Saturday, September 28, 2013

I love my cricut bloghop!

Hey y'all!  Did you miss me?  it's been SUPER crazy here the past 10 months.  Ok, so here's the deal:  I'm in school, just bought a house (moving in October!), pregnant with baby #6, just got a new puppy and I have a TON of projects lined up for Christmas, but that's going to come in a little bit.  LOADS of ideas coming and it's not all paper projects!  Most of them are, but not all- and I"m also in a 12 days of Christmas blog hop (on TOP of what I'm doing!!).  Lots of love coming up, I promise.

So, you're here from Jenny's Blog.  If not, you need to start there to get the full experience!  There are so many talented ladies and we're all so proud to show you that we love our cricut!  After me, you'll be going to Cheryl.  If you get lost, here's the lineup.


Jenny's also giving away some really great prizes!  There's a $5 gift certificate to Jaded Blossom and a 5 pack of action wobbles!  She's so sweet!

What did I do?  ...I'm so glad you asked!  We just bought a new house!  Well, being pregnant with baby #6, we realize that we needed a lot more space, and figured instead of paying rent, we'd pay a mortgage for something totally ours.   My project is planning out my garden.  You see, in addition to paper crafting, I have many other talents- and gardening and harvesting (canning, making wine, etc) are just a few.

This is what I did for this hop: I made a gardening notebook!



I used preserves (a cart I hadn't used in forever!)- the double strawberry and Alphalicious for the font.
Cardstock:  2 reds, brown, green, beige.
tea dye distress ink
and a brown sheet that I have no idea where I got it.
3 buttons- 2 black 1 red
cheap notebook from walmart (seriously, cost me like .17 when school supplies were being sold!)

Cut the strawberries at 4 1/2 inches and assemble with the leaves on the very top.
cut the background (still in preserves on the same page!) at 6 1/4.  ink around strawberries and background with tea dye distress ink.

glue everything in place where you want it and ATG it to the main page (after it's attached to the cover of the notebook).  the buttons were the last thing to be added. :)  this is going to be my go-to for planning, notes, and everything else.

BTW, I'm going to be growing about 200 strawberry plants next year!  (no, really!)  Here's my strawberry syrup recipe:

4 cups cut up strawberries, then mashed
2 c. sugar,
1 c. water.

bring sugar and water to simmer (until clear) over med. heat.  Add mashed up strawberries and simmer until thick and coats the back of a wooden spoon without being too runny.  Seriously, I don't have times, it's an eyeball thing.  let cool.  No, really- molten sugar is no joke.  serve warm over pancakes, or cool over ice cream!  (or if you're feeling adventurous, you might even try this in some milk, though I have to say I've never tried that.)

Enjoy the rest of the hop- there are some seriously talented ladies and don't forget to comment in each to be eligible for Jenny's giveaway!

27 comments:

  1. Great idea for the gardening book. Best of luck on the new house and baby!
    Hugs,
    Georgia

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  2. Love your idea for the gardening book! Great job and congrats on the house and new baby!

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  3. Great idea to have a gardening book and it looks fabulous! New follower here, looking forward to seeing more of your creations :)
    Stacey
    http://staceyscreativecorner.blogspot.com

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  4. I really like the book! Awesome idea! Congrats on the new home and the baby!
    great hopping with you!
    Hugs, Wandy

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  5. Guess I understand why you haven't been cropping with us lately! Love the garden book. Hope I get to taste the end product.
    Miss you,
    Kat

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    1. KAT! I Totally miss you guys!!! We bought it in Ozark and move in a few weeks. I promise I"ll stop by soon. :D Miss y'all!!!

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  6. Wow! Number 6? I admire you girl!!! I had one and he was a handful! How do you find time to craft at all? Love your garden notebook. Thank you for the recipe!!!

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  7. Love the Idea of a Garden Book. I haven't put out a garden in several years. But am wanting to plant Strawberries. Congratulations on your new baby on the way. I thought I was busy, but seriously girl I don't know how you get any crafting done. I'm already a follower. :0)

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  8. Wow you have been busy!! It all sounds wonderful though :)
    This project is super cute!!

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  9. Cute journal cover. Good Luck with the new house, the garden and baby #6!!

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  10. Busy busy busy!!! Thank you for the recipe. Will try it next summer..Journal is so cute!!! :)

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  11. Hi Heather,

    I am a gardener too. I love setting up my seeds in my greenhouse and working out the garden. It's so rewarding!!

    Great little project. Thanks for sharing.
    Hugs, Cheryl @ CardsbyCG.blogspot.com

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  12. God Bless you..child #6:) Hope you are happy for many many years in your new home. love your project, and enjoy all those strawberriesw next year:)
    cathyplus5.blogspot.com

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  13. The gardening notebook is a great idea - congrats on all your new adventures and best wishes for baby #6.........cyberhugs......Mama LoveBug

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  14. What a great project !! Congratulations !! What wonderful events in your life , a baby a new home !! You are very talented !!

    Mayra
    Mayrasdesigns.blogspot.com

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  15. All I can say is you must be super women and then to even find time to craft!!! Totally amazing girl! You rock!

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  16. wow! congrats for your baby!! and your new home! i don´t have a garden but is something i´d love to have one day! I love your notebook! =D

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  17. Great idea, the journal. Love the strawberries on it.

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  18. I never heard of a garden notebook till I watched the Hallmark channel a few weeks ago and the notebook was a big part of the show. It's a great idea.
    I don't know how you do it with all you have going on. Congrats on baby #6, your new puppy and your home. Wow. Kudos to you.
    http://lorisartsyobsession.blogspot.com/

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  19. Heather, what a awesome project! My kids would LOVE us to grow strawberries! Congrats on all your great news, and thanks so much for joining me on this hop!

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  20. Wow, Its a wonder you have time to blog hop. Congrats on the house and good luck! Thanks for al the fun.

    marg0006 at Verizon dot net

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  21. Wow! You sure have been busy! I love your gardening book! We plant a moderately sized garden each year. Congrats on your house and baby! I look forward to more posts from you :)

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  22. sounds like you hands are more full than mine! great project! looking forward to the 12 Days of Christmas hop!

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