just a few examples of their notes to us!<br /><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333232621950723378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SgNy0B_l5TI/AAAAAAAAA7I/9G9mj3maDPI/s400/blog.jpg" border="0" />We all read each one and many of us took pictures! Their sweet notes meant a lot to us!<br /><br /><br /><br /><p><img class="centered" alt="post signature" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/BLOG%20DESIGN/kierstensignaturecopy.jpg" /></p></div></div></div>The Pretty Neat Companyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06983248419546166667noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8771663646664512361.post-31759117406315379822009-04-11T11:01:00.000-07:002009-06-21T20:45:45.286-07:00Craft Room Reveal!<div align="justify">Okay, FINALLY I am blogging! There are so many things to show you and so much that we did that I have been avoiding working on this! It has taken me hours just to upload the pictures! If someone out there can tell me <span style="font-size:180%;">how to blog without spending so much time on editing pictures and uploading on blogger,</span> that would be SO helpful as I do NOT know how some of you blog daily! </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">There are 2 things pending that I have been hoping would get finalized for pictures but I'll just tell you about them so I can share this fun transformation! There are so many things to show you that I think I will break it down into walls--here is a collage of the left wall, center and right wall, before and after! <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323512602533215618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SeDqgb9OvYI/AAAAAAAAA2A/A7a4IISj7KU/s400/4506448775.jpg" border="0" /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SeDqg2KAk_I/AAAAAAAAA2g/FPHzFbKl3PE/s1600-h/4506155280.jpg"></a>This desk epitomizes her challenge. Outdated furniture. Lots of stuff. Her scrapbooking supplies as well as products to sell to clients. Many projects that she wants to do at some point. Bins and baskets where she started a system but it wasn't quite streamline enough to keep her straight. Stacks of pending albums for herself and some that people pay her to create. Yes, she's cool like that--people pay her to make scrapbooks! <span style="font-size:180%;">Throughout this transformation, you will see areas that have been created to fix all these challenges that she has!</span> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323512607509439826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SeDqgufp5VI/AAAAAAAAA2Y/xwGUjPS4T18/s400/4506144209.jpg" border="0" /> Here is the left wall. This is where two items are missing. The glass jars on top of the bookcase will be moved to the right side and on the wall facing the desk at an angle will be a flat screen TV. To the right of the drawer cabinet above the basket on the floor will be a really cool magazine rack mounted on the wall which will balance out the space below the "inspire"! There is a picture of the rack below.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323509890829123426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SeDoCmEl_2I/AAAAAAAAA1w/sD9qcMT6LFc/s400/4505941924.jpg" border="0" />I had way too much fun making this and felt a little guilty this day that this was my job! <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323512604109305122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 167px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SeDqgh0_9SI/AAAAAAAAA2Q/tQemOdMRbbk/s400/IMG_5459.jpg" border="0" />This is her project area. She had boxes and bins of pending books to make, projects for clients, albums to start and she needed an organized way to handle all that. This cabinet now holds them in separate drawers! On the display board is a list of the 6 drawers and which project is in each drawer so at a glance she knows what she needs to work on. She can easily reprint and put on the display area as things change. This Simply Renee embellishment holder is SO handy for a scrapper (I LOVE mine!) and her business cards and current catalogs are right there for her Creative Memories clients! <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323509890501496434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 182px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SeDoCk2eznI/AAAAAAAAA14/LCtUhOa2fu8/s400/4505959378.jpg" border="0" />Here is the Longaberger Magazine Rack that she has ordered and will go to the right of the above items. