August 2012 Crafty Round-up

I feel like I just finished up my July round-up and it's already time to write one for August. Probably because I did just finish up my round-up for July - and also because August has flown by in a whirlwind of activity.

So the big news for us - we're moving to Denver, Colorado. It's all happened pretty quickly, but hubby was promoted to a new job based in Denver. Since we just moved to Lincoln from Kansas City about 18 months ago, I wasn't all that thrilled to think of moving again. At all. (In fact, I may have thrown a fit or two.) But the opportunity for Byron was a great one, and the move means we can stay put for the long-term instead of possibly moving from Lincoln a few years from now.

So, we're relocating to Denver - actually, just a little south of Denver to Castle Rock. After a crazy weekend of house-hunting, we've found a wonderful house in Castle Rock that's just 1 block away from the elementary school we wanted. We've already sold our house in Lincoln. Now all that's left are all the last-minute details leading up to closing.

I'm not anticipating a ton of time to be crafty this month - and I'm already mourning the loss of the month of September to put up my fall / Halloween decor. But I know that we'll be settled in our new home by the 1st of October, so it will all be worth it in the end. It might be a little quiet here on the blog from me this month. Just know that I'll be back...

So - what did I get done in August?

I did some paper scrapbooking...


I blogged 2 quick tips for making your own cleaning wipes and Box Top organization.


And we've kept going with our MightyCrafty Mondays link party which is growing each week, thanks to all of you...

So that's it for August. I'm looking forward to lots of change for our family by the end of September...

Featured Posts from MightyCrafty Mondays - Round 8

It's time to see what goodies were posted during MightyCrafty Mondays - Round 8. Thank you to everyone who participated - I love seeing your new creations each week.

Our link party is still growing, so please share it with your friends and followers. I would so appreciate your help in getting the word out. This week's link party is still going on, so be sure to link up your latest projects.

Now on to the featured posts from round 8...

Iuliana from hip2thrift shared her super hip and cute chevron wreath...

Midsommarflicka shared a great open shelf from her second-hand kitchen design...

And finally, Jen from Creating with the J's shared her super creative re-purpose of a shutter door and paneled door into a countertop and backsplash....

Thank you everyone for posting your projects. I'm looking forward to seeing what this week brings. If you were featured, please grab the badge below and post it on your blog.

<a href="http://mightycrafty.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdZssJHJ9UGPiMkAmASJkryhsar2l27PG2-PkiTLSQd4sDqGzNOeTyfrdrXbgdY5PbsLafzmnhLSWoYXi8dkWjtoCDAv1i8syswTJ-JMwxvbuWfFcsoB9NGKcXb7djMaIddUjl/s1600/MightyCraftyMondaysFeatured.jpg" alt="I was featured at MightyCrafty Mondays at MightyCrafty.me" width="175" height="175" /></a>

Back to School Quick Tip

Do you have a million of these cluttering up your junk drawer?

School has been in session for 2 weeks here in Nebraska - and I imagine for most everyone else too. And with the start of the new year, it's time once again to clip and collect Box Tops.

I used to have a crazy mess of Box Tops scattered around my junk drawer - but no longer! Now, I keep a little basket and a pair of scissors in my junk drawer to make clipping and collecting those Box Tops super easy.

And when it's time to turn them in - i.e. the basket is full or the school has asked us to send them in - I can put them in a baggie and send them in one of the boys' backpacks.

Do you have a quick tip for back to school organization? I'd love to hear it...

MightyCrafty Mondays - Round 9

It's time for the ninth round of MightyCrafty Mondays...

Here are the Pin-up Party rules:

1. Share your crafty project in the linky list below. Anything goes! Recipes, home decor, scrapbooking, cards, knitting - anything you've made with your own 2 hands and want to share with us.
• Link directly to your original post - not the homepage of your blog.
• You *must* be the creator/owner of the project you're linking up.
• Don't link up to a store or a giveaway.
• Don't link up to a post that's just a collection of someone else's photos from Pinterest or Google. 
2. Link back to this blog in your original post. Grab the link party graphic below. (I'd also love it if you'd leave me a comment here too...)
3. Visit the projects in the linky list and pin them to your Pinterest boards. (You can also leave some comment love if you have time.)

<a href="http://mightycrafty.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0nfNouaZALh3m7t9sa5obJXKmhguwNMMnjTGT5jccb0EzvtfH4ajjO_EArVR25SkA4jD0RUzAhW36A5W_snfOr5hfk4ElrMN7KCf4TlrMmtdU7RlkVKFpQL8tW1YYWwF7NWg5/s1600/MightyCraftyMondaysButton.jpg" alt="MightyCrafty.me" width="125" height="125" /></a>

I'll be visiting / pinning / commenting on all the blogs who participate - and featuring the top views too. This is a fun way to share what we're working on and get lots of new ideas. I love to see all the creativity going on. Have fun and pin on!

