1. Tell us a little about you and your blog.

I craft and write in the Valley of the Sun, otherwise known as Phoenix. I love the desert but hate the summer heat! I am a mom of three children, two boys and a girl. I am formerly a high school band teacher, but currently stay at home, blog, and teach piano lessons. My sister and I blog over at Occasionally Crafty. We both are busy being moms, but we love to craft when we can, so Occasionally Crafty was born! We share our favorite home décor and seasonal crafts, sewing projects, kids projects, printables, and even recipes.

2. How and when did you start crafting?

I grew up making crafts at church, but they never seemed to turn out like the example, you know? I conceded that I just must not be a crafty person. Years later, as a stay at home mom, I found an outlet reading blogs, and got hooked on craft blogs. I slowly started making things again, but where in my youth I was impatient and easily frustrated, now I am able to be patient and take my time, and finally produce crafts I can be proud of!

3. How often do you craft?

I either go weeks without crafting, or make a whole bunch of stuff at once. Having two kids in school and a little one at home means I don’t always have the time or energy. But when I do, watch out! Craft supplies and projects are all over the house!

4. Where do you get your inspiration?

I’ll be honest- much of my inspiration comes from talented bloggers around me. I also find some of my favorite ideas browsing through high-end décor catalogs and thinking “I could make something like that!”

5. What is your favorite medium to work in?

My favorite medium is definitely paint and wood. I love word art, and my house is filled with plaques, subway art, seasonal blocks, etc.

6. What is your guilty pleasure?

My guilty pleasure is Milk Duds. I could eat a whole box of them in one sitting. I should be eating healthfully, but I can’t resist the pull of those delicious caramel bites while I’m reading or working.

7. What makes you smile?

My children make me smile. They are so sweet, and often hilarious. They also make me pull my hair out, but when one of them stops and throws his or her arms around my neck and says “I just love you, Mom!”- well, how can you top that?

8. What is your favorite thing to do (other than crafting)?

My favorite thing to do other than crafting is reading. I will read pretty much anything- from newspapers and magazines to pretty much any kind of book. I especially love epic Fantasy like Lord of the Rings, but I’ll read most anything if someone recommends it!

Occasionally Crafty Blog : Facebook : Twitter : Pinterest

Not much happened this weekend, so no fun picture from my life to show you (I bet a lot of you are happy about that ).  That means we can pretty much just move on to this weeks challenge.

Just one little reminder.  Did you see the sale & giveaway post from earlier this morning?  You should go check it out (you could get up to 60% off!).

So here we are, already down to 3 crafters.  I can’t believe the season is almost over!  Now that we’re down to 3 it means that from now on out each person eliminated will receive a fantastic prize pack from our awesome sponsors. Thank you sponsors!!

And here are the projects for this weeks theme…RIT Dye.  Read more

I know that I’ve mentioned Lifestyle Crafts before.  They have some of my very favorite products.  I use their die cuts almost everyday.  And have you seen their new Shape n’ Tape Adhesive sheets?  It’s like a big sheet of washi tape!  Isn’t that the best idea ever?

Well, this week they are having a major sale. All templates will be on sale for 40% off! That includes the Boxes& Bags, 3D Shapes and Cards, Envelopes & Tags.

And guess what?!  They’re also letting you use the code THINKURCRAFTY to get an additional 20% off!  What?!  That’s 60% off.

The sale runs from today through Sunday {Feb 25-March 3}.

But if you’re a gambler and would rather try your hand at a giveaway, Lifestyle Crafts can help you out with that.  They are giving away a Drawer Box template (a $30 value).

All you have to do is answer this simple question in the rafflecopter below, “What would you keep in these cute little drawers?”  I’m thinking it’s the perfect spot for all the Barbi shoes I’ve been stepping on lately.

The giveaway will be open from now until 12:00am ET on Friday.  I’ll announce the winner that morning so that you have plenty of time to place an order before the killer sale ends.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

So this is where I would normally post one of my favorite links from yesterdays “I’m Crafty” party.  But this week I was a totally space cadet and forgot to open it so you could link up!  Oh man, sometimes I wonder how I even make it through the day without burning the house down. Sorry about that! So instead I have two quick things to say before the results.

First – Thank you, thank you to all who answered the survey I put up yesterday!  Your suggestions are tremendously helpful.  There were two main issues that were brought up and I had already been working on figuring out how to fix those (and discovered a new poll system that I think will work much better – you’ll see it in play during the upcoming auditions).  It’s nice to know we’re on teh same page .  I did think of a few more questions I wanted to ask after it was too late to add them to the survey, so you may be seeing them on Facebook and Twitter soon.

Second – Oh. My. Goodness you guys!  Do you know babble.com?  I’m sure you do.  Well, So You Think You’re Crafty was named one of their Top 50 Mom Craft Blogs of 2013!

I am so honored that this here little blog made the list.  I do try to make this an inspiring place for everyone that visits, But I know that all the recognition is due to the amazing crafters that have participated who work there hearts out every week to put together the best projects they can.  So thank you Babble, but also THANK YOU CRAFTERS for all you do.