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323509881437731650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 163px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 279px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SeDoCDFgu0I/AAAAAAAAA1Y/Zsr9nZT658I/s400/4506079365.jpg" border="0" />The cabinet in the corner houses her scrapbook paper, resources and her personal albums. She had a couple notebooks with references/resources and simply putting them all in matching white notebooks and printing coordinating labels makes them look great! <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323507584346740210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SeDl8VwV1fI/AAAAAAAAA1Q/21PhSecqgDk/s400/4505929164.jpg" border="0" />The desk has an open are to hold her papers, current work in progress and cutting systems! Her chair came with a boring gray cushion so I sewed a cover out of the matching fabric that I made a window treatment with. Goal #1 was that it was comfy and swiveled so she could easily get into her cabinets behind her and this one is pretty perfect! This window needed to be lightened up from the heavy treatment it once had and now the room looks so much larger! <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323503594441374498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SeDiUGMxeyI/AAAAAAAAA0o/G6BQU1qFPSk/s400/4505831113.jpg" border="0" />Here are the resource notebooks that she used to pull together pages from magazines and random idea books that she was holding on to! Resource Books are needed by all creative types who like to hold onto inspiration! <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323509885665194178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SeDoCS1asMI/AAAAAAAAA1o/7L0BleVQ86k/s400/4505897183.jpg" border="0" />Fun crafter items displayed for easy access. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323509887033085970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 324px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SeDoCX7jEBI/AAAAAAAAA1g/m6whkgfmPYY/s400/4505884070.jpg" border="0" />This is the bottom of her desk where there is open storage. She made the cute sign! <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323507571527577170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 257px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SeDl7mAA7lI/AAAAAAAAA0w/OCuwXlr5Nz8/s400/4505970657.jpg" border="0" />Here's the right wall! We needed Storage, Storage and some more Storage!<br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SeDl8HYW1dI/AAAAAAAAA1I/QPTyyagCbJI/s1600-h/IMG_4997p.jpg"></a><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323498299521975586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SeDdf5FnRSI/AAAAAAAAAzI/q_xUIAGkpJk/s400/IMG_5757p.jpg" border="0" />The left cabinet has often used supplies since it is right behind her desk. Fun labels transform this from utilitarian to gorgeous! <div><div><div><div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323498301091897010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SeDdf-76XrI/AAAAAAAAAzQ/hUPSzZ1sZA4/s400/4506041516.jpg" border="0" />The center has all the 'stuff' that was in boxes and bags before in these cute jars from Crate & Barrel! She had an amazing collection of handmade cards given to her by friends that we displayed on the display frames with more in the fun metal container below them. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323500023174851346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SeDfEOMe6xI/AAAAAAAAA0A/GmEd2HO1v9Q/s400/4506100771.jpg" border="0" />The right side of the cabinets is 100% Creative Memories products available for her customers. Come shop! <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323498292992006946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SeDdfgwv2yI/AAAAAAAAAzA/w6iaiEMlqc0/s400/IMG_5771.jpg" border="0" />Here are a few details:<br /><div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SeDiTnmmfLI/AAAAAAAAA0Q/x9VpQ3eCpdo/s1600-h/4506119595.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323503586228206770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SeDiTnmmfLI/AAAAAAAAA0Q/x9VpQ3eCpdo/s400/4506119595.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SeDiTXx8YzI/AAAAAAAAA0I/XJwVuSxIjtg/s1600-h/IMG_5462.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323503581980812082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SeDiTXx8YzI/AAAAAAAAA0I/XJwVuSxIjtg/s400/IMG_5462.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SeDfD9MwMVI/AAAAAAAAAz4/SOibpKLR9rU/s1600-h/IMG_5464.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323500018612580690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SeDfD9MwMVI/AAAAAAAAAz4/SOibpKLR9rU/s400/IMG_5464.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SeDfDlm0TVI/AAAAAAAAAzw/AKTVicJm-hs/s1600-h/4506015912.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323500012279450962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SeDfDlm0TVI/AAAAAAAAAzw/AKTVicJm-hs/s400/4506015912.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SeDfDg746FI/AAAAAAAAAzo/k8AOGnobieU/s1600-h/4505981693.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323500011025655890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 190px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SeDfDg746FI/AAAAAAAAAzo/k8AOGnobieU/s400/4505981693.jpg" border="0" /></a>These magazine bins are 5 for $3 at Ikea and are the only bins I would spend money on! Transform them to match your room and look at how amazing they are! Perfect for loose resources that you are holding on to.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SeDfDXKicdI/AAAAAAAAAzg/K6_Ovqow00c/s1600-h/4506006019.