Blog Swappin' with {somewhat simple}!!!

Hey there Creative Crate-rs!

My name is Steph, and I am the creative mind behind somewhat simple.

I am so excited to be taking over this awesome blog today! Stacie is the best! I have been inspired by quite a few of her projects and want to be just like her someday!

I am a stay at home mom of 3 fantastic kids, and a wife to my very best friend. We have been living in sunny (and HOT) Arizona for 4 years now and we LOVE IT!

somewhat simple is my little corner of the universe where I share yummy recipes, craft tutorials and all things creative!

Here are some of the recent happenings you'll find when you stop by:

If you like what you see, you will love the "Popularity Contest GiveAway" going on right now. I will announce the winners Monday, so if you hurry over, you could be the lucky one and win some fun back-to-school related items- here's a sneak peak of some of the prizes:


I post something different every week day on somewhat simple, so there is always something new and exciting!

Make sure you check out our monthly challenge- this month is all about getting creative. Join in the fun and get inspired by others who are just like you!

I hope to see each of you soon! Thanks Stacie for swapping with me today! You are awesome!

Have a great weekend!!!

My $3 Frame Makeover!

From this...

To this!!

This was a super fun and quick project that I made last week. I saw one of these at Jo-Ann's one day...and of course...I couldn't afford it...so I wanted to try to make one myself. So... I did with a $3 picture frame that I bought at a yard sale. Now it is a dry-erase calendarAll I used to make this... is a good frame with glass {not plexi-glass}...a permanent marker...ruler...and my Cricut to cut the {Month} {days of the week}{and the circles}. I drew the squares...and placed the vinyl on the opposite side of the glass than the side you will be writing on ...so they won't come off with all of the erasing. If you have a Cricut...I used the mirror feature...then your letter will stick on the back of the glass...but you will be able to read it from the front. I hope that made sense...I'm not really great about describing things...but hopefully you get the idea. Don't worry...if your squares aren't perfect. As you can tell mine aren't but it still looks ok. Also...don't be afraid of the perm. marker...if you make a mistake...use a wet paper towel and wipe...or you can spray hairspray on a paper towel and and wipe and it will come right off.

Remember to place everything backwards...on the opposite side of the glass.

Now it is a very functional...hand calendar to write on!!
If you felt like it...you could use that extra piece of cardboard that came with the frame...and put fabric or scrapbook paper on it to give it a more personalized look!

Hmmm...wouldn't this make a great affordable Christmas gift????

Ok...I screwed up...Roadkill Rescue is supposed to be for items that you spent $0 dollars on...oops!! I linked up... then read the fine details...How dumb do I feel. :)Sorry...I guess it would be $0 if you already had the frame. :) Anyways check their other awesome Roadkill Rescue's that linked up at Infarrantly Creative!! :)

HaVe FuN!!

Jewelery Window idea!!

Tammy from Decorating my life...came up with this awesome way to display and organize her jewelery!! I love it!! My necklaces and earrings are scattered everywhere...and when it comes time to find them...I never can. I am going to have to try this!! If you would like more info. on how she made this...go HERE! HaVe FuN!

Tammy...thanks for the great idea!!

Are your old paint chipped windows safe??

Recently I received a comment from Cherie regarding decorating with old paint chipped windows that possibly might contain LEAD. Thank you {by the way} for bringing this to my attention. I LoVe old paint chipped windows, doors, etc...and I have a ton in my house. This really had me worried...I can't believe I hadn't thought about it seriously until now. Sooo...today I went to Home Depot and bought a lead paint detector and guess what...{3} of my items I had in my house for decoration... tested positive for lead paint. EEEK!! Thankfully...I don't have a little one crawling on the floor putting everything in her mouth. I don't really want to freak everyone out about this...but it is so important for the health of you and your family. I think sometimes we get caught up in {how cute it is} and forget to check to see if it will harm us or our family.

Needless to say...those items are decorating the outside of my house now :) Anyways, I will still love old things...but in the future... I think I will be a bit more careful on what I will bring in my home. So...go check all of your old painted windows etc. and make sure yours are safe. The testing kit I bought was under $7 and only took a couple of minutes. Definitely worth that peace--of-mind. Thank you Cherie!!

AdoRabLe old window project!!

From this:

To This!

How AdoRable is this!! Look what Hailey from I Love This and That made out of her old window!! What a FuN picture holder!! She saved the bottom window pane...and put her daughters name on it. Sooo CuTe! If you would like more info...and to see some of her other great ideas...click HERE!!

Thanks for the FuN idea Hailey!

AdoRaBle Children's Kitchen!

OK...I am absolutely in L*O*V*E with this!! Erin at Sutton Grace made this ADORABLE children's kitchen from a old entertainment center. HoW CrEaTiVe is that!! Since it seems like everyone is buying the flat panel TV's...I've seen a lot of these for sale on Craigslist. You can check out how she made this and more awesome projects HERE! HaVe FuN!!

Thanks for the great idea Erin!!

Giveaway @ The Dress-up Drawer!!

If you haven't already...head on over to The Dress-up Drawer's Super Giveaway!! Today... you can enter to win this Chicken Wire Picture Board!! Also check out Jaime's AdoRabLe capes she makes for the kiddos!! So Fun!! GOOD LUCK!!

Super Giveaway!!!

The Dress-Up Drawer
is hosting an AWESOME Giveaway starting Aug. 17th-24th. Go Check it OuT!!! GOOD LUCK!!

