Consumer Crafts Sale Through February 4th

You all know from my love of dollar store crafts that I have a special place in my heart for affordable crafting. I have discovered a new website this week that is about to give the dollar store a run for their money! They have SO many affordable supplies. Most of their things are way less than you'd get them for in a big box craft store. They are also having a sweet sale right now where everything on their site is an extra 15-25% through Feb 4th.

Right now they are focusing on their "Back to Basics" stuff. Some of the best stuff on their site is in that Craft Basics section! Wreaths, yarn, wood crafts, cutting tools, fabric crafting...so much stuff!

Check out some of the things I picked up from the Craft Basics section when I ordered this week...

 

(i have some great magnet projects in mind coming up and these were great prices)

(to dye some of my white cloth napkins that are showing wear and tear and have minor stains)

(this is the best price on printable magnet sheets I've seen. I will be using them for home school)

(i have definitely been bitten by the glitter bug...plus what a great price!)

(my old craft knife is dull and needs a replacement. now I have a great mat to use it with, too!)

(another product for a great price! i'm going to use it in my upcoming command center project)

These are just some of the things I ordered. I hope it gives you a feel for the kinds of things on the site and their everyday awesome prices (the prices shown are not the sale prices...if you order during the sale, you will pay even less). Keep in mind that due to the sale, I got 15% off on everything shown above as well!

I've got some great projects coming up with some of the stuff I ordered but in the meantime, make sure you check out their sale. While you're at it, be sure to like them on Facebook so that you can keep up with future sales and inexpensive craft ideas!

I am posting this as part of a campaign through The Blueprint Social. I have received compensation including free product from Consumer Crafts for posting this review and linking to their site. All opinions expressed in the review are 100% mine. I was not paid to give a positive review. They earned my praise by being genuinely awesome. See my full review policy here.

Make a Christmas Countdown Chalkboard with Mod Podge

This post is brought to you by Mod Podge and The Blueprint Social. I received free product and was compensated for my time creating this project. All opinions expressed are 100% mine.

I love Christmas! As soon as the table is cleared on Thanksgiving night, I am counting down the days until the calendar flips over to the big 25. I love Advent calendars as an interactive way to countdown to Christmas but I needed something else. When I got a big box of shiny and glittery Mod Podge and paint in the mail, I knew my something else needed to have some bling. After a couple weeks of pondering, my Christmas Countdown Chalkboard was born.

Supplies Needed:

• Wood frame OR a framed chalkboard
• Chalkboard paint  (if you're using a plain frame)
• Scrapbook paper
• Sparkle Mod Podge
• Glossy Mod Podge
• Gift Tag shape from package of Podgeable Shapes
• Paint (I used Folk Art brand)
• White
• Metalic Gold
• Gold Chunky Glitter
• Ribbon scraps (I used a combo of metalic gold and red)
• Mod Podge Dimensional Magic
• E beads (red and iridescent)
• Glue
• Paintbrush and/or Foam brushes
• Scissors

Prep the Frame 

Remove the wire hanger from the frame and paint it white. Once its dry, paint the center with two coats of chalkboard paint if you are using a plain wood frame. Obviously, skip this step if you purchased a framed chalkboard. Set it aside to dry.

Make the Gift Tag

Take the gift tag Podgeable shape and trace the outline onto the back of the scrapbook paper you would like to use. Cut out the paper shape.

Podgeable shapes are lightweight acrylic pieces that can be Mod Podged on both the front and back for cool dimensional effects. This was my first time working with them and I love how great they make the finished piece look.

Paint one side of the tag with chunky gold glitter paint. Next, give it a generous coat of Sparkle Mod Podge (on the same side you put the glitter on). Apply Sparkle Mod Podge to your scrapbook paper as well and flip it design-side down onto the podgeable. Rub the back to get out any air bubbles before applying another generous coat of Sparkle Mod Podge, being sure to seal the edges. Place it acrylic-side-down to dry (I propped it up on a paint bottle so the edges would be free to dry without sticking).

When the Mod  Podge has dried enough to touch the back (the clear side may look cloudy for a while but it will dry clear and sparkly), cut two pieces of gold ribbon the length and width of the podgeable with a little extra to wrap over the edge. Apply Sparkle Mod Podge to the back side of the ribbon and adhere it to the front of the gift tag. Wrap the extra around the back and adhere with glue.

Make the "X-mas countdown" label by using a fine point brush and gold metallic paint to write on a piece of white scrapbook paper. Use the Glossy Mod Podge to adhere it to the front of the Podgeable using the same technique described to adhere paper to the back of the Podgeable. When the Mod Podge is dry, use Mod Podge Dimensional Magic to cover just the white tag. This will give it a finished look similar to poured resin or expensive puffy stickers but with way less mess. (if you have never used Dimensional Magic before, check out Plaid's great how-to video here). Set the tag aside to dry.