Ok.  Now that that’s all out of the way we can get to the real fun.  The Elegant Week Results.

And here is the crafter/project match-up:

This was one of the tightest races yet; only 14 votes between first and last!

But in the end it was Catherine and her Elegant Art Laptop Bag that pulled ahead.

Who would have thought to make a bag out of a painted art canvas? Totally awesome idea, Catherine!

But we have to say goodbye to Valerie this week.

I think her Knotted Pearls were a fun idea.  They’d be great for one of the many Downton Abbey inspired costume parties that will be happening, what with the Downton Mania everyone seems to have (I haven’t started watching because I know I’ll forget that I’m a grown up with responsibilities and a family until I’m caught up.  It’s better that I just don’t go there ).

Make sure you go check out Valeries blog, Occasionally Crafty, so see all the other great stuff she and her sister have worked up!  You won’t be disappointed :)

And check back Monday for some fantastic projects using RIT Dye!

Hi guys! I’m trying to get a little info so that I can make So You Think You’re Crafty even better. If you could just take a minute (really, it will only take you a minute tops) to answer these 8 questions it will just make my day!

Thanks!
Missy

1.Tell us a little about you and your blog.

It all started with a vast collection of craft supplies. I quit my job
and moved to Northern California with my husband a little over three
years ago. At the time, my scrapbooking supply collection took up
about 2 bookshelves in our small office. Over the course of our first
year of marriage, my hobbies expanded beyond scrapbooking and the
supplies expanded to take over most of the room. I started my blog
first as a means of forcing myself to use all my pretty supplies,
second as an excuse to show off all the things I made, and third to
validate my need to pick up even more hobbies and more supplies.

2.How and when did you start crafting?

I don’t actually remember a time when I didn’t love to craft. I grew
up with a very creative and talented mom and I always wanted to help
her make stuff. So she taught me to knit and cross stitch; looking
back I realize she chose two of the least-messy crafts imaginable,
likely to distract me from more fascinating things like glue guns and
paint. Well played, Mom. I didn’t get into the inky stuff until I’d
moved out on my own.

3.How often do you craft?

Not quite daily, but almost. Between teaching and blogging, I keep a
pretty loaded to-do list, so I’m rarely lacking in projects.
Inspiration and time are another story. Some days I get just as much
pleasure out of re-organizing my markers as I do actually coloring
with them.

4.Where do you get your inspiration?

All over the place. Sometimes there’s a particular product I just
really want to work with, sometimes I see a picture I want to
recreate, sometimes I have an idea for a fun tradition to start with
the baby, so off I go. Pinterest is a great place to look when I’m
short on ideas, and I have a list of blogs that I read regularly just
to oggle other people’s gorgeous work.

5.What is your favorite medium to work in?

I don’t even know. The obvious answer is Copics, or glitter, or Copics
AND glitter. But all that discounts how very much I love sewing, and
stamping, and crocheting, and…

6.What is your guilty pleasure?

Bad television, bad books, and bad music.

7.What makes you smile?

Babytalk conversations with my daughter.

8.What is your favorite thing to do (other than crafting)?

I can lose an entire day in a good book, and I don’t feel guilty about
it, either.

Inkling & Yarns Blog : Facebook : Twitter : Pinterest : Shop

How was your Valentines weekend?  It’s become a sort of tradition for my husband and I to go out bowling for our Valentines date.  Our  bowling alley of choice is in a restaurant so there’s really good food. And the seating for each lane is a leather sectional sofa.  So when ever it was my husbands turn I just sat back and enjoyed my Memphis burger, onion rings and pepsi.

We bowled four rounds and I won half.  Don’t mention it to my husband.  He’s super competitive so he’s a little bitter still

So here are the projects for week 7, the Elegant projects.  The poll will be open until midnight PST on Thursday. Read more

Sorry this is coming to you so late in the day.  This week I’ve been taking a little more time to be “mom” and spending a little less time on the computer.  So lets keep this short and sweet.

Here’s the results for the Red challenge of season 14:

And here is the crafter/project match up:

That gives Kim @ Maiden D’Shade her 2nd win of the season.  Congrats Kim!

What a fun little make over that plane was.  It would look great in any boys room.

But we have to say goodbye to Christy this week and I’m super bummed.

I’ve wanted Abi to be Little Red Riding Hood for Halloween for years, but something always comes up and it never works out.  But this little cape and basket would be perfect!  Be sure that you go over to Inklings & Yarns to follow along with all that Christy has going on.

Be sure to come back on Monday for some Elegant projects

The crafters work so hard for this contest and they deserve some awesome swag. Thanks to our Season 14 sponsors the top 3 crafters will be getting some awesome prizes. Please go check out their fantastic shops and show them a little love!

*If you would like to sponsor a prize a season of SYTYC there are still a few openings. You can learn more here, or emails me at soyouthinkyourecrafty@gmail.com for details.*