Featured Posts from MightyCrafty Mondays - Round 7

It's time to see what goodies were posted during MightyCrafty Mondays - Round 7. Thank you to everyone who participated! I love seeing your new creations each week.

Our link party is still growing, so please share it with your friends and followers. I would so appreciate your help in getting the word out. This week's link party is still going on, so be sure to link up your latest projects.

Now on to the featured posts from round 7...

Iuliana from hip2thrift shared her amazingly beautiful sunburst mirror made from old window blinds. So love this...

Onelmon shared her adorable tape marker monster. What an adorable project made from felt...

Thank you everyone for posting your projects. I'm looking forward to seeing what this week brings. If you were featured, feel free to grab the badge below and post it on your blog.

<a href="http://mightycrafty.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdZssJHJ9UGPiMkAmASJkryhsar2l27PG2-PkiTLSQd4sDqGzNOeTyfrdrXbgdY5PbsLafzmnhLSWoYXi8dkWjtoCDAv1i8syswTJ-JMwxvbuWfFcsoB9NGKcXb7djMaIddUjl/s1600/MightyCraftyMondaysFeatured.jpg" alt="I was featured at MightyCrafty Mondays at MightyCrafty.me" width="175" height="175" /></a>

MightyCrafty Mondays - Round 8

I can't believe it, but it's already time for the eighth round of MightyCrafty Mondays. I have had so much fun hosting this link party. Don't forget to spread the word to your friends and followers. I so appreciate your help in getting the word out.

Here are the Pin-up Party rules:

1. Share your crafty project in the linky list below. Anything goes! Recipes, home decor, scrapbooking, cards, knitting - anything you've made with your own 2 hands and want to share with us.
• Link directly to your original post - not the homepage of your blog.
• You *must* be the creator/owner of the project you're linking up.
• Don't link up to a store or a giveaway.
• Don't link up to a post that's just a collection of someone else's photos from Pinterest or Google. 
2. Link back to this blog in your original post. Grab the link party graphic below. (I'd also love it if you'd leave me a comment here too...)
3. Visit the projects in the linky list and pin them to your Pinterest boards. (You can also leave some comment love if you have time.)

<a href="http://mightycrafty.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0nfNouaZALh3m7t9sa5obJXKmhguwNMMnjTGT5jccb0EzvtfH4ajjO_EArVR25SkA4jD0RUzAhW36A5W_snfOr5hfk4ElrMN7KCf4TlrMmtdU7RlkVKFpQL8tW1YYWwF7NWg5/s1600/MightyCraftyMondaysButton.jpg" alt="MightyCrafty.me" width="125" height="125" /></a>

I'll be visiting / pinning / commenting on all the blogs who participate - and featuring the top views too. This is a fun way to share what we're working on and get lots of new ideas. I love to see all the creativity going on. Have fun and pin on!

July 2012 Crafty Round-up

We're already midway into August and I'm just now getting my round-up done for July. Oh well. We've been crazy busy with a relocation to Denver in the works (crazy!), so I haven't been able to do too much crafting over the last few months.

I did do some paper scrapping this month...


I posted some Lightroom tips...

I recovered an old, stained ottoman for our family room...

And finally, I started MightyCrafty Mondays here on the blog. It's been really fun to see everyone's projects each week. If you haven't been linking, I encourage you to do so. And share it with your followers and friends too.

That's it for my crafty endeavors. What have you been up to this month? :)

Featured Posts from MightyCrafty Mondays - Round 6

It's time to see what goodies were posted during MightyCrafty Mondays - Round 6. I want to thank everyone for participating! I truly love seeing your new creations each week. Remember, our link party is still growing, so please share it with your friends and followers. I would so appreciate your help in getting the word out. This week's link party is still going on, so be sure to link up your latest projects.

Now on to the featured posts from round 6...

Marice from I Gotta Try That shared her colorful carrots - they look delicious. What a green thumb...

Midsommarflicka shared her second-hand kitchen - so many cute touches in this kitchen remodel...

And Onelmon shared her paper stitching project - a unique way to use paper that is simple and beautiful...

Thank you everyone for posting your projects. I'm looking forward to seeing what this week brings. If you were featured, feel free to grab the badge below and post it on your blog.