Mod Podge the Frame

To cover the frame with scrapbook paper, make template pieces from some plain paper (pic 1). This allows you to tweak the shape without messing up the pretty paper. Then trace the template shapes onto the back of the scrapbook paper and cut out the pieces (pic 2). To adhere, apply a generous coat of Sparkle Mod Podge to one side of the frame (pic 3) as well as the back of the scrapbook paper. Press onto the frame, rubbing to get out the bubbles before applying another generous coat of Sparkle Mod Podge over the top (pic 4). Repeat with the other three sides.

Finishing Touches

To give the plain wire hanger some bling, I strung red and iridescent E beads onto the part that stuck up above the frame. I also threaded some gold and red ribbon through the hole on the gift tag.

Before using the chalkboard, you need to remember to prime it. To do that, rub the side of a piece of chalk all over the board and then rub it in/off with a rag. Lastly, reattach the beaded wire hanger and glue the tag onto the edge of the frame. 

Once the glue is dry, you can write your countdown message on your chalkboard!

Finished Product:

I hope you enjoyed my project and feel inspired to make your own. For more great holiday inspiration, visit Plaid, online here:

Inspired by Plaid on Facebook | Plaid Crafts on Twitter | Plaid on Pinterest

Get Inspired:

I'm not the only one blogging about great holiday projects made with Mod Podge this holiday season! Check out more of my fellow bloggers' great projects below:

This post is brought to you by Mod Podge and The Blueprint Social. I received free product and was compensated for my time creating this project. All opinions expressed are 100% mine.

Book Review and Giveaway: In the Kitchen with David

In the Kitchen with David: QVC's Resident Foodie Presents Comfort Foods That Take You Home 

This post is brought to you by Bookmark Communications. I received product and payment for this post. All opinions expressed are 100% mine.

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I was recently asked to review a copy of In the Kitchen with David and of course I said yes - I mean, who doesn't love comfort food?

And did I mention that I love cookbooks? As someone who owns....let's just say a lot...of cookbooks, take it from me that this is a nice cookbook. It's organized, sturdy, has beautiful photography and the layout of the book itself is very "crafty" - almost like a scrapbook. It's cute and unique and I really like that.

Things I love about this cookbook:

• Cute, scrapbook style layout
• Includes not just recipes but lots of great cooking tips and tricks
• Beautiful photography
• It is sturdy - you can tell that the binding, paper and cover are high quality
• Contains 150 recipes in 12 categories - that's a lot!

A couple things that cookbook connoisseurs may be interested in:
Not every recipe has a photo. Which, when you have 150 recipes is understandable and the recipes that are photographed look amazing.

I do also want to mention that not all recipes are from-scratch recipes. How you feel about that will depend on who you are (or how much of a hurry you're in). My rough, unofficial estimate is that about 25% of the recipes call for some kind of prepared food item (example include: packaged onion soup mix, canned pizza dough, velveeta cheese, bottled ranch dressing). Many of these items could be substituted - it's easy to make my own pizza dough, for example - so don't let that stop you from considering this book for yourself or as a gift.

My Conclusion:
This cookbook is beautiful and would make a great addition to any collection.

Can't get enough of this review?

I'm experimenting with video reviews. If you want to watch me talk about this book, check out my video below. This is my first-ever video review so I'd love any feedback you have about it!

Giveaway Time!

The publisher has generously provided a copy of the book to be given away to a Carissa's Creativity Space reader. Enter using the Rafflecopter below to enter and good luck! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

For my Portland Peeps: Einstein Bros Bagels Pumpkin Promos

Portlanders: Get a free Pumpkin from Kruger’s Farm Market, and a Free Pumpkin Baked Treat with Purchase at Einstein Bros!

We all know that fall is here and with that comes the return of the beloved pumpkin! Pumpkin pumpkin everywhere. Pumpkin lattes, pumpkin bread, pumpkin bagels. The list goes on. What better way to welcome the season than with TWO pumpkin-centric promos from Einstein Bros Bagels?

#1: The Pumpkin Baked-Good Promotion 

When? October 17th --November 13th

Einstein Bros Bagels has eight delicious, seasonal pumpkin offerings to roll in the holiday season. From October 17th to November 13th, Einstein Bros. Bagels celebrates pumpkin season by offering patrons a free Pumpkin Baked Good with any purchase. 

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#2: The Pumpkin Giveaway Promotion

When? October 17th --October 31st

Until October 31st, stop by your local Einstein Bros Bagels and ask for a coupon for a free pumpkin of up to 10 pounds from all Kruger’s Farm Markets. 

(Coupons are available only while supplies last.)