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323500008402743762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SeDfDXKicdI/AAAAAAAAAzg/K6_Ovqow00c/s400/4506006019.jpg" border="0" /></a> On the same wall as the door is a large closet. This closet was FULL of stuff she needed often, things she was holding on to and products. We worked hard at getting out the often needed items and getting this to function well for her.<br /><div><div><div><div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SeDcJK1PxHI/AAAAAAAAAy4/Pp9jVl0Y4-g/s1600-h/4506245738.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323496809636545650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SeDcJK1PxHI/AAAAAAAAAy4/Pp9jVl0Y4-g/s400/4506245738.jpg" border="0" /></a> Everyone has what I like to call their 'crazy'. We all just have something that we buy too much of or can't get rid of and some are even useful which is quite nice but still is just over the top! I have an awesome client who had an uncountable amount of free Christmas cards that were sent to her by charities that she donated to. They weren't even all cute but they were free and she had hundreds and hundreds and it was just 'wasteful' to get rid of them to her so she had saved them all in office space that she could really have used for something esle. So that was her 'crazy'--but are you ready, she is Jewish. Yup, never even used them. So, back to this client's 'crazy', hers is gift giving supplies! And she uses them so it's okay! She has LOTS!! We really had to figure out how to better sort her supplies and she loves her curling ribbon. This was an easy and affordable solution and she can get to it so much easier! <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323496804471118946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 270px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 385px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SeDcI3ltnGI/AAAAAAAAAyw/YTQ7C5nnYC8/s400/4506265706.jpg" border="0" /> She has lots of projects to complete, just like the rest of us! We created a section of her closet just for projects and added a list of all that she needs to finish. She can check these items off as they are done and then easily print this again and switch the sheet out as the list changes. If you do this, just use a removable glue or adhesive so you can switch out the basic white paper!<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323496796068773650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SeDcIYSb_xI/AAAAAAAAAyg/s54sVrND3_8/s400/4505860167.jpg" border="0" /> You can just see it at the top center but that box is for her son's school work. At the end of the year, she put it in a storage container with the date and this box is where she can now easily place new items as they come in.<br /><div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SeDcIpsnGEI/AAAAAAAAAyo/Z53AhyIS7R8/s1600-h/4505876801.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323496800741955650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SeDcIpsnGEI/AAAAAAAAAyo/Z53AhyIS7R8/s400/4505876801.jpg" border="0" /></a> This bin was here with gift giving already but we pulled out the gift bags (in their own bin standing up) and the ribbon so it really freed this up to be sorted better and is much more accessible for her.<br /><div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SeDcIcSjuFI/AAAAAAAAAyY/UjisceFVvkM/s1600-h/4505841385.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323496797143021650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SeDcIcSjuFI/AAAAAAAAAyY/UjisceFVvkM/s400/4505841385.jpg" border="0" /></a> This room was transformed from top to bottom and was so much fun to work on! <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323512602192803362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SeDqgasEdiI/AAAAAAAAA2I/tSpw87IWO3U/s400/4506535586.jpg" border="0" />All the furniture is from Ikea! I know, Ikea is NOT for everyone and I personally wouldn't use it in the main living spaces of my home but for kid's rooms, craft rooms, work spaces, playrooms- Ikea is AWESOME! This store is viewed as very contemporary but you can see there are some pieces that have a more traditional look and your accessories/paint/fabric choices can drastically improve upon the furniture's streamline look! There were many questions from my past post about this room, like where is the furniture from, and I may be forgetting some. I think some asked about cost and I think she spent around $2,500 on all the furniture down to the chair, new lighting, new accessories, storage containers, etc. I worked around 45 hours on this job and was there 1 or 2 days a week to start and then a bit more often at the end with the detail work. She worked with me 100% of the time which is great as I can move through organizing decisions quickly. At the start, I helped her get through the decision making process while sorting and determined storage needs and then would leave her with 'homework' of things she needed to accomplish so the first few weeks left her with lots to do in between my visits. Once we were getting into decorating, I'd start a group of tags and then show her what I was thinking and she'd bring out a cool corner punch or have an idea and we'd finish deciding and then she'd make that group while I moved onto another decision. She not only wanted to transform the space but really transform what issues were there that prevented her from getting projects done and wanted systems in place so that she could move forward without piles and stacks of things that overwhelmed her. <span style="font-size:180%;">This is the perfect example of the type of project I love--making things Pretty AND Neat!