<a href="http://mightycrafty.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdZssJHJ9UGPiMkAmASJkryhsar2l27PG2-PkiTLSQd4sDqGzNOeTyfrdrXbgdY5PbsLafzmnhLSWoYXi8dkWjtoCDAv1i8syswTJ-JMwxvbuWfFcsoB9NGKcXb7djMaIddUjl/s1600/MightyCraftyMondaysFeatured.jpg" alt="I was featured at MightyCrafty Mondays at MightyCrafty.me" width="175" height="175" /></a>

MightyCrafty Mondays - Round 7

It's time for the seventh round of MightyCrafty Mondays...

Here are the Pin-up Party rules:

1. Share your crafty project in the linky list below. Anything goes! Recipes, home decor, scrapbooking, cards, knitting - anything you've made with your own 2 hands and want to share with us.
• Link directly to your original post - not the homepage of your blog.
• You *must* be the creator/owner of the project you're linking up.
• Don't link up to a store or a giveaway.
• Don't link up to a post that's just a collection of someone else's photos from Pinterest or Google. 
2. Link back to this blog in your original post. Grab the link party graphic below. (I'd also love it if you'd leave me a comment here too...)
3. Visit the projects in the linky list and pin them to your Pinterest boards. (You can also leave some comment love if you have time.)

<a href="http://mightycrafty.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0nfNouaZALh3m7t9sa5obJXKmhguwNMMnjTGT5jccb0EzvtfH4ajjO_EArVR25SkA4jD0RUzAhW36A5W_snfOr5hfk4ElrMN7KCf4TlrMmtdU7RlkVKFpQL8tW1YYWwF7NWg5/s1600/MightyCraftyMondaysButton.jpg" alt="MightyCrafty.me" width="125" height="125" /></a>

I'll be visiting / pinning / commenting on all the blogs who participate - and featuring the top views too. This is a fun way to share what we're working on and get lots of new ideas. I love to see all the creativity going on. Have fun and pin on!

Studio Calico August 2012 Kit

I admit it - I'm a kit junkie. I was on the waiting list for Studio Calico for awhile but I was finally able to get in - and I LOVE their kits. They're eclectic and modern and so much fun to work with.

The Studio Calico blog posts a weekly sketch challenge - and you already know I'm a sketch-addict. So, having one each week to play with is very fun. I created this layout for their 8-5-12 sketch using the August 2012 kit.

So many fun colors in this kit - it was a perfect collection for these photos of our morning routine. I'm really drawn to orange lately. I added some orange spray mist to the background to tie the color in a bit more.

I also made a layout for the Studio Calico 7-29-12 sketch - it's a great way to scrapbook a large, single photo. This layout was created with the Studio Calico July 2012 kit.

Oh my little sleepy boys - I miss having them this young. On the other hand, I get to do a lot more scrapbooking now that they're 9. LOL.

Have you been doing any scrapbooking or paper crafting lately? Please share it - I'd love to see...

DIY Cleaning Wipes

I'm the first to admit I'm not the world's best housekeeper. My cleaning strategy is more along the lines of - I'll clean it when it's dirty enough to notice - or we have guests coming over.

But one of my favorite cleaning tools are cleaning wipes. I love the convenience of using a wipe to clean off counter tops, toilets, and sinks. Just swipe it off, then throw it away. Granted, not the greenest of solutions, but at least our surfaces are cleaned.

But wipes can be expensive - and sometimes they're so thin, you need to use a couple or layer them with a paper towel to bulk them up. Not a fan of doing that.

On the other hand - baby wipes are almost the perfect thickness and size. If only they could clean and disinfect surfaces...

So one day I had a lightbulb moment - and I made my own cleaning wipes. I know I'm not the first one to come up with this - but I wasn't able to find another recipe quite like this one. Mine is super easy.

Here's what you need:

• Refillable container of baby wipes (I use Target's store brand, unscented). I prefer the pop-up kind, and I refill the containers with the refills you can buy in 3-packs.
• Bottle of bottled disinfectant/cleaner (I use Mr. Clean with Febreze).

Directions:
1. Pour the cleaner over top of the wipes. Pour some down the sides as well to pool at the bottom. I use about 3 oz. per container of baby wipes.

2. Put the lid back on the container of baby wipes and let the cleaner soak in for a few hours.
3. Most important - label your container so no one thinks these are baby wipes and tries to use them to clean a baby or a kid's face. You don't want anyone getting confused now that you've added disinfectant to these.

I love these so much - they are so easy to make and easy to use. And so much more economical than the cleaning wipes you buy ready-made. I've made one for each bathroom in our house - perfect for quickly wiping up counters and toilets (why are boys so messy anyway?). I also have one in the kitchen for cleaning up just about everything.

So there you go - my very own cleaning hack. What's yours?

Sharing at these great link parties: