After almost 2 years...

I finally got a wedding book! (cheers and shouts of hooray!!!)

Doesn't it look lovely?!  

(minus my very chipped nail polish.  you don't have to look at that... ahem.)

I had been wanting one of these ever since I first started wedding planning.  I like albums and everything, but I just wanted something a little bit more fun.  I love that you can make collages of photos in these books, like this:

(such studs, eh?)

See, it's just a little bit more exciting to me than an album.

I made this photobook with Picaboo and it was fairly easy to do.  You have to download their computer program and it opens with a how-to video.  I found it fairly easy to upload my photos, and they even had an automatic story flow option, where it uploaded the photos in the order that they were taken on your camera.  That was nice because I didn't have to move too many photos around in order to put my book together.

I made this book with Picaboo instead of my Mac because they had this great sale on for first-time customers.  You could make a 20-page classic book for FREE!!! Ya, exactly.  Unfortunately for those of you reading this and coveting one of these amazing books, that deal was only on for a limited time in March and is now over.  I've heard that they have this every year so, if you can wait that long, it will probably come around again.  I went over my 20-page limit to 50 pages, just because it's my wedding keepsake and it was only $.99 for every extra page.  So, over all, I got an $80 book for about $40 (that includes the shipping).  Not bad, not bad!

Some of our pictures did turn out a bit dark, but that is also because our venue was in a basement ballroom with darker mood lighting, so I can't really complain about that.  It is a great picture book and very good quality.  I am very happy with it. 

Anyway, 'nough 'bout the book!  Wanna see some of our wedding photos?!?! Of course you do, who doesn't love looking at other people's wedding photos!

It was such a gorgeous day.  Looking at these makes me want to go get some nice couple pictures taken for our 2nd anniversary!  Maybe we will...

I hope that this isn't regular...

my one-a-month blog posts, that is.   

I know I haven't blogged in over a month.  It was kind of my New Years resolution to blog more, (maybe it should've been to finish things that I've started.  I am ashamed....)

This cup of coffee just might inspire me and get me more motivated.  I think it will!

I have all these really great ideas and plans and dreams and I just need to get my butt in gear and get at them.  Sometimes it's hard to get in gear when I am a full-time student, so this past week we had reading break :) (And I really did not do a whole lot of reading).

Nope! I sure didn't!  I took this week "off" and worked on my jewelry because, well, I just miss making jewelry sooooo much!  I've realized that it is pretty much vital to my existence.  I NEED to make things on a regular basis.

Welp, wanna see a sneak peek of some things that I've been working on?!?!?  You do?!  Aw, you're so sweet.  I'd be glad to show you a few!  

(I do apologize for the the picture quality.  I just took these photos on my mac).

Some of you may know my like for zippers these days

This is made out of an old t-shirt, some crocheted yarn and chain.  I made this into a brooch, but I'm thinking that it would also make a really pretty hair accessory as well.

What do you think?  Want kind of accessories are you into these days?

I was about to rip my hair out...

... until I FINALLY figured out my blog template.  I had a heck of a time figuring out the sidebar background color.  WhatEVer!  Doesn't it look nice and pretty now?  I think so.

I've been doing a lot of crafting lately.  Experimenting with a bunch of stuff:

I got the tutorial for this craft off Family Chic blog here.  Isn't it cute?!  Camilla's got some super fab and easy crafts on her blog.  You should check it out!

I also made some wall art on a budget:

This is made from recycled Toilet Paper rolls! Super easy and cheap!  All you have to do to make these are save a lot of toilet paper rolls.  Squish them to get that leaf shape. Glue the edges together (I used paperclips to keep each leaf together while the glue dried.  And I just used plain ol' white glue).  Then spray paint it any color.  Let that dry.  Then put it up on your wall! (I used nails in a variety of spots and kind of stretched the rolls onto them so they stay).

What'dya think?!? Pretty cool, eh?! (yes, I AM Canadian! ha!)

Oo! Oo! Oo!!! Exciting giveaway!!! Sydney over at The Daybook posted a FANTASTIC giveaway this morning on her blog to win a THEIT gift certificate for their fashion camera bags!! I want that! (It would be nice not to have to use my old backpack from high scool and have a place for my computer cord and books. THEIT bags are much more chic).  Go check it out! There are four ways to enter and I did them all :D (hehe!)

Okay, gotta get some homework done so that I can sew more awesome outfits! I'm working on a line made with recycled T-shirts that you all should keep your eyes pealed for! Okay? Alright...

Busy...

It seems that no matter how hard I try, I am always busy and never seem to be able to do the things that I am really passionate about.  For those of you who know me know that I am in Bible College right now in a small town in Saskatchewan.  I am definitely passionate about God - that's no lie, but I am also very passionate about crafts.  Sewing, baking, painting, drawing, crochet and knitting etc.  If you name it, I probably can do it, and if I can't then I will usually figure out how to do it.