</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> And I am a firm believer that clutter in your life is clutter in your head. An overwhelmed space is an overwhelmed person, in my opinion. Both decor and systems were addressed at once and she is now ready to use this room to be more productive with her personal projects as well as her scrapbooking business and it was a pleasure to work with her! I wouldn't put someone's name on my page but if you want to buy Creative Memories supplies from her, email me and I'll get you her contact info! You can order online too so even if you aren't in the Central Florida area, if you want to order and have products delivered to your home and don't know a consultant, she will follow up on any questions or needs you have and is now who I shop with too! If you have more questions about this space, let me know and I'll do my best to answer!<br /><br /></span><p><img class="centered" alt="post signature" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/BLOG%20DESIGN/kierstensignaturecopy.jpg" /></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div>The Pretty Neat Companyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06983248419546166667noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8771663646664512361.post-77237197085247763602009-03-26T18:40:00.000-07:002009-06-21T20:55:03.534-07:00Craft Room, first B&A picture!<div align="justify">I have been a bad blogger! Work has been keeping me quite busy and I've been playing catch up after being gone for so long! I'm so sorry! I still don't have time to show you ALL that I want to show you but had to share one thing . .. </div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Remember the craft room that I showed you the before pictures of a couple weeks ago? Well we are done! She is really on top of her products and projects and simply needed a great system for tracking it all and getting to it all, on top of deserving to give the decor a complete overhaul! <span style="font-size:180%;">THIS type of job is what I love to do!</span> I love to decorate and I love to organize but this job is the perfect example of <span style="font-size:180%;">how I do both together</span> and I couldn't have enjoyed it more!!!! </div><div align="justify"><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317685973197910962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 427px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 180px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Scw3N-OJ87I/AAAAAAAAAyQ/DoD23MUc1hE/s400/sexton_collage.jpg" border="0" /> I have lots of pictures to show you and will get to that next week, after I drive 7 hours each way this weekend to camp with 400 people on an aircraft carrier, the USS Yorktown, docked in Charleston, S.C.! Here is a better view of the entire wall of new storage!<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317684692081531778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/Scw2DZsNW4I/AAAAAAAAAyA/jLNaASwIq1w/s400/IMG_5757p.jpg" border="0" /> Thanks for being patient with my slow blogging!!!<br /><br /><p><img class="centered" alt="post signature" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/BLOG%20DESIGN/kierstensignaturecopy.jpg" /></p>The Pretty Neat Companyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06983248419546166667noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8771663646664512361.post-57439188181848136982009-03-20T07:17:00.000-07:002009-06-21T21:00:26.493-07:00Where have I been??<div align="justify">Hi everyone! I mentioned to you that my TWIN was having TWINS! What a fun week I've had! I've been out of town this entire week as my new nieces came Wednesday afternoon. Here is my sister, Kim, about 48 hours before they arrived. To get this belly into perspective, compare it to her chest! Yes, she is HUGE!!! <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/ScOnuEi-sLI/AAAAAAAAAx4/7y2osqDrCPk/s1600-h/IMG_5531p.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315276395163594930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 323px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/ScOnuEi-sLI/AAAAAAAAAx4/7y2osqDrCPk/s400/IMG_5531p.jpg" border="0" /></a> I was blessed to be invited into the delivery room (C-Section) and was able to carry out one of the twins so their big brother and sister and family could meet them! Here I am with my brother in law Eric carrying out minute old babies into the waiting room. SO much fun!!!!<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/ScOngSTtOmI/AAAAAAAAAxw/5ObMrqtVq5c/s1600-h/023.