{Creative-ly U} Project Parade----and a Surprise!

 What Fantastic projects and recipes that were linked up!!!  THANK YOU ALL who participated!! 

Well...ya know how I mentioned a possible {random} surprise  for my last weekend linky friends???  Well...everyone who linked up will have the chance to win this:

fun vintage girly headband made by me :)

Sooo here we go-------

Using Random.org...the winner is:

Congrats to Jessica!  Check out her link-up:

DIY Wall Collage @ Homemakin' and Decoratin' :

{Jessica...please contact me with your info so I can get that sent to you !! :) Congrats!!!}

 

Here is a peek at a few of your AWESOME projects linked up at the  {Creative-ly U} Weekend Party:

Picnic/Easter Baskets @ Snowy Bliss:

Spring wreath @ Kindness Matters!

 Personalized Clay Easter Eggs @ The Rachel Berry Blog!

 Faux Cherry Blossom decor @ Craft Critters.

CuTe Easter decor ideas @ My Lifes Little Pieces 

 Easter Subway Art @ Antsi-Pants:

Mini Spring Wreath @ Ruffles & RicRac:

FuN photography location ideas in Provo, UT  @ Snippits Photography:

DIY Chick Hair Clip @ Mary Janes and Galoshes:

Twirly Play Skirt Tutorial @ Ruffles & RicRac:

DIY Laundry Room Art @ Girl in Air:

Chandelier Shade Tutorial @ The V Spot:

DIY Bed Curtain @ Rosy Red Buttons:

DIY Canvas Stencil Art @ Captured By:

Ice Cream Cake Recipe @ Fabulous 50's Housewife:

Cupcake Tree @ Redberry Barn:


Floppy Bunny Hat Pattern @ Girl in Air


From Book Tote to Vintage Ruffle Purse @ Mary's Meanderings:


See ya this weekend!!

Welcome to the PART-AY!!! Come link-up!

Hi All!!!

I know this a little SHORT notice...but I am excited to announce The.Creative.Crate's:

"creative-ly U" Weekend Link-up Part-ay!!!

WAHOOOO!!!!

I don't know why it took me so long to get this going...but I absolutely LOVE looking at these linky parties...and decided to get one rolling too!

You guys are soooo CREATIVE!!

Here are a few ideas on what to link-up:

*DIY Projects & Ideas

*Sewing Projects

*Photography Tips and Ideas

*Crafty Ideas

*Re-Vamps or Redo's

*Recipe's
*Printables

*Ok...pretty much anything creative you would like to add!

I'm soooo excited to see all of your AWESOME ideas!!
{hmmm...maybe once in a while...I throw in a surprise or two :) }

**Don't forget to link to your specific post...and...if you'd like show some creative love...comment on at least 3 other links around yours! We all love comments :) ** 

Here's the button if you'd like to add it too: 

<a border="0" href="http://thecreativecrate.blogspot.com/search/label/creative-ly%20u%20weekend%20link-up" target="_blank"><img src="http://i852.photobucket.com/albums/ab89/stacie004/creatively-uweekendparty.jpg"/></a><br /> <br />

Let this PART-AY BEGIN!!!

It's a GingerSnap Night!

I have been CraZy in the mood to make these lately...so finally my lil' helpers and I did it...and it definitely hit the spot. I am not normally a fan of gingersnaps...but this recipe is AWESOME because they are soooo CHEWY!! 

{and...delicious dipped in MILK!}  

 I included the recipe at the bottom if you want to give them a try.

ENJOY!!!

{Making Lemonade} Spring Headband Giveaway!!

***CLOSED***

I am so excited to welcome Megan from Making Lemonade!

"Hi! My name is Megan and in my free time I am usually doing something crafty! I love sewing, creating, music, photography, movies, thrift stores, Etsy, shopping, and basically anything in the "craft area"."

Here's a peek at a few of her VERY CUTE headbands that she has for sale:

LoVe this Cotton Candy Headband...

...and these adorable sequin flower headbands

So Cute and perfect for Spring and Summertime!

She is so sweet...she even sent me one to tryout...

...and my girls both LOVE it!  She did a FanTastiC job...and I can't wait to have them wear it with their Spring-y dresses!  Thank you Megan!!

Hmmm...Wouldn't these also make great Easter/Birthday Gifts?!!

GIVEAWAY:

Megan is giving 1 headband {winners choice} to one of my lucky readers! WAHOO!!!

Here's how to enter:

1.  Visit Megan's Etsy shop "Making Lemonade"...then come back and let us know which of her items was your fav. {1 entry}

2. Check out Megan's blog "Making Lemonade"..and follow or leave her a message...then come back and let us know you did. {1 entry}

3.  And...of course...if you follow my blog...go ahead and add another entry!   THANK YOU!! ;) {1 entry}

This giveaway will end April 14th.

Good LuCk!!

***CLOSED***

Can I go back...please!!! :)

We recently returned from Southern Cali for Spring Break...and I am already missing it BIG TIME!  It was sooo BEAUTIFUL {LoVe those palm trees!}...and the weather was GORGEOUS!!  It was such a FuN break from the chilly temps here in Idaho.  :) 

{DIY} FloWeR Rings!

Check out these FuN flower rings made from CLAY!!!

Sooo CuTE!!!

{LoVe that ring base too!}

For more info...head on over to Iron Violet Designs...for a complete how-to!

Jen...thanks so much for sharing!

{Creative Readers} FuN ideas!!

Here are a few of the FaBULouS projects made by YOU!

 

Make this CuTe DIY bracelet at Luke and HailieGirl!

Visit Taidye Original to find out how you can create your own Anthro-inspired Necklace!

Give your old clock a makeover at HoneyBear Lane!
Thanks so much for ALL of your submissions!!

My {Kitchen Cabinet} Transformation!

 I am sooo excited to share with you  what has been keeping me a little pre-occupied recently.  I knew I wanted to change the look of our kitchen...but was a little hesitant on how to do it.  Sooo finally I just decided to dive in...and go for it.  Here's a peek at what I've been working on:

My hubs and I...

then  painted a whole-lotta these...

And...

Do ya want to see how it turned out??!!

Phew!!! 

 It was a LOT of work...but I LOVE how it turned out...and am  sooo glad we did it!!  It is AMAZING what a little work and paint can do!

  

{CuTe} DIY Skirt!

Check out this FuN lil' girly skirt that I came across at LukeAndHailieGirl!  She transformed a plain t-shirt...to this FuN little J.CREW-like skirt for $7!! 

LoVe it!!

Check out a complete how-to...HERE!

Luke and HailieGirl...thanks for sharing!

Photography Friday- Dodge it!

Welcome to Photography Friday!

It's Camilla from CioCo Photography back again! Huge thanks to Stacie for filling in for so many weeks. Our first child was born on January 20th and we couldn't love her more! We feel so blessed! Since I love photography, the poor child has been subjected to countless photos in her short month of life. She'll appreciate it later in life right? ;) Today I just wanted to share a quick tip for something that will make a BIG difference in your photos.

The first photo is sooc. (Straight out of Camera). I used window light, but also compensated with a speed light on top of my dslr. This look can be achieved without a flash, you just need adequate lighting. The key truly to any good picture is your lighting composition, but we'll talk about that in a future post. Today we are going to talk about the simple photo shop tool I used to lighten the picture. It is the dodge tool. The only difference between the top and bottom pic is dodging.

 Most of you will know about the dodge tool and use it frequently, but for those who don't make it your new best friend! :) It is circled on the left in red. This is a cs window, but it should be similar to Photoshop Elements. I think it looks like an aspirator, but that could be because I'm around a baby all day. Haha. When I use the dodge tool I typically will use it to lighten faces or iris's in the eye. I keep the opacity (circled at the top) to about 35% so the lighting is very gradual. I also focus on the mid tones, also circled. I like to also use it to outline a subject to give them a little pop away from the background, as I did with this picture.

I think it makes a big difference in your photos and draws the attention in. This bottom picture has the dodge tool used, the burn tool like Stacie mentioned in a previous Friday, and a curves adjustment, which we will also talk about in a later post. So have fun dodging!! Try it out on whatever photo you like, and come back with the before and after and link up! Have a wonderful weekend! (I'm going to go cuddle the little one some more). ;)

It's BACK!!! Get your free CANVAS now!!!

YAY!!!  It's BACK!!!

Head on over to Canvas People and get your FREE 8x10 Canvas (only pay shipping)...or...$50 towards any size!!!

AWESOME!!!