90 min.(or less) Little Girl Twirl Skirt!

Isn't this skirt FuN!! My awesome cousin made this for her AdoRabLe little girl the other day... in under 90 min.! How fun and easy to change up your little girls wardrobe with a few of these. I am definitely going to have to try making some of these for my girls. It will probably take me longer than 90 min (like most of my sewing projects usually do).... but hey...if it saves a little cash (especially using Joann's coupons)...and looks adorable...then I'm all for it! For more info and an awesome tutorial...go here!

Thanks Deb!!

Have FuN!

Cupboard Door Bow Holder!

Yea!! Its done! I have been wanting to make one of these for quite some time now...after I saw this AdOrAbLe idea here! Today...I came across another one here! SO CUTE!!

My daughters bows were always getting smashed...they were scattered everywhere...and when it was time to find them...I had no idea where they were. NOT ANYMORE!!! :)

I made this from a cupboard door. YeS...I love re-purposing! I just painted it...sanded edges a little...mod podged the paper on it...distressed it by wiping stain on edges...stapled ribbon using staple gun...and drilled holes in the top and hung it with wire! So CuTe and So SiMpLe!!

I was thinking...you could even turn this into a picture holder or message center...by making some cute clothes pin hangers like the ones I made here!

HaVe FuN!!

Spotlight: "SayItOnTheWall" vinyl decor

How many of us have those non-child friendly Nativity Sets that we set out every year... and HOPE... that they won't get dropped or broken in some way??? Yes...I am SURE they are very BEAUTIFUL...but wouldn't it be FUN to have one that your children or grandchildren can play with and really learn from?!!

Check out what Mckay from SayItOnTheWall came up with!!! I think these are AbSoLuTelY AdOrABLe!!! Not to mention their functionality. How FuN would these be for your kids:

9 PIECE NATIVITY SET:

The nativity story block is a neat idea because it has a different picture of the Christmas Story on each of the 6 sides. It's a great tool for both teaching and telling the story. Mckay says that her kids have been loving looking at each side... and telling that part of the story!

NATIVITY STORY CUBE :

Also...here are pics of two of her most popular products:

TILE CLOCK :

GLASS BLOCK NATIVITY :
I LoVE them!!!
Wouldn't any one of these make a great Super Saturday project!!!
If you would like to order...or check out more FuN projects and ideas... with awesome prices......CLICK the banner below!!

AND...

FOR ALL OF MY AWESOME READERS...

YOU WILL RECEIVE...

10% OFF YOUR ORDER...

BY USING THE CODE:

"CRATE"

at CHECK OUT!!!

THANKS a bunch Mckay!!!



Happy Crafting!!

AdoRaBle old window redo!

When I was browsin...I came across this Adorable Old Window Redo that Sarah made from Chickie Momma Crafts! What a CuTe Idea! She says that she is going to put a pic of her grandparents in it also. What a BeaUtiFul Gift! You can check it out and get more info on how she made this HERE. Have FuN!

Thanks for the idea Sarah!

Personalize Your Camp Chairs!!

If you haven't tried freezer paper stenciling yet...you need to!! They are sooo much FuN!!

These were made from simple freezer paper stencils that I cut out with my Cricut. I used regular craft paint...but the fabric paint might work a little bit better...I just didn't have any on hand. Here is an awesome freezer paper stencil tutorial from MADE... if you haven't done them before. I must say...they are A-LoTTa FuN!! I was thinking...I might add a princess crown above my daughters name... and sprinkle glitter over the paint to give it that SpaRkLe!

The one above was made by straight stitching( ?I think that is what its called?) over a taped piece of paper that I printed my name on. It was pretty easy...but took more time than the painted way.

No more "Which chair is mine?" questions!!!! YEA!!! :)

These would also make fun Christmas or Birthday gifts!!

HaVe FuN!!

FuN Monogrammed Necklace!

Here is another FuN necklace idea:

I came across this idea at Mod Podge Rocks! I LoVe this blog!! Amy has so many CuTe CuTe crafting ideas using Mod Podge. She has instructions on how she made hers here!!
I LoVe personalizing stuff...so I made these for my girls.

You could get pretty CrEaTiVe with these...you could put shapes, pictures, photos, and you could even glam them up with that glitter glaze!

I first drilled a hole with a 1/16" drill bit in the top of the circle...then painted mine with regular craft paint...then traced the wooden circle on some scrapbook paper... cut it out...glued it on...then when the glue was dry...I used the drill to make the hole in the paper.

Then used my Cricut to cut out the letter...and Mod Podged it on. I would think you could use that Diamond Glaze that we used on the washer necklaces too...if you would like that glassy look. I haven't tried it yet...but I think it might turn out really CuTe! {FYI} The M was made out of scrapbook paper...and the A was made out of vinyl.
Then...I just attached a 7mm jump ring that I bought at JoAnns!!

Very Inexpensive and Very FuN to Make!!

HaVe Fun!!

Button Bracelets!

O.K. aren't these ADORABLE!!!

Who would have known that something so simple could be so CuTe!! I found this at lillyella where she has posted an awesome tutorial to show you how to make them. Go check it out here!!

I might have to make a few of these with my daughter! Maybe...also a few for Christmas or Birthday gifts!! Anyone know where you can find cute buttons like that??

Thanks lillyella for the great idea!!

HaVe FuN!!