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315276158339463778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/ScOngSTtOmI/AAAAAAAAAxw/5ObMrqtVq5c/s400/023.JPG" border="0" /></a> Here are Chloe Grace, 8 lbs 5 oz and Kiersten Joy 7 lbs 10 oz!! </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Yes, BIG twins! She carried until 38 1/2 weeks which is a HUGE success for a twin pregnancy. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315276148326431234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/ScOnftAaegI/AAAAAAAAAxY/0P7XsGFFbMw/s400/110.jpg" border="0" /> Here they are with big brother and big sister!<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/ScOnfxLE_tI/AAAAAAAAAxo/2Qe3qJVkzYE/s1600-h/109.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315276149444902610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/ScOnfxLE_tI/AAAAAAAAAxo/2Qe3qJVkzYE/s400/109.jpg" border="0" /></a> Here's Mom and babies.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/ScOnf22SA_I/AAAAAAAAAxg/_-YUoA8HtJs/s1600-h/080.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315276150968288242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/ScOnf22SA_I/AAAAAAAAAxg/_-YUoA8HtJs/s400/080.jpg" border="0" /></a>What a blessing!!! They are SO sweet and adorable and amazing and I am having so much fun cuddling with them! I live 7 hours away and head back to my own life late today. I will miss seeing them all the time and can't wait for my next visit with these precious little ones.<br /><br /><p><img class="centered" alt="post signature" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/BLOG%20DESIGN/kierstensignaturecopy.jpg" /></p></div><br /></div>The Pretty Neat Companyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06983248419546166667noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8771663646664512361.post-65450097575966351332009-03-13T17:36:00.000-07:002009-06-21T20:47:01.611-07:00I love my job!<div align="justify">I showed you the before for a craft room for a Creative Memories consultant a few days ago that I am working on. The other day, I headed off to work to start putting on the fun details of her room! So what did I do for 6 hours? Craft! Oh yes, my job is fabulous! Now I will say that some days my clients need me to clean out their garage too. Being a crafty girl who also decorates and also designs kitchens and also organizes truly brings me a new type of job every week. So it is always great to not be bored and have something new to focus on and I love a new challenge with every client but doing something this FUN was quite enjoyable!!! So here's what I walked into at 9 am. A pile of BLAH letters. We have a word to make, a cute sign to create using her new Cricut, the word "create" to alter and a big "E"! <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SbcIVGY2ygI/AAAAAAAAAxQ/63v6qPH6yXg/s1600-h/IMG_5458.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311723444091931138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SbcIVGY2ygI/AAAAAAAAAxQ/63v6qPH6yXg/s400/IMG_5458.jpg" border="0" /></a> After hours of contemplating and cutting and measuring and inking and gluing, here is where we ended up with our word by the end of the day! How fun is this?<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SbcIVGbdhuI/AAAAAAAAAxI/VH7qmT6M5w4/s1600-h/IMG_5459.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311723444102858466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 167px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SbcIVGbdhuI/AAAAAAAAAxI/VH7qmT6M5w4/s400/IMG_5459.jpg" border="0" /></a> Here's a close up of two letters:<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SbcIU2qUFhI/AAAAAAAAAxA/hin6aTm2Tz4/s1600-h/IMG_5460.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311723439870187026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 306px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SbcIU2qUFhI/AAAAAAAAAxA/hin6aTm2Tz4/s400/IMG_5460.jpg" border="0" /></a> We still have some shopping and final things we need in order to complete this room so you can't see it yet but here's a solution for her tiny craft item storage issues.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SbcIUv8d8BI/AAAAAAAAAw4/XmAOHOIY5o0/s1600-h/IMG_5462.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311723438067281938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SbcIUv8d8BI/AAAAAAAAAw4/XmAOHOIY5o0/s400/IMG_5462.jpg" border="0" /></a> And here's a spot where she now has a shopping center for her customers--an entire 'store' if you will of Creative Memories products. The little frame says "Be nice to me or I'll crop you out of my photos"! So fun!<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SbcIUS05EoI/AAAAAAAAAww/VAtSYOyTO10/s1600-h/IMG_5464.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311723430250877570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QHQ9tFSkW8/SbcIUS05EoI/AAAAAAAAAww/VAtSYOyTO10/s400/IMG_5464.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />I can't wait to show you the rest once we are done!!!<br /><br /><p><img class="centered" alt="post signature" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/BLOG%20DESIGN/kierstensignaturecopy.jpg" /></p></div>The Pretty Neat Companyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06983248419546166667noreply@blogger.com3