 Kruger’s Farm Market has been a long-standing beacon of sustainability and farm-to-table freshness. With the expansive farm (including the pumpkin patch and corn maze!) on Sauvie Island, and two urban farm stands in the city, Kruger’s Farm Markets brings local and fresh to Portland.

To redeem your coupon, visit any of the three Kruger’s Farm Market Locations:

Sauvie Island Farm

17100 NW Sauvie Island Rd., Portland, OR 97231

503.621.3489. 

Open daily from 9 am-Sunset

Hawthorne Farm Stand

Under the tent at 22nd & SE Hawthorne, Portland, OR 97214

503.235.0314. 

Open daily from 9 am-8 pm

St. Johns Farm Stand

7316 N. Lombard St., Portland, OR 97203

503.289.2535. 

Open daily from 10 am-8 pm

To learn more about Einstein Bros Bagels visit here. For a list of their 13 Portland-area locations, visit their store locator. For more information about Kruger’s Farm Market, visit their website here.

Portlanders, it’s time to put on those layers and seize the [free] pumpkin!

This post is sponsored by Einstein Bros Bagels. I was compensated for my time spent putting this post together and for letting you know about the great deals happening at Einstein Bros Bagels this fall. Love of pumpkin and recognition of a great deal are my own.

Get Your Mama Bear On: Protect Kids' Health and Wellness (even at school)

Get Your "Mama Bear" On

Whether you're sending a little guy for his first day ever or just sending the whole clan back, green moms can still get their "mama bear" on and set their kids up for success even when it feels like toxins and crazy stuff are everywhere.

I'm going to talk about a few ways you can help "shield" your kids from the junk thrown at them every day. For each topic, there are different  things you can do. Each one is rated with between one and four paws depending on how protective each measure is. Choose the level of "mama bear" you are comfortable with or mix and match!

Control What You Send Them With

You have limited control over what materials the supplies in the school provides are made from but you can control the things you buy. The kinds of personal use supplies on those infamous supply lists are the things your kids usually have the most exposure to anyway. Look for products labeled as PVC, lead and phthalate free to avoid exposing your kids to known endocrine disruptors. Notebooks and pencils made from sustainable materials keep your footprint tiny, too.

Purchase school supplies second hand-or use last year's! New things will have a higher concentration of chemicals that will off-gas throughout the year. Used things have already off-gassed, thereby reducing exposure.

Make sure any new products you buy are labeled BPA free.

Look for backpacks, lunch totes and other supplies labeled as phthalate, lead, and PVC free. Avoid anything with flame retardants.

Purchase supplies made from organic or sustainable materials such as sugar cane and bamboo.

Feed Them Well

Kids brains and bodies are growing. Their bodies take what they eat and drink and use that as the raw material to power their brains and build new cells. If they eat nutrient-rich healthy foods, they are more well powered than the kids eating tons of sugar or foods coated in pesticides (or foods with built in pestides...BT corn, anyone?). While you may not be able to send them with hand crafted organic lunches everyday, you can control the kinds of snacks and foods you keep at home.

Check out the "dirty dozen" (most pesticide contaminated foods) and buy those organic for snacking and meals at home.

Put kids in charge of packing their own lunches with "better for you" foods from home you ahead like sugar-free organic apple sauce, pre-cut organic apples, string cheese, whole grain crackers, or other convenience foods that feature real ingredients and avoid processed sugars and GMOs.

Eat at least one meal together as a family everyday and pack it with nutrition by serving whole grains, a variety or raw and cooked veggies and hormone and antibiotic free meat.

Send your kids to school with homemade (primarily organic) lunches and snacks packed in metal or glass containers. Eat healthy meals together as a family at home as well.

Help Them Recharge

It's no secret that kids need a good night's rest. Depending on their age, kids need between 8-12 hours of sleep a night which is crucial to helping their bodies recover from their long days and their brains to process and store all that great information they soaked up while at school. Since sleep will take up between a half and a third of their 24 hour day, help make it the healthiest most restorative time possible for them.

Help them make a smooth transition to bed time by avoiding TV, the internet and social media right before bed which can lead to "I-can't-get-my-brain-to-turn-off"-itis.

Help them avoid absorbing toxins while sleeping by getting them jammies free of flame retardants.

Splurge on pillowcases and sheets made from organic cotton (Cotton is one of the most pesticide burdened crops we grow. Processing and weaving the cotton into fabric does not remove these pesticides). Organic cotton too expensive? Look for sheets made from bamboo (a low pesticide fiber crop) instead.

Buy an organic mattress. Purchasing an extra long twin mattress will help the mattress last them well into college - helping you get more years of use for your dollar.

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As a member of Clever Girls Collective, I was selected to participate in the Healthy Habits program sponsored by Kimberly-Clark and Colgate-Palmolive. The content and opinions expressed here are all my own. #healthyhabits #cgc