Zipper Jewelry that I make

You know the phrase "I'd rather be golfing/fishing"?  Well, most of the time I'd rather be crafting.  

I am enjoying Bible College and I am growing and learning (I really feel strongly of the importance of a degree in this society) but at the same time, I tend to question why God gave me the gift of the arts if I am not suppose to use them for something.  Is this just a hobby for me?  Or could this eventually be something that I could do full time?  Maybe a counsellor/clothing designer duo? Ha! . . .   Whatever it is, I continue to work at my talent and hope and pray that it will pay off somehow.

These pictures were from the summer. (I chopped my hair short this last fall)  I crocheted these and sold a few but I didn't update my shop much (one of my problems :D ). . . Maybe I'll try putting these up again soon.

Right now, I am working on some designs made from upcycled t-shirts.  I have so many ideas on paper, which is another one of my problems. . .  I get WAY too many ideas on paper and get overwhelmed with where to start and what will actually work and what won't.  I did make a couple "first drafts" and they need a bit of tweaking, but I think they look great!  They are fun and different.  Plus, they are all One Of A Kind - so you'll never have something that anyone else has! 

Anyway, I thought that I should post this blog because I haven't blogged since October (oops :D) I don't want to do that anymore!  Blogging often and taking more time to craft are two of my new year's resolutions.  So keep posted people!  I'd love to hear your feedback on my ideas.  What would you wear that was handmade?

Pumpkin: from the inside - out

So I was carving a pumpkin today with my husband and I thought that I should share with you all about what you can do with a pumpkin.  Most people just cut a face into it and throw out everything that is inside but really the whole pumpkin can be used.  Even after you've made it into a Jack-o-lantern and have lit a candle in it for a while, you can still use the meat inside of it for baking!

I also have not written a blog in a while, and that makes me sad.  So I'm excited to kick this long hiatus in the butt with an exciting post!  I hope you enjoy it!  Let me know if you did!

Tools:  You will need a spoon, 2 bowls, a knife and a clean, large work area! (And a pumpkin of course!)

Step 1: Once you have all that, make a circle around the top of the pumpkin and cut it out on an angle

Step 2: lick insides.  Ha! Just kidding. 

REAL Step 2:  You need to get your seed and slime bowl ready.  Start pulling out the seeds and place in the bowl.  This will get pretty messy so make sure you are working on a surface that you don't mind getting a little bit orange.  

Put all the seeds and the slimy stuff into the same bowl for now.  You will seperate them later.

Step 3:  Clean out the entire pumpkin.  This is where you can use the spoon to help scrape out the inside.

Step 4:  Once you get all the slimy part out,  Scrape out a few more layers of the thicker, lighter coloured meat.  Place that in your other bowl.

Step 5:  Make your Jack-o-lantern!

___________________________________________________________________

Alright, time to cook!  

Step 1: Place the pumpkin meat (that you scraped out and had put into your second bowl) in a large sauce pan with 1cm of water in the bottom.   

Pumpkin burns easily so place on low heat.  Stir often so that it does not burn.  

Also, don't get impatient.  This takes a while before it starts to breaks down and you begin seeing liquid.

Step 2:  While keeping an eye on the pumpkin on the stove top, seperate the seeds from the slime and rinse them off well.  Place to dry on a towel.  Pre-heat your oven to 300ºF.

Step 3:  They seeds won't become completely dry, but when they are dry enough, place them in a mixing bowl with a little bit of oil.  Mix or shake to coat.

Step 4:  Pour 1/2 tsp. of salt onto the oiled seeds.  As for spices, I use seasoning salt or you can use paprika.  Add a 1/2 tsp. of one of those ingredients.  

Step 5:  Shake to coat with the salt and spice.  The uncooked coated seeds will look something like this:

Step 6:  Place pumpkin seeds on a single layer baking sheet and place in your pre-heated oven (300ºF) and bake for 35 mins.

Step 7:  By now, after you have been stirring your pumpkin on the stove top, it should start to look something like this:  Much more watery than before. 

Step 8:  Continue to stir and squish the pumpkin until it become a thick mush.  Once all mixed into the mush, take off of burner.

Step 9:  Set aside and let the pumpkin cool off for a while.  Place into freezer bags and store.  This can be stored in the fridge for no more than 2 days.  In the freezer it can be stored much, much longer. 

What do I do now with the pumpkin?  This is used instead of canned pumpkin.  So this would be great in a pumpkin pie!

As for the seeds:  

Once done baking, let cool and enjoy!

I hope that you all have fun with your pumpkins this season!  I would love to know